A Soul For Chaos by Crista McHugh (Soulbearer #2)

Genres: Adult, Adventure, High Fantasy, Romance
Publication Date: November 17th 2012
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 4 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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Trouble is more than just a nickname for Arden Soulbearer. It seems to follow her wherever she goes. And no one knows this better than her protector, Devarius Tel’Brien.

Dev thought that by moving Arden to Gravaria so she could learn how to control Loku, the chaos god whose soul inhabits her body, life would be simpler. Wrong. Not only is he continually torn between his duty and his growing feelings for the Soulbearer, but he also has to contend with the rival prince who wishes to claim her heart. Adding to his problems, a group of powerful mages have banded together to rid the world of the disembodied chaos god once and for all. Of course, that means they have to destroy Arden in the process.

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This book didn't really go in the direction I expected. Arden and Dev continued their journey to Gavaria to train Arden, but the personal relationships didn't develop the way I expected. Kell had to show up and complicate things again.

Arden and Dev's relationship is epically messed up and complicated, and they are both to blame. Dev continues to refuse to tell Arden anything or admit his feelings, and Arden continues to be impulsive and out of control with a hair-trigger temper. She is hot and cold and it is crazy! It's just the type of person she is, with emotions that rule her, but I was having a hard time understanding why one second she doesn't trust Dev and accuses him of being a danger to her, and then the next second she thinks he is all she needs in the world. She is the reason why men think women are confusing.

Eventually Kell's story diverges away from Arden's. That's a good and a bad thing. It's good because I want him to keep away from her. But its bad because it means that he has his own place in the story. He's not just there to be a convenient bump in Arden and Dev's journey toward each other. He is sticking around, and I don't really want him to because he still hasn't really grown on me.

I enjoyed this book just as much as book one, and I will be starting A Soul for Vengeance immediately. I can't wait much longer for Arden and Dev get their HEA. I have to keep reading to get there sooner!

"Tonight she'd been given a taste of something she could never have. Her heart belonged to the one man intent on breaking it, and there was nothing she could do to change it."

A Soul For Trouble by Crista McHugh (Soulbearer #1)

Genres: Adult, Adventure, High Fantasy, Romance
Publication Date: February 7th 2012
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 2 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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When you’re a witch named Trouble, chaos follows.

Arden Lesstymine (known to everyone as Trouble) likes attention as much as the next girl, but this is getting ridiculous. When an insane stranger is murdered at the inn where she works, Trouble becomes the next Soulbearer for the disembodied god of chaos, Loku. Yes, it comes with the ability to channel the god’s limitless power, but at the cost of her sanity — literally. Now she has a sexy but cynical knight claiming to be her protector, a prince trying to seduce her to his cause (and his bed), and a snarky chaos god who offers a play-by-play commentary on it all, whether she wants to hear it or not. To make matters worse, a necromancer wants to capture the soul of Loku for his own dark purposes, and the only way he can get it is by killing her first.

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This book was amazing, and I did not doubt that it would be. I have only read one other book by Crista McHugh, Tangled Web, but it was enough for me to know that I wanted to read everything by her. This wasn't quite as good, but that is just my personal preference. A Soul for Trouble was a bit more light-hearted than Tangled Web, and more of the typical epic fantasy, with wizards, princes, adventure, and romance. Tangled Web was an erotic court intrigue. But they are both extremely riveting, fast-paced stories with kick-ass heroines.

A Soul for Trouble has everything you could want in a fantasy, but its main focus is still the romance. There is a love-triangle between Arden, the barmaid who is suddenly the soulbearer for the exiled god of chaos; Dev, her sworn Elf protector; and Kell, the prince who is doing everything in his power to save her life from charges of witchcraft. I really loved Dev from the moment he appeared on the page, and I didn't understand why Arden took so long to warm up to him. She was mean to him and ungrateful for his protection. And I was like, "Bitch, he's amazing! Shut up!"

I did love Arden too, though. But Kell? It took me pretty much the whole book to warm up to him. And in the end I was just agreeing with Dev--begrudgingly admitting that I would probably respect Kell if he wasn't trying to steal Arden. It reminded me a lot of the love-triangle in Throne of Glass. Powerful girl is wooed by prince's charms, while brooding friend who gives her strength is obviously the better choice. All three have their own POVs, as well as occasional chapters from the villain.

