Twenty Boy Summer - Banned Book #2

The second book I chose to read for the banned/challenged book challenge this month (books people are trying to get on the ALA list). Again I don't think there should be a bann on this book but I would only recommend this for young adults and older teens not tweens.

Title: Twenty Boy Summer
Author: Sarah Ockler
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Page Count: 304 Pages
Rating: 4/5

“Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it.”
“Okay.”
“Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?”
“Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?”
According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.
TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

My Review:

Two girls dealing with their grief over the loss of a loved one, told in a honest and emotion felt way. I was drawn to Anna from the first lines, and I was crying by the end of the first chapter.

Told from Anna's perspective you work through the emotions and decisions she has to make when faced with moving on after the death of a loved one, but Sarah Ockler also shows the varying shades of denial and diversion that the other characters use to try and survive the grieving process as well.

It was also a fun story of a summer vacation with two best friends. I found it to be a quick but fulfilling read.

My Rating: 4/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks, The Last Summer by Ann Brashares, Keeping the Moon or Along For the Ride by Sarah Dessen.

Crash Into Me - Banned Book 1

I decided to take part in the banned/challenged book challenge this month. The challenge: read some of the books that are being banned/challenged (books people are trying to get on the ALA list). This is the first book I've read (on purpose) from the list and I'm shocked that it would be on there, but then again I don't think there should be a list to begin with so...

Title: Crash Into Me
Author: Albert Borris
Genre: Young Adult, Fiction
Page Count: 272 Pages
Rating: 4/5

Owen, Frank, Audrey, and Jin-Ae have one thing in common: they all want to die. When they meet online after each attempts suicide and fails, the four teens make a deadly pact: they will escape together on a summer road trip to visit the sites of celebrity suicides...and at their final destination, they will all end their lives. As they drive cross-country, bonding over their dark impulses, sharing their deepest secrets and desires, living it up, hooking up, and becoming true friends, each must decide whether life is worth living--or if there's no turning back.

My Review:

An interesting look into the minds of four teens battling suicide. They travel across country together on an ever evolving pilgrimage to death valley. They plan to finally die together, they didn't plan to learn how to live. Very honest and compelling story about life, death and the struggle in-between.

I loved all of the "Top 10 Lists" and the bits of humour laced through the book to lighten the mood. One of my favorite quotes is "Suddenly I grasped what was happening- they were all trying to save me. I never thought I was worth saving."

My Rating: 4/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher, Looking for Alaska by John Green, or Just Listen by Sarah Dessen.

Hunger, by Jackie Morse Kessler - A Quick Review

Title: Hunger
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Page Count: 180 Pages
Rating: 5/5


*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Lisabeth Lewis has a black steed, a set of scales, and a new job: she's been appointed Famine. How will an anorexic seventeen-year-old girl from the suburbs fare as one of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
A wildly original approach to the issue of eating disorders, Hunger is about the struggle to find balance in a world of extremes, and uses fantastic tropes to explore a difficult topic that touches the lives of many teens.

My Review:

I was captivated by the premis of this story when I read the synopsis, and I have to say that it didn't disappoint. It was a true and honest look into the mind of a girl with an eating disorder set in a fantasy world. A fellow reviewer worded it best saying, "The concept of someone starving herself on purpose being forced to see people starving because they have no choice really pulled me into this story, and I couldn’t wait to see how the author was going to tackle it." TO

Lisa was believable and engaging, a character that I was able to connect with and easily enter into her world. The writing style was fantastic. There were lots of funny moments thrown in with the serious ones, and I found myself feeling hungry many times while reading the book just from the realism in her words.

Quick read and a great start to what will be a great series!

