Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins

Summary (from Goodreads):

Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and her best friend, Bee, has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can focus on the important things in life: school, canoodling with David (her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie), and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or make her more powerful than ever.

Review:

I love Rachel Hawkins. I really do. Her books are the kind of fun, fluffy YA perfect to take to the beach with you. I don’t love this series like I loved her first one, but I do still really enjoy these books too. This one kind of read like a mixture of Buffy and Hart of Dixie.  It’s cute. It’s full of supernatural action. It’s heavy on the teen romance. And it has all these southern town quirks that makes the humor stand out.

I have started to hate not knowing things in this series. There’s just so much I don’t know about the Ephors, about paladins in general, about her Harper’s best friend, about everything and I was looking for a little more answers in book two, than what I got. On the other hand, I got scary (psychological) trials, ex boyfriend drama, school fairs, and pageants. This one seemed to be a little more about the high school drama than the supernatural drama. And normally, I’d love this. I just felt like I needed a little more of the supernatural stuff to clarify some things that have become a bit frustrating not knowing.

I have grown to love Harper though. She is so loyal. She’d do anything for her friends, even the ones who don’t deserve it. She’s a strong, multi-tasking, powerhouse of a main character and I love watching her figure out her life as the paladin and balancing it with her normal over-achieving life.

All the break-ups and hook-ups seemed pretty predictable to me. I wasn’t a fan of them all. But, I do see the believability of all these teens having all this drama. It’s as one of Harper’s aunts puts it:  too many important things are happening and being decided upon by children. This is what children would do.

I love Harper’s relationships with her aunts. I also found her relationship with David to be super interesting. Their transition from rivals to something more has been a lot of fun to read about. Though I kind of wish an important moment in their relationship received more than a few seconds of consideration later…I liked watching Harper become friends with her ex (and now mage). I liked seeing how her powers came in handy, but so did her personality. She couldn’t always fix things with a mind eraser by her mage of an ex-boyfriend. She actually had to fix some problems the old fashioned way.

I’m not sure I completely understood the ending. I’ll have to put together a lot of pieces when the next one comes out. I definitely still need to read the next book (like yesterday). Hopefully, more will be clear then. Overall, the characters and charm of this book outweigh its flaws. I give it an 8/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (144)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on Library of Souls by Ransom Riggs (9/22/15):

 
Description on Goodreads:

The epic conclusion to the best-selling series!

Time is running out for the Peculiar Children. With a dangerous madman on the loose and their beloved Miss Peregrine still in danger, Jacob Portman and Emma Bloom are forced to stage the most daring of rescue missions. They’ll travel through a war-torn landscape, meet new allies, and face greater dangers than ever. . . . Will Jacob come into his own as the hero his fellow Peculiars know him to be? This action-packed adventure features more than 50 all-new Peculiar photographs.

Why I’m Waiting:

I just love these books. I was beyond excited to learn there was a sequel. And then I was even more beyond excited to learn it was a trilogy. I love the story. I love the photographs. I love the time-travel-esque elements. I love the history. I love the characters. I just really cannot wait to hear what happens next either, after the  crazy ending of book 2.

What are you waiting on this week?

Nimona by Noelle stevenson

Summary (from Goodreads):

The graphic novel debut from rising star Noelle Stevenson, based on her beloved and critically acclaimed web comic, which Slate awarded its Cartoonist Studio Prize, calling it "a deadpan epic."

Nemeses! Dragons! Science! Symbolism! All these and more await in this brilliantly subversive, sharply irreverent epic from Noelle Stevenson. Featuring an exclusive epilogue not seen in the web comic, along with bonus conceptual sketches and revised pages throughout, this gorgeous full-color graphic novel is perfect for the legions of fans of the web comic and is sure to win Noelle many new ones.

Nimona is an impulsive young shapeshifter with a knack for villainy. Lord Ballister Blackheart is a villain with a vendetta. As sidekick and supervillain, Nimona and Lord Blackheart are about to wreak some serious havoc. Their mission: prove to the kingdom that Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin and his buddies at the Institution of Law Enforcement and Heroics aren't the heroes everyone thinks they are.

But as small acts of mischief escalate into a vicious battle, Lord Blackheart realizes that Nimona's powers are as murky and mysterious as her past. And her unpredictable wild side might be more dangerous than he is willing to admit.

Review:

This book was amazing. I read so many good things about this one. And I kind of knew from the cover that I would have to love it. I love that the main character isn’t a stick-skinny. And she has dragon wings. How could I not love something with this cover?

