The Raven's Child is a great graphic novel from one of the writers of the Buffy comics. A grim novel that is both well-written and gorgeously drawn, tThe Raven's Child is a great graphic novel from one of the writers of the Buffy comics. A grim novel that is both well-written and gorgeously drawn, this blend of paranormal and dystopian fiction will definitely hit the spot. The child is a strong, fearless heroine and is just epic in her battle against the forces of darkness. Few stories really capture the unwavering spirit of humanity and the thin line between man and monster like Sneigoski. ...more
I've been a fan of Kerstin Gier's books ever since I read Ruby Red, which was such a fun and entertaining take on time-travel. Dream A Little Dream isI've been a fan of Kerstin Gier's books ever since I read Ruby Red, which was such a fun and entertaining take on time-travel. Dream A Little Dream is an interesting book that is a mishmash of fantasy and romance elements that's just so much fun to read. There are a few problems here and there with the translation, tone and whatnot, but I easily could just ignore all of this one's issues. I loved opening Liv's dream door and seeing what Gier had in store for us!
Liv is trying to adjust to her new home in England, but it isn't easy living at her mom's boyfriend's home. Soon her dreams become odd and they involve four boys doing a strange ritual in a cemetery. All four boys go to her school and one of them is even the son of her mom's boyfriend! Even though they tell Liv to stay away, she can't resist trying to find out what's going on. How in the world do all 4 of them keep appearing in her dreams?
The great thing about Dream A Little Dream is that it depicts high school realistically without resorting to a plethora of cliches. There are no mean girl archetypes, no pushing people into lockers, nothing of that sort at all occurs in this one. All of the characters have pretty distinct, developed personalities and I loved getting to know each and everything single one of them. It was also nice to see that the relationships between the characters and the history they all shared was very clear.
I am so happy that Dream A Little didn't have the love triangle (or pentagon) that I was expecting to see. Instead readers are treated to a sweet dose of romance that is so shippable and engaging to read about. I really liked the romantic dynamic between our two love interests and seeing their relationship tested. I can't wait to see what Gier takes the romance next and I truly hope another love interest isn't added.
Dream A Little Dream is translated from German by Anthea Ball (most known for her incredible work on the Inkheart trilogy) and a bit seems to be lost in translation. There are a few moments here and there where the translation feels a bit wonky and I guess that's to be expected. Overall the translation is relatively smooth, but I truly hope the bumps in the translation will be fixed for the finished copies.
Dream A Little Dream is a humorous, fun take on paranormal romance that doesn't add anything new to the genre, but is still a great read. I'm extremely excited to read the following book and hope it's just as entertaining as DALD was. I'm a bit jealous of Germany and all of the other countries who already have book two!This review was originally posted on Bookish Antics...more
Check out Bookish Antics for reviews, giveaways and interviews! The Retribution Of Mara Dyer concludes the story of Mara, Noah, Jamie and the rest of tCheck out Bookish Antics for reviews, giveaways and interviews! The Retribution Of Mara Dyer concludes the story of Mara, Noah, Jamie and the rest of the gang. Michelle Hodkin really knows how to write an engaging story and to keep readers captivated with suspense and romance. I really enjoyed this novel, but I really wish we received more answers about Mara’s special abilities. Just as we were getting substantial answers, Hodkin shifted the focus of the story to give us an ending, one that I wasn’t totally satisfied with.
Mara Dyer has been through an ordeal and things are getting tougher than she ever expected. Mara is stuck at a mental hospital where doctors and scientists prod her like she’s an animal. She’s being to doubt her own sanity and is losing herself in the medication she’s being forced to take.
This is definitely the darkest novel in the series and I applaud Hodkin for taking this series into new territory. The sections in the mental hospital are absolutely chilling and I found myself feeling extremely afraid for Mara. Some of the scenes in which Mara grapples with herself are extremely creepy and allowed for some excellent inner reflection. These scenes allowed the readers to see Mara bare and honest with herself, showing her as a brave and compassionate individual.
