Page 264 of 421

BOOK REVIEW: Eversea (Eversea #1) by Natasha Boyd

April 13, 2016 / Chelsea / 4 Comments

Eversea (Eversea #1)
by Natasha Boyd
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
An orphaned, small-town, southern girl, held hostage by responsibility and self-doubt.

A Hollywood A-list mega-star, on the run from his latest scandal and with everything to lose.

A chance encounter that leads to an unlikely arrangement and epic love affair that will change them both forever.

When his co-star and real-life girlfriend is caught cheating on him with her new director, A-list hottie, Jack Eversea, finds himself in sleepy Butler Cove, South Carolina. Jack hopes the sultry southern heat in this tiny coastal Lowcountry town will hide him not only from the tabloids and his cheating girlfriend, but his increasingly vapid life and the people who run it. He doesn’t count on meeting Keri Ann Butler.

Keri Ann has relied on herself so long, dealing with her family’s death and the responsibilities of keeping up her family's historic mansion, that boys and certainly the meager offering of eligible boys in Butler Cove, have never figured into her equation. But fate has other plans. Suddenly face to face with the man who played the movie role of her favorite fictional character, Jack has Keri Ann yearning for everything she has previously avoided ... and Jack must decide whether this funny, sassy girl is worth changing his life for, before his mistakes catch up to him.

Okay-I lied. I have a major issue in the way of migraines right now and I think I am going to skip writing a full-fledged review on this one. I regret that I can’t give this the review that it deserves, but in a way I’m relieved. Relieved I don’t have to badmouth a book *MOST* of my friends loved and relieved I decided not to give up any of my minuscule reading time because of constant headaches. But, I have added the quotes I would have otherwise used with a full review and have also added bullets of what did and didn’t work for me (so, ya know, I saved you twenty minutes of reading my review while I blabber about said things that did or didn’t work). Two birds, one stone and all that.

“It’s amazing,” said Jack, shaking his head and looking at me.
“What’s amazing?”
“It’s amazing,” he repeated, “that you seem to have no idea how fucking beautiful you are.”

Well…this was both good and bad in equal measure. I’d love to say the good outweighed the bad but, sadly, my curse still stands. As it turns out, I really am not a ‘Hollywood Romance’ book genre lover. I just…I love angst, right? So why can’t I get behind ANY of these ‘I’m famous but don’t wana be’ books? The truth is simple, when I get right down to it: This type of angst makes me feel, well, angsty-but not in the good way. These always make me depressed and sullen and moody and they always have that same cop out-I love you soooo much but I have to participate in this fake relationship for Hollywood.

His hand left mine, and he pressed it palm down in the center of my chest. “If I’d known you were in my future, I would have chosen differently.”

What the fuck ? I HATE this, and it just…it’s never handled well. I will admit, however, that this is the least disgusting scenario I’ve read about yet. And Jack is pretty unforgettable, as far as male leads go. What with his swoony declarations of adoration and wanting to be with our main character despite the horrid situation surrounding them. And I’ll get to all this when I write a real review, but I just couldn’t wait to say these things. I guess that also leaves one thing: The writing. I just did not like the writing and, frankly, I didn’t get how they were into each other so quickly…or rather, how he fell so hard for her.

Me: Sorry, should have warned you she’d probably come by. She and Nana were close. Who did you say you were?
Late Night Visitor: That I was a friend doing you
My eyes widened.
Late Night Visitor: A favor! A friend doing you a favor! Sorry. Damn phone. Banging head on wall…

I can see how it happened, I just don’t believe it. The beginnings, that is. Anyway. Okay. I’m done, but I’ll be back. I really really really did love Jack…he was just absolutely breathtaking. I just wish some of the horribly handled convos didn’t happen…those can’t be erased from my mind. Ugh.

