Tag: Young Adult (Page 124 of 159)

BOOK REVIEW: Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy #2) by Pierce Brown

December 8, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy #2) (Red Rising Trilogy #2)
by Pierce Brown
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
With shades of The Hunger Games, Ender’s Game, and Game of Thrones, debut author Pierce Brown’s genre-defying epic Red Rising hit the ground running and wasted no time becoming a sensation. Golden Son continues the stunning saga of Darrow, a rebel forged by tragedy, battling to lead his oppressed people to freedom from the overlords of a brutal elitist future built on lies. Now fully embedded among the Gold ruling class, Darrow continues his work to bring down Society from within. A life-or-death tale of vengeance with an unforgettable hero at its heart, Golden Son guarantees Pierce Brown’s continuing status as one of fiction’s most exciting new voices.

**ARC provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review**

They say a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. They made no mention of the heart.

Wow. This author. This author, guys. You know that feeling you get when you’ve been punched in the gut?? Yeah, well, me either-but, I’d like to think that this is what it feels like. It’s like the rug is being ripped out from underneath your feet, but instead of just falling down to your knees, underneath that rug was absolutely nothing, so you’re left flailing and grasping at air and are free-falling through space and time and nothing seems to matter. You feel weightless and your stomach dropped out the minute you were blind-sided, so you don’t know what to do or how to act and there’s zero you can do but embrace the clouds as your crazy descent lengthens and continues…all until the third book is released. In short? Pierce Brown….You are a genius.

Too late, you sons of bitches.
Too bloodydamn late.
I can’t think. I’m screaming inside. Laughing like the flames of a wildfire. Laughing because I know it is my madness that these logical warriors cannot fight.

What kind of wicked, wicked man ends a story like that? Seriously. It has been a long, long, long time since I have been shocked by an ending. More than that, it has been even longersince I was disturbed by an ending. What gets me most, though, is that I knew it was coming.

I bloodydamn knew Darrow and his crew were in for some wicked shit and then it’s just like…BAM. I simply thought I knew, but this??? This madness?? Cruel. Depraved. Heart-breaking. I had no idea the lengths to which this horrible…thing…would go, and I think that’s where this story really hit me upside the head. No matter how much Brown warns, no matter how much Brown foreshadows, no matter how many gruesome, grisly deaths he throws at us, I seem to always be at a loss for words in the end.

Were I still the man Eo knew, I would have stood frozen in horror. But that man is gone. I mourn his passing every day. Forgetting more and more of who I was, what dreams I held, what things I loved. The sadness now is numb. And I carry on despite the shadow it casts over me.

Brown is a master manipulator of story-telling-He twists and winds and twirls words on the page into an enigmatic puzzle that leaves you both breathless and disturbed…but it’s beautiful-if there ever was such a thing. It just…doesn’t seem like it should spring off the page like it does. It’s potent and raw and reeks of havoc and destruction-but it works. And, as sad as it is to say, I think this series is probably the most challenging series I’ve ever read. Let me explain: I don’t read (many) war books. I don’t read historicals (much) and I generally stick to YA. That’s not to say YA isn’t expertly written or without it’s more difficult works, but I like my light reading. The Golden Son is, believe it or not, YA. But much like Ness’s Chaos Walking trilogy, this series is advanced. It is barbaric in it’s ways and it holds nothing back. It’s nothing for a best friend to have their neck cracked right beside our main character even as war wages on. So, to say this is advanced, to me, is an understatement. And not only is it the actions of our characters that makes this series stand out, it’s the manner of speak. It’s the words, phrasing, it’s the way they live. I love it, but more than once I found myself squinting at the page or scratching my head trying to figure out just what was going on. Whoops.

“Mother bid me to tell you: a pauper can never be a prince. Every time you look in the mirror, remember what we did to you. Remember you breathe because we let you. Remember your heart will one day be on our table. Rise so high, in mud you lie.”

And Darrow. Oh, how I love this flawed, rash character. I know a lot of people don’t necessarily care for Darrow, but, for me, he has always been such a fun character to follow. In book one, he lost his wife in an act of rebellion and was thrust into the deceptive world of the Golds (he was a lowly Red). He schemed, he fought, he won. But victory doesn’t come without a price. He made enemies. He watched as friends were butchered right in front of his face. He had to eliminate people he didn’t want to kill. But to pursue and embrace his wife’s hope for a better world, he had to make some tough decisions. Now he has infiltrated into a high-ranking Gold’s home and is a part of their society. With the support of his Gold house, he is protected from those who wish him harm. But, there is a heavy price on his head…and those who would soon rather rip out his heart than bear having him rule in any world. What would his wife think of him now?

This is exactly why I build my reputation as a killer, to leverage in situations like these. If they knew my heart, they’d kill my friends one by one. This is a gamble.

