War of Rain by H.W. Vivian

War of Rain by H.W. Vivian
Publisher: LuLu Publishing Services
Format: Paperback
Source: Received for review.

Fifteen year-old Miri lives in a desert village called Boreala, which competes with the city of Stratos for Rain - the equivalent of Holy Water. During a confrontation while gathering Rain, Miri accidentally kills a citizen of Stratos, and unintentionally starts a heinous war. Now it is up to her to find the God of Rain, Kalono, and ask Him for an invention that can bring both peace and war before Boreala is destroyed.

This was a really hard book for me to rate, I really did enjoy this book but at the same time it feels like it took me forever to get through. The story has a really interesting premise where the world is pretty much destroyed where it barely rains and there are little to no natural resources left and the humans have reverted to living in small villages and trading for goods and specialized products just like they did in the past.

I really liked Miri. She was tough and even though everything under the sun was thrown at her she always managed to come out on top. Philippe was my favorite character however. He's such a sweet boy and even though how he was raised should have affected how he acted it seems to have the complete opposite effect on this gentle boy.

The action through this novel kept me reading just to find out how it all ended. The fights were amazingly detailed and described and I do love some blood and gore. So if that isn't your type of thing maybe you could skim over those parts.

All in all I am extremely glad I was contacted by the author to review this book. I loved her previous novel Chasers and I'm looking forward to starting the companion novel for this story as well.


I received a copy of this book for review purposes this has in no way effected my views on this book and all opinions expressed are my own.

 

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross

The Strange Case of Finley Jayne by Kady Cross
Series:The Steampunk Chronicles, #0.5
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback (included in the first book)
Pages:86
Source: Purchased.

Finley Jayne knows she's not 'normal'. Normal girls don't lose time, or have something inside them that makes them capable of remarkably violent things. Her behavior has already cost her one job, so when she's offered the lofty position of companion to Phoebe, a debutante recently engaged to Lord Vincent, she accepts, despite having no experience. Lord Vincent is a man of science with his automatons and inventions, but Finley is suspicious of his motives where Phoebe is concerned. She will do anything to protect her new friend, but what she discovers is even more monstrous than anything she could have imagined.

There really isn't much I can say for this novella besides the fact that it got me interested in reading the rest of the series. It was extremely slow in the beginning to the point where I wanted to put it down and quit but the further I got through it the more I wanted to read.

Despite the beginning I am actually looking forward to seeing where the story leads and I just hope where it picks up in the first novel it doesn't go back to being slow paced. I hope there's a lot more steampunk elements in the first novel because I absolutely love steampunk stories.

Once it picked up however I was drawn into the plot of the story. I didn't expect anything to happen and I was pleasantly surprised by everything that did. The characters were pretty interesting as well and I can't wait to see how they develop as the story goes on.

Tales of the Zodiac: The Goat's Tale by P.J. Hetherhouse

Tales of the Zodiac: The Goat's Tale by P.J. Hetherhouse
Series: Tales of the Zodiac, #1
Publisher: Amazon Createspace
Format: Paperback
Pages: 465
Source: Author for review.

The Tales of the Zodiac is a series inspired by Celtic mythology, Arthurian legend and, most importantly, astrology. Living in a time when Mother Nature has resumed control, the human race has regressed back to its feudal past. It is here, in two civilisations gripped by political intrigue and religious fanaticism, that the tales take place. We begin with Capricorn - The Goat's Tale.

When I was contacted by the author to do a review for the blog I was immediately intrigued by the books description. The premise sounded like something I have never seen done before in a novel and I am glad to say that I was not let down at all.

This book is unique, it has action and adventure. It seems kind of like fantasy but it also seems like it could happen for real too.

As far as the characters go the main character, Gruff was not my favorite. I loved Morrigan and Shara though. Morrigan was funny and constantly had me entertained even when the situations the characters were in seemed dire. Shara was a fantastic character as well, she was mysterious and not much about her is shown in this novel so I'm eager to find out more about her.

If you're into stories that have a lot of depth then definitely give this one a try. The entire time I was reading it I was fully immersed in the story and really didn't want to put it down. Though be warned there are some words throughout the story that seem to be part of the language of the characters and don't make much sense. I am eagerly looking forward to the next book in this series to see where the characters head to next.



