Audiobook Review: Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire

Title: Beneath the Sugar Sky Series: Wayward Children #3 Written by: Seanan McGuire Published: January 9, 2018 by Tor Book (Macmillan) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Beneath the Sugar Sky returns to Eleanor West's Home for Wayward Children. At this magical boarding school, children who have experienced fantasy adventures are reintroduced to the "real" world. Sumi died years before her prophesied daughter Rini could be born. Rini was born anyway, and now she’s trying to bring her mother back from a world without magic.

I have been absolutely loving this series. I had been meaning to read the first book for ages and when I finally did I was glad that I could marathon the rest of the series and this was another great offering in a series that I am loving more and more with each book.

On of the best parts of this book is the setting. Not only do we get to return to Eleanor West’s School for Wayward Children but we also get to explore who more worlds of the students. First, I really being able to return to Eleanor West’s after a book completely away. The school is definitely interesting and I want to learn more about it and its inhabitants so it was nice to be back. But the real treat was being able to see two more world. First we get to go to the Land of the Dead, Nancy’s world. We didn’t spend a lot of time there but it’s definitely an interesting world and it was fun to see the place where Nancy belongs.

The best world however was Confection, the world that Sumi went to. Confection is such a strange and interesting place. It’s as if Candy Land and Narnia had a crazy baby made of nothing but baked goods. It’s the first “nonsense” world we have been able to visit which in and of it self was cool. Because seriously, this world was nonsense and had all kinds of crazy rules. But it did have rules which I appreciated. It was fun and strange but it made sense in its own weird way. I also really liked the way it tied back to the larger world of this series. There was a lot more big picture stuff to this world and this book which I liked.

Speaking of big picture stuff, the plot of this book was fantastic! My criticism of the last book was that it didn’t really have much of a story but this one definitely did. It was much more of a high stakes adventure. It had that classic high fantasy vibe where it contained this epic journey to save the world and the person you love thing going for it. This one definitely reads most like a classic world within a world fantasy story. But it was also the story in the series that had the most cohesion. It had a very distinct start and a clear resolution. It was an independent story and impacted the larger plot of the series. As a plot-driven reader I really liked this about the book.

As far as the characters they too were fantastic. This series is full of diverse and complex characters that you cannot help but fall in love with. Going back to Eleanor West’s meant we are able to check back in with some of the characters we met back in book one. I loved being able to see more from Kade and Christopher. They both have interesting backstories and fantasy worlds that I would like to visit. But the character I liked most in this book was Cora. She’s a new student at the school and insanely relatable. She’s plus size, insecure, and anxious. Being in her head hit very close to home sometimes. But what I liked most about her was that she wasn’t a stereotype. She was constantly surprising people with her inner and our strength and I loved that about her. She’s just one example of a great character in this series.

The other cool this about this book is that it’s the first time that we got a main character who is from a world beyond Earth. In this book we had Rini, who is Sumi’s daughter and is from Confection. It was so fascinating seeing how she is different and similar to her companions from the school. Plus in general she was really fun and bubbly, but still vulnerable. Through Rini we explored one more idea of belonging. I mean throughout this book she is literally being removed from existence. Plus through her we also had a lot of exploration of family and friendship which I enjoy about this series.

I seriously loved this book. It might be my favorite in this series. It had some of he things I loved about the first book combined with things I loved about the second book. It’s got amazing worlds, a thrilling plot, and complex and relatable characters. The series is getting better and better and I really hope there is more coming because I am not ready to let it go.

I give Beneath the Sugar Sky by Seanan McGuire 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you liked the first two books in this series then definitely read this one. I think you will enjoy the direction it is going in. I know I did. But if you haven’t read this series I would totally recommend it to fans of fantasy.\

Have you read Beneath the Sugar Sky? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC & Audiobook Review: The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid

Title: The Diabolic Written by: S.J. Kincaid Published: November 1, 2016 by Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: A Diabolic is ruthless. A Diabolic is powerful. A Diabolic has a single task: Kill in order to protect the person you’ve been created for.  Nemesis is a Diabolic, a humanoid teenager created to protect a galactic senator’s daughter, Sidonia. The two have grown up side by side, but are in no way sisters. Nemesis is expected to give her life for Sidonia, and she would do so gladly. She would also take as many lives as necessary to keep Sidonia safe.  When the power-mad Emperor learns Sidonia’s father is participating in a rebellion, he summons Sidonia to the Galactic court. She is to serve as a hostage. Now, there is only one way for Nemesis to protect Sidonia. She must become her. Nemesis travels to the court disguised as Sidonia—a killing machine masquerading in a world of corrupt politicians and two-faced senators’ children. It’s a nest of vipers with threats on every side, but Nemesis must keep her true abilities a secret or risk everything.  As the Empire begins to fracture and rebellion looms closer, Nemesis learns there is something more to her than just deadly force. She finds a humanity truer than what she encounters from most humans. Amidst all the danger, action, and intrigue, her humanity just might be the thing that saves her life—and the empire.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

Oh wow, I had heard great things about this book and yet I still wasn't really prepared at how fantastic it was. This is a seriously thrilling book full of adventure, mystery, and complex characters.

