Fragile Spirits by Mary Lindsey

Fragile Spirits (Souls #2)

Author: Mary Lindsey

Publisher: Philomel

Pages: 311

Paul has always known he was a Protector, fated to serve a Speaker who could hear the voices of spirits lingering after death and help those souls find peace.

Vivienne ignores the voices of the dead.

Paul has always followed the Protector’s rule book, preparing diligently for the day when he’d be matched with his Speaker and fulfill his destiny.

Vivienne never does what she’s told.

So when Paul is matched with Vivienne, they both find the pairing less than satisfactory. But a kidnapping, a malevolent spirit and power stronger than both of them may just prove that they are two halves of the same whole.

In a stunning story about the beauty of fate and the power of secrets, Mary Lindsey returns to the world of Shattered Souls with a breathtaking thrill-ride of a novel.

**Note from author: This book begins one month after Shattered Souls leaves off. Lenzi and Alden are featured in this book, but reading Shattered Souls is not a prerequisite.~Goodreads

I was extremely hesitant to read Fragile Spirits for two main reasons:

1.   I had read its predecessor, Shattered Souls, over three years before—and I wasn’t sure  I’d be able to pick back up and know what was going on.

2. Shattered Souls was so incredible (fan girl rant here), I didn’t think its sequel would be able to compare in the slightest.                                  

My hesitation was completely unnecessary. Mary Lindsey’s writing is fantastic. She created a world that is so unique and intricate yet so easy to follow and get lost in—it’s amazing. I LOVE this world. (I so want a book about someone who works at the Intercessor Council. Someone who reads and files all the reports?! Maybe with a dash of office romance?! Yes please.)

In this second installment we are introduced to Protector 993, Mr. Paul Blackwell. Let me just start by saying he is the epitome of adorable.  I fell hard and fast for Alden but with Paul it was gradual, with each flip of the page. He is intelligent and thoughtful and supportive and so sweet. He is extremely levelheaded, even in a crisis—he is calm for others around him. Even when he is angry—he doesn’t lash out (just counts in his head like a cutie). He went through so much when he was younger, he comes with some heavy baggage yet he is still this caring, honest guy and I respect Paul so much.

Then we have Vivienne.  Miss Sassy McSasserton. She is so closed off and rude in the beginning that it took me awhile to warm up to her. She has her reasons for being that way and I felt for her. Her quick wit and bold persona won me over though. She's pretty much a BAMF.  And can I say character growth like WHOA. At the start of the book she’s ignoring the hindered and by the end she’s saying, “Game on” for kicking some malevolent ass. Yeah, she’s great. 

Another character I really enjoyed was Charles. To me he read as more than just Paul's boss, he was like Paul’s father figure. And oh my gosh the scene between him and Paul in Charles' office?? Yeah, I really like the dude.

And don’t you worry, all of our friends from the first book make an appearance in this installment as well. I loved getting to see little snippets of what Lenzi and Alden and Race were up to. 

Unfortunately, one of the most dangerous malevolent spirits is back too and he is a major a$$ "Anyone mind if I smoke?" You'll get why that was SUCH a DICK thing to say once you read the book (because I know you’re going to want to after seeing that gorgeous cover and reading this marvelous review :P )  I wanted to knock the guy’s teeth out. Only problem was he was kinda possessing a character I liked. And I didn’t want to knock HER teeth out, ya know?

Also, THANK YOU to Mary Lindsey for chapter 21! During the chapter I said to myself, “I want this one thing to happen” because I knew it NEVER would. And then it DID happen and I was like, “AHHH! NO WAY!” In-freaking-credible chapter. 

I love this series because not only is it funny and suspenseful and sexy at times, it's so emotional. I FELT ALL OF THE FEELS while reading this. I did not want to put it down. The characters are amazing, the world is incredible, the writing is beautiful--I can't say enough good things.

I would HIGHLY recommend this series. I hope with all my heart that Mary Lindsey gives us another installment! 

Such a Rush by Jennifer Echols

Such a Rush

Author: Jennifer Echols

Publisher: MTV Books

Pages: 320

Team: Grayson ♥

Rating: 5 FLYnomenal Stars! (see what I did there?!) 

