The Geography of Lost Things by Jessica Brody

Title: The Geography of Lost Things
Author: Jessica Brody
Pages: 458 pages
Release Date: October 2nd, 2018
Source: Hardcover from Simon Teen
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

After Ali’s father passes away, he leaves his one and only prized possession—a 1968 Firebird convertible—to his daughter. But Ali doesn’t plan on keeping it. Not when it reminds her too much of all her father’s unfulfilled promises. So when she finds a buyer three hundred miles up the Pacific coast willing to pay enough money for the car to save her childhood home, Ali can’t wait to get going. Except Ali has no idea how to drive a stick shift. But guess who does?

Ali’s ex-boyfriend, Nico. And Nico has other plans.

He persuades Ali that instead of selling the car, they should “trade up” the items they collect on their trip to eventually reach the monetary amount Ali needs. Agreeing with Nico’s crazy plan, Ali sets off on a unique adventure that is unlike anything she ever could have expected.

And it’s through Ali’s travels, through the strangers she meets and the things that they value—and why they value them—that Ali eventually comes to understand her father and how his life may not have been as easy and carefree as she previously thought. Because just like the seemingly insignificant objects Ali collects, not everything is exactly as it appears.

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**I received an unsolicited copy of this book from the publisher. This has not affected my opinion of the book.**

Road trip contemporary stories are my kryptonite. This book tickled my desire to read a cute contemporary story about a road trip but also delivered in other aspects. I despise how I initially thought this was going to be yet another "road trip romance book", fitting the mold of all the road trip contemporaries I had read in the past. Beyond the surface, it is so much more. In fact, this book is one of the strongest contemporaries I've ever read.

I love contemporaries that are good at being cute and romantic, but I also appreciate when they succeed in teaching me valuable life lessons. I mean, going on a road trip with your ex-boyfriend? Straight from the start, I knew this book was going to be juicy! However, I did not think I was going to tear up, much less feel any emotional attachment to the characters in this story.

The relationships in this book are fragile and complex. In fact, there were so many relationships that could have each had their own books written about them! Ali and her father, Ali and her mother, Ali and Nico, Nico and his mother... Too many to name! I cared for these characters' well-being and carried their emotional burdens with me as I read on. I found the ex-boyfriend, Nico, to be especially interesting because from the start of the story he's introduced as this mystery.

There are some really small details in this book that I appreciated and GOD, THEY MADE ME LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH MORE. The story is so well thought out and the author pays so much attention to details like the information she puts in at the beginning of each chapter. You're going to have to read the book to find out what I mean. As you can see, I'm trying really hard right now to keep the spoilers out of this review!

There are so many beautiful things about this book, but mostly the true beauty lies in the lessons and message the book imparts. Messages about forgiveness and finding value in things and in relationships. This book isn't your typical road trip YA. It will tug your emotional heartstrings and possibly make you see the world in a new way. Although this book is nearly 500 pages long, it didn't feel that long. It was fast-paced and it almost felt like I was embarking on the road trip with these characters.

I was really nitpicky with my rating, which is perhaps the only reason I didn't end up giving it a 5-star rating. The book alternates from present to past with flashbacks, but I often felt it quite confusing determining whether we were in the present or the past. But overall, this book exceeded my expectations and I couldn't recommend it more. Brody's writing is reminiscent of a Morgan Matson book, which is probably why I flew through this one. For you die-hard contemporary readers, you will devour this book. For those who haven't read much contemporary, this one would also be perfect to start out with.

BLOG TOUR | To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo + Book Review

Title: To Kill A Kingdom
Author: Alexandra Christo

Pages: 384 pages
Release Date: March 6th, 2018

Source: ARC from Macmillan
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Rating: 4.5/5 

Princess Lira is siren royalty and the most lethal of them all. With the hearts of seventeen princes in her collection, she is revered across the sea. Until a twist of fate forces her to kill one of her own. To punish her daughter, the Sea Queen transforms Lira into the one thing they loathe most—a human. Robbed of her song, Lira has until the winter solstice to deliver Prince Elian’s heart to the Sea Queen or remain a human forever.

The ocean is the only place Prince Elian calls home, even though he is heir to the most powerful kingdom in the world. Hunting sirens is more than an unsavory hobby—it’s his calling. When he rescues a drowning woman in the ocean, she’s more than what she appears. She promises to help him find the key to destroying all of sirenkind for good—But can he trust her? And just how many deals will Elian have to barter to eliminate mankind’s greatest enemy?

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2018 is the year of mind-blowing and spectacular Young Adult fantasy books, I just know it! First Everless by Sara Holland blew me away with its unique plot and well-executed world-building and magic system, and then To Kill A Kingdom steals the spotlight with a dark spin on the classic, The Little Mermaid. I wonder what's next...

In the short time that I've been reading avidly as a book blogger, I don't think I've ever actually read a good Young Adult mermaid book. There is a scarcity of really popular YA mermaid books, so I think that the pitch that this book has going for it- "dark Little Mermaid retelling" - is going to help this book sell really well. Not to mention, that the cover is drop dead gorgeous. And thankfully in this case, looks are not deceiving. This book is beautiful both inside and out.

