Review: Slayer

Slayer by Kiersten White
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I am crushed and won't be adding this to my dates read.

I am a total die hard fan of Buffy. I grew up watching the show and was so excited to read this. But I am sad to say that the snark to this one was just to much and it just didn't feel like the other stories about Buffy and that world.

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Review: American Royals

American Royals by Katharine McGee
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This amazing book is one I won't soon forget!! This cover is the first thing I saw and I have to say that this Four POV title could have had all four teens on the cover and I think that might have worked out a little better. Although I do think that this cover worked well for the story. I think since this title is not just about Beatrice that it would have made more sense to have them all on it.

The story opening we are introduced to this alternative history to the US. and I have to say that I think the author did an amazing job with making it engaging and educational without making it feel like info dumping. It drew me in and made me want to know more about the world and characters. Although this is set in an alternative world its still set in our time period. The writing was very easy to follow and the pacing was spot on. It was speedy where it needed to be and slow in others. The mystery that surrounds a girl in a coma and Daphne was very well done!! I so didn't like her at all but I really wanted to know what happened that night and I have to say that it made me hate her even more.

My favorite character was Nina! I love her so much. She was hispanic (just like me!) And wore clothes for comfort vs. style. She knew what she liked and didn't and really was just trying to live her best life. I love how her character grew a back bone during the last chapters of this story and I can't wait to read more of her in the upcoming titles. Conner was another character that I fell hard for and I am totally rooting for him!! He was so adorable and man who wouldn't want an eidetic memory.

The ending was one that I kind of saw coming. As soon as I realized that this was a series I was like yup that is SO how its going to end!! It was heartbreaking as I was hoping that it wasn't going to end quite this way. That a few things were going to be solved before the end. But sadly that wasn't the case. So now I get to pine away until next year.

My overall thoughts on this one was that the multi POVs worked so well!! So many titles don't do this many POVs this good. So kudos to the author for that!! The plot of an alternative US History was one that I hadn't read before. It was nice to have something new.

Noteworthy experiences while reading this book: These characters worked well. I loved how the story was told only from female voices. It think it gave it a wonderful edge.

This book in three words: Historical, Intrigue, Romance

Favorite Quotes: "Please note that these quotes are from the ARC and may not be the same in the finished copy!"

"The Point of forgiveness is too recognize that someone has hurt you, and still love them in spite of it." Pg. 263

"All she knew was that one day she woke up and her love for him was simply there, like newly fallen snow. Maybe it had been there all along." Pg. 71

"Only you would daydream about a library meet-cute." Pg. 14

"Long ago, monarchies existed so that the people could serve the monarch. Now the monarch must serve the people. Remember that it is an honor and a privilege to be a Washington and devote your life to this nation." Pg. 11

Go Into This One Knowing: Historical fiction with a splash of intrigue and a dash of romance.

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Review: Queen of Chaos

Queen of Chaos by Kat Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This third and final installment to the Fourth Element series was one I won't soon forget. It picked up where book two left off and split it into a few POVs which worked well for this story. Be warned through because each POV cuts off at a major cliffhanger and you will scream!! I know I did, I even skipped ahead which is something I never do. Just to make sure that everyone was still ok!!

The author still brings up things that were in book one in this one which at this point just seemed really irritating. (Sorry Kat I still love the book!!!). I kind of wished that those parts wouldn't have been in here. But there are fewer than book two. Its one of those fine lines that you have to straddle when you want to make sure readers remember certain aspects of the story. Too much and its well just too much and to less and we just sit there confused.

The story itself was amazing!! I loved how it was split up in the different POVs. The author did it wonderfully!! I loved Tijah's POV the most in this one and I can't wait to get to her series. I hope to learn more about her and her struggles after losing her friend. She is vastly approaching to becoming my favorite character. My only issue with Naza in this one was that the author used a memory trope in this one. Which was kind of a turn off. But I am hoping that it all works out in the end.

