Review: The Night Has Teeth by Kat Kruger

Title: The Night Has Teeth
Author: Kat Kruger
Source/Format: Purchased, ebook
More Details: Young Adult, Paranormal
Publisher/Publication Date: Fierce Ink Press Co-Op Ltd., September 23, 2012
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Synopsis from Goodreads...

There’s a darkness that lurks in the City of Light...

Seventeen-year-old Connor Lewis is chased by a memory. On his first day of kindergarten he bit a boy hard enough to scar the kid for life. Since then he’s been a social outcast at a New York private school. Through an unexpected turn of good fortune, he lands a scholarship to study in Paris, where everything starts to look up. On the first day he befriends two military brats, and he may finally get a taste of what it’s like to be a normal teenager.

It doesn’t last.

His host family — an alluring young tattoo artist and her moody, handsome boyfriend — inadvertently introduce him to the underworld of werewolves where there are two types: the born and the bitten. Those born to it take the form of elegant wolves, while the latter are cursed to transform into the half-man, half-beast creatures of horror movies. The bitten rarely survive. Unfortunately, Connor is on the wanted list of a four hundred-year-old bitten human who’s searching for both a cure and a means of wiping out werewolves for good. Connor’s loyalties are tested as he becomes embroiled in a conflict where werewolves, mad science and teen angst collide...

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked up The Night Has Teeth by Kat Kruger. I’ve had it on my ereader for a long time, and I finally decided to give it a read. I’m happy to say that this book didn’t disappoint me, and by far, it exceeded my expectations. I was impressed by Kruger’s ability to create an engrossing story.

The book is told from Connor Lewis’ point of view, and follows his life after he leaves New York to study in Paris on a scholarship. He ends up right in the middle of some trouble, only, it’s the supernatural kind. At the core of The Night Has Teeth are werewolves. The concept, to me, was handled really well. The supernatural aspects were introduced gradually, and it was easy to get into the story.

Connor was a good narrator. I enjoyed reading from his perspective as the story unfolded. His inner dialogue was really entertaining and I was able to get a clear picture on who he was as a character. The supporting cast of characters were also interesting, but I won’t say much about them. They were complex, with their own stories and secrets. Their personalities were vastly different, which was great.

The Night Has Teeth was just an excellent book. The story, plot, and characters worked really well together. And that ending, oh man, that caught me by surprise—and now, I really want to know how this trilogy ends.

Review: The Marvels by Brian Selznick

Title: The Marvels
Author: Brian Selznick
Source/Format: Won, Hardcover
More Details: Middle Grade, Historical
Publisher/Publication Date: Scholastic Press, September 15, 2015

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Two seemingly unrelated stories--one in words, the other in pictures--come together. The illustrated story begins in 1766 with Billy Marvel, the lone survivor of a shipwreck, and charts the adventures of his family of actors over five generations. The prose story opens in 1990 and follows Joseph, who has run away from school to an estranged uncle's puzzling house in London, where he, along with the reader, must piece together many mysteries...

I read two of Selznick’s books before I finally got to the last one I had on my shelf, The Marvels. Following Selznick’s previously established style, The Marvels is told half in pictures and half in words. Thus, the book was a delightful, thoroughly engrossing story from beginning to end.

Half the story belonged to Billy Marvel, the sole survivor of a shipwreck. And the other half belonged to Joseph, a young boy in 1990 who has run away from school. Part of the intrigue with Selznick’s books, for me, is seeing how the stories will eventually connect. And with The Marvels, that was one of my primary reasons for reading the book. Joseph was a good character. I liked his story. He was a boy who caused some trouble even if that wasn’t what he intended. Billy’s story was equally enjoyable and just as integral to the plot. To understand Joseph’s story, Billy’s had to be told as well. The other characters were delightful as well, and their stories tied in with Joseph’s. Their interactions were some or my favorite parts.

The illustrations perfectly conveyed the characters emotions, and were effective at telling a story on their own. The setting was, again, historical, and developed in a way that showed that Selznick knew what he was doing and had done his research. In the end, I am glad that I read The Marvels. It’s easily become one of my favorites.

Review: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

Title: Wonderstruck
Author: Brian Selznick
Source/Format: Won, Hardcover
More Details: Middle Grade, Historical
Publisher/Publication Date: Scholastic Press, September 13, 2011

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Ben and Rose secretly wish for better lives. Ben longs for his unknown father. Rose scrapbooks a famous silent actress. When Ben finds clues and Rose reads enticing news, the children independently run to New York for what they are missing. Ben's story in words, Rose's in pictures, come together in deafness...