With every chapter, I was enticed to read more and more even if that meant sacrificing sleep. There was no shortage of adventure and intrigue. I don't think the world was so difficult to understand that the author had to fill the reader in that much, but there were a lot of rules that were cleared up in the first 50 pages. I think the only critique is that I wasn't able to get a sense of how far or close the kingdoms were to each other. There might be a map of the world in the hardcover copy, which would really help. What I liked especially was the clear distinction the author drew between mermaids and sirens.  Although mermaids and sirens bow down to the same Sea Queen, they are very different. Our main character Lira is a siren, not a mermaid.

Anyone who is a huge fan of The Little Mermaid (me me me!) will appreciate the small things that the author kept in the novel to keep the authenticity and the classic tale alive, but with dark and deadly twists. It was really intriguing, and I was just honestly blown away by how the author was able to take the infamous classic and make it her own. I won't spoil anything, but she takes really big elements of the classic Little Mermaid story and completely turns them around. It's very unexpected and simply refreshing.

A note to make: there is a lot of verbal and physical abuse from Lira's mother, so please be cautious. Like shit, it gets really intense. Trigger warning for verbal and physical abuse! 

We've got a host of fabulous leading ladies, and of course your occasional prince charming. But Prince Charming be damned, I wanted to take all the strong females in this book and put them in a all-female singing group. Lira, the main character, is a ruthless and ambitious siren. There's Madrid, another fearless female who holds a high rank on the Prince's fleet. Let's not forget Kahlia, Lira's siren cousin.

A lot of people will read the synopsis and simply dub it as a "mermaid book". What people don't expect though, is a pirate adventure filled with mischief, mayhem and a LOTTA romance.

I think one of Christo's biggest challenges with writing this book was to try and set her book apart from all the other Young Adult mermaid novels out there. And she did just that. Her writing is something that can only be experienced by reading this book. She's so descriptive, and she was really able to capture the beauty of the ocean and what it holds.

"With it comes the smell of dawn as the pink-lipped sky barely stays tucked behind the line of the ocean."

"When I open my mouth to sign, the air caramelizes on my tongue."

- quoted from an uncorrected proof of To Kill A Kingdom by Alexandra Christo

For all you folks that love the trope of hate-to-love romances, you will eat this book up. It was steamy and just...

Take whatever preconceived notion you have of this book and throw it out the window! This 2018 debut is already turning heads with the promise of being a book about "mermaids", and I'm glad to say that it lived up to my expectations and more. It's already out, so don't forget to get your hands on it. 

American Panda by Gloria Chao | Book Review

Title: American Panda
Author: Gloria Chao
Pages: 320 pages
Release Date: February 6th, 2018
Source: Hardcover from Amazon
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

An incisive, laugh-out-loud contemporary debut about a Taiwanese-American teen whose parents want her to be a doctor and marry a Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer despite her squeamishness with germs and crush on a Japanese classmate.

At seventeen, Mei should be in high school, but skipping fourth grade was part of her parents' master plan. Now a freshman at MIT, she is on track to fulfill the rest of this predetermined future: become a doctor, marry a preapproved Taiwanese Ivy Leaguer, produce a litter of babies.

With everything her parents have sacrificed to make her cushy life a reality, Mei can't bring herself to tell them the truth--that she (1) hates germs, (2) falls asleep in biology lectures, and (3) has a crush on her classmate Darren Takahashi, who is decidedly not Taiwanese.

But when Mei reconnects with her brother, Xing, who is estranged from the family for dating the wrong woman, Mei starts to wonder if all the secrets are truly worth it. Can she find a way to be herself, whoever that is, before her web of lies unravels?

Buy the book!

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I am so touched to see someone that looks like me on the cover of a highly promoted book in the Young Adult genre. When I first heard about this book, I was too excited to get my hands on it. I preordered the book, which is something I don't do anymore and it just shows how excited I was. I'm so delighted to be featuring this book on my blog and to be part of getting this book into the hands of other readers.

That being said, I really wanted to love this book. I don't read contemporary often, but when I do its usually diverse contemporaries. American Panda took me a little more than over a week to get through. While it was a pretty short book, I noticed that I wasn't that eager to pick up the book from time to time. Maybe that's why it took me so long to finish it! I'll be honest and say the book was slow and the plot didn't entice me as I originally hoped it would.

17-year-old Mei Lu knows that when she grows up she's going to be a doctor, marry a pre-approved Taiwanese man, have lots of male babies and provide for her family. What her parents don't know is that Mei doesn't want to follow the path they've carefully constructed for her. However, there is even more pressure on Mei to do what's expected of her because her brother shamed the family. Mei struggles with appeasing her family's age-old traditions while also trying to follow her own dreams.

Although I am Asian American, I have yet to face some of the things that the main character faced in this book. I think that's such an important thing to note- just because I come from the same background as a character, doesn't mean I'm going to have the same experiences. This is extremely important and something I stress because we can't judge a book based on how similar the character's experience was to our own. We must value all experiences. Fortunately for me, my parents did not push the notion that I had to be a doctor or a lawyer when I was growing up. They told me that I could be anything I ever wanted, as long as I was happy. Even though I didn't really grow up with the same experience, I could totally relate to Mei.