There is no explicit content in this book, and is fairly clean, although I would still categorize it as adult. I cannot wait to read A Soul For Chaos and hopefully see Arden and Dev's relationship develop further. I already bought book 2 and will be starting it immediately.

"No rewards come without risk. If everything in life was simple, certain things would never be cherished."

The Bane by Keary Taylor (The Eden Trilogy #1)

I read Keary Taylor's Eden before she rewrote it as a series, and then re-read it as The Bane once it was republished. I reviewed them separately. 

Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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Before the Evolution there was TorBane: technology that infused human DNA with cybernetic matter. It had the ability to grow new organs and limbs, to heal the world. Until it evolved out of control and spread like the common cold. The machine took over, the soul vanished, and the Bane were born. The Bane won't stop until every last person has been infected. With less than two percent of the human population left, mankind is on the brink of extinction.

Eve knows the stories of the Evolution, the time before she wandered into the colony of Eden, unable to recall anything but her name. But she doesn't need memories to know this world is her reality. This is a world that is quickly losing its humanity, one Bane at a time.

Fighting to keep one of the last remaining human colonies alive, Eve finds herself torn between her dedication to the colony, and the discovery of love. There is Avian and West – one a soldier, one a keeper of secrets. And in the end, Eve will make a choice that will change the future of mankind.

The Bane is The Terminator meets The Walking Dead with a heart-twisting romance.

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This was great! It reminded me a lot of The Immortal Rules. I didnt like The Immortal Rules as much as most people. It was still good, but I prefer Eden. There was a band of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world. The main girl, Eve, is different from the rest of the survivors. They travel to a safe haven for humans, which was called Eden in The Immortal Rules. Although in this Eden is the name of their group, not their destination. And there is even a young guy in the group, West, who reminds me a lot of Zeke.

The main difference, besides this being about cyborgs instead of zombies and vampires, is that this has a love-triangle. An equilateral love-triangle. I have never seen such an equally matched love-triangle before. There were absolutely no hints to who Eve was going to choose for the whole book until I was 92% done. She never even leaned to one or the other. She was split 50/50 for the whole book up to 92%! After she had a particularly tender moment with Avian, I wondered if she was finally leaning towards one of them. But the next thing it says is, "That night I dreamed of West." And I was like, "OMG! This is hopeless!" It was ridiculous but enthralling!

I preferred one of the guys but I wasn't convinced he was necessarily best for her. So even though she didn't pick him in the end, her reasoning was good and I wasn't upset. I was actually pleased that this took a different route from most YA romances. It was extremely romantic either way, and after reading all her ridiculous helplessness in everything guy related for most of the book, I was so happy when she finally made a choice that I cried. I don't mean to sound negative when I call her ridiculous. I have never seen a love-triangle that was drawn out like this before, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. I was absolutely captivated! I couldn't put it down! I had to find out what would happen next. Who she would pick. It made the pay-off all the more exciting. And it even managed to make me happy when she didn't pick the guy I liked better, because its about Eve, not me. But I don't get why some people were making a big deal out of the age difference between Eve and Avian. I didn't think it was that bad. Eve was 18, West was 19, and Avian was 25.

  

I also really loved learning about the robots or cyborgs, and the infection, and Eve's history. It was all very interesting. And Eve was amazing. A seriously kick-ass heroine! I love that scene right after Eve had her epiphany. She found out that the guys went on a dangerous mission without her and she runs after them doing robot head shots. That would be an awesome scene to see on screen! And a movie is planned, which is very exciting.

Keary Taylor made this fake poster herself. I had seen it on her blog before I started the book and I pictured Gillian Zinser as Eve the whole book, and Wentworth Miller as Avian. Matt Lanter isnt really how I pictured West but he is not a bad choice. Since it is Keary Taylor's choice I have no right to complain. This will be an amazing movie! I cant wait!

I am pretty sure this is a standalone. There is no sign of any more books being planned. The story was mostly tied up. There were a few things we could have had more information on. Namely the fate of a particular character, and what the future of the world will hold. But over-all the ending tied up all the more immediate issues and I cant help but be excited for Eve's future, even though I dont get to see it.

