Book Recap: The Torn Wing by Kiki Hamilton

Cover Inspection:
So pretty!

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):
London 1872 -

A bloody escape, a deadly threat, a shocking revelation...

As an orphan who stole the Queen's ring - only to find the ring was a reservoir that held a truce between the world of Faerie and the British Court - Tiki’s greatest fear suddenly becomes all too real: the fey have returned to London seeking revenge. As war escalates in the Otherworld, Queen Victoria’s youngest son, Prince Leopold, is attacked. In order to protect her family and those she loves, Tiki needs to know the meaning of an fáinne sí, the birthmark that winds around her wrist. But will she be brave enough to face the truth?

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.5
Plot	3.5
Writing	3.5
Characters	3.5
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.5 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
The book is set in London during the reign of Queen Victoria. In the middle part of the story, Tiki and Reiker visit the fae world from time to time.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Tiki, along with her orphan fmily, left their pickpocketing days behind. And now, she is temporarily living in Reiker's luxurious home. Tiki is brave, and her selflessness shines through. She remains to be the mother hen of the group, and Tiki feels responsible for each of them.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
In this installment, Tiki and Reiker find out the meaning of Tiki's birthmark. It just might be the thing that will save their family and friends from the UnSeelie.

LOVE:
Its been a long time since I've read The Fearie Ring, and I have forgotten what the story is all about. But lucky for us (readers who easily forget), that the important and relevant events that occurred in the first book was carefully laid down in the first chapter. With that, it was easier to understand everything that was happening - less confusion, more enjoyment.

Like in the first book, I adore the setting of the story. I have a love affair with stories set in Victorian London. Pair that with faeries, and you will have Hamilton's The Faerie Ring Series. The writing is just lovely. The language used, like in the first book, fits the setting perfectly. It has the formality, but none of stiffness. Its easy to get into.

Also, The Torn Wing is filled with so much mystery. From beginning to end, the story was driven by Reiker's secrets, Larkin's motives, and Tiki's true identity. Readers would no doubt be glued to this book from the moment they turn the first page because they would just have to find out the answer to all of those questions.

In The Torn Wing, Tiki and Reiker venture into the fae world. I loved those parts of the story. The fae world in Hamilton's books is both beautiful and terrifying. It's filled with seductive and deadly creatures: kelpies, faeries, dryads, redcaps.

NO LOVE:
I understand it when love stories hardly blossom in the first book in a series. This happens because the characters are merely getting to know each other. I applaud authors who don't jump into the insta-love band wagon as those kinds of love stories don't really feel real. However, in sequels, I expect more. And since this is already the sequel, I kind of expected that the love between Reiker and Tiki would bloom. But surprisingly, it still developed very slowly.

Along with this, it seemed that there was a chunk in the middle part of the story that really isn't relevant to the plot. It feel that those parts can be chopped off without really affecting the plot.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
There is a new character in this book. I'm not going to reveal his name and I will not talk about him too much because I don't want to spoil things. Suffice it to say that this character is a fae boy who is as mysterious as he is seductive. Sex-ay! One of my favorite lines in the book were by him:

“You’ve already thanked me once. Don’t make yourself so beholden to me that I’m tempted to seek my payment.” His voice was a whisper. “Because you are very tempting.”

MUSINGS:
I have to admit that I didn't really like the first book. Such is not the case for this one! It's safe to say that I LOVED THIS BOOK, and it instantly became one of my favorites this year. I didn't let go of it from the time I picked it up until I turned the last page. It was THAT good. And I'm sure you guys will love it as much as I did. This is Tiki's adventure in faerie land and her quest to find herself and her heritage. A lovely fusion of history and fantasy. All in all, The Torn Wing is a fantastic follow-up to The Faerie Ring. Kiki Hamilton's fans would be blown away and would be hungry for the third installment in the series.

DOODLES:
no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
Kiki Hamilton

SIMILAR READS:
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh
The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
The Iron Fey by Julie Kagawa

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: mild
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

Book Recap: Stormdancer Jay Kristoff (ARC)

Cover Inspection:
PERFECT!
It fits the story well!