I read the book in two sittings, rather quickly. I knew there would be adventure and fantasy, and most likely good characters going into this book. I didn’t know how hilarious it would be. I literally was laughing out loud on page 1. Nimona is just such an amazing, interesting character.

I love the whole idea of the bad guy not actually being the bad guy. It’s one of the major themes in YA I tend to always enjoy. I liked that the bad guy was in fact the super harsh government organization that trained men to be knights. I loved the mixture of modern day technology with old school fantasy themes. There’s knights and dragons, but there is also pizza delivery and tv monitors.

I loved the relationship of the two men on the cover. Their story kind of read like a Harry/Draco fan fic. All of the bickering, history, and tension between the two made this book stand out even more than it already was. And I was definitely shipping them. I also loved the 100% platonic relationship between Nimona and Lord Blackheart. They had some great bickering going as well, usually the result of Nimona going way further than Lord Blackheart ever intended on a mission.

This book has everything: great characters, a shippable/tension building romance, platonic friendship, dragons, fantasy, action, bickering, word play, gorgeous art, and fantastic humor. I give it a 10/10. It’s probably my favorite graphic novel of the year.

A Good Week in Books (109)

I know it seems ridiculous for a girl who just came home with over 50 books from BEA to go and purchase 2 more books, but I did. I held off on getting my hands on books that were recently released because I wasn’t sure if they’d be at BEA. Some of them were. So, good call on me. But, two weren’t, so I bought them right when I got back. I also then received a whole bunch of awesome books for review. Thank you, Macmillan (for four of these lovelies) and Hachette (for one). Good thing pretty much all of the tv I watch is over for the year…I have so much reading to do! And I’m so happy about it.

A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah J. Maas
Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen
Blood Will Tell by April Henry
Brain Camp by Susan Kim, Laurence Klavan, and Faith Erin Hicks
Sweet by Emmy Laybourne
Joyride Anna Banks
Alive by Chandler Baker

How was your week in books?

The Heir by Kiera Cass

Summary (from Goodreads):

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

Review:

So, these books are like coffee for me. They are comfort food and I need them. I rely on them to get through my day. And while they are not always the best for me, I just can’t ever stop reading them. I am addicted to Kiera Cass novels for life.

So, I know Eadlyn isn’t the most popular among reviewers at the moment. However, I loved her. I liked her more than America. Where America was indecisive, Eadlyn is strong and opinionated. Yes, she is selfish and a bit snobby. However, I thought this was realistic considering she’s a princess, brought up to the be the future queen. She hasn’t seen the world her mother lived in. And she doesn’t exactly feel lots of empathy for those outside, surviving in a post-caste system world. Then again, she was brought up in a castle.  She’s ignorant of a lot of things, yet also highly intelligent in other areas, leaps and bounds smarter than her mother was at her age.

I loved Eadlyn and her logic. I loved that she had no qualms about an enormous elimination (some of her arguments were so logical they even reminded me of Bones). I also loved her willingness to learn more though. She knows there are things she doesn’t know. She wants to know them. She listens to a guy explain his side of the story before hastily eliminating him after a fight. She loves fashion and drawing. She’s also a hardcore introvert who has issues letting people get to know her.

I also love the selection process. It’s fun to meet all the boys, and pick a favorite. I think I have an idea for who she will end up with, but I’m actually not 100% sure. And I love this. I love not being certain. There’s interesting romantic moments, there’s fights, there’s baseball games, there’s family moments, and then there’s also the background noise of a country in distress. And this background is actually a little more prevalent, I feel, in this book, than it was in the previous ones. Granted, America wasn’t being brought up as queen and didn’t face politics every day like Eadlyn does.

There were a couple things that did not sit well with me though. One was the confusing overall message. I love that Eadlyn was the heir. She even comments on how her parents worked to make it so. She was born before her twin brother and her parents thought that was more important than the fact that she was a girl. I loved this. It sounded like America and Max all the way. However, the conflicting message then becomes that she needs a man. I get the reasons for this new selection. I really do. But, I kind of wish it was just about the “distraction,” and none of the other comments about needing a husband happened. Does she need a husband? Queen Elizabeth didn’t. I don’t think a woman should ever be forced into a marriage against her will. And after the first series, I really would have thought Eadlyn’s parents felt the same way.

