Book Review | Wolf by Wolf & Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

Hey guys, let me start off this review by apologizing for our absence (well, mine mostly). I can't blame my cobloggers for not being here haha! I underestimated the workload and stress of senior year that I'm currently sitting here overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I need done by November. So... I'm sorry! The Book's Buzz is a labor of love and something I put my heart and soul into. My intention wasn't to take off for so many weeks without posting, but it just happened. Without further ado, I'm going to direct your attention to my co-blogger Yingchao and her review of the Wolf by Wolf duology. She's been trying to get me to read these books for ages!

- Alex @ The Book's Buzz 

Title: Wolf By Wolf
Author: Ryan Graudin
Pages: 388 pages
Release Date: October 20th, 2015
Source: Paperback
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult

Her story begins on a train.

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo.

Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.

But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

From the author of The Walled City comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless.

Buy now: 

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Wolf by Wolf: Paperback 5/5 ⭐️s

Blood for Blood: ARC 4/5 ⭐️s

Hands down, one of the best books [Wolf by Wolf] that I read this year. If you haven't yet read Wolf by Wolf, I understand; please stop whatever you might be doing right now and go read this duology by Ryan Graudin. When you're finished, I promise you that hardly any time in the real world will have passed.

I read Wolf by Wolf almost two months ago, and I haven't been able to put to words my thoughts on this book and its sequel. In regards to how quickly I read Wolf by Wolf, let's just say I devoured (no pun intended) this book, at a consistent heart-racing speed. I read it in probably less than 48 hours, even with final papers and projects to turn in for my final days of high school.

Now, in regards to my thoughts on this book, which let's be honest, is what this review is really about, I still cannot describe how perfect the story was. At its very core, Wolf by Wolf is the tale of a mission, carried out by a revolutionary (very classic), using a worldwide motorcycle race as the cover-up (oH yES). It's intense.

Our main character, Yael (Ya-El; I believe that's how her name is pronounced), is intensely flawed, and emotionally marred by her past. When you meet Yael, she's quick-witted, and fiercely strong, but as we learn more about this alternate post-WWII world, we learn the hardships that Yael's faced since she was little, and the emotional and physical trauma that she's endured under the villains whom exist in both our world and her world.

On top of the high-speed cross-continental motor race that Ryan Graudin executes so effortlessly and flawlessly, there is an additional layer of mystery and intrigue amongst the characters. A mission which seems so simple at sight, becomes so many complicated layers as the race progresses. Yael is challenged to her fullest extents, and we see her become someone whom we might not have at first imagined her to become, but we still root for her.

But it takes two to tango, and three to make a crowd. And Yael is not the only character with so much dynamic. Every character that Ryan Graudin introduces into the plot has a purpose, even if they appear just once. Every character is a part of the larger plot, and every character feels real. The story, the world, the characters, the feels. Wolf by Wolf was utterly perfect. Not to mention the obsession with motorcycles that its fostered in me.

So of course, upon finishing Wolf by Wolf, I was dying to get my hands on Blood for Blood, and luckily, I had an ARC of it available. While Wolf by Wolf was a crazy, whirlwind of surprises and intensity, Blood for Blood was much calmer, by comparison. Blood for Blood is the revenge story, the novel to bring closure; just like how Crooked Kingdom is for Six of Crows.

Comparing Blood for Blood to Wolf by Wolf, I loved Wolf by Wolf far more. For its unexpected twists and heart wrenching moments, Wolf by Wolf will always have a place in my most memorable books of all time. Blood for Blood was a more thought-out journey from point A to point B, where we as the reader generally know what to expect for the most part. Except for that ending. What the f***!?! With that said, I still thoroughly enjoyed Blood for Blood, and though the ending was hard to accept, it does bring closure to Yael's epic tale.

BLOG TOUR: Empress of A Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza + GIVEAWAY!

Title: Empress of A Thousand Skies
Author: Rhoda Belleza
Pages: 344 pages
Release Date: February 7th, 2017
Source: ARC from Penguin Teen
Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult, Fantasy, Space Opera
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Empress
Rhee, also known as Crown Princess Rhiannon Ta’an, is the sole surviving heir to a powerful dynasty. She’ll stop at nothing to avenge her family and claim her throne.

Fugitive
Aly has risen above his war refugee origins to find fame as the dashing star of a DroneVision show. But when he’s falsely accused of killing Rhee, he's forced to prove his innocence to save his reputation – and his life.

Madman
With planets on the brink of war, Rhee and Aly are thrown together to confront a ruthless evil that threatens the fate of the entire galaxy.

A saga of vengeance, warfare, and the true meaning of legacy.
 

Out now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depo

**I received an advanced reader's copy from the publisher. However, all thoughts and opinions are my own** 

If this own voices space opera isn't on your 2017 TBR, then you must be doing something wrong. This 2017 release will make you obsessed with books that take place in space and, not to mention, make you want to reread the TLC series by Marissa Meyer. So bear with me as I try to recall my first impressions of this book that I read way back in December (shame on my procrastination)...

Empress of a Thousand Skies gave me major Lunar Chronicle Marissa Meyer vibes, and I love how much it reminded me of my favorite series. I though the plot was kind very similar in terms of TLC, as in a runaway princess who plans to take back her throne while the whole universe thinks she's dead. If you're a huge fan of TLC, I think you'd really enjoy this upcoming release.

