THE CRUELTY by S. Bergstrom

The Cruelty (The Cruelty #1)

by S. Bergstrom

From Goodreads:

When her diplomat father is kidnapped and the U.S. Government is unable to help, 17 year-old Gwendolyn Bloom sets off across the sordid underbelly of Europe to rescue him. Following the only lead she has—the name of a Palestinian informer living in France—she plunges into a brutal world of arms smuggling and human trafficking. As she journeys from the slums of Paris, to the nightclubs of Berlin, to the heart of the most feared crime family in Prague, Gwendolyn discovers that to survive in this new world she must become every bit as cruel as the men she’s hunting. 

What I liked:

The premise drew me in on this one. I mean, 17yo meets Europe's sordid underbelly, what's not to love? Gwen/Sofia is strong and smart and willing to do whatever it takes to rescue her father. The pacing here is pretty quick. Not that I didn't put it down. I did, but every time I picked it back up I got sucked into the rhythm of the story. 

The character moved from place to place but I never felt out of place. The different settings are well drawn with a level of detail that immediately orients the reader. Not sure how they stand up for someone who lives in those cities, but I was sold. 

Action drives this book. For me, that's what kept me reading. The plot keeps rolling forward with plenty of ups and downs, and I needed to know what happened next.

What I didn't like:

The first few pages were hard to get through. Not for anything fundamentally wrong with the story, just for the character's attitude. The sole purpose of the first few chapters seemed to be to show us how different she is from other girls/anybody her age and garner sympathy because she's bullied.

I had trouble connecting to Gwen/Sofia. She felt, I don't know...maybe generic? Like another character could've slipped into the role and the story would've been the same. Her age and gender seemed assigned for the sole purpose of upping the stakes. [Spoiler: i.e., her age/gender introduces the threat of rape, though the threat is never actually realized.] 

My biggest complaint is that it doesn't feel like a YA book. Gwen/Sofia doesn't read like a 17yo girl. And, as a 17yo girl, things that happened should/would have more of an impact on her, and I didn't feel that from her character at all. Emotionally, she's very flat. 

Some of the conflicts seemed too easily resolved, and [maybe spoiler: there's a physical confrontation towards the 3/4 mark where her injuries are never mentioned again.]

Overall:

It made an impression. I'm already on to reading new things and I'm still thinking about this one. I'm invested in the outcome and I want to see what happens next.  I'm also curious to see how the finished book differs from the ARC. I might need to take another quick look.

My Rating: 3.5 stars...maybe 3 3/4 ... so I'm rounding up. ****

Thanks for reading. Let me know what you think. Drop me a comment and find me on twitter @chellypike. 

*I received an ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.

**The author is a self-important ass, but I didn't hold that against him while reviewing his book. 

***Personally, I still hold it against him. It's beyond idiotic to dismiss/criticize the very genre you write in.  And this book does not stand out as a stellar example of a YA novel. In my opinion, the story would've been better written and more engaging as an adult novel.

Happy Reading, 

Chelly

_______________________________________________________

RATING SCALE: 

 5* = OMFG loved it. Will read it again. Touch my book and I will cut you. 

 4* = Really good. Highly recommend. Miiiight reread. Maybe. Don't touch my book. 

 3* = Good. I liked it. Go ahead and touch it. 

 2* = Not for me, finished but struggled. Didn't connect. 

 1* = DNF. Couldn't do it.

UNSCRIPTED JOSS BYRD by Lygia Day Peñaflor

Unscripted Joss Byrd

by Lygia Day Peñaflor.

From Goodreads:

Hollywood critics agree. Joss Byrd is "fiercely emotional," a young actress with "complete conviction," and a "powerhouse."

Joss Byrd is America's most celebrated young actress, but on the set of her latest project, a gritty indie film called The Locals, Joss's life is far from glamorous. While struggling with her mother's expectations, a crush on her movie brother, and a secret that could end her career, Joss must pull off a performance worthy of a star. When her renowned, charismatic director demands more than she is ready to deliver, Joss must go off-script to stay true to herself. 

