The Girl Who Loved Ghosts by KC Tansley 4 ✭

Title:	The Girl Who Loved Ghosts
Author:	K.C. Tansley
Publisher:	Beckett Publishing Group
Series:	The Unbelievables
Genre:	Young Adult, Time Travel, Supernatural
Publish Date:	September 16, 2019
Sold by:	Amazon Digital Services LLC
Pages:	300
Ages:	Teen

 Rating: ✭✭✭✭

First I want to thank K.C. Tansley for giving me an advanced reader copy for reviewing purposes. I really appreciate the opportunity to continue reading the series.

Don't let the title fool you into thinking this is the book where Kat finds her love or that it is all hearts and roses. No, this book isn't about that at all. This book is about much more than Kat loving a ghost or anyone for that matter. This book has so much sadness and loneliness in it.

At the start of this book Kat has feelings for Evan but isn't fully aware of how deep they run. Evan is completely oblivious and in denial. Seth is dropping hints to Evan non-stop about it all. Seth's cousin is in town and seems to really like Evan a lot. Evan is slowly pulling away but that only gets worse once they find his ancestral home. Then they have to train separately too. Kat has also been keeping all her training and secrets about the past book activities hidden from her best friend, Morgan because she is afraid of Morgan getting hurt. But in hiding all that she almost loses her best friend because she is betrayed. Toria, Kat's ancestor, and the beloved ghost tells Kat that she will be gone for a while and unreachable. And that is how the book starts out. Kat is losing Evan it seems to some new girl, Morgan is almost done with her, and her favorite ghost and ancestor, Toria who has been helping her tells her goodbye. She feels alone and scared but tries to continue.

Kat and even go back in time two more times this book. They're trying to get the Mallory family amulet. It is the last one that they need to restore the four family's power. They still don't know how the families have connected. How it all started, why the Radcliffe's are their "ruler", why the Kingsley's are always the warrior protector, etc. They do eventually get the Mallory bracelet, but this time it had a cost. This time the cost of a spell Kat had to use almost shattered her mind. Add that on top of all the earlier Kat emotions and we have a girl who really has gone through a lot this book.

The Mallory heir is kind of a shocking reveal. At least to me. Maybe I didn't think on through enough. I don't really know. I think I read these books so fast that it's like I'm along for the ride that the story is offering.

I will say this book ended on a weird cliff hanger. That I didn't like. It just puts a personal interact on the end and it feels out of place. I feel like it should be before the ending big reveal then it would flow better to me. As the book is in its current ARC form, it doesn't feel right. I don't think there is enough emphasis that the book is ending. It feels like it just stops. This in itself could tank the whole feeling of the book if you let it. I chose not to because I feel like this book series has done a lot and come a long way and has plenty more to offer.

Overall, this book brings a lot more to the world and is leading to something special it feels like. They're fighting goblins and other creatures in a forest. There is possibly another family curse that the Mallory heir tells Kat about. There is a lot of side plot reveal with the knowledge of unknown enemies out to destroy the four families. The emotional journey everyone has gone through and is trying to deal with will affect the next book greatly. I think the next book is going to have a lot going on. I hope, and think, the next book in the series will be key. I am looking forward to it for sure. And according to an interview with the author, she envisions there to be five or more books. I'm happy with that. 

I enjoyed reading the third book in the Unbelievables series.

 The Girl Who Loved Ghosts is worth a read and will be

released September 16, 2019 and looks to cost $3.99 as of right now for Pre-order.