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

A DYING LAND

The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST

The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL

Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.5
Characters	3.0
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in feudal Japan. In this dystopian story, rivers and waters are poisoned. The sky is red. The world is dying (or dead).

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The main character is Yukiko. She is strong, independent and courageous. She's merely sixteen, but she's mature beyond her years. Oh yeah... she has the ability to read the minds of creatures and she can speak to them without actually speaking.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

The shogun wants a thunder tiger. Basically, this story is about Yukiko's quest to find that mythical (and extinct!) creature called the arashitora. She eventually finds one, and develops a beautiful and touching relationship with the creature.

LOVE:

The writing is just exquisite - richly-detailed, flowery and poetic. It' elegant and classy. Its actually the first thing I noticed upon reading this book. This book is quite heavy on the details. In fact, it can be said that it is overwhelming. That amount would normally confuse me, but the author was able to spread them evenly, such that the reader will not feel bombarded or overwhelmed. Moreover, there are no words for the action scenes in this book. I believe that those were able to balance the massive amount of details in the book. (It was only the first chapter, and already, there was a fight scene!) It's so easy to get lost in those scenes. Another thing I adored about this book are those Japanese myths and legends that peppered the story. There were mythological creatures, such as a dragon and a phoenix. The author was also able to incorporate messages regarding the environment. With this, I can say that amidst books that rode on the popularity of paranormal romances with nothing but fluff, Stormdancer shines with its deep reflections about what we are doing to our world.

NO LOVE:

I will be honest, it takes patience to read Stormdancer. It's actually a bit hard to get into the book. There were a lot of things to know and understand for one to completely understand the story and its meaning. Also, there were times when I just couldn't catch up with the Japanese terms used in the book, only to find out that there is actually a glossary at the back of the book! Plus, I am not into steampunk. Not my favorite. So, I didn't like all those talk about engines and smoke and goggles.

FAVORITE CHARACTERS:

I would have to say Buruu and Yukiko. The bond between the two touched my heart. At first they can only communicate without words. Later on, they can transmit emotions without even speaking about them. I have so much love for this aspect of the story, and you would have to read it to know what I mean.

FAVORITE LINE:

The world was so big. How could one girl make a difference?

MUSINGS:

Like I said earlier, it takes patience to read Stormdancer. It's filled tiny, tiny details, so it's not the kind of book that you can speed read through. You must give yourself time to adjust to it. It's the kind of book where you must allow yourself to absorb the story and the events. It's hard to categorize this kind of book in simplistic terms, like good and bad. But one thing's for sure, reading Stormdancer is an experience. It took my breath away.

DOODLES:

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Jay Kristoff

SIMILAR READS:

One of a kind!

CONTENT REVIEW:

Classified as an adult book.

Book Recap: The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

Cover Inspection:
I really think that the cover fits the story well.
The silhouette of the girl can be Eva, who if fighting for her identity.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):
Eva’s life is not her own. She is a creation, an abomination—an echo. Made by the Weavers as a copy of someone else, she is expected to replace a girl named Amarra, her “other”, if she ever died. Eva studies what Amarra does, what she eats, what it’s like to kiss her boyfriend, Ray. So when Amarra is killed in a car crash, Eva should be ready.

But fifteen years of studying never prepared her for this.

Now she must abandon everything she’s ever known—the guardians who raised her, the boy she’s forbidden to love—to move to India and convince the world that Amarra is still alive.

What Eva finds is a grief-stricken family; parents unsure how to handle this echo they thought they wanted; and Ray, who knew every detail, every contour of Amarra. And when Eva is unexpectedly dealt a fatal blow that will change her existence forever, she is forced to choose: Stay and live out her years as a copy or leave and risk it all for the freedom to be an original. To be Eva.