What I Thought:

OMG I love Joss Byrd and I don't want this story to be over. I need a million more pages. 

The perfection of this novel is all in the details. The characters and their relationships are complex and nuanced, and every page is peppered with careful insights that paint the scene and make the words come alive on the page. The author is at home in this world and it shows. 

This book gave me all the feels! I want everyone to read it. 

My Rating:  * * * * * 

Find it on Goodreads 

_________________________________________________
RATING SCALE: 
 5* = OMFG loved it. Will read it again. Touch my book and I will cut you. 
 4* = Really good. Highly recommend. Miiiight reread. Maybe. Don't touch my book. 
 3* = Good. I liked it. Go ahead and touch it. 
 2* = Not for me, finished but struggled. Didn't connect. 
 1* = DNF. Couldn't do it.

INTO THE DIM/THE READER/GIRL IN THE SHADOWS

Into the Dim (Into The Dim #1)

by Janet B. Taylor

From Goodreads: 

When fragile, sixteen-year-old Hope Walton loses her mom to an earthquake overseas, her secluded world crumbles. Agreeing to spend the summer in Scotland, Hope discovers that her mother was more than a brilliant academic, but also a member of a secret society of time travelers. Trapped in the twelfth century in the age of Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hope has seventy-two hours to rescue her mother and get back to their own time. Along the way, her path collides with that of a mysterious boy who could be vital to her mission . . . or the key to Hope’s undoing. 

What I Thought:   

I was hooked from the first sentence. The set-up here is great. Burying an empty coffin. Brilliant. Hope is a unique character. Her photographic memory makes her crazy-smart but also has a down side. I liked that she wasn't perfect. It made it so much easier to relate to her, but I found some of her phobias too easily overcome. First it was impossible to get on a plane, and then she flies to Scotland...on a plane. As for Scotland, there wasn't much Scotland in the book, and the mysterious boy...wasn't so mysterious. That part seemed a bit too obvious, and Hope a little too trusting, but that could be my overly distrusting nature rearing its ugly head. Anyway, these things are all nitpicks. I couldn't help but root for Hope, because she's such a nice person. She's a loyal friend and she goes out of her way to help other people.

I loved the time travel aspect and think it was handled very well. The historical depictions here were fun to read. Now I want to learn more about the period. Yes, I had a few hiccups, but, overall, I really enjoyed this one. It was a great start to a new series and I'll definitely pick up the next one to see where it goes.  

My Rating: * * * *

Find it on Goodreads.

_________________________________________

The Reader (Sea of Ink and Gold #1)

by Traci Chee

From Goodreads:

Sefia knows what it means to survive. After her father is brutally murdered, she flees into the wilderness with her aunt Nin, who teaches her to hunt, track, and steal. But when Nin is kidnapped, leaving Sefia completely alone, none of her survival skills can help her discover where Nin’s been taken, or if she’s even alive. The only clue to both her aunt’s disappearance and her father’s murder is the odd rectangular object her father left behind, an object she comes to realize is a book—a marvelous item unheard of in her otherwise illiterate society. With the help of this book, and the aid of a mysterious stranger with dark secrets of his own, Sefia sets out to rescue her aunt and find out what really happened the day her father was killed—and punish the people responsible. 

What I Thought:

The writing is gorgeous. The story is so imaginative and I'm in love with Traci Chee's words. There was a lot going on here, but the story lines were woven together brilliantly. It seemed effortless. I would've liked a bit less narrative distance. I think it would've made the characters more accessible, but Sefia is amazing. She's strong and capable and refuses to back down. And Archer... OMG I love him. 

I don't want to give anything away, so I'll just say I'm dying for book II. Definitely hooked. 

My Rating: * * * * *

Find it on Goodreads.

__________________________________________

Girl in the Shadows (Cirque Americain #2)

by Gwenda Bond

From Goodreads:

Eighteen-year-old Moira Mitchell grew up in the shadows of Vegas’s stage lights while her father’s career as a magician soared. More than anything, Moira wants to be a magician too, but her father is dead set against her pursuing magic.