Wonderstruck was wonderful. This book, from start to finish, was absolutely fantastic. Selznick has done it again, perfectly crafting a story through words and pictures.

Unlike The Invention of Hugo Cabret, I went into Wonderstruck without really knowing what I was getting into. But, thanks to my lack of prior knowledge about the book, I was left with moments that I can only describe as surprising. As the synopsis indicates, this story is divided into two perspectives set fifty years apart. The first is Ben, whose story is told mostly through words. And the second is Rose, whose story is told through pictures. One of the main reasons I read Wonderstruck was to see how these two timelines would eventually meet.

I got what I was looking for and then some.

Ben was a wonderful character. His reactions to situations were believable, and really, all I wanted to see was for him to get a happy ending—he went through a lot in a short amount of time, and that’s where the story begins. Ben is adjusting to changes in his life, mainly concerning his family. Rose was also wonderful. Although her story was told through pictures, the images captured her emotion and story so well that words weren’t really needed to tell it. Ben and Rose were great characters, and I enjoyed reading their story.

So, Wonderstruck was great. I have one more unread book by Selznick sitting on my shelf, and I plan to read it soon.

A Week Without Tuesday Blog Tour Review, Interview, & Giveaway

Today marks the beginning of the A Week Without Tuesday blog tour. So, welcome to my stop! There are a number of reasons why I'm excited about this post. One, I finally get to share my interview with Angelica Banks. Two, I can, at last, talk about the book. And three, there is a giveaway from the publisher, so you, the readers, can enter for a chance to win A Week Without Tuesday. But first, more about the book before I get to the good stuff...

Author: Angelica Banks

Release Date: February 2, 2016

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Something is broken in the land of story. Real and imaginary worlds are colliding—putting everything and everyone in grave peril. Tuesday and Baxterr, at the request of the Librarian, and with the help of Vivienne Small, venture to find the Gardener—the one person who can stop this catastrophe. On their way, they'll meet friends and foes, and discover strengths they didn't know they had. Will they be able to save the land of story?

I got the chance to read the continuation of Tuesday McGillycuddy’s story, A Week Without Tuesday, early. The series so far has been consistently good. The concept alone is cool and handled incredibly well. I mean, writers drifting off to visit their own characters in their own fictional worlds? Yes please! There’s a lot of charming details that I absolutely adore about this series. Finding Serendipity was one of my favorite books of 2015, and thankfully, A Week Without Tuesday was no different.

It's safe to say that I loved this book. But I can't just end my review there, I have to talk a little more about the book. So, here goes nothing.

This story picks up after the end of Finding Serendipity. Tuesday has taken up writing, just like her mother. Only, there’s trouble afoot. In the land where stories come from, fictional worlds are colliding in the worst way possible. This inevitably causes chaos that’s begun to affect Tuesday’s world, making it impossible to write safely. The rapidly evolving—and worsening—situation created some much needed tension, and set up situations that directly affected the characters. Their reaction to the situations were interesting since there was no easy solution.

The setting, as always, was highly imaginative once Tuesday steps into the land where stories come from. The method on how to get there—by thread—was still cool. And the Library was just as amazing as last time, even in a state of disarray.

Many of my favorite characters from Finding Serendipity made another appearance. Tuesday along with her trusty dog, Baxterr, are caught up in the trouble that's plagued the land where stories come from. Some of my favorite parts included Tuesday's reactions. She was a good main character. Their adventures are always a joy to read. Vivienne Small was also back, and I liked her and Tuesday's interactions—those were some of my favorite parts. Blake, the Librarian, and a few new writers were introduced. All of them were wonderful in their own ways, which is why the characters are one of my favorite aspects of the book.

This was one book that was right up my alley. The different aspects worked really well together. As such, A Week Without Tuesday was a ridiculously good book. In light of that, all I can really say is that I’m looking forward to Angelica Bank’s next book.

This copy of the book was provided by the publisher for this review, thank you!

Angelica Banks is the author of the Tuesday McGillycuddy series for middle grade readers. The first book in the series is Finding Serendipity (published by Henry Holt in the USA in 2015) and the sequel – A Week Without Tuesday – is published in February. The third book will be published in 2017. What you may not know is that Angelica Banks is the pen-name of the writing duo of Heather Rose and Danielle Wood who live on the isolated island of Tasmania off the south coast of Australia. Here’s an insight into their friendship, collaboration and writing...