**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

How to Destroy the New Girl's Killer Robot Army by Mick Bogerman

How to Destroy the New Girl's Killer Robot Army by Mick Bogerman
Series: Slug Pie Story, #3
Publisher: Slug Pie Stories, LLC
Format: Paperback
Pages: 168
Source: Publisher for review.

When Savannah "Van Demon" Diamond comes to town she ruins everything for Mick. She takes over his favorite hang out, outruns him in gym class, and worst of the worst—his little brother has a crush on her. Devising a plan to get her kicked out of school and moved out of Beachwood is simple. Dealing with Savannah’s mind-blowing revenge is Mick’s most challenging adventure yet.
Join Mick as he thwarts insidious traps and deadly weaponry, fighting against the most cunning of enemies. Catastrophe looms for all of Beachwood unless Mick can put aside his pride, join forces with his rival, and destroy the new girl’s killer robot army.

 

When I was contacted to review this book I was so excited seeing as I really enjoyed the first two books in the series. This installment was just as wonderful as the first two and has me eagerly awaiting the release of book four.

 



 In this installment we get to meet a new character, a girl named Savannah. At first I didn't really like her but she quickly grew on me. She was witty and clever and all around fantastic. Mick and Finley were as lovable as ever and had me laughing out loud.

The story is written like a how to guide like the first two books and the pace is just as quick. There is never a dull moment with the shenanigans that the characters manage to get into and the problem that the kids were trying to fix was really cool. Who doesn't love killer robots?

If you want a fast paced, fun story for your kids (or if you like middle grade yourself) definitely give this series a chance! The characters are great and the stories are interesting and have quite a bit of action.

 

**Copy provided via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid by Mick Bogerman

How to Rid Your Swimming Pool of a Bloodthirsty Mermaid by Mick Bogerman
Series: Slug Pie Story, #2
Publisher: Slug Pie Stories, LLC
Format: Paperback
Pages: 141
Source: Publisher for review.

All Mick Bogerman wanted to do was teach his little brother how to swim in the coolest swimming pool in town. He didn’t ask to take care of a bunch of Sea-Monkeys while he was there. He certainly didn’t mean to morph one of them into a mermaid by feeding it genetically enhanced super food. No one is more surprised than Mick when the creature starts luring unsuspecting adults into the deep end of the pool. Adults who don’t resurface.
Join Mick as he battles a powerful adversary: a bloodthirsty mermaid who hypnotizes with a golden gaze, shatters glass with a piercing shriek, and reveals her true menacing self by the light of a full moon.

 

I loved this book as much as I loved the first in the series. In this installment we get to follow Mick and Finley around as they deal with a mermaid. This installment had more moments of suspense where I was wondering just how Mick and Finley were going to survive the ordeal they got themselves into.

 

This story was written in a how to style guide like the first, this one however was longer and seemed to be more detailed than the first book in the series. This was a great thing because I really wanted to spend more time reading about the boys shenanigans and all of the trouble they got themselves into.

 

I didn't really like PJ in the beginning. He was selfish and snooty, and really only thought about himself and what he wanted. He really grew on me as the book went on however and I'm really hoping that there is more of him in the third book. I'm also really looking forward to seeing more of Mick and Finley's adventures.

 

Much like the first book in this series, this novel is full of humor and suspense with monsters thrown in that Mick has to deal with. These books really fly by as you're reading them and I highly recommend them if you're a middle grade reader or just want a quick fun story. I will definitely be picking up the third book when it comes out and continuing on with this series.

 



**Copy provided via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

How to Navigate Zombie Cave and Defeat Pirate Pete by Mick Bogerman

How to Navigate Zombie Cave and Defeat Pirate Pete by Mick Bogerman
Series: Slug Pie Story, #1
Publisher: Slug Pie Stories, LLC
Format: Paperback
Pages: 91
Source: Publisher for review.

Armed with a pitchfork, miner’s hat, and map, Mick Bogerman dares to hunt for pirate treasure in Zombie Cave. His little brother Finley is tied up at the beach. Literally--Mick tied him up. No one needs a little brother tagging along when you’re going to slay the undead.
But Mick soon wishes he’d taken some human company with him, because lurking in every corner, reaching from every crevice, is another hungry corpse. No wonder the place is named Zombie Cave! And finding treasure in the twisty tunnels is a lot harder when your map disintegrates. And man-oh-man the cold, dark tide chases fast. But the worst part about fighting off ravenous flesh-eaters is the one monster deadlier than a regular zombie . . . the worst of the worst . . . Pirate Pete.