The romance in this series is always excellent and Retribution is no different, bringing Noah and Mara’s relationship to new heights. Noah and Mara are such a perfect couple and I practically wanted to scream every time Hodkin threw an obstacle in the way of their relationship. I ship this couple oh so much and I was completely invested in their relationship for the entirety of this book. When I met Noah in book one, I didn’t really like him but over the course of this series I slowly became a fan of him and fell for his humor. Romances are usually my least favorite aspects in most books I read, but in this series it’s easily one of the best aspects.
Jamie is easily one of the best characters in this series injecting some of the darker moments of this novel with some humor. He’s hilarious and is easily my favorite secondary character in this series because he always just knows what to say. If I had to pinpoint the best dialogue in this book, my bets are that the majority of the lines would belong to Jamie because his one-liners are the best.
I wanted answers from Retribution and after 2 books I think we deserved to finally get some explanations in this one. I was happy with the few answers that we do get, but it wasn’t enough to satisfy me. The backstory behind their powers was extremely clever and well thought out, but it wasn’t fleshed out completely. I feel that Hodkin never properly ended the back-story on the powers because she wanted to end this story on a happy note. I know many readers want a happily ever after, but I needed something more than vague answers.
The Narration:
I’ve always been a fan of Christy Carlson Romano ever since I was little, devouring Even Stevens and Kim Possible like it was cake. It was a pleasant surprise to find out that Romano narrated this one and I found her narration to be nearly flawless. All of the voices that Romano does were so on point regardless of whether it was a male or female character. Romano’s narration really added life to the characters and she was a perfect fit for this text. I would definitely listen to another audiobook narrated by Romano for sure and it was a delight to hear her read Retribution.
Overall:
The Retribution Of Mara Dyer is an intelligent, well-written conclusion to a fabulous series, even if it doesn’t provide enough answers. Christy Romano is a terrific narrator and I’d definitely recommend the audios for this series....more
Seen at Bookish Antics! I’m completely and utterly obsessed with the Shadow Falls series, so I was excited when I heard about Unbreakable, a novella abSeen at Bookish Antics! I’m completely and utterly obsessed with the Shadow Falls series, so I was excited when I heard about Unbreakable, a novella about the mysterious Chase. This ebook gives readers a glimpse into the life of this character and helps show Chase in such a different light. This is an extremely necessary read for fans of C.C. Hunter and one of my only complaints is that it’s too short! I was addicted to this novella and I wanted to read even more about Chase — hopefully he will play an even bigger role in Eternal. ...more
Check out Bookish Antics for reviews, giveaways and interviews! After reading Hex Hall, I knew I’d be a lifelong Rachel Hawkins fan and last year’s RebCheck out Bookish Antics for reviews, giveaways and interviews! After reading Hex Hall, I knew I’d be a lifelong Rachel Hawkins fan and last year’s Rebel Belle confirmed that fact with an even snarkier, more bad-ass novel. Miss Mayhem is a prime example of why readers have fallen in love with Hawkins’s novels, she really knows what readers want and delivers on all of their expectations. There is never a dull moment in any of her books and Miss Mayhem is no exception, giving readers another thrilling, humorous paranormal romp. I love this series so much and it’s a shame that we only have one book left in which we spend time with David and Harper.
Harper Price thought she was done with the Ephors, but they’ve decided to make an appearance in her life once again. Things take a turn for the odd when the Ephors decide that they need David to be trained and Harper to perform an ancient ritual / test. Not only that but Harper has to deal with her irritating, but charming ex Ryan and her bestfriend Bee. Magic isn’t as reliable as it once was and Harper will have to rely on her sharp senses.
Miss Mayhem is an absolute blast to read and readers will truly wish this book was longer so they could spend even more time with Harper. As always the dialogue and Harper’s observations are humorous and snarky, putting a smile on my face for the entire duration of the novel. A part of me wanted to try to race through this novel because I was enjoying it so much, yet I also wanted to savor because I didn’t want it to end.
I absolutely love Harper and David, I swear these two are absolutely adorable and I ship them so much. When they were fighting, I just wanted them to shut up and kiss because they’re the real deal and need to stop pressuring each other. I loved the banter between Harper and David, especially when Harper was teasing David about his lack of a fashion sense. Both of these two are just such great characters and I think everyone will want to be friends with these two by the end of the novel.