What were a couple of your favorite young adult or middle grade novels that you read in 2015?

Danielle: I love a good list, and a while ago I looked up a list of the 50 best young adult novels ever, and I've been slowly working my way through it. This has taken me back to amazing books that I might have missed, such as Dodie Smith’s I Capture the Castle and Madeleine L’Engle’s A Wrinkle in Time. I Capture the Castle is, like our Tuesday McGillycuddy books, something of a love letter to the business of writing, and the voice of the main character - Cassandra - is completely fresh and lovely. A Wrinkle in Time is a fantastical romp through time and space - it plunges you into a bizarre series of events, but the book is so well written, and so much fun, that you can accept these events with very little in the way of explanation.

Heather: I have a fifteen year old so she often helps me discover new YA books. In 2015 the books that really stood out were the The Apothecary by Maile Meloy and The Minnow by Australian author Diana Sweeney. The Minnow is a heart-breaking yet luminous novel. And I absolutely loved discovering Patrick Rothfuss’ The Name of the Wind series – I devoured those. Brilliant world creation.

What was it like working in collaboration with each other to write Finding Serendipity?

Danielle: Heather and I have been friends for years, and we already knew each other very well when we started writing together. But, wow, do we know each other well NOW! Now I know just how much she dislikes semi-colons (while I love them) and words ending with ly (I also like those). To write with someone else is an amazing exercise in trust and sharing, and I feel like it’s taught me a huge amount about writing. We don’t argue; (tee hee - a semi-colon!) we just keep working on things, and trying new approaches, until both of us are totally happy with the outcome.

Heather: When we embarked on this journey there was a friendship at risk. And of course our own egos – would we live up to each other’s expectations, and would we be able to communicate and compromise successfully? As time has gone on, our collaboration has become more and more miraculous to me. It has enriched my life beyond measure. Danielle is a fastidious scientist of language and plot. She has helped corral my wild imaginings into books that we could never have created alone, and yet are somehow beyond both of us too. It’s a perfect collaboration of minds, hearts and our mutual love of literature – and children! We spend an enormous amount of time laughing.

Finding Serendipity is a book that I think would appeal to a lot of people for many reasons. So, what inspired you to sit down and write this story?

Danielle: We wanted to write a book for children while our own children were still young enough to enjoy it. Also, we love children’s books ourselves. We loved children’s books when we were children, and then we had the opportunity to share our favourite classics (and a heap of wonderful new books) with our children. Each of us is a mother of three children, so as you can imagine, we’ve read thousands of books for young readers.

Heather: I have always had enormous respect for Danielle as a writer and a person. One day she invited me over for a cup of tea and a chat. Danielle said she thought we should write a children’s book together. She also said she knew there was a character called Tuesday McGillycuddy. Somehow as soon as she said that, I knew that Tuesday’s mother was called Serendipity and she was the most famous writer in the world. Danielle knew Tuesday had a dog and I knew his name was Baxterr with a double rr - but at that stage I didn't know why. It was as if this series had split itself into two and half was living in Danielle’s head and half was living in mine. It took Danielle making tea and suggesting we write together for the whole thing to begin unfurling. I suspect a lot of magical things have happened over cups of tea…

What are your favorite aspects of the Tuesday McGillycuddy series?

Danielle: For me, one of the best things is the character of Baxterr. I have been lucky enough to have wonderful canine companions all through my life, and they are a great source of companionship, safety and love. Tuesday has a truly magnificent dog in Baxterr, and he has been an absolute joy to write.

Heather: My three children are mostly grown up now, so I have spent a lot of years visiting classrooms and talking to children. And it was really apparent to me that creative children often lack guidance about the creative process – particularly budding writers. And they also sometimes lack a wise friend in times of challenge. So for all that our books are funny and full of wonderful characters and wild adventure, they also have some really important information for young creative minds to take counsel and courage from. When we do school visits it’s extraordinary how much the books have inspired so much writing and art – and that makes it feel immensely worthwhile. We’re planting seeds and we have no idea what will grow.

Do you have any daily goals or sources of inspiration that keep you motivated?

Danielle: My goal is always to do at least SOME writing every day. With three young children and all the busy-ness that goes with them, this isn’t always easy, but I’m a much nicer person when I manage it. When I start thinking that writing is really hard, or that I’ll never be as good as I hope to be, I remind myself that every single thing ever written was just something that somebody once sat down and wrote. That’s obvious, of course, but it seems to help me get over my stage fright.