A sexy and poignant romantic tale of a young daredevil pilot caught between two brothers.

High school senior Leah Jones loves nothing more than flying. While she’s in the air, it’s easy to forget life with her absentee mother at the low-rent end of a South Carolina beach town. When her flight instructor, Mr. Hall, hires her to fly for his banner advertising business, she sees it as her ticket out of the trailer park. And when he dies suddenly, she’s afraid her flying career is gone forever.     

But Mr. Hall’s teenage sons, golden boy Alec and adrenaline junkie Grayson, are determined to keep the banner planes flying. Though Leah has crushed on Grayson for years, she’s leery of getting involved in what now seems like a doomed business — until Grayson betrays her by digging up her most damning secret. Holding it over her head, he forces her to fly for secret reasons of his own, reasons involving Alec. Now Leah finds herself drawn into a battle between brothers — and the consequences could be deadly.~Goodreads 

I’ll save you’re the wondrously horrible cliché of saying that this book was, “Such a Rush” because it was much more than that. It was irresistible and inspiring and incredible. Such a Rush is a story about following your dreams and making them come true by any means possible and I loved every single page.

Our main character, Leah, doesn’t have the best home life. She lives in a noisy trailer park with her mom, who’s rarely ever around, and a boy that’s no good for her. Leah dreams of escaping, of becoming a pilot, she wants the freedom that flying will give her, so she starts working for Mr. Hall. Leah starts out at the company as the receptionist, until one day she asks for a flying lesson. At first, Mr. Hall doesn’t seem to keen on the idea but while talking to Leah, he sees her passion and strong desire to be in the sky, so he starts giving her lessons.

Not knowing anything about planes myself, I found their time in the sky to be absolutely fascinating! Echols gives just the right amount of details to make the jargon understandable and exciting! Kinda makes me wish I could fly a plane myself! BUT, banner flying is also EXtremely dangerous and even the smallest gust of wind or drop of rain can causes and accident. There were many a times I was frightened senseless and I wasn’t even flying the plane! For the most part, all serious accidents were avoided though. Thank gosh!

Things really start to take off though (see what i did there?) when Mr. Hall's twin sons come back to town to take over the business after he passes away. GUYS. I LOVED THESE BOYS!

Alec is an absolute sweetheart. He’s always willing to help you out or make you smile, while Grayson is the complete opposite. *Shakes head* Grayson, Grayson, Grayson…what am I going to do with you? (possibly tie you to my bed...ehem...I mean...?) Grayson is so outrageously sexy and a major daredevil, he is the epitome of a bad boy and he definitely had me and Leah falling hardcore. BUT! He’s also very confusing! One minute he’s super charming and helpful, bringing Leah dinner and the next he’s a complete asshole and totally spiteful, blackmailing her. I wanted to slap him SO HARD at one point! He was so stubborn and on such a major power trip. GAH! He was SO FRUSTRATING. BUT SO FREAKING ATTRACTIVE. (Did I already mention that?)

And oh sweet heavens! The tension between Leah and Grayson!? It flew (no pun--actually, pun intended!) off of the pages. The spark between them!? I’M SURPRISED THE BOOK DIDN’T SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUST. HOLY FOREST FIRE. Like, damn. Just make-out already! :P

I absolutely adored this book, it left me swooning and speechless. It was sexy and amazing and just...SO FREAKING GOOD! I want a sequel! I NEED more Leah & Grayson and sky time! This book is seriously a must, MUST read!

“The plane wants to fly.”

Darkness Before Dawn by J.A. London

Darkness Before Dawn

Author: J.A. London

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishing

Pages: 342

Team: Victor ♥

Rating: 4 Stars 

This electrifying new trilogy blends the best of paranormal and dystopian storytelling in a world where the war is over. And the vampires won.

Humans huddle in their walled cities, supplying blood in exchange for safety. But not even that is guaranteed. Dawn has lost her entire family and now reluctantly serves as the delegate to Lord Valentine, the most powerful vampire for miles. It isn’t until she meets Victor, Valentine’s son, that she realizes not all vampires are monsters....