Darrow made mistakes. Again. He made even more enemies and was betrayed time and again…but I loved his inner monologue. He is so kind beneath his quest for vengeance. He wants so strongly to be able to trust his friends. To save them. To shelter them. He wants a better world for his Reds, but he has found home with many Golds. I adore his inner struggle and the need to do right by everyone, even when he can’t. Even when his back is against the wall. He declares war, but when it comes down to it, Darrow truly seeks peace. And this is the heart of the novel, to me: His inner struggle to do what is expected of him while fighting for what is right. He has become a monster, he is lost, but Mustang grounds him and she makes him a better man…and I am obsessed with watching it all unfold.

Part of me wishes I would only remember Eo. That my mind belonged to her, so I could be like one of those knights of legend. A man so in love with one lost that he closes his heart to all others. But I am not that legend. In so many ways, I’m still a boy, lost and afraid, seeking warmth and love. When I feel dirt, I honor Eo. And when I see fire, I remember the warmth and flicker of the flames across Mustang’s skin as we lay in our chamber of ice and snow.

Lies and betrayal, death and destruction, war and politics….the violence in this novel was astounding. It was grisly and cringe-worthy (though, hiding in a horse carcass in book one probably made me cringe more than anything in this one did…I still cringed, but…yack.) and not for everyone. When I read book one, I liked to imagine that many of my friends might have been able to expand their horizons and get on board with RR. But with GS, I know this isn’t for all my friends. It’s a distinct type of story that makes you think and ponder and merely hope for something good to happen. And, most of all, the romance is scarce. I personally loved the amount of romance in GS. I loved seeing how much Darrow truly cares for Mustang and how he has matured enough to know that while he loved Eo, she wasn’t perfect and she could be rash. And while he will always love her, always, he can seek love again. It has been three years and he still mourns her loss, but he can’t help falling for Mustang, the Gold who nursed him back to health at the Institute and the girl that stands by his side in the face of war. Two girls on different sides of the same token, he loves fiercely and with all his heart. I loved seeing his vulnerability unfold before my eyes.

Eo said people would always look to me. She believed I had some quality, some essence that gave hope. I rarely feel it in myself. There is none in me now. Just dread. Inside I feel such a boy-angry, petulant,selfish, guilty, sad, alone-and yet they look to me. I almost break underneath their gaze, almost wither away and ask someone else to take the reins. I can’t do it. I’m small. I’m just a liar in a carved body. But that dream must not be extinguished.
So I act and they watch.

I don’t lie. My stars may be fuzzy sometimes because I rate based on my love of the story and how it made me feel, but my reviews aren’t. They are clear and precise about what I like and I’ll spit the truth even if someone disagrees with it. Sticking with that statement, this series fluctuates as I read. It’s crazy!! Pierce Brown plays with my heartstrings up until the very last page and he doesn’t let me catch my breath for more than a tiny chapter or two. But no matter what, he always gets me on the last 40%!! No matter how wordy or political or calculating the beginning may be, the end is something to behold. The action is off the wall crazy. The peril is off the charts amazing. The angst could choke you with just a few words. I am a sucker for a few good fight scenes, and these were spectacular. No matter where the book went the whole time, it always circles back perfectly. All the lies, betrayals, deceptions, and death lead somewhere utterly pulse-pounding and you can see it coming a mile away and STILL be flummoxed. I have grown to love the guts and gore and power plays, and this author hands them to me on a beautiful silver platter. I need not pout because there wasn’t enough of whatever…because those last pages? They’ll take your breath away.

My breath rasps. My heart rattles against my sternum. I drink in my body’s terror and smile. They said this was suicide at the Academy when I wanted to launch myself. Maybe they were right.
But this is why I was made. To dive into hell.

So…obviously I loved it. And I loved it simply for this: Darrow is a good man in a world corrupt by power and deceit. He struggles with the truth throughout the entirety of the novel and wants nothing more than to trust and embrace his friends…will he pay a price for trusting the very people he grew up despising? Or will he pay a bigger price for not confiding in the pit vipers he has chosen to alliance himself with? Crude, brutal, and nothing held back, Pierce Brown knocked it out of the park with this one-crazy lingo and all.

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

OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG GUYS. GUYS SERIOUSLY. I never get approved for anything. Ever. Like….ever. PERIOD. And then THIS. I get approved for a book that I had no inkling or hope of ever getting approved for. ME. I got approved for the second RED RISING! ME.

EEEEP!! What is this life?!!!

See-not lying-I LOVED THE FIRST! –

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show…

BOOK REVIEW: The Archived (The Archived #1) by Victoria Schwab

December 5, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

The Archived (The Archived #1)
by Victoria Schwab
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Imagine a place where the dead rest on shelves like books.

Each body has a story to tell, a life seen in pictures that only Librarians can read. The dead are called Histories, and the vast realm in which they rest is the Archive.

Da first brought Mackenzie Bishop here four years ago, when she was twelve years old, frightened but determined to prove herself. Now Da is dead, and Mac has grown into what he once was, a ruthless Keeper, tasked with stopping often—violent Histories from waking up and getting out. Because of her job, she lies to the people she loves, and she knows fear for what it is: a useful tool for staying alive.