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Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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I loved this just as much the second time around, having already read Eden, if not more. At first I wasnt enjoying it as much because it was focusing mostly on the love-triangle, and I know how that turns out. But as it went on the story picked up and dragged me back in, plus there were subtle differences that had me feeling like I did the first time.

The backstory about how the Bane came to be was more thorough (the name the Bane is also new), as well as Eve's history. I don't remember her having flashbacks in Eden, but I may be wrong. The balance of the love-triangle was also changed. Its hard to explain without spoiling, but in Eden one of my favourite things about the book was the fact that I had no idea who Eve would choose until she made her choice. She didn't lean towards one guy or the other. It was completely even before she had her epiphany. 

In this one the balance was changed. Some scenes were taken out, and the guy that Eve eventually chooses was given more focus. I guess that can be a good thing too, so readers don't get too attached to the other guy and become disappointed. It happens a lot, of course. There are lots of fans of Gale, Puck, and Jacob out there. But at least in The Bane, readers are not misled. I really enjoyed these changes and I loved the fleshing out of Eve's love interest. In The Bane, he is the obvious choice for her. They belong together, they fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. There's really no contest anymore. The changes were a definite improvement.

I didn't notice much of a difference in Eve as a character, or the story. There were no improvements needed. Eve still kicks ass, and the story is a great post-apoc world with heavy sci-fi, action, and romance elements. I am so glad that this time around I have a sequel to look forward to and I cannot wait to read The Human!

“In that moment I finally knew.

I knew which one I would grieve over. A piece of me would be missing forever if he was gone. A part of me would break. But I would make it through.

And I knew which one of them I couldn't live without, couldn't take another single breath if he were to be taken away from me.

In that moment I finally understood what love meant.”

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead (Age of X #1)

Genres: Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Fantasy/Mythology
Publication Date: June 4th 2013
POV: Alternating
Smut-O-Meter: 5 out of 10
My Rating: Did Not Finish

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In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of Xseries, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense.

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I don't rate DNF books, but if I did I would probably give this 1 star. It didn't captivate me, but the story was probably the best part of the book. In a futuristic world where religion is closely monitored and almost outlawed, Justin is a servitor, someone who investigates religions and shuts down the dangerous ones. He is sort of a mentalist, and is helping solve serial murders which are believed to have religious connections. But, the strange thing is, that gods are real. And Justin knows it. There is involvement from Greek, Roman, and Norse gods. I don't know if they are good or bad, or involved with the murders since I didn't finish the book, but they are there.

The story moved really slowly, it reads like a detective novel and really didn't keep my interest. I didn't like the writing style either. It was distant, and formal, and reminded me a lot of the one Kathy Reichs book I read. I did not enjoy it so that is not a compliment. The writing really did not feel connected to the characters at all. I felt like I was just watching from a distance. Like I was reading a history book.

I also found it really really difficult to understand the world I was in. I don't know how far in the future this is supposed to be set, but I imagine its pretty far, since the country names are different. But Richelle Mead didn't even seem to bother trying to help us adjust. She threw us into this world and didn't try to explain it. I had no idea what was going on and I could not follow most of the conversations because half the words were new to me. It was really frustrating, and whatever small motivation I had to continue reading disappeared in my confusion. I don't remember the narration ever, even once, stopping to explain a new term to us. I would prefer info-dumping over this. I still have no idea if she was using the word patrician in the traditional way. And even if she was, this is a futuristic America. An explanation of the new context would have been nice. I really couldn't get a grasp of what was happening, or the characters because of this.

But I didn't care for the characters anyway. I am almost seething when I think of them. At first, I thought Mae was the main character, because the first chapter was from her POV, but then it began to alternate with Justin, and more of them were from Justin's POV. The chapter POV ratio was probably 3:1. Justin was smart, but he was disgusting to me. He was a horrible MC. He was a rude, womanizing ass with a drug problem. Seriously! He makes me so angry! He thinks its a good time to end up unconscious on the floor of a seedy bar. And he is so arrogant and full of himself and just blah! Then there is Mae, who is also arrogant but not because of her intelligence, but because of her upbringing, or heritage, or caste. I dont even know which one because this is one of the things about the book that I couldn't understand. She was so stuck up and proud. She thought she was so much better than everyone else. Too good for Justin. Normally I would say everyone is too good for Justin, but when you start acting like a bitch, then you don't really have the right to say that.