Heather: I think a lot of us go through life saying ‘No’ to our creativity. No because there’s a schedule, there’s demands, there’s competing forces in our lives that keep us away from the desk or the canvas etc. I know this so well being a mother of three, a wife, and for years working full-time running a business etc. So now, like Danielle, I try to be available every day for writing. I’m at my desk at 9am (earlier when I can) and I’m ready to work. I always have a number of writing projects on the go, but that also helps. I have a great note-taking App on my phone (Captio) and I always have a pen and a notebook with me wherever I go. So I’m available when ideas come. Elizabeth Gilbert has captured all this beautifully in her new book Big Magic. I highly recommend it. I also have a quote by Pablo Picasso stuck on my desk. It says ‘“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”

Where are some of your favorite places to write?

Danielle: I write in a gypsy caravan in my garden. Through the window, I can see the Derwent River that divides our city of Hobart in two. In my caravan, I have a pin-board covered in images that inspire my writing. At the moment, there are lots of pictures of the Russian witch, Baba Yaga.

Heather: I am inspired by a house with only me in it, and a view of nature. The solitude is really important, and the removal of potential and actual interruptions. I also find a walk on a beach or in a forest really gets my characters talking. In the busier times in life when business demands and the school schedule precluded such things, I would write deep into the night once my family was asleep. And I try to schedule in at least two weeks where I escape each year to pour a lot of words onto the page and work with structuring. I find those long stretches of time are essential once the word count gets over 25000 words.

What’s next for you?

Danielle: Angelica Banks is working on the finishing touches of the third Tuesday McGillycuddy book, which is called Blueberry Pancakes Forever, and which will be out in the USA in 2017.

Heather: Yes, we have the launch of A Week Without Tuesday (Book 2) in the US in February. It’s going to be a wonderful year for Tuesday, Vivienne and Baxterr! And I have my next adult novel coming out in Australia in September. It’s called The Museum of Modern Love. I hope Angelica Banks will also do lots of school visits to talk about writing and creativity. Those are the true highlights for me.

I hope you enjoyed the interview as much as I did. Those are some fantastic answers, and I'm definitely looking forward to Blueberry Pancakes Forever. Now, onto the giveaway. Below, you can enter for a chance to win a copy of A Week Without Tuesday. This giveaway is US ONLY.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to check out the rest of the blog tour...

1/28: Our Thoughts Precisely

1/29: Middle Grade Mafia

2/1: On Starships and Dragonwings

2/2: Read, Write, Reflect

2/3: Alexa Loves Books

Review: The Immortal Heights by Sherry Thomas

Title:The Immortal Heights
Author: Sherry Thomas
Source/Format: Won, Hardcover
More Details: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Balzer + Bray, October 13, 2015

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

In a pursuit that has spanned continents, Iolanthe, Titus, and their friends have always managed to remain one step ahead of the forces of Atlantis. But now the Bane, the monstrous tyrant who bestrides the entire mage world, has issued his ultimatum: Titus must hand over Iolanthe, or watch as his entire realm is destroyed in a deadly rampage. Running out of time and options, Iolanthe and Titus must act decisively to deliver a final blow to the Bane, ending his reign of terror for good.

However, getting to the Bane means accomplishing the impossible—finding a way to infiltrate his crypt in the deepest recesses of the most ferociously guarded fortress in Atlantis. And everything is only made more difficult when new prophecies come to light, foretelling a doomed effort…

Iolanthe and Titus will put their love and their lives on the line. But will it be enough?

With The Immortal Heights, Sherry Thomas brings the acclaimed Elemental Trilogy to its breathtaking conclusion...

Going into The Immortal Heights I had high expectations—I really liked The Burning Sky and I absolutely loved The Perilous Sea. No worries, because The Immortal Heights was a fantastic end to this trilogy.

The Immortal Heights picked up right where the story left off, opening with a battle that was set up at the end of the previous book. It was an exciting right from the start and continued to be so till the very end. One of the things I enjoyed about this book was the use of prophesies as a major part of the concept. It does use the chosen one trope, but it also stresses the idea that what was seen maybe isn’t exactly what happened. As such, things that were considered fact in book one—things that couldn’t be changed—their meaning was subsequently called into question. Another aspect I enjoyed was the action, there was plenty of it.

