ARC REVIEW: THE HIDDEN TWIN by Adi Rule

THE HIDDEN TWIN

Summary:
For eighteen years a girl with no name, a Redwing, has been hidden away in a small attic room within a city of hissing pipes and curving temples perched on the side of the great volcano, Mol, while her sister, Jey-identical except for her eyes-has lived her life in public as an only child. Their father had hoped the hidden girl would one day grow up to be a normal human girl and not the wicked creature mythology has promised, so he secretly spared her life as an infant.

But when she switches places with her sister, striking up a flirtation with the son of the Empress while working in the royal gardens and gets attacks by two suspicious priests on her journey home, she is forced to call forth fire to protect herself, unleashing her previously dormant powers and letting her secret out. She soon catches the attention of a cult with a thousand year old grudge as well as a group of underground rebels, both seeking her for their own gain. But when her sister goes missing and the Redwing uncovers a great plot to awaken Mol and bring fiery destruction upon them all, she is forced to embrace her powers.

In Adi Rule's new novel, The Hidden Twin, the girl with no name, must choose a name and a path for herself, drawing a line between myth and history to prove herself more than a monster if she is to save both her sister and her home.

Title: THE HIDDEN TWIN

Author: Adi Rule

Source: eARC via the Publisher

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Publication Date: March 22, 2016

Rating: 2.5 stars

Purchase:

Amazon | Chapters | TBD

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This one started off really confusing but ended up being pretty good. I think the mythology was good here but left some to be desired. I think we learned too little at the beginning that didn't really make sense and then once we actually saw it play out I understood it. The issue I had is that it felt like the author tried to make it sound much more poetic than it had to be and it ended up being more confusing than interesting. I spent a good chunk of the book being confused tbh.

ARC REVIEW: BEYOND THE RED by Ava Jae

BEYOND THE RED by Ava Jae. 

Summary: Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide. 

Title: Beyond the Red

Author: Ava Jae

Publisher: Sky Pony Press

Publication Date: March 1st, 2016

Rating: DNF

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC!

Yep, I have finally found a 2016 debut that, sadly, I don't like. It's never easy DNF-ing a book, especially one such as this. In 2015, my biggest problem was trying to slog through books that I didn't like, forcing myself to get to the end. In 2016, if I read a book that I don't like at all by page 100, I will DNF. It's hard, but I need to do it. 

BEYOND THE RED, unfortunately, was not my cup of tea at all. I did break my own rules and try to read this twice, but I simply couldn't get into it either time or enjoy it. I strongly disliked Kora, the heroine, and simply could not connect with her or feel anything for her. The same with Eros. 

The beginning started out wobbly, then it just didn't recover in my eyes. Despite desperately trying not to, I kept finding little things wrong after that and I couldn't overlook them by the time I reached page 100. Incredibly disappointed that one of my most anticipated reads of 2016 has fallen flat. I feel like I was expecting something vastly different because of the scintillating summary, then saw next to none of it.

Ava has great writing potential, I will say that. Truly hoping that she writes other books, because she could very easily knock the ball out of the park with her vast imagination. 

So, with the heaviest of hearts, BEYOND THE RED is a DNF. 

ARC REVIEW: TELL THE WIND AND FIRE by Sarah Rees Brennan

TELL THE WIND AND FIRE by Sarah Rees Brennan

Summary: Tell the Wind & Fire is about a young girl called Lucie who lives in a New York very different from the New York we know: the city is torn between two very different kinds of magic, and Lucie’s own family was torn apart years ago by that conflict. Lucie wears magic rings and carries a burden of guilt she can’t share with anyone.

The light in her life is her sweetheart boyfriend Ethan, but it turns out Ethan has a secret too: a soulless doppelganger created by dark magic, who has to conceal the face identical to Ethan’s with a hood fastened by a collar nobody but a Light magician with magical rings can take off… and who introduces himself to both of them by, for reasons nobody can understand, saving Ethan’s life…

Title: Tell The Wind and Fire

Author: Sarah Rees Brennan

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Publication Date: April 5th, 2016

Rating: DNF

I received this book on NetGalley from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

"Tell the wind and fire where to stop... But don't tell me."

*Actually me when I DNFed this book*

I so badly wanted to love this book, as I love Brennan's others such as UNSPOKEN, but unfortunately I found it dull, drab and terribly predictable. Even worse, I felt little hints of another book series within it. A very popular series by a certain friend of the author. By page 100 I was still wondering what the book was going to be about, exactly. The plot seemed flimsy at best. Also, the insane amount of infodump did nothing but frustrate me, and it was incredibly difficult trying to remember so many important details, big and small. Eventually, it all became too overwhelming for me to continue. As this is a retelling of A TALE OF TWO CITIES, a classic that I havenot read yet, I have no idea how similar it is to the original. 

