Book Review: Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill

Ever the Hunted

by Erin Summerill

Source: I bought a hardcover copy

Genre: Young Adult, fantasy, magic, adventure

Synopsis:

Seventeen year-old Britta Flannery is at ease only in the woods with her dagger and bow. She spends her days tracking criminals alongside her father, the legendary bounty hunter for the King of Malam—that is, until her father is murdered. Now outcast and alone and having no rights to her father’s land or inheritance, she seeks refuge where she feels most safe: the Ever Woods. When Britta is caught poaching by the royal guard, instead of facing the noose she is offered a deal: her freedom in exchange for her father’s killer.

However, it’s not so simple. 

The alleged killer is none other than Cohen McKay, her father’s former apprentice. The only friend she’s ever known. The boy she once loved who broke her heart. She must go on a dangerous quest in a world of warring kingdoms, mad kings, and dark magic to find the real killer. But Britta wields more power than she knows. And soon she will learn what has always made her different will make her a daunting and dangerous force.

Review:

It's been a little while since I read this one, so this is going to be a pretty short review, unfortunately. Unless you prefer short reviews, in which case, this will be right up your alley!

I really enjoyed this book. I've seen a lot of reviewers saying that they didn't like it because it was predictable, they didn't like the writing, the characters weren't well-developed, you name it. All I can say is that I suppose I must be a pretty simple person because I really don't analyse books to that degree. I very clearly either like or dislike a story, and it's usually leaning more on the positive side.

I liked Britta a lot. She seemed like a slightly less intense, but just as fierce, version of Katniss Everdeen (whom I also loved), and in a very different setting with a bit more magic and a lot less love-triangle.

I liked Cohen as well. Even though I wasn't really sure in the beginning whether he was guilty or not, I was immediately on his side. I felt that he was either innocent, or if he was guilty, he had a  very good reason.

I appreciated the magical elements in this book, and I'm really looking forward to the sequel to find out what else Britta can do, and what will happen next!

My Goodreads rating:

Book Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys

by Maggie Stiefvater

Source: Borrowed from the library (paperback)

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magic, Spiritualism

Synopsis:

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book! I mean I obviously expected to, otherwise I wouldn't have bothered picking it up. But if I'm honest, I really don't research books too much before I buy/read them. I don't always read the synopsis of a book - I like to be surprised. I mostly just base my reading decisions on whether or not others have recommended it, the cover art, and the title. Some people might consider that a terrible way to go about reading, but it hasn't really steered me wrong yet. I have read very few books that I really, honestly, didn't like!

So, as I was saying, I liked this book. As I started reading and putting pieces together, I wasn't entirely sure that I would like it, because I don't typically like stories about witchcraft/spiritualism or whatever. But it was presented in a very non-threatening way, and I just really liked it.

It's a ghost story, and quasi-love story, a story of betrayal, a coming-of-age/ self-discovery, adventure, magic, fast cars, talking trees... I mean... Once a story pulls all that together and talking trees? That's gold.

So Blue comes from a family of Seers. She doesn't have the Sight, her only (apparent) power is amplifying the powers of those around her. She has always been told that if she kisses her true love, he will die, and so she has not allowed herself to be interested in boys - especially the privileged boys at the nearby private boys' school, Aglionby.

All that changes when she finally sees one of the ghosts that her mother & aunts always claim to see. This one is a boy, one of the Raven boys from Aglionby. Her aunt tells her that if she can see him, it is either because he's her true love, or she will kill him. When Blue meets Gansey in person a short time later, she can't help but he drawn to him and his motley crew, and embarks on their mission to find the Raven King.

If you enjoy YA fiction and fantasy, I'm pretty sure you'll like this one. Highly recommended! Now I just need to get my hands on the other books (my library doesn't have them, and I can't seem to figure out the stupid inter-library loan system)...

My Goodreads rating:

Book Review: Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

I am so very behind with book reviews... Case in point, I finished reading this book at the beginning of April and have read, like, 17 other books since then... Please forgive me if I don't remember all the details! Also, this review contains "spoilers," so read the third paragraph with caution.