All of my favorite characters from books 1 and 2 were back, especially Titus and Iolanthe. This book was the conclusion to their story. Both characters experienced some growth as more about Iolanthe was finally revealed. Basically, the truth about the situation was finally made clear, and I’m glad my questions were answered.

The Bane was just as terrible as the previous books made him out to be. He does finally make a direct appearance in The Immortal Heights, and he was a horrible mage who did things that were just not okay. The entire trilogy revolved around him and Atlantis, so it was nice to see that he got some backstory, even if it just made me despise him more. Besides the whole taking-over-the-world kind of thing, he had another reason for his actions—one I won’t reveal because of spoilers.

The setting was fantastic as always, beginning in the desert before jumping from place to place when the characters needed to move quickly. It was also nice to see some of Atlantis because it had remained as a looming shadow over Titus and Iolanthe. And while it seemed like an ideal place—albeit heavily fortified—there was evidence of persistent problems.

The ending is something I’m a fan of for many different reasons, but I won’t go into anything specifically. It was just really nice.

While I am sad that this series is over, I’m glad to have read it since all three books are now some of my favorites. In light of that, I’m just waiting to see what Sherry Thomas writes next.

Review: The Perilous Sea by Sherry Thomas

Title:The Perilous Sea
Author: Sherry Thomas
Source/Format: won, Hardcover
More Details: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Balzer + Bray, September 16, 2014

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

After spending the summer away from each other, Titus and Iolanthe (still disguised as Archer Fairfax) are eager to return to Eton College to resume their training to fight the Bane. Although no longer bound to Titus by a blood oath, Iolanthe is more committed than ever to fulfilling her destiny—especially with the agents of Atlantis quickly closing in.

Soon after arriving at school, though, Titus makes a shocking discovery, one that makes him question everything he previously believed about their mission. Faced with this devastating realization, Iolanthe is forced to come to terms with her new role, while Titus must choose between following his mother's prophecies—and forging a divergent path to an unknowable future...

This trilogy keeps getting better and better, and I can now firmly say that I enjoyed The Perilous Sea more than I did The Burning Sky. There were a lot of things I liked—the characters, setting, and especially the story. The chosen one trope was still present, but I liked the way it was handled anyway.

The plot was divided between the chapters—the Sahara Desert and England—it was evident from early on that the desert chapters took place after the parts in England. At first I had some confusion about what was going on, but then the plot evened out and from there the story took off.

Everything wasn’t as it seemed with prophesies written by Titus’ mother, and there was a lot of things that were revealed about the characters. There was also a lot of emotional turmoil throughout as situations changed quickly. I always had some suspicion about what was happening, but the story didn’t play out the way I thought it would. There were plenty of elements that surprised me. So, The Perilous Sea definitely wasn’t a boring book.

Iolanthe and Titus make a pretty good team, and I liked seeing their relationship continue to develop. They had chemistry, and it was easy to see that they cared for one another. Suffice to say, all of my favorite characters from book one were back—the boys at Eton—as well as some new ones.

The villains were terrible. From the scant pieces that were shown of them, they were developed well despite being absent for the majority of the book. They definitely had a lot of influence and knew how to use it. The Bane, despite my dislike for him, was an essential part of the story since the events that took place directly concerned him and were often times carried out under his orders.

The ending was just…unexpected, thus I will probably read The Immortal Heights next, because honestly, I want to know how Iolanthe and Titus’ story ends. I have my fingers crossed that they actually get a happy ending.

Review: The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Title: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Source/Format: Won, Hardcover
More Details: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction
Publisher/Publication Date: Scholastic, April 1, 2007

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

An orphan and a thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy train station. He desperately believes a broken automation will make his dreams come true. But when his world collides with an eccentric girl and a bitter old man, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy...

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is the kind of book I want to share with my entire family. It was just really lovely, and I have no idea why I never read it before, though I’m happy I finally did.

The story belongs mainly to Hugo, an orphan after the death of his father and his uncle soon after. He secretly takes care of the clocks in the station, stealing food just to keep from going hungry. There were other characters too—Isabelle, Etienne, Georges, Jeanne—who were tied into Hugo’s story and affected his life in different ways. The story paired with Selznick style was the perfect combination. The way it was told was just fantastic—partly through pictures that depicted scenes throughout the novel.

From start to finish The Invention of Hugo Cabret was wonderful. I have two more of Brian Selznick’s books on my shelf, and I definitely plan to read them soon.

