Nightfall by Shannon Messenger REVIEW

Keeper of the Lost Cities series: Book Six
Summary:

Sophie Foster is still struggling. Grieving. Scrambling. But she knows one thing: she will not be defeated.
The Neverseen have had their victories-but the battle is far from over. It's time to change tactics. Make sacrifices. Reexamine everything. Maybe it's even time for Sophie to trust her enemies.
All paths lead to Nightfall-an ominous door to an even more ominous place-and Sophie and her friends strike a dangerous bargain to get there. But nothing can prepare them for what they discover. The problems they're facing stretch deep into their history. And with time running out and mistakes catching up with them, Sophie and her allies must join forces in ways they never have before.

My Thoughts:

As usual, it's a very well written and great installment of the Keeper of the Lost Cities series. So far none of them have let me down..
Sophie and her fiends make plans to rescue her human parents and go into Nightfall with the help of Keefe's mom. To do so, they have to make an alliance with the ogres. (spoiler alert) They find Alvar and help him regain concienceness only to find that his memories are gone. All of them. Dex also confesses. (End spoilers) To sum it up lots of great things happened.
AND THERE WAS A CLIFFHANGER!!!!!

My Rating: 5 stars

The Way of Shadows by Brent Weeks REVIEW

 

 Night Angel Trilogy: Book One
Summary:

For Durzo Blint, assassination is an art--and he is the city's most accomplished artist.
For Azoth, survival is precarious. Something you never take for granted. As a guild rat, he's grown up in the slums and learned to judge people quickly--and to take risks. Risks like apprenticing himself to Durzo Blint.
But to be accepted, Azoth must turn his back on his old life and embrace a new identity and name. As Kylar Stern, he must learn to navigate the assassins' world of dangerous politics and strange magics--and cultivate a flair for death.

My Thoughts:

I honestly don't know where to start with this. The book was interesting, but the way it was written was a little confusing. For example, it would randomly switch from one character's part to a different character's part with zero warnings.
Secondly, some characters, such as Elene, should have had more parts in the book, considering her apparent impact in Azoth/Kylar's life. This would also make certain parts less confusing.
And thirdly, some groups of people/animals/objects were mentioned either once or frequently, but were never properly explained, if they were explained at all. If for example if the ka'kari was explained further, the reader would have more of an idea of why its impact on some of the characters' decisions were heavy.
In conclusion, I still don't know what I think of it. At first it was pretty boring, then it got better, and then it got quite a bit confusing. However, the story was good enough that I will consider reading the other two books in this series.

My Rating: 2.5 stars

 

Lodestar by Shannon Messenger REVIEW

Keeper of the Lost Cities series: Book Five

Summary:

Sophie Foster is back in the Lost Cities--but the Lost Cities have changed. The threat of war hangs heavy over her glittering world. And the Neverseen are wreaking havoc wherever they can.

The lines between friend and enemy have also blurred, and Sophie is unsure exactly whom she can trust. But when she's warned that the people she loves most will be the next victims, she knows she has to act.

A mysterious symbol could be the key--if only she knew how to translate it. And each new clue reveals how far the dark schemes spread. The Black Swan aren't the only ones who have plans. The Neverseen have their own Initiative, and if Sophie doesn't stop it, they might finally have the ultimate means to control her.

My Thoughts:

I'm so glad I finally was able to read this, since the last book left on a cliffhanger. It was just as good as the other books, which rarely ever happens in a series.

Sophie has to trust Keefe, who pretended to go against her with the enemy to be a sort of double-agent. However, if the enemy finds out, they have the means to kill him slowly and painfully. (spoiler) Mr. Forkle dies and her human parents were taken by the enemy. Her human sister somehow remembers her. Then the book ends. On another cliffhanger. (end spoiler) The author really does like making us wait with impatience for the next book, which I hope will come out sometime this year.

In conclusion, this was another amazing book by Shannon Messenger that I totally recommend.