If you're looking for an authentic representation of what it's like to live under the pressure of cultural traditions, I would highly recommend this book. I think that a lot of Chinese traditions are very misunderstood and could even be considered cruel. This book explores what it's really like for someone to live under the pressure of these traditions and how difficult it can be to reconcile your own life with your parents expectations of you.

I enjoyed this book. It won't be making my list of top books any time soon, but I appreciated it for the representation and the storytelling. I just know this book is going to help a lot of people who feel the same way as Mei- pressured by her family's expectations and her culture to follow an already set path in life. The author said she wished she had this book when she was in school. I'm very grateful that I was able to read it at this stage in my life. So please, I encourage you to read and share it for others who might be experiencing the same thing.

ARC Review | Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 384 pages
Release Date: August 29th, 2017
Source: ARC
Genre: Young Adult, Superhero
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

She will become one of the world’s greatest heroes: WONDER WOMAN. But first she is Diana, Princess of the Amazons. And her fight is just beginning. . . .

Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mere mortal. Even worse, Alia Keralis is no ordinary girl and with this single brave act, Diana may have doomed the world.

Alia just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together, Diana and Alia will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. If they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

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By now, we all know that Leigh Bardugo is a master at writing stories from multiple points of view as well as being able to write characters like it’s nobody’s business. Wonder Woman: Warbringer is yet another example of her incredible talents as an author. The multiple POVs will keep you on your toes and constantly second guessing until the very last page. And in true Leigh Bardugo fashion, there is never a dull moment in the story, where we (as the readers) can relax, take a breath, and feel that our beloved characters are safe. I thoroughly enjoyed this story, and I cannot wait to read the rest of the series!

While we all know Wonder Woman from her role in the comics, in the DC movies, and in the media, we do not know Diana Prince- Princess of Themyscira, Daughter of Hippolyta, underestimated by her fellow Amazonian sisters, and (soon-to-be) hero of mankind. In Leigh Bardugo’s version of Wonder Woman’s backstory, Diana discovers Alia—the young Warbringer—trapped in a shipwreck explosion. Though both are still oblivious to Alia’s fate when they first meet, they quickly discover why everyone is after Alia, and what Alia’s survival could mean for the future of mankind.

“You do not enter a race to lose.”

As I mentioned before, this book hooked me in pretty quickly. From that very first sentence to the very last word, I held my breath, never knowing what to expect next. Surely, by now, I shouldn’t be surprised by how much I cry, laugh, and yell, at any Leigh Bardugo book I read, right?

It was also a pleasantly nice surprise to find how different this version of Diana’s story is from the Wonder Woman movie that was released a few weeks ago. Without getting into spoilers, Warbringer and Wonder Woman (2017) share very few similarities, besides both being epic portrayals of Wonder Woman’s backstory as an Amazonian warrior. While the movie took place in Europe in the 1940s, Warbringer takes place in modern day New York City. One of the key similarities in both the movie and Warbringer is that Diana leaves Themyscira to prove herself as an Amazon. If you enjoyed watching the movie (like 99% of us) then I highly recommend picking up Warbringer as well (if it’s not already on your TBR)!

Like Leigh Bardugo’s past works, Warbringer is told with rich imagery, description, and flawed characters. I loved the diverse portrayal of a majority colored cast of main characters. I loved the female friendships and the sisterhood bond that exists between Diana, Alia, and Nim. I loved that though there was slight romance, the romance didn’t take away from the plot, but rather, added to the story, and made the story all the more enjoyable. I loved that Leigh Bardugo noted and brought awareness to the racism that still exists today, regardless of a person’s social status. And perhaps my favorite part, is Leigh Bardugo’s fierce portrayal of women in Warbringer. This is a story that inspires the males to look up to the females.

In short, Wonder Woman: Warbringer has already scored a spot in my favorite books of 2017. It is an action-packed, page-turning, chills-inducing, fierce read of how the beloved Wonder Woman came to be the protector of mankind. Warbringer has all the classic elements of a Leigh Bardugo story mixed with pieces of classic Greek mythologies, for the perfect blend of a story you don’t want to miss out on.

“I am shield and blade to you. As I breathe, your enemies will know no sanctuary. While I live, your cause is mine.” – The Oath of an Amazon

ARC Review: The Hearts We Sold by Emily Lloyd-Jones | MUST READ!

Title: The Hearts We Sold
Author: Emily Lloyd-Jones
Pages: 400 pages
Release Date: August 8th, 2017
Source: ARC from the publisher
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Rating: 5/5 stars

When Dee Moreno makes a deal with a demon—her heart in exchange for an escape from a disastrous home life—she finds the trade may have been more than she bargained for. And becoming “heartless” is only the beginning. What lies ahead is a nightmare far bigger, far more monstrous than anything she could have ever imagined.

With reality turned on its head, Dee has only a group of other deal-making teens to keep her grounded, including the charming but secretive James Lancer. And as something grows between them amid an otherworldy ordeal, Dee begins to wonder: Can she give someone her heart when it’s no longer hers to give?