From debut novelist Sangu Mandanna comes the dazzling story of a girl who was always told what she had to be—until she found the strength to decide for herself.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.0
Characters	3.0
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
The first part of the book is set in England. Then the main character goes to India to permanently live there.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Eva is no ordinary girl. She's an Echo. She's created by a weaver in the likeness of another girl, called her Other. Basically, Eva will replace her Other in case her Other dies. As a character, people describe Eva as
contrary and difficult. But, she is brave and intelligent. It's hard not to like her character.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
Eva has been created by the weavers upon the request of the parents of the girl from whom she is pattered, called her Other. The plan is this: upon her Other's death, Eva will step into the shoes of her Other.

LOVE:
The thing I loved the most about this story is that, from time to time, a striking and meaningful line pops up. Those lines made me reflect about life, myself, and about love. They touched my heart in more ways than one. As regards the romance, there is only one word that can describe it, and that is tender. I think this scene between the two can concretize that:

“What do you dream about?” Sean asks me. “When you’re not dreaming about flying away? Is it always Amarra’s life?”

“No, I only have the Amarra dreams now and then. Otherwise it’s cities. I always dream of cities.” I don’t tell him about my dreams of the green nursery.

“What about people?”

“Sometimes. People in those cities.”

I step onto the train and turn back to look at him. He’s quiet, says nothing.

“What do you dream about, Sean?”

He’s staring at me, but he takes a step back as a whistle blows. I raise my hand to wave as the compartment door starts to slide shut.

“You,” he says, before the door closes all the way. “I often dream of you.”

Sweet huh? Despite that innocent sweetness, the love between Sean and Eva is something that goes beyond attraction. They're friends first and foremost, and one is willing to sacrifice for the other, and vice versa. Just beautiful.

Moreover, I started this book not knowing what to expect. I have never read a book like this before. Echoes and their Others are something completely new to me. But it took only very few pages before I got fully invested in the story. It didn't take long for me to understand fully what the plot is all about. The author was able to present the necessary details of the story line early in the story, such that i was not left creeping in
the dark.

This book is well-written. I have no complaints regarding it. Its direct to the point, without being too scientific. It's poetic, without being excessively flowery. It flows smoothly and effortlessly, without being boring. It was such a pleasure to read. The writing is just lovely.

This book has the capacity to evoke very strong emotions in the reader (at least in me). Tears were flowing while I was reading this. One thing's for sure, Eva wasn't coddled by the author. She was battered,
bruised, and abused. One painful experience after another. And it hurt me. Every single time. Eva's story broke my heart into a million and fifty pieces.

NO LOVE:
There were a few things I didn't like about the book. First, there were some very, very small inconsistencies. They're hardly noticeable, but they're there, and I noticed them. Second, I cannot deny that some things and some events were not explained well. People just did things in the story. Events just happened. It was quite confusing. Lastly, while I loved the first two-thirds of the story, I didn't particularly like the last few chapters. It just went way too fast, especially the last chapter. It felt like a portion of it was cut.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
Sean. Eva's only friend turned sweetheart. I like him because he reminds me of Jay Heaton from The Body Finder. Like Jay, Sean is a good boy. He's the kind of boy whom you would present to your family at reunions, and not be ashamed. He's sensible and sweet. And he's very protective of Eva.

MUSINGS:
There are those books that can be described as believable, meaning, the fictitious plot has the possibility - however remote - of happening. This book is not it. The story was entertaining and engaging, yes, but I didn't think the plot is "believable." I really don't know why I feel this way, but I think it's because there aren't many details as to the circumstances of Eva's creation. In the story, Eva was just "created" or "stitched" by the weavers, nothing more.

Nevertheless, the book is oozing with all kinds of human emotions, both negative and positive - love, hate, grief, loneliness, guilt, and anger. I believe that this is the best thing about this book - its ability to evoke emotions. If you are looking for that kind of read, then this one should not be missed. The Lost Girl is the kind of story which appeals to people of all ages because it's a story of a struggle for one's identity and a fight for one's humanity.