The first thing that struck me about this book is the world. For one thing, this is a book full of political intrigue. It's a society similar to a high fantasy or even dystopian where an elite group of people are in power over they're fighting among one another to keep that power. And like any book with a strong political undercurrent, there is a lot of death and destruction but there is a lot of intrigue and mystery. And seriously, there was so much plotting to this book. It may have rivaled Game of Thrones in that respect, but if it didn't it came damn close. So much scheming. But more in that later.

But in case it's not clear from the synopsis, this is a science fiction book and the world absolutely reflects that. It's full of cyborgs, space ships, and faraway planets. You spend a lot of the book exploring the classic Sci-Fi idea of what it's like when humanity interacts with technology. Throughout the book there's a great undercurrent of science around religion, what is true, and what is best for the people. A lot of that is the basis for the political intrigue too so the two different things worked really well together. But I think in general it had this great Battlestar Gallactica kind of feel in the way it explore humanity and technology which I loved.

Much of the theme of humanity and technology was reflected in the main character of Nemesis who is a Diabolic. She is specifically engineered to protect someone and because of that she's super strong and bred to be violent. But throughout the book you see that there might be more to her and her feelings than initially expected. Nemesis was a really fantastic heroine. From the get go she comes off as a typical strong female protagonist but she is pretty layered in that she is surprisingly vulnerable and caught unaware at times. Her strength isn't necessarily intelligence and  I was rally rooting for her though and Kincaid did a great job in making me connect with her.

But there were so many other great and complex characters here. I think every single one we encountered had some kind of secret and card up their sleeve. It made for a book full of odious people I didn't trust and I seriously loved that. The only one I did actually trust and like was Sidonia. She was a great foil for Nemesis in that she was all intelligence. They had a really great friendship and even though she wasn't in a lot of the book, she made a good impression. Another really great secondary characters though was the love interest, Tyrus. Tyrus in general was really complex and interesting being another really great foil for Nemesis in that he was all about the political maneuvers but had some serious secrets to keep. Plus... guys, I actually really loved this romance. It was complicated, interesting, and added a lot to the plot of the book.

And speaking of the plot, oh man, I cannot say enough how amazingly well-plotted this book was. I already mentioned how this was a world full of scheming and so it should come as no surprise that there were all kinds of crazy surprises and twists. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, there was something new to catch me off guard. There was no way to predict everything here and I spent the last 10% with my jaw on the floor, confused and totally enthralled. Not to mention it all really built to a thrilling conclusion. There was a lot to it and a few reveals throughout the middle kept the action coming. I seriously couldn't put it down. This is a standalone and it works well as a standalone but if I'm being entirely honest, I wish there was more. There was a resolution to the plot but I still want to know what happens next. And that to me is the mark of a great read.

Honestly this was a really fantastic read. I've been in a bit of a book slump but this one totally cured me. It had an amazing world, great characters, and a thrilling plot. If you are like me you have been seeing rave reviews of this book and they are all absolutely warranted. This is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. It was amazing.

I give The Diabolic by S.J. Kincaid 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! Totally buy this book. If you like YA science fiction and are looking for one that has some complex themes about technology and humanity, check it out. Or if you are into political intrigue and crazy twists, oh is this the book for you. Or you're just in the mood for something super thrilling. What I'm saying is, read this book. I'm not all for the comparisons but this was Battlestar Galactica meets Game of Thrones and it was amazing. I would absolutely recommend it.