Preorder now! 

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**Content warnings: emotional abuse, alcohol addiction, and characters dealing with depression or anxiety**

**This review will be laden with exaggerations and fangirling because I fucking loved this book so much***

Wow. Just wow. Funny story behind this book actually. I received a huge summer package from The NOVL (the publisher) and this was one of the books included, however I didn't even bat an eyelash at it or pay any attention to it. I actually said to my friend, "I'll just give it away since I'm probably not going to read it." That is until I accidentally stumbled across its synopsis on Goodreads. After that, I pushed off all the books on my priority list to read this book. And thank god I did. 

The Hearts We Sold takes place in a world where humans are aware of demons. They may not know the demons' true purpose in appearing but they do know that they are willing to barter. In fact, many people have given their limbs to obtain something precious from the demons, who I like to think of as fairy godmothers. It mainly follows a girl named Deirdre (Dee) Moreno. Once Dee finds out that the school is cutting off her merit scholarship, she knows she is screwed. She is living in a toxic household with alcoholic parents and an emotionally abusive father that thinks her being in that school is useless. He refuses to help her pay the tuition fee. Without any way to support herself and a determination to stay in school and stay away from her household, she does the only thing she can think of. She makes a deal with the devil. But when the demon that appears wants more than just a limb, she ends up leasing her heart to him for two years. 

If you're a fan of the classic Rumpelstiltskin fairytale, you're going to enjoy this storyline. For some reason, the demon in this book reminded me of little ole' rumpy who would appear to the miller's daughter when she needed him the most. This book also reminded me a lot of Holly Black's work, specifically The Coldest Girl In Coldtown. It has a very dark and gothic kind of feel to it based on the smallest details like the places we are introduced to and the car that James drives. 

Besides the unique plot, I also really enjoyed the characters and the exploration of their motivations. This book was much more than a plot surrounding a human-demon bartering system. This book explores self-doubt, making decisions and living with the consequences. We get that "uh oh what have I done" moment, which I freaking loved. I loved how the author set up the entire beginning of the book to almost condone this trading between humans and demons. She made it seem very commonplace and acceptable to the society, but little do we know that it is much more than that. The book also explores one's desires and how far people are willing to go when they are seeking something in the moment. 

There are such small details in this book that made it to be so fantastic. Small lines of banter between the group made me laugh. The descriptions of the setting that made gooseflesh appear on my skin. There were even several lines in the book that revealed the truth about human nature and our motivations. 

The characters were all my children. It got to the point where I was scared to continue reading in fear of seeing one of them end up dead because they were putting their lives at risk to accomplish tasks for the demon. I shared sympathy for the characters and most importantly, I understood their reasons for making the trade even if I wouldn't have done the same thing in their situations. Not to mention that the main character is half Latino. There was also side characters on the LGBT+ spectrum.

Lloyd-Jones has a knack for presenting such real, authentic and flawed characters. We have the main character, who is most of the time insecure about relationships and getting close to other people. We see her growth through this fear as she meets James. Also with the demon himself! Throughout the entire book he's portrayed as an uncaring individual, but through working with this group of heartless people he even learns something about himself.

Aaaaannnndddd wait till you see the ending this book has got in store for ya, phew! Okay fair warning it's kind of tragic, so get those tissues ready. The magic system (is that the right term?) was quite a sight. At first you think okay this is going to be a paranormal contemporary about a girl who gives up her heart but falls in love, but noooooo. You, my friend, should be prepared to be taken on a fantasy, sci fi and magical journey to another universe (literally). 

Long story short, I loved this book. It's just ironic to me how a book I had no interest in reading has become one of my favorites of this entire year. The Hearts We Sold is a dark and compelling story. We as readers don't normally expect a book to push us to reevaluate everything about our nature or the way we think, but this book had that effect. If you're looking for a read that is unique from anything on the market but still has that YA feel and romance we all know and love, preorder this book right away.

I haven't seen much hype for this book, which is unfortunate. Such a book requires all the love and support it can get. I only hope this review will get you one step closer in becoming interested. Thank you for reading! 

Want by Cindy Pon | Book Review

Title: Want
Author: Cindy Pon
Pages: 336 pages
Release Date: June 13th, 2017
Source: ARC from publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Rating: 4/5 stars

From critically acclaimed author Cindy Pon comes an edge-of-your-seat sci-fi thriller, set in a near-future Taipei plagued by pollution, about a group of teens who risk everything to save their city.

Jason Zhou survives in a divided society where the elite use their wealth to buy longer lives. The rich wear special suits, protecting them from the pollution and viruses that plague the city, while those without suffer illness and early deaths. Frustrated by his city’s corruption and still grieving the loss of his mother who died as a result of it, Zhou is determined to change things, no matter the cost.

With the help of his friends, Zhou infiltrates the lives of the wealthy in hopes of destroying the international Jin Corporation from within. Jin Corp not only manufactures the special suits the rich rely on, but they may also be manufacturing the pollution that makes them necessary.