Darkness Before Dawn is a fresh new story with captivating characters, unexpected plot twists, a fascinating setting, and a compelling voice. Written under the name J. A. London by a talented mother-son team, the trilogy is perfect for fans of True Blood and the House of Night and Morganville Vampires series.~Goodreads

I had high hopes for this book. Being a reader who’s over vampires, I needed this book to wow me, dazzle me and not irritate me. Darkness Before Dawn did not disappoint! I was actually surprised at how good it was!

I really liked the writing style in this one. It wove simplistic descriptions with beautiful imagery and I thought the whole book read like a movie. Or at least it did for me! I saw everything play out perfectly in my head.

As for the main character, Dawn, I was actually quite fond of her! She was smart, determined and not afraid to stand up for herself. Following her parents death, she became the youngest delegate to represent both the vampires and the humans in the city where she lives, so those traits are definitely handy! The only thing I didn’t like about Dawn? The people she hung around with; her boyfriend Michael being one of them.

Michael was too perfect for me. Dawn mentioned over and over how perfect they were for each other but I felt nothing between them. They had more of a sibling vibe going on. Also, he was kind of an ass. He wasn’t that supportive of Dawn, and he was more concerned about what a good vamp killer he’d be once he became a Night Watchman. Ugh. I felt that he was too wrapped up in himself. I did not fall for his ‘charms.’

I really wasn’t impressed with Dawn’s best friend, Tegan, either. She was bossy and irresponsible; she really only led Dawn into trouble. I didn’t click with her as a character. But, one good thing about Tegan’s recklessness? It led to Victor!

Oh my gosh *swoon* I love him. So much. He is sexy and charming and protective and intelligent. Oh yeah, and vampire. And once Dawn found that fact out she never missed a chance to tell Victor how much she despised him; but he was not deterred. He wanted to help her lessen the strain between the vampires and the humans; he insisted that they could work together.

So, the more Dawn and Victor spend time together the more she learns about him. Victor does a lot of things to help the citizens of her city and Dawn comes to understand that not all vampires are monsters, especially not Victor. Could she perhaps be falling for this creature of the night? She sure is!

Now, Victor and Dawn....they have CHEMISTRY!! The forbidden-ness of their relationship!? Holy wowza. It was fantastic! But just when things start heating up between them BAM! The end. Oh my Lord Valentine! What the HELL!? How could it end there!? EEEP! That ending was like, whoa.

Overall, Darkness Before Dawn was a really good read! If you’re looking for a book that puts a new spin of vampire/human relationships and one that has a dash of delightful romance, then this book is for you!

For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund

For Darkness Shows the Stars

Author: Diana Peterfreund

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Pages: 398

Rating: 5 Incredibly Stunning Stars!

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.

Elliot North has always known her place in this world. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. Since then the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress, and Elliot’s estate is foundering, forcing her to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliot wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she let him go.

But Elliot soon discovers her old friend carries a secret—one that could change their society . . . or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she’s lost him forever.~Goodreads

Having never read the original story by Jane Austen, I feel as though I was able to come into this story with a fresh pair of eyes and no preconceived notions. This book was so gorgeously brilliant and it makes me want to pick up the original!

For Darkness Shows the Stars is a beautiful story about struggle, class difference, heartbreak, changing your circumstances and love. It was so spectacularly written; with the book set up in present tense through narrative and past tense through letters the whole story was intense, heart-wrenching and incredible.

The characters themselves were fantastic as well, especially Elliot. Elliot was remarkable. She’s incredibly smart and she’s not afraid to push the boundaries of her role as a Luddite. She puts others needs before her own, dedicating her life to making sure that the people working on her estate are warm, feed and safe. She’s probably the least selfish character I’ve ever come across. She treats everyone with respect and kindness (even those she doesn’t necessarily like). She also has so much compassion for those she loves. I adored her relationship with her grandfather and Ro. Maybe it’s because both Ro and Elliot’s grandfather have trouble speaking and communicating, yet Elliot is so patient with them. So patient. I admired that about her.

Perhaps her patience is based on the fact that she’s been waiting four years for the boy she loves to return...and return he does...