Being a Keeper isn’t just dangerous—it’s a constant reminder of those Mac has lost. Da’s death was hard enough, but now her little brother is gone too. Mac starts to wonder about the boundary between living and dying, sleeping and waking. In the Archive, the dead must never be disturbed. And yet, someone is deliberately altering Histories, erasing essential chapters. Unless Mac can piece together what remains, the Archive itself might crumble and fall.

In this haunting, richly imagined novel, Victoria Schwab reveals the thin lines between past and present, love and pain, trust and deceit, unbearable loss and hard-won redemption.

Knowledge is power, but ignorance can be a blessing.

This book…this book took me by surprise. If not for how much the idea of a place where the dead are cataloged and their memories forever embedded in their very being (I think that’s the best way to describe it), then for how much I loved and adored these abilities.

A death is traumatic. Vivid enough to mark any surface, to burn in like light on photo paper.

Imagine a place where the dead sit behind shelves. Where they aren’t really gone. A place where, if word got out, the masses would storm to get only a glimpse of their loved ones shelf-only to make it out to be a shrine of something it really isn’t. The bodies are preserved. They look just as they did before they died-same clothes, same face-peaceful. But what you see isn’t what you get. Say one of these ‘histories’ wakes up. They break out of their shelves, they are disoriented, scared, unsure. And as they begin to slip….they become unpredictable. They lose their shit. They’re frantic. Their pupils begin to slowly seep into their irises until nothing is there but a black orb…and that person is no longer that loved one you once thought they were. They are a walking, talking, violent shell of soul and they aren’t where they are supposed to be-in their shelf. And that’s where the keepers come in.

We leave memories on objects we love and cherish, things we use and wear down.

Ya know, I got creeped out quite a few times. I make it a habit to stay away from books with people that have black eyes or where there are spirits or ghosts-I’ve learned my lesson and I know my limits. But, as I was reading this beautiful story and I began to realize what I had unintentionally gotten myself into, I couldn’t make myself put it down. It was so expertly written, with a soft finesse that leads you from one scenario to the next. Each scene unraveled in a way that made you so eager to continue that you couldn’t help but to become gluttonous with your limited reading time, couldn’t help but to curse when your time wound down and you had to give way to sleep lest you become a ‘history’ yourself the next day-all tired and disoriented and disgruntled. Ultimately, this author knew how to pull me along on a string and paced this so wonderfully that it never became too much-info, action, or otherwise. It was a mystery through and through, and I had so much fun trying to figure out who was letting histories out of their boxes and who was wreaking havoc in the library. I am not ashamed to say that I went in circles on who I thought the villainous traitor was. Because only a trusted someone could have been the possible culprit for wreaking the havoc that rained down on the archive library….right?

“What happened to the humanitarian approach?”
I shrug. “Sometimes it’s just not enough.”
“You are crazy,” he says. “You are a crazy, amazing girl. And you scare the hell out of me.”

The characters. I loooooooved the characters. Schwab painted such a vivid canvas that I could actually see their facial expressions and guess their next move. Mackenzie was such a great main character to follow. She was strong, fierce, determined to do what was right and just for the archive and those who inhabited it. She started to fall for a boy….but didn’t ever let it get in the way of her judgement (Ha, well maybe a little, in a weird way, you’ll see (maybe, if you ever read it, lol)). And then there’s Wes. I just…I really liked this guy. He was sweet, funny, witty, kind, caring, and, most of all, vulnerable. They’ve been through so much so when they finally meet and start to talk and realize things….it was like finding a mirror of their own soul, in a way. And, while he wasn’t in it an overwhelming amount, he actually made me smile so big. He was just so cute and so sweet to Mac! In a way, and this is very very minuscule, he really really reminded me of Augustus Waters-only in his wit, loyalty, and charm. He had THAT type of thing going on. I dunno. I was immediately drawn to his quirky personality in just the same way as I was with Gus. So…for me…there was that.

“Looks like you’ve lost a couple fights of your own,” I say, running my fingers through the air near his hand, not daring to touch. “How did you get that?”
“A stint as a spy.”
A crooked line runs down the back of his hand. “And that?”
“Scuff with a lion.”
Watching Wesley lie is fascinating.
“And that?”
“Caught a piranha bare-handed.”
No matter how absurd the tale, he says it steady and simple, with the ease of truth. A scratch runs along his forearm. “And that?”
“Knife fight in a Paris alley.”
I search his skin for marks, our bodies drawing closer without touching.
“Dove through a window.”
“Icicle.”
“Wolf.”

(Oh, forgot-keepers can’t actually tell anyone that they are, indeed, keepers-no one knows of the archive. Also, when Kenzie, being a keeper, touches something, if there is a memory attached to it, she can see it. It’s so fascinating and I wanted to get it in my review somewhere. Imagine being able to see history through an inanimate objects’ perspective-a wall, a floor with blood on it, a teddy bear a child held…it could SOLVE MANY MYSTERIES…unless someone erased the memory or altered them…. see the dilemma?)

I may fangirl and obsess and flail about on my reviews when I love a guy or a story, but it’s rare you see me actually, out in the open, smiling as I read. Like, Wes and Kenzie just made me smile. In the midst of pandemonium, they brought something real and palpable to the book that made the words jump off the page for me. They still did their jobs. They still had other things going on. But when they were together, it just completed the story in a circumvent way that touched me deeply.