Yet the deeper Zhou delves into this new world of excess and wealth, the more muddled his plans become. And against his better judgment, Zhou finds himself falling for Daiyu, the daughter of Jin Corp’s CEO. Can Zhou save his city without compromising who he is, or destroying his own heart?

Preorder now! 

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**I received an advanced e-galley from the publishers. This has not affected my review in any way** 

Rarely have I ever found a book as perfect for me as this one right here. It is a science fiction book featuring an Asian main character, written by an Asian author. It takes place in Taipei, Taiwan. The main character has the same birthday as me. We might as well have been twins. I was reading this book for the #AsianLitBingo event that was happening. It was also Asian Heritage Month when I read it, and I think its important to acknowledge these stories by own voices authors.

This book is just so different from anything on the market right now. I really enjoyed the change of pace. I had never read a book with a setting in Taiwan! Growing up in Taiwan, the author made sure to include key parts of what she loved most about her birthplace. 

Not many people caught this but despite the fact that the entire book was told in English, the characters were actually speaking Mandarin. I thought that was a really interesting perspective and often times I found myself trying to translate the English into Mandarin, even though my Chinese is subpar at best. The book brought so many relatable parts of my culture into the story, including the foods that I eat and the customs we have in my house. It was so great to read about someone so similar to me on the pages of a book. It's a feeling I can never explain. 

I think with a lot of science fiction books, we as readers always ask ourselves "is this plot believable or conceivable?". Want takes place in a future where the levels of pollution have wrecked havoc because of the actions of society. It is a totally realistic re-imagining of how the world will look in 50-100 years, from the state of the environment, increase in expensive technology, and the wealth gap between the rich and the poor.

The book starts off by thrusting us into the conflict but slows down from there. I found the middle to be quite slow and dragging at times. The pace picked up after about 100-150 pages, and I was hooked. I so desperately wanted to know what the end of the book held for the fate of this society.

Although there is a romance between the main protagonist and one of the characters, I think it took a back seat for most of the book. The real shining gem of this book were the freaking fantastic characters and their relationships. The entire cast was amazingly diverse, including a Filipino, Indian and a bisexual character. Even from the beginning of the book, we get to see how close this ragtag group of activists is and how they strive for change.

Want is much more than a diverse, fast-paced science fiction novel. It's as Kirkus says a 'socially conscious futuristic thriller'. It's a story that reveals much more about our society than we realize. It brings to light so many current issues that I think many readers will take a stand in. I also think this is a great book that will, in the future, create more advocates to stand up against issues like poverty and the continued pollution that occurs. Not only did Want fulfill my little environmentalist heart, but it was also a token to my culture and background. If you're even the slightest bit hesitant about picking up this book because you don't think it'll be your cup of tea, just buy it anyway to prove yourself wrong. If you ever need more confirmation, just talk to the author because she's a sweetheart as well!

BLOG TOUR: The Crown's Fate by Evelyn Skye | Review + Giveaway

Title: The Crown's Fate
Author: Evelyn Skye
Pages: 400 pages
Release Date: May 16th, 2017
Source: Arc from publisher
Genre: Historical Fiction, Fantasy, Young Adult
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Russia is on the brink of great change. Pasha’s coronation approaches, and Vika is now the Imperial Enchanter, but the role she once coveted may be more difficult—and dangerous—than she ever expected.

Pasha is grappling with his own problems—his legitimacy is in doubt, the girl he loves loathes him, and he believes his best friend is dead. When a challenger to the throne emerges—and with the magic in Russia growing rapidly—Pasha must do whatever it takes to keep his position and protect his kingdom.

For Nikolai, the ending of the Crown’s Game stung deeply. Although he just managed to escape death, Nikolai remains alone, a shadow hidden in a not-quite-real world of his own creation. But when he’s given a second chance at life—tied to a dark price—Nikolai must decide just how far he’s willing to go to return to the world.

With revolution on the rise, dangerous new magic rearing up, and a tsardom up for the taking, Vika, Nikolai, and Pasha must fight—or face the destruction of not only their world but also themselves.

Get it now!

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**WARNING: This review may contain spoilers for the first book in The Crown's Game series. Please read with caution** 

I was wondering how Evelyn Skye was going to make this second installment as epic as the first one. Although I didn't like this one as much as its predecessor, it sure did not disappoint.

Book two starts with where left off in book one- Nikolai is dead, Vika is crowned Imperial Enchanter of Russia and Pasha is reeling over the death of his brother and best friend. As a rare case, I didn't have to reread book one to immediately jump into the second installment when I received it. A part of that is due to just how memorable the first book was, with its lavish descriptions of magic and scrumptious foods and delicacies.

Not only does book two delved into more of the realm of dark magic, but it also takes on a really dark tone. Often times, while reading TCF, I thought it was an entirely different author writing. From the facial expressions of the characters to the new elements of magic that are introduced into this world, the second book is definitely a lot darker than the first. For me, I preferred this malevolent twist in the characters' voices and really enjoyed the author's ability to keep her readers surprised. What other surprises have you got up your sleeve, Ms. Skye?