Have you read The Diabolic? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin

*** This is the second book in a duology so if you have not read Wolf by Wolf proceed with caution. Also, what are you waiting for? Wolf by Wolf was amazing! READ IT! Here's my review. ***

Title: Blood for Blood Series: Wolf by Wolf #2 Written by: Ryan Graudin Published: October 11, 2016 by Amulet Books (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The action-packed, thrilling sequel to Ryan Graudin's Wolf by Wolf.  There would be blood.  Blood for blood.  Blood to pay.  An entire world of it.  For the resistance in 1950s Germany, the war may be over, but the fight has just begun.  Death camp survivor Yael, who has the power to skinshift, is on the run: the world has just seen her shoot and kill Hitler. But the truth of what happened is far more complicated, and its consequences are deadly. Yael and her unlikely comrades dive into enemy territory to try to turn the tide against the New Order, and there is no alternative but to see their mission through to the end, whatever the cost.  But dark secrets reveal dark truths, and one question hangs over them all: how far can you go for the ones you love?  This gripping, thought-provoking sequel to Wolf by Wolf will grab readers by the throat with its cinematic writing, fast-paced action, and relentless twists.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA in exchange for an honest review. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

Oh wow! Wow, wow, wow. This book was everything I was expecting it to be. It was a non-stop thrill ride of action and adventure, great characters, and pain. So much pain. I was late to the Wolf by Wolf party but I took my seat on the bandwagon and seriously loved that book. It was amazing and I couldn't wait to find out what would happen next in this series. And this was everything the first book was but more.

More action and adventure, for one. I thought that the Axis Tour motorcycle race and attempt to assassinate Hitler had high stakes but that's nothing to Yael on the run. Around every corner, after every turn there was some tight scrape to get out of. When I thought it couldn't get more intense, it did. If you are like me and are a plot-driven reader who likes a ton of action in their books this is right up your alley. It really builds to an amazing and thrilling conclusion that had me stress reading in my safe space. Not to mention it is the kind of book you will get so engrossed in you will not want to put it down. I did not expect to finish the nearly 500 pages of this book in two days but I couldn't stop. I just kept reading through all the stress and feels. Because seriously, this book is full of feels that will wreck you in the best possible way.

A lot of why this book is so full of feels is because of the characters. Because this book also has really amazing characterization. I seriously love these characters so much, they are some of my absolute favorites. I love them so much because they are incredibly complex and multi-dimensional. Throughout these books we have seen them at their best and their worst. You see them succeed and you see them vulnerable. All of this makes them easy to root for and want to see succeed. In this one we alternate perspectives between Yael, Luka, and Felix which adds a really interesting dimension to the book as we learn more about them and their pasts while seeing the present through their eyes. It makes for great character development and a great read.

But the world of this book is really fantastic too. This is a book that defies genre classification and a lot of that has to do with the world. Very simply it is an alternate history but it definitely goes deeper than that. I was blown away in the first book the way that this blended history and speculative fiction and it does it again. The author clearly did her research on World War II but she took that as a jumping off point for an complex science fiction like world and plot. I loved the way the two blended as we learned more about the skin shifting, how it works, and its history. It made for a fascinating setting and a great jumping off point for this story.

This is absolutely one of my favorite books of the year. It was everything I was hoping it would be, everything I knew it would be. It was thrilling, engrossing, and painful with amazing characters and an amazing story.

I give Blood for Blood by Ryan Graudin 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! Without a doubt by this book. If you loved Wolf by Wolf you will love Blood for Blood. I seriously loved it and I cannot say enough good things about it. It's so creative and entralling. If you like books with a lot of action check this out. If you like character-driven stories check this out. If you like sci-fi, historical fiction. If you like nice things, read this book.

Have you read Blood for Blood? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: The Midnight Star by Marie Lu

*** This is the third book in a trilogy. If you have not read The Young Elites and The Rose Society proceed with caution during this review for read of spoilers. Also... READ THEM! They're amazing.***

Title: The Midnight Star Series: The Young Elites #3 Written by: Marie Lu Published: October 11, 2016 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: The thrilling finale to the New York Times bestselling Young Elites series from “hit factory” Marie Lu.  There was once a time when darkness shrouded the world, and the darkness had a queen.  Adelina Amouteru is done suffering. She’s turned her back on those who have betrayed her and achieved the ultimate revenge: victory. Her reign as the White Wolf has been a triumphant one, but with each conquest her cruelty only grows. The darkness within her has begun to spiral out of control, threatening to destroy all that she’s achieved.  Adelina’s forced to revisit old wounds when a new danger appears, putting not only Adelina at risk, but every Elite and the very world they live in. In order to save herself and preserve her empire, Adelina and her Roses must join the Daggers on a perilous quest—though this uneasy alliance may prove to be the real danger.   Bestselling author Marie Lu concludes Adelina's story with this haunting and hypnotizing final installment to the Young Elites series.

I knew going into this book that it was going to be fantastic and would wreck me, which is exactly what it did. I loved the first two books in the series, they have been among my favorites of the year so I was nervously anticipated the ending of the series. And it did not disappoint, The Midnight Star was just as amazing and dark and emotional.