The GOOD:
–Great quotes, LOADS of feels-Jack’s freaking mouth…it only produces magic that turns me into a heaping pile of goo. Why couldn’t he have been the only character in this story, hmm???
–LOVED the club scene-always a favorite. Like…GAH!! Top three absolute favorites scenes ( Me lubbs the jelly green monsters)
–My favorite scene, for some inexplicable reason, is the scene where they accidentally meet up while running. Dunno why. Lots of cute feels from beginning to end of that part
–WIll read book two someday, but will do so when in mood to be masochistic, since this shit gives me the bad kind of book ulcers

The BAD:
–It goes back and forth CONSTANTLY. Will he or won’t he? Back. And forth. Back. Forth. Back…..and forth again.
–Cheesy conversations that had me rolling my eyes (not to be confused with the moments I liked with childhood memories and his ‘I am so in like with you’ moments-THOSE I LOVED) I mean when he can’t be with her. But maybe can. How it will be handled. How it won’t be handled. The conclusions. *Rolls eyes*
–SAME OLD ‘END ALL THE HAPPY’ PROBLEM: THE EX DUN DUN DUNNNNNN. Will will this stop being in the Hollywood trope. Create angst, fine, but leave the fucking ex out of it like GAG
–Not necessarily bad writing, but amateur…ish. Didn’t flow well and didn’t draw me in like I’ve become accustomed to.

So I really did love some parts, really, I can’t lie about such things. But Jack can’t be everything. There needs to be a reason for the angst and a reason for these bad things to happen, and this all was just so fabricated-and drawn out, for that matter, so she could get a second book in-to make things difficult for them. I don’t like that and I never will. Create real problems, BELIEVABLE problems. I know books are books but…I didn’t believe this fiction that is, indeed, meant to be fiction. Whoops. I lied again…I still blabbered lmao. hehe. I lie.

~~RTC~~

View all my reviews

BOOK REVIEW – Emerge (Mer Chronicles #1) by Tobie Easton

April 11, 2016 / Jen / 8 Comments

Emerge (Mer Chronicles #1)
by Tobie Easton
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid but she's never lived in the ocean. War has ravaged the seven seas ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality. Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu's seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he's gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there's a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia's entire community at risk. So it's for the best that he's dating that new girl, right? That is, until Lia finds out she isn't the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn't realize the danger he's in. If Lia hopes to save him, she'll have to get closer to Clay. Lia's parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to deny her feelings. After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl.

Review:

Have you ever stepped into a series and was left wondering if you missed something? Maybe you somehow skipped a few chapters beforehand? Because that’s exactly how I felt when I started Emerge. By the time I got my footing, it was a little too late. Which was such a disappointment, because I was so excited for this book! A curse on the mermaids because of what The Little Mermaid did, and we get to hear the story from one of her descendants? YES please! But as I read through the pages of Emerge, that yes sadly turned into a no.

Confusion & No Connection

Am I really off the fishhook?

The first chapter was unfortunately where the confusion started for me. Here is the situation that made me say what,what, what……

Aurelia, who was the descendant of The Little Mermaid, was at a high school with humans and their PE coach was trying to make her swim. A little fyi….if she got in that pool she would have transformed into a mermaid. Luckily a human boy, named Clay, got her out of that situation. In that first chapter we then got to watch Aurelia and Clay have an awkward conversation, Clay date a new girl in school, and then Aurelia see the new couple kiss in a store where she was shopping. Upon seeing them kissing, she wanted to leave the store because she could not handle watching them kiss.

I was SO lost towards Aurelia’s strong feelings towards Clay and his new girlfriend kissing. Was this someone she had crushed on forever? Did they have a history? I had that small amount of interaction, no backstory, and I was confused. How was I supposed to be compassionate, let alone feel her emotions, if I couldn’t understand the why behind it. I finally got the why and backstory at 16%. Which left me a little confused until that point.

Timeline?

My father claps his hands once, breaking the somber mood. “I thought the party last night went just swimmingly. Pun intended!”

I am 99.9% positive that I have never complained about a books timeline before in a review. It’s usually an aspect of the book that never affects me. But I guess that is why they say never say never, because Emerge’s timeline drove me a little crazy. It vacillated from slow to fast, such as their party went by in the blink of an eye, yet a conversation that took place in minutes would go on for pages. I never could get a good grasp on whether something was going to take place in a matter of minutes, days or weeks.

Easy Peasy Plot Twists

I was probably gaping at him like a codfish.

I love when I have to work hard to figure out plot twists before the characters do. But this time, they were so easy to figure out. Maybe that was the point? But if it was, I wish that I would have at least gotten farther than a quarter of the way into the book before saying aha again and again. Because then I kept finding myself frustrated with Aurelia as she she completely oblivious to clue after clue.