I'm such a tech nerd, so you could imagine how I devoured the mention of this world's technology. Spaceships, cubes, programmers, hackers. Basically each person has a 'cube' implanted behind their right ear, and it has the ability to record memories, experiences, translate languages, communicate with other people and most importantly, let the government know what you're up to. The cubes play a major role in our characters' story as they mean the difference between getting caught and staying alive. Another reason for Marissa Meyer fans to reach for this book sooner rather than later.

One of my favorite aspects of the book was the dual POV. Similar to the TLC series, the different characters' storylines don't converge until the very end. And I liked that, I really did. All this buildup, all this anticipation, is setting a foundation for a hell of a meetup when the two characters Rhee and Aly finally come together.

From the back of the book, I kind of predicted there to be a romance between Rhee and Aly. But there wasn't, in fact, each character met someone along the way and started their own romances. When I started realizing that, I appreciated the story more because I didn't have to expect any budding romances to come out of their meeting. It was finally going to be more about saving the throne than falling in love!

While we're on the topic of romance, there is very little romance in this book, which I quite enjoyed. It was refreshing to see in a YA debut. Because the author was able to focus less on romance, she was able to build some really great family and friend relationships that sealed the deal for me. One of my favorite characters was Vin, Aly's best friend, and I thought their relationship was by far the best in the book.

This book includes the best of a diverse cast, beautiful scenery, character relationships and space politics! Yes folks, you heard me right. Space politics! We learned a great deal about how this world functioned and the importance of their hierarchal system. It's nothing too confusing, especially because she breaks it down so nicely and it blends well into this fast-paced story.

One of my initial reasons for being so excited for this book was the promise of a diverse cast and an own voices story. And while we did see an amazingly diverse set of characters, I didn't quite grasp the own voices concept at first until I read other reviews. A group of people in the story, Wraetans, are frowned upon because of their past clashes with the Kalusians (the reigning power). We're told that the Kalusians are more fair-skinned while Wraetans are much more tan. I liked how the two characters originated from these two different groups, Rhee as a high profile Kalusian and Aly, as a high profile Wraethan. Through Rhee we were enlightened of her political view of the Wraetans and her desperate longing for the Kalusians and Wraetans to join as one force. Through Aly we are shown what he goes through living as a Wraethan in Kalusian society. Through Aly's story, we see a strong oppressed main character who proves that his people aren't only capable of war and violence.

The writing style was very unique and whenever an author takes the time to develop their own phrases, I'm immediately impressed. You know how we have our typical slang? Yeah, well this book creates some new sci-fi space slang that I was all for.

I get butterflies just thinking about what an awesome debut this is going to be. With complex characters, surprising twists and turns and an awesome world to jump into, Empress of A Thousand Skies sets the groundwork for a new sci-fi space opera series to emerge. With very little that irked me, I have to mention that this book didn't blow me away as much as I thought it would. Might come as a shocker considering all the good that I've said about it. Don't get me wrong, it was a good book, fantastic even. I just didn't feel any feeling of 'OMG I'M GOING TO DIE WITHOUT THE SEQUEL' after reading it, you know?

And although the synopsis is a poor summary for what the book is actually about, you do get quite the mix of surprises and twists that you won't see coming. Frankly, I think the synopsis is misleading! But it's all fine and well because I enjoyed the book!

Author Bio

Rhoda Belleza was raised in Los Angeles, where she grew up writing X-Files fanfiction and stuffing her face with avocados. She's a children's editor at a publishing house and writes from a sunny Brooklyn apartment stuffed with far too many bikes and far too many shoes. When she's not writing, Rhoda obsesses over nail art tutorials, watches kung fu movies, and sews together crooked things together that pass for clothes. Empress of a Thousand Skies is her debut novel. Follow her on Twitter @rhodabee. 

GIVEAWAY! 

Enter for a chance to win one (1) of three (3) signed copies of Empress of a Thousand Skies by Rhoda Belleza (ARV: $17.99 each). 

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Enter between 12:00 AM Eastern Time on February 6, 2017 and 12:00 AM on February 20, 2017. Open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older. Winners will be selected at random on or about February 22, 2017. Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. Void when prohibited or restircted by law.  

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Maresi by Maria Turtschaninoff | Feminism in YA Fantasy Writing

Title: Maresi (Book 1 in The Red Abbey Chronicles trilogy)
Author: Maria Turtschaninoff
Pages: 256 pages
Release Date: January 3rd, 2017
Source: ARC from Amulet Books
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult, Feminism
Rating: 5/5 stars

Only women and girls are allowed in the Red Abbey, a haven from abuse and oppression. Maresi, a thirteen-year-old novice there, arrived in the hunger winter and now lives a happy life in the Abbey, protected by the Mother and reveling in the vast library in the House of Knowledge, her favorite place. Into this idyllic existence comes Jai, a girl with a dark past. She has escaped her home after witnessing the killing of her beloved sister. Soon the dangers of the outside world follow Jai into the sacred space of the Abbey, and Maresi can no longer hide in books and words but must become one who acts.

Preorder now!

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

"Feminism in YA fantasy writing," the publishers pitched. 