 

 

Before I Fall

by Lauren Oliver

 

 

Source: Borrowed a paperback copy from the library

 

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Science Fiction, Contemporary

 

Synopsis:

With this stunning debut novel, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver emerged as one of today's foremost authors of young adult fiction. Like Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why and Gayle Forman's If I Stay, Before I Fall raises thought-provoking questions about love, death, and how one person's life can affect so many others.

For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12—"Cupid Day"—should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is…until she dies in a terrible accident that night.

However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined.

Review:

I have always loved stories involving time travel or reincarnation, and I adored If I Stay, so it was a given that I was going to read this book. I haven't seen the movie yet, and I'm really curious to know if I would like it more than the book. It seems like the kind of story that makes a better movie...

 

Sam is not a likeable character, at least not in the beginning. And I believe that's how the author intended her to be. She grows and changes as the story progresses and she lives her last day over and over again, becoming a much more likeable person, endearing herself to the reader.

 

***SPOILER ALERT***   The following paragraph contains spoilers

 

It took me a couple chapters to decide whether or not I liked where the story was going, but I did eventually decide that I liked it. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that she still dies in the end. I just kind of felt like what was the point? What was the point of her living her last day over and over 'til she "got it right," changing into a person you can relate to, and then dies anyway? What was the point of that?!

 

So, aside from the annoying, tragic ending, I liked the book. Would I recommend it? Not really. I liked it, but it really wasn't good enough or emotional enough to make me want to encourage someone else to read it. I gave it 4 stars on Goodreads, but I think I would have rated it 3.5 if I could have.

 

My Goodreads rating:

 

Progress Report: May 2017

Hey! Here I am with another progress report, pretty much on time. I am bound and determined to keep on track with these progress reports...

So May was kind of crazy. I don't even know why, there's just so much that went on, and the weather kept switching back and forth between spring and summer, and just... I don't know! I've been feeling a bit frazzled. Well, I guess I always kind of do at the end of the month (it's a busier time for me at work), but I don't know, there's something about May that made me feel extra strung out.

Anyway! Over the course of the month of May I finished/read 9 books! I'm pretty sure that's a record for me! To be fair, 3 of them were pretty small, but they're still books and I read them!

Kindred Spirits by Rainbow Rowell (eBook, not pictured)

About a girl and Star Wars, to be very vague. I don't know if it's actually considered a short story or not. It's really not very long. It's cute, and you kind of want it to be longer so you know a bit more about what happens, but it's probably just perfect the way it is.

Ruby Redfort: Look Into My Eyes by Lauren Child (Dollar Tree)

Ruby Redfort is a 13-year-old spy/detective/code-breaker. A nice little blend of Harriet the Spy and Flavia De Luce. The series is a spin-off from Lauren's illustrated children's series Clarice Bean (Clarice's idol is Ruby Redfort, the heroine of her favourite books). After lots of requests, Lauren finally wrote the series about Ruby. I would say these books are geared toward middle-school aged children. It was a cute story, but Ruby's catch phrases got on my nerves. Not sure what time period they are set in, I guess maybe '60s or 70's.

The Girl With the Silver Eyes by Willo Davis Roberts (rummage sale)

Another kind of cute story, definitely aimed at elementary or middle school-age. It's about this little girl with silver eyes who has special abilities. She discovers that it might be related to a medication her mother took while pregnant, and that there might be others like her, so she goes on a sort of quest to find the others.

Love & Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch

I loved this book! I don't typically enjoy YA romance because they are unrealistic and sickly sweet. This one was too, but I don't know... I just really liked it. It made me fall even more in love with Italy - I need to go there someday! The story is a sort of teen romance & self-discovery set in Italy.

Sweet Misfortune by Kevin Alan Milne (Dollar Tree)

I more or less enjoyed this story. It's about a deeply emotionally damaged chocolatier who must face her past in order to overcome her fears and begin to properly heal and truly open herself to love.

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (OwlCrate - exclusive cover)

I had never read Alice before, I don't know why?! This was such a great story, and definitely enjoyable for adults just as much as for children. I have always loved everything about Wonderland (based on the Disney movies) and was pleased to finally see how much was true to the books. Still need to get my hands on and read Alice Through the Looking Glass.

