ARC Review: Fledgling

Days away from becoming completing her first year at Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies, Changeling-born Sarah Smith might just get away with posing as an upper-class Guardian girl named Cassandra Reed.

But strange visions of a Lightbourne destroyed by Miss Morton’s revenant army keep Sarah from enjoying her achievement. Plus, the Mother Book, Sarah’s one secret advantage and the ultimate entrée in Guardian society, suddenly stops revealing itself to her…putting her in a precarious position with the Guild. On top of all that, her former lady’s maid left Miss Castwell’s, and the new hire is, well, taking some getting used to.

If it weren’t for her two best friends, Alicia McCray and Ivy Cowel, who will do anything to protect her secret, Sarah doesn’t know if she’ll make it another year. When the three girls take summer holiday with Alicia’s family (chaperoned by an exacting and very disapproving Mrs. McCray), a relaxing vacation in Scotland is the last thing they’ll find.

Mrs. Winter is thrilled that Sarah is spending time with the influential McCray family, but Sarah can’t help but feel that her real purpose is to find other Changeling children like her, and free them to realize their own magic. Can she find genuine satisfaction in her accomplishments when she knows there are others like her out there who need her help? Will the three girls uncover the deeply-held secrets they’re looking for in the mysterious mountains of Scotland? Will the Mother Book finally start talking to her again? And will Sarah come to understand the importance of her connection with Ivy and Alicia, and the true nature of her own power…before it’s too late?

Review

I recieved a free copy via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the friendship between the three girls it’s so genuine. Sarah is a bit of a matyr  and that does bug me a little, but it gives Ivy and Alicia a chance to prove their friendship.

Gavin, I would have liked a little more depth to his character, hopefully in the next book. I think he could be an amazing character and give Sarah the strength she will most likely need in the next book.

Mrs Winter keeps surprising me! She is a great character and I do hope she appears more in the next book. I would her to realise there that magic no matter where from is a good thing. I think she is really capable of this without it feeling jarring. I love how she is taking to Sarah, as Sarah and not just Cassandra.

The Mother book- Oh how? I hope this issure can be resolved in some way, no idea how, but that’s Molly Harper’s job.

I did guess the big reveal happen in some form, but I didn’t get it dead on. I do wish it was explained in a little more detail.

Overall it was a great read.

4 out of 5 stars

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Review: Changeling (Sorcery and Society #1)

If 14-year-old Cassandra Reed makes it through her first day at Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies without anyone discovering her secret, maybe, just maybe, she’ll let herself believe that she really does belong at Miss Castwell’s.

Except Cassandra Reed’s real name is Sarah Smith and up until now, she lived her whole life in the Warren, serving a magical family, the Winters, as all non-magical “Snipes” are bound by magical Guardian law to do. That is, until one day, Sarah accidentally levitates Mrs. Winter’s favorite vase in the parlor…

But Snipes aren’t supposed to have magical powers…and the existence of a magical Snipe threatens the world order dictated during the Guardians’ Restoration years ago. If she wants to keep her family safe and protect her own skin, Sarah must figure out how to fit into posh Guardian society, master her newfound magical powers and discover the truth about how an ordinary girl can become magical.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Let’s start by saying I loved this book. It was magical all the way through. I read it in two days. For me that’s quick when I am working.

It started off really good, the setting was wonderful. I like how it progressed. You learned about the magic system as Sarah (Cassandra) did. The school sounded wonderful, I would have liked more lessons,  I think we saw one and that’s it. Maybe in the next book. There was also a few inconstistancies, but since I was reading a (well over due) netgalley review book I am not letting this affect my review.

The characters were good, the insta friendships bothered me a little but the rest of the book was enough to make up for it. The mother book was a very interesting concept. I do wish there was a few more things explained about it. Don’t want to say what in case I spoil anything.

The whole age thing bothered me slightly now when we were first introduced to Owen I thought he was 19 upwards which would make sense how Mary has been pining over him for years. But it turns out he was 14 and Mary is what 16? A little creepy but I just went with it.