Captain Malakai Wentforth. Do I even need to continue? His name alone had me swooning hardcore. When Kai shows back up on the North's Estate, Elliot doesn’t really know how to handle his presence, he's changed so much. He’s distant and aloof and almost ignores her completely. And then he becomes just plain rude, throwing a bunch of low blows Elliot’s way. Four years ago Kai asked Elliot to run away with him—to go see the world—and she couldn’t. To say this turned their relationship...sour...would be an understatement. Their relationship is now filled with tension and resentment and all of their emotions and feelings transcend through the pages. Even the tiniest bit of dialect between them had my heart surging! Oh man...just...GAH! I LOVED ALL OF Elliot and Kai’s scenes together!

For Darkness Shows the Stars has so many elements that should make it a classic in itself; a strong heroine, a segregated society, unrequited love and a life changing choice that has to be made. I highly recommend this book to anyone. I absolutely loved it!

 One of my favorite scenes between Kai & Elliot: 

“I said go away!”

“No, you said ‘get out.’ I’m out.”

“Now go away.”

“No.”

For a second they were both fourteen again, bickering. Bantering. For another second, Elliot wished it could stay that way. But too many things had changed.

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

Sweet Evil

Author: Wendy Higgins

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 464

Rating: 5 Seriously Sizzling Stars!

What if there were teens whose lives depended on being bad influences? This is life for sons and daughters of fallen angels in Sweet Evil.

Tenderhearted Southern girl, Anna Whitt, was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage, and her will-power is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

A cross-country trip to meet her father forces Anna to face the reality that hope and love are not options for her kind. When she confronts her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?~Goodreads 

Sex. Drugs. And Rock & Roll. And Demons. And a love interest who’s extremely cocky. And an ending that will leave you panting for more—all of these can be found in Wendy Higgins amazing debut! This book totally had the potential to be crude and offensive but the way in which Wendy incorporated such risqué topics made Sweet Evil that much more intriguing and seductive!

The twist that Wendy put on her demons and Nephilim was so freakin’ incredible! I loved the concept of the demons representing the 7 deadly sins! And i adored the fact that their children, the Neph’s, had to coerce humans in to partaking in those sinful acts. (Yeah...i probably shouldn't admit that...but it was so mind-blowing and awesome!)

Enter Anna, a girl raised to believe she was normal...only, she doesn’t even believe that because she can see auras. (Which would be totally COOL!) Anyway, Anna and her best friend Jay (LOVED HIM! He was cute and lovable and hilarious!) go to a club at the beginning of the book and Anna runs into someone who will change her life forever. Dun dun duuunnn...

Kaidan Rowe –Drummer. Son of Lust. Sexiest bad boy to ever hit the pages of a young adult novel (wait...this was a young adult novel, right?! Some of the scenes were so incredibly tantalizing I was like, “WHOA.”) *THUD* Kaidan is a complete enigma and I fell in love with him the moment he was introduced. He was playing the drums so effin’ passionately and yeah...*fans self* Also, as if the boy wasn’t talented enough, he has some pretty mad knife throwing skillz. SO. HOT. Ehem...anywho! As Anna spends more time with Kaidan (ROAD TRIP!) he really starts to open up to her and reveal his more compassionate side. Their relationship? Holy heavens! Or...hell! It was the most adorable thing ever!  Anna and Kaidan shoot off sparks from the very first time they meet and I was rooting for them the whole time!

But, unfortunately, falling for the son of lust has its downfalls. His job description is less than ideal if you’re looking to have a relationship with him...which Anna was. That poor girl, it all goes down hill for her from there. Kaidan Rowe causes her tons of heartache and I felt super bad for her! Especially when he starts to act all distant? WAAH! My heart hurt. WHY CAN’T THEY JUST BE TOGETHER AND BE HAPPY AND KISS AND STUFF!?!

There was nothing ‘sweet’ about Sweet Evil’s ending. It left me hanging and I NEED THE SEQUEL NOWZ! The concept and characters were brilliant and I’m definitely looking forward to reading MOAR about Anna & Kaidan’s world! You should DEFINITELY pick up this amaztastic debut!