There were also occasional chapters from the POV of Tessa. A sixteen year old girl who was Justin's ward and I have no idea what her relevance was. But when I stopped reading, at 42%, she still didn't seem important. She was an ok character, but nothing special. She was smart, like Justin, so maybe she will help them later on in the book or the series. I don't care and I don't intend to find out.

The characters in this were so repulsive, and the storytelling so frustrating, that when I see the cover of the book it nearly makes me nauseous. I am no longer as excited to read Vampire Academy as I was before. The story and characters may be better, but I don't know if that alone will be enough to make me read it, if the writing-style is anything like in this.

“You can put on as many airs as you want, but in the end, that dress is the same as you: an old, cheap design dressed up to look like its worth more than it is.”

Close Obsession by Anna Zaires (The Krinar Chronicles #2)

Genres: Adult, Sci-fi, Romance
Publication Date: February 18th 2013
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 9 out of 10
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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In Lenkarda – the main Krinar colony on Earth – Mia is completely at Korum's mercy. With no way to leave and no idea how to operate even the most basic Krinar technology, she has no choice but to trust the K who brought her there – the lover whom she had betrayed.

Will he keep his promise to bring her home, or is she destined to be his prisoner forever? Can a human become a part of Krinar society? Does Korum love her, or does he only wish to possess her?

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This series is amazing! In the first book, Mia and Korum's relationship is tense, because they have an undeniable attraction to each other, but Mia is unsure of his intentions. Is he an evil alien trying to take over her planet? Or is he a peaceful visitor who has strong feelings for her? Either way, he possesses her. After the first book, I felt tense because I was so unsure as well. Did he love her? Could he love her?

After book 2, I have no doubt that Korum loves Mia and it is beautiful! He is such an untameable being, but without even realizing it, Mia has come to possess him in return. It is amazing and an unbelievable feat, and I have no doubt that it is real. But, I still have no idea what Korum's intentions are for Earth. He is hiding something. Is he an evil alien trying to take over her planet?

The tension of possible danger accompanied by intense passion has made this series unforgettable for me. I cant blame Mia for allowing herself to become so vulnerable to Korum. For giving up everything and giving everything of herself to him. But at the same time, I feel as if she is being blinded by Korum's beauty and the compassion he shows only her. He is hiding something big. Whatever the Krinar are up to, in the end I suspect Mia will overlook it all for Korum. She needs him too much to let anything else get in the way. But Korum isn't human and I suspect Mia is the one who will have to sacrifice more in the end. Even now, Korum is so unmovable that I cant see him choosing her over his people. But his behaviour changed a lot from book 1 to 2. Perhaps another book will show even more change and more compassion and sacrifice in him. I don't want to assume the worst of Korum, but he is so amazing and loving, and mysterious and suspicious at the same time. I cannot work him out and that is the absolute best part of the whole experience. The confusion and constant whirlwind of emotions.

My only technical complaint about this book is the Krinar's technology. It is limitless and so convenient. It can do absolutely everything imaginable and it has begun to lose some of its novelty. Would a society that had everything they needed be able to survive? There would be no commerce, no need for work besides those who actually enjoyed their work, such as Saret. Or would it be like the world of Star Trek? There is no more commerce or even money in their world. But they are peaceful while the Krinar is an extremely violent race. I don't see how they could discover a balance that worked. And they have been fully sentient and civilized for millions of years. How have they sustained their world?

The series is called The Krinar Chronicles, so that gives us no hints as to how long the series will be. Its not necessarily a trilogy. I wouldn't mind if the series continued beyond 3 books, as long as we get to find out what is really going on with Korum and the Krinar soon. I'm not sure how much longer I can handle the suspense. Although the series needs to keep up the tension somehow, so we shall see what happens.