Forever and Always, Lara Jean by Jenny Han 4 ✭

Title:	Forever and Always, Lara Jean
Author:	Jenny Han
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster
Series:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre:	Young Adult, Social & Family Issues, Contemporary
Publish Date:	May 2, 2017
Sold by:	Simon & Schuster
Pages:	337
Ages:	13 & up

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

I read this book in half of a day. It was the easiest read of them all. The finale to the series tackles the end of high school for LJ and Peter. Every relationship in senior year struggles with if they should stay together while they go away to college. LJ and Peter are no different. LJ has changed so much from the start, much like any girl in a long-term relationship. Your whole world revolves around each other. So when LJ doesn't get into the same college as Peter, shit starts to go downhill fast. Thankfully we are over Gen after two books, but Peter is still an emotional child I feel like. He really didn't change at all as a book character, but I am not completely upset about that. I say that because LJ even comments about it herself about him not growing up. He really acts like some boys would act in all the situations of the books. So I am not upset, I just don't like how the book wraps up with the last 10 pages or whatever it was. Put it this way, you will be on your seat till the end waiting to see what their decision is.

You also see how LJ's father getting remarried affects their family. How Kitty feels, which you could probably guess if you read the previous book. Really it is about Margot's reaction, and how the three sisters interact. To be honest, you can see how the conflict there would start. Margot didn't seem impressed with Ms. Rothschild in the least. So her being so far away and the other sisters getting to know Trina, there is bound to be conflict. Kitty is a very vocal person, and with her love for Trina, there was going to be some issues.

The sisters' relationship in this book doesn't have a big focus like the previous books. But I want to tip my hat to the writing for this. Yes, this is a romance, but in a way, these are also sister books. Book One, Lara Jean's connection to Margot and the stresses she has trying to not destroy her relationship with her. Book Two, her and Kitty seem to form a new bond and are closer than the first book. Kitty is invested in LJ and Peter. Book Three, Lara Jean is so stressed with a college that she isn't thinking about everyone before herself. She is trying to not think about her college worries, by baking away every day. So yes, the sister's aspect falls off a little, but I am not upset because this is Lara Jean's story. It is about her this time. 

Check out a Free Sample read of Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han below. You don't even have to leave the page. 

P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han 5 ✭

Title:	P.S. I Still Love You
Author:	Jenny Han
Publisher:	Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Series:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre:	Young Adult, Contemporary Romance, Social & Family Issues
Publish Date:	May 26, 2015
Sold by:	Simon & Schuster
Pages:	353
Ages:	12 & up

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭
Jenny Han has continued Lara Jean's story in the most adorable and total Lara Jean way possible. At the time of my review, Netflix IS going to make a sequel. It deserves it in my opinion. This saga is just so perfect. I will watch the hell out of it.

Since the story is a little changed from the first book to the movie, I can see how the second book will be changed. Although, I don't see it really having to change much. I mean, really what was changed was some character backstory. Who was a first kiss and how, how they all know each other and just a little more background? It's why you can read the books and watch the movie so easy. Again, I am predicting that the book and movie will complement each other just like they did before.

Lara Jean and Peter are actually dating in this book, for real this time. It is sweet and fun. However, Lara Jean has a lot of trouble with the fact that Peter still talks to his ex, Gen, all the time. This is a very real situation. I had a similar one when I was 16. The boy is trying to be friends with the ex, but also trying to still be your boyfriend. You want to hate that he isn't 100% only loyal to LJ, but really if he was able to ditch his ex so easily, what kind of person would that make him? Right so, with that in mind, there is VALUE to this book, other than it being a teen love. Also, another love letter recipient and LJ start getting close. LJ is in a confusing time with her boyfriend always being with his ex, and getting this new fresh attention from a new boy. It is a really confusing time for her. Again, this plays out so natural that you can read right through it so fast.

Another aspect of this story other than the total teen triangle is the affect dating has on a family. Yes, you see this in the first book. The first book was Margot relationship and its effect. This is how LJ's relationship/friendships affect their whole family. How it changes interaction with a sibling and even the parent. There are different ways that LJ father changes for a couple of scenes just because of events that have happened, however, her father isn't there too much to really see that impact. It's more about Kitty. Kitty has been attached to both her sisters' boyfriends. I can relate my little sister still remembers and adores my one ex. She knows nothing of the problems we had, but to her, he was just the best.