When an invitation to join the Cirque American mistakenly falls into Moira’s possession, she takes action. Instead of giving the highly coveted invitation to its intended recipient, Raleigh, her father’s handsome and worldly former apprentice, Moira takes off to join the Cirque. If she can perform alongside its world-famous acts, she knows she’ll be able to convince her dad that magic is her future.

But when Moira arrives, things take on an intensity she can’t control as her stage magic suddenly feels like…real magic. To further distract her, Raleigh shows up none too pleased at Moira’s presence, all while the Cirque’s cocky and intriguing knife thrower, Dez, seems to have it out for her. As tensions mount and Moira’s abilities come into question, she must decide what’s real and what’s an illusion. If she doesn’t sort it out in time, she may forever remain a girl in the shadows. 

What I Thought: 

I loved the MC, but I only liked the story. Moira had so much spirit and such a passion for her magic that it was impossible not to be drawn in to her world. And I was, but there was a bit of insta-love going on here, which I'm not crazy about. I liked how she was cautious at first.  I wanted her to be cautious a lot longer, like, maybe, the whole book. The romance seemed secondary to the story--even though it was so much a part of it--and I think that made a difference in their relationship feeling too fast to be believable. 

As for the rest, I can't really get into that aspect without giving too much away. Overall, my love of Moira carried a lot of weight here and kept me reading when I lost interest in the plot. If there's another book in this series, I'd pick it up to see where the story goes.

My Rating: * * *

Find it on Goodreads.

Happy Reading,

Chelly

THE STEEP & THORNY WAY/WINK POPPY MIDNIGHT/UNICORN TRACKS

The Steep & Thorny Way

by Cat Winters

From Goodreads:


Scene: Oregon, 1923. Dramatis personae: Hanalee Denney, daughter of a white woman and an African American man Hank Denney, her father—a ghost Greta Koning, Hanalee’s mother Clyde Koning, doctor who treated Hank Denney the night he died, now Hanalee’s stepfather Joe Adder, teenage boy convicted of accidentally killing Hank Denney Members of the Ku Klux Klan Townspeople of Elston, Oregon Question: Was Hank Denney’s death an accident…or was it murder most foul?


What I thought:

The writing is beautiful. The story is brilliantly crafted. I loved everything about the book. The setting was a character in itself. The friendships were perfectly drawn. Really, I have only nice things to say. I'd highly recommend this to anyone who likes YA and adult novels.

My Rating: *****

Find it on Goodreads.

________________________________________________________

Wink Poppy Midnight

by April Genevieve Tucholke

From Goodreads:

Every story needs a hero.
Every story needs a villain.
Every story needs a secret.

Wink is the odd, mysterious neighbor girl, wild red hair and freckles. Poppy is the blond bully and the beautiful, manipulative high school queen bee. Midnight is the sweet, uncertain boy caught between them. Wink. Poppy. Midnight. Two girls. One boy. Three voices that burst onto the page in short, sharp, bewitching chapters, and spiral swiftly and inexorably toward something terrible or tricky or tremendous.

What really happened?
Someone knows.
Someone is lying.

What I thought:

I loved this book. I have so many feelings but can't put them into words without giving spoilers. Ugh! Love the multi-POVs. Short chapters kept the action moving. Love the WTF atmosphere. Overall just yes, read this book. 

My Rating: ***** 

Find it on Goodreads.

_____________________________________________

Unicorn Tracks

by Julia Ember

From Goodreads:

After a savage attack drives her from her home, sixteen-year-old Mnemba finds a place in her cousin Tumelo’s successful safari business, where she quickly excels as a guide. Surrounding herself with nature and the mystical animals inhabiting the savannah not only allows Mnemba’s tracking skills to shine, it helps her to hide from the terrible memories that haunt her.

Mnemba is employed to guide Mr. Harving and his daughter, Kara, through the wilderness as they study unicorns. The young women are drawn to each other, despite that fact that Kara is betrothed. During their research, they discover a conspiracy by a group of poachers to capture the Unicorns and exploit their supernatural strength to build a railway. Together, they must find a way to protect the creatures Kara adores while resisting the love they know they can never indulge.