My Rating: 5 stars

Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas REVIEW

Throne of Glass series: Book Five

Summary:

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

My Thoughts:

It's been a while since I've read Aelin/the assassin's story, so my memories of the previous battles/conflicts are small. However, I was able to remember the things I needed in order to be able to actually read this book without going back and rereading the previous books.

This book, as I anticipated, was very well written. Aelin must save her people, but by doing that she also ends up saving her world. She tries to recruit old friends(?) to help who were in her debt. Those who were once trying to kill her end up helping her, but (spoiler) she realizes that to save her people/the world she must sacrifice herself (there's nothing else she can do). At the end she is beaten and taken by an enemy who isn't her REAL enemy, but her companions strive to rescue her/finish what she needed done. Then it ends. Right there. With the most annoying cliffhanger.

Another annoying thing was the inappropriate-ness. But the rest of the book was great. And I'll try to wait for the next book, although it'll kill me.

My Rating: 4 stars

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Six

Summary:

In this dazzling and long-awaited conclusion of the acclaimed Mortal Instruments series, Clary and her friends fight the greatest evil they have ever faced: Clary's own brother.

Sebastian Morgenstern is on the move, systematically turning Shadowhunter against Shadowhunter. Bearing the Infernal Cup, he transforms Shadowhunters into creatures out of nightmare, tearing apart families and lovers as the ranks of his Endarkened army swell.

The embattled Shadowhunters withdraw to Idris--but not even the famed demon towers of Alicante can keep Sebastian at bay. And with the Nephilim trapped in Idris, who will guard the world against demons?

When one of the greatest betrayals the Nephilim have ever known is revealed, Clary, Jace, Isabelle, Simon, and Alec must flee--even if their journey takes them deep into the demon realms, where no Shadowhunter has set foot before, and from which no human being has ever returned . . .

My Thoughts:

I actually really enjoyed this book. I wasn't sure if I would, since most final books in most series end horribly or just end with you wanting more, but the end of this one was well written. I still wanted more, but that's just me lol. 

Sebastian turns Shadowhunters into his own army by forcing them to drink from the Infernal Cup, which makes them turn against fellow Shadowhunters who have not been turned.

Rafael, Magnus, Luke, and Jocelyn try to form an alliance with faeries, but they are betrayed and handed over to Sebastian as hostages to force Clary and Jace to come to him.

Clary then saves her friend's lives by pretending to go along with Sebastian's plan, but then kills him with her sword that has heavenly fire in it; the only thing that can kill him. To get home, they must make a deal with Magnus' father, and the price is Simon's immortality and knowledge of his friends' world. But later on Magnus goes against the rules to help him regain the memories Simon lost. And he gets back together with Alec, which I was so happy about.

My Rating: 5 stars

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Five

Summary:

The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace freed from captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing, so is the boy she hates: her brother Sebastian, who is determined to bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

The Clave's magic cannot locate either boy, but Jace can't stay away from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith's magic has wrought--Jace and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other.

Only a few people believe that Jace can still be saved. Together, Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle bargain with the sinister Seelie Queen, contemplate deals with demons, and turn at last to the merciless, weapon-making Iron Sisters, who might be able to forge a weapon that can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. If the Iron Sisters can't help, their only hope is to challenge Heaven and Hell--a risk that could claim their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary is playing a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace's soul. She;s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

My Thoughts:

I liked this book, however it paled in comparison to the previous two books, which are still my favorites. Jace is alternating between himself and the self that Sebastian is controlling while Clary is trying to figure out Sebastian's plan and stop him. Simon, Isabelle, Alec, and Magnus are trying to find a way to kill Sebastian without harming Jace, and Camille is killed by Maureen, the child Simon unintentionally bit. And Alec and Magnus aren't a thing anymore (I figured it would happen since Magnus would have found out what Alec was trying to do, but I'm still kinda depressed on this. I probably ship them more than I should, lol).

Overall, the writing and story were very well done.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Four

Summary:

The Mortal War is over, and Clary Fray is back home in New York, excited about all the possibilities before her. She's training to become a Shadowhunter and to use her unique power. Her mother is getting married to the love of her life. Downworlders and Shadowhunters are at peace at last. And--most important of all--Clary can finally call Jace her boyfriend.