“You know the little voice in your head?” he asked. “The one humans like to call their ‘conscience’?” I nodded. “It’s actually the messages people are receiving from their guardian angels. You see, the demon spirits whisper thoughts into a person’s mind, and the demon thoughts battle it out with the human’s own feelings, along with the messages their guardian angels are trying to instill. The old cliché about a devil on one should and an angel on the other is not far off.” 

Still not convinced? Go check out these other enticing Sweet Evil reviews! Shortie Says,  Two Chicks on Books, Magical Urban Fantasy Reads, Fiktshun! 

The Selection by Kiera Cass

The Selection
Author: Kiera Cass
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 327
Rating: 5 Stars!
Team: Aspen ♥

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.~Goodreads

There are so many wonderful things about this book that I want to touch on but, first, a preface:

I felt that this book was nothing like The Hunger Games. At all. The Selection and The Hunger Games are two TOTALLY different competitions and even the worlds in which they take place are very unalike. The Hunger Games was intense and fast paced in a way that made every situation seem dyer. With The Selection, to me, the story was told more at a leisurely pace and the world felt more...magical/fairy tale-esque and less dystopian. Each of these books are completely unique in their own incredible ways and I think it’s unfair to compare the two.

Moving on!

I liked America a lot. She was just your average girl. She liked to sing and she had a boyfriend, which made her relatable. I also liked the fact that she stayed true to herself throughout the entire book, she didn’t change her core beliefs; which is always refreshing in a character! As for her boyfriend, Aspen, *sighs*. Aspen, Aspen, Aspen...you extremely attractive and honorable boy, I’m completely in love with you. He was...words cannot describe the things this boy is. He’s compassionate and hardworking and amazing and kind and sometimes an idiot but holy hell does he know how to kiss a girl, like WHOA! Hmm...yes, I liked him very much...

But then, as luck would have it, America is chosen to take part in The Selection thus separating her and Aspen. *sadface* She’s given a bajillion rules she has to abide by and then she’s whisked away to the Palace with 35 other girls. Dudes. I would never be able to take part in something like this. First: catty bitches everywhere and Second: catty bitches all up on your man. Like, how hard would it be to watch the boy you kinda sorta like flirt and kiss other girls!? Death. I would die a slow death. But hey! Not all the girls in the Palace are bad! I really liked Marlee, who became one of American’s really good friends. I think I’d be able to handle one close confidant. (Jena, i'm looking at you.)

And that’s sort of what America becomes for Maxon. A friend. When they first meet, she straight up tells him that she’s not interested in a relationship and that she’s basically there for the food. (HA! This girl...she’s great.) So they strike a deal, Maxon keeps her as close to the end as possible so that her family can continue to be compensated and America helps him out with the girls. Fair deal, right? And the more I got to know Maxon the more I genuinely liked the guy. He really steps up and proves himself as the future leader of Illea when he makes a certain announcement. And I think that’s when American and I kind of fell for him. Annnd I’ll leave that right there...

I don’t want to spoil anything else for you except this: New Guard. At the Palace. Stands outside America’s room. Opens the door. Goes inside. And blankets get whipped around. ‘Nuff said. :P

This book was seriously addicting, like a reality television show I did not want to end. But alas it did, and at a rather abrupt spot if I may add. Damn you Kiera Cass, damn YOU! Overall, The Selection was entertaining and magical and I’d definitely recommend it!

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Masque of the Red Death

Author: Bethany Griffin

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 320

Rating: 5 Stars!

Team: AHH! I don’t want to choose but IF I HAD to...if it was a LIFE or DEATH situation...I’d pick Will. NO ELLIOT! No Will! Actually, I’d prefer the Red Death. I love both boys too much to choose! :P 

Everything is in ruins. 

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them. 

So what does Araby Worth have to live for? 

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all. 

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does. 

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.~Goodreads

I was not expecting to fall for Masque of the Red Death as hard as I did! I loved every page, every character and ever plot twist. This book was simply fantastic!

The world in which this story takes place is a dark one. Where death is a daily occurrence and rain is almost always on the downpour the whole book has this very eerie vibe to it. The setting and mood really played its own role throughout the whole story and i loved that!