My favorite thing about this series and one of the major reasons this book was so good and emotional is the characters. In the course of three books I have become insanely attached to all these characters. For one thing, I love how dark and complex they are. This book has multiple perspectives and it gives a much more well-rounded look at them, which I like. And multiple perspectives is key because every single character in this series is dark, damaged, and devious. They do terrible things but at the same time they are sympathetic. You are able to get inside their head and understand their motivation, however flawed it may be. Because of that you root for them, you want them to succeed, and that's what makes this book so good.

But the main character here and the most symapthetic dark character of all is of course Adelina. I love her SO MUCH. Throughout this series we have seen her at her best and we have seen her at he worst. Here she is absolutely at her best. I went into this book thinking that this was going to be a villain origin story and in some aspects, it is. But what makes this book so good is that it goes deeper than that. And in The Midnight Star we are taken deeper still. I don't want to give too much away but there is such great development here with Adelina. I'm not entirely sure that I would call this a villain origin story anymore but I've always felt like Adelina was more of a hero, albeit an antihero, than anything else. She's so likable despite the fact that she does terrible things. And in the end I was so glad that I was rooting for her all along.

But things here are not easy for Adelina, her allies, and her adversaries. Many of the most emotional moments when in this book came from the fact that the characters go through such hardship. The fact that this is the last book in a trilogy it should come as no surprise that the plot is full of thrills and surprises. There is a lot of action and adventure here. I wasn't really expecting an end of the world epic fantasy vibe but there were elements of that. There were also fantastic elements of a Hero's Journey. The two really combined to create a plot that really built to a thrilling conclusion that had me on the edge of my seat and in tears. Not freak you out or anything but I haven't cried this much at the ending of a book in a very long time. But I was openly sobbing here because it was so emotional and so perfect. But that was this book on the whole, emotional and perfect. I absolutely loved it.

I also really love the world of this series. In particular, I find the magical system so fantastic and it was great seeing it at play here. The Elite powers are so interesting and they were very much tied to the plot of the book. In The Midnight Star we got to learn more about the larger reason behind the powers, why they have them, and how they are wielded. We also get to see a lot more about the consequences of the power. It's one of my favorite things when the magic of a series doesn't solve problems, but creates them and that was the case here. The powers and the plot were also really connected with the history and religion of the world which added another interesting later to the world and the story. I loved being in the world so much that I'm not ready to let it go.

The Midnight Star was a great ending to an amazing series. This is without a doubt one of my new favorite YA fantasy series. It complex characters that you will become attached to, thrilling action and a plot full of emotional turmoil, and a fantastic world full of magic.

I give The Midnight Star by Marie Lu 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! If you liked the first two books in this series do not hesitate, get this one and read it. (Be prepared for feels). And if you have not yet read this series and like dark YA fantasies or villain stories, or books about sympathetic antiheroes, just read this series. It is amazing and this book was the perfecting ending for it.

Have you read The Midnight Star? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab

Title: This Savage Song Series: Monsters of Verity Written by: Victoria Schwab Published: July 5, 2016 by Greenwillow Books (HarperCollins) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: There’s no such thing as safe in a city at war, a city overrun with monsters. In this dark urban fantasy from author Victoria Schwab, a young woman and a young man must choose whether to become heroes or villains—and friends or enemies—with the future of their home at stake. The first of two books.  Kate Harker and August Flynn are the heirs to a divided city—a city where the violence has begun to breed actual monsters. All Kate wants is to be as ruthless as her father, who lets the monsters roam free and makes the humans pay for his protection. All August wants is to be human, as good-hearted as his own father, to play a bigger role in protecting the innocent—but he’s one of the monsters. One who can steal a soul with a simple strain of music. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate, who’s just been kicked out of her sixth boarding school and returned home, August jumps at it. But Kate discovers August’s secret, and after a failed assassination attempt the pair must flee for their lives.

I'm not at all sure that I can write any kind of coherent review for this book. I don't think I can express my thoughts for it with anything besides expletives and the phrase "wow, this was so good" over and over again. But let's try, shall we?

I couldn't wait to read this book. It would have wanted to read it just based on the synopsis, I mean a dark fantasy with literal monsters and warring families. On top of that however, it's written by an auto-buy author who has not disappointed me yet and didn't disappoint me now. This was exactly what I hoped it would. A dark fantasy with a violent world, great and complex characters, and a thrilling plot.