As with the first book, incredible magic is displayed. Skye has a knack for describing enchantments and magic without seeming cheesy or unbelievable. All the magic is incredibly inventive and played with the forces of good and evil. Where in this book, (FINALLYYY) we get two opposing forces of good magic and bad magic. Dark magic is introduced and with it, a new antagonist. I really liked the route the author took with this story, considering she had to make up for that ending of book one (amirite?).

I am at a loss for words when it comes to Skye's world-building and imagery. Just like in book one, there are mouth-watering descriptions of traditional Russian treats and meals. It was all incredibly exhilarating to read (considering that I read the book at midnight, so my stomach was always very unhappy with me).

Evelyn Skye

Evelyn Skye was once offered a job by the C.I.A., she not-so-secretly wishes she was on "So You Think You Can Dance," and if you challenge her to a pizza-eating contest, she guarantees she will win. When she isn't writing, Evelyn can be found chasing her daughter on the playground or sitting on the couch, immersed in a good book and eating way too many cookies. THE CROWN'S GAME is her first novel. Evelyn can be found online at www.evelynskye.com and on Twitter @EvelynSkyeYA.

Author Links: 

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MINI REVIEWS #1 | Black History Month, Carnivals, Murders

Recently I've read a few books that I have formed some opinions on, but not enough to write an entire review. Most of these were read pretty recently and so all the thoughts are still swirling around in my head, dying to get out. Maybe in the future, if I have more to write, I'll consider doing full reviews. But for the moment, this is just my attempt at getting my thoughts out. Hope you guys enjoy!

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds & Brendan Kiely

I read this with my friend Belinda for our Instagram book club, Diversify the Verse. This book follows a dual POV of Rashad and Quinn, two boys who get tangled up in a historic event. One minute Rashad is buying a bag of chips and the next, he's being being pummeled to the ground all because it looked like he was stealing. And he was a black kid in baggy clothes, so he must have been stealing. Quinn witnesses Rashad being brutalized and someone somewhere happens to film the footage on a phone camera.

AAB is a poignant and powerful story. Our reason for choosing this book as our book of the month is similar to the authors' reason for writing the book- to start a dialogue between young adults and the world about racism and racial profiling. I think this is an incredibly important story that doesn't shy away from the topics of violence, racism and social injustice. It has an incredibly widespread message that will apply to anyone in any situation and the lessons that are taught are unprecedented. I hope you guys will check out our discussion questions on our Instagram book club!

Caraval by Stephanie Garber

Seeing as this book made almost everyone's top books of the year lists, I'm quite scared to share my thoughts on this one. Unpopular opinion, coming up! 

I really really wanted to love Caraval. I received an ARC and the only thing that stopped me from reading it early was the hype surrounding the book. No joke, the pre-release hype was insane with so many people already naming it as their favorite. I have a history of not liking books that receive a lot of hype so you could only imagine my fear going into it. But alas, I read it because curiosity got the best of me. 

Don't get me wrong. I didn't hate it or dislike it, I just didn't like it as much as everyone else did. I couldn't stand the writing style, and I though the ending was super anti-climatic. Garber did an excellent job at keeping the reader in the dark until the end for the big reveal. When I got to the end, I was expecting just that- a big reveal. Instead I think it just flopped for me and it was just really disappointing. Also, trigger warnings for physical abuse and attempted suicide. We see physical abuse from the main character's father straight from the beginning of the book, and it was quite unsettling to read. 

I quite enjoyed the sister relationship featured though. I would always recommend this book if you're looking for a prominent and well-written sister relationship.

Nemesis by Brendan Reichs 

I thought I was finally done with reading YA science fiction mystery books that follow the same storyline, that is, until I read this book! Nemesis is a potent combination of Orphan Black, Lord of the Flies, and The Matrix. Keep your eyes peeled for this book on March 21st.

Short synopsis: Every two years on her birthday, Min Wilder is murdered by a strange man in a black suit and silver sunglasses. But hours later, she'll find herself in a clearing just outside her Idaho home. It's been happening ever since she was eight. Meanwhile The Anvil, an enormous asteroid, is threatening all life on earth. Min vows to discover what is happening to Fire Lake and uncovers a lifetime of lies: a vast conspiracy involving the sixty-four students of her sophomore class, one that may be even more sinister than the murders. 

Now I don't want to share too much because I'm going to be apart of the epic blog tour Penguin is planning. Let's just say that if you're tired of the same old science fiction plots in YA, read this book! It has such a unique story, one that incorporates the best of technology and a scary, corrupt government.

When I first read the synopsis, I demanded to know what the mystery behind the protagonists numerous deaths was! Every page unlocks something new and it's your job to put everything together and solve the mystery. This book is one that I'm sure to recommend over and over again to readers who love the thrill of a good mystery with a reveal that'll blow your mind.

Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst | Stellar F/F Fantasy Debut

Title: Of Fire and Stars
Author: Audrey Coulthurst
Pages: 389 pages
Release Date: November 22nd, 2016
Source: Hardcover from Novel Tea Club Box
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, LGBT
Rating: 4/5 out of 5 stars

Betrothed since childhood to the prince of Mynaria, Princess Dennaleia has always known what her future holds. Her marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and her homeland, protecting her people from other hostile lands. But Denna has a secret. She possesses an Affinity for fire—a dangerous gift for the future queen of a kingdom where magic is forbidden.