The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli (OwlCrate)

This is definitely not a typical read for me. I couldn't decide if I liked the writing or not. It is definitely aimed at a high school audience, and appeals to their rebellious natures, in my opinion. I might have enjoyed it more when I was in high school, I'm not sure. It was a cute story nonetheless - about twins who are polar opposites, and one gets a girlfriend and the other feels left behind. It was a fun read.

Lullabies for Little Criminals by Heather O'Neill

I'm not sure that anybody could honestly say they loved this book. It's heartbreaking and depressing, and yet still full of hope. There's also a few unanswered questions in the end. It's basically the story of a young girl struggling to grow up in the slums of Montreal with a druggie dad, eventually getting involved in drugs and prostitution. It's very moving. I suppose that it's set in the 70's, but I'm not sure.

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Oh Em Gee. This book. I know now why people were making such a big deal out of this book when the movie was released some months ago! It's about a boy and a monster who helps him come to terms with his mom's illness and impending death. It's sad, it made me cry, but in a good way, if I can say that.

So, there you have it! It was an impressive reading month for me. I don't anticipate having another one like it before the end of the year, though! This month's reads bring my total up to 34 books read so far this year. I had adjusted my GoodReads goal to 45 in March (which means I have completed 76% of that goal), but I think I might just increase it again, to 52, and then see if I manage to go over that.

Well, that's all for now. Happy reading, I'll hopefully get a couple reviews posted over the next few weeks. *fingers crossed*

Book Review: Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Carve the Mark

by Veronica Roth

Source: Pre-ordered from Indigo

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy/Science Fiction

Synopsis:

In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power — something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get this brother out alive — no matter what the cost.

Then Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?

Review:

*SPOILER WARNING*

This book was one of my most highly anticipated releases for 2017 and actually pre-ordered it (something I very, very rarely do!). It just sounded really good, and plus I had already really enjoyed Veronica's Divergent series so I was excited to read something else of hers. I'll admit that I got kind of nervous about it just before its release, with all the crazy hype and bad reviews it was getting. But, in the end I decided that I would just go for it - read it for myself and make my own decision, and I'm glad I did.

So, this isn't a very in-depth review (TBH, none of my reviews are...), and, not to make excuses, but that's mostly because it's been months since I read the book, many other plot-lines and characters have been introduced to my mind since, so I honestly can't remember everything that happened, and I tend to write these reviews away from home and my books, so I can't even grab my copy to flip back through. I have just been reading books too quickly lately to be able to keep up with the reviews. Which, I guess, is a good problem to have!? Anyway...

 

It took me a few chapters to get into the story. Part of the issue for me was the pronunciation of the names, but the author had made some videos in which she explained how to pronounce some of the more frequently used names, so finding those helped me get into it a bit more.

I liked Cyra's character, but I think really Akos was my favourite. I really liked Cyra's intensity and sense of rightness & justice... but Akos' loyalty and kindness won me over. I hated Cyra's brother and the way he used her, but it was kind of necessary for her character to become what she was. I also really liked the world. I tend to have difficulty picturing fantasy worlds, and honestly this was no different, but what I was able to picture from the descriptions was fun and different and I liked it.

I quite enjoyed the story, I found it intriguing and captivating, and I honestly couldn't see what the fuss was all about - but please, don't try to enlighten me. I've read some of the reviews and their claims, and I just can't agree with them based on what I read, which is still ok, right? It's still ok for people to have differing opinions? Sometimes I wonder... The only thing I was really disappointed about was that it's not a standalone, and so I have to wait ages for the sequel. Not cool. There should be a warning on new books, stating that they are first in a series/trilogy/duology/whatever so that we can prepare ourselves!

Goodreads rating:

Progress Report - April 2017

You may remember that in February I posted a progress report (check it out here), in which I mentioned that I wanted to make a habit of posting similar posts every month. But with my vacation the end of March, March and April have kind of blurred together into one long month and things just got neglected.

Whoops.

Anywho!! So, in March I read five books, as well as an audio book. They were as follows:

Ever the Hunted by Erin Summerill - ***** A story about a girl trying to avenge her father's death, and decide whether the man she loves is a good guy or a bad guy. It's full of adventure and innocent romance, and I adored it.