First let's talk about the world of this book. Verity is definitely and dark, compelling world and setting. It's a little dystopian with the struggle for power between two different families and a fragile truce that attempts to protect people from things far worse. It's a little fantasy with a world full of literal monsters. It has dark and blood-thirsty creatures that are created from violent act. It's a fascinating concept and is expertly handled by Victoria's brilliant world-building. It's subtle and we learn more about them as we see the monster's in action. It was a great springboard for a story that is just as dark and violent as it's setting.

Because yes, this is a book with dark and violent plot development. Most notably because of the monsters. Wow, seeing them do their thing was violent and so badass. I kind of feel like a bad person saying this, but I loved seeing the monsters in action. It made for such a great story. Plus there is a ton of action and suspense throughout the book including fight scenes, narrow escapes, and more than one moment that had me nervously fearing what was going to happen next and what the consequences would be down the line. It even had a little bit of mystery and a twist that caught me by surprise. And yes, there was a lot of exposition in the beginning but then it suddenly went from 0 to 60 and I was hooked. Then it gets to the climax and wow, that was one hell of a big finish. When it was all said and done I was left totally in enthralled, reeling, and anxiously awaiting what will happen next. But what I liked is that it did actually finish, it's one of the things I love about Victoria Schwab. She writes a first book in a series with a great ending that leaves you wanting more.

But This Savage Song is a surprisingly character-driven read. Part of what made the monsters so compelling is the fact that it played with the idea of what it means to be a monster, why people do bad things and the consequences of those actions. It was all about the main characters figuring who they wanted to be within those constructs of humans and monsters. It of course then played with the ideas of good and evil. But the best part is that it did it from both an internal and external perspective. It wasn't just about society's evil or your person actions that may be good or evil, it dealt with both. This of course made for a ton of conflict and great characters.

And speaking of those characters, they were complex and likable. August Flynn is a monster and doesn't want to be. He's fighting his violent urges and his true nature. I couldn't help but sympathize with him and want him to succeed in that fight. Kate Hacker wants to be a monster, or a least a very violent human who controls them. She's badass and could easily become a femme fatal caricature but she's surprisingly complex. The two are very different and yet they find common ground and make a great team. Plus they also both have great development throughout the book which is the heart of the story and gave me an emotional gut punch when the book ended. I'm always a fan of Victoria's characterzation and I think she did a great job here by creating characters that were well-rounded, likable, and engaging.

On the whole This Savage Song is seriously another brilliant book by Victoria Schwab who is an auto-buy author for a reason. It's a violent and dark read with a thrilling plot, great characters, and a compelling world. I loved it so much and now I cannot wait to find out what happens in the next book.

I give This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! Absolutely buy this book. Victoria Schwab has written an amazing and dark YA fantasy with characters that you will fall in love with and feel things when their stories end. It is a thrilling read that will leave you reeling, and a world that leave you wanting more. READ IT!

Have you read This Savage Song? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Favorite 2016 Releases

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

It's been a great year of great books for me. It's only half over and I had a really hard time narrowing down my list of favorites because I've read so many 5 star reads. Not a lot of 10 star reads but some that were really close. But also this list was hard because of few of my top books of the year so far are backlist books. But that being said, here is a list of ten of my favorite reads that were released in 2016 (in order of release date).

1.) Truthwitch by Susan Dennard - (Goodreads / My Review)
I was a fan of Susan's first series so when I heard she was doing a high fantasy with female best friends and elemental magic I was all in. This book did not disappoint. It had a great Avatar: The Last Airbender vibe and I loved it.

2.) The Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson - (Goodreads / My Review)
No surprise here. There has never been a Sanderson book not in my favorites list. But this next book in the Mistborn series was particularly mindblowing though and may be my favorite of the year so far.

3.) Calamity by Brandon Sanderson - (Goodreads / My Review)
And again, no surprise here. I love The Reckoners trilogy so much that the final book in the series had to be on it. And while this book was far from perfect and not as tight as a lot of his other books, Sanderson is too got not to have his books in my favorites.

4.) The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock - (Goodreads / My Review)
This is the one debut on my list. I've liked a lot of debuts but I've only loved one. This one. It totally blew me away and was a great piece of historical fiction. It's my favorite debut so far and absolutely one of my favorite reads.

5.) A Gathering of Shadows by Victoria Schwab - (Goodreads / My Review)
This series man, this series is so good. The world is one of the most enthralling I've read in a long time and the characters are so amazing. I didn't like the plot as much as the first book but it was so fantastic and full of adventure and magic.

6.) Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston - (Goodreads / My Review)
I was surprised by just how much I liked this book. It's not your typical contemporary nor is it your typical retelling. It combines the two in a great way. Not to mention it's really empowering with it's message around sexual assault.