I love these characters. I love how the story is playing out. I hope with the final book Peter starts acting like he is growing up because I feel like the progression for him is stagnant. We will see. Always and Forever, Lara Jean is next. I'm hoping to enjoy this one as much as the others.

You should check out a Free Sample read of P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han below, without even leaving the page!

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 5 ✭

Title:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author:	Jenny Han
Publisher:	Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers
Series:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre:	Young Adult, Romance, Social & Family Issues
Publish Date:	April 15, 2014
Sold by:	Simon & Schuster Books
Pages:	368
Ages:	12 & up

 Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

My sister and I have been talking about this movie non-stop for a week. She's in her early 20's and I just turned 33 this month. I am a reader, and she really isn't. So I grabbed the book set on Amazon. I got it at a steal using coupons and stuff, $13. For example, there is currently a coupon for $5 off a $20 paperback purchase, which is one of the ones I used when I got my books. I got a set for me and my sister. I'm pretty sure she is going to read these books. She already said she would so that is her Christmas Present.

So I am a big fan of the movie, and I can say, so far, I am a fan of the first book just as much. There are definitely changes between the book and movie. However, it doesn't really make one better than the other in my opinion. They just sort of enhance each other in different ways. It's like the movie Serenity and the show Firefly to me. They are essentially the same story, just done a little different from the same people. You can really see the actor's from the movie fitting in these rolls of the book. I've watched the movie I think three times and just finished the book. All in a couple weeks. This book is definitely something that can be read multiple times, just like the movie.

This book is supremely relatable to a young girl and her first crushes. You get to hear from Lara Jean's perspective of her past major loves that she has moved on from. You get to see more of each individual boys letter that she has written. Jenny Han has done an amazing job of making you understand what Lara Jean is feeling and has gone through. It is believable and realistic. I mean, hell, I still remember mine. I remember all my crushes and my absolute love and the ridiculously embarrassing love letters I wrote to those boys. I can't wait for my daughter to read these when she hits that age because I think these are a sweet way to see another person going through the motions of multiple strong loves. I remember my mom talking to me about boys when I was a kid, and it was embarrassing and I didn't even want to relate to my mom. I feel like as a mom now, who was a boy-crazy teen, I can see these (and the movie) being a really good way to talk to my future teen daughter.

Other than the basic breakdown of the book. I don't have much else to say. I think it is an amazing book. I am really happy that I got this book set. I plan on reading the next book now. As a mom, I would recommend this. To the mom, and to the teen. 

Check out a Free Sample read of Jenny Han's amazing book below without even leaving the page!

Now or Never Moment: Omnibus by Katie Kaleski 2 ✭

Title:	The Now or Never Moment: Omnibus
Author:	Katie Kaleski
Genre:	Teen, Young Adult, Depression, Mental Illness
Publish Date:	January 23, 2018
Sold by:	Amazon Digital Services LLC
Pages:	481
Ages:	Teen

Rating: ✭✭

Shelby is getting ready to go off to college and her best friend hands her a package. She is to not open it until she is happy with her life away at college. The omnibus is set up with two perspectives. Shelby is a present day and Tanner in the past. In the package, Tanner is telling Shelby how the past events and their friendship has gotten to where it is now. You become emotionally invested in Tanner and what the future holds for him.

It touches a lot of different topics like bullying, suicide, and depression. These things could be hard to read about. When I was in school, I was bullied. So these things matter to me. It touches so close to home. Eating lunch in the bathroom, crying every day after school, but trying to hide it from everyone because you just know deep down (or think you know) that no matter what nothing will change. If I had talked to the right person, I might have learned what I know now about those miserable days. Now I know how much those times shaped me to understand others better, but also how to be true to myself and my feelings. Let's be honest here, I am over 30 now and some of my high school situations still pop up in my head and haunt me. That's why bullying is such an important topic. So I think this book really helps you feel for Tanner and what he goes through. I think this book did a good job with that.