I cannot wait for Close Remembrance! I am looking forward to it even more than I did book 2! Which I had anticipated a great deal! I even mentioned it in my Top 10 Anticipated Books of 2013 vlog at #5. I highly, highly recommend this to all my friends who enjoy smut. There is a high smut-index in this book and I wouldn't recommend it for fans of average romance, unless you want to take a chance and try something new. Korum and Mia are both insatiable and every time they had sex I could feel them coming closer and closer to each other, to the point of being completely entwined and inseparable. I especially enjoyed the scene on the beach, and I would have loved to see more use of the virtual reality. Maybe in book 3. So check out this series!

“There was still so much unresolved between them, but in this moment, she couldn't bring herself to care about the way their relationship had started, about all the mutual lies and betrayals. In this moment, she knew only that she loved him, that every part of her longed to be with him.”

Romeo Redeemed by Stacey Jay (Juliet Immortal #2)

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: October 9th 2012
POV: Alternating - First-person, Present tense
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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Seductive companion to the popular Juliet Immortal, in which former lovers—Romeo and Juliet—meet, not as true lovers, but truly as enemies.

Cursed to live out eternity in his rotted corpse, Romeo, known for his ruthless, cutthroat ways, is given the chance to redeem himself by traveling back in time to save the life of Ariel Dragland. Unbeknownst to her, Ariel is important to both the evil Mercenaries and the love-promoting Ambassadors and holds the fate of the world in her hands. Romeo must win her heart and make her believe in love, turning her away from her darker potential before his work is discovered by the Mercenaries. While his seduction begins as yet another lie, it soon becomes his only truth. Romeo vows to protect Ariel from harm, and do whatever it takes to win her heart and soul. But when Ariel is led to believe his love is a deception, she becomes vulnerable to Mercenary manipulation, and her own inner darkness may ultimately rip them apart.

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This book was amazing! It made my heart leap! I really enjoyed Juliet Immortal, but one of my favourite things about it was Romeo, even though he was the villain in the first book. He was clearly a tortured soul, and they make the absolute best love interests! So I knew I would enjoy this one even more, and I did.

At first Romeo's assignment was just to make Ariel believe in love. It didnt matter whether or not he loved her in return. It had an alternating POV between Romeo and Ariel, and whenever it was on an Ariel chapter, I would forget he was faking it, and I would totally be swooning along with Ariel. Oh.My.Gosh! This guy knows how to woo! Then it would switch back and I would remember he was faking it, but only in the beginning. He had serious feelings for her fairly early on, but it took forever for him to realize it. He was always like, "It's been so long, I dont remember, is this what love feels like?" It was so sweet to watch him falling in love without realizing it, but his wooing is still my favourite part. Jeez, this guy is like magic! No wonder his name is synonymous with romance. And once his love becomes real, it only gets better!

“My chest aches, but not with fear or sadness. With hope. With love. I love her. I love her, and it is better than anything else I can remember. "You found me.” 

I mostly really liked Ariel too. She was a very broken girl who really needed to be loved. But the Ambassadors were right about her potential for evil, and needing to win her over to good before it was too late. I hated seeing how easily she turned against Romeo. If their love was so amazing she should not have doubted him. She should have stayed true to Romeo! But luckily, Romeo remains awesome, and loves her and forgives her and that is what she really needed to permanently banish the darkness from her soul. And they live happily ever after.

“She is so beautiful. Perfect. Mine.No. Not mine. I am hers.”

Sever by Lauren DeStefano (The Chemical Garden #3)

Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Romance
Publication Date: February 12th 2013
POV: Female - First-person, Present tense
My Rating: Did Not Finish

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With the clock ticking until the virus takes its toll, Rhine is desperate for answers. After enduring Vaughn’s worst, Rhine finds an unlikely ally in his brother, an eccentric inventor named Reed. She takes refuge in his dilapidated house, though the people she left behind refuse to stay in the past. While Gabriel haunts Rhine’s memories, Cecily is determined to be at Rhine’s side, even if Linden’s feelings are still caught between them.

Meanwhile, Rowan’s growing involvement in an underground resistance compels Rhine to reach him before he does something that cannot be undone. But what she discovers along the way has alarming implications for her future—and about the past her parents never had the chance to explain.

In this breathtaking conclusion to Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden trilogy, everything Rhine knows to be true will be irrevocably shattered.