*puts down current read to start this book*

Finnish author, Maria Turtschaninoff brings her A-game with this feminist-empowering fantasy story. As a book reviewer, I find it extremely difficult to be able to distinguish certain gems from an entire sea of books. That rings true especially when reading in Young Adult genre because most books are just purely entertaining and never burn a lasting-impression in my head. Most people turn away from YA books because they think they won't learn something out of it or because it's simply 'too childish'. With Maresi, however, I believe this is a book every single person no matter what age group they fall under should read.

Only women and girls are allowed in the Red Abbey. We follow Maresi, a thirteen-year-old novice, as she documents her story and time at the Abbey through one long flashback-like moment. The Red Abbey is a peaceful haven for young girls and women who seek refuge away from society or abuse. That is, until Jai arrives. Jai brings with her the burden of her past and her father who will not stop until he gets ahold of his precious daughter who has brought him a great deal of shame. And when men invade the Red Abbey, the true strength and resilience of these girls and women are put to the test...

If you've been reading YA for the past several years, you'd be familiar with the oh-so-popular female heroine complex. Everyone loves a good kickass female protagonist. Just take the most popular ones: Celaena Sardothien, Katniss Everdeen, Tris Prior and even Cinder from The Lunar Chronicles series. My true task in writing this review is to convince you that this book is extremely different from any of the YA books you've ever read before. 

In some ways, it is the same as every female-heroine YA book you've ever read because there simply is a female heroine. The females save the day. The females make it out in the end. What else do you want me to say? But in an entirely different aspect, you'll find that this book is unlike any other YA.

These Red Abbey girls who seek a safe haven are usually brought to the island at a very young age. They grow up entirely away from the bonds and care of men. And so, they must cook, clean, learn and survive without men. 

In most female-heroine books, we see only one female making a difference, fighting off the bad guy or even saving the world. In Maresi, we see an entire community of females (both young and old) come together to fight off a greater evil. If that doesn't scream girl power, I don't know what does!

 

"I want to grow up to see what the world has to offer me and what I have to offer to the world. I am not finished with it yet."

- quoted from an advanced and unfinished copy of Maresi, by Maria Turtschaninoff 

I'll admit it took me quite a while to get into the book, but I think that's because of how much the narrator lagged on and on about the Abbey's history in the beginning. Once I hit the middle and Jai's entrance into the story, I was hooked!

Another thing I want to point out is Turtschaninoff's ability to write such a fantastic story in only 256 pages. Likeeeeee what?? The book itself is so tiny but she hit all the points of the story and managed to write a superb book. The history of the Red Abbey was extremely well-developed. We learned why the Abbey was created, how it was created and the magic behind it. I think the flashback format that she followed played a great deal in revealing character development of our narrator Maresi. It was kind of ingenious!

An absolutely stunning addition to any booklover's YA bookshelves. An inspiring piece about the presence of strong feminism in YA fantasy writing. Empowering. Ground-breaking. Heartbreaking. A story about sisterhood, feminism, and inner-strength. Maresi will capture reader's hearts, both male and female alike. I think every gender can learn something from this book. From the world-building, magic, to the emergence of a strong female voice, this book was definitely a 5/5 star read for me.

I'm pretty much over one single female character being the embodiment of feminism and strength in YA literature. If you are too, I highly suggest picking up Maresi when it comes out on January 2017.

Our Chemical Hearts by Krystal Sutherland + Post-Heartbreak Advice | BLOG TOUR

Title: Our Chemical Hearts
Author: Krystal Sutherland
Pages: 256 pages
Release Date: October 4th, 2016
Source: ARC from Penguin
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Henry Page has never been in love. He fancies himself a hopeless romantic, but the slo-mo, heart palpitating, can't-eat-can't-sleep kind of love that he's been hoping for just hasn't been in the cards for him—at least not yet. Instead, he's been happy to focus on his grades, on getting into a semi-decent college and finally becoming editor of his school newspaper.

Then Grace Town walks into his first period class on the third Tuesday of senior year and he knows everything's about to change.

Grace isn't who Henry pictured as his dream girl—she walks with a cane, wears oversized boys' clothes, and rarely seems to shower. But when Grace and Henry are both chosen to edit the school paper, he quickly finds himself falling for her. It's obvious there's something broken about Grace, but it seems to make her even more beautiful to Henry, and he wants nothing more than to help her put the pieces back together again. And yet, this isn't your average story of boy meets girl. Krystal Sutherland's brilliant debut is equal parts wit and heartbreak, a potent reminder of the bittersweet bliss that is first love.

Buy it now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

**I received an advanced copy from the publisher for review. This has not affected my review in any way**  

As I sit here at 2:09 in the morning after finishing this book I think to myself, "what the fuck did I just read?" In a good way, of course, because sometimes you're going to have those moments when you've just arrived at the end but you never saw it coming! Our Chemical Hearts is a story about first love, friendship, obligation and even heartbreak.

For some reason, it took me quite a while to get into this book. But I have two perfectly good explanations as to why: 1) I had just finished Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo so I wasn't in any place to be reading contemporary and 2) I was comparing it too much to John Green's previous works.