I did have some problems with the book. I feel like scene transitions were rough, especially for Shelby scenes. It felt like there was no transition at all. It was better when you were reading Tanner's well thought out letter to Shelby. The best way I can explain it is sometimes when reading through a chain of scenes for Shelby, I couldn't visualize what was going on right. It ended up feeling a little like reading stick figures. This really brought the story down for me. It may have even come out better without those scenes altogether. I don't know. I'm not the best writer myself. Or maybe with a younger generation, those scenes for Shelby were just right.

If you have Kindle Unlimited this is a Freebie that you can pick up. It's only $1.99 if you don't have Kindle Unlimited and wanted to give it a try. I think that this is a very moving story. I personally just thought it was ok and that it may appeal to a much younger generation who is fine just the base story meaning. 

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead 3 ✭

Title:	The Glittering Court
Author:	Richelle Mead
Publisher:	Razorbill
Series:	The Glittering Court
Genre:	Young Adult, Romance, Historical
Publish Date:	April 5, 2016
Sold by:	Penguin Group (USA) LLC
Pages:	403
Ages:	Teen

*Box or No box? Look at previous posts to see the difference in set up. I feel like trying something different.

Rating: ✭✭✭

So I am really not sure what to rate this one. I am really not. I have read 2 series by Richelle Mead and I have really loved them. I couldn't get into the one with the little alchemist even though I enjoyed the vampire academy series.

I did borrow an audiobook version of the story and while I listened I felt like I was getting a story of beginning settlements in America. But the names of countries were changed. I guess that's the part that I felt wasn't necessary. If you are going write a period piece that sounds historically like a specific situation, then say that. Call a spade a spade, ya know. It just felt like reading/listening to a great American settlement story and then trying to sound a little more trendy so like let's give the places some new names, but the same accents you would anyways.

The characters are worth the read at least. You have your strong female lead, Adelaide, who expresses her opinions and stands up for others. The men are written pretty well with devious and intelligent sides. Adelaide's friends are good side characters that provide an extra mysteriousness and humor. So you have a cast of characters that bring a lot to the book. You even get this common lackey type of character found in a lot of movies. You know the one that less intelligent and is always nasty with words. I really would go into the characters more, but that's the whole story really and don't want to spoiler it. The whole story is basically the interaction of Adelaide, Cedric, her friends, and the young governor once she's in America, I mean Adoria.

If I am not mistaken the other books in the series are about Adelaide's two best friends that she met in the finishing school she didn’t need. The second book is about Mira who is looked down upon because she is a refugee trying her best to get her freedom. And the third and final book is the other best friend in the trio, Tamsin's story. From what I see it almost looks like it may take place simultaneously as the first book. So these aren't your typical chronological romance series, nope these sound like they are different perspectives of the same events. This idea really makes me interested in the series. Adelaide's book was just cut and dry and basic. But there were seems where Tamsin was lost at sea, and then maybe lost at sea again. And Mira is mysterious and always running off, or hidden somewhere. So there really is a possibility for the story to really get me into it. I just don't know if this intro to the world and people were enough to pull me in.

If you would like to read a free sample of The Glittering Court,

you can do that below without leaving the page. 

Cinder by Marissa Meyer 4 ✭

Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Series: Lunar Chronicles

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fairy Tales & Folklore

Publish Date: January 3, 2012

Sold by: Macmillan

Pages: 400

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

I'm still packing and preparing for the move. So here's another audiobook review.

Marissa Meyer has really written a fantastic retelling of a childhood classic. I like it because it isn't like the usual retellings that really don't feel like a retelling. This actually does retell the story a different way, in its own way, that's a little dark and still sweet. Cinder had some good humor written into it as well that makes it feel alive and not just a story on a page. The narrator was good in this one. Although I did doze off in a couple chapters that were really descriptive. I am looking forward to the next book in the series, I  just have to wait until its available for me to borrow from my local library. 