My Rating: 5/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

I don't know if I've read anything quite like Hunger, but maybe the same feel as Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick. Amazon has it paired with books such as: Beautiful Darkness by Kami Garcia, Annexed by Sharon Dogar, and Crazy by Han Nolan

Amethyst Bound - Quick Review

Title: Amethyst Bound
Author: L. Shannon
Genre: Fiction - Adult, Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy
Page Count: 432 Pages
Rating: 3.5/5


*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Toni Giovanni is a thief...although she prefers to call it the high-risk recovery business. Her current job feels suspiciously easy-until a mysterious artifact draws her into an ancient prophecy and binds her soul to a spirited dragon named Amethyst.
But Toni isn't quite ready to be taken over by a dragon, even if Amethyst's appetite for sexy archaeologist Dr. Ben Davis mirrors Toni's own. And she's got a big problem on her hands: turns out the prophecy predicts that dragons will end the world...and there are many more dragons out there.
Toni's going to need all the help she can get.

My Review:

I really wanted to like this book. I loved the premis and the characters. The world building was there, but it just needed more meat. Being a novella, it was understandably shorter, but it had to rush through some things that I really wish had been explored, and the relationships progressed way too fast. I found myself wishing that there was another half to the book that filled in the jumps that were made in the story line.

All in all I was left wanting more, which is a good thing. I will probably read the other two books in the trilogy when they are released as I really did like Shannon's take on the dragon lore. I would recommend this book if you are looking for a quick and light Paranormal Romance.

My Rating: 3.5/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

Destiny Kills by Keri Arthur.

Spy Glass - I hope it's not the last!

Title: Spy Glass
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Adventure
Page Count: 432 Pages
Rating: 5/5

*Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

The 3rd book in the Glass (or Opal Cowan) series. If you haven't read the first two books there will be spoilers in this review.

An undercover mission leads to danger, adventure and an impossible choice. After siphoning her own blood magic in the showdown at Hubal, Opal Cowan has lost her powers. She can no longer create glass magic. More, she's immune to the effects of magic. Opal is now an outsider looking in, spying through the glass on those with the powers she once had, powers that make a difference in the world. And then she discovers that someone has stolen some of her blood - and that finding it might let her regain her powers, or know they are lost forever.

My Review:

The world of Ixia and Sitia that Maria V Snyder has crafted just keeps getting better with every tale. I was again swept off my feet by Opal's adventure. I just couldn't put this one down. I think Spy Glass may just be my favorite of all the books.

I loved getting to explore the other side of the coin from Yelena's struggles in the Study Series. Yelena had too much power and sometimes wished to be rid of it, and now Opal has to struggle with the loss and want for power. Seeing through Opal's eye's made it easier for me to understand why the blood magic spread.

Spy Glass was full of action and had lots of surprises along the way. Many old friends were woven into the story, which solidified it for me. I love that I was kept guessing throughout the book (and series) and I was really pleased with how the ending gave some finality without closing all the doors to future stories.

I hope that Maria continues to write in this world, as I would love to read more about the Sitians and Ixians. Throwing out my hopes here; but I would love a story on Reegan.

Wonderful book and a fantastic series!

My Rating: 5/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

Storm Glass/Sea Glass & The Study (Yelena Zaltana) Series by Maria V. Snyder, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy) by Kristin Cashore, or Eragon by Christopher Paolini.

The Clockwork Angel - 5 Stars

Title: The Clockwork Angel
Author: Cassandra Clare
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Historical Fiction, Fantasy
Page Count: 496 Pages
Rating: 5/5

Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets.
Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

My Review:

Such a fun read! It was everything I loved about The Mortal Instruments trilogy set in the 1800s London. The new characters were just as engaging, I loved Tessa, Jem and Will just as much as I loved Clary, Simon, and Jace.

Cassandra Clare didn't skimp on the world building, not relying on her previous series, she sculpted a beautiful and dark story that had me hooked from the start.

Being the first in a trilogy there was a lot of open ends but other than that (which is to be expected and totally fine) I was thoroughly pleased with this book. I'm sure I'm going to like The Infernal Devices just as much as The Mortal Instruments series.