But nothing comes without a price.

Someone is murdering the Shadowhunters who used to be in Valentine's Circle, provoking tensions between Downworlders and Shadowhunters that could lead to a second bloody war. Clary's best friend, Simon, can't help her. His mother just found out he's a vampire and now he's homeless. Everywhere he turns, someone wants him on their side--along with the power of the curse that's wrecking his life. And they're willing to do anything to get what they want. At the same time, he's dating two beautiful, dangerous girls--neither of whom knows about the other.

When Jace begins to pull away from Clary without explaining why, she is forced to delve into the heart of a mystery whose solution reveals her worst nightmare: she herself has set in motion a terrible chain of events that could lead her to losing everything she loves. Even Jace.

My Thoughts:

I have mixed feelings about this book. While I liked how it was interesting and hard to put down, I kinda feel like the author should have ended the series after the third book like it was originally planned. 

Jace is normal at first but then starts having nightmares, which leads to him apparently being bound to his not dead but not living "brother", Sebastian. And he almost kills Clary when he is possessed by the demon Lilith. And later unintentionally lets Sebastian's spirit share his body (a huge cliffhanger at the end).

Clary didn't realize that apparently getting Jace back from the dead has consequences? which she didn't know about at all.

Simon was being extremely stupid by dating two girls at once--especially since it's Maia and Isabelle. 

Overall, the book was pretty good, although I don't see the need for its existence.

My Rating: 4 stars

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Three

Summary:

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters--never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.

As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in a mysterious Shadowhunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadowhunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City--whatever the cost?

My Thoughts:

I LOVED THIS BOOK! Out of all the previous books, this is really my favorite (I need to buy it now lol). Not only was this book well written and interesting, but it had several twists you'd never see coming (Sebastian is the real Jonathan, Jace isn't actually Clary's sister, the secret behind their powers, and more). And it had quite a few funny parts to it as well. And Alec finally got with Magnus (in public and no one knew about that until then which was extremely awkward and funny seeing everyone's reactions). I would totally recommend this book to so many people.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Crown by Kiera Cass REVIEW

The Selection series: Book Five

Summary:

When Eadlyn became the first princess of Illea to hold her own Selection, she didn't think she would fall in love with any of her thirty-five suitors. She spent the first few weeks of the competition counting down the days until she could send them all home. But as events at the palace force Eadlyn even further into the spotlight, she realizes that she might not be content remaining alone.

Eadlyn still isn't sure she'll find the fairy-tale ending her parents did twenty years ago. But sometimes the heart has a way of surprising you . . .and soon Eadlyn must make a choice that feels more impossible--and more important--than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts:

I finally finished this series after I kept forgetting to read this book .. . .

I did like this book a lot better than the previous one, The Heir. 

What I liked is that Eadlyn didn't fall in love with one of the suitors, she fell in love with the translator of Henri. And she thought it was impossible to have a relationship with him . . .but it actually happened. In a way, he is like Aspen, but the total opposite circumstances, the fact that I liked him better than Aspen, and that he actually got the girl.

However, I do think the ending was a bit rushed. And the fact that the author made two of the suitors gay for each other was . . .weird? If she was going to do that, she could have not made it a last-second decision, because that's what it seemed like (rushed/forced).

My Rating: 4 stars

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare REVIEW

Mortal Instruments series: Book Two

Summary:

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? Clary would love to spend more time with her best friend Simon. But the Shadowhunters won't let her go--especially her handsome, infuriating newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil--and also her father. When the second of the Mortal Instruments is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor suspects Jace. Could Jace really be willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

My Thoughts:

For me, this book was interesting, but also a slow read. Several parts of the book were pretty uninteresting, so it took me a lot longer to read this book than normal. 