7.) The Skylighter by Becky Wallace - (Goodreads / My Review)
This YA fantasy duology is one of the most creative I have read in a long time. The final book was so full of action, adventure, surprises, and feels. The first book was one of my favorites of 2015 and this one will undoubtedly be on the list this year.

8.) The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkowski - (Goodreads / My Review)
I loved this series a lot and the final book was no exception. It definitely escalated things and felt like a full-on war story which hearkened back to the first book in the series. It had a really satisfying ending too which isn't always the case for trilogies.

9.) The Raven King by Maggie Steifvater - (Goodreads / My Review)
Speaking of satisfying endings, The Raven King you guys. I mean I am by no means ready to say goodbye to The Raven Cycle but this book left feeling so good about the way it ending. Even things that were huge surprises made sense and were amazing.

10.) Don't You Cry by Mary Kubica - (Goodreads / My Review)
Mary Kubica is becoming my favorite new voice in mysteries. I loved her debut and I loved this book. It had a great cast of characters, a mystery that kept me guessing, and tons of suspense. The audiobook was also really fantastic.

11.) With Malice by Eileen Cook - (Goodreads / My Review)
And I had to mention one of my most recent reads because it was seriously amazing. One of my favorite YA mysteries of all-time and one of my favorite reads of the year. Totally brilliant and a rare occasion where I was wrong about a mystery.

And those are my favorite releases of 2016. Have you read any of these? Did they make your list? What books are on your list? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin

Title: Wolf by Wolf Series: Wolf by Wolf #1 Written by: Ryan Graudin Published: October 20, 2015 by Little, Brown Books fro Young Readers (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Her story begins on a train.  The year is 1956, and the Axis powers of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan rule. To commemorate their Great Victory, Hitler and Emperor Hirohito host the Axis Tour: an annual motorcycle race across their conjoined continents. The victor is awarded an audience with the highly reclusive Adolf Hitler at the Victor’s Ball in Tokyo.  Yael, a former death camp prisoner, has witnessed too much suffering, and the five wolves tattooed on her arm are a constant reminder of the loved ones she lost. The resistance has given Yael one goal: Win the race and kill Hitler. A survivor of painful human experimentation, Yael has the power to skinshift and must complete her mission by impersonating last year’s only female racer, Adele Wolfe. This deception becomes more difficult when Felix, Adele twin’s brother, and Luka, her former love interest, enter the race and watch Yael’s every move.  But as Yael grows closer to the other competitors, can she bring herself to be as ruthless as she needs to be to avoid discovery and complete her mission?  From the author of The Walled City comes a fast-paced and innovative novel that will leave you breathless.

*** I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher at BEA in 2015. This fact has not changed my opinion. ***

Add this to the list of "books I should have read way earlier." I got a copy of this at BEA last year and while I was interested, I never picked it up. Until now. And I wish I had read it sooner because this book was so good.

This is a fantastic alternate history that reimagines the 1950's if the Axis Powers had won WWII. I usually don't like alternate histories but this one was subtle. It takes real historical figures and incidences and uses it to build a world that is complex and creative. It's odd in that it reads like historical fiction and doesn't at the same time. You can tell that the author did her research into what may have led to an Axis victory, which was really fantastic and kind of grounded the book in reality. It's one of the things I love about historical fiction and speculative fiction at the same time, that it can make something completely imaginary seem possible but at the same time creative. And Wolf by Wolf was an absolutely creative book. It's one of the most inventive stories I have read in a while.

One of the more creative things about this book was the characters. Our main character is Yael who is a ski shifter masquerading as Adele Wolfe. She has a devastating history that we learn about in periodic flashbacks and it makes her very sympathetic. That on top of her determination and inner strength made her a fantastic protagonist. But I also loved all the secondary characters here. It's honestly a book full of antagonists which made it all the more thrilling. Yael has to be careful not to be found out which is made harder by characters who know Adele. Particularly, her brother Felix and Luka Lowe. Both characters were interesting and made things complicated. My personal favorite was Luka. I freaking love Luka Lowe and his subtle roguish charm. He's just so fantastic and fun. And while there is not a lot of romance in this book, I got some serious book boyfriend and shipping feels from him. There's even a novella from his perspective so you know I'm reading that.