Cinder herself is fun for me to read. She has a smart ass side to her and could tell it like it is which is fun to read. But she also has a sweet caring side to her. Her family is mostly set up like the typical Cinderella story except she does have one sister who isn't completely horrible to her. Cinder doesn't have forest friends, or dwarves, or enchanted furniture as friends. Nope, she has an android for a friend who has this bizarre personality chip that makes it seem like she is a boy-crazy teenage girl. Her stepmother is really awful to her, but other than that you don't know anything else about her.

The events through the book keep changing Cinder's perspective of herself over and over. She starts the book out as a cyborg, half robot half human creation, to being something completely else. Cyborgs are something no people like at all. And when I say no people I mean the human's on earth and the Lunars on planet Luna, which is like the moon. Lunars are different because their time on the moon has changed the people there that now they have powers. Powers like mind control. They can manipulate the way that people think or what they think about doing. The people on Earth are not big fans of Lunars, to say the least. We value our freedom, and on planet Luna there is none.

There are a lot of events that may possibly happen in the future that makes me want to continue the series. A prison break, maybe a war, maybe overthrowing a queen, maybe more love?

If you would like to read a Free Sample of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, 

you can read it below without leaving the page.

I'm going to packing for the next week, so expect more audiobooks to come. Partially now because I have packed my kindle...  >.< It's going to be a super busy few weeks. Thank god for apps and headphones!!

The Raging Ones by Krista & Becca Ritchie 5 ✭

Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie

Publisher: Wednesday Books

Series: The Raging Ones

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, LGBT

Publish Date: August 14, 2018

Sold by: Macmillan

Pages: 400

Ages: 12 & up

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

Holy shit! Sign me up for the sequel, please!!! Please!!! I have to thank Wednesday Books for allowing me to read this E-galley because it was amazing! Lol. That ending! Wow. Ok, I'm ok. We are all going to be ok. That was not what I was expecting to happen at all. I want to spoil so bad... but I won't. I raved about it to my husband because it's like WoW that was straight out of the twilight zone! There is a cliffhanger ending here, but it was one that I personally felt was perfect for these characters. It is a perfect moment of shock because you already know how close they are and their connection. 

This is a really great sci-fi book that takes place deep into our future a couple thousand years where we have already left one planet behind and moved onto another(s). This book isn't so much about world building but more about the society and characters relationships. When you are born you get your birthdate, but here you are tested and then given your death date. So society is separated by life expectancy. If you die as a child you are taken care of by your family and not required to do anything extra because you have so few years they want the little ones to enjoy their time they have. Those who only live their lives are children are called a "Babe". If you die between a teen and mid-20s (I forgot the exact number, I think 29) then you are a Fast Tracker. Fast Trackers are around long enough to keep their world moving and functioning, but they don't have enough time to impact the world. Fast Trackers are the workers meant to serve. If you have longer, then you are expected to do great things and you are an Influential. You are meant to be important and "influence" civilization in some way. 

You have three points of views throughout the book for the main characters, Franny, Court, and Mykal. Each chapter is in the perspective of one character while the story continues chronologically. They are connected, but not by relation. No, for some mysterious reason their sense of touch, smell, and taste are shared. If one hates food that another person linked get sick by they all share that gag reflex. Basically, its like Sense 8 with the trio of teens in a harsher world deep into the future. They can't see or hear what the others see so that does give a challenge in certain situations in the book. The three have this romance between them that was charming in a way too because of the link. 

They also have a lot of struggles through the book. Not with trust because they can feel all of each other's emotions. The main problem is there has never been a single person who has lived past their death date. Now they have to not be caught or noticed that they lived past their death dates. So they decided to pretend to be influentials. Which Franny and Mykal really struggle with since Mykal grew up in the forest, and Franny grew up living the fast tracker life. They are trying to get into a space program so that they could leave their planet and be free from whatever pasts and possible future they may have. 

By the way, it appears that there will be a sequel to the story. According to Goodreads.com at least. I have added it to my watch and wait for list. 