An Infuriating Heroine

I shouldn’t do what I’m about to do. It’s wrong. It’s so wrong. But what other choice do I have?

You know what? All those issues above can’t even hold a candle to my frustration to the heroine. Aurelia’s decision making abilities was beyond horrid. She made that statement above at not even the halfway point, and just so you know I loathe when people say that. A lot of times, there are PLENTY of other options available. And this was definitely one of those times. She could have asked for help, confided in her best male friend, Caspian, or her older sister. Yet she took the worst possible of way out again and again and again.

And I never fully grasped her interest towards Clay, because there was Caspian. Caspian was her friend and a male mer. And when the two of them were together, I could see the sparks flying. But with Clay, I felt absolutely nothing.

I did contemplate not finishing Emerge a few times. But I’m one of those people who always holds out hope. Hope that something, anything will pull me back in. Unfortunately, nothing ever did. But I do have to say that the premise was fascinating. I just wish it would have been executed differently. And Emerge did end nicely with lots of options for the next book, but sadly I have no desire to continue this series. But here’s hoping that if you pick up this book, that you are able to find enjoyment where I could not.

*ARC kindly provided by Month9Books in exchange for an honest review*

FRIDAY STARS – Your Weekly Must Knows 04/08/16

April 8, 2016 / Jen / 2 Comments

Since it’s almost the weekend, lets look back over what has happened around here in the last week, what’s coming up that we are excited about and anything else that we may have to share!
♥ Enjoy!

Life:

Happy Friday! I’m so happy to have made it almost to the weekend! *soooo close!!!!* So where was I last Friday? Lemme tell ya….I was traveling to California to visit family and friends. I had put together the majority of the post that Monday, and I knew that I would have a few minutes that Thursday night to finalize the details. Yeah, that so did not happen lol. Come Thursday morning, one of my family members in Cali got so sick that we had to spend the day at doctor appointments, then the ER, and then they finally got admitted into the hospital at 2am. Longest day ever! And after a few days, life slowly got back to normal, we traveled back home and then all four of us got sick. I have had some crazy, no sleep Spring Breaks in my teens and early 20s but not that kinda crazy no sleep Spring Breaks. I think there must be an award somewhere for most epic failure attempt at a Spring Break. It has to exist! This was definitely a first for me, but have you had a vacation go completely wrong too? If so, sending hugs your way.

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Giveaways:

7346a0c6-be08-4ba5-974d-b5c341618e72 One winner will receive a hardcover of THE GLITTERING COURT & a $25 Sephora Gift Card. US Only. To enter, click → here.

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Just Finished and Loved:

The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima
5 Stars! LOOK OUT, FANTASY WRITERS! SEE THIS BOOK? *pushes The Crimson Crown in your hands* SEE THIS? LOOK AT IT! JUST LOOK AT IT! This is how you end a series : BLOODY. FABULOUS.
Anna’s Review & Chelsea’s Review
In the first book, The Demon King – Times are hard in the mountain city of Fellsmarch. Reformed thief Han Alister will do almost anything to eke out a living for himself, his mother, and his sister Mari. Ironically, the only thing of value he has is something he can’t sell. For as long as Han can remember, he’s worn thick silver cuffs engraved with runes. They’re clearly magicked—as he grows, they grow, and he’s never been able to get them off.

✩✮✩✮✩

Oblivion (Nevermore #3) by Kelly Creagh
5 Stars! Epic. Beautiful. Heart-wrenching. Perfection. This series is just so addicting…I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.
Chelsea’s Review
In the first book, Nevermore, page-turning psychological mystery that is equal parts horror, humor, and romance, Nevermore is the story of Varen—a Poe fan and Goth—and Isobel—a cheerleader and unlikely heroine. When an English Lit. project pairs the two, Isobel finds herself swept into Varen’s world, one that he has created in his notebook and in his mind, one where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel slowly learns that dreams and words can be much more powerful than she’d ever imagined. As labels of “Goth” and “cheerleader” fade away, Isobel and Varen slip into a consuming romance, braced against the ever-clearer horror that the most chilling realities are those within our own minds. When Isobel has a single chance to rescue Varen from the shadows of his nightmares, will she be able to save him—and herself?