 

I absolutely adore Middle Grade fiction and this book was no exception. It was quick and funny and suspenseful at points. I was either hoping that Mick got out of the situation alright or laughing at something that he said.

 

The plot of this book is really awesome and is what immediately had me accepting the review offer. A boy goes into a cave that is overrun by pirate zombies all to get the treasure that is inside to help his mom so she can quit one of her jobs. It isn't all action and fighting which I really liked since it had a lot of humor in it as well.

 

The way the story is told is unique as well. Each chapter is set up like a step on how to get through zombie cave and defeat the pirates which made it really fun. The story is told from Mick's point of view so it's not completely in list format so you do actually get a great story out of it as well. The book wraps up nicely and doesn't leave any loose ends so the next book is a completely new adventure.

 

I loved Mick and his brother Finley. Mick was impulsive and funny while Finley was the thinker and planner. They made a great team and I enjoyed reading about their adventure. I am looking forward to the rest of the books in this series and will definitely be reading them as they are released.

 



 

**Copy provided via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

The Royals, Volume 1: Eddie by Missy Kirtley

The Royals, Volume 1: Eddie by Missy Kirtley
Series: The Royals, #1
Publisher: Createspace
Format: Paperback
Pages: 62
Source: Author for review.

The Royal family's fortune came from the Royal Car Company, founded by Charles Royal I. His son took over the company, married, and had six children. As close to American Royalty as possible, due to the fame of the company that bears their name, the children grew up in the spotlight. How much or how little it affected them is yet to be seen.

The eldest of the Royal children, Charles, purchased a house in Burbank, California, sight unseen. His younger brother, Eddie, is helping set up the home for his arrival. When Eddie sees a beautiful, young woman in the window next door he is instantly smitten. When he starts asking about her he's told that only an old woman lives in that house. Who is the woman on the other side of the fence? Will Eddie get to the bottom of this mystery?

 

I loved the idea of fairy tales set in the real world without magic, dragons, witches etc, which is exactly why I agreed to read and review this book when I was offered the chance. I loved the story and the characters and how it just flowed. The plot was really cool as well, a boy setting up a house for his brother and sees a girl who he just falls for, but nobody else seems to know that she lives there and he's doing anything to try to get to know her.

I never saw the ending coming either. I figured something totally different was going to end up happening and I was pleasantly surprised by the route the story took. Even though this was a really short novelette, it still managed to reel me in and keep me entertained. I found myself really loving the characters and was really routing for them and hoping that things turned out okay in the end.

If you like short stories that really focus on the characters then I highly recommend this one. It kind of had a little mystery to it as to who the girl was and it had a really adorable ending. The only issue that I had with the story is that I wish it was longer, but I cannot wait until I can read the second book in the series and get to know another one of the characters.

**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott

The Alchemyst by Michael Scott
Series: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel, #1
Publisher: Ember
 Format: Paperback
Pages: 375
Source: Purchased.

He holds the secret that can end the world.

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. Nearly 700 years later, he is acknowledged as the greatest Alchemyst of his day. It is said that he discovered the secret of eternal life.

The records show that he died in 1418.

But his tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. But only because he has been making the elixir of life for centuries. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed. In the wrong hands, it will destroy the world. That's exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. Humankind won't know what's happening until it's too late. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true.

And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time

 

This was a strange book for me. I flew through the beginning and got stuck in the middle and by the end I was flying through it again. I don't really think it had anything in particular to do with the book itself I honestly just think it was the fact that I didn't want to read it at that point but being over 100 pages in I wasn't willing to stop.

 

The plot of this is amazing. I love anything to do with mythology and magic. Plus the fact that Harry Potter mentions Nicholas Flamel was what really made the name stick with me. I must say that this book did not disappoint. There was action and it was fast paced. The magic added a wonderful element as well as the prophecy that was hinted at throughout the novel.

 

As for the characters I loved Nicholas and his wife Perenell. They were fun and awesome and totally the kind of people you wish you could have as friends. Sophie was the twin that I actually liked. She was smart and thoughtful and didn't rush into things. Her brother Josh on the other hand really got on my nerves after awhile. He was brash and reckless and was jealous of his sister just because a certain thing didn't happen to him as well.