I did not click with any of the characters. At all. They felt 2D, as if I had written them myself when I was maybe twelve. I know that sounds mean, but the flatness of the characters and sometimes forced dialogue used to get them from scene to scene became excruciatingly painful for me in the end. I have many more issues with the book, but I don't want to spoil the book for those who want to try it. But personally, it was not my cup of tea. 

There is one good thing about this book though: I ADORE that cover! The font especially. Really beautiful and eye-catching. 

   So sadly, TELL THE WIND AND FIRE is my first DNF of the 2016. I really tried, but it was not to be. I won't be reading any further books in this particular series. 

Will you be giving TELL THE WIND AND FIRE a chance?

Over But Not Forgotten: #FAC16

Even though it feels like #FAC16 is never ending since I think about it in my daily life, it sadly has come to an end. I did a recap of the first chat, the Science Fiction/Fantasy/Historical Fiction chat, the Contemporary/Mystery/Thriller chat, and the final chat. But in case you think that is too much to read, I am going to give you a fun break down here of what happened over the last month.

Again, the lovely ladies who hosted the event, giveaway, and chats are wonderful. Kristen, Nicola, and Rachel rock, and lucky me, I get to work with Nicola some more as her co-blogger for this blog (FIRST POST EEK)! Even though this is posted over at Books and Ladders, I thought I'd share it over here too since Nicola was one of the hosts for #FAC16. Hope you guys enjoy it!

REVIEW: SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE by Erica Cameron (plus competition)

Title: Sing Sweet Nightingale

Series: Dream War Saga #1

Author: Erica Cameron

Release date: March 4th 2014

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Stars: Five big fat stars

Synopsis:  Mariella Teagen hasn’t spoken a word in four years.

She pledged her voice to Orane, the man she loves—someone she only sees in her dreams. Each night, she escapes to Paradise, the world Orane created for her, and she sings for him. Mariella never believed she could stay in Paradise longer than a night, but two weeks before her eighteenth birthday, Orane hints that she may be able to stay forever.

Hudson Vincent made a pledge to never fight again.

Calease, the creature who created his dream world, swore that giving up violence would protect Hudson. But when his vow caused the death of his little brother, Hudson turned his grief on Calease and destroyed the dream world. The battle left him with new abilities and disturbing visions of a silent girl in grave danger—Mariella.

Now, Hudson is fighting to save Mariella’s life while she fights to give it away. And he must find a way to show her Orane’s true intentions before she is lost to Paradise forever.

 

What first attracted me to this book was the name initially. SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE. Every time I thought of it, Disney’s Cinderella would be singing the song inside my head. And when I read what it was about, Beyoncé’s Sweet Dreams would kick off as well. Basically this book has created a (very strange) mash-up of epic proportions. 

Right! Where to start? The cover. Gorgeous isn’t it? Before reading this book, I wondered if the light in her hand symbolized something, or the mask… and they do! Once you’ve read Sing Sweet Nightingale, you’ll be able to pick out a whole host of things from the cover that is included in the book.

And now we turn our attention to the characters. Mariella isn’t as strong as your usual YA heroine, but that doesn’t mean she’s one to be ignored. Even while saying nothing, she’s a feisty little thing that will bring a smile to your lips and even make you laugh a few times. Her weakness does not make her a coward. At all. Mariella is human. And humans constantly make mistakes. It’s what makes us who we are, really. Mariella’s flaws are simply a result of being human, and taken in by a beautiful lie that we all would be deceived by.

And now for Hudson. 

I’m pretty sure everyone these days knows how much I  (obsess over) like guys with white-blond hair and black eyes.  This totally has nothing to do with a certain murderous figure in Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments. [shifty look]

2013 was the year of YA ‘bad boys,’ don’t deny it. But with 2014, I’m seeing less of them. Is this good or bad? I’ve not decided yet. Hudson Vincent is a type of YA guy you don’t see very often at all. Totally committed to his cause, Hudson is a genuinely nice guy. A little weird, but hey- all the best people are weird. He’s lost so much in his life and constantly fighting a battle he’s neither winning nor losing. Hudson is an amazing character. And hot too, we can’t forget that.

All through the book, he and Mariella were slowly growing closer and you could see it.

You had level

  

and then level

 

And maybe one day in the future…

 

Okay so I really like the idea of that last GIF.