“Don’t look at me like that with those big brown eyes.”
“They’re not just brown,” he says. “They’re hazel. Can’t you see the flecks of gold?”
“Good God, how much time do you spend looking at yourself in the mirror each day?”
“Not enough, Mac. Not enough.” But the laughter is gone from his voice. “You’re clever, trying to distract me with my own good looks, but it won’t work. What’s going on?”

A side character that I also adored? Roland. He trusted. He sacrificed. He taught. He mentored. And he was her friend and savior. I loved him. He really brought the story to another level. He was so sweet, kind, and giving. And, most of all, he was so funny. If you read this and saw the scenarios she walked in on-him reading Lifestyle magazines in a library full of dead people, feet propped up on the desk, wearing red chucks despite being on duty-I loved him. So, it was very fun to read and learn more about him, as well.

What if echoes through my head as I hunt.
What if haunts me through the Narrows.
What if follows me home.

That’s all. Honestly. If you pick it up, the story speaks for itself. The characters speak for themselves. The way it all unwinds….you get the picture. It’s an impressive novel with intricate layers that you should pull back delicately…but you should pull them back, all the same. It is expertly woven with a funny flair for the dramatic concerning certain characters, and I don’t believe anyone would feel they are wasting their time. I certainly cannot wait to read the second. I only hope it’s as compelling as the first.

BLOG TOUR+REVIEW+GIVEAWAY – The Union (The Union #1) by T.H. Hernandez

November 23, 2014 / Jen / 2 Comments

I am excited to introduce to you a unique, captivating story! See below to find out what The Union is about, read my review, learn about the author, and enter a wonderful giveaway!

BLOG TOUR+REVIEW+GIVEAWAY – The Union (The Union #1) by T.H. Hernandez

The Union (The Union #1)
by T.H. Hernandez
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.
Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.

When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down. What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce, to her family, and even the Union itself.

Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known. But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.

Review:

**After re-reading, I had to change my rating from a 4 to a 4.5. Rooting for a heroine I love, falling all over again for a sweet, rugged, captivating man, and watching the story unfold made me realize how emotionally attached I was to The Union. Add in the fact that I now understand a scene that left me previously distraught (lightbulb! I get it!), well how could I not love it more? It’s so fun to be back in this world!!**

Hernandez’s debut novel was truly compelling. The story that unfolded in front of me was unique, captivating and had me glued to the pages. I came to care for many of the characters, but two completely stole the show and my heart. The setting was fascinating, and it left me longing to learn more about the world that they live in. But after that ending, I desperately need the second book in this series!

I can’t help wondering if I would have spent so much time agonizing over my future if I’d known I’d be dead so soon. If I’d known, maybe I’d have done everything differently. Now I know my future. My life ends here. Alone. In the Ruins.

What if everything you ever thought about your world was a lie? After global warming and a second civil war wreaked havoc on the U.S., the citizens flocked to the coast. A lifestyle and cities were built called The Union. Evan lives there and while her life is no walk in the park, it is structured and safe from the harms of the Ruins outside of The Unions walled off perimeter. She has just graduated from school, and is trying to find her place in society. To find out who she is and what she truly wants, Evan embarks on a trip with her two best friends. She is even lucky enough to find out that the boy she is crushing on is traveling on the same train as her. But her life gets flipped upside down when she is kidnapped. She is being used as a pawn in a game that she can’t even start to comprehend, and the first move in that game is taking her into the Ruins.

I’m here now, and if I’m going to survive, I can’t wallow in self-doubt and pity. It’s long past time to get my shit together.

Evan is the type of heroine that you will love. She is spunky, honest, intriguing and has so much fire inside of her. I loved the emotions that erupted from her. It was so palpable. But oh man, did she make mistakes. Mistakes that weren’t dumb, but were caused because of how she reacted to situations she had no experience with. And those are the easiest mistakes to forgive and move on from. Especially since Evan tries her hardest to do right by others. This is one of the top reasons why I love her so much! She has such a huge heart and a strong head on her shoulders. Thank goodness, because she’s about to be thrown into a situation where she’ll need both to figure out how to proceed.

“I…” He glances down at me, his pale eyes searching mine. “I think you’re here for a reason, even if you don’t. And…I’m glad you’re here.”

I was going to talk about Bryce, the boy she has a crush on and who ends up on the same train as her. But he started to feel too perfect, or maybe it was something else I couldn’t place my finger on. Whatever it was, Bryce’s ship has sailed for me and a truly beautiful man took the lead front and center. Cyrus. He was sweet, patient, kind and ruggedly handsome. He was someone that was discreetly captivating and pulled you in. There was no way I couldn’t love him. For Evan, he was hope, love and family all rolled into one. He honestly took my breath away. Whether it was the words that he would use or the little actions he would display, he emitted so much emotion. You could become lost in it all, and I loved every single moment of it!

The way he kisses me, like he can’t get enough, the way my body responds to his touch… he captivates me in a way I never expected and don’t understand. I try to make sense of what’s happening with us, but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever known. It’s powerful and scary as hell.