I can't do my usual free sample read below because the book has not released yet. Instead, I'm going to post links to the book in case you want to add it to your Goodreads or Amazon lists.

War Storm by Victoria Aveyard 5 ✭

Title: War Storm

Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: HarperTeen *

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian

Publish Date: May 15, 2018
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers *

Pages: 672

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

Victoria Aveyard has finished the Red Queen series in a fantastic way. The ending wasn't predictable, and it left me feeling satisfied; it felt complete. I really took my time finishing this book. I had to not only because it was over 600 pages, but because there are a ton of things going on. There are many perspective changes within the book, so you are able to see multiple sides of the many battles that happen. The bonus to these is you are able to understand each character's point of view, and how they perceive the world. It is written in a way that you are savoring each section for each person.

Mare isn't the main focus of this book I feel. I feel like it's every character is equally important. I was a little let down at the end, I was expecting more of her power like some ultimate reveal but we didn't really have that. She goes through a lot of changes in the previous books and in this one she still is a little, but I feel like she aware of who she is going to be.

Evangeline has become a lovable character to me. You see her soft side when she thinks her brother is gone. You see her intelligence show when she is piecing together things while Anabel Lerolan, Cal's grandmother, is talking. She is a strong badass on the battlefield and her strength to continue the fight is amazing. Her strong emotions and opinions, like how much she cares for her brother and is repulsed by her mother, or her hatred/love for her father while he uses her as a bargaining chip. Her love and adoration for Elane, and her desire to be with her, but she can't because it is considered abhorrent and a waste of power. Victoria Aveyard has a knack for writing strong badass female characters for sure. I think if she were the main character it could have been great too. I think she could have had her own book. 

Victoria Aveyard's greatest skill with this novel is the battle scenes. You read from Mare's perspective which she is at another location from the rest of the group and it is fast but intense and emotional. Then you get into Evangeline's perspective which when I was reading it I felt like it would be an amazing scene in a movie. You can feel the tension and the terror that Evangeline deals with while she is struggling to survive. That is just an example of only one of the many battles within the book. I loved reading the battles personally. 

I completely think this series AS A WHOLE is a must read if you enjoy young adult books. If I didn't read past the first book, I might not have recommended it as strongly. Now, since I've read all the books I have to push for this one. I've seen the writing improve through all the books. I've seen the characters develop into memorable people that leave a lasting impression. I feel satisfied with the whole outcoming and the meanings behind certain aspects of the book. 

You can read a Free Sample of War Storm below without leaving the page!

* I decided to add two new categories today while I was doing my blog. I have started picking up a few more E-Galley books recently and I decided that I want to start making note of which publishers I have read books from. I think that it would be worth noting for the future, for myself if nothing more. I haven't decided if I am going to go back to old posts to add this part in. What do you think? With so little of an amount, since my blog is young it might not be bad.

King's Cage by Victoria Aveyard 5 ✭

Title: King's Cage

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Dystopian

Publish Date: February 7, 2017

Pages: 528

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

King's Cage felt long but I enjoyed the value that it brought to the series. I have to warn this is going to have a little bit of spoiler to today's review; not much of a spoiler just a little. This book was horrible, wonderful, and intelligent all in one. I think reading while she was captured was boring to a lot of people because a lot of time is passing and Mare isn't able to do really anything. I think the author did that very well. You feel the passing of time. You read as there are things happening in the world beyond Mare's control and she barely hears about any of it. You see how hollow and desperate she is for escape while she spends months in her room alone with nothing but silence. While she is held as Maven's prisoner, she has to deal with all the emotions that she has been avoiding in the previous books. That must have been horrible and I felt for Mare, it was a horrible time for her. If you don't read all the books in a row like I am doing these weeks, you might very well miss out on those important things. You might not remember how in Glass Sword, she was merely a tool to be used to fight. She cut herself off from everyone around her so that she wouldn't have any more emotions. Mare didn't allow herself to think or feel about anything but completing the next task. The first half of King's Cage features Mare and is about her captivity and character growth. 

