Sinner Review

Title: Sinner (Wolves of Mercy Falls 3.5)
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic
Release Date: July 1st 2014
Source: Bought
Rating: 5/5



inner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Review:

The Wolves of Mercy Falls is one of my all time favourite series and Maggie Stiefvater is one of my favourite authors. When I heard that there would be a companion novel following the conclusion of Forever, following non other than my favourite character, Cole, I was ecstatic to say the  least. Sinner in no way disappointed, it was an absolutely amazing book, and even though it was much different in tone, setting, and plot than Grace and Sam's story, Cole and Isabel's story was an excellent (second) conclusion to the world and characters from The Wolves of Mercy Falls.

Sinner came off as more of a contemporary romance than Shiver which was a more of a paranormal romance. Werewolves really do take a step back in the plot that focuses more on Cole and Isabel's life in LA, their hot and cold relationship, Cole dealing and coping with his dark past, and the reality show that Cole gets himself into. Although the wolves were one of my favourite aspects on the books prior to Sinner I was in no  way disappointed with their absence. Werewolves are sill part of the story, just a much smaller part.

Maggie Stiefvater is one of the best writers I have ever read, she weaves such a detailed and absorbing story that is poetic in a sense. She has a very unique style of writing that makes you fall in love with her characters and their story, she also creates a deep connection between the readers and the characters through her poetic style. I always seem to have a strong love and admiration for the characters that she creates such as Cole and Sam. She forms a dark past but makes it beautiful through her transmission.

I would 1000% recommend reading Sinner, is was a  great addition to an already outstanding trilogy. It takes you through the dark minds of Cole and Isabel, as the book is narrated by both characters, and shows how they leave behind their past, overcome their differences to realize their love for one another. Sinner is more of a contemporary novel about the love story of a life time with avery little werewolf action that will I guarantee not disappoint old and new fans of The Wolves of Mercy Falls.

Sea of Shadows Review

Title: Sea of Shadows (Age of Legends #1)
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Random House Canada
Release Date: April 8th 2014
Source: Purchased
Rating: 3.75/5

In the Forest of the Dead, where the empire’s worst criminals are exiled, twin sisters Moria and Ashyn are charged with a dangerous task. For they are the Keeper and the Seeker, and each year they must quiet the enraged souls of the damned.

Only this year, the souls will not be quieted.

Ambushed and separated by an ancient evil, the sisters’ journey to find each other sends them far from the only home they’ve ever known. Accompanied by a stubborn imperial guard and a dashing condemned thief, the girls cross a once-empty wasteland, now filled with reawakened monsters of legend, as they travel to warn the emperor. But a terrible secret awaits them at court—one that will alter the balance of their world forever.

Review:

I have read pretty much everyone one of Kelley Armstrong's book, YA and adult, and she is one of my favourite authors (and she's Canadian, yay!), so of course I was excited for her first book in the Age of  Legends series/trilogy and intrigued because it is a fantasy, which is must different than Kelley's typical paranormal/urban fantasy series. While I did really enjoy Sea of Shadows I have to say I much prefer Kelley's paranormal books that I have read in the past, it is only the first book in the series so maybe my opinion will change and it while match the ranks of  the Darkest Powers and  Darkness Rising trilogies. Only time will tell!

Sea of Shadows is told in third person in two points of views, twins Ashyn and Moria, both tactics are different from what I have read from Armstrong in the past. I admire her for break out of her paranormal mould, and change in form of narration I think the changes in style are part of the reason that I did not absolutely love Sea of Shadows. I do prefer to read in first person POVs, in fact all of my favourite books and written in first person.

The premise for Sea of Shadows in really unique and the world is very dark and really grabbed by attention. I will say though that the world building is quite slow and I was confused for the first third of the novel, but after, when it became clearer it was truly an amazing fantasy world. Because both twins are different, Moria is more the outgoing aggressive one, and Ashyn the quite, kind and polite one, so the change in narration was not confusing what so ever and was easy to distinguish who was telling the story at a given time.

I really enjoyed how, while being  a fantasy novel, the still was a very, very slight paranormal aspect tied in as well. I also enjoyed the side characters, which are boys and could  be possible love interests for the twins in later books, and Sea of Shadows are very minimal romance which is refreshing. It seems that the relationships will for at a more reasonable speed that in some other books.

The best parts of the novel by far for me would have to be the mythical creature that appear in the book, all of which I have never heard of, or seen in other books or movies. They were awesome! I also absolutely LOVED the ending, if definitely raising the rating I was going to give Sea of Shadows, and I cannot wait until next April to continue with the series to see what happens next.

Ultimately I think fans of Kelley Armstrong will enjoy Sea of Shadows even though it may not be her best book to date, reader will admire a change in genre and narration and fall in love with the amazing world that Kelley created in Sea of Shadows.