After reading The Union two times (6 months apart), I know that one of my favorite aspects of this book is that I got to watch so many different relationships unfold. Family, friends, and enemies. And you know what? It all felt real. Of course there were moments of worry and heartache, but for the most part, this book felt as though the relationships and characters were the driving force. That’s probably why this dystopian felt so unique to me. Thank goodness the second book, The Ruins, is already on my device because I’d be dying not knowing what was going to happen next. I was more than pleasantly surprised with The Union, and I believe you will too!

***ARC was kindly provided in exchange for an honest review***

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), & Book Depository (click on book #)
The Union #1 Reviews: Jen	The Ruins #2 Reviews: Jen	The Uprising #3 Reviews: Jen
The Invasion #4 Reviews: Jen

T.H. Hernandez:

THHernandez When not visiting the imaginary worlds inside my head, I live in San Diego, California, with one husband, three children, two cats, and one dog. In addition to my day job as a technical writer and editor, I write young adult fiction. I love the intensity of teen emotions and the way they’re still figuring out life.

When I’m not writing, you can find me with my nose in a book, hanging out with family and friends, hiking, or knitting. I’m obsessed with Facebook, young adult novels, bad lip reading videos, pumpkin spice lattes, microbrewed beers, and the San Diego Chargers.
Links:
Goodreads | Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram

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BOOK REVIEW: Lady Thief (Scarlet #2) by A.C. Gaughen

November 17, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Lady Thief (Scarlet #2)
by A.C. Gaughen
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

He let me down and his mouth left mine. His forehead touched mine, and I couldn’t bring my eyes to open just yet.
“These schemes may benefit the people, Scarlet, but I fight for you.” His hands squeezed my waist a little bit, and it made my blood run fast. “I will always fight for you.”

Aaaaggghhh SO. GOOD.

Is it weird I’m speechless? Because I am well and truly at a loss for words. It’s like…I loved it. I loved it almost as much as the first, but not quite as much. There’s something to be said for that first book in a series-It’s almost always my favorite. That tension between the two main leads and the willingness to do anything to save one another…it is something to behold, not only in these books, but each and every series.

I wanted to feel nothing but the blanket of pain and hate swallow me up. I wanted to run backward and lay on the snow with View Spoiler » John « Hide Spoiler and stay there, still and frozen and never moving forward again. That would be easy, and lovely, and dark, like the cold woods of Sherwood at night.

That’s not to say this second book didn’t have it’s fair share of tragedies-it did. If it’s possible, I think it was twice as brutal and there was even more to lose. As I mentioned in my prior review, no one was safe. But that fact was cemented as even someone who was promised immunity lost some of their hand. Yeah, I’m not kidding. One of our main characters will forever be scarred, and I can’t believe it happened. But, in a way, this vicious act only helped to further increase my love for this newly found series. I mean….it’s so evil!!! And this author didn’t shy away from what was always threatened. I love a ballsy author, and my respect skyrocketed when no one, not Scarlet, not John, not Robin Hood, not even Much came to save the day. Because guess what? That’s the cold bitch of reality.

He tucked his face into my shoulder and drew long, shuddering breaths. “We’re not going to make it through this, Scar. Not another sheriff. Not another nightmare.” His voice dropped, and if it weren’t for the way the words slipped along my skin, I would have doubted he spoke them. “I’m not going to make it through this again.”

One of my favorite things about this series as a whole is the group and how much they love and support one another. There’s no bellyaching or whining or ‘oh, pity me’ with these guys. They can be as miserable as they damn well please but then one of them will tell ’em to shape up. It’s as simple as that. None of them want anything bad to happen to one another so they have to be harsh-If one of them is weak, they are all weak. No one is left behind so that means there is more room for error, no second chances, and not even the townspeople are safe from Gisbourne’s clutches.

My heart broke, and water spilled out of my eyes. “What if it’s not annulled?” I breathed.
“Then I’ll wait. Every sunset, every day. I’ll count them all until you’re mine. My perfect wife. My only wife,” he said. “The only heart that’s meant for mine.” His nose dragged on my face. “I only feel like a hero when you’re with me, Scarlet. I feel like I have a destiny greater than pain and hurt when you’re in my arms.”

But, by far my favorite supportive duo is Rob and Scarlet. So heartwarming and absolutely adorable, she never once gives up on Rob as he is plagued by night terrors after what happened in book one (UGH so good). All seems hopeless, but Scarlet never once lets him feel as if he is alone to drown and suffer in his vivid dreams. But, more than that, it goes both ways. That support is tangible and every kiss, every stolen moment, every sacrifice is to better their lives and to save one another. They would burn the world to save each other, but when the odds are stacked against them, it’s like fighting against a rising tide: inevitable and hopeless.

“Scarlet,” he murmured. His hands squeezed my waist. “I’ve told you all along, I knew who you were from the first. I know your heart. Names, titles, hair, odd clothing choices, none of that changes who you are. And I am madly in love with who you are.”