Caraval  by Stephanie Garber - ***** This is a story about the love between sisters (Scarlett & Tella). It's a magical tale of an elaborate game set on a private island. It was dark and weird and had a twist or two, and I just loved it. It definitely lived up to all the hype and anticipation for me.

Seven Deadlies: A Cautionary Tale by Gigi Levangie - *** Kind of cute. This young girl is writing a series of letters to a college admissions officer, explaining the weird things she has encountered as a "babysitter" for her peers, etc. It's all fun and games until the last couple of letters which ruined everything for me.

A Red Herring Without Mustard by Alan Bradley - ***** The third book in the Flavia de Luce series. This time Flavia gets involved with gypsies, and helps solves an attempted murder, as well as an old kidnapping/murder case.

Grounded by Katie Klise - **** This one was kinda weird. Similar to Flavia, Dolly is a 12 year old girl who likes a bit of a mystery. Through a kind of creepy and semi-dangerous series of events, she uncovers a cheating swindler in their midst.

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (audio - technically a "re-read") - ***** One of my fave books of all time! If you haven't read it, you must. All I will say is it's magical and takes place in a circus.

In April I also read five books and an audio book. I feel like I probably could have read another, but the last one was really long! So, April's reads were:

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver - **** I wasn't sure how to feel about this one. The main character, Sam, dies and relives her last day about 10 times, changing things every time. She becomes a completely different person and ends up making very different choices, but in the end she still dies, and I couldn't quite figure out how I was supposed to feel about that.

The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater - ***** Full of weirdness, magic, psychics, ghosts, talking trees. This story follows Blue and her Raven boys (Gansey, Adam, Ronan & Noah) on their quest to find the resting place of Owen Glendower.

Servant's Hall by Margaret Powell - *** A first-hand account of life "below stairs" from a former kitchen servant. She tells the true story of how a servant girl from downstairs married the family's son from upstairs, which helped inspire Downton Abbey (new episode of Downton of Netflix were what inspired me to pick this one up!).

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon - ***** Crazy cute love story. I can't wait for the movie!

Wildwood by Colin Meloy - ***** An adventure-packed story, very reminiscent of The Chronicles of Narnia and Harry Potter. Prue's baby brother is kidnapped by a murder of crows and taken into the Impassable Wilderness. Prue and her friend Curtis head into the forest to rescue him, and find all kinds of strange and wonderful creatures.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer (audio) - ***** I love that this is written in the form of letters and telegrams, which was kind of fun with the audio version, because different actors read the different voices of the characters. I really enjoyed all the little war-time stories that are shared, and the romance we see develop.

Mid-April, seeing that I was already over two-thirds toward my goal of 35 books, I decided to increase my Goodreads goal to 45. So, to date, I have now read 25 out of 45 books and have completed 56% of my new goal. I will increase again in a few months, if I feel it is necessary. I'm really impressed with how much I've been reading this year. Part of me wishes I could read faster (so many books, so little time!), but as it is I'm reading too fast to keep up with writing reviews, so I guess I'll just stick with this pace.

Top Ten Tuesday: Favourite Floral/Botanical Covers

Hey guys! I'm participating (on time??) in this week's Top Ten Tuesday, a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. The theme this week is a cover theme freebie: anything to do with covers! I took a look through my Good Reads To-Read list and saw a bit of a trend... gorgeous botanical covers!

Of these books, I have only read Anne of Green Gables and The Secret Garden, but sadly not these beautiful versions. The rest of these books are all on my To-Read list, and primarily piqued my interest because of their beautiful dark floral/botanical covers! Yes, I judge books by their covers!

So, without further ado, here are some of my favourite covers:

1. Wild Beauty by Anna-Maria McLemore

2. Maud by Melanie J. Fishbane

3. And I Darken by Kiersten White

4. The Muse by Jessie Burton

5. Wicked Like A Wildfire by Lana Popovic

6. The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden

7. Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery

8. Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll

 

9. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

10. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen - this is not an official cover for purchase, this illustrator (Charlotte Day) just made her own beautiful covers for three of Jane Austen's books, and this one in particular fit well with my theme so I included it!