I also really liked the main character Araby! She's a super compassionate character and she puts all of her emotions into every decision she makes (even when she tries not to.) She cares so deeply about everyone she knows and she’s not above giving out second chances. But she’s also extremely guarded and closed off. She puts up this front and tends to hide who she really is from others. So to escape not only the terrors of the outside world but also her inner struggles, Araby goes to local debauchery club on a regular basis with her friend April.

There, Araby meets Will and Oh. My. Perfection. He is everything you could ever possibly want in a fictional boy. Holy Gods. Jus...UNFF! (And that’s a technical term...) He has this unruly dark hair, a sly smile AND he’s all tatted up. *THUD* All of those glorious attributes make him totally mysterious, seriously sexy, and slightly dangerous.

Which makes it even more surprising when Will takes Araby back to his home. When she gets there, she learns that Will’s parents died from the plague leaving him to take care of his little brother, Henry, and little sister, Elise. And that was absolutely endearing to read about. He is so good to them and so protective that it made me want to cry. I could feel how much they meant to him through the pages. GAH! I just want to marry this boy. He’s completely charming and sweet and he’s someone that Araby really opens up to and starts to not only trust, but fall for as well. But, Will is not without faults...and I’ll leave that tidbit right there...

When Will’s not around another boy seems to always be close by...April’s brother, Elliot. *sighs* Oh, Elliot, you semi-insane stud with a hero complex, how could I not also grow attached to you too?  This boy has issues—major issues. Issues so deep that it seems almost impossible to get through to him. He’s arrogant and stubborn and selfish, but something about him drew me in. And it also drew Araby in as well.

When it comes to the boys in this book, picking a team is out of the question. The love triangle is done so amazingly well that I have no words as to describe its brilliance.

With an intense ending and no clear-cut future for Araby, I’m dying for more of her story! Masque of the Red Death is a stunning, seductive and incredible novel! I HIGHLY recommend it!

Until I Die by Amy Plum

Until I Die (Revenants #2)

Author: Amy Plum

Publisher: HarperCollins

Pages: 352

Team: Is it possible to be Team Jules? Is that even an option?!

Rating: 3.5 Stars! 

Kate and Vincent have overcome the odds and at last they are together in Paris, the city of lights and love.

As their romance deepens there’s one question they can’t ignore: How are they supposed to be together if Vincent can’t resist sacrificing himself to save others? Although Vincent promises that he’ll do whatever it takes to lead a normal life with Kate, will that mean letting innocent people die? When a new and surprising enemy reveals itself, Kate realizes that even more may be at stake—and that Vincent’s immortality is in jeopardy.

In Die for Me, Amy Plum created a captivating paranormal mythology with immortal revenants and a lush Paris setting. Until I Die is poised to thrill readers with more heart-pounding suspense, spellbinding romance, and a cliff-hanger ending that will leave them desperate for the third and final novel in the series.~Goodreads

To be honest, I struggled a little getting through this one. There was a lot more information on Revenants in this installment and at times it felt a little info-dumpy (is that a real term?). Until I Die was much slower paced than Die for me, but with new characters, old nemeses, and relationship roadblocks, it was a good addition to the series nonetheless!

Kate and Vincent are a bit at odds in this book. They’re both trying to find a way to have a normal relationship where Vincent doesn’t need to sacrifice himself so often...or...um, ever. That’s all beautiful and great but then they start keeping things from each other and that is a BIG no-no in any and ALL relationships. Vamp-human relationships, mermaid-human relationships, human-human relationships annnnnd Revenant-human relationships. I really didn’t understand why they went behind each other’s backs when they’re supposed to be totally and completely in love. It really irked me.  

With that being said there were also a lot of things I loved about this book! Amy Plum delivers again when it comes to her descriptions of the Parisian setting. Some scenes I would reread because they were simply that gorgeous! Her fight scenes were also totally kick-butt! I LOVED THEM but wish there would have been some! You're holding out on us, Plum!