In this one instance, I believe leaving you in the dark even more than usual is the most tantalizing option. There’s no doubt that I have fallen in love and was captured by this alluring series and could no doubt babble on for paragraphs. For only two books being out, I have lost more sleep than I have in a while because of a book. There’s something special, magical, mesmerizing about this series and it makes me sick to think I have to wait until May for a conclusion to such an epic love story about Robin and Scarlet. My heart starts beating so fast and the butterflies erupt in my stomach when I think of one look….one touch…one secret kiss between Rob and Scar. I am so sad I have to wait, but, you know, that’s just an excuse to re-read them, of course. So…yeah. I’ll see ya soon Rob-keep my heart in safe keeping-It’s yours.

I nudged his face with my nose until he brought his mouth down to mine for another kiss like magic potion. I needed some unholy kind of strength and courage to walk away from him.
He broke it off with a heavy sighing. “I love you, Scarlet. Go on, now, before you steal my sanity, too,” he said.
“Too?” I questioned.
His grin by the moon were wicked and handsome. “Thief of my heart.”

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Scarlet #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna	Lady Thief #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Lion Heart #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

BOOK REVIEW: Scarlet (Scarlet #1) by A.C. Gaughen

November 14, 2014 / Chelsea / 0 Comments

Scarlet (Scarlet #1)
by A.C. Gaughen
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

His hands came on either side of my face, holding me up to him. Waves were crashing in his eyes, sure and strong and sweeping. “You are my whole heart, Scarlet. And this is breaking it.”

I don’t know. I don’t know how I came across this or why it spoke to me…but it did. Even today I am still giddy and weightless when I think about this book. How amazing is it when you find something that, while it seems intriguing, doesn’t necessarily scream, ‘You will love me’ and you kind of put it off for months, years, whatever, but then the minute you pick it up it’s like…
Click.
Click, Robin Hood is fucking sexy. Click, Scarlet is surrounded by amazing guys who touch me deeply. Click, Scarlet is a thief. Click…..Scarlet is truly a badass.

My fists were shaking as I ran, sweat pushing out the filth, desperate for the water. I jumped the big rock and dove in, breaking the surface and crashing into fierce cold.
I hung there, under the water. My eyes were closed and my skin went fair numb. My lumps and slices went to ice. There were no room for nothing in my mind but cold.
When I pulled out of the water, heaving shivery breaths on the shore, I were fearless.

Like….okay….I loved Disney movies. All the fairy tales, all the magic, all the romance (Except for Maleficent from Sleeping Beauty-that creepy bitch was a bit much to take). It was all so intoxicating and alluring-I was spell-bound and attached to the screen whenever one of these amazing movies came on (And Winnie the Pooh-WTP is my home-slice…I’d take him over any fairy tale character any day. I adore Mr. Pooh lol). And, here I am today-a 24 year old girl on the cusp of becoming a wife and hopefully soon starting a family of my own, and I still become a little girl again and again when a Disney movie comes on. I become entranced just as I did when I was a child, the charms of a magical, far-away place still so addicting that I can’t help but to play pretend while I dream of Prince Charmings, Prince Erics, and Aladdins in our modern day world. So, I guess it goes without saying that I am a sucker for a well-written (or I guess well advertised, seeing as I haven’t read that many fairy tale re-tellings just yet-I’m so picky! Don’t ruin my favorites!) re-tellings or renditions or influences of all the childhood classics.

He grabbed my arms, bringing me close to his face, and his eyes looked like the ocean, deep and dark and full of things I knew nothing ’bout. “We don’t lie to each other, Scar. Especially not about things that mean I might lose you.”
My breath froze in my chest. Did he just say that?

But when I think of these movies, for some reason, I don’t generally think of Robin Hood. Why is that? I loved it! It was funny, ornery, and just a super-cute movie. But this book?? It brought that memory crashing back to the surface with the force of a hurricane. I felt like a little kid again and, more than that, a really satisfied adult. Seriously. The romance was off the charts, the jealousies were adorable, and the thieving? It was pretty damn cool. And, dare I say, the peril was astounding. Oh yes, this isn’t a childhood fantasy anymore. This is the adult version with blood and real thieving and stolen kisses and pain. It isn’t like it was gruesome, by any means, but it was just evil enough that I was smiling like the damn Cheshire Cat in the darkness of the bedroom because it was just so damn sinfully delicious!

“Make no mistake,” he told me. I looked up. “We do what we do-” He halted, then stepped one foot closer. “I do what I do because I will always believe that no matter how awful life gets for however many of these people, there is something I can do about it. There is something I will do about it.”
I nodded. “That’s why you’re the hero, Rob, and I’m a thief.”

I still really don’t know what to say. How do you convince people to read something that spoke to you in such loud volumes and convey just how good it really is? People, in general, are skeptical of fairy tale re-tellings. I agree-I rarely read them. But, and I say this heavily, this isn’t meant to be like the movie from when we were kids. It embodies all the same values-stealing to get taxes gathered up for the poor, getting them food so they can eat, and a few things that I believe to be quite spoilery. My memory is rusty on what the kids’ movie was like, but I don’t remember a band of merry men. Wasn’t it just Robin and John (The fox and the bear)? Anyway, in this book, they have a group! The dynamics of the group were awesome and I loved seeing them support one another, risk their life for one another, poke fun, flirt…..it just worked. And we needed a guy to make Rob jealous, eh?