Victoria Aveyard gives us a reprieve from just reading about Mare in a plain room with nothing to do. She gives us a couple other characters perspectives in this novel. I appreciate that a lot because without that it would be a really boring book. You get to see what is continuing to happen for the Red Guard even though Mare isn't there. You even get to see from a silver's perspective, which I'm not going to say who, but I really liked that. I would love to continue but I think that would just ruin the "reveals" about that character and who they really are. 

It was wonderful to see the strength of the uprising. The strength of Montfort, the Ardent people, and their leader. Victoria Aveyard does a great job of bringing them into the world and showing their democracy. You also get a small taste of their battle tactics and it makes you curious even more. Like I wonder how extreme are they? To what ends are they willing to go to? Wonderful to see the full force of all the different people fighting together and against each other. You actually see what a battle full of abilities is like in this world. Both sides bring their A-Game. You get to see how powerful Mare really could be as she stands alone protecting herself surrounded by silvers. You get to see new alliances and relationships how they have changed in the many months since Mare's capture. Mare and Cal get a reunion and it feels like the pieces are really beginning to come together for the world. It had the feeling that the end was near and the author could have written a quick happily ever after. That is not what you get in this book.

One part that I had to bother my husband about because I thought it was sooooo good, was the political side of things. You get to see different people strategically moving to complete different tasks. Maven had it rough this book. You find out more about his damaged character, he is betrayed, and he has to repair his kingdom enough so they'll stop rebelling. He does a tour, but really it is just like today's politicians, going around town to town making promises and motivational speeches. I loved that, it makes you think about how much we hear and what is just someone trying to keep you dumb and ignorant of what's really going on. I think that fits perfectly with today's world of politics that it's almost scary. So bringing something like that in, and having it written well that you can understand the meaning at any age is pretty good. There are a lot of politics going on in this book, more than the others. You have even more people who are just trying to maneuver the things they control to get to the ending they want. It's done really good.

Cal is an idiot. I'm totally serious, he is an idiot

I 110% believe this deserves a 5-star rating. There is a sh*t ton of stuff that happens during this whole book. You meet many new leaders from different places, an escape attempt, a rescue, two major battles, a few reveals that were previously speculation at least for me. A little bit of love and a lot more loss.

For a Free Sample read, you can click below and you won't have to leave the page.

Cruel Crown by Victoria Aveyard 5 ✭

Title: Cruel Crown

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy,

Publish Date: January 5, 2016

Pages: 208

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

If you are reading this series this is an absolute MUST read. This is a novella short that features Queen Song and Steel Scars as well as a short preview to Glass Sword. I have already read Glass Sword and I'm glad I did. I 100% recommend anyone who has an interest in the series that they need to read this. For me, it is all about Queen Song. This whole part is about Cal's mother from her perspective. This part was like reading a tragic horror story that you know the end too but it is still a great read to see it unfold. To know what Coriane was thinking during her whole ordeal, from meeting the boy who will be her husband, to being a pregnant queen and feeling lost and depressed. I think it is really important to see this side because you can see how Cal has parts of his mother there too. 

(Slight spoiler) The Steel Scars section was about our favorite Scarlet Guard member, Captain Diana Farley, code name Lamb. It is also really good to see this side of the world too. You see a young girl who is given her first true task being a commander and gets to leave her father's side. It is her first time doing a solo mission and what that grows into becoming. It becomes the beginning of the whole revolution. Reading this after Glass Sword really helped me understand why she reacted the way she did at the end. Instead of knowing her skill level and prior circumstances. In Red Queen and Glass Sword, you always get the impression she is this amazing spy who has been doing this cloak and dagger for a long time. I loved reading it in this order.

I looked up the reading order of the books and found on Victoria Aveyard's site that she recommended this to be the reading order. It's why I read them in the order I did and I suggest anyone else should too. 