ARC Review: Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Source/Format: First In Line, Hardcover ARC
More Details: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publisher/Publication Date: Knopf Books for Young Readers, October 20, 2015
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Synopsis from Goodreads...

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded. The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit. But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes...

I kind of have a lot to say. You’ve been warned...

I’m going to be honest, if Illuminae by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff was a movie I would see it, not just that, I would buy the DVD. In short, this book was awesome, and I consider it to be one of the best I’ve read in 2015 and a new favorite.

The way the story was told was something I was immediately interested in. It was told through a mixture of different things—emails, interviews, classified files, illustrations of the ships, and so on—it was a style I enjoyed. The mixture of different mediums added another layer to the story. One of my favorite aspects of science fiction is the technology—ships, weapons, etc.—so it was pretty cool getting to see them in illustrated form.

The story itself was also exciting, with plenty of action. It follows Kady Grant and Ezra Mason—who used to date but broke up at the beginning of the book—as they survive in space after the destruction of their home. But what once seemed like a good escape plan quickly took a turn for the worst. Like, worst case scenario type bad. The troubles started early on in the book—surviving the evacuation of the planet being the least of their problems—it’s what came after that had me hooked. Despite the length of this book there wasn’t a part that I found boring. There was always something going on.

As far as characters go, Kady was pretty cool. She was by far one of my favorite aspects of the story. People deal with grief differently and the same thing could be said about Kady, she reacted to the events of the novel differently than some of the other characters. Though all of them experienced loss at some point of the novel and grieved in different ways as they adjusted to their situation. Ezra was also interesting and I liked seeing the two characters interact with one another. The conversations were especially entertaining.

The villain wasn’t just one person specifically but many different things that stemmed from the beginning of the book and continued to have a ripple effect across the entire novel. I would (kind of) call them immediate consequences and unforeseen difficulties. That’s the best way I can describe them without going into detail.

While the ending was pretty solid, I look forward to seeing what happens next. Suffice to say, Illuminae was a great opening to this trilogy.

 

This copy of the book was provided by First In Line (publisher) for this review, thank you!

Review: In the Afterlight by Alexandra Bracken

Title:In The Afterlight
Author: Alexandra Bracken 
Source/Format: Borrowed from the Library, Hardcover
More Details: Young Adult, Dystopian
Publisher/Publication Date: Disney-Hyperion, October 28, 2014

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

Ruby can't look back. Fractured by an unbearable loss, she and the kids who survived the government's attack on Los Angeles travel north to regroup. With them is a prisoner: Clancy Gray, son of the president, and one of the few people Ruby has encountered with abilities like hers. Only Ruby has any power over him, and just one slip could lead to Clancy wreaking havoc on their minds. They are armed only with a volatile secret: proof of a government conspiracy to cover up the real cause of IAAN, the disease that has killed most of America's children and left Ruby and others like her with powers the government will kill to keep contained. But internal strife may destroy their only chance to free the "rehabilitation camps" housing thousands of other Psi kids. Meanwhile, reunited with Liam, the boy she would-and did-sacrifice everything for to keep alive, Ruby must face the painful repercussions of having tampered with his memories of her. She turns to Cole, his older brother, to provide the intense training she knows she will need to take down Gray and the government. But Cole has demons of his own, and one fatal mistake may be the spark that sets the world on fire...

One of my goals is to finish some of the series I’ve started, and the last two books of The Darkest Minds trilogy happened to be available at my local library. Hence, I’ve finished this trilogy, which is something I'm happy about. Especially because of the fact that I’ve consistently enjoyed this series and the same can be said about In the Afterlight.

The story basically picks up right where the last book left off, and Ruby & Co. are dealing with the fallout, struggling really, as they try to find the quickest and safest way out of L.A.. So, immediately, the tension was set up basically from page one. The plot took off from there quickly transitioning from point A to B and so on. Watching the story unfold was nothing short of entertaining, and I finally got some much needed answers about the series. So looking at this trilogy as a whole—it was well thought out with some solid world building.

The characters were great. Although, Ruby blamed herself for every little thing and still made some questionable decisions, she grew on me throughout the trilogy. I liked her more in In the Afterlight than in the last two books. And all of my favorite characters were back. I especially liked the friendships in this book—Zu & Vida—and it was nice to see that Ruby had friends who were female too. Not friends who were secretly enemies, but actual friends.