“Rob, did you hear about Scar’s new lover?” John crowed.
Rob looked sharp to me. “Was there an old one?”
“Jenny Percy!” Much said, pleased with himself.
Rob smiled. “Of a band with three actual boys, why is it that all the maids lust after the fake one?”

We have Rob, Scarlet, John, and Much in this rendition. But, in true Chelsea fashion, I shall gush about Rob and Scarlet. Or maybe I’ll just break it down for you-Scarlet is a girl (who blushes a lot-but I didn’t care-I just. Don’t. Flippin’. Care.) who steals for the poor and is the best, most capable thief of the group. She’s hard and disguises herself as ‘Will Scarlet’ so people believe she is merely a boy. She is hiding from someone-someone evil who only wishes to kill her…and anyone who stands in his path. Then there’s my darling Robin Hood. He is better known as Rob or ‘The Hood’ by the townspeople or anyone looking to arrest or track them down. He got this little group together and is the leader because of his kind and giving nature, and his will to atone for his past misgivings. Let’s call it what it is: they are in love with one another but are too stubborn to admit it. And pesky John keeps getting in the way-I love you John, but back the fuck off.

I turned out the back way then; there weren’t much more to say.
He caught my wrist before I were full out the door. “Scar,” he said, rough, like rocks were running over his tongue. “I have done so many unforgivable things in my life. Don’t let failing to save you be another.”

I believe the tension, the angst, the jealous and scorning looks that are spread throughout the novel are what made me the happiest. They broke my heart and sucked me in, making me a prisoner of the story. And the best part, which I haven’t told you yet, is that when they were separated or there was no romance, I STILL couldn’t put this shit down. I mean, every expedition or haul was just as exciting as the romance. It was exhilarating and fresh and toxic-they were on the run, the guards wanted to catch them, torture them, kill them for their stealing, so each time they left the safety of their hideouts, there was always a chance one could be captured and made to pay. And the other other best part??? No one was immune. No one escaped unscathed in one form or another….and it only got more and more intense.

She shook her head. “They would have pinched you too, and then where would Robin be?”
“He’d be right as rain, I think.”
She chuckled. “You don’t see how much he cares about you, but he does. Ran into that fire last night like a fair angel, he did.”
“He’d do the same for one of his men, or any of his people. Don’t make me special in his eyes.” It were shameful, but there were a fair amount of bitter in my voice.
She leaned her head close to mine so the others wouldn’t overhear her. “Ah, he has many men, but he only has one woman.”

Oh, the writing, real quick. Amazing, quick-witted, error free, and vivid writing. And despite the way Scarlet speaks (‘he were’ instead of using ‘he was’ is a prime example), there isn’t a mistake to be seen. I had so much fun reading about the different ways they speak and what she is willing to do to survive. You might be shocked, and you might not. But I loved it all, even the way she butchered her speech….and I’m a stickler for at least decent grammar.

“You lied to me tonight,” John said.
I shrugged. “I lie to you a lot. Reckon you might want to be more specific.”
“You said you’d wait at the top. You said we’d go together.”
“Well, yes, that was a lie.”

So, if someone were to ask me if I would recommend this, I’d give a million enthusiastic thumbs up. It won’t work for everyone, the writing ensures that, but some of you will be like me-you’ll pick this up, you’ll think, ‘eh’, and then you will fall-hard. You won’t realize you’re obsessed with it or that you think about it constantly or that you are staying up way too late (Ummm thus the hardcore bags under my eyes) just to get ‘one more chapter in’…all because you fell in love with this book. And you won’t remember when or how or why….but you’ll realize something: Robin Hood stole your heart. Just like he did, mine.

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Scarlet #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea Anna	Lady Thief #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Lion Heart #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

BOOK REVIEW: Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy #2) by Pierce Brown

Synopsis:

They say a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. They made no mention of the heart.

Too late, you sons of bitches. Too bloodydamn late. I can’t think. I’m screaming inside. Laughing like the flames of a wildfire. Laughing because I know it is my madness that these logical warriors cannot fight.

Were I still the man Eo knew, I would have stood frozen in horror. But that man is gone. I mourn his passing every day. Forgetting more and more of who I was, what dreams I held, what things I loved. The sadness now is numb. And I carry on despite the shadow it casts over me.

“Mother bid me to tell you: a pauper can never be a prince. Every time you look in the mirror, remember what we did to you. Remember you breathe because we let you. Remember your heart will one day be on our table. Rise so high, in mud you lie.”

This is exactly why I build my reputation as a killer, to leverage in situations like these. If they knew my heart, they’d kill my friends one by one. This is a gamble.

My breath rasps. My heart rattles against my sternum. I drink in my body’s terror and smile. They said this was suicide at the Academy when I wanted to launch myself. Maybe they were right. But this is why I was made. To dive into hell.