Now, Denna must learn the ways of her new home while trying to hide her growing magic. To make matters worse, she must learn to ride Mynaria’s formidable warhorses—and her teacher is the person who intimidates her most, the prickly and unconventional Princess Amaranthine—called Mare—the sister of her betrothed.

When a shocking assassination leaves the kingdom reeling, Mare and Denna reluctantly join forces to search for the culprit. As the two become closer, Mare is surprised by Denna’s intelligence and bravery, while Denna is drawn to Mare’s independent streak. And soon their friendship is threatening to blossom into something more.

But with dangerous conflict brewing that makes the alliance more important than ever, acting on their feelings could be deadly. Forced to choose between their duty and their hearts, Mare and Denna must find a way to save their kingdoms—and each other.

Buy it now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depo 

Saying I was excited for this book would be a vast understatement. I went into this book knowing I was going to love it because lgbt romance in a fantasy novel? Yes please. This is exactly what the Young Adult fantasy genre is missing these days- some diversity!

Princess Dennaleia has always known her fate. Her future is in the kingdom of Mynaria, betrothed to its crown prince. Her arranged marriage will seal the alliance between Mynaria and Havemont. Denna expects to be pampered and taught the responsibilities of a queen. What she doesn't see coming is a beautiful princess with pale green eyes, Princess Amaranthine, better known as Prince's Thandilimon hot-headed sister. In a kingdom so keen on dispelling its enemies and forbidding magic, one princess must hide her growing powers and her love for the girl she knows she can't have. The other must find her place in the kingdom and a way to go behind everything she's ever been taught to love a girl who is not hers.

"I kissed her slowly, deeply, every feeling I had for her pooling into my lips as I tasted the sweetness of her."

I was absolutely blown away with the direction that the author took with the story's POV. It was told through the eyes of both Princess Dennaleia and Princess Amaranthine. For some reason reading the synopsis, I thought this book was only going to be told through Denna's point of view. I'm usually not a big fan of dual perspectives, as much as I am with multiple perspective books, but I loved the way it was told in this one. Especially because both princesses were such different people who had such different insights in what was good for the kingdom. There wasn't too much overlap, which is something that tends to annoy me.

There was a lot of great political intrigue quite reminiscent of the aspects I loved in the Winner's Curse trilogy by Marie Rutkoski. Each page requires your full attention as you pay mind to which kingdoms are warring with who and the power that each kingdom holds. However, that also led the book to drag many times in the middle. I found myself often times bored of hearing about the quarrel between the kingdoms.

Prior to starting the book, I was terrified of it becoming too much of a contemporary novel. I'm glad to say that this book held its reputation as a fantasy novel. The story held a great pace and it was hard to see all those plot twists coming! I was blown away by how the author was able to focus so much on the political intrigue of the story, while also maintaining a presence of magic. Coulthurst's writing is easy to get into and takes on its own unique voice. Although the lack of any real world-building is a popular point among many negative reviews, it didn't bother me all that much. It really depends on your preference as a reader. I think what this book lacked in world-building and the development of the magic system, it made up for with brilliant characters and lots of yummy political intrigue.

And if that doesn't convince you, how about this? The side characters were phenomenal; all fully developed with complex personalities and motivations. There is Nils (Princess Amaranthine's best friend), Alisendi (Princess Denna's sister), Prince Thandilimon and Lord Kriantz (a lord from another kingdom). I was blown away by how much I felt invested in not only the main characters but the side characters as well. I cared about all of the characters, including the antagonists!

F/F romances in fantasy novels are rare in YA. Cue my unruly squealing and fangirling. The chemistry between the two princesses was on fire! Every moment they were together, you could feel the sparks flying out from the book. Just seeing their relationship blossom through each chapter brought great joy to my heart. These two characters were a great example of FOIL, where we see their differences bring out the best in each other.

Of Fire and Stars surprised me. A lot of the aspects I normally find in a fantasy novel were absent, but I think that was kind of the point. Truth be told, I think the only thing that made this book a fantasy was its pacing and the presence of magic. Sure, this book read more like a fantasy-contemporary novel.

I would definitely recommend this book! This is Coulthurst's debut novel, and I never imagined liking it as much as I did.

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo | THE REVIEW THAT CHANGES EVERYTHING

Title: Crooked Kingdom
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Pages: 448 pages
Release Date: September 27th, 2016
Source: Hardcover from Strand Bookstore
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult

Kaz Brekker and his crew have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives. Double-crossed and left crippled by the kidnapping of a valuable team member, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope.

As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties. A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets―a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of magic in the Grisha world. 

Buy it now!

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“When you can’t beat the odds, change the game.”

I was not ready for Crooked Kingdom. I mean, how could anyone be prepared for a book with red-stained pages? Bloody (whoops) red-stained pages. To sum up this sequel and finale in a single word, Crooked Kingdom was a masterpiece -a magnificently plotted, twisty-turny, mind-boggling, thrilling literary masterpiece.