 

If you're a fan of magic and mythology I definitely recommend you check this out. It's a relatively quick read and will have you rooting for the characters to succeed. 

 

 

Chasers by H.W. Vivian

Chasers by H.W. Vivian
Series: N/A
Publisher: LuLu Publishing Services
Format: Paperback
Pages: 287
Source: Received for review.

The small town of Winston, Colorado, has a secret-one that hides in its children. Long ago, there were many children who suffered from the local "condition." There are fewer of them now, but Shelby is one of them. She was born with a ruby embedded in her skin. In the same year, two other kids in town, Gary and May, were born with emeralds. Now a teenager, Shelby nurses a crush on Gary, while he sticks close to the fragile May and tries to protect her from, among other things, Shelby's bullying. Despite their differences, however, their births connect them; when May goes missing, Gary needs Shelby's help. Together, Shelby and Gary learn the unspeakable truth about each other-and about the chasers. Death lurks around every turn; in order to survive, Shelby, Gary, and May must work together. It is now their responsibility to save an entire generation of people also born with their "condition" before a century-old grudge destroys them all.

 

This one took a little while to get into but once the action got started I was hooked. I had to know what would happen to Shelby, Gary and May to the point that I was staying up late trying to reach the end. This is like nothing I have ever read before, the idea that these kids have a debt to pay due to something that happened a long time ago and therefore have this really weird curse was just plain interesting.

 

Even though the beginning in this one is kind of slow, it does pick up and the events that the three teenagers have to go through is definitely action packed. One of the main things that drew me into this was the friendship between the characters. They would have risked their lives for each other in an instant, even though May and Shelby did not get along in the beginning.

 

The one thing that really took away from the story for me was Shelby. I just did not like her and I could not connect with her at all. She was selfish and nasty and a major brat. She did turn around towards the end but I just could not start liking her. May on the other hand was a sweetheart. Both her and Gary were my favorites. They stuck together through everything and Gary was so protective of May and definitely proved that guys and girls could be friends without romance being thrown in.

 

If you're looking for a quick read with an interesting back story I recommend that you give this one a chance. The action is fast paced and the fact that all of these teens would risk their lives for their friends really brings a lot to the story.

 

 

**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**



Stones of Power: The Exile by Eric Buffington

Stones of Power: The Exile by Eric Buffington
Series: Stones of Power, #1
Publisher: Center One Publishing
Format: Paperback
Pages: 288
Source: Author for review.

In a world where each person is born with a magic ability, the island of Denall is on the verge of an attack from a power hungry sorcerer, Mordyar, as he scours the world in search of the Stones of Power. While the stones are gathering and their power begins to be revealed, four boys leave their village on a rite of passage into adulthood and are swept into an adventure that will make men and heroes of them, if they can survive.

 

I'm generally not a huge fan of fantasy but I really want to try to read more of the genre. I was definitely surprised by the amount of enjoyment I had reading this book. I ended up getting absorbed in the story and rooting for the characters to pull through. And there was enough action to keep me turning the pages quickly to find out what would happen next.

 

The whole idea of these boys having to leave their village at 18 for a whole year to become men was interesting. The trouble they continually found themselves in was nerve wracking because I became so invested in these boys' story that I did not want anything horrible to happen to them, which of course everything that could go wrong did and although I didn't want that to happen I'm glad it did. Throughout the book Kaz really develops from a boy to a strong willed man.

 

The characters were a huge part of why I liked the story. Kaz was optimistic and no matter what happened he would do anything to help his friends. Farin was snarky and hard headed but he ended up being one of my favorite characters in the end. I was not as fond of Bendar as the others. He seemed off to me, throughout the book I kept wondering just what he was up to but I will say that he eventually grew on me.

 

If you're a fan of epic fantasy I think you would really enjoy this. It has adventure and action plus it focuses heavily on friendship and growing up. Even if you're like me and don't find yourself loving fantasy I really recommend giving this a try. You might just end up really loving it. I will definitely be reading the sequel when it's released since I need to know what happens to the characters.