JOHN GREEN? Now before you bring out your pitchforks and say "no one can compare to John Green", I swear on all the books on my bookshelf that this book will appeal to the John Green fans out there. My first thought in the first 50 pages was that it reminded me a lot of Paper Towns. I thought the main character, Henry Page, could have been Augustus Waters lifted off the pages of TFIOS and Grace Town could have been freakin' Margo from Paper Towns. Holy shit, now that I think of it, Grace's last name is Town. Maybe it's not a coincidence after all!

Besides the comparable characters, you could actually feel this John Green-vibe emanating from the pages of this book. The writing style was so similar, I often times found myself thinking I was reading a JG book. The writing was humorous with a side of sophistication and intelligence. Once again, all fingers point to JOHN GREEN!!

I think the thing that made this book so perfect was the fact that it was super relatable. Everyone (and I mean every single person in this freakin' world) can relate to this book because it's about how love is NOT perfect. If you've been reading YA for years (like me) that message tends to get lost in all the books we read. From every YA I've ever read, I've learned that there's always a happily ever after/prince waiting on the other side even if you have to fight a dragon, win the Hunger Games or defeat a power-hungry Erudite lady to get to it. Our Chemical Hearts basically dispels that whole stigma about love being this easily-attainable and wonderful thing. This book reveals the not-so-pretty and even awkward parts of love.

When I first read the synopsis to this book, I immediately assumed I wasn't going to like it. Do you want to know why? And I swear it's for the most horrible and terrible reason ever but trust me, we've all thought of it at some point. The reason was simply because the female character was described as the opposite of what we think is 'beautiful'. Now I don't know if it's because of all the YA books I've been reading or the TV I've been watching, but for some reason I have this ingrained image in my mind of what beauty is. In pretty much all the books I've read, female characters are skinny, gorgeous, blonde and model-status. But Grace, oh my, she seriously set standards for a new kind of beauty. She was dark, broody and not your average dream girl, but she was beautiful.

It's hard for me to admit that I wasn't going to like this book at first solely because of how a certain character was described, but that should paint a little picture as to how influenced and accustomed I've become to 'pretty characters' in books. Anyways, that's a different discussion for another day.

It's 2:41 am now, and I don't quite know why I'm still awake. All I do know is that you have to read this book. If it's not because it bears some semblance to John Green's writing, then it must be for the rude awakening it brings to the table. Our Chemical Hearts will change your perspective and it will screw with everything you've ever known. As this review comes to a conclusion, I hope you've noticed that I've decided to keep the plot points out of my thoughts. The main reason is because the story revolves around understanding the characters and to understand the characters, you have to read the book.

Our Chemical Hearts is the kind of book you stay up late for to find out what happens to the characters in the end. It's the kind of book you expect to make a huge impact on your life (ahem ahem cough cough just like John Green's!). It's the kind of book you recommend to people over and over again just to see their reaction.

POST- BREAKUP ADVICE

Hello everyone! Welcome to my Our Chemical Hearts tour post!! The one thing I've gathered from reading this book is that first love is always disastrous. [And] Contrary to popular belief, I've actually experienced heartbreak before. Yeah that's right people! Booklovers aren't just the quiet people in the background. However, my first real relationship was now a thing of the past and I'm here to help all you lovelies still mourning over your first heartbreaks. 

1. Try the age old ritual: commence in singing some of T-Swizzle's most popular breakup songs 

In any breakup, Taylor Swift will be your guide. She will hold your hand through the pain and empower you to get up and try again, only to get your heart broken once more. But seriously after I broke up with he-who-shall-not-be-named, I proceeded in listening to all of Swift's top hits. Among my Taylor Swift binge, Shake It Off was played on repeat the most. That song just makes me want to shake the shit out of my problems and take control of my life. Don't be a stranger, listen to some Taylor Swift! 

2. Think of your former significant other at their lowest 

This one's actually pretty devious, not gonna lie. I'm trying to be brutally honest with this post because I actually want to help you survive this breakup. IF THIS HELPS: Every time you think of your ex, think about him/her pissing their pants in front of the whole school. That always makes me grin a little. Do this privately though. Don't go off making shallow comments about your ex! I'm not condoning going to war with your ex. 

3. Get drunk!

Drink your problems away! (WARNING; I've actually never tried this option, duhh I'm underage, but I've heard that it works like a charm)

4. Read about some of the worst breakups in Hollywood

Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise. Ariana Grande and Big Sean. Liam Hemsworth and Miley Cyrus. You've literally got an entire scroll to choose from. Trust me, someone out there has it worse than you. 

5. Hit that delete button

Cut all ties! I REPEAT CUT ALL TIES! You don't want to be a Lingering Lauren. LOL I totally just made that nickname up. Point is, you don't want to be the girl/guy who's still hunger your ex. If you don't say goodbye sooner or later, you'll never leave room for growth and starting anew. 

6. Do something extraordinary

Show your ex that he/she will have wished they'd never broken up with you. Give them something to sob over. Become a published author, set a world record, get an internship with a popular company, become Instagram famous, literally anything to make your ex seethe with anger over the fact that he/she didn't keep you close. For me, that was starting this blog and my Youtube Channel. 

7. Treat yo'self

The method that I prefer! The day after I broke up with my ex, I bought a ton of books home with me. My parents didn't even question me! Go out and buy something that will make you feel better about the breakup, whether it be clothes, makeup, books or even food! 