✩✮✩✮✩

The Dream Thieves (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater & Blue Lily, Blue Lily #3
5 Stars! If this reread taught me something, it’s that above the mysteries – no matter how intriguing they are – Maggie Stiefvater‘s novels are always so very character-driven.
#2 – Anna’s Review & #3 – Anna’s Review
In the first book, The Raven Boys, Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue never sees them–until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks to her. His name is Gansey, a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble. But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul whose emotions range from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher who notices many things but says very little. For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She doesn’t believe in true love, and never thought this would be a problem. But as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

✩✮✩✮✩

4.5 Stars:

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater → Anna’s Review

Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3) by Wendy Higgins → Jen’s Review

4 Stars:
Enshadowed (Nevermore #2) by Kelly Creagh → Chelsea’s Review

The Demon King (Seven Realms #1) by Cinda Williams Chima → Chelsea’s Review

The Gray Wolf Throne (Seven Realms #3) by Cinda Williams Chima → Chelsea’s Review

3 Stars:
The Exiled Queen (Seven Realms #2) by Cinda Williams Chima → Chelsea’s Review

The Winner’s Kiss (The Winner’s Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski → Chelsea’s Review

1.5 Stars:
The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1) by Rae Carson → Anna’s Review

We also had a Top Ten Tuesday post about 10 Of Our Most Recent 5 Star Reads. If you missed it, check it out here.

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Reading Next:

Emerge (Mer Chronicles #1) by Tobie Easton
Lia Nautilus may be a Mermaid but she’s never lived in the ocean. War has ravaged the seven seas ever since the infamous Little Mermaid unleashed a curse that stripped Mer of their immortality. Lia has grown up in a secret community of land-dwelling Mer hidden among Malibu’s seaside mansions. Her biggest problems are surviving P.E. and keeping her feelings for Clay Ericson in check. Sure, he’s gorgeous in that cocky, leather jacket sort of way and makes her feel like there’s a school of fish swimming in her stomach, but getting involved with a human could put Lia’s entire community at risk. So it’s for the best that he’s dating that new girl, right? That is, until Lia finds out she isn’t the only one at school keeping a potentially deadly secret. And this new girl? Her eyes are dead set on Clay, who doesn’t realize the danger he’s in. If Lia hopes to save him, she’ll have to get closer to Clay. Lia’s parents would totally flip if they found out she was falling for a human boy, but the more time she spends with him, the harder it is for her to deny her feelings. After making a horrible mistake, Lia will risk everything to stop Clay from falling in love with the wrong girl.

✩✮✩✮✩

Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) by Leigh Bardugo
Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price–and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can’t pull it off alone… A convict with a thirst for revenge. A sharpshooter who can’t walk away from a wager. A runaway with a privileged past. A spy known as the Wraith. A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums. A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes. Six dangerous outcasts. One impossible heist. Kaz’s crew is the only thing that might stand between the world and destruction—if they don’t kill each other first.

✩✮✩✮✩

Every Heart a Doorway (Every Heart A Doorway #1) by Seanan McGuire
Eleanor West’s Home for Wayward Children
No Solicitations
No Visitors
No Quests
Children have always disappeared under the right conditions; slipping through the shadows under a bed or at the back of a wardrobe, tumbling down rabbit holes and into old wells, and emerging somewhere… else. But magical lands have little need for used-up miracle children. Nancy tumbled once, but now she’s back. The things she’s experienced… they change a person. The children under Miss West’s care understand all too well. And each of them is seeking a way back to their own fantasy world. But Nancy’s arrival marks a change at the Home. There’s a darkness just around each corner, and when tragedy strikes, it’s up to Nancy and her new-found schoolmates to get to the heart of things. No matter the cost.