DOODLES:

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
Sangu Mandanna

SIMILAR READS:
Fracture (Fracture, #1) by Megan Miranda

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: moderate few curse words
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

Book Recap: Crewel by Gennifer Albin (ARC)

Cover Inspection:
I really think it's pretty, and
it just how I imagined how the threads of life look like.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.5
Characters	3.0
Ending	2.5
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in a dystopian world, where women are obligated to be beautiful, groomed, and obedient. Girls are expected to remain pure and natural so that their "weaving" abilities aren't lost. The world is characterized by segregation of the sexes and totalitarianism. Everyone is being controlled by the Guild.

MAIN CHARACTER:

This is the story of Adelice - Headstrong, defiant, and sarcastic. She's strangely brave to a fault. She's also exceptionally talented in "weaving". For this reason, people are wary of her.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

It's really hard to summarize this book without giving anything away. So I'll just say this, Adelice was taken from her family to become a spinster, a girl who weaves life.

Which leads me to this: what is a spinster? They basically weave the fabric that makes up the world. If the Guild finds out about that a girl has a weaving ability, they will take the girl away from her family to work for them. And so what is weaving? It's the power to control life by manipulating threads of the world. A single thread represents a person, and ripping it out means a person disappears.

LOVE:

This is the first line of the first chapter:

I can count the days until summer draws to a close and autumn seeps into the leaves, painting them ginger and scarlet.

From the first page, it is apparent that the writing is lovely. This kind of writing went on for the rest of the book. There is a gorgeous play of words here.

Because the plot is complex, I really had no idea where the story was headed. It was unpredictable. It was hard to pick the characters with good intentions from those with bad intentions. I didn't know who to trust. This, along with the suspenseful story, kept me glued to the book until the past page. The pacing was steady for most of the book, but it became insanely fast near the end. It was a bit rushed, but I really didn't mind because that's when everything finally made sense. The story unraveled beautifully. 

Yes, there is a love story. It's part of the story, and some elements hinges on it, but it's really not central to the plot. The romance is slow and simmering. It feels real as it didn't manifest until about halfway through the book. There were merely hints at the beginning, but it became abundant at the end.

NO LOVE:

I had a hard time getting into the story. This plot is quite complex, and it takes some time to immerse yourself completely in the story. It takes a while for the reader to be familiar with the ins and outs of the story.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

I liked Adelice. She is a fiesty one! She doesn't take no for an answer. The Guild wants to control her, but she wouldn't let them. She's too intelligent for that.

MUSINGS:

I really thought this was just another dystopian story, but there's really much more to it than that. On the one hand, it speaks of a woman's power to create, and on the other hand, it's about societal control of women. The girls may have the power to "weave," but the Guild decides who to "rip." Also, purity, lesbianism, feminism are issues that were tackled in the book tangentially. So basically, this book is about women: a woman in love, a woman in power, a woman denied, a woman scorned, and a woman whose heart was broken. All in all, Crewel is not just one of those books where fluff is the story line, it's one of those stories that make you ponder on things that actually matter.

DOODLES:

No trailer yet.

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Gennifer Albin

SIMILAR READS:

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass
Matched (Matched #1) by Ally Condie

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

Book Recap: Nerve by Jeanne Ryan (ARC)

Cover Inspection:
I kind of like the cover.
It fits.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

Debut author Jeanne Ryan delivers an un-putdownable suspense thriller.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.0
Characters	2.5
Ending	2.5
Overall Rating	2.5 Good! (85% to 88%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in modern day Seattle.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The main character is Vee. And there is only one word to describe her - boring. She is shy and is always playing it safe. She lets other people step on her. She's all those things BEFORE she joined Nerve.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

Basically, Vee joined Nerve, an online dare game, which tests the player's limits as to how far will he or she is willing to go in exchange for the things they want the most.

LOVE:

I must say that the plot is pretty original - an online dare game testing one's limits. I've never read something like this before. The dares started out as tame, and towards the end of the book, the dares turned dangerous. And I loved it when Vee was doing the dares. It's completely out of character for her being the shy girl and all, but along the way, she sort of got addicted to it. The pacing of the story is quite good too! Being a story about testing limits, Nerve was far from being boring. Another thing I liked about the story is the Ian's mystery. Ian is the guy who was assigned to be Vee's partner. As the story progressed, Vee starts to have feelings for him, but her instincts tells her not true trust Ian. The thing about him is that he is so secretive. Vee (and the reader) don't know anything about him. You don't know if he's a good boy or a bad boy. (But from the beginning until the end, I liked his character.) It was fun unearthing his secrets as the story progessed.