 

 

**Copy provided via the author in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**



Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne

Monument 14 by Emmy Laybourne
Series: Monument 14, #1
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 294
Source: Won

"Your mother hollers that you're going to miss the bus. She can see it coming down the street. You don't stop and hug her and tell her you love her. You don't thank her for being a good, kind, patient mother. Of course not--you launch yourself down the stairs and make a run for the corner.
""Only, if it's the last time you'll ever see your mother, you sort of start to wish you'd stopped and did those things. Maybe even missed the bus.
""But the bus was barreling down our street, so I ran.
"Fourteen kids. One superstore. A million things that go wrong.
In Emmy Laybourne's action-packed debut novel, six high school kids (some popular, some not), two eighth graders (one a tech genius), and six little kids trapped together in a chain superstore build a refuge for themselves inside. While outside, a series of escalating disasters, beginning with a monster hailstorm and ending with a chemical weapons spill, seems to be tearing the world--as they know it--apart.

 

This book was not as awesome as I thought it would be. I expected a lot more action than there was and honestly Dean's love for Astrid really took away from the story. Usually I'm all for a little romance but it wasn't even really romance since he's pretty much just loving her from afar.

 

These children are trapped in a store with disasters happening constantly and all Dean can think of is how pretty Astrid is or how much he liked her. And honestly I really didn't find myself caring too much about any of the characters. The little kids were adorable but at the same time I couldn't relate to a bunch of 5-6 year olds.

I just could not connect with this book. I found myself not being drawn in and honestly I was more than a little bored with the story. Not much happens, and in a dystopian/post apocalyptic/disaster book more things should be happening than what occurred in this book.

Even with all of the issues I had with this one, it was a quick read. When there is action going on the story does move nicely, however not enough happened to really have me interested in reading the rest of the trilogy.

The Devouring by Simon Holt

The Devouring by Simon Holt
Series: The Devouring, #1
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Format: Paperback
Pages: 231
Source: Purchased

When Reggie finds an old journal and reads about the Vours, supernatural creatures who feast on fear and attack on the eve of the winter solstice, she assumes they are just the musings of some lunatic author. But soon, they become a terrifying reality when she begins to suspect that her timid younger brother might be one of their victims.

Risking her life and her sanity, Reggie enters a living nightmare to save the people she loves. Can she devour own her fears before they devour her?

Bone-chilling, terrifying, thrilling...what are you waiting for?

 

When dark creeps in and eats the light,

Bury your fears on Sorry Night.

For in the winter's blackest hours

Comes the feasting of the Vours.

No one can see it, the life they stole,

Your body's here but not your soul...

-Page 4

 

This book was creepy. Which is exactly what I was hoping for and expecting when going into it. That little rhyme up there, yeah that was on page four. It really set the tone for the entire book and believe me it definitely lived up to the creep factor portrayed in the little rhyme.

 

The vours were creepy. They honestly freaked me out. And then there were some of the scenes, like the one with the clown that had me to the point where I had to close the book for a few minutes. As someone who loves scary things, I was quite satisfied with this one. I kept reading this one well into the night, which wasn't such a smart idea.

 

There's so much happening in this book, Reggie had to deal with a lot which her brother becoming a little frightening just added to all of the stress she was under. And the whole having to live the nightmare's thing? That was awesome and freaky and if that wasn't enough, throw in a clown and spiders crawling all over Reggie and I found myself squirming in my seat.

 

The book kept a steady pace which really held my attention, the only thing that really seemed to be an issue is that the book read like something written for a much younger audience. Besides that I was very pleasantly surprised and will be reading the rest of this trilogy.

 

 

 



Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan

Dash & Lily's Book of Dares by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Series: N/A
Publisher: Ember
Format: Paperback
Pages: 260
Source: Purchased

"I've left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don't, put the book back on the shelf, please."

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a cosmic mismatch of disastrous proportions?

 

I was attempting to write the story of my life. It wasn't so much about plot. It was much more about character.

-page 198

 

This book was cute. The whole idea surrounding the notebook and the dares was really cool and quite adorable, but I didn't love this as much I thought I would. On the plus side it was an extremely quick read and left me feeling quite satisfied with how it ended.

 

With how closely Lily's grandfather supposedly keeps an eye on her why would he just go down to Florida while her parents are gone and leave her slightly older brother in charge? It didn't make much sense, I mean sure he wanted to see his girlfriend but really if he's that protective he would never have left her like that.