My Rating: 5/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare, Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatric, or The Demon's Lexicon Series by Sarah Rees Brennan.

Sea Glass - A Great Sequel

Title: Sea Glass
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Adventure
Page Count: 448 Pages
Rating: 5/5

Book’s Description:

Student glass magician Opal Cowan's newfound ability to steal a magician's powers makes her too powerful. Ordered to house arrest by the Council, Opal dares defy them, traveling to the Moon Clan's lands in search of Ulrick, the man she thinks she loves. Thinks because she is sure another man now her prisoner has switched souls with Ulrick. In hostile territory, without proof or allies, Opal isn't sure whom to trust. She can't forget Kade, the handsome Stormdancer who doesn't want to let her get close. And now everyone is after Opal's special powers for their own deadly gain....

My Review:

I liked this one a lot more than Storm Glass. Maybe it was because the world/characters and the idea of the glassmaking was fully established, or because so much of the story was outside of the keep, but this time around there seemed to be a lot more adventure and excitement.

Opal starts to stand up for herself, in Sea Glass, which I found very refreshing. There was a lot of Janco in this one, and seeing as how he's one of my favourite of Maria's characters I was very pleased. The progress of the story and character development was perfect for me and I was again quite pleased with the ending.

My Rating: 5/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

Storm Glass & The Study (Yelena Zaltana) Series by Maria V. Snyder, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy) by Kristin Cashore, or Eragon
by Christopher Paolini.

Study Series = A Fantastic Adventure!

Title: Study Series
Books: Poison Study, Magic Study, Fire Study
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Adventure
Page Count: 416 - 448 Pages
Rating: 5/5

The Study Series:

I got Storm Glass and Sea Glass by Maria V. Snyder (The covers grabbed my eye from the book section at Wal-Mart) but was waiting for Spy Glass to come out to start reading them. Some may think it strange but I do that all the time, I hate cliffhangers! I was so happy when NetGalley gave me the ARC for Spy Glass to review. Imagine my chagrin when I opened Storm Glass and found out it was a sequel series! Now with 60 days before the timeout on the ARC, I had to read all 6 books, not a big deal for full-time reviewers I suppose, or you crazy fast readers out there, but a huge YIKES! for me. I’m now in the middle of Sea Glass and am so happy for this little mistake because I really loved the Study Series and wouldn’t have found them if Opal hadn’t called to me from that bookshelf!

I’m going to split up the review for the 3 books and give quick sum-ups and reviews for each instead of clumping them together. So here we go…

Poison Study:

Book’s Description:

Choose: A quick death . . . or slow poison . . .About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve.She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace -- and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting.Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control.Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear . . .

My Review:

Yelena had her reasons for killing Reyed, but in the land of Ixia the penalty for killing is death, regardless. She is about to end her year-long stay in the dungeon with her hanging. That is until she is given the choice between execution and becoming the food taster for the Commander (ruler of Ixia). She takes her chances with this new dangerous job and has to live day to day wondering if the next meal would be her last.

The story was interesting enough with just the concept of Yelena’s battle for how and when she would die, but then interwoven was the aspect of the banned magicians and Yelena’s awakening to that magic. Great characters and world building made for a story that I got totally lost in (in a good way). As always I loved the twists in the story and was quite pleased with how it turned out.

A word of caution; this series has a lot of violence (especially toward women) and the graphic nature may be disturbing for younger teens or people with a sensitivity to reading about sexual and physical abuse. Obviously there is a reason for it and it’s paramount to the story but I know some people who would want to have a heads up.