All the things I found wrong were slight and didn’t really spoil me reading. I have already started book two, very much looking forward to seeing where it leads.

4.5 stars out of 5

ARC Review: Wizards Rising: The Cataclysm

Just as today’s world is on the brink of all-out nuclear war, wizards appear out of nowhere, seizing control of every continent. They install themselves as benevolent tyrants, vowing utopia for all.

The four wizards—Indie, Demus, Regi, and Justica—seat themselves as divine rulers of North America. Amanda Fullteron, who is chosen as Supreme Liaison from a shell-shocked human race, must seek the wizards’ secret and soon, bring about their downfall. But as she races against time, the wizards are ready to unleash the Prophecy, a 1,000-year oracle that promises them eternal glory.

I recieved a free copy of this book via booksirens in exchange for an honest review.

Okay so the premise of this book had lots of promise. The first 10% or so was great, it was set up nicely, but after that things tanked. There was far too much polictics for me, a lot of it was boring and didn’t seem revelant to go into that much detail. For a book about wizards and magic there was not enough magic in it for me.

Until the end I didn’t feel that the wizards had much distiction in personality but that may have been on purpose until Amanda got to know them better. It still made reading the beginning feel a little flat. Even when they had personality it was only really for their alligiance not much else.

I found it hard to keep going with this book. Once I put it down I really found it hard to pick it up again. If it hadn’t been a review book I would still be reading it.

The last 15% things really picked up and I enjoyed reading it. It didn’t go where I thought it was going to. It was a pretty bland ending, it could have been much more inventive and more exciting.

For a book that spanned over three years, not much happened, there was lots of interviews and discussions but not much action.

My biggest annoyance was Wizard chess, not only did the author steal the idea he didn’t even change the name. That’s just lazy! I was goign to give the book 3 stars before that crime. Doing something similar is a great idea, even if it’s only slightly altered. But the only difference here were the characters playing the game.

I did enjoy parts but after writing this review I realised how much annoyed me or left me bored.

2 out of 5 stars

Review: Diary of a Witch

Do all witches like to scare children, eat toad eyes and ride their brooms when the moon is full? Certainly not all! Peek under the pages of this personal diary and discover the secret thoughts of a witch who dreams of a little change in her life: to dare to wear pink, buy a swimsuit and go on vacation, and maybe just once be part of a fairy tale that ends well!

“Dear Diary,
I’m writing to tell you I’m weary.
I’ve been a wicked witch for too many years,
and it’s making me teary.”

Sprinkled with references to classic fairy tales, the Dear Diary series offers privileged access to the secret aspirations of mythical and often not-so-nice characters. Short rhythmic texts reveal the private and very funny musings of an ogre, a monster, a witch and a fairy.

I recieved a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was sweet. The pictures were funny and well detailed. I can imagine kids loving it. The rhyming was good. It made me, a full grown adult smile, which is always good especially with such a simple book. I will most likely buy this book for me friends kid at christmas.

4 out of 5 stars

Review: One White Rose- DNF

A beast that can’t change. A girl fighting to stay human.

CAMILLE DREES is determined to find her biological mother’s killer and put her genetic past behind her. Not easy to do under the radar when you’re the new girl in school and the only albino. After falling victim to a prank, she is forced to be friends with the same girls who tricked her, while at the same time finds herself placed under the wing of a mysterious and elite organization.

Frenemies are one thing, but bizarre visions and the attention of a hot stranger another. When she realizes her new friends and murdered mother were all involved with the same organization now grooming them for some future destiny, she can’t lose the opportunity to gain information.

With the help of another classmate who shares her quest for the truth, they discover a world where angels and mermaids aren’t myths and evil exists. Now another life beckons to her, so it’s a race to find the killer before she’s the next victim or worse—becomes a monster herself.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, I love the cover and I have been looking forward to reading this book.

But, I was sorely disappointed. Note, I stopped reading at 25%. I decided to give up and not force myself to read a book I was really not enjoying and focusing on books I will enjoy.