Also, I am not a big fan of her twin brother. Though, she considers him her second half. I never thought he gave the best advice to her. There’s one time where he even instructs her to punch someone in the face…And then he did something at the end that really pissed me off. Why did she compliment him and say how wonderful he was all the time, if all I saw was him kind of being a jerk for the whole book? Did all the nice stuff happen long ago? Or does she really consider his bad advice, egotistical behavior, and rudeness to be wonderful? If so, the rest of the selection will certainly be interesting.

So, I loved the main character. I loved seeing the selection again. I loved the family dynamics. I loved seeing old friends appear. I loved the drama. I just could not stop reading this book. It’s as addictive as coffee. I was not a big fan of the overall mixed messages about whether a woman can be the heir (with or without a husband). And I don’t really see why her brother was her other half. Still though, this is coffee. And it get’s an 8/10.

Waiting on Wednesday (143)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that allows bloggers to share which books we are most anticipating.

This week I am waiting on See How They Run by Ally Carter (1/5/16):

Description on Goodreads:

Inside every secret, there's a world of trouble. Get ready for the second book in this new series of global proportions--from master of intrigue, New York Times bestselling author Ally Carter.

Grace's past has come back to hunt her . . . and if she doesn't stop it, Grace isn't the only one who will get hurt. Because on Embassy Row, the countries of the world stand like dominoes, and one wrong move can make them all fall down.

The twists get twistier and the turns get even more shocking in the second thrilling installment of Embassy Row.

Why I’m Waiting:

Mostly, I’m waiting for two reasons. One, it’s Ally Carter. I will always be waiting on the next Ally Carter book. She is amazing. And two, the ending of the first book. It was crazy. I need the answers now. I didn’t like this first one as much as her other series, but it only just started, and I have a feeling it might get equally good if not more so.

What are you waiting on this week?

Re-Read 2015: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan and read by Jesse Bernstein

Summary on Goodreads:

Percy Jackson isn’t expecting freshman orientation to be any fun. But when a mysterious mortal acquaintance appears on campus, followed by demon cheerleaders, things quickly move from bad to worse.

In this latest installment of the blockbuster series, time is running out as war between the Olympians and the evil Titan lord Kronos draws near. Even the safe haven of Camp Half-Blood grows more vulnerable by the minute as Kronos’s army prepares to invade its once impenetrable borders. To stop the invasion, Percy and his demigod friends must set out on a quest through the Labyrinth–a sprawling underground world with stunning surprises at every turn. Full of humor and heart-pounding action, this latest audiobook promises to be their most thrilling adventure yet.

Review:

I am so glad I discovered the greatness of these audio books before all my road trips. I kind of breezed through this one on my way to CT (where I was staying during my time at BEA). And I probably keep saying this, but I forgot how awesome these stories really are.  I remember enjoying these books on my first run-through, but I don’t remember appreciating them as much.

The characters and the world-building are top-notch. The maze in this one is ridiculously cool. Some of the modern day explanations for where things are and what the entrances look like were a little over the top. But, I kind of love the humor and over-the-top feel these books have maintained through out the whole story. I love being able to read/listen to these books all in a row, one after another. I’ve never done that before. It allows for me to make all the connections and see how much was planned from the beginning.

This book also has a couple twists that I completely forgot about! You know it’s a good twist when on your second reading, it surprises you again! Also, both Annabeth and Grover really step up in this one for me. Grover has become so much more than a sidekick. I love his budding friendship with Tyson. And Annabeth finally gets to lead her own mission. And I just ship her and Percy so much. Though, I don’t hate Rachel. I actually found getting to know her in this book to be a lot of fun. I love the awkward middle grade romance and how clueless Percy is when it comes to these things.

So, the characters are older. The battles are more intense. And the stakes are even higher. Kronos is getting stronger. There is some seriously scary stuff going on with him. And of course there is also more death. This isn’t the kind of middle-grade fantasy where everyone lives and has a happy ending. It’s the kind of middle-grade fantasy that has seriously scary creatures, death, family drama, and darkness. Is there a better kind?

This one has taken all kinds of dark turns. The way Riordan combines ancient mythology with modern day plot arcs is just incredible. And I know it’s all leading up to the final battle. I just started the last book. I’ll listen to more of it in the car, on my way to work this week. I have a feeling, it will be really hard leaving my car. This one gets a 10/10 from me. I just never wanted to stop listening. It reads really fast, and is so full of action, there’s just never a good moment to stop.