The f-It List Review

Title: The F-It List
Author: Julie Halpern
Release Date: November 12th 2013
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends
Source: ARC for Review
Rating: 5/5

Alex’s father recently died in a car accident. And on the night of his funeral, her best friend Becca slept with Alex’s boyfriend. So things aren’t great. Alex steps away from her friendship with Becca and focuses on her family.

But when Alex finally decides to forgive Becca, she finds out something that will change her world again--Becca has cancer.

So what do you do when your best friend has cancer? You help her shave her head. And then you take her bucket list and try to fulfill it on her behalf. Because if that’s all you can do to help your ailing friend--you do it.

 

Review:

 

What intrigued me the most about The F-It List was its title, the title alone is what made me initially pick up the book immediately after I had received it in the mail. I definitely wasn't expecting to love it as much as I did since I rarely ever read contemporary books because usually I'm not interested in them.

The F-It List follows the story of two bestfriends, Alex and Becca, Becca has come down with cancer and Alex is given the task of completing Becca's bucket list, known as "the f-it list". As you can probably imagine Th F-It List is an emotional read with heart. There are happy moments and sad that will surely bring a fear tears.

I really enjoyed Halpern's writing ; it was very well done, it draws the reader in, and it feels very real adding to the realness that a contemporary novel is supposed to have. I enjoyed the friendship between Alex and Becca, it's a friendship that many wish they could have. My favourite aspect of the novel would have to be the romantic relationships that both Alex and Becca acquire throughout the novel, it just shows that even in times of life or death love can occur.

Overall The F-It List was an amazing book, and that's saying something coming from me who doesn't typically like contemporary novels. But the book is very sexual so keep that it mind when reading, it's not for the younger audiences.

The Chaos of Stars Review

Title: The Chaos of Stars
Author: Kiersten White
Release Date: September 10th 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: ARC for Review
Rating: 3/5

Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

Review:

 

I've been a fan of Kiersten White for years, ever since Paranormalcy came out. So when I heard that see had an Egyptian mythology book coming out I was really happy since Egyptian mythology is my favourite type and I had yet to read a good book on the topic. While I did enjoy alot of things about The Chaos of Stars, somethings just didn't work for me.

 

My favourite thing about the novel is the concept, a mortal girl with immortal Egyptian Gods as parents. While that is very interesting White failed to explain how immortals could give birth to mortal children. The main character, Isodora, Kiersten's classic witty humour which I really enjoyed. I also really enjoyed how at the beginning of each chapter there was excerpts of Egyptian myths that related to the story told in The Chaos of Stars.

 

While The Chaos of Stars is a mythology book, I would say it's more of a contemporary book. The book follows Isodora who feels she was only born to worship her parents so that they wouldn't disappear because they were forgotten. Because of this she has trouble to the concept of love, she feels that humans are disposable and love only causes pain and heartache. The plot pretty much consists of Isodora dealing with these issues with Egyptian mythology tied into it. Just a heads up there is also some greek mythology.

 

Overall The Chaos of Stars is not my favourite Kiersten book to date, but I did enjoy it for the most part. I wish it wasn't a standalone, I would like to see what happens to Isodora and her friends next.

The Raven Boys Review

Title: The Raven Boys
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Release Date: September 18th 2012
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: ARC for review
Rating: 4.5

Summary:

 

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

 

Review:

 

Maggie Stiefvater is one of my all time favourite authors, I have and will continue to read whatever she puts out. I don't think anything she does in the future will ever be better than The Wolves of Mercy Falls though, I fell for that series... HARD <3 a="a" all="all" almost="almost" amazing="amazing" amongst="amongst" an="an" authors="authors" beautiful.="beautiful." being="being" best="best" boys.="boys." br="br" by="by" descriptice="descriptice" descritpion="descritpion" far.="far." for="for" found="found" he="he" her="her" i="i" in="in" is="is" it="it" little="little" maggie="maggie" makes="makes" me="me" much="much" nbsp="nbsp" of="of" one="one" other="other" out="out" poetic="poetic" point="point" raven="raven" s="s" seen="seen" she="she" stand="stand" that="that" the="the" thing="thing" though="though" to="to" too="too" used="used" ve="ve" was="was" world="world" writer="writer" writing.="writing.">
Despite The Raven Boys rather slow beginning, things picked up and I couldn't help falling in love with this book.  I loved all the characters Blue, Gansey, Noah, Adam, and Ronan. I think I would have loved them more if the book was written in first person so that I could get an inside look into their minds.

The concept that the books follows is an iteresting and unique one, that is better left being discovered for yourself instead of me trying to describe it. Trust me though, it is good and while reading it will touch base with all of your major emotions.

Damn you Maggie for creating such an enthralling ending that makes me want to read more NOW. I really don't know how I will wait... I would definitely recommend this book to Maggie Steifvater fans, and fans of YA in general. I can't see why you would not love this book as much or even more than I did.