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Past Release (since I missed last week):

When We Collided by Emery Lord (4/05)
Seventeen year-old Jonah Daniels has lived in Verona Cove, California, his whole life, and only one thing has ever changed: his father used to be alive, and now he is not. With a mother lost in a deep bout of depression, Jonah and his five siblings struggle to keep up their home and the restaurant their dad left behind. But at the start of summer, a second change rolls in: Vivi Alexander, the new girl in town. Vivi is in love with life. Charming and unfiltered, she refuses to be held down by the medicine she’s told should make her feel better. After meeting Jonah, she slides into the Daniels’ household seamlessly, winning over each sibling with her imagination and gameness. But it’s not long before Vivi’s zest for life begins to falter. Soon her adventurousness becomes all-out danger-seeking. Through each high and low, Vivi and Jonah’s love is put to the test . . . but what happens when love simply isn’t enough?

Check out our list of upcoming releases that we can’t wait for → Click Here

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Sales:

$0.99

New Sale Chelsea’s Review	New Sale	5 Stars! Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review
4 Stars! Laura’s Review

$1.99

New Sale	5 Stars! Jen’s Review	4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review
4 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Anna’s Review	5 Stars! Anna’s Review Jen’s Review Chelsea’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

$2.99

4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

$3.49+

New Sale 4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review
4.5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	Chelsea’s Review	Chelsea’s Review
5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review	Anna’s Review	5 Stars! Chelsea’s Review

✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮✩✮

Freebies:

4 Stars!
Anna’s Review

BOOK REVIEW: The Winner’s Kiss (The Winner’s Trilogy #3) by Marie Rutkoski

April 7, 2016 / Chelsea / 5 Comments

The Winner's Kiss (The Winner's Trilogy #3)
by Marie Rutkoski
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him.

At least, that’s what he thinks.

In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her.

But no one gets what they want just by wishing.

As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught in between. With so much to lose, can anybody really win?

Unpopular opinion time. I just don’t care.

So, this probably comes as a shock to a lot of people. Me, Chelsea, rating a book within one of her FAVORITE series of all time anything below a four. Well, that, and everyone and their cousin thinks this is the best book in the trilogy.

While this story had it all, everything that I could EVER want and everything that I DO want: Action, peril, war, angsty romance. I mean, in a nutshell? This book was perfect….

But it wasn’t perfect for me.

Call me whiney. Call me selfish. Call me flakey, inconsistent, or the black sheep. But what everyone hated about the first two-Kestrel and Arin’s forbidden romance slowly blossoming around war and deceit and destruction and betrayal-I shipped. That’s why I even fell in love with this series, Goddamn it! The romance! DUH!

“Yes,” Arin said, “but even so, the risk for you is still different-“
“Stop saying that.”
“It is.” His face was unhappy. “There is a difference between you and me. If I die, you’ll survive. If you die, it will destroy me.”

And my thing is this: If a series is about war, and romance is in the background at all times, then it’s like this glorious…THING when it comes to fruition. It’s a bonus, it’s a plus, it’s like everything is right in the world. Peril is the forefront and the love comes after (Seven Realms, Chaos Walking Trilogy, etc. etc.)-this is something I understand and ADORE. But when book one and two had a somewhat consistent theme (one being the best, to me)-Kestrel and Arin falling in love-then book three is about 80% war…I can’t help but say it didn’t fit, for me, and I was disappointed-and bored. I hate having to say all this and my heart is broken.

*shrugs* But it is what it is.

“It’s not enough,” he said. It took her a moment to realize he was continuing his refusal and not responding to her thoughts, which were so loud in her head that she felt as if she’d shouted them.
She said, “What would be enough?”
Color mounted in his face.
“You can tell me,” she said.
“Ah,” he said. “Well. Me.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I want…you to want me.”

This was beautiful-I had TONS of feels. It took a direction I didn’t expect and I respect it…even loved it. But the war surrounding it took what I loved away from me and I guess it’s just not what I wanted. I won’t apologize for being a hopeless romantic who thrives for more. I am sad this one isn’t a favorite, but I’m really not surprised-book three in a trilogy is almost ALWAYS my least favorite, I just hoped that wouldn’t be the case for this. BUT-this series will always hold a piece of my soul and I will continually go back and re-read about my book boyfriend, Arin.

Favorites in order:

The Winner’s Curse
The Winner’s Crime
The Winner’s Kiss

Oh, and also, why do so many fucking horses have to die??? I mean…come on. Ugh.