On top of that it has a very captivating and thrilling plot. The stakes are incredibly high here for a few reasons, first the Resistance's plan and second the race. Both storylines blended together so well and really added a lot of suspense. The author did a great job descriptively immersing the reader in the race as the characters are taken all around the Northern Hemisphere. There is a ton of action here and it definitely had me on the edge of my seat as it neared the conclusion. It's not a book that is necessarily twisty but there are still unexpected surprises and instances where the main character has to use her wits and skills to get out out them. It all made for an exciting read from start to finish. Speaking of finish, when it finally reached the climax, I couldn't put it down. I've said on the blog before that I don't state up late reading, especially if I have to finish a book, but it was so hard to stop myself with Wolf by Wolf. I actually got to a point where I could stop, just before the climax, and I forced myself to put it down so I could sleep a few hours and then got up early to finish it. I never do that! I like sleep too much to do that! But this book was so good.

I have heard nothing but good things about this book and now that I've read it, I get why. It's addicting and thrilling. It has a complex plot and characters you will fall for. I'm so glad I took the time to read it this month as part of ARC April and now I can't wait to read the next book in the series. I will definitely be getting a copy at BEA again this year.

I give Wolf by Wolf by Ryan Graudin 10 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: BUY! I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction set in WWII but it's not your average book from the period, it's something totally unique. Which is why I would recommend this to everyone. It's as a truly unique and captivating book that has both engaging character moments and thrilling action. A great read!

Have you read Wolf by Wolf? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Top Ten Tuesday: Five Star Reads of 2016

A weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

Today's prompt is our most recent 5-star reads. If you follow my blog you know that I typically go with a 10 star review structure. I've had a few 10-star reviews this year but no where near 10. But Goodreads being what it is, I use 5-star ratings there. So these are all of my 5-star ratings of 2016 in chronological order. I'm not including rereads or novellas because otherwise this whole list

1.) Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
(Goodreads / My Review)
I was a fan of Dennard's first series and I loved this one even more. It's such a fantastic YA fantasy with an interesting and complex world. I went through a lot of embarrassing things at BEA to get a copy of this book and I'm glad that I did.

2.) Passenger by Alexandra Bracken
(Goodreads / My Review)
Alex's dystopian series is one of my favorites in the genre and this time travel book was so fantastic. It had a good balance between historical and science fiction. The ending was out of control and I cannot wait for the next book in this series.

3.) Bands of Mourning by Brandon Sanderson
(Goodreads / My Review)
The next book in the Mistborn series is just as fantastic as all the rest of them. I love the way this series is building and I'm loving it more and more with each book. Plus after reading this one I became even more motivated to read the rest of the Cosmere.

4.) Calamity by Brandon Sanderson 
(Goodreads / My Review)
Not quite perfection but all Sanderson books are probably going to be five star reads for me. I love this series and I thought the conclusion of it was incredibly interesting but I do still have some questions. Good thing that there will be a spinoff.

5.) The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock 
(Goodreads / My Review)
This book definitely blew me away. It's probably my favorite debut so far this year and I have read around a dozen of them. This is a really fantastic and emotional historical fiction novel with great characters.

6.) A Gathering of Shadows by V. E. Schwab 
(Goodreads / My Review)
I love this series. The first in it was my favorite read of 2015 so obviously this was another great book. While this book isn't as good as the first one in the series it reminded me how much I love the characters and this world.

7.) Stars Above by Marissa Meyer 
(Goodreads / My Review)
I'm not usually a big fan of short stories but this is a great collection of prequels about characters that I adore and a great sequel to a series I'm not ready to say goodbye to. And the audiobook was phenomenal just like all the audio in The Lunar Chronicles series.

8.) Rebel of the Sands by Alwyn Hamilton
 (Goodreads / My Review)
I was really looking forward to this book and I'm so glad it lived up to my expectations. I mean how coulf a Western in a Middle Eastern setting not be great. Sometimes complex world-building makes for a messy book. Here it added to the plot, and it was a great plot too.

9.) The Skylighter by Becky Wallace
(Goodreads / My Review)
This is such a brilliant duology and this book was such a fantastic conclusion. I loved the first book so much and I was so happy that the debut exceeded my expectations. The entire second half had me on the edge of my seat and gave me all the feels.

10.) Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston
(Goodreads / My Review)
I'm not a huge fan of contemporary so when one is a five star read it's such an amazing surprise. This book did just that. I didn't know entirely what I was getting into and I found a fantastic contemporary that balanced serious and funny.