Heartless by Marissa Meyer | NON-SPOILER REVIEW

Title: Heartless
Author: Marissa Meyer
Pages: 464 pages
Release Date: November 8th, 2016
Source: ARC from NYCC
Genre: Fantasy, Retellings, Young Adult
Rating: 4.75/5 stars

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.

Preorder now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

**DISCLAIMER: Please excuse the horrible grammar and word choice. It's 12 am, and I literally just finished this book about 20 minutes ago.**

I honestly don't know what I was expecting from this book other than that I would love it very much because of my past experiences with Meyer's books. This book was a hair away from receiving that golden 5 stars, except for a few things that were quite unsettling. Without a doubt, I highly enjoyed this book and it's yet another publication to add to Meyer's list of truly outstanding titles. 

It was wrong of me to assume that Heartless would be anything like The Lunar Chronicles series, Meyer's first series. Going into the book, for some reason, I had this notion that I was going to get a character like Cinder, Cress, Scarlet or Winter. I was wrong. It was my mistake, after all! All of Meyer's female characters are completely different and unique, and I believe Catherine (the main female protag in this book) was a testament to that. Catherine was more of an anti-hero and that was definitely made clear in the end.

This book was much more light-hearted than the TLC series. I though the characters in the TLC series were solely focused on achieving that happily ever after status. They were on a mission! We had no idea what would happen next because the ending was in Meyer's hands. Whereas, in this book, Catherine's story/fate is set in stone and we (as the readers) are just sitting back and watching her story play out.

The one thing that really bothered me, however, was the intended age group. Heartless is labeled under Young Adult, but I have reason to believe this book would be better fitted under the middle grade category. There were very little serious romance scenes, like in The Lunar Chronicles, more just endless flirtation between the characters. The romance was also a little bit cheesy and Jest (the love interest to Catherine) lacked the snark I so dearly adored from the TLC boys. The names! Bye-the-bye, the names that were used for some of the characters were so childish and hilarious. I might be fought on this point, but I personally felt it would have been better suited under a middle grade genre. Thinking that this book was YA, I expected a lot from it and was firmly disappointed in that aspect.

Meyer really has a knack for writing retellings as they are done in such a unique way. She basically takes all the important symbolism from that story and puts her own spin to it. I really can't imagine her writing anything other than retellings! PLEASE MARISSA WRITE MORE. With that being said, I don't believe this is Meyer's most brilliant title, but I do push it on everyone who's enjoyed her past works, or for those who long for a unique retelling.

The thing I found most brilliant about this book would have to be how well Meyer told the story. It must have been a huge risk to take a story as big as the Queen of Heart's and give it a beginning. Like goddamn it! I was so glad she didn't decide to straight-out write a retelling about Alice from Alice In Wonderland. We have so much about Alice and the Queen of Hearts is often neglected. We got a a perfectly logical explanation as to how the Queen of Hearts became who she is! I mean, someone such as she couldn't just have been born cold-hearted and brutal right? Meyer's explanation and backstory was simply flawless and just so endearing. You guys are going to love how it wraps up in the end! 

The world building was immense and beautiful and whimisical and fancy and ajsdkjkasdl. I'm a blubbering mess right now because the one thing that Marissa Meyer never fails in bringing, is the creation of a world. Everything was perfect, from the politics, to the hierarchy and magic! She really kept the magic of Wonderland alive in her retelling, which I thought to be the hardest task. 

Here's to another Marissa Meyer title that did not disappoint! 

And don't you worry your pretty little heads... Chesire does make an appearance! 

Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig

Title: Last Seen Leaving
Author: Caleb Roehrig
Pages: 336 pages
Release Date: October 4th, 2016
Source: ARC from Fierce Reads
Genre: Mystery, Thriller, Young Adult, LGBT
Rating: 4.5/5

Flynn's girlfriend has disappeared. How can he uncover her secrets without revealing his own?

Flynn's girlfriend, January, is missing. The cops are asking questions he can't answer, and her friends are telling stories that don't add up. All eyes are on Flynn—as January's boyfriend, he must know something.

But Flynn has a secret of his own. And as he struggles to uncover the truth about January's disappearance, he must also face the truth about himself. 

Preorder now! 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

**I received an advanced copy from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way.** 

Holy shit. Holy f'in shit. Where do I start with this book? I was expecting it to be more like a YA Gone Girl because of the whole missing-girlfriend-and-suspected-boyfriend aspect. IT WAS NOTHING LIKE WHAT I EXPECTED. Better yet, this book exceeded my expectations. Okay, let's just say that some of the YA thrillers I've read this year have been less than outstanding. Last Seen Leaving is a blow-you-out-of-the-water, heart-racing and headache-inducing kind of book. Don't be surprised if you want to chuck it out the window by the end because you can't believe what the f just happened. 

I totally stalked the author's Goodreads and website bio to obtain the following information. Caleb Roehrig is not only an author, but he's a freaking television producer. He's also a former actor with experience on both sides of the camera. You see, I didn't know this at first. I was reading the book thinking about how it would make a great movie. Now it all makes sense! There is no shortage of plot intrigue and unpredictable moments. 