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I enjoyed Wither enough to keep going with the series. It made me a bit uncomfortable, but I was curious about Rhine and Gabriel's fate. So I read Fever and enjoyed it more. There was little or no Linden, several locales, and much more romance developed between Rhine and Gabriel and it was totally adorable. It had so much more progress in Rhine's life overall, compared to Wither, which was stagnant in comparison. Of course it was all undone with one move by Vaughn in the end. But with only one book left in the series, and with so much left to accomplished, I figured Sever would be full of excitement. But 100 pages in and I still have to suffer through Linden's presence, and there is still no sign of Gabriel, and no sign that Rhine will be going after him or Rowan any time soon. I hate how the book portrays Linden as a sympathetic character. In the first book he was portrayed as kind, although he impregnated a 13 year-old. Its a contradiction but I figured it didn't matter, because I figured he didn't matter. But 2 books later and Rhine's world still seems to revolve around Linden. His role in the series isn't what I thought it would be. He completely disgusts me and I couldn't take it anymore. What finally tipped me over the edge was this line:

"I don't know that I could ever love [Gabriel] the way that Linden and Cecily are in love, or the way Linden and Rose were."

WTF?! You think impregnating a barely pubescent girl twice in quick succession, causing her to nearly die is love? You think his love for two girls within a year could grow stronger than you could love Gabriel in a lifetime? Gabriel who is actually worthy? If Linden had actually loved Rose or Cecily his relationship with his other wives would have seemed wrong to him. He had absolutely no sense of fidelity. If he didn't love them, then I understand it may not have occurred to him that what he was doing was wrong, because that's just how the world is now. But if he loved Cecily, he would not have been making any attempt to reconcile with Rhine. So if Rhine cant love Gabriel as much as Linden can love, than the fault is solely hers. She is defective and doesn't know the meaning of love. So I closed the book. I'm done.

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare (The Infernal Devices #3)

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy, Steampunk, Romance
Publication Date: March 19th 2013
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense

My Rating: 4 out of 5

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Tessa Gray should be happy—aren't all brides happy? Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

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I find it hard to believe that I am actually rating something by Cassandra Clare so high, but I absolutely loved this. I much, much preferred the overall story of TID over TMI. But I was still prevented from really loving the first two books in this series because of how much I despise Will's character, and nearly every scene that involved him. So it is just a star away from being perfect.

Although the book was long, the story did not drag at all. It was packed full of action and adventure and danger and heroics and revelations. It was almost too much to bare. I found myself sometimes wishing it would end if only to end the strain on my heart. The emotion in this book was overwhelming. I always thought that Tiger's Destiny was the most emotional YA book I had ever read. But this has easily taken the cake. It has gone above and beyond, and that is both a good and a bad thing. In Tiger's Destiny, Kelsey was engaged to Kishan, even though she was obviously more in love with his brother, Ren. I was absolutely in love with Kishan, and it broke my heart to see how Kelsey betrayed him in her heart. I greatly, greatly appreciate that Clare did not do the same thing to Jem. Tessa loved Jem. She loved him as he deserved, as Kelsey could never have loved Kishan. But Tessa's love for Jem only makes it all the harder for me to understand how there could be any room left in her heart for Will. It defies nature, as she seemed to be aware. The only explanation is that they were parabatai, but that seems to be a weak explanation to me. It makes me sad and uncomfortable. I guess you just have to accept it as a natural phenomenon, or a paradox. I still appreciate that Clare tried, harder than most authors, not to break anyone's heart, characters and fans alike. But then again, it is rare that there are characters as loved as Will and Jem. There are very few instances of fans becoming so invested in a love-triangle, where both sides are loved almost equally.