 

And Lily, I really was not a fan of her. She thought Dash was the coolest thing in the beginning and then when she does something that has him second guessing who she is she has the nerve to say that he's illogical when really he was nice enough to take her home? What was up with this girl? She wanted to be dangerous and go off with another guy yet when Dash finds her it's his fault he doesn't do something she wants him to the next day. She really got on my nerves and she was definitely not relatable, at least not to me.

 

"I find I very rarely live up to my words. And since you know me primarily through my words, there are oh so many ways I can disappoint."

-Dash page 219

 

Dash on the other hand was my favorite. He's bookish and well spoken and all around a good guy. No matter how disappointed he was with Lily when he first met her he still did the right thing and made sure she got home safely and then even went so far as to give her the benefit of the doubt.

 

If you want a fluffy romance I'd recommend this one, even though it wasn't the best book I've ever read it was still worth it and left me entertained and satisfied.

Til Death by Kate Evangelista (E-ARC)

Til Death by Kate Evangelista
Series: Fractured Souls, #1
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: E-ARC
Pages: 282
Source: Netgalley for review

Sixteen-year old Selena Fallon is a dreamer. Not a day-dreamer, but an I-see-the-future kind of dreamer. Normally this is not a problem as she has gotten pretty good at keeping her weird card hidden from everyone in her small town. Except from her best friend Kyle and her grandparents, of course. But when Selena dreams of her own rather bloody death, things get a little too freaky even for her.

Enter Dillan Sloan. Selena has seen the new guy in a different dream, and he is even more droolworthy in person. Beyond the piercing blue eyes and tousled dark hair, there is something else that draws her to him. Something…electric. Unfortunately, Dillan makes it more than clear that he does not feel the same. They just met, so why would he act like he hates her?

When Dillan and Selena are forced together one weekend to work on a school project, Selena prepares to be ignored as usual. But when she stumbles across a few undead in the backyard, Dillan comes to her rescue and reveals a whole lot more. Not only is he part of a society that hunts otherworldly creatures…she is too. And she is being targeted by a force bigger and darker than anything she ever imagined. Despite her death dream, Selena is not going to give up easy, especially when she discovers that Dillan might not actually hate her after all.

 



 This book started off pretty slow for me. It took quite a while for me to really get interested. About halfway through that really changed for me and I found myself unable to stop reading at that point.

When I read the description I thought that the book sounded really interesting and that it had a lot of potential. I think my biggest problem with this one was the pacing. It was really slow in the beginning but towards the end it goes by really quickly. It made the book difficult for me to get into at first.

The dual point of view was both a plus and a negative for me. I really liked Dillan's point of view but at the same time I really preferred him over Selena. I thought his point of view was far more interesting while Selena was just normal and didn't really understand anything that was going on.

I liked Dillan more than Selena. I found him to be more interesting and he was funny and one tough guy. He had no problem fighting and would stand up to protect the ones he cared about. Selena was living a life that was pretty normal and routine, until Dillan came along. Once she finally started to understand what was happening she became more likeable and a lot more interesting.

This book has action and paranormal elements and if these things aren't enough to sway you there is some sweet romance going on. I recommend that you at least give this one a chance even though I didn't love it as much as I hoped. I will definitely be continuing on with this series, after the ending to this one I need to find out what happens to Selena.

 

**Copy provided via the publisher on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.**

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan
Series: The Lynburn Legacy, #1
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 370
Source: Purchased from Random Buzzers

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

This book was difficult for me. I went into it expecting a fantastic Gothic story and I guess that's where it went wrong for me. It didn't live up to all of the expectations I had for it and in the end I was disappointed even though I really did enjoy the book.

The mystery was definitely enough to keep my attention. It had so many unexpected twists throughout the story and I found the outcome of what the Lynburn's were really exciting.

I liked Kami. She was quirky and had strong beliefs and didn't sit down and let everybody walk all over her. She stood up for herself and what she believed in and wasn't afraid to find out the truth. I admit I wasn't a huge fan of Ash. From the beginning I thought things were kind of off with him and he really just seemed to perfect. I loved Jared. He was obnoxious and snarky, but you could tell he really cared about Kami.

I was iffy about the whole talking to someone in their mind thing. It just seemed kind of weird when I first read the description but once I got into the story it surprisingly worked for me. The ending to this one was devastating. I am so glad that I read this one after the sequel was already out. That way I don't have that long to find out what happens with Kami and Jared next.