So I know I was only a quarter the way in, but I got nothing resembling a beauty and the beast retelling. It was a about a girl who went to a new school under confusing circumstances, I got a little lost in her family tree and her guardians. I know why she chose that school to go to but she hadn’t told her aunt, so why would her aunt up root her life and move there? It just didn’t make sense, as didn’t a lot of the book.

The books starts with a prank getting played on Camille (the main MC), it was not well done. Her thoughts throughout and her actions made no sense. The Principal’s reaction was just odd.

The meeting with the counciler almost made me stop reading there and then. It was just so unrealistic! I was thinking this book was going to take a dark turn and he was going to be a paedophile.

Then the makeover really annoyed me, if this book is targeted at young girls, it’s telling them that being themselves is not enough, you have to try and fit in and wear make up. The the girls, kind of melded into one. I really felt none of them had any personality.

I never found out much about the secret society but the rules were just ricdiculous, and this was the last straw for me. I will not actively seek more by this author.

I am giving it two stars rather than one just the writing was good, but it was let down by the story.

2 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: The Girl the Sea Gave Back

The new gut-wrenching epic from the New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep.

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse.

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

First off, the cover is absolutely gorgeous. I have not read the other book by this author in this setting. But I loved the setting, and the characters were very full of character especially Tova. I loved the idea of the stones telling the future. I was a little unsure about the spinners, maybe they were explained more in the first book, but since this is a stand alone ( I didn’t know there was a book in the same setting until half way through).

I found placing ages of the characters was hard, I know it doesn’t seem a big thing but for me it helps with relationships between characters.

I found the pace of the book a little slow. At times I couldn’t put it down, at others I almost didn’t pick it back up. The action scenes were described very well, I found them really interesting.

I did really enjoy the end, would have liked a little more closure as to what happened after but I felt satisfied. I would read more books by this author.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Maiden (Lightwalker Series #1)

Marta and Jayme are old friends with different beliefs. Marta dreams of becoming a healer. Jayme has been schooled by the black-coats, a group of priests who claim women are inferior, and he fears Marta is jeopardizing her eternal future.

Despite a heated debate over Marta’s soul, Jayme betrays her to the priests. The consequences of his betrayal change Marta’s life forever.

After a brutal massacre, Marta awakens deep in the forest overcome with grief for her lost sisters, but the world will not let her rest. The tragedy has changed her. She hears the call of nature, eventually steering her toward a small cottage in the wilderness. There she learns of nature’s magic and what it means to be a Lightwalker. The path is there for her to follow. If she’s strong enough to embrace it…

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For the first few chapters I had to push myself to keep reading. I found the religion a little much to begin with, not knowing where it was going it felt a little heavy handed before getting to know the characters well. But I did push on, and once I got to know the characters and started to care for them it made more sense and I found the religious parts quite interesting even if in my opinion they dragged on a little. I think there could have been a little more to some chapters they felt like very long lessons and not just for the characters.

There was a little too much repition for me, some lessons were shown both to Marta and Jayme, with no alteration so the reader was reading the exact same thing they had read a few pages ago.

Overall I did find this book interesting and really did enjoy it. I am not sure I will be reading the second one though, there was no hook at the end to get me wanting to delve into the next one. BUt I will see when it comes out.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: The Expedition

THEY SURVIVED THE INITIATION. NOW THE REAL TEST BEGINS.

Drayden and his friends thought nothing could be harder than the Initiation. Little did they know it had only been a warmup for the challenge that lay ahead.

With New America’s situation dire, Drayden and the pledges venture out into the unexplored world outside the walls, escorted by a team of elite Guardians. The group seeks to contact another civilization in what remains of Boston, but Drayden has secret goals of his own.

Dangers abound in the real world, including Aeru, the deadly superbug that wiped out humanity. While they battle the elements of a desolate landscape, a power struggle emerges within their ranks. The Guardians seem to be carrying out a covert mission themselves, and the quest turns everything they thought they knew about New America upside down.

 

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Okay so there was a little issue when I requested this book. Neither Netgalley or goodreads mentioned this was in a series, I double checked because the description looked a little unusual for a stand alone. I emailed this observation to the author and he was very nice and mentioned that he knew about the problem and was doing his best to get it fixed, which it now has been :).