I was truly impressed that this book took place in a span of a little under a month! The entire story - January's disappearance, Flynn being suspected and Flynn making it his mission to find out what happened - all felt like it should have been months before they found the truth. It wasn't until Flynn reminded us that it had only been 2 weeks after January's disappearance that they managed to track down what happened, did my jaw just drop to the ground. Roehrig managed to fit all that, in a vivid and compelling way, in under a two-week time space. I was thoroughly impressed. 

I was disappointed, however, in the lack of character development. Of course, there was character development but very little. I mean, I could see why it didn't contain as much, since it really wasn't a character-driven book but more plot-driven. The characters are rather fleeting, and we only get to see a lot of Flynn's growth. Flynn's growth is really phenomenal though, with keeping his secret to revealing it and then coping with it being out there for the world to know.

It just be no surprise to anyone that Flynn is gay. I know it's not explicitly revealed in the synopsis but it is implied that he "has a secret" and the book is labeled under LGBT on Goodreads. I apologize if I've spoiled anything you think to be major! The point is, the LGBT aspect took away from the thriller aspect and not in a bad way! I'm really appalled by how Roehrig was able to keep it thrilling, while also focusing on Flynn's self-discovery and the importance of accepting your sexuality. His sexuality played a huge role in January's investigation and Flynn's transformation from hiding to embracing it was truly a beautiful thing to watch.

I sort of crave that unreliable narrator in my thriller books, but this book did just as well with an open narrator. In the first few chapters of the book, Flynn reveals his sexuality to the reader but decides not to tell any other character. I felt a greater connection with the narrator through this secret, and I got giddy at times knowing that I was one of very few that understood the depth of his character.

This book surprised me in many ways. 1) It was the best of both genres- an exciting thriller and a coming-of-age/self-acceptance story. 2) You'll never see the ending coming, not in a million years. 3) The story and plot was very well-developed for a Young Adult thriller novel. Overall, this book exceeded my expectations. For anyone who's interested in reading this book, I suggest going into it knowing the bare minimum/ Trust me, you're going to want to know how this book ends!

ARC Review: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco + Fashion Sketches

Title: Stalking Jack the Ripper
Author: Kerri Maniscalco
Pages: 336 pages
Release Date: September 20th, 2016
Source: ARC from Jimmy Paterson
Genre: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Horror
Rating: 5/5 stars

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

The story's shocking twists and turns, augmented with real, sinister period photos, will make this dazzling debut from author Kerri Maniscalco impossible to forget.

Buy it now!

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

** DISCLAIMER: The publisher was lovely enough to provide me with an advanced copy of the book. This has not affected my thoughts and opinions in this review **

God damn JIMMY Patterson Books really knows how to pick 'em. Stalking Jack the Ripper is the first acquisition that this publishing company decided to print, and they should feel proud for making such a big splash in the water. This book is a new refreshing take on Young Adult historical fiction. I have to admit that I was a little reluctant about getting into this book in the first place. The whole historical fiction aspect didn't really sell me. It wasn't until Twitter blew up with early praise that I knew I had to request a copy from the publishers.

Audrey Rose lives a sheltered life under the eye of her father, who wants to preserve her innocence and give her the life a young lady should have. Tortured by her curiosity, she can't seem to stay away from her uncle's practice with examining dead bodies. She's not your average Victorian young woman. Along with the help of an unlikely ally who is rather charming, Audrey Rose thinks she can catch the killer responsible for the frequent murders. As blood is spilled and she is falling head over heels for her partner, Audrey Rose realizes that she might not want to find the answer at the end of the tunnel.

My favorite part was the writing style. Kerri was able to effortlessly mimic the accent and the way people talked in Victorian times. It was done so so well that from time to time I liked to go back into the book just to read the dialogue between the characters. If I could give you only one reason to read this book, the writing style would be it!

Extra points for originality! In the back there is an entire explanation of the creative liberties that were taken. The entire story was, of course, based off of the infamous killer. It was fun to see the author create her entire world around the real murders and events. If I'm not mistaken, the women murdered in the book were real names from history. She took many creative liberties to give these women a backstory and a life beyond knowing they were murdered.

It really bothers me that this book is labeled under horror on Goodreads. I think it's so misleading because this book wasn't scary at all! That's coming from a girl who's got an affliction with horror books and movies. I've already had some people say to me that they don't plan on picking it up because it's supposedly 'scary'. It was bloody, cringe-worthy and kinda nasty (if you don't like dead bodies and brutal murders kind of way), but definitely not scary! I've seen a lot of other people say the same thing, and I really wished it were changed.

I'm trying (trying is the key word) to keep this review short and sweet because I've got something else to show ya'll. I really think this book is worth a read! It's so unique from any other historical fiction on the market, and I commend Kerri Maniscalco for putting so much blood (haha, you get it?) and sweat into her work. It really does show from the effortless writing style, impeccable character development and swoon-worthy romance. She's got all the typical elements of a YA novel without it being too cliche. I had a fantastic time flipping through this title and only hope it's everything you've been looking for as well! 

5 bees for a must-read!

Fashion Sketches from Victorian England 

My sister has this dream of being a fashion designer. I'm her number one fangirl, and I really wanted to feature one of her pieces on my blog. She originally created these pieces for her school play as costumes, but I really though they fit this book's time period. Hope you enjoy and definitely be sure to give my sister a follow on Instagram (@kristina.ang). 