NO LOVE:

I have to admit that the story was a bit repetitive. The players do the dares for a prize. Rinse and repeat. Nevertheless, some of the dares were entertaining in a very disturbing, very sick kind of way.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

I love mysterious guys. So naturally, Ian fits the bill! He's Mr. Mysterious.

FAVORITE LINE:

Honestly, no line struck me.

MUSINGS:

One may get the idea that this is one of those books that are similar to The Hunger Games. Besides the fact that the players do whatever the game makers want them to do for a prize, the similarity ends there. Firstly because Nerve isn't really dystopian. There is no authoritarianism here. It's just live online game. It's closer to being a high school psychological thriller. Second, the dares are relatively tame compared to murdering your opponents. Last, while the book is exciting, it lacks that oomph that makes hunger games (and yes, even divergent) unputdownable. While I really didnt like the main character at the beginning as she was some sort of a doormat, she actually grew on me as the story progressed. With the dares, she grew a back bone. I'm proud of her. All in all, I enjoyed reading Nerve. it's exciting to read about just how far Vee can go.

DOODLES:

No trailer yet.

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Jeanne Ryan 

SIMILAR READS:

I actually can't think of similar books. It's original, at least for me.

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: moderate
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

Book Recap: Lola & the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Cover Inspection:
Like the story, the cover is so cute!

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket—a gifted inventor—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	2.5
Writing	3.0
Characters	2.5
Ending	2.5
Overall Rating	2.5 Good! (85% to 88%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in modern day San Francisco.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The main character is Lola. She's seventeen and lives with her two fathers. She's quirky and carefree. She has a twenty-two year old boyfriend, whom her parents do not approve of. Then there's Cricket Graham Bell, Lola's next door neighbor. Cricket is freshman at Berkley. He's a handsome, hyper active genius!

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

This book is about Lola's struggle to fight her re-emerging feelings for her next door neighbor.

LOVE:

I love that this book embraced homosexuality. Lola has two fathers. Both are homosexuals, and both are love Lola unconditionally. They are fiercely protective of Lola, but they're also very understanding and open-minded when it comes to Lola's fashion sense.

I also liked that Anna and St. Clair were also present in this book! Anna is Lola's co-worker, and St. Clair lives in the same dorm as Cricket. The story didn't really focus on them as they're merely secondary characters, but we get a glimpse of how they are still very much in love and hot for each other!

Most of the time, I loved Lola's character. I love her because she isn't afraid to be different. She isn't afraid to show her true self. She's confident and has her own style. Of course, I also love Cricket. There is an amazing couply chemistry between Lola and Cricket. They are so connected to each other that there is no need for passionate kisses for the reader to feel their connection. A simple look would suffice.

NO LOVE:

Although I admire Lola's individuality, I didn't like the fact that Lola lied too much - from the beginning to the end of the story. Aside from the fact that it doesn't send a positive message, Lola could have prevented most of her problems by telling the truth. (But then again, there wouldn't be a story if Lola's life were that simple.) The lies piled up so high that by the end of the book everything tumbles down hitting Lola in the head. What's worse is that, the more Lola lies, the more she hurts that sweet boy Cricket. And Cricket deserves better treatment than that!

Another thing I disliked is that this book talks about clothes and fashion way too much. I love that Lola makes her own clothes and all, but the DETAILS as to how she makes them is just too much information. I don't need to know tracing patterns, refitting, etc.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

CRICKET! How can you not fall in love with a sweet, sweet guy like him??? He is sweet and geeky and nerdy and handsome and gentle and charming and honest and so on and so forth. It's so hard not to fall in love with a good boy. Cricket is perfect.

FAVORITE LINE:

Hmmm... although the story was entertaining, no particular line struck me.