I personally never saw the connection between Will and Tessa, throughout the whole series. I never really understood Will until this book. His personality annoyed me. Even in Prince, when we already  knew of the curse, he still annoyed me. The way he never took anything seriously. But I felt a lot of sympathy for him in this one. Regardless of my personal feelings for him, he was in a lot of pain that he didnt deserve, and he clearly loved Tessa so much. But I still didn't believe he belonged with her. And her love for him didnt seem real. She had an amazing connection with Jem, and whenever she thought of Will she thought, "Oh, his blue eyes and beautiful face." Those are not reasons to love someone. It couldn't compare to her feelings for Jem in my eyes. I never really believed that she loved him until Cadair Idris, when she said that he was like her."You say the things I think but never say out loud." It was an extremely touching scene, and the first time I had any sort of positive feelings for Will. But then he had to go and ruin it right after. Will doesnt seem to know the meaning of the word Kiss. He didnt know that she had been in love with him for a long time. For all he knew, she was distraught, and mourning Jem, and only looking for comfort, or distraction. He took advantage of her weakened state. I can't believe how little he questioned her first. She didn't regret it because she knew her own feelings for him had always been the same, regardless of Jem. But Will did not know that, and I can't believe what he did. In most YAs, the guy is usually like, "Are you sure? We can wait. It should be perfect. Are you sure? Are you sure? Are you sure?" And then, only then. But Will? He hears, "Kiss me," and then BAM. Sex. Dude, a little restraint?

When Jem said good-bye to Tessa and Will as Brother Zachariah, I cried so much. I was sobbing and gasping. It really broke my heart, even though I knew he would be back, it was still so sad. He belonged with them so much. But after he was gone, Tessa and Will got together way too quickly. When Jem and Tessa got engaged, people thought they were too young. But they knew Jem was dying so they tried to be understanding. When Will and Tessa got engaged, they were still only 17 so it must not have been long after Jem left, no more than a month or two, and no one comments about them being too young. Tessa and Jem had an excuse. Tessa and Will do not. Plus, Tessa should still be mourning Jem. But no one comments about the oddness of their swift engagement. I found it so disrespectful. Even though Jem gave them his blessing, they had no shame, no restraint. As if the fact that they both loved Jem gave them the right to do whatever they wanted with each other, completely heedless of Jem's loss that led to their gain. Do I sound bitter? I am bitter.

Tessa should have been with Jem and only Jem, but if she was to be with both of them, it is better that Jem be the last rather than the first. And desptie what Will and Tessa did, Jem is the one that is with her in the end. And she still loved him, 130 years later, still wearing his pendant. I know she would likely have done the same for Will. If she had been with Jem first, and had to wait 130 years to be with Will, she would have still loved him then. But I don't have to think about that anymore, because Will is dead. And Jem is back. Thats all the matters now. That they are together again. But I don't know whether Tess will want to have more children, and watch them die before her. So maybe Will will still have more from life than Jem will ever have. I just hope that he is still immortal. *looks skyward* Gosh, do I ever hope that he is still immortal. Oh, and I fell in love with Magnus a little bit in this book. :P

“There are so many worse things than death. Not to be loved or not to be able to love: that is worse.”

Astarte's Wrath by Trisha Wolfe (Kythan Guardians #1)

Genres: New Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal/Mythology, Romance
Smut-O-Meter: 5 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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A tragic love story.

Two thousand years before Dez Harkly developed her secret powers, Guardian Astarte was vowed to protect by the binds enslaving her to the Egyptian pharaohs. Discover the prophecy that originated from a very different time, and spans generations to link two very different girls.

This is the beginning.

Set against the backdrop of the Battle of Actium, in the city of Alexandria, Star struggles with her guardian duties as her feelings for the newly named pharaoh of Egypt grow deeper. Not only is Caesarion her duty, he’s the son of Cleopatra, and he’s human. All of which makes their love forbidden.

But when a conspiracy linked to Caesar creeps into Alexandria, Star must choose between helping her fellow Kythan free themselves of their servitude, and protecting her charge—the last pharaoh—while Egypt burns around her.

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This book did a great job of introducing the history in Destiny's Fire, and even setting up for the future of the series. But it is still its own amazing story. The two novels dont depend upon each other and you can read one or the other on its own. But I would definitely recommend reading them both because they are amazing. I still slightly prefer Destiny's Fire because it is more my speed. I prefer the fun, fast-pace and the feel of YA romance. Also, Reese is more my type of guy. Astarte's Wrath was darker and felt more like a New Adult. I thought the characters were older and it wasnt until I was finished the book that I looked up how old Caesarion was during the events of the book, and he was 17. Something about the characters and the story made them seem older. I knew they were young, but I was thinking more like 19. Despite their young age and the mild sexual content, I am still listing this as NA.