Going into Crooked Kingdom, I vowed to savor the Six of Crows finale. And I’m assuming, you realize that it wasn’t the case (*sheds tear*). If you need any convincing to begin Six of Crows, I’ll let you know that the black-stained pages of the stunning hardcover edition, are not without purpose. The first novel follows the Dregs -a team of six rather insignificant “gang” members who are offered the greatest heist of the century, for a reward that would make them Kings and Queens. Crooked Kingdom follows the consequences of said heist… when things don’t turn out the way they should have, in Six of Crows. The story is dark, and mysterious, and Leigh Bardugo will pull the carpet right out from under your feet.

In Crooked Kingdom, the story takes a darker turn. The plot thickens, and suddenly more than just the lives of seven people are at stake. Leigh’s characters are also as diverse as her Universe. From the Crows’ cultural backgrounds to their unique skill sets and personal obstacles, each character is so raw and so real. The duology also explores mental health illnesses such as PTSD and anxiety in the heroes and heroines. But the Crows aren’t considered heroes or heroines. They’re a band of thieves and vigilantes. Anti Heroes and underdogs. I thought I loved Leigh’s Grisha Trilogy, but Six of Crows completely overwhelmed me, in the best way possible. And that’s all I’m saying for the non-spoilery discussion!

To keep this discussion/review from being the length of the Magna Carta, we’ve created a few questions, with rant-worthy, VERY SPOILERY answers! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

        

Who was your favorite character from Crooked Kingdom?

Alex: If you asked me when I had just finished Six of Crows, I would have said Matthias. But after Crooked Kingdom? Wow. I think I'd have to say Wylan. In book 1, I thought that he felt a lot like a side character. Anyone who's read this series knows that the 6 main characters in the book are the 6 crows, but I thought Wylan just faded into the background most of the time in book 1. He never left any lasting impression. That all changed, however, in book 2. I think Crooked Kingdom was Wylan's bitch. We learned so much more about his backstory and the final showdown with his father WAS JUST PERFECTION. It was the exact character arc that I had been looking for in book 1. 

Yingchao: Kaz Brekker. Through all the bits and pieces of Kaz’s horrifyingly tragic backstory, I had begun to forget how good of a fighter Kaz is, and had actually started to pity the guy. For someone with a crippled leg and slight frame, I was cradling my shattered heart as he took on those treacherous Dregs back at Per Haskell’s. When he was nearly choked and toyed the line with Death, I feared for my precious Crow’s dear life. But Kaz Brekker doesn’t make you forget that he’s a cunning mastermind. Remember, he had risen to the top by winning brawls and cheating everyone and their mothers. To the people outside his inner circle, Kaz is a cold-hearted wicked devil without a sliver of a compassionate soul. And yes, as he broke one traitor’s leg and smoothly cracked another’s skull, the least I could do was cheer on our little Brekker.

What was your favorite scene from Crooked Kingdom?

Alex: There's only defining moment that I remember better than my own name. It was when Jesper kissed Kuwei thinking it was Wylan. At that moment, I was feeling two things- extreme sadness for Wylan because he felt unloved and incredible laughter. I just laughed at that part because it was so incredibly cute and gave the book a little light-heartedness from all the chaos that was occurring. Come on, I know some of you had to be laughing at that part too!

Yingchao: I absolutely loved the ending, and I don't mean the Reunion ending, but the finally defeating Van Eck, the Shu, and the Fjerdans, ending. When all hope is lost, there’s still a way out. When we’d thought Kaz would have a Plan E after plans A, B, C, and D failed, but he...didn’t, and STILL managed to kick major villain-ass, I loved that moment. At one point, I had to put down the book to seriously process what had happened. Inej had fought literally, and figuratively (in a way), fought and overcame her inner demons. Wylan outplayed his father. Nina developed a new, deadlier power. Jesper embraced his Fabrikator powers. Matthias and Nina played their parts just right. And Kaz. He finally got his revenge on Pekka. He outsmarted everyone. The ending fills me with the hope that even if everything goes to utter and complete shit, there’s ALWAYS a way out- you just have to think of it. This was the ending I wanted. The ending I could’ve ever hoped for, and Leigh Bardugo tied together all the loose knots so perfectly.

What did you least like about the Six of Crows duology?

Alex: I have to agree with Yingchao on this one! There isn't one thing I don't like about this duology because it's pure perfection. Crooked Kingdom made my top book of 2016 and Six of Crows was actually one of the best in the year I read it. I wish she would just go out on a limb and write some novellas for these characters and the world of Ketterdam. PLEASE LEIGH BARDUGO. APPEASE THE MASSES! Love you. 

Yingchao: I didn't like that the story ended so soon. Truthfully, if Leigh wrote another 50 books about the Dregs, I would eat them up like Pumpkin Cheesecake; her writing is just that addicting. I was really hoping to see kaz and Inej as a couple, to see two of my all-stoke favorite characters be happy after their tragic pasts, but alas that was not to be. We do get a glimpse of them resembling a couple at the very end, and I only wish for Leigh Bardugo to write a short novella taking place maybe 6 months into the future. please? Just one more adventure, one last time?