1. Red Queen
2. Glass Sword
3. Cruel Crown (the two novellas)
4. King's Cage
5. War Storm

You can buy each novella separately as an ebook but I personally chose this paperback version since all the others I've owned have been physical copies.  I have linked the sample chapter for each book below, that links to the Kindle versions. 

Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard 4 ✭

Title: Glass Sword

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Fantasy, Fairy Tales & Folklore

Publish Date: February 9, 2016

Pages: 464

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭✭

I am very glad that I decided to continue the Red Queen series. The first book I felt was a little predictable, but it was also the intro to the characters and the world so I wanted to continue. 

When you start Glass Sword you have Mare and Cal being viewed by the country as an evil lying temptress and a murdering prince who killed his own father. All of this is done by the machinations of the Queen, Elara, who has used her whisper abilities to read everyone's minds and control others to her will. She had been hiding some of Mare's antics with the Red Guard to her own benefit to kill the king and exile the firstborn son. Elara is a mental master, and her son Maven is not just her puppet, but her willing accomplice. 

Mare has gone through so much change since the initial moments of Red Queen, it really is like she is stuck between who she was, is, and will be when necessary. The first book she was a thief who had no other skills, that her own family was completely disappointed with. Then they made her into the fake princess, who had to be cold-hearted around everyone. Then they go and kill anyone associated with her so that makes her lockdown. She needs to protect people but she isn't capable enough to do it alone. In Glass Sword that is one of her biggest conflicts with herself. She wants to care and worry about everyone, but she knows from the previous experiences that if she does she will be crushed and broken. So she makes herself emotionally distant from everyone around her. Her personal struggle is very important. You see her at her weakest, her strongest, and how far she is willing to go. 

Another thing is seeing the characters around her and how their opinions of her change. They praise her and raise her to a pedestal, only to then completely turn around and abhor what she has become. And for different side characters, it isn't even in the order. That makes you wonder who knows more than she does, who has also changed during this book, and who is true to Mare or not. I will be honest, I'm still not sure how the next book is going to turn out. Which is a nice change from the predictability of the first book. 

I am currently reading Cruel Crown which is two novellas that you can read additional. I've only started and I think that it is worth it. I got it for $5 and was happy about that. I'm looking to get King's Cage soon I hope. I'm sort of hooked on the cliffhanger of Glass sword at the moment. 

Read below for a free sampling of the start of Glass Sword by Victoria Aveyard 
without leaving the page.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard 3 ✭

Title: Her Dark Half

Author: Victoria Aveyard

Series: Red Queen

Genre: Young Adult, Supernatural

Publish Date: February 10. 2015

Pages: 398

Ages: Teen

Rating: ✭✭✭

I think this series has potential. It is definitely part of the trend of the 2015 dystopian book fever, however, it has a little change to it with half of the people, the silver bloods, having powers.

I rated this low because I found the major twist predictable. Overly predictable that when the scene played out I was almost uninterested in that section of the book. I say almost because it does continue at a good pace and I did want to see how it would continue from there.

The characters were pretty interesting throughout and it made me think of each scene "the game is afoot". Just because of the sneaky dealings, or background characters relationships the main character, Mare, isn't aware of.

Romantic interests in this is a little interesting because there are three. Maven who she has some feeling for and it seems like he might truly feel some too. Cal, who is Maven's brother does also and it's clear as day but they can't because of the circumstances they are all in. Lastly, we have the childhood best friend type. The one who she might have ended up with if she didn't meet the prince.

I did like this book enough that I ordered the next book in the series. I want to give it a chance and the storyline itself is pretty good. I really enjoyed the writing and the world building. Especially when you are reading about the different parts of the lands. The silvers live in the wonderful cities and the reds get the dirty towns, or the towns full of radiation.

The second book in the series should be here in a couple days, so I am going to be reading the next book in the series after my current book. 

If you would like to read the beginning of Red Queen, you can check it ou below without leaving the page.