View all my reviews

BOOK REVIEW: The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4) by Cinda Williams Chima

April 6, 2016 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

The Crimson Crown (Seven Realms #4)
by Cinda Williams Chima
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A thousand years ago, two young lovers were betrayed-Alger Waterlow to his death, and Hanalea, Queen of the Fells, to a life without love.

Now, once again, the Queendom of the Fells seems likely to shatter apart. For young queen Raisa ana'Marianna, maintaining peace even within her own castle walls is nearly impossible; tension between wizards and Clan has reached a fevered pitch. With surrounding kingdoms seeking to prey on the Fells' inner turmoil, Raisa's best hope is to unite her people against a common enemy. But that enemy might be the person with whom she's falling in love.

Through a complicated web of lies and unholy alliances, former streetlord Han Alister has become a member of the Wizard Council of the Fells. Navigating the cut-throat world of blue blood politics has never been more dangerous, and Han seems to inspire hostility among Clan and wizards alike. His only ally is the queen, and despite the perils involved, Han finds it impossible to ignore his feelings for Raisa. Before long, Han finds himself in possession of a secret believed to be lost to history, a discovery powerful enough to unite the people of the Fells. But will the secret die with him before he can use it?

A simple, devastating truth concealed by a thousand-year-old lie at last comes to light in this stunning conclusion to the Seven Realms series.

“He’s the one steps away, right?” she said. “He knows this is dangerous turf-for both of you. He won’t make his move until he knows he can win it all.”
“But what if that never happens?” Raisa said.
“He won’t settle,” Cat said. “He’ll wait forever if need be.”

Man..I was so excited about writing this review. I was so excited to show how much I loved, adored, cherished this series. But now, sitting here, finally able to type out my feelings I think….How could I possibly put into words just how much this series meant to me? We read a book or a series and we obsess about it ceaselessly, yet when it comes time to actually put it into words? It’s virtually impossible to capture that essence of what makes us so happy, excited, unflinchingly devoted to these characters. And yet…I can’t very well not try, right?

That’s what you do when you love someone-you notice and notice and notice.

I mean, what’s the point, really, when so many other wonderful reviewers have done it a million times better than me and a thousand times before. What makes mine so special? Me? My review-why stop here and read this? For instance: Anna? Her review is just so perfect, and it shows just how much she adores this series, but makes it fun and exciting with her cute little visuals and adorable accent that is translated through the thoughts on her review. It’s simple, yet portrays every gamut of emotion she felt throughout the series with out being a screeching fangirl (which she is, if I do say so myself) and spoiling everything. I don’t know anyone who is more obsessed with these characters (I’d like to think my obsession is only a peg below hers, but I can’t be sure-she has got it bad) or who took better care in representing them and presenting them in a way that people become curious, despite their level of enjoyment for fantasy. If you’re reading this review, you’re likely one of my best friends who always reads them (I know who you are and I ADORE YOU). Or, you might be someone who thinks my ramblings are worth reading every once in a while. And hey, if that’s you? I admire your tenacity, I can be a bit much to take.

…He paused for a heartbeat, then added, “Though avoiding Nightwalker seems like a good idea to me.”
“It’s a match my father favors,” Raisa said.
“Then your father is wrong,” Han said. “Nightwalker thinks the world sprouted from his bunghole.”
Raisa dismissed this image with some difficulty.

But that’s my point-This series isn’t simply about the adventures or the romance or the peril and action that shape how the throne is ruled and the towns destroyed-It’s so much more than that. It’s the soft looks between life long friends as things become complicated. It’s the touch of a street thug who might just be what you’ve been looking for your entire life without even knowing it. It’s the desperation shared with the person you thought you’d grow old with as that dream crumbles to ashes beneath your feet. It’s a character driven series. And if you don’t like, love, adore, obsess, care, or cherish these people that have been through literally every devastating thing possible…you have nothing.

“Haven’t you heard about me?” he [Han] said, with a tight smile. “I’m really a very dangerous person.” And he did look dangerous until he said, “Look, could you watch Dog for me while I’m gone?”