~

SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE was a beautiful read that also took place in another world. A dream world. I won’t say anything else because I don’t want to spoil it for those who are going to read it, but you’re going to love this book and it’s unforgettable characters.

SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE is out in the US already and  for UK readers from the 15th of March 2014. 

~

Also, today is the last day of the blog tour and competition! Have you been keeping up? No? Well here are all the locations and interviews in one snuggly link. Today’s blog posts are not on there just yet, but if you pop back soon, they should be.

My favourite post has to be Lost in Ever After’s though. Why? You’ll see. You can also enter the competition from that link as well. US only I’m afraid, and again, it is the last day, so hurry hurry!

 ~

On Tuesday night, Erica and Reading With Me held a live Q+A session on YouTube. There was a lot of craziness, chair spinning and laughing. Also, a ton of information about her book that you will find nowhere else! If you missed it, or just want to watch it again, you can find the hour-long recording HERE

 

Erica Cameron knew that writing was her passion when she turned a picture book into a mystery novella as a teen. That piece wasn’t her best work, but it got her an A. After college, she used her degree in Psychology and Creative Writing to shape a story about a dreamworld. Then a chance encounter at a rooftop party in Tribeca made her dream career a reality.

Erica is many things but most notably the following: writer, reader, editor, dancer, choreographer, singer, lover of musical theater, movie obsessed, sucker for romance, Florida resident, and quasi-recluse. She loves the beach but hates the heat, has equal passion for the art of Salvador Dali and Venetian Carnival masks, has a penchant for unique jewelry and sun/moon décor pieces, and a desire to travel the entire world on a cruise ship. Or a private yacht. You know, whatever works.

Her debut novel Sing Sweet Nightingale releases March 4, 2014 from Spencer Hill Press. It is the first book in The Dream War Saga.

Links

| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads |

REVIEW: WHITE HOT KISS by Jennifer Armentrout

Title: White Hot Kiss

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published: February 25th 2014

Rating: Five massive stars 

Summary: One kiss could be the last. 

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. 

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever. 

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul. 

But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Well well, she’s done it again.

Jennifer Armentrout’s newest book, White Hot Kiss, certainly takes after its name. This book was hotter than hell, heart squeezing at times and the plot twists will leave you stunned.

I picked up this book feeling extremely excited. Not just because our leading hottie, Roth, is the inspiration behind Lux’s Daemon Black, or because I’m already a massive fan of Jennifer’s work, but because of the fact this book was about demons. 

We’ve had aliens and Greek gods, and now we have a series about demons. Jennifer Armentrout has this exceptional ability of taking an idea and morphing it into something truly amazing. White Hot Kiss is no exception. 

We have Layla who is half demon, half Warden. What’s a Warden? Think of ass-kicking stone gargoyles from ontop of churches, that kind of thing. A law enforcement of sorts you do not wanna mess with. They kick demon ass, and quite literally. Sarcastic at times, incredibly strong and unforgettable, Layla is another heroine to be added to your list. Actually, set her snug near the top.

Roth. Damn, Roth. I could talk all day about this hot piece of demon. How does Jennifer think of such vibrant characters that will never leave your mind? Super-talented Jennifer Armentrout strikes again.

Roth is a demon. We all know what demons are of course. Nasty little cretins from down in hell. Roth isn’t just a demon, oh no… he’s a sarcastic, lewd, buttkicker demon with a high position in the Hellish pecking order. Plus did I mention his piercings and tattoos? A colossal snake called Bambi that comes to life and munches on everything she dislikes, what is cooler than that huh? Maybe Thumper but he’s not come out to play just yet.

 He and Layla are like a pair of magnets with their poles facing away from each other at first. But while Roths keeps trying to push closer, Layla’s moves like hell is chasing her (pun intended) away. When the polarity is reversed, they collide like wildfire. Layla and Roth are HOT. Caps lock was needed there. No avoiding it.

This book is the perfect combination of love, lust, a battle between good and evil and family. A exceptional blend of Young Adult and New Adult that will sizzle away at you long after you’ve finished this book.

With the Lux series set to end in September with Opposition, The Dark Elements looks set to take over from it. And while I’ll miss the Lux books like it’s my firstborn child, my excitement for Stone Cold Touch is through the roof. Lux has set the pedestal high, but The Dark Elements is certainly rising up to the challenge like Bambi and a particularly juicy, feisty demon. 

From the heart-rending end in White Hot Kiss, Layla’s story is far, far from over. And if her predecessors, heroines created by Jennifer are anything to go by, she’s in for a lot, lot more trouble and heartache. And I cannot wait to read it.

If I could give this book more than five stars, I’d give it one hundred.