What I thought:

Fell in love with the characters here and fantastic world building. Mnemba's story was touching and I loved the relationship between her and Kara. I wanted them to make better decisions regarding putting themselves into danger, and there was a moment or two that left me shaking my head, but, for the most part, I was swept away by this story and definitely recommend it.

My Rating: ****


Find it on Goodreads.

___________________________________________________


That's all for now. Follow me to catch all my reviews and giveaways and drop me a comment to let me know what you think. You can find me on twitter @chellypike.


Happy Reading,

Chelly

_____________________________________________________________

RATING SCALE:



5* = OMFG loved it. Will read it again. Touch my book and I will cut you.

4* = Really good. Highly recommend. Miiiight reread. Maybe. Don't touch my book.

3* = Good. I liked it. Go ahead and touch it. 

2* = Not for me, finished but struggled. Didn't connect.

1* = DNF. Couldn't do it.

Waiting on Wednesday! A SHADOW BRIGHT AND BURNING by Jessica Cluess

A Shadow Bright and Burning (Kingdom on Fire #1)

by Jessica Cluess

From Goodreads

I am Henrietta Howel. The first female sorcerer. The prophesied one. Or am I?

Henrietta Howel can burst into flames. When she's brought to London to train with Her Majesty's sorcerers, she meets her fellow sorcerer trainees, young men eager to test her powers and her heart. One will challenge her. One will fight for her. One will betray her. As Henrietta discovers the secrets hiding behind the glamour of sorcerer life, she begins to doubt that she's the true prophesied one. With battle looming, how much will she risk to save the city—and the one she loves?

"Unputdownable. I loved the monsters, the magic, and the teen warriors who are their world's best hope! Jessica Cluess is an awesome storyteller!" 
—Tamora Pierce, New York Times bestselling author

"A fun, inventive fantasy. I totally have a book crush on Rook." 
—Sarah Rees Brennan, New York Times bestselling author

"Pure enchantment. I love how Cluess turned the 'chosen one' archetype on its head. With the emotional intensity of my favorite fantasy books, this is the kind of story that makes you forget yourself." 
—Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched Queen

"A glorious, fast-paced romp of an adventure. Jessica Cluess has built her story out of my favorite ingredients: sorcery, demons, romance, and danger."
—Kelly Link, author of Pretty Monsters

This book has been on my radar for some time now and I can't wait to get my hands on it. The release date is Sept. 20th. which is getting closer. Yay! Anyone else dying to read this one? 

Find it on Goodreads for links to preorder! 

Happy reading,

Chelly

NEVERNIGHT by Jay Kristoff

Nevernight (The Nevernight 

Chronicle #1)

by Jay Kristoff

From Goodreads:

In a land where three suns almost never set, a fledgling killer joins a school of assassins, seeking vengeance against the powers who destroyed her family.

Daughter of an executed traitor, Mia Corvere is barely able to escape her father’s failed rebellion with her life. Alone and friendless, she hides in a city built from the bones of a dead god, hunted by the Senate and her father’s former comrades. But her gift for speaking with the shadows leads her to the door of a retired killer, and a future she never imagined.

Now, a sixteen year old Mia is apprenticed to the deadliest flock of assassins in the entire Republic — the Red Church. Treachery and trials await her with the Church’s halls, and to fail is to die. But if she survives to initiation, Mia will be inducted among the chosen of the Lady of Blessed Murder, and one step closer to the only thing she desires.

Revenge. 

What I thought:

This is one of those books that people seem to LOVE LOVE LOVE or HATE with a thousand burning suns (or maybe just three). *Shrugs* I fall into the LOVE camp, but there is something to be said for the latter. Mainly, some of those DNF reviews are hilarious. Some are actually in the voice of the book's narrator, which, again, hilarious. But it also tells me the book spoke to them...just not in a way they liked.

Ahem.

The beginning is a little tricky. Time-shifty and complicated.  The reader is tossed right in; left to sink or swim. I like complicated. I like dark. This book is both. I read it at a slower pace than my normal. First, because I wanted to savor it. Second, so I didn't miss anything. As far as pacing, the book really picks up about a third of the way through and hauls ass until the end. 