And if only I can show my love of the characters, and everyone can see how much I adore them, then I guess I’ll call my review a success. I’ll admit that-I don’t always just love books that aren’t all packed to the brim with romance and peril and desperate attempts at love while things begin to disintegrate before two young lovers’ eyes. I am becoming a person who adores character driven stories where we get to know a person inside and out in just day-to-day life….but I’m not always on board, especially with fantasy. So believe me when I say this is a breath of fresh air. Literally. I mean it.

Would she be required to sacrifice everything-every single person she cared about for this bloody throne?
Apparently so.

So much love, loss, betrayal, and heartache are bestowed upon on our young characters, and seeing them go through each and every devastating event makes the vice-like grip on your heart tighter and tighter, squeezing until you can’t hardly breathe anymore, causing you to fall deeper and harder in love with characters you were already falling head over heels for after only a few chapters in book one. Raisa, the proud Princess who can’t wait to help her kingdom grow and become a better place, yet doesn’t want to be forced to marry. Amon, her best friend and soldier, the guy who would do anything to protect Raisa and the throne-even forfeit his own life. And so many more just like this…but none quite like Han.

He reached over and closed his hands over hers, the first time he’d dare touch her. He looked into her eyes. “This may sound arrogant, and I’m sorry if it does, but you’re so alone, Raisa, and so am I. Didn’t you ever wish you could have a…a partner? A friend? Somebody you could say anything to-where you didn’t have to pick and choose words like a merchant at a market? Someone who wants you for yourself?”

Han, who is many things without being conceited. Han, who would do ANYTHING to protect those he loved…even as that count becomes smaller and smaller, Raisa being his number one priority. Han, who makes your stomach drop and your heart beat way too fast with a simple smile, haunted eyes, a quick joke, his loyalty, his misguided love for Raisa becoming the real and true thing…Even if it wasn’t what he ever wanted or planned for. But that’s the thing about Han, you know?? He never wanted these things coming his way, yet he excels, he thrives, he becomes the best he can be-For he won’t settle for less…He wants everything . And that includes the girl who stole his heart right from underneath his feet. He’s used to being the thief…but as it turns out, she invaded his heart from the beginning, stealing his heart before he knew what happened to him.

He closed his eyes, breathed in, opened his eyes again as if to assure himself she was still there. “I want to breathe you in for the rest of my life.”

So, as you see, this isn’t the best review, but I loved these characters. They mean so much to me-every one of them. I can’t wait to someday get these gorgeous hardbacks for my shelf, and I can’t wait to re-read them again with my Han loving (creepily obsessed?) buddy who loves our random (and frequent) gush sessions about all things Seven Realms (okay, mostly Han, shut up). But, for now, I have to live with being tired 24/7 and having to finish this series much quicker than I wanted to and in less than desirable circumstances. It sucks, but that’s what re-reads are for. I didn’t get to enjoy the last three books as much as I’d have wanted to, real life and all that jazz, but it didn’t stunt my enjoyment, and that’s really saying something. So, for those of you still reading (doubtful), I hope that my love for these characters is enough to excite you and nudge you into giving Han’s journey a try. If not, oh well, more Han for me.

*Re-written seeing as my laptop shut off randomly for no reason whatsoever, just…UGH I’m too tired to care about making it all perfect again, so it isn’t nearly as good. So sad.*

**************************

Would she be required to sacrifice everything-every single person she cared about for this bloody throne?
Apparently so.

Oh. My. Gahd. This series was beautiful, fantastic, other-worldy in it’s ability to pull you in and wish you never had to let go. These characters (HAN!) have embedded themselves into my heart forever, and I will not likely forget them soon. Raisa and Han and Amon and Dancer and Cat…I can’t even. And Han’s loyalty (and Raisa’s, for that matter) made my heart stutter with undiluted joy and cheer even when all hope was lost.

What started out as a curiosity on my part has became something that I:

A) MUST have on my bookshelf (Aaahhh Christmas will be a salty one indeed)
B) Will have to re-read again, and SOON
C) Will never forget
D) Will forever consider a favorite

Thanks to Jen for the gentle nudge by buying the first book for me for Christmas this year, and a begrudging thanks to the Snake that all but pushed me off the cliff. You both ROCK ♥

RTC when I can! Because….HAN! 😛

View all my reviews

Page 264 of 421

BOOK REVIEW: Eversea (Eversea #1) by Natasha Boyd

Synopsis: