ARC Review: When the World Was Flat (And We Were in Love) by Ingrid Jonach

Title: When The World Was Flat (And We Were in Love)
Author: Ingrid Jonach
Publication: September 3rd 2013 by Strange Chemistry
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Source: Provided by the kind publisher
Goodreads

Looking back, I wonder if I had an inkling that my life was about to go from ordinary to extraordinary.

When sixteen-year-old Lillie Hart meets the gorgeous and mysterious Tom Windsor-Smith for the first time, it’s like fireworks — for her, anyway. Tom looks as if he would be more interested in watching paint dry; as if he is bored by her and by her small Nebraskan town in general.

But as Lillie begins to break down the walls of his seemingly impenetrable exterior, she starts to suspect that he holds the answers to her reoccurring nightmares and to the impossible memories which keep bubbling to the surface of her mind — memories of the two of them, together and in love.

When she at last learns the truth about their connection, Lillie discovers that Tom has been hiding an earth-shattering secret; a secret that is bigger — and much more terrifying and beautiful — than the both of them. She also discovers that once you finally understand that the world is round, there is no way to make it flat again. 

An epic and deeply original sci-fi romance, taking inspiration from Albert Einstein’s theories and the world-bending wonder of true love itself.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     Well, I wanted to read this book, mainly because of the cover, and the mysterious synopsis. Although most of the reviews I read of this book are not very positive, I found it refreshing and lovely. And I found myself wishing for a sequel, if there will be one.

     Lillie has been plagued by strange nightmares and weird events since she heard that a new guy is coming to town. Immediately after seeing Tom, she is infatuated with the guy. But he seems to give no notice to her, actually, he looks like he despises her completely. Intrigued, Lillie will be lead down a dangerous path and she will found out that when you know the world is round, there isn't a way to make it flat again.

This book plagued my mind ever since I read it. I can't stop thinking about it, so I decided to do a bullet-points review, to get my incoherent thoughts into meaningful sentences, so bear with me!

- The plot: Until the middle of this book, it feels like a high school contemporary but with a touch of terrifying nightmares, But I knew that the author had more in store, since she plunged us deep into the action right after the middle mark. And it moved swiftly. I loved the idea that the plot line was based on. And I have to say that even though multiple dimensions is not a very popular theme, it has been used before. But Jonach came through with a completely different aspect, and I found it refreshing and original.

- The background: I admired the little physical references. It is obvious that the author is a great fan of physics, in general, and Einstein, in particular. I noticed in many reviews that the people hated the Einstein references, but I liked them. They added a solid back story to the multiple dimensions theme, and even though the author may have bent some physical rules, I still found her love for physics wonderful enough.

- The characters: This is a tough one. I loved some characters but had a few issues with the others. Lillie comes off as a lovable, insecure, but loyal girl. She loves her friends and would do anything for them. She is made to be a role model for everyone. And I loved her, but her dependence on Tom was a bit too much at other times. She had to learn to be independent and I would have loved to see that. But sadly,  I didn't. Tom is a kinda okay character. He didn't shine out for me, but his love for Lillie did. I fell in love with one of Lillie's best friends. So, I was sad to see her go at the end. (She didn't die, of course) But I didn't like it that much of the girls in this book turned out to be the bad guys except Lillie, our main character, of course. I would have loved it if a few loyal girls were still standing in the end.

- The romance: Okay, so this book is not a Sci-Fi Fantasy with a touch of romance. It's Romance with a touch of science fiction. And I loved that. It's known as a universal fact that I am a hopeless romantic ^-^, so the romance in this book is perfect for me. There is some kind of insta-love between Lillie and Tom, but it was explained in the book, so I didn't mind it. The history of the romance and the romance itself were sweet and I loved how real it felt. Definitely an Aplus for the romance!

- The ending: So, we come to the tough part. After the middle mark, as I said before, things speed up and I loved that. But it also got a bit confusing, at times. It wasn't an info dump, of course not. But it was so much new information piled over each other, explained in only a few pages, that it was overwhelming a little, at first. But then, when you see these facts and new revelations in action, you get to understand it more and more. But I still had a couple of questions and i wanted the answers so bad. But I didn't get them. The end was a good wrap-up, nothing was missing. And although it was a bit sad, it was hopeful, too. I wonder if there is a second book, because of there will be, I will be definitely reading it. I need more of this strange world. If there isn't, well, it was an amazing ride and i might read it again sometime. Saying that  is a lot, people!

Review: Send Me a Sign by Tiffany Schmidt

Title: Send Me a Sign
Author: Tiffany Schmidt
Publication: October 2nd 2012 by Walker Childrens
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Owned
Goodreads

Mia is always looking for signs. A sign that she should get serious with her soccer-captain boyfriend. A sign that she’ll get the grades to make it into an Ivy-league school. One sign she didn’t expect to look for was: “Will I survive cancer?” It’s a question her friends would never understand, prompting Mia to keep her illness a secret. The only one who knows is her lifelong best friend, Gyver, who is poised to be so much more. Mia is determined to survive, but when you have so much going your way, there is so much more to lose. From debut author Tiffany Schmidt comes a heart-wrenching and ultimately uplifting story of one girl’s search for signs of life in the face of death.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     I have heard a LOT about this book and the way it brings out raw emotions. This book was moving, in a beautiful way, but it did bring me to tears. Which not a lot of books can make me do that. I am a weeper, but never for books. So, I am glad that this one did.
      Mia Moore has the ultimate teenage life. All full of normalcy. Until the day she finds out that she has blood cancer. Now, nothing seems clear. The world is full of choices. Should she tell her best friends or not? Should she take it a step farther with Ryan or nor? Should she trust her best friend Gyver or not? She was looking for signs everywhere, but now, she doesn't believe in their efficiency anymore?
     I loved Mia. I could connect with her all the time. She was insecure, sweet, and adorable. The two love interests were like different sides of a coin. So different yet perfect together. I just couldn't choose between Gyver and Ryan. Even in the end, I was sad to let go of one of them.
      Tiffany Schimdt makes you go through many emotions in this book. She had me crying many times, she also had me grinning. She made me fall in love with her characters. They make you think about the true value of life. I didn't want to finish this book, I wanted to savor every moment of reading it. I loved this book and would come back for more from the author. She is on my auto-read list, for sure.

Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Name of book: Warm Bodies
Author: Isaac Marion
Publication: October 28th 2010 by Vintage
Genre: YA Paranormal, Dystopian
Source: Owned

'R' is a zombie. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead.

Amongst the ruins of an abandoned city, R meets a girl. Her name is Julie and she is the opposite of everything he knows - warm and bright and very much alive, she is a blast of colour in a dreary grey landscape. For reasons he can't understand, R chooses to save Julie instead of eating her, and a tense yet strangely tender relationship begins.

This has never happened before. It breaks the rules and defies logic, but R is no longer content with life in the grave. He wants to breathe again, he wants to live, and Julie wants to help him. But their grim, rotting world won't be changed without a fight...

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     When the movie of this book came into cinemas, me and my best friend decided to read it together. This is the first time we have done something like this and we cannot stop talking the way R does. It's addictive and fun! This book was a pleasant surprise!
     R is different. He is not like his fellow dead. He listens to Sinatra, he loves escalators, and he still savours the humanity left in him. But, when he meets Julie, everything changes. Julie is a living girl, in a cruel world overrun by zombies. A world where the humans have turned into creatures as feeling-less as the zombies. But when she meets R, she realizes that not all are feeling-less. That there is a spark of hope left in this world.

---

The rusty cogs of cogency still spin, just geared down and down till the outer motion is barely visible. We grunt and groan, we shrug and nod, and sometimes a few words slip out. It’s not that different from before. 

But it does make me sad that we’ve forgotten our names. Out of everything, this seems to me the most tragic. I miss my own and I mourn for everyone else’s, because I’d like to love them, but I don’t know who they are.

---

     Absolutely enchanting. How come I didn't hear of this book for 3 years before it was made into a movie? Well, I have to say, that this is one of the advantages of movies. I could not like this book enough. The first thing that captured me is R. R is adorable, unique, captivating, so feeling-full and human. Even if practically, he should not be any of these. I fell in love with him, even before he met Julie.
     The other side characters were just as unique. I liked Julie, but not as much as R, maybe because we never got around to be inside her head. The other characters who stood out were M and Nora. They were both uniquely-crafted. The world building is not exactly over the top, but it's there, and it was enough. Since, in this book particularly, you care about WHAT happens to the characters more than you care about WHERE it happens.
     The thing that I LOVED the most about this book was the way the zombies spoke. It was so different, with one syllable at a time. It was amazing. Love..... Book..... You..... NEED..... Try...... This.... Won't.... Regret.... At... All.... Just like that. You need to read this BEFORE watching the movie!

---

I AM YOUNG. I am a teenage boy aflame with health, strong and virile and pounding with energy. But I get older. Every second ages me. My cells spread themselves thinner, stiffening, cooling, darkening. I am fifteen, but each death around me adds a decade. Each atrocity, each tragedy, each small moment of sadness. Soon I will be ancient.

---

But a decision has been made today. We will not be robbed. We will cling tight to what we have, no matter how hard the curse pulls. We will fight it.

---

We kept pouring until we were the biggest and strongest, elected the greatest generals and found the most weapons, thinking all this maximalism would somehow generate happiness. But nothing so obvious could ever work.

---

Review: Come Back To Me by Coleen Patrick

Title: Come Back To Me
Author: Coleen Patrick
Publication: April 10th 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: Provided by the kind publisher
Goodreads

Whitney Denison can’t wait to start over.

She thought she had everything under control, that her future would always include her best friend Katie… Until everything changed.

Now her life in Bloom is one big morning after hangover, filled with regret, grief, and tiny pinpricks of reminders that she was once happy. A happy she ruined. A happy she can’t fix.

So, she is counting down the days until she leaves home for Colson University, cramming her summer with busywork she didn’t finish her senior year, and taking on new hobbies that involve glue and glitter, and dodging anyone who reminds her of her old life.

When she runs into the stranger who drove her home on graduation night, after she’d passed out next to a ditch, she feels herself sinking again. The key to surviving the summer in Bloom is unraveling whatever good memories she can from that night.

But in searching for answers, she’ll have to ask for help and that means turning to Evan, the stranger, and Kyle, Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Suddenly, life flips again, and Whitney finds herself on not only the precipice of happy but love, too, causing her to question whether she can trust her feelings, or if she is falling into her old patterns of extremes.

As she uncovers the truth about her memories, Whitney sees that life isn’t all or nothing, and that happy isn’t something to wait for, that instead, happy might just be a choice.

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it

-- My Thoughts --

     The blurb of this book, and I admit, the cover, intrigued me to read this one. I had no idea what to expect and I wasn't familiar with the author. So, I didn't put a lot of expectations into this one. I am glad I didn't.
     Whitney is still recovering from the death of her best friend. She has to get her life back on track, but she has no idea why. And it isn't easy when she doesn't remember some parts of her past. Then there's her best friend's boyfriend, Kyle, who might be the key to unlocking her memory, or the sweet, careful Evan, who might be the key to unlocking her heart. But before Whitney can find out anything, she has to find herself. 
      Okay, so the aspect is not really original. I didn't expect it to be original, so I was not disappointed. It's a bit too predictable for my liking. Like, I figured out the little twist at the end way before the main character did. Come on, it was right in front of her eyes! The second thing is that Whitney didn't really connect with me. I wanted to feel something for her, even sympathy, but nothing. So, I didn't really care about what happened to her. But I did love Evan, he's the reason that kept me going through this book to finish it.
     I can't find anything more to say about this novel. Yes, it dragged at parts. And yes, it was a bit boring. But the main focus of this novel is moving on from the past. Which is a subject I LOVE. Since there are so many ways to approach the aspect, and Coleen Patrick nailed it. The ending was satisfying. You get all you wanted and more. While this book didn't make it on my list of favorites, i will definitely be on the lookout for the author's new books. No two people think the same about a book, so try this out for yourself!

Review: City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

Title: City of Ashes (The Mortal Instruments #2)
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publication: March 25th 2008 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Owned

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go — especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil — and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings — and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

In this breathtaking sequel to City of Bones, Cassandra Clare lures her readers back into the dark grip of New York City's Downworld, where love is never safe and power becomes the deadliest temptation.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

My review of City of Bones (The Mortal Instruments #1)

     Who hasn't heard of the bestselling series, The Mortal Instruments? The first book in the series was a cute, fun read and I liked it. Though, not as much as everyone who was raving about it.
     Clary and Jace have just discovered that they are siblings. Which just makes it harder, with their feelings for each other and all. But that's not the biggest issue. Someone has started murdering Downworlders and it's up to the Shadowhunters to find out who is the culprit, and perhaps, save the world as we know it.
     Okay, I have to say that Cassandra Clare's writing style is nice. Very few authors have unique writing styles that shine out from others. Cassandra Clare is not one of them. She has a typical writing style, but of course, that doesn't effect the story in any way. Because MANY authors have typical (not by any means unique) writing styles, and that's okay. The second book was just as enjoyable as the first one, even more so.
     The plot moves swiftly  there is not one moment where you are not on the edge of your seat. Begging for more information. More action. More thrill. And the author provided fully! The romance in this book is sometimes awkward, sometimes sweet. But you definitely root for the characters, each and every one of them.

     I wonder where the author will take the series from hereby on. I will be reading the third book as soon as I can fit it into my schedule. And I cannot wait to actually watch the movie, looks fantastic!

Review: Snow White Sorrow by Cameron Jace. AMAZING!

Title: Snow White Sorrow (The Grimm Diaries #1)
Author: Cameron Jace
Publication: May 30th 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal Fantasy
Source: Owned
Goodreads

What if all you knew about fairy tales was wrong?

Sixteen year old Loki Blackstar is no Prince Charming. His mother is a ghost. His only friend is a red Cadillac that sings to him through the radio. He looks like an Angel but acts like jerk. No wonder he has been banned from Heaven, which is the least of his troubles. Loki needs a job to pay for school and support himself.

Still, Loki has a rare gift: He is a Dreamhunter. One of the few in the world who can hunt and kill immortal demons in their dreams so they never wake up again.

When Loki is sent to kill a sixteen-year-old vampire girl the locals call Snow White Sorrow, he is pulled into a magical but dangerous world. The locals believe the monster to be Snow White.

The real Snow White... living in the ruins of an ancient castle in a small town. She is described as horribly beautiful, terrifyingly enchanting, and wickedly lovely.

What he finds instead is a beautiful monster girl filled with rage and hurt, who has an epic untold story to tell of things such like why the Brothers Grimm altered the fairy tale, who the Evil Queen really is, where the mirror came from, and who possessed it.

Snow White has killed every person who has dared come near the castle where she once lived with the queen. Mysteriously, she lets Loki live, and whispers two words in his ears; two words that will change his life forever.

-- My Rating --

5/5 Oscars: Loved it.

-- My Thoughts --

     Ever since I read Cameron Jace's prequels, I have been dying to read this. And my expectations were set really high, fortunately, the book met my expectations. It was truly a delightful read! But I have to admit that I liked the prequels more, since they seemed targeted to an older audience.
     Loki Blackstar is a Dreamhunter. One of the few in the world. He has the power to enter demons' dreams and kill them in their sleep, so when he's asked to kill the demon that the townspeople call Snow White Sorrow, he is happy. But when he meets Snow White, she is nothing he expected. Wickedly lovely, Snow White will change Loki's life. For better or for worse.
     Before I wrote this review, I read a couple of reviews on Goodreads and what I noticed was that most of them complained that the blurb sounded like a mix between Anna Dressed In Blood and City of Bones. So, let me clarify. This book is NOTHING like either. I haven't read Anna Dressed In Blood, but I have read City of Bones. There is nothing in common between these three books and Snow White Sorrow is as original and unique as they come. 
    The world Cameron Jace created is delightful. It captures you. It intimidates you. And it doesn't let go. You'll get immersed in the beautifully frightening world he has created. And his characters are three-dimensional, they feel real. Loki, Snow White, Axel, Fable, Lucy, all characters that you'll care for. And connect with. I have never felt so in tune with the characters in a book as I felt with this one.
     The plot has so much information, so many details in it, but it NEVER felt like an info dump. It was explained step by step, in a way that you'll never get bored with. The ending was a cliffhanger of sorts, it has me waiting on the edge of my seat, just to know what happens next. There are still many amazing characters in the prequels that haven't made an appearance yet, so I gotta wait for the awesomeness to  continue. If you are ready for a unique, romantic read that's gonna drown in you in a beautifully imagined world, then this is the one! Start reading it now!

Review: A Night To Forget by Jessica Wood

Title: A Night to Forget (Emma's Story #1)
Author: Jessica Wood
Publication: June 20th 2013 by All Night Reads
Genre: NA Contemporary Romance
Source: Provided by the kind publisher
Goodreads

A Night to Forget is the first book in the two-book series, Emma's Story. The second book in this series, The Day to Remember is scheduled to be released in August 2013.

What happens in Cancun doesn’t always stay in Cancun.

When Emma Anderson and her friends decided to spend their senior year Spring Break in Cancun, she expected some crazy memories to end their final college days. What Emma didn’t expect was to meet Brandon Fisher. Tall and sexy, with dimples that would make any girl swoon, Brandon Fisher was literally the man of Emma’s dreams. She couldn't quite believe that this stranger, who seduced her every night in her dreams, actually existed.

After serendipitously bumping into each other, Emma could not resist Brandon’s pull and spent an unforgettable night with him. Passing it off as a spring break fling, Emma never expected to see Brandon again. But when she started her first day at her new job a few months later, there he was. The only problem was, Brandon didn’t even remember her.

-- My Rating --

3/5 Oscars: Liked it...

-- My Thoughts --

     The blurb of this book really intrigued me.  I liked the idea of amnesia, even though it's not new, I have not read anything about it before. But sadly, I was disappointed on that part. And many other parts, too
     Emma is just an average girl , graduating from college. And what's better than a trip to Cancun for the last summer with her three friends? Nothing prepared her for meeting the man of her dreams, literally. And spending a special night with him. But when she goes to work at her new job, Brandon, the hot guy in Cancun,is her boss. And what's even worse? He doesn't seem to remember her.
     I got hooked on the amnesia part, but it was not detailed to my liking. And it lacked a lot in the plot aspect. I felt like the romance, which is the hugest part in this book, advanced too fast for my liking. It was almost like insta-love, and everyone knows how much I hate that. Also,  I couldn't connect with Emma. She kept making such stupid decisions and hanging on her past for so long that it got annoying.
      But I gotta give a shout out to the author for the completely swoon-worthy Brandon. Although the book lacked in the plot and the character development, it was perfect in the steamy scenes. They advanced too fast, yes, but they were the perfect mix of hotness and sexiness! I loved that. The end was a bit of a shock. Like, I didn't expect the book to end at that point but it did. So, I am hoping and expecting a lot from the author in the second book. Hopefully, it will be much better.

Review: The Grimm Diaries Prequels by Cameron Jace... PERFECTION

Hello, guys!

Today, I am promising you the ride of a lifetime.

I am proving my very short reviews of the 15 prequels in Cameron Jace's upcoming new series, the Grimm Diaries. The first book Snow White Sorrow (check it out here) is out now. And I am planning to read it right after i finish posting these reviews!
     I am OFFICIALLY the number #1 fan of Cameron Jace. I always loved fairy tales, and fantasy was one of my favorite genres. But I have never read retells of the common fairy tales. And what a good way is to start with Cameron Jace's prequels?
    These prequels are 15 short stories, each written by a character in the actual series. And what a delight they were! I cannot believe i have been missing out on such a promising new series. (You can check out all the prequels here)

1- Snow White Blood Red , as told by Snow White Queen (wrongfully called The Evil Queen)
     I can't believe such a short story changed my whole mind about Snow White's fairly tale. Cameron Jace knows exactly how to surprise a reader. I never expected what happened. Nothing. I was as clueless as they come, and I LOVED it. This prequel made me want to start reading the first book RIGHT NOW, but I am going to stop myself. Not until I read the whole 15 prequels!

2- Ashes to Ashes and Cinder to Cinder, as told by Alice Grimm
     The Grimm Brothers are such fascinating people. And the fairy tales they created are even more so. Alice Grimm was a new and interesting character. it was the first time I hear of her, but she definitely was not typical. she was hiding something. And I want to find out what it is. This is the deal with Cameron Jace. He knows how to keep his readers waiting on the edge of their seats for new information about their favorite characters.
     This prequel introduced a bunch of new characters, but gave us no significant details about them. So, I cannot wait to read the actual series to get a handle on what's the truth and what's lies.

3- Beauty Never Dies , as told by Peter Pan
Peter Pan has always been one of my favorite characters. He's such an interesting, charming boy. But the version of him in this prequel was different, even more charming and adorable! i will always be in love with you, Peter. There's also Dracula, and Hunchy, and a lot of more interesting characters in this prequel. And what a wonderful DELIGHT they were. The end of this one was a huge BANG, that I didn't see coming at all.

4- Ladle Rat Rotten Hut, as told by Little Red Riding Hood
Who would have thought that Little Red Riding Hood, or our cute Ladle would make such an interesting character. She is witty, tough and all-together amazing.
I believe that the author has much more in store for her, and I cannot wait to know more. I didn't really like one character in this prequel. He was kinda needless, but I'm not going to spoil the read, so my lips are sealed.

5- Mary Mary Quite Contrary, as told by the Devil
I never knew the devil was so interesting. He is such a fleshed-out character with a very unique voice. One you would recognize everywhere. He gave this story a new taste. what surprises me is the author's talent. He can make SO MANY new voices. Every prequel has  a new voice but you never fail to capture their unique essence. The Mary myth was very interesting, and her character, I think, has a significant role in the series. Can' t wait to know what.

6- Blood Apples as told by Prince Charming
Oh, our lovely Prince Charming. He falls in love with our sweet Snow White. And what is a nicer love story than theirs? Prince Charming was a goody-two-shoes, for me. He was so blinded by love that he could do nothing else but think about Snow White. The twist at the end was actually very romantic and gave me some hints about the characters in the main series. No cliffhanger here.

7- Once Beauty Twice Beast as told by Beauty (sometimes called Beast)
Beauty and The Beast is one of the loveliest Disney movies. It's such a lovely love story. But, no, no, no. Things are never that simple, as Cameron Jace, proves. The Beauty (or Beast) is a great character. But if I use one pronoun in this short review, it's gonna ruin the read. I appreciate the twists the author created on this one, they twisted my favorite fairy tale, into the most-imaginative tale I have ever read, to-date.

8- Moon & Madly as told by Moongirl
I have to admit it. After I read all the prequels, Moongirl is definitely my favorite character. She is so sincere, unique, and all-together a great girl. And her story is exceptional, with little appearances from our infamous, Jack Madly. Remember Jack and the Beanstalk? Well, that's him right there. These two make up the most interesting story in the whole prequels, marking a close second to the Children of Hamlin.

9- Rumpelstien as told by Rumpelstiltskin
Every fairy tale has Rumpelstiltskin in it. But every time, it's a different version of the bad guy. But was Rumpelstiltiskin really all bad? Or was he a good guy once? That's the thing with the author. he turns every single fact you knew about a fairy tale into a tailspin and every myth into a real thing. I LOVED that. The end of this one was a BANG, as well.

10- Jawigi as told by Sandman Grimm
This is the most perfectly-executed element in all the 15th prequels: the surprise factor. And the revelation in the end is SO SHOCKING that you will be cursing yourself for not figuring it out any sooner. I was so shocked, that I had to just get a break before continuing to the 10.5th prequel. Our Sandman Grimm is an interesting character and one you'll recognize AND not recognize. He's familiar and NOT familiar. So confusing, I know. But everything will become clear when you read it. An A for Cameron Jace on the twists in this prequel.

10.5- Happy Valentine's Slay as told by Willie Winkie
Willie Winkie. a strange and funny name, i know. But the character is far from funny, and he gives us the answer to so many unanswered questions that I have to thank the author for adding this little prequel in between. Our favorite characters come back all together for a Happy Valentine, but it's far from happy. And far from normal. The end was a MYSTERIOUS BANG! Since, I didn't get what the hell happened, but it was clarified in the upcoming prequels.

11- Children of Hamlin as told by the Devil
My favorite narrator in this series is the Devil. And so I was SO GLAD that he was back. He has a way of creeping under your skin and he makes HELL visible and vivid. It was super creepy but super smart for the author to execute it so well. This is, by far, the most informative prequel, and the author states that at the end. It gave us so many answers and created tons of more questions. It also clarified the end of the previous prequel, Happy Valentine's Slay. I thought this one would be boring, but it wasn't at all.

12- Tooth & Nail & Fairy Tale as told by Jack Madly
The lovely Jack Madly is back again in this prequel. This prequel, I think, happens a little earlier than the others. The character sound a bit younger but they are interesting nonetheless. And what's more interesting that the lovely Hansel and Gretel. Having just finished watching the movie, Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters, it was very interesting to have them in this prequel. They are really cute and real, you can relate them all very well. The chattering teeth in this one were a very interesting addition and the reference to the origin of dentists was also interesting. I am pretty sure that the author did TONS of research to accomplish so much in such short prequels.

13- Ember in the Wind as told by the Little Match Girl
Little Match Girl is also a fairy tale character I am familiar of. Her story is not a happy one, so I was curious to know where the author will take this one. And he nailed it! The little twists in this one were so unexpected, but they explained a whole lot of the plot for the previous prequels! The author is planning on another book after Snow White Sorrow, called Cinderella Dressed In Ashes, I think it will fit this one perfectly.

14- Jar of Hearts as told by The Queen of Sorrow
The Queen of Sorrow is the most interesting character in the whole series. Her cold-blooded attitude and her hatred towards Snow White are palpable and they get you extremely curious about her true story. And this prequel poses a great question: Are we born evil or is being evil gained over years? This one reveals a whole LOT of stuff.  I think, currently, I KNOW a whole lot about this series. So, I hugely recommend that you read ALL the 15 prequels then read Snow White Sorrow, because I'm sure if I didn't , I wouldn't have got some of the things in Snow White Sorrow, which I'm pretty sure that I get now.

15- Welcome to Sorrow as told by Igor The Magnificent
Igor. Our lovely hunchback. The Hunchback of Notredame is back. And he is welcoming us to town of Sorrow in 2012. He introduces you to everywhere in the city, from the clubs to the grocery shops to the places you should TOTALLY avoid. He is a great tourist guide. And at the end he even talks a little about Loki Blackstar, which I know is one of the main characters in Snow White Sorrow. So, now, I am fully pumped to read it!

So, guys!

After you have read my reviews, I am pretty sure that you want to read this series RIGHT NOW

And I don't blame you!

This is one series, that am sure, will be a HUGE SUCCESS!

Review: All Our Pretty Songs by Sarah McCarry

Title: All Our Pretty Songs
Author: Sarah McCarry
Publication: July 30th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: No idea at all.
Source: Borrowed
Goodreads

The first book in an exciting YA trilogy, this is the story of two best friends on the verge of a terrifying divide when they begin to encounter a cast of strange and mythical characters.

Set against the lush, magical backdrop of the Pacific Northwest, two inseparable best friends who have grown up like sisters—the charismatic, mercurial, and beautiful Aurora and the devoted, soulful, watchful narrator—find their bond challenged for the first time ever when a mysterious and gifted musician named Jack comes between them. Suddenly, each girl must decide what matters most: friendship, or love. What both girls don’t know is that the stakes are even higher than either of them could have imagined. They’re not the only ones who have noticed Jack’s gift; his music has awakened an ancient evil—and a world both above and below which may not be mythical at all. The real and the mystical; the romantic and the heartbreaking all begin to swirl together, carrying the two on journey that is both enthralling and terrifying.

And it’s up to the narrator to protect the people she loves—if she can.

-- My Rating --

2.5 / 5 Oscars: It was OK

-- My Thoughts --

     I cannot describe this book. it was so confusing that I don't even know what genre it is. One word comes to my mind. WEIRD. This book was just plain weird. A lot of strange things and an even stranger plot.
     What's even stranger is that I don't know the name of the main character in the book. The one who talks in first person. The one that the whole story is about. The author NEVER mentioned the name, so I will go with the initial "A". A and Aurora have been friends since forever. They did everything together, but everything changes when they meet Jack, the mysterious musician, and the guy with the completely-dark eyes.
     The first problem I had with this book was that I didn't know if it was paranormal, contemporary, or a mix of both? It irked me that I didn't know anything about the book's genre. So, I didn't know what to expect from the book when I kept reading. The second thing is the characters. None of them ever clicked  with me. None.  Not A, Aurora, Jack, Cass, Maia. I couldn't connect to any of them and that made me sad.
     The plot was, simply put, confusing. I didn't know what was happening well I was reading. I didn't get where they were, what they were doing, or who they really were. It got on my nerves a LOT, and I passed a lot of paragraphs unread, just because I couldn't get them. I didn't want to get them. There is one good thing about this book. It's the writing. Sarah McCarry's writing style is phenomenal, every single sentence she weaved was like silk, so smooth and pretty. I made tons of quotes in my copy, but I think that the author tried SO HARD with the writing, that she didn't give enough of her time to the plot or the characters.
     I won't be recommending this. And I definitely won't read it again. I am not saying this book was all bad, it had its ups and downs. And the end was pretty amazing. But, here are some quotes for you, so you can judge for yourself whether you'll give it a go or not:
----
Music turns us inside out with hunger, the need to hurt ourselves, get drunk, fuck, punch strangers, the need to take off all our clothes and run around in the grass screaming, the need get in a car and drive off in the middle of the night with a pack of strangers. We let the music shake us loose from the moorings of our bodies and hearts and brains, until we are nothing but sex and sweat and fists and hot hot light
---
Do  you  know  what  it’s  like  to  be  a  girl  pieced  together  out  of  appetite  and impulse?  We  do.  In  that  place  of  heat  and  noise  I  forget  everything,  forget  being  poor  and  being cared, forget the looming misery of school and the adult world, forget walls and masks and pretense.
---
A single note, faint and sweet, travels all the way from the stars to fall lightly to earth, and then another,  scattering  soft  as  rain.  His  music  is  like  nothing  I  have  ever  heard.  It  is  like  the ocean surging, the wind that blows across the open water, the far call of gulls. It catches at my hair, moves across my skin and into my mouth and under my tongue. I can feel it running all through me.
---
I want to do everything, everything, everything, but I leave my hand in his and tamp all that desire into a hot coal at the center of my chest. 
---
Kissing him is like falling into a river, some great fierce current carrying me outside of my body, and all around us the music of the water rises and rises, and I can hear the wind moving over the sand, the distant singing of the stars veiled behind their curtain of blue sky, the slow, resonant chords of the earth turning on its axis.
---
You  think  that  the  world  we  live  in  is  ordinary.  We  make  noise  and  static  to  fill  the  empty  spaces where  ghosts  live.  We  let  other  people  grow  our  food,  bleach  our  clothes.  We  seal  ourselves  in, clean the dirt from our skins, eat of animals whose blood does not stain our hands. We long ago left the ways of our ancestors, oracles and blood sacrifice, traffic with the spirit world, listening for the voices  out  of  stones  and  trees.  But  maybe  sometimes  you  have  felt  the  uncanny,  alone  at  night  in a dark  wood,  or  waiting  by  the  edge  of  the  ocean  for  the  tide  to  come  in.  We  have  paved  over  the ancient world, but that does not mean we have erased it.
---
 I’m a chalkboard that’s been erased over and over again until there’s nothing left but a haze of white dust. Before this I never understood how  long  an  hour  could  take,  how  many  ticks  of  the  second  hand  are  in  a  minute,  how  endless  the space between seconds can be.
---

Review: The Truth About Letting Go by Leigh Talbert Moore

Title: The Truth About Letting Go
Author: Leigh Talbert Moore
Publication: February 21st 2013
Genre: YA Contemporary
Source: provided by the kind publisher
Goodreads

Ashley Lockett has always followed the rules. She's always done the right thing and played it safe until her ideal life is shattered when her dad dies suddenly.

Fueled by anger and grief, she vows to do everything opposite of how she lived before. Then she meets Jordan. He has big dreams, he's had a crush on Ashley for years, and he's a great kisser. But he's also safe. 

Enter Colt. He is not safe, and he's more than willing to help Ashley fulfill her vow.

-- My Rating --

4/5 Oscars: Really liked it

-- My Thoughts --

The first book in the series (companion novel) : The Truth About Faking
     The first book in this series, was phenomenal. I loved it. But I read this book before the first one, and I don't recommend you doing that. This book was more emotional and more heart-wrenching than the first.
     Ashley was always the good girl. Perfect all over. But Ashley's father just died. The only bright light in her life is gone. And her family is torn apart. So, she decides to go against everything she has ever believed in. To act bad. She doesn't need sweet guys like Jordan, no, she needs bad, hot guys like Colt. But does her heart agree?
     This book was definitely more intense than the first one. And you can evidently SEE the development of Leigh Talbert Moore's writing. It's more defined and much better. First, there's the cancer and death aspect, which affected the main character a lot. It shaped her actions through the course of the book. Ashley was not an easy person to like. She doesn't know what she wants, she is mostly rude, but I grew to like her a lot. Jordan is a sweetheart. he is the perfect guy, not what Ashley wants, but what she needs. Colt is the evident bad boy. But he makes you swoon, nonetheless.
     Ashley's character development was as clear as glass. Leigh Talbert Moore is a pro at creating real teenager emotions. The kissing scenes and the confessional scenes in this book were way more intense and steamy than the first book. I almost thought it was NA, not YA. But, whatever genre it is, Leigh T.M. knows exactly how to express the perfect amount of real emotions.
     I wonder if there's a third book in this series. Because, it's quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I've fallen in love with Harley, Jason, Trent, Ashley, Jordan, and Colt. And I hope to catch some glimpses of them in the (hopefully) future books. These two books are intense, heart-felt, romantic and most importantly, real.