I also LOVED Georgia in this sequel! I don’t know if she’s necessarily in this one more than the first, but her presence shines through tenfold! There are a ton of cute snarky sister moments and I loved that she was in on the Revenant loop! Oh! And her plus newbie Arthur equal win! <3 o:p="o:p">

Then we have my Jules! *sighs* Can he please get his own spin-off? I love this boy SO MUCH. His flirty-protective-sexy self caused me to swoon hardcore. He kinda makes me wish that this series revolved not only around Revenants but a love triangle as well! And I am not a fan of those buuuuuuut I’m still holding out for Jules/Kate make out sesh! :P

With plenty of twists, not nearly enough kisses and a SHOCKING (and I mean devastatingly shocking) ending, Until I Die is a slow-paced but captivating sequel! I can’t wait to find out what happens in If I Should Die, the final book in the Revenants trilogy! 

Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

Hallowed (Unearthly #2)

Author: Cynthia Hand

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 403

Team: TUCKER! FOREVER & ALWAYS!!

Rating: 5 Stars!

For months Clara Gardner trained to face the fire from her visions, but she wasn't prepared for the choice she had to make that day. And in the aftermath, she discovered that nothing about being part angel is as straightforward as she thought.

Now, torn between her love for Tucker and her complicated feelings about the roles she and Christian seem destined to play in a world that is both dangerous and beautiful, Clara struggles with a shocking revelation: Someone she loves will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.~Goodreads

TEAM TUCKER! Ehem...I mean.....TEAM TUCKER!!! Okay, I guess that is what I mean.

Guys, this book. THIS BOOK. It broke my heart. I laughed, I swooned, and I squeed but....I also got my heart stomped on, my hopes crushed and tear stains on my copy.

This series is one of my absolute favorites. I can NOT even begin to describe to you how much I love it. I just dooooo! And this sequel did NOT let me down. Cynthia Hand delivers again with an incredible story and amazing characters!

You guys! Hallowed was one huge emotional rollercoaster. WAH! There was this one part...oh my gosh...INSTANT TEARS! *sniffs* Did I mention the condition of my heart during this one? Broken...into sixty five thousand pieces.

In this installment there's also a whole bunch of Christian, and don’t get me wrong, I liked learning more about him. I think he’s a great person, and a wonderful friend to Clara. Key word being FRIEND. That’s it. Nothing more, maybe something a little less... :P

But I’m just one hundred and fifty seven hundred percent Team Tuck. Forever and always. I fell SUPER HARD for him in Unearthly and he’s perfection to me. He’s hilarious and sweet and respectful and sexy and *huffs* I want to marry him! He deserves someone who can treat him right, and I believe that would be me! My only complaint about this book is that there was not nearly enough of my adorable Avery!

One thing I’m super curious about is what’s going on with Jeffery! I felt so bad for him in this one! That POOR KID! WHY CAN’T WE JUST REACH THROUGH THE PAGES AND HUG OUR FAVORITE CHARACTERS?!

As for the ending....it took me by total surprise! I was not expecting the story to take the turn that it did. D:  

But ANYWAY! I’m anxiously awaiting/slightly dreading the final book in this series. Oh, god! I am going to bawl my eyes out!! My Tucker better get his Carrots! ;)

By the way, if you haven’t picked up this series yet, WHAT THE EFF ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!!?

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)

Author: R.L. LaFevers

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Pages: 509

Rating: 5 Scintillating Stars!

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? 

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. 

Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?~Goodreads

I think what made this book so incredible was it’s insanely strong lead, Ismae. She goes from being this weak insignificant girl at the beginning of the book to this tough powerful woman by the middle of it. And with a little help from the local Herbwitch, Ismae is able to escape her original fate.

Once she arrives at the convent of St. Mortain the story really takes off! I loved reading about her time there! Not only does she learn martial arts and royal family history and how to use a dagger and mix poisons and ride horses and seduce men and then kill them...she becomes apart of something bigger than herself, she becomes a daughter of Death; the ultimate assassin. How bomb is that?!

At the convent, Ismae trains while she waits for her first mission; who she has to kill and the where and how she has to kill them. I thought I would feel some kind of remorse for those Ismae basically slaughtered, but I didn’t. Her perspective was so incredible that I couldn’t help but see the way she took someone out as an art form. It was that awesome.

But when it comes to who she executes, all Ismae has to go on is blind faith. She does as the convent tells her, no questions asked, and she believes that it’s what has to be done for the greater good. But when a certain nobleman disputes with her on the matter, she starts to question everything she’s been taught to believe.