MUSINGS:

I have to be honest, this book is the epitome of a predictable story. From page one, I knew how the book would end. But it cannot be denied that I enjoyed this book. It's very light and romantic. There's really not much to say about it. While I enjoyed reading it, I still think that Anna and the French Kiss is better for two reasons. First, Anna is set is Paris. And second, I don't remember Anna lying to everyone about everything. All in all, Lola is a cute read. It's the kind of read that makes you feel good and happy after turning the last page.

DOODLES:

no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Stephanie Perkins

SIMILAR READS:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild

violence: mild

sexual content: mild
mature themes: moderate
age recommendation: 13+

Book Recap: The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

Cover Inspection:
Ugh.
This is probably the only thing I dislike about the book.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	2.0
Plot	4.0
Writing	3.5
Characters	4.0
Ending	4.0
Overall Rating	4.0 Excellent (97% to 100%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in a fantasy world.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The main character is Elisa, the bearer of the Godstone and now, a queen. Elisa rules with both her heart and head. She is intelligent and well-studied. Although only in her teenage years, she commands respect. She's a natural leader.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

Queen Elisa's story continues as she searches for the source of the Godstone's power.

LOVE:

I absolutely loved the fact that the story has a Hispanic influence - names, customs, and others. It gave the story an uncommon and exotic atmosphere. Plus, the story is an adventure. Elisa and her friends journey to search for the source of the power of the Godstone. They fought assassins. They braved hurricanes and tornadoes. They faced so many challenges. There were also some amazing political scenes in this book. It's actually entwined with governance as Elisa dealt with taxes and skirmishes. Being a young queen, she is new to it all. But she attempts, always in good faith to do what she thinks is proper.

The story is narrated in the first person in Elisa's POV. With this, we get a view of how Elisa's mind works. Elisa matured in this second book. Gone is the Elisa who is insecure about the way she views herself. She developed confidence as she dealt with her life as queen and the bearer of the Godstone. Truly, she uses her intelligence and her power to negotiate to rule. She thinks before she acts. Interestingly, she is well-versed in the Belleza Guerra (a book quite similar to Sun Tzu's Art of War) and the Scriptura (equivalent to the Bible). And she uses the knowledge from both books to govern. She is one amazing character, and I love her. 

The first part may be all politics, but the second half is pure adventure. It's pretty much like the desert adventure in the first book, only with more romance and... more Hector!

Speaking of Hector... hmmm... 

Suffice it to say that I want one for myself. Heh. 

Hector is so sexy. Like Elisa, he is a natural leader, a natural strategist. What's more is that his men love and respect him. Hector may exude power, but what stands out the most is his humility. Moreover. I loved Elisa and Hector's relationship. Elisa has a number of allies, but Hector is the greatest. Humberto is Elisa's first love, but Hector is her true love. In this story, Hector stepped up from being just a king's guard to being the queen's confidant, friend, and sweetheart. There were a few scenes of the two of them that are so cute.

Hector turns to me, his gaze fierce. “Majesty, if I sense danger, I’ll hustle you away, against your will if necessary.”

“And if that happens, I promise to be only temporarily enraged.”

And another one...

“I’ll look into it, Majesty.”

“And please stop calling me Majesty in private. It makes me grit my teeth.”

He nods with exaggerated solemnity. “I’d hate for you to ruin your teeth on my behalf.”

But there were also scenes, where the heat and the chemistry between the two is just... smoldering.

NO LOVE:

I just can't name a thing! 

Okay, there's one.

The book cover.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

Storm, the Invierne. He's a minor character, but I liked him. He speaks his mind about everything without regard as to who he is speaking to. Don't get me wrong, he isn't exactly rude. He has manners when he thinks you deserve it. He's very frank with Elisa. He tells her what she needs to hear, not what she wants to hear. Plus, Storm provides some comic relief. I was amused by his quick retorts.

MUSINGS:

I have to admit that I didn't like the first book as much. It was just an average fantasy read for me. The first book lacked magic and romance. But this book compensated for that. It's filled with magic. It's filled with romance (filled with Hector, really). The Crown of Embers just blew me away. I have nothing more to say except that I loved this book. If you didn't like the first book, set that thought aside, and give this book a chance. It might just surprise you.