ARC Review: The Graces by Laure Eve + Character Lookbook

Title: The Graces
Author: Laure Eve
Pages: 352 pages
Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Source: ARC from Abram Books
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Rating: 3/5 stars

Everyone said the Graces were witches.

They moved through the corridors like sleek fish, ripples in their wake. Stares followed their backs and their hair.

They had friends, but they were just distractions. They were waiting for someone different.

All I had to do was show them that person was me.

Like everyone else in her town, River is obsessed with the Graces, attracted by their glamour and apparent ability to weave magic. But are they really what they seem? And are they more dangerous than they let on?

This beautifully-written thriller will grip you from its very first page.

Pre-order now!

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

**DISCLAIMER: I received an advanced galley of this book from the publisher. All thoughts are my own and all quotes are from an uncorrected proof.** 

It has recently come to my attention that this book may contain biphobic content expressed by the MC. I did not realize this harmful and problematic content until it was brought to my attention so please be aware of that before reading. If you'd like some insight, read more about it here: https://twitter.com/eternaldelicacy/status/823661227897298944

With all these fall releases scheduled to release, you can't possibly find the time to read every single one. Regardless I think The Graces is a book worthy of anyone's attention. If you're on a budget for books and you need the 411 on which new releases are worth checking out, hopefully this review will help you decide. 

Everyone wants to be a Grace. Summer, Thalia and Fenrin Grace are siblings that seem to attract the attention of everyone in a small town with their striking beauty and supposed ability to wield magic. And River is their biggest fan. She'll do anything to become one of them and for her to gain the attention of the mysterious yet handsome Fenrin Grace. So when River is one day let into their inner circle, people start to turn heads and raise questions. Being with the Graces changes her and everyone around her, and not in a good way.

The only thing I can say without spoiling the entire book is that the story is much more than what it says on the back of the book. My expectations for this book were blown away soon after finishing it. It was so different from what I was expecting. I've read quite a handful of witch novels in my 2 years of reading and reviewing, and I have to say that I have not been impressed. With this one, however, I got more than just the mainstream witch-on-a-broomstick and hocus pocus. No rhyming chants or magical wands. Just some black magic and almost Halloween-y vibes.

The one thing I must commend was the fantastic imagery and scenery building. I swear, I was transported to a cloudy afternoon in October. The ambiance was so woodsy and damp. How else do I explain this? Okay, got it! Do you remember La Push Washington (aka the setting from the Twilight movies)? That's exactly what the setting of this book reminded me of. If a book can conjure up an image of the setting with its words, you know it's a keeper.

La Push Washington 

I had a love-hate relationship with the main character River. She's a handful, that's for sure. Her actions are all but unpredictable and in the same situations, I wouldn't have acted as she did. She sacrificed so much of herself because she was unhappy with who she was and wanted the lure and charm that came with being a Grace. Just because I didn't agree with her actions doesn't mean they weren't understandable. Eve does a great job at describing the urgency to become a Grace and why it is so many people wanted to be like them. You'd be surprised to know what people would do to fit in with the crowd, so as much as I didn't like it I'm not counting her actions against the book's ratings.

One thing I would point out was that the ending felt quite unfinished. It's really hard to talk about the ending without spoiling anything, but I was really concerned when I read the last page and realized that that was the last of the book. I guess, it also somehow leaves you wanting more which makes for a good start for the sequel.

Although The Graces wasn't a showstopper, it's definitely a read I thoroughly enjoyed and it left me wanting more. This cult classic was nostalgic of those cold, autumn evenings and cloudy days at the beach. Eve's vivid writing and imagery will keep you reading till the very last page. The Graces is a 2016 fall release you don't want to miss! 

What would the characters wear?

The author takes a lot of time out of the plot to describe the appearances of her characters, and I very much valued that. I present to you the Graces' lookbook! (BTW I'm only recreating two out of the three siblings because unfortunately I wasn't able to change the gender of my avatar for Fenrin)

Dark, brooding and untamable, Summer Grace is the most rebellious of the three. She's got spunk and sexiness, and she doesn't let anyone hold her down. Her style has got a bit of a goth tone so I decided to play with the standard black colors and give her the goth look, yet making her look really flirty and approachable. Summer is a ball of personality. She's the kind of girl who will throw her head back laughing, and so I didn't want the black goth style to scare people away. 

Thalia is a graceful gypsy who stands aloof- cool without even trying. She likes wearing off-the-shoulder tops with long maxi skirts that usually include some sort of beaded pattern. I got a lot of Coachella-eqsue and gypsy vibes off of Thalia when I was reading. Many of the students in the school have tried to wear what she wears but have only ended up looking like clowns. Thalia is the only one who can pull off this effortless and breezy look. 

ARC Review: Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow | Hurt You Can't Look Away From

Title: Girl In Pieces
Author: Kathleen Glasgow
Pages: 416 pages
Release Date: September 6th, 2016
Source: Physical galley from a giveaway
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Mental Health
Rating: 5/5 stars

Charlotte Davis is in pieces. At seventeen she’s already lost more than most people lose in a lifetime. But she’s learned how to forget. The thick glass of a mason jar cuts deep, and the pain washes away the sorrow until there is nothing but calm. You don’t have to think about your father and the river. Your best friend, who is gone forever. Or your mother, who has nothing left to give you.