The story is clever and so well done. It's vivid and gory in a delightful way. Did I mention it's dark? Yep, dark. The voice here is fabulous. Like, I fell in love from the first page. There's a large cast of characters and they are all unique and fully fleshed. I had an "aha" moment about 75% of the way through, where I knew what was going to happen next, though it made it no less enjoyable when it actually happened. 

But, holy shit, I did not see that ending coming. At all. Late in the story, some of the...happenings (no spoilers here) felt a tiny bit too anticlimactic, which stifled some of the feels I might've had in the feels department. Of course, I don't know if the finished version changed anything. Overall, I'm 100% on-board with this series and can't wait to see where it goes.

I give it 5 ***** glowing stars, because I will definitely read it again. I loved it so much, I pre-ordered a copy for my bookshelf so I can pet it. (Don't judge me.) This is not a YA book. YA protagonist, yes. YA content, not so much. It's dark and not for the faint of heart, but if that's your thing, you need this book in your life. If you're not sure if dark and complicated is your thing, start with this book. 

Find more reviews and links to buy on Goodreads. And leave me a comment, tell me what you think. 

Happy reading,
Chelly
@chellypike

*I received an eARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  

RATING SCALE:

5* = OMFG loved it. Will read it again. Touch my book and I will cut you.
4* = Really good. Highly recommend. Miiiight reread. Maybe. Don't touch my book.
3* = Good. I liked it. 
2* = Not for me, finished but struggled. Didn't connect.
1* = DNF. Couldn't do it.

THE CASQUETTE GIRLS by Alys Arden

The Casquette Girls (The Casquette Girls #1)

by Alys Arden

From Goodreads

Seven girls tied by time.
Five powers that bind.
One curse to lock the horror away.
One attic to keep the monsters at bay.

After the storm of the century rips apart New Orleans, sixteen-year-old Adele Le Moyne wants nothing more than her now silent city to return to normal. But with home resembling a war zone, a parish-wide curfew, and mysterious new faces lurking in the abandoned French Quarter, normal needs a new definition.

As the city murder rate soars, Adele finds herself tangled in a web of magic that weaves back to her own ancestors. Caught in a hurricane of myths and monsters, who can she trust when everyone has a secret and keeping them can mean life or death? Unless . . . you’re immortal. 

My Review

Let me preface this by saying that I'm very hesitant to read anything set in New Orleans. Very hesitant. I've been burned before. People who write New Orleans who've never lived here tend to get sooooo much wrong that it's painful to read. 

Alys Arden is not one of those writers. She gets everything right. 

I found THE CASQUETTE GIRLS by accident. B&N had their book fair and some of their events were sort of advertised and some weren't mentioned online at all. I got there early for an advertised event (which never ever happens) and Alys Arden was doing a talk/book signing. Kismet. Fate. I'd say karma, but that'd take me in the wrong direction. Ahem.

New Orleans is beautifully done. Post-storm New Orleans at that. I could've read this for the setting alone, but, sigh, the characters... The first quarter, maybe less, of the story has a lot of character development and setting, with snippets of intrigue and a nice slow-build on the fantasy elements. We get to know Adele as she gets adjusted to post-storm living. Things start a little slowly, but when they pick up, OMG, they pick up. I lost sleep. Plenty of sleep. And I don't regret it.

This story feels so true to New Orleans, and the characters are so alive that I found myself comparing them to actual people. Even secondary characters. They are so lifelike it feels like she plucked the off the sidewalk and stuffed them between the pages. I love how she weaves history with fiction to create such a rich, nuanced story. I am DYING for the next book in this series, THE ROMEO CATCHERS, and highly recommend this book, especially to those who love YA, fantasy, and New Orleans. 

Find links to buy and more reviews on Goodreads.

Follow my blog for more reviews and let me know what you think. What are you reading? What's your most anticipated book of 2016? 2017? Give me a book recommendation. Find me on twitter @chellypike. 

Happy Reading,

Chelly