But there were a few things I didn't like/understand: apparently Clary and Simon are dating? they didn't make that clear until halfway through the book. Also, Clary is still in love with Jace even after finding out he's her brother? isn't that kind of, well, gross? not to mention probably illegal? And Simon turns into a vampire a very long time after getting bitten in the first book? how does it take that long to turn?

Although several parts were interesting, I didn't get into this book as well as the first one, and even then I didn't really like the first one that much.

My Rating: 2 stars

The Inquisition by Taran Matharu REVIEW

Summoner series: Book Two

Summary:

Fletcher and Ignatius have been locked away in Pelt's dungeons, but now they must face a trial in the hands of the Inquisition, a powerful institution controlled by those who would delight in Fletcher's downfall.

The trial is haunted by ghosts from the past with shocking revelations about Fletcher's origins, but he has little time to dwell on them, the graduating students of Vocans are to be sent deep into the orc jungles to complete a dangerous mission for the king and his council. If they fail, the orcish armies will rise to power beyond anything the Empire has ever seen.

With loyal friends Othello and Sylva by his side, Fletcher must battle his way to the heart of Orcdom and save Hominum from destruction . . . or die trying.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and just as interesting as the first book in the series. I feel as if a lot of authors seem to slack off on their second book, but this one didn't.

The way it was written made me want to shout at the evil councilors at the trial and kept me reading until the end, which of course, just had to have a cliffhanger.

I would totally recommend this book.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Novice by Taran Matharu REVIEW

**Summoner series: Book One**

Summary:

He can summon demons. But can he win a war?

Fletcher is working as a blacksmith's apprentice when he discovers he has the rare ability to summon demons from another world.

Subsequently chased from his village for a crime he did not commit, Fletcher must travel with his demon, Ignatius, to an academy for adepts, where the gifted are taught the art of summoning.

Along with nobles and commoners, Fletcher endures grueling lessons that will prepare him to serve as a Battlemage in the Empire's war against the savage Orcs. But sinister forces infect new friendships, and rivalries are formed at this school. With no one but Ignatius by his side, Fletcher must decide where his loyalties lie. As he soon learns, the fate of the Empire is in his hands...

My Thoughts:

This has been on my to-read list for a while but I only got to it now.

The book sounded cool and interesting, and I guess the only reason I thought that is because I got into Black Butler...

It's a good fantasy novel, not the best I've read, but better than others.

Fletcher somehow made enemies with someone in his village by existing. His enemy tries to kill him one night, the same night he found out he could summon demons, and Ignatius attacked his attacker without Fletcher's consent, leaving him injured or dead? He runs away for this.

He makes friends at the academy but some become enemies because the nobles there don't like commoners, and they were hanging out with them.

At the end is a cliffhanger: people arrest him for attempted murder of the boy who tried to kill him in his village.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Redemption by Debra Driza REVIEW

MILA 2.0 Trilogy: Book Three

Summary:

Mila has been running for her life for so long. But there might be nowhere left for her to go. Especially now that she's an incredible danger to herself and anyone who dares get close to her.

That's why Mila has gone into hiding with friend and tech expert Lucas, someplace secluded where she'll never be found. She can't take the risk of hurting people worse than the way she hurt Hunter: the boy she'll always love, the boy who might never forgive her for what she's done.

But then Mila discovers that General Holland--her ultimate enemy--is an even bigger threat to humanity than she is. His quest to reclaim Mila is only part of a larger mysterious endgame that will put people's lives at stake. Mila must make a choice: either push aside her fears and fight hime with everything she's got...or turn her back on the world forever.

My Thoughts:

As expected, this book was well written and well paced and hard to put down.

The only thing I don't get is when she falls in love with Lucas, and doesn't really care about Hunter as much.But this book was super good.

Anyway the ending? I hated it. Why did Mila go and let herself die instead of choosing to live freely? I mean, what she thought would happen if she did would probably happen, but still. Why aren't there any happy endings to trilogies now?