The wiring, pacing, and story all work well together. It ties up most of the loose ends and if this would have been the complete end I would have been fine with that. Luckily though its not!! It starts back up with the Fourth Talisman series. Which has five books of its own!! So I am really excited to dive into those. Then we get another four book series with Tijah which is set in the Victorian era. So don't fret there are more books to come!!

Overall, this one if you loved book one and two will satisfy your need for more story. You get to see your favorite characters both good and evil and well you might even get to see someone redeem themselves!! Which was a nice surprise.


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Review: Blood of the Prophet

Blood of the Prophet by Kat Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

These covers are just so gorgeous I have falling in love with them so much!! This story is a continuation of book one The Midnight Sea. It picks up where book one left off and I have to say parts of it were kind of meh. If you are reading these back to back like I am, then you are going to find a LOT of things being said about book one. If its been a while since you read book one then you will be totally set!! As the author does a great job reminding you about things that happened in The Midnight Sea. For me though I ended up skimming a lot of the book because it was all rehash.

The story, pacing, and writing were all on par with book one. It flowed and even those rehashes didn't take you out of the story. All of the characters were there and fully formed. And this one will make you just fall even more in love with our main characters of Naza and Darius.

The ending to this one of course ends on a slight cliffhanger and it was almost midnight so I couldn't start the next one. Although this cliffhanger wasn't as bad as book one. I am totally invested in this series as a whole and can not wait to get the next 5 books for the spin off series that follows Naza and her people even more.

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Review: The Midnight Sea

The Midnight Sea by Kat Ross
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is totally a cover buy! I mean look at these covers are they not beautiful? They make you want to know more. I have to say that when I started this story it kind of irked me just a little. I guessed that Nazafreen was going to have the power/gift and well that is just what happened. I really wished that the author would have found a way to make her not have the gift. I think that would have been more interesting. That she learned to work the cuffs without it or something. My next issue was this girls name. I mean really has this world not heard of nicknames? I ended up calling her Naza through the entire book after about saying her name three times. Its just way too long. So those are my issues with this one. The rest of this was mind blowing!

I loved how the story opened!! We get a look at the creatures that this world is fighting and my god is was so good!! The writing style was so easy to follow and I always knew what was going on and who was what and where. I was never lost and the story flowed so well. This is a slower book to start out with. We spend time with Naza and really learn what makes her tick. From the loss of her sister, to joining the Water Dogs and being bonded. This is one story that is slow burn before it gets on a horse and takes off on an adventure.

The characters are ones that I have fully fallen in love with. The romance between Naza and Darius was perfect and I can not wait to see where the end up in book two and three. The evil, side character, and other cast were all so amazing when people went bad and things started happening you just are so shocked that you don't process it until long after and then you are a like what were they thinking its just so mind blowing amazing!

The plot/storyline with this one fabulous! We get this beautiful, dark, and dangerous world that Ross has created and I loved ever second of being in it. The Druj and Daevas are so well thought out simple but not. Their power/gift is easy to understand and I don't feel like you have to have a background in anything to get what is going on and how it all works.

The ending brings us full circle. We have gotten all the information that we need to really understand the world and the characters. And we are left with somewhat of a cliffhanger. So make sure to have book two close at hand!!

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Review: Crown of Coral and Pearl

Crown of Coral and Pearl by Mara Rutherford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I would say that if you haven't read the synopsis then don't!! It gives away SO MUCH!!!

OMG Guys if you don't have this book on your TBR you are MISSING OUT!! This book blew me away, first with this gorgeous cover and then with an amazing story.

The story opened with us learning a little about twin sisters Nor and Zadie as well as about their world. The author did this amazing job creating a world of sea fairing people as well as the cold world around them. I was drawn in from the very first page and didn't let go until the end. It was well paced and the writing style was pretty straight forward. I was never lost and could not put this one down!! The pacing was spot on and it was never slow. I thought that as the story unfolded it was done step by step in this beautiful and terrifying world that Rutherford has created.