"Hearing him refer to me as his intended opens my heart like the sea opens to the sky, and I am his."

I have always loved history, and when I was younger I was fascinated by Egypt. I never studied it because I was just a kid, but I had Egypt themed bed sheets and little Egyptian figurines and posters. So I really, really enjoyed the setting and I really appreciate all the work Trisha Wolfe put into making this accurate. It really felt authentic and it made it so much easier to just disappear into the story. And the added fantasy elements just made it all the more amazing. I loved the world of the Kythan from Destiny's Fire, and I am even more familiar with it now and its just awesome. Although I feel like I should reread Destiny's Fire because it seems I dont remember it as well as I thought I did.

"Xarion's chest heaves. His bloodied face looks more beautiful than I've ever seen it."

The writing is top-notch and totally captivating, and the story has everything. So much intense action and violence, magic and mythology, romance and heartbreak, and great characters. Star was totally kick-ass! Caesarion was strong and sweet, and Phoenix was funny and loyal. I loved them all! Although I prefer Reese over Caesarion, I think I prefer Star over Dez.

And the ending was sort of perfect. I can think of ways I would have preferred for it to end, but the ending managed to evoke just the right combination of emotions for it to shake me without leaving me broken. I cried twice, but it was still sort ofan HEA. You will just have to read it for yourself to find out. You wont regret it. And I cannot say enough things about how gorgeous the cover is. I absolutely love it! I don't know if the girl is a model or a drawing, but she is freaking gorgeous! Her hair is perfect and shiny, and her lips and her eyes, and the interesting necklace, balanced with the Egyptian background. Love it!

"You're home," he says, his voice stirring all my love. 

"You're my home." 

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (Shatter Me #2)

Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: February 5th 2013
POV: Female - First-person, Present tense
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life.

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This series is shifting focus from the dystopian aspects, the Reestablishment, to the romance. There really wasn't that much of a story in this and I didn't even notice. The characters are the best thing about this series anyways.

We got to understand Juliette, and Adam, and Warner, Kenji, and Anderson, and even James better in this book. I was really unimpressed by Adam in this book. He has become the love interest who is there just to be a love interest, and really has no place in the story. He may later, due to the revelation we found out about him in this book. It may become more of an issue in book 3. But besides that, he was just there to confuse Juliette and make her feel guilty, and, I suppose, to push her towards Warner. I honestly think the fact that she managed to forget him for most of chapter 62 is a point against him. Juliette felt guilty afterwards, but she has no reason to. If she already moved on without having even noticed, then really, what is there left keeping her attached to Adam? But she still has feelings for him, however inexplicable.

 

I feel like I know Warner even better now. Even better than I did after Destroy Me. Destroy Me told us more about his past and his immediate present. About what he thought, how he went about his day, and how he felt about Juliette. But Unravel Me really revealed him as a character, who he was, what he wanted. Every conversation he had with Juliette revealed more about him. About his dreams for the future. And I honestly feel like he and Juliette have far more of a connection than Juliette and Adam. And I am not just saying that because I am biased-ly in love with Warner. As much as I love Jem, I think Tessa would be better off with Will. I don't think she deserves Jem anyways. But I can see the way that Juliette and Warner understand each other. The way they make each other stronger, just like his fatherly mockingly said.

Although I still have some reservation about Warner's intentions. Would he still end up trying to use Juliette as a weapon? What would he do in terms of a war against the Reestablishment? I don't think Juliette is a monster, but she undeniably has a certain propensity for violence. I don't know if it is because of her gift, or if she would have been that way anyways. But not everyone would naturally think to try to break the earth when they get angry. Not everyone would think to shoot their enemy in all their limbs before killing them. Juliette and Warner would have to be willing to accept each other before having any sort of successful relationship. If Warner ever pushed her too hard in the wrong direction, I think she could become the monster she fears.

I cannot wait to find out what Juliette will do next. In the end of the book she was angry, and wanting to protect everyone she cared about. Does that mean she will run back to Omega Point? Or will she stay with Warner, try to take down his father together? This is a series that I know will continue to surprise and impress me.

"I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with."