My Rating: 4.5 stars

The Twice Lost by Sarah Porter REVIEW

Lost Voices Trilogy: Book Three

Summary:

Mermaids have been sinking ships and drowning humans for centuries, and now the government is determined to put an end to the mermaid problem--by slaughtering all of them. Luce, one mermaid with exceptionally threatening abilities, becomes their number one target, hunted as she flees down the coast toward San Francisco.

There she finds hundreds of mermaids living in exile under the docks of the bay. These are the Twice Lost: once human girls lost the first time when a trauma turned them into mermaids, and lost the second time when they broke mermaid law and were rejected by their tribes. Luce is stunned when they elect her as their leader. But she won't be their queen. She'll be their general. And they will become the Twice Lost Army--because this is war.

But how can the mermaids defend themselves when Luce is determined to stop her followers from killing humans? How can she convince humans to listen to them? And it's one thing for Luce to forgive humanity, but another to forgive Dorian, the boy who betrayed her--even when he fights to prove his love to her.

My Thoughts:

Despite how others feel about this book, I don't think its as good as the previous books. Yes, things in the second book weren't exactly perfect, but no book is perfect.

The story was written well, but what happened to Anais at the end wasn't clear. neither was what happened to Catarina.

this book was alright, but definitely not my favorite.

My Rating: 3 stars

Let the Wind Rise by Shannon Messenger REVIEW

Let the Sky Fall series: Book Three

Summary:

Vane Weston is ready for battle. Against Raiden's army. Against the slowly corrupting Gale Force. Even against his own peaceful nature as a Westerly. He'll do whatever it takes, including storming Raiden's fortress with the three people he trusts the least. Anything to bring Audra home safely.

But Audra won't wait for someone to rescue her. She has Gus--the guardian she was captured with. And she has a strange "guide" left behind by the one person who managed to escape Raiden. The wind is also rising to her side, rallying against their common enemy. When the forces align, Audra makes her play--but Raiden is ready.

Freedom has never held such an impossible price, and both groups know the sacrifices will be great. But Vane and Audra started this fight together. They'll end it the same way.

My Thoughts:

Okay, I know I have admitted how much I hate the change of covers, but it's not so bad, I guess.

I really disliked the second book in this series, but this one was as awesome as the first one.

Audra and Gus were captured by Raiden, who wants to learn Westerly. Gus survives more than they expect from the deadly torture methods, but he ends up dying around the time they escape. Audra is confused about whether she still loves Vane because their bond broke. But they end up together at the end (yay). Vane is forced to trust Audra's traitorous and murderous mother, as well as Solana, the girl the leaders of the Gale Force want him to marry. A new character is introduced to help them, and he is the only one who's ever escaped Raiden's capture--ever.

My Rating: 4 stars

Beautiful Redemption by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl REVIEW

Beautiful Creatures series: Book Four

Summary:

Ethan Wate has spent most of his life longing to escape the stiflingly small Southern town of Gatlin. He never thought he would meet the girl of his drams, Lena Duchannes, who unveiled a secretive, powerful, and cursed side of Gatlin, hidden in plain sight. And he never could have expected that he would be forced to leave behind everyone and everything he cares about. So when Ethan awakes after the chilling events of the Eighteenth Moon, he has only one goal: to find a way to return to Lena and the ones he loves.

Back in Gatlin, Lena is making her own bargains for Ethan's return, vowing to do whatever it takes--even if that means trusting old enemies or risking the lives of the family and friends Ethan left to protect.

Worlds apart, Ethan and Lena must once again work together to rewrite their fate, in this stunning finale to the Beautiful Creatures series.

My Thoughts:

Sorry for the posting of these last three books all in a row:). But the last book had a huge cliffhanger, so I had to read this one next.

Ethan died to protect everyone he loves (and all the humans) but apparently that wasn't actually his fate. Someone wrote that in his page of the Book, and to erase that fate, he must travel to and infiltrate the Far Keep and tear out the page. He gets reunited with his dead relatives, including his mother, and he sees how he can never have both his mother and Lena: either stay dead with his mother or go back to Gatlin. Anyway, this series was SO amazing and the ending was...well..kind of sad and perfect at the same time.