My Rating: 5/5

Magic Study:

Book’s Description:

If you haven’t read Poison study yet there will be spoilers from here on out…

Yelena is a survivor.Kidnapped as a child, held prisoner as a teen, then released to act as a poison taster, she is now a student of magic.But these magic skills place her in imminent danger, and with an execution order on her head, she has no choice but to escape to Sitia, the land of her birth.But nothing in Sitia is familiar.Not the family to whom she is a stranger.Not the unsettling new facets of her powers.Not the brother who resents her return.As she struggles to understand where she belongs and how to control her powers, a rogue magician emerges -- and Yelena catches his eye.Suddenly she is embroiled in a situation not of her making.And once again it will be her magical abilities that will either save her life . . . or be her downfall.

My Review:

Now in the land of her birth, Yelena must learn to accept and learn to use her powers. With girls going missing and people making her out to be a spy, every minute counts. In this second book of the Study Series we get to see many different clans and their villages all over Sitia as Yelena tries to help track down the kidnapper.

This one kept me guessing even more than the first. It had a unique feel to it with more dominance being put on the magic aspect of Yelena’s training over the physical training in the first book. We get introduced to a whole new array of characters but of course the main characters from the first book make appearances along the way. Great read, I ate this one up!

My Rating: 5/5

Fire Study:

Book’s Description:

If you haven’t read Poison/Magic study yet there will be spoilers from here on out…

The apprenticeship is over— now the real test has begun.When word that Yelena is a Soulfinder—able to capture and release souls—spreads like wildfire, people grow uneasy.Already Yelena's unusual abilities and past have set her apart.As the Council debates Yelena's fate, she receives a disturbing message: a plot is rising against her homeland, led by a murderous sorcerer she has defeated before.…Honor sets Yelena on a path that will test the limits of her skills, and the hope of reuniting with her beloved spurs her onward.Her journey is fraught with allies, enemies, lovers and would-be assassins, each of questionable loyalty.Yelena will have but one chance to prove herself—and save the land she holds dear.

My Review:

Turns out there is something that Yelena is afraid to face...herself

Again, I loved this one. Maria had me hooked 'till the last word. Set mainly in Sitia Yelena tries to discover her own powers while battling a seemingly endless list of people who want her dead. She starts to wonder if the Commander was right to try and destroy magic all along. Now that she had grown to love both Sitia and Ixia, can Yelena choose between them in the war that is brewing? With lots of twists thrown in along the way I couldn't put it down.

This is the final book in the trilogy and it ends well enough that Maria could leave Yelena’s story or come back to it after the Glass Series (I just posted the review to Storm Glass, the 1st book in that series. I know I posted backwards oops!). Fantastic series! I’m so glad that I found it!

My Rating: 5/5

You'll like this series if you liked:

The Glass Series by Maria V. Snyder, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy) by Kristin Cashore, or Eragon
by Christopher Paolini.

Storm Glass - Opal's Story - A Quick Review

Title: Storm Glass
Author: Maria V. Snyder
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Adventure
Page Count: 448 Pages
Rating: 4/5

The first in the companion series to the Study series by Maria V. Snyder. This story fallows Opal, Tula's younger sister that we met it Magic Study. 

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowen understands trial by fire. Now it's time to test her mettle. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap in to a new kind of magic as stunningly potent as it is frightening. And the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control powers she hadn't known she possessed…powers that might lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

My Review:

Enjoyable story, Opal is somewhat the opposite of Yelena when it comes to magic. She doesn't wish for less power but for more. She's a one trick pony and doesn't feel worthy of training at the keep. When she's asked to help with a mission by the Master Magicians it's the start of her journey towards accepting her powers and her role in Sitia.

Maria brought in some familiar characters as well as crafting some great new ones, and you get to discover more of Sitia outside of the Citadel.

Great read, I would have given it a 5 star rating but I didn't like it as much as the Study series books so I had to knock it down a bit. Definitely lots of potential in Opal's story can't wait to start Sea Glass!

You'll like this series if you liked:

The Study Series by Maria V. Snyder, The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien, Graceling (The Seven Kingdoms Trilogy) by Kristin Cashore, or Eragon
by Christopher Paolini.

My Rating: 4/5