And then there was Clancy. I thought he was terrible in book one and two, but his presence in this book—the things he did—ugh, just no. There was nothing about him that made me even remotely sympathetic to his character. I get that he had a hard life that was worse than many of the other characters, but he had a problem with believing his way was the only way.

The ending was a little open-ended. While the essential plot was wrapped up nicely, there was still a little uncertainty about the future of the kids who were afflicted by IAAN. There was no immediate miracle solution, but the ending also hints at a better future with time.

At the end of the day, In the Afterlight was a good conclusion to the trilogy.

ARC Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Title: Wolf By Wolf
Author: Ryan Graudin
Source/Format: The Novl Newsletter (publisher), ARC
More Details: Young Adult, Fantasy, Alternative History
Publisher/Publication Date: Little Brown Books for Young Readers, October 22, 2015

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule the world. To commemorate their Great Victory over Britain and Russia, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor's ball. Yael, who escaped from a death camp, has one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year's only female victor, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin's brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael's every move. But as Yael begins to get closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?

Hold on I need a second, to, you know, catch my breath…

**deep breaths**

Alright, Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin was absolutely fantastic, and one of the best books I’ve read this year. Period. End of Discussion. But I can’t end the review yet, I have to actually talk about the book. So here goes nothing…

From the start I was interested in Wolf by Wolf because it’s an alternative-history novel, a “what if such and such didn’t happen/end as we know it” kind of book—a genre I enjoy but haven’t read enough of (A good example of this type of book would be Scott Westerfeld’s Leviathan Trilogy). So, I had pretty high expectations, and Wolf by Wolf did not let me down.

What if the Axis powers won the war?

This book ultimately explores those possibilities by using its setting and time period to tell the story of Yael. Yael’s experience was nothing short of horrifying. These things were revealed by alternating chapters that told the “then” combined with the present, the “now”. The “then” told Yael’s history, showing her experience through her eyes when she was a child rather than just telling about it later. These chapters were essential to understanding Yael—her fears, determination, all of it. Yael was a complex and interesting character, like many of the others—Luka, Felix, Adele—they all had layers and stories to tell.

The concept of an alternative ending to World War II and a race that spans across continents was fantastic. The idea of skinshifting was also pretty cool. The world building was handled really well, and it was easy to get into the story. Even with all of the different things going on, it worked.

There’s so much more that I could say, but this review would never end. So, final thoughts. The ending left me with some questions, like: What’s in store for Yael next? I want to know, because Wolf by Wolf is a story I’m invested in. It made me root for the characters to succeed every step of the way. And that’s a good thing in my book.

Now the wait for book two begins.

 This copy of the book was provided by The Novl Newsletter (Publisher) for this review, thank you!

Review: The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury

Title: The Halloween Tree
Author: Ray Bradbury
Source/Format: Purchased, Paperback
More Details: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publisher/Publication Date: Yearling, September 7, 1999

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Synopsis from Goodreads...

"A fast-moving, eerie...tale set on Halloween night. Eight costumed boys running to meet their friend Pipkin at the haunted house outside town encounter instead the huge and cadaverous Mr. Moundshroud. As Pipkin scrambles to join them, he is swept away by a dark Something, and Moundshroud leads the boys on the tail of a kite through time and space to search the past for their friend and the meaning of Halloween. After witnessing a funeral procession in ancient Egypt, cavemen discovering fire, Druid rites, the persecution of witches in the Dark Ages, and the gargoyles of Notre Dame, they catch up with the elusive Pipkin in the catacombs of Mexico, where each boy gives one year from the end of his life to save Pipkin's. Enhanced by appropriately haunting black-and-white drawings."--Booklist

This book was the kind of book that if I say too much then I’ll end up unintentionally spoiling it for anyone who wants to read it—partly due to the fact that it was so short.

So what should I say about book?

Well for one, The Halloween Tree by Ray Bradbury was a delightful, quick, and fun novel. Going into it I was looking for a festive book that fit the season—October, so obviously Halloween—and with this book I can firmly say that I got what I was after.

Next, there were eight boys out on Halloween night—ready to go trick-or-treating and have a good time—but they were missing someone, another friend. And as they try to find this friend they’re taken on an adventure through different points of time all across the world. At times it was spooky, at times it was lighthearted, and altogether it made for a good novel.

And finally, The Halloween tree was as wonderful as it was magical, especially the part that directly tied-in with the title.

At the end of the day, I’m more than happy that I gave this book a chance.