My Rating: 5 stars

Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl REVIEW

Beautiful Creatures series: Book Three

Summary:

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home from the Great Barrier, strang and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected--and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What--or who--will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin?

Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

My Thoughts:

Sorry that this series is all I've been reading lately, but it's so good!!! And there's one last book to read . . .

I thought for about halfway through this book that the series would be repetitive, that there would always be a new moon song, that the reasons would all be the same. But I was wrong. Because the One Who is Two isn't Lena. But it's not John either. It's Ethan, the Wayward. And **spoilers**Ethan had to sacrifice himself at the end to save Gatlin, and the people he cares about**end spoiler**

This book turned out to be even better than the previous two, which were all about Lena and her Claiming. This one was about Ethan.

My Rating: 5 stars

Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures series: Book Two

Summary:

Ethan Wate used to think of Gatlin, the small Southern town he had always called home, as a place where nothing ever changed. Then he met mysterious newcomer Lena Duchannes, who revealed a secret world that had been hidden in plain sight all along. A Gatlin where a curse has marked Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals for generations. A Gatlin where impossible, magical, life-altering events happen.

Sometimes life-ending.

Together Ethan and Lena can face anything Gatlin throws at them, but after suffering a tragic loss, Lena starts to pull away, keeping secrets that test their relationship. And now that Ethan's eyes have been oped to the darker side of Gatlin, there's no going back. Haunted by strange visions only he can see, Ethan is pulled deeper into his town's tangled history and finds himself caught up in the dangerous network of underground passageways endlessly crossing the South, where nothing is as it seems.

My Thoughts:

I used to think that the second book in a series is always the worst one, but that changed when I read this book--I thought it was way better than the first one.

Lena's uncle died and she can barely stand being with anyone in Gatlin, so she goes away with other Castors and tries to tell Ethan not to follow her.

**spoilers**it seemed that Lena used the Book of Moons to save Ethan's life, but at the cost of her uncle's life. However, somehow Ethan's dead mother captured him with an Arclight, a thing that can imprison Castors, but this saved her uncle's life**end spoiler**

I really enjoyed this book a lot.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter REVIEW

Lost Voices Trilogy: Book Two

Summary:

After parting ways with her troubled mermaid tribe, Luce just wants to live peacefully on her own. But her tranquility doesn't last long: she receives news that the tribe is on the verge of collapse and desperately needs her leadership. Anais, the tribe's cruel queen, wants Luce dead. Dorian, the boy Luce broke mermaid law to save, is determined to make her pay for her part in the murder of his family. And while the mermaids cling to the idea that humans never suspect their existence, there are suddenly ominous signs to the contrary.

But when Luce and Dorian meet, they start to wonder if love can overpower the hatred they know they should feel for each other. Luce's new friendship with an ancient renegade mermaid gives her hope that her kind might someday change its murderous ways. But how can Luce fulfill her rightful role as queen of the mermaids without sacrificing her forbidden romance with Dorian?

My Thoughts:

This is a nice sequel to Lost Voices and I enjoyed it a lot. Here's why:

1. you get to see from the perspective of a boy whose family was killed by mermaids sinking their ship

2. you get to see a bit more of Luce's human side come out from the shadows where she hid it

3. and you get to see tragedy, love, loss, and hope

Luce finds out that her father didn't die on a ship, he actually survived and was stranded on an island. But Dorian turns out to be a jerk to Luce and sort of cheats on her with a human, then accuses her of abandoning him when she saved her father. That made me want to throw the book out the window.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl REVIEW

Beautiful Creatures series: Book One

Summary:

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

My Thoughts:

This book was amazing, and I really enjoyed it a lot. 

It was a kind of slow read at first, but then as the story continued, the suspense got more suspenseful, which was really nice.

Ethan has few friends, and when he realizes that Lena is the girl from his dreams, he tries to become friends with her, which made almost the whole town turn against them, just because a lot of people hate Lena because of her uncle who doesn't come out of his house at all.

My Rating: 3.5 stars