On to the review, since I did not read the first one I am avoiding certain areas since it would be unfair. So the characters were good and I felt like the relationships were strong. I wasn’t the biggest fan of Drayden though, he was rash and put his feelings above the fate of his city. He also seemed to have an attitude, like he should be in charge, he’s menat to be 16 but was acting more like a cross between an adult and a spoilt brat.

The writing was very good, I liked the style very much, there were not any mistakes, it was well edited. The story was easy to follow and interesting, kept me guessing as to what was going to come next. I do feel it was a little repetative though. If you have read the first one in the series then I highly recommend this one.

3 out of 5 stars

ARC Review: Bring me their hearts

Zera is a Heartless – the immortal, unageing soldier of a witch. Bound to the witch Nightsinger ever since she saved her from the bandits who murdered her family, Zera longs for freedom from the woods they hide in. With her heart in a jar under Nightsinger’s control, she serves the witch unquestioningly.

Until Nightsinger asks Zera for a Prince’s heart in exchange for her own, with one addendum; if she’s discovered infiltrating the court, Nightsinger will destroy her heart rather than see her tortured by the witch-hating nobles.

Crown Prince Lucien d’Malvane hates the royal court as much as it loves him – every tutor too afraid to correct him and every girl jockeying for a place at his darkly handsome side. No one can challenge him – until the arrival of Lady Zera. She’s inelegant, smart-mouthed, carefree, and out for his blood. The Prince’s honor has him quickly aiming for her throat.

So begins a game of cat and mouse between a girl with nothing to lose and a boy who has it all.

Winner takes the loser’s heart.

Literally.

Review

I recieved a free copy of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of this book was awesome, it took a really interesting premise popular in fairytale retellings, although this is not a retelling. It take the idea of someone losing their heart and it being put in a jar and still being alive. It was very cleverly done and it kept unfolding mysteries and facts that kept me interested the whole way through.

Zera was a great main character. She was fun, sassy, and loyal, yet staying true to herself. The Prince was fun, I liked discovering the many sides of him, I loved his interactions with Zera, how he said one thing but obviously means another. The bodyguard was probably my favourite character, he is so funny and clearly very loyal to the Prince.

The setting was really clever and the history mentioned throughout was really interesting. All the characters were great although sometimes it was hard to work out their motivations.

The ending felt a little rushed, this was only an issue because the rest of the book was perfectly paced. Also the end, wow, I did not see that coming at all. I cannot wait for the next book.

4 out of 5 stars

ARC: Pretty Dead Girls

Beautiful. Perfect. Dead.

In the peaceful seaside town of Cape Bonita, wicked secrets and lies are hidden just beneath the surface. But all it takes is one tragedy for them to be exposed.

The most popular girls in school are turning up dead, and Penelope Malone is terrified she’s next. All the victims so far have been linked to Penelope—and to a boy from her physics class. The one she’s never really noticed before, with the rumored dark past and a brooding stare that cuts right through her.

There’s something he isn’t telling her. But there’s something she’s not telling him, either.

Everyone has secrets, and theirs might get them killed.

Review

I read this book quite quickly since I wanted to know who the killer was, but I struggled after about halfway. The first half was well written and exciting, the second half was boring, repetitive.

Penelope, seemed like a good character at first, but her loyalties changed far too often, yes I know a killer was on the loose and she thought she might be next, but she changed her mind so much it gave me whiplash, this sort of thing does not give a good story. She trusted her friends then didn’t then they said one thing and she did again.

The other characters were good, but some of the stuff they did was unbelievable, the characters were obviously only doing it to make them suspects, which is annoying, throwing in some red herrings is necessary but this was too much.

Now without giving too much away, we are going to deal with the issue of the killer. Until the end there wasn’t really much indication it was them or any motive, it was a little out of the blue, yes it’s good when the reader cannot guess but you want them to have fun guessing and I really didn’t.

Even after everything I said I think it was an okay book, with lots of potential.

3 out of 5 stars