DOODLES:

Haven't found a trailer.

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Rae Carson

SIMILAR READS:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild
violence: moderate
sexual content: moderate
mature themes: moderate (talk of birth control, a beheading scene - no details)
age recommendation: 14+

Book Recap: The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

Cover Inspection:
Looks like a raunchy romance novel, doesn't it?
Well... you're WRONG.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Mia is torn between two guys—and two worlds—in this epic, romantic fantasy.Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.

Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.5
Plot	2.5
Writing	2.5
Characters	2.5
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in modern day Crownsville, Nebraska. Then. the main character travels to another dimension called Brakaland. In Brakaland, magic and magical creatures exist.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Mia is the main character in The Dark Light. She is hardworking, determined, smart. She's mature beyond her years. She lives with her uncle (who, according to her, is irresponsible) and her younger brother, Jay.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

There have been "light shows" in the town of Crownsville, and kids have been disappearing whenever it appears. One night, Mia's brother disappeared! Sol, the new kid at school, seems to know why her brother disappeared. So, together, they travel to another dimension to rescue Mia's brother.

LOVE:

I love the fact that Sol kept his mystery until the very end of the book. It kept me guessing as to who or what Sol actually is. Come to think of it, his mystery and evasiveness is the main thing that kept me glued to this book.

I also loved Sol's character. He is such a mysterious guy. The broody and tormented works for him just fine. This is the kind of story where the reader would just have to figure out (along with the character) just who (or what) the love interest is. Why does he have a tattoo that big? Why the broad shoulders? Why act like a man when a guy is just in high school? Sol is a sexy mystery any girl reader would be thrilled to unravel.

There is a VERY slow, yet simmering romance in this book. Actually, there wasn't much romance as I expected. From the looks of the book cover, it is safe to assume that this is a sort of book that is bordering on raunchy. This is not the case. This book is far from being raunchy. This is a fantasy book. If you are looking for action and adventure, then you will enjoy this book. The entire book consisted of travels and facing terrifying creatures. There was a good amount of action, especially near the end of the book.

There is an Alice in Wonderland concept in this book - a headstrong girl enters a world filled with creatures and magic. In truth, I am amazed by the author's imagination. She was able to create a world where:

• barriers absorb living creatures,
• mines can be opened to unleash demons in order to breed them,
• human like creatures with not one, but two, hearts.

NO LOVE:

This book started out very slowly. It took a while for the story to pick up and for things to make sense. Also, there were too many paragraphs on too many chapters dedicated on Sol's appearance - wide shoulders, long arms, muscled chest. I get it. He's hot and sexy and has the capability to make any girl hot and bothered. No need to repeat that fact every now and then. In addition, the story seemed repetitive, especially in the middle part - demons attack, Sol saves the day. Were it not for my curiosity to find out what Sol really is and to find out if Mia and Sol will end up together at the end of the book, I would have set this book aside.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

I like Mia's character. (This is one of the very few books where I liked the main character.) She's simple and honest. Most of all, she's sensible and hardworking. She knows her priorities, probably because she was forced to grow up very early in life. Also, she is very relatable - she thinks the way an ordinary teen would think.

MUSINGS:

The first part of the book does not read like a fantasy book at all. It reads like a mystery book. The fantasy element presented itself only when Mia entered the otherwolrd. So don't expect magic and fantasy as soon as you turn the first page.

Yes, the book may be likened to the Iron Fey, particularly The Iron King - a girl traversing a magical world with the help of hunky guys. Nevertheless, this one is darker and more dreary, with less humor and more ogling at a magical broad-shouldered boy.

The writing was very easy to understand and to get into. No nonsense and direct to the point! There's not much description in the book, but it works given that the story is driven by the mystery surrounding the disappearances and Sol's role in everything.

All in all, it was a fairly good read. It has good parts, and bad ones, like most books. Its not one of the best I've read this year, but its one of the good ones out in YA jungle. For sure, lovers of fantasy books with hunky guys accompanying the female lead would devour The Dark Light.