One of the most awesome things about Miss Mayhem is it’s so Southern, something that delighted my Yankee self. Hawkins has created such an atmospheric setting that is so immersive and I really wanted to take a trip down south and talk with my (terrible) Southern accent. The Southern setting isn’t just the setting, it’s so ingrained in all of the character’s mannerism, dialogue and actions that readers will never forget where they are even for a second.
Miss Mayhem is such a great book that gave me all the Buffy feels and I can’t recommend this book enough. Everything here is spot-on from the characters to the plot to the writing style, making Miss Mayhem a must read for sure. Miss Mayhem is such a sweet, addicting book that will leave readers saying ‘y’all’ and craving book three (especially after that cliffhanger of an ending)....more
Seen at Bookish Antics! I love the idea of a novel about genies, especially one that has diverse main characters, but Exquisite Captive was poorly execSeen at Bookish Antics! I love the idea of a novel about genies, especially one that has diverse main characters, but Exquisite Captive was poorly executed. The novel is dreadfully slow-paced, romanticizes slavery and an abusive relationship and the book’s plot is seriously lacking. There are tons of random flashbacks that feel irrelevant and truly add nothing to the story. Not to mention the fact that I feel no reason to care for any of the characters nor did I feel a need to continue this book. I quit a little bit more than a 1/3 of the way in and I don’t plan on getting back to this one. ...more
Seen at Bookish Antics! It’s been so long since I’ve read a great book about witches so I was drawn to Salt & Storm in hopes that it would be absoluteSeen at Bookish Antics! It’s been so long since I’ve read a great book about witches so I was drawn to Salt & Storm in hopes that it would be absolutely amazing. It took me a while to get into this one because this book is a bit slower paced than the majority of YA novels that I usually read. Kendall Kulper does craft a terrific magical society in S&S that’s extremely impressive, albeit a bit familiar and Prince Island is a setting that I loved reading about.
Prince Island needs the Roe witch, they depend on her to keep their whaling economy in check and to make sure everything runs smoothly. Avery always wanted to follow in her grandmother’s footsteps and to be the Roe witch, but her mother refused to let her tamper with magic. When Avery dreams that she’s going to be murdered, she knows that this is it for her because she’s never prophesied wrong.
Salt & Storm has an exciting opening chapter which sets up the world of Prince Island wonderfully, but the plot loses a bit of steam after that. Kulper is an excellent writer, but the beginning of this novel is just too slow-paced and I have a feeling that some readers may abandon this novel a few chapters in. Once Tane is introduced, Salt & Storm really kicks off and this novel became a lot more engaging and interesting to me. I really liked Tane even though I’ve seen similar reiterations of his characters plenty of times before. The tattooed, vulnerable guy is a character that’s nothing new, but Kulper manages to make him extremely likable and makes his relationship with Avery feel fresh and exciting.
It’s odd, but my favorite characters in Salt & Storm aren’t any of the teenage main characters. My favorite characters are definitely Avery’s grandmother and Avery’s mother because these two women were so dangerous and spontaneous. One really never knew what to expect from these two matriarchs and they were such intense, complex characters.
I really loved the atmosphere and setting that Kulper created in Salt & Storm, readers will easily embrace Prince Island. The historical aspects of the island are pronounced well and the way Kulper intertwined the island’s whaling industry with magic was superb. I didn’t know anything about whaling prior to reading this but it’s obvious that Kulper definitely did her research and her take on whaling feels authentic. The world-building in this novel is excellent and extremely atmospheric; I practically felt the wind and seabreeze while reading.
The magic system in Salt & Storm is well-developed and I fell in love with it almost immediately before realizing that I’ve seen this riff on magic before. I did enjoy exploring Avery’s magic and her limits on her power, but it wasn’t extremely unique. That being said, I was able to predict the big magical plot twist towards the end of this novel and it felt rather obvious to me. I’m usually not the best at predicting plot twists and it’s not a good sign when I see what’s coming next in a novel.
Salt & Storm is a well-written stand-alone with a gorgeous setting, but parts of it feel a bit trite and like they’ve been recycled. All things considered, I really enjoyed this novel and I absolutely loved the historical aspects of this novel. I’d definitely read another novel by Kulper in the future and it’s exciting to hear that there’s a prequel to Salt & Storm in the works (hopefully about Avery’s grandma!)....more