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BOOK REVIEW: The Archived (The Archived #1) by Victoria Schwab

Synopsis:

Knowledge is power, but ignorance can be a blessing.

A death is traumatic. Vivid enough to mark any surface, to burn in like light on photo paper.

We leave memories on objects we love and cherish, things we use and wear down.

“What happened to the humanitarian approach?” I shrug. “Sometimes it’s just not enough.” “You are crazy,” he says. “You are a crazy, amazing girl. And you scare the hell out of me.”

What if echoes through my head as I hunt. What if haunts me through the Narrows. What if follows me home.

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BLOG TOUR+REVIEW+GIVEAWAY – The Union (The Union #1) by T.H. Hernandez

Synopsis:

Review:

I can’t help wondering if I would have spent so much time agonizing over my future if I’d known I’d be dead so soon. If I’d known, maybe I’d have done everything differently. Now I know my future. My life ends here. Alone. In the Ruins.

I’m here now, and if I’m going to survive, I can’t wallow in self-doubt and pity. It’s long past time to get my shit together.

“I…” He glances down at me, his pale eyes searching mine. “I think you’re here for a reason, even if you don’t. And…I’m glad you’re here.”

The way he kisses me, like he can’t get enough, the way my body responds to his touch… he captivates me in a way I never expected and don’t understand. I try to make sense of what’s happening with us, but it’s unlike anything I’ve ever known. It’s powerful and scary as hell.

T.H. Hernandez:

Giveaway

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BOOK REVIEW: Lady Thief (Scarlet #2) by A.C. Gaughen

He let me down and his mouth left mine. His forehead touched mine, and I couldn’t bring my eyes to open just yet. “These schemes may benefit the people, Scarlet, but I fight for you.” His hands squeezed my waist a little bit, and it made my blood run fast. “I will always fight for you.”

“Scarlet,” he murmured. His hands squeezed my waist. “I’ve told you all along, I knew who you were from the first. I know your heart. Names, titles, hair, odd clothing choices, none of that changes who you are. And I am madly in love with who you are.”

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BOOK REVIEW: Scarlet (Scarlet #1) by A.C. Gaughen

His hands came on either side of my face, holding me up to him. Waves were crashing in his eyes, sure and strong and sweeping. “You are my whole heart, Scarlet. And this is breaking it.”

He grabbed my arms, bringing me close to his face, and his eyes looked like the ocean, deep and dark and full of things I knew nothing ’bout. “We don’t lie to each other, Scar. Especially not about things that mean I might lose you.” My breath froze in my chest. Did he just say that?

“Rob, did you hear about Scar’s new lover?” John crowed. Rob looked sharp to me. “Was there an old one?” “Jenny Percy!” Much said, pleased with himself. Rob smiled. “Of a band with three actual boys, why is it that all the maids lust after the fake one?”

I turned out the back way then; there weren’t much more to say. He caught my wrist before I were full out the door. “Scar,” he said, rough, like rocks were running over his tongue. “I have done so many unforgivable things in my life. Don’t let failing to save you be another.”

“You lied to me tonight,” John said. I shrugged. “I lie to you a lot. Reckon you might want to be more specific.” “You said you’d wait at the top. You said we’d go together.” “Well, yes, that was a lie.”

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Too late, you sons of bitches.
Too bloodydamn late.
I can’t think. I’m screaming inside. Laughing like the flames of a wildfire. Laughing because I know it is my madness that these logical warriors cannot fight.

My breath rasps. My heart rattles against my sternum. I drink in my body’s terror and smile. They said this was suicide at the Academy when I wanted to launch myself. Maybe they were right.
But this is why I was made. To dive into hell.

“What happened to the humanitarian approach?”
I shrug. “Sometimes it’s just not enough.”
“You are crazy,” he says. “You are a crazy, amazing girl. And you scare the hell out of me.”

What if echoes through my head as I hunt.
What if haunts me through the Narrows.
What if follows me home.

He let me down and his mouth left mine. His forehead touched mine, and I couldn’t bring my eyes to open just yet.
“These schemes may benefit the people, Scarlet, but I fight for you.” His hands squeezed my waist a little bit, and it made my blood run fast. “I will always fight for you.”

He grabbed my arms, bringing me close to his face, and his eyes looked like the ocean, deep and dark and full of things I knew nothing ’bout. “We don’t lie to each other, Scar. Especially not about things that mean I might lose you.”
My breath froze in my chest. Did he just say that?

“Rob, did you hear about Scar’s new lover?” John crowed.
Rob looked sharp to me. “Was there an old one?”
“Jenny Percy!” Much said, pleased with himself.
Rob smiled. “Of a band with three actual boys, why is it that all the maids lust after the fake one?”

I turned out the back way then; there weren’t much more to say.
He caught my wrist before I were full out the door. “Scar,” he said, rough, like rocks were running over his tongue. “I have done so many unforgivable things in my life. Don’t let failing to save you be another.”

“You lied to me tonight,” John said.
I shrugged. “I lie to you a lot. Reckon you might want to be more specific.”
“You said you’d wait at the top. You said we’d go together.”
“Well, yes, that was a lie.”