DOODLES:

no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Sara Walsh

SIMILAR READS:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

Book Recap: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa (ARC)

Cover Inspection: 
I still cannot believe that this guy is Ethan.
In my mind, he's still Meghan's baby brother!

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.0
Characters	3.0
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
Thirteen years ago has passed since Meghan saved Ethan from the Iron King. Now, Ethan ventures to back to the Nevernever and Mag Turiedh to see his sister.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
This time, Ethan is the main character of the book. Like Meghan in The Iron King, Ethan is an outcast in his
school. Actually, he has been kicked out of his old school for allegedly burning the school. For this reason, Ethan stays away from people. He also sees Them (what he calls the fae) and he's very wary of them. Oh, and he acts like a complete jackass to keep people away.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
This is ethans adventure back into the nevernever. The story involves the Forgotten, skeletonlike, ghostlike faeries who are eating the glamour of normal fae.

LOVE:

Imagination
I am awed by Julies imagination and the fact that she is able to put it in writing effortlessly. Like her other works, the Nevernever is filled with terrifying and deadly creatures. She was still able to put those creatures to life. To me, that is just pure talent. Plus, the descriptions are vivid, and appeals to all the senses. Even the sounds of piskies were described - "chipmunk on speed." There were also creatures whose face is made up of with machines. There were all kinds of creatures attacking from all sides that kept the charcters on their toes and the reader glued to the pages.

Romance blooms. 

The thing I love the most about Julie's writing is the sweet and swoonworthy romance. One of the best! In the Iron Fey, we only have one set swoonworthy coupling, in this book, there are two, namely: Ethan and Kenzie, and another couple whose identities I will not disclose because they are spoilers. The romance between Ethan and Kenzie is slow and sweet. They started out as friends, hardly even that actually, but as they travelled and experienced the Nevernever together, they fell in love along the way. Very much like Ash and Meghan's romance - slow, sweet, and simmering. Another thing I love about Julie's fae books is that while there is romance, it does not take over the plot. There is a very good story behind the romance.

Humor
Like with the Iron Fey, the book has funny parts, and is also filled with snarky comments and witty comebacks.

Razor! 

That adorable, adorable gremlin! 

*me want a pet gremlin as cute and loyal as Razor*

NO LOVE:
It took a while for the story to pick up. First few chapters, and all Ethan did was act like a complete ass with the people around him. It was only in chapter 6 when things got really interesting.

Also, while most of the characters are back, there were hardly any scenes with Puck! I miss his pranks and wit, and I wish there was more of him.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
I like Kenzie (the love interest of Ethan). She's smart and beautiful. She's persistent and unfazed by Ethan's attitude.

FAVORITE LINE:
Withheld - the book I've read is an advance copy.

MUSINGS:
While reading, it made me realize just how much I love Julie Kagawas Nevernever and its denizens, most especially Grimalkin. I love Grim, especially the way he answers questions with "I am a cat," like that explains everything.

I think Ethan Chase is no ordinary character. He doesn't have Meghans happy, pleasant disposition. He has a certain darkness and sadness inside him. He is struggling to be his real kind self, but he has so many bad experiences about the fae that he is forced to push people away. He is one of the most conflicted and complicated characters I have ever read about. It's hard to love him as a character because he is just so mean to people, yet I found it harder to hate him because there is goodness in him too. I pitied him most of the time. My heart bled for him even.

All in all, I  enjoyed The Lost Prince. Its a happy combination of fantasy, adventure, and romance. While I still think the the third book in the Iron Fey series (The Iron Queen) is Julie's best book, her fans would still enjoy and devour The Lost Prince, and would be thrilled to revisit the Nevernever experience.

DOODLES:
no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
Julie Kagawa

SIMILAR READS:
The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: mild
violence: mild to moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

Book Recap: Rift by Andrea Cremer

Cover Inspection: 
The cover doesn't look medieval at all
in full contrast to the story itself.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	2.5
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.5
Characters	2.5
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

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