Gavriel Duval....wounded son of the deceased Duke, protective older brother of the Duchess, and charming bachelor of the court. This man is damn near perfect. When he first enters the story he’s very headstrong and has an attitude that slightly repels Ismae, but alas they have to work together. They’re both very secretive and they’re both take-no-bull type of characters which causes disagreements to ensue. Their witty banter and teasing is adorable, their combat skills are top-notch annnnd their scars are sexy...soo they're pretty much perfect for each other! And once Ismae gets to know Duval she comes to understand why he acts the way he does, what he cherishes and values most. He’s so completely compassionate it’s practically impossible not to fall for him.

*sighs* The romance that takes place in this novel...it’s seriously breathtaking. It builds and builds and builds so tantalizingly slow that by the time Ismae and her glorious love interest were alone...I was practically drooling in anticipation. Oh my goodness gracious! I have never read a book in which a simple ankle touch could be so damn sexy. Hot damn...there’s this one scene in which Gavriel is stitching up one of Ismae’s wounds and...whoa. He says all the right things, touches her in all the right ways...man. I may or may not have reread it multiple times...

To add even more intrigue to the story insert a creepy messenger bird, a diabolical suitor, a poisoned lover, a battle, a visit from Death himself and a powerful kiss and you get one fantastic tale. This stunning debut is one that you have to experience for yourself! I highly, highly recommend it, even if you’re not a historical fiction fan, it’s so worth the read! Thank heavens or...Death...that it’s a trilogy!! PICK IT UP WHEN IT COMES OUT IN APRIL!!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Everneath (Everneath #1)

Author: Brodi Ashton

Publisher: Balzer & Bray

Pages: 384

Rating: 5 Stars!

Team: AHH! I CAN’T DECIDE! DON'T MAKE ME CHOOSE!

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...~Goodreads

Everneath is a book that will suck you in from the very first page and keep you captivated until the very last. With it’s brilliant story-line, amazing characters, breath-taking romance and crazy plot twists, it’s basically impossible to it down!

I loved the way this book was written. Told from Nikki’s point of view not only in present tense, but also in past tense, I thought it really gave the storyline a lot of depth. I loved Ashton’s spin on the mythology as well! I loved the idea of Everlivings and that they had this 'need to feed'. I loved these creepy Shade things that were connected to these even more creepy Tunnels... there were so many awesome concepts in this book and i love them all!  Hard.

Brodi Ashton is also incredible a depicting emotions! I FELT everything Nikki did. Like when her ex-boyfriend, Jack, says "Hi" for the first time, my. heart. stopped. Why was I so nervous!? Because Nikki was nervous! Swear to God! And of course Jack was totally gorgeous (EYEBROW PIERCING!! SO. HOT!)  and he was funny and he made me grin like an idiot. Yet he was so utterly broken and all I wanted to do was reach through the pages and hug him. 

But then there's Cole, and he’s this sexy, sarcastic, cocky musician who rides a motorcycle. Need I say more?!?! He also has a sweet side and would do almost anything to make sure Nikki was ok, to take away her pain. Underneath Cole’s bad boy exterior he’s just extremely vulnerable and lonely and I think that’s why I fell for him too. I just couldn’t bring myself to hate him. I am most definitely a Cole Cuddler! :P

So DUDES! I honestly can't pick a team! I love both boys. A. LOT. And that's when you know a book is completely amazing. :P

And the ending?!?! I canNOT believe the ending!! I seriously wanted to cry!! My. Heart. My heart!!!  This book did things to my heart! *SOBS* Alls I’m saying is that Beck's better kick some ass in the sequel! You seriously NEED to pick up this book! It's a stunning debut that will not disappoint, i promise! 


One of My Favorite Quotes:

His eyes were exactly how I remembered, exactly as I’d pictured every day for the past hundred years. Chocolate. But there was one difference: A single steel post pierced one of his eyebrows.

It wouldn’t have belonged on his face a year ago, but it somehow fit the face looking at me now. This face was edgier. This face had been through something.

He was beautiful. ~ARC Pg. 14