The characters were freaking amazing. I do think that the author could do a novella about what was going on with Zadie as the story is told from Nor's POV. It would be interesting to know what she was going through as Nor's eyes were opened to the adventure she was hoping for. We do get to know a little about this towards the end of the story but its from another character and not straight on. So this would totally hold me over until book two comes out.

The characters were fabulous I loved Nor and her determination to keep her family safe. Even her mother who at times I really wondered if she even loved her children. Being a mom myself I wonder what was really going through her mind as she got her children ready over the years to be chosen. What kind of life did she really think her children if chosen would go too? This is another wonderful novella that I would love to read about.

When Nor meets Talin you could tell that they were drawn to each other but to really call this insta-love I just don't see it. This book happens over the course of a few months. So it's not very quick, their romance does take time. Ceren is one of the most frighting characters that I have read in sometime. He is brutal and freaking crazy if you ask me. And I am pretty sure that there will be some major twists when it comes to him in the following books. At least I really hope so. He is one of those evil characters that you love to hate.

Trying to review this book is so hard!! I loved every second of it and I can not wait for book two. It is one that I will not soon forget and one that everyone needs to read!!

Overall, I loved the beginning, middle, and end of this one. The ending was very satisfying and even though I know this is a series I think this ending works well. It does leave some loose ends such as what is going on with Zadie and wither or not a certain character is dead but it does a really great job to be a full novel in its own right. It was full of twists and turns and I hope you love it as much as I did!!

Favorite Quotes: Please note that these quotes are from the ARC, also these apparently are backwards in reading order.

"As I walked away, I realized the part of me that wanted to stay was the part I would never be able to listen to again."

"But he was right. I wanted to dance with him. And I may never get the chance to be held by someone I desired again."

"Mother had given us one gift, at least, that no amount of time or distance could erase, each other."

"Just as beauty cannot disguise who we really are beneath the surface."

"I'll go. But it will be my body that leaves, and nothing more. Samiel has my heart, and you dear sister, my soul."

"Varenia is my home. You and Samiel are my home. What more can the world possibly have to offer?" "Roses, I thought. And horses and castles and all manner of things I hadn't dared to imagine, surely. What didn't the world have to offer?"


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Review: House of Salt and Sorrows

House of Salt and Sorrows by Erin A. Craig
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so worried when I started this title. I had just DNFed a few books and I was scared that this one was going to suck. But Luckily it was amazing! This one is a retelling of the story of the 12 Princesses going into this one I didn't know that.

The amazingness of this title starts out with this beautiful cover! I am a total cover lover when it comes to books. If the cover is crap the odds that I will read it are slim. This cover was a wonderful blend that matched the book so well. With the beach and the sea meeting with an octopus. the People of the Salt are pictured wonderfully on the cover of this title.

The story opening has us crying right off the bat. We learn that this family of 12 sisters is burying yet another sister in their time of morning. The start of this one was very emotional and I it drew me in from the very start. We learn about this family and what they are going through as well as being introduced to the characters both large and small. It really allowed the reader to start to fall in love with the sisters. So each death rips out your heart. The author did a marvelous job making us love these characters.

The writing style in this one worked well. It was well paced and easy to follow. At times I did fell that the writing felt more middle grade vs young adult but it didn't really take away from the story. The characters in this one were fabulous. I fell in love with each sister and I think it would be interesting to get a few companion novels each from the POV of a different sister. It would make one killer series overall. My favorite character has to Verity! She was so adorable.

The storyline/plot were great. I loved the mystery on what really was going on and who was responsible. Along with a budding romance, dances, and the murders of the sisters this was one great title. Then adding in the element of magic was just spectacular. It was a wonderful blend of fantasy, contemporary, and romance that I don't think I will find again. The one thing that I did have an issue with was keeping track of the sisters that were left. It was kind on the confusing side of keeping where each sister was born and where they were in the line of siblings.

The ending brought us full circle with all the loose strings tied up and although it wasn't really a HEA story it was fulfilling. We had deaths and loves and wishes and I wouldn't have changed anything for the world.

This book is three words would be: Magic, Sisters, Mystery!

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