Every new scar hardens Charlie’s heart just a little more, yet it still hurts so much. It hurts enough to not care anymore, which is sometimes what has to happen before you can find your way back from the edge. 

Pre-order now!

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

** WARNING: This book talks about the following: sex, drugs, cutting, suicide, rape, loss, death. If you are sensitive to any of these topics, please refrain from reading this review **

Kathleen Glasgow's debut novel takes a dip into uncharted territory. Here the raw and ugly truth of mental health is exposed. Glasgow is not merciful and at times, I found myself cringing. There are things we just don't like to talk about. Suicide, cutting, death, loss and even rape. They're not very popular conversation starters, but I believe Ms. Glasgow's novel will be the one to strip all those barriers aside. 

Don't go into this story expecting it to be like every other YA mental health novel out there. For some stories, there are no happy endings, just resolutions. Charlotte Davis is seventeen at the beginning of the book, and she's already been through more hell than any normal teenager. Her mother has all but abandoned her, her father past away, she's been felt up by some pretty shitty people and her best friend has been sent far far away, to a place Charlie (short for Charlotte) can never reach her. So what does she do? She takes the thickest, longest shard of a glass bottle and drags it through her skin because the pain it causes couldn't possibly be worse than what she's feeling on the inside.

"I need release, I need to hurt myself more than the world can hurt me." 

- quoted from the ARC, Girl In Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow

We find out later that there's a name for it. It's called NSSI. Non-Suicidal Self-Injury. It means that although she hurts herself, she has no desire to die.

You might be asking yourself: How the fuck does someone have the guts to hurt themselves? Going into this book, I thought I would never understand Charlotte's story. I always thought to myself, people have it worse. What gives you the right to hurt yourself when others are suffering more? Then 244 pages later, I'm gripped. I've fallen in love with Charlie. All of her- her scars and her past. Sure, her past was grim and the people in her life were real assholes, but the one feeling you gain from Charlie's story is not pity. I did not, through any part of reading this book, feel pity for her. I can't exactly place what I felt but I definitely didn't feel bad for her. I didn't constantly think, oh poor Charlie. Poor girl. Your life sucks and you need help. 

Glasgow's story is brutally honesty. The reason I loved Charlie's story so much was because it didn't dance around the fact that she was a cutter. Her scars don't just magically disappear, and she's not automatically accepted into society. Truth is (and the truth is shit), people are scared and they like to turn their backs on reality. This is clearly shown when Charlie is asked by her employer to wear long sleeve shirts to cover up her scars so she won't scare away the customers. Charlie cut herself, and now she has to live with the repercussions of her actions.

She doesn't give her characters a break. When you think things couldn't get any worse, they do. I liked that, I really did; that she wasn't letting Charlie take the easy way out. Charlie's more human than any main character I've ever read about. Her character was really well thought out from her flaws to just how much she realizes she's imperfect.

Even the side characters were amazingly amazing. The story starts off with Charlie in a psych ward and rehabilitation hospital. You meet a lot of the other patients and important friends and family from before she was admitted. They added so much to the protagonist's personality, and they ultimately help her grow.

"If a guy has scars, it's like some heroic shit show or something. But women? We're just creepy freaks." 

- quoted from uncorrected proof 

Girl In Pieces is no medical textbook on mental illness, but it does give insight on the topic. For those that weren't aware, self-harm/injury is not just limited to cutting. Self-harm is any harm a person does unto him/herself. Charlotte didn't just cut herself. In certain situations of extreme anxiety, she often pinched herself to keep from reacting.

Not to be cliche but this book spoke to my soul. Finally a book that's true to what I want to say. On my Twitter & Instagram, I post A LOT (and I mean a lot) about the semi-colon project and suicide prevention. Yeah, I know what you're going to say. Alex, why are you bringing up all this semi-colon stuff again. I have a reason trust me. Not too long ago, self-harm was just another way for me to relieve myself of stress. I scratched myself because there was a ball of fire inside of me, and I didn't want to let it out in front of other people. And for a while, I didn't feel the pain. It never hurt. I was almost numb to the feeling.

I always thought to myself, how fucked up am I that I don't feel the pain I'm causing myself? My life isn't shit. I don't have it as hard as others. What gives me the right to hurt myself when there's nothing wrong with my life? People assume it's for attention when they don't know one fucking thing about what's going on inside that person's head. Me and anxiety? We don't mix well. So if I was piled with tests from school and/or my parents wouldn't let me go out with my friends, I scratched myself to assure that if I could get through the pain, why couldn't I trudge through a few tests and live up to my parent's decision?

I'm not proud and even writing this makes me feel like shit. But this book, holy shit you guys. If this book isn't a mantra for people to stop hurting themselves, I don't know what is.

"Go be absolutely, positively, fucking angelic."

- quoted from uncorrected proof

Mark my words, Girl In Pieces is one of the most realistic portrayals of mental illness I've ever read. Charlie's story is incredibly horrifying and even with such a small support system, she managed to rid herself of the pain. Why can't we all do the same? Poignant and beautiful, you will be won over. Her story will be your story.

For more information on suicide prevention and self-harm, I recommend checking out The Butterfly Project and The Semicolon Project!