And those are my five stars reads of 2016. What books were five star reads for you? Have you read any of these books? What did you think? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

Book Review: Exit, Pursued by a Bear by E.K. Johnston

Title: Exit, Pursued by a Bear Written by: E.K. Johnston Published: March 15, 2006 by Dutton Books for Young Readers (Penguin Group) (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Veronica Mars meets William Shakespeare in E.K. Johnston’s latest brave and unforgettable heroine.  Hermione Winters is captain of her cheerleading team, and in tiny Palermo Heights, this doesn’t mean what you think it means. At PHHS, the cheerleaders don't cheer for the sports teams; they are the sports team—the pride and joy of a tiny town. The team's summer training camp is Hermione's last and marks the beginning of the end of…she’s not sure what. She does know this season could make her a legend. But during a camp party, someone slips something in her drink. And it all goes black.  In every class, there's a star cheerleader and pariah pregnant girl. They're never supposed to be the same person. Hermione struggles to regain the control she's always had and faces a wrenching decision about how to move on. The assault wasn't the beginning of Hermione Winter's story and she's not going to let it be the end. She won’t be anyone’s cautionary tale.

I'm not sure I knew precisely what I was getting into when I picked up this book. But I read a preview and loved the voice so I preordered a copy because I needed to know what came next. I'm glad I did because this is a beautiful, deep, and important YA contemporary.

On the barest level, this book is a retelling of A Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare which is one of the major reasons why I read it right away because this is retellings month (and side note, I'm so glad I did read this right away). As someone who is woefully behind on reading Shakespeare, I'm not very familiar with A Winter's Tale. But this book made me interested in the original story. I am familiar with the general plot and some of the characters and it had me looking up more information about it and wanting to read the original. Which is, I guess, the mark of a good retelling of something that you aren't super familiar with. But in general. I really liked the way that the author took the original and brought it into the modern era. She played with the world and the characters in an interesting and creative way. I love those kinds of Shakespearean retelling. You see them a lot in movies like 10 Things I Hate About You and She's the Man, but it was great to see that in a book. It worked really well to create a framework for an interesting and dramatic story but that is only on the most superficial level of this book and this is a very deep story.

Because even though it is inspired by Shakespeare, this was a completely modern story that deals with some really serious issues. If you go deeper into the book you will find that it's about a teenage girl who is dealing with the consequences of her sexual assault and the way society handles these kinds of incidents. This is the part of the book that I didn't know I was getting into and honestly the part that impressed me more than anything else. The more of the book I read, the more of an impact it made on me. It's such an important and empowering book that shows the characters overcoming such a horrible situation and making tough decision after tough decision, including whether or nor she should get an abortion. The aftermath of sexual assault and the attempt to cope is not always easy and the author really expresses the turmoil but also the strength a lot of women show in the face of such adverse situations. Hermione was a character I completely supported.  I was initially interested in this book because of the Veronica Mars comparison and there are a lot similarities with Veronica and Hermione. She was sarcastic and tough but vulnerable and uncertain. She was real. When I read a preview of the book it was the character and her voice that convinced me I needed to read more of this book.

But if you go even deeper into this book you will find a tremendous story of friendship. Hermione is not the only amazing character in Exit, Pursued by a Bear. When Hermione is trying to cope she has an amazing support system behind her between her parents and her cheerleading team. Her parents were great and involved in the way I think you don't see in a lot of YA. They wanted what's best for their daughter but they still let her make her own decisions and were there to catch her if she fell. The friendship and comradere that the team shows was also inspiring. Most of them rallied to her side and even the ones that didn't gave the book a realistic feel. But my favorite relationship though is the one with Hermione and her best friend Polly.  I'm not a big fan of romances but I love books about friendships, especially female friendships, and this was a fantastic one. The two were an inseparable team and it was great seeing the love and support they had for one another. The friendships in this book was such a bright spot.

But the friendship was not the only bright spot of this book. Johnston's writing is beautiful and important but at the sane time has a slightly lighthearted tone. You may think that this wouldn't do such a serious issue justice but it does and it makes it feel even more realistic. It perfectly portrays the ups and downs of life and trying to make your way through it. It shows the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of life and especially when it comes to getting over trauma. And for me that made it all the more interesting a read. That to me is the perfect contemporary, when if walks the fine line between serious and lighthearted. I'm not a huge fan of books that are super serious even when they are issue books and I think here Johnston brilliantly walked the line between dramatic and funny (which by the way is also very Veronica Mars if you ask me). It had a message and made its points without being preachy which I appreciated tremendously. Plus the characters used humor to cope and they also did their best to focus on the positive. Because of that, it felt like an honest portrayal and made all the more of an impact.

On the whole Exit, Pursued by a Bear is a beautiful and impactful book that is not just a Shakespearean retelling. It's a story of friendship, overcoming adversity, and contemporary life. I'm so glad that I took the time to read it as part of my retellings month because this book is so much deeper than that and a brilliant read. It is one of my favorite reads of the year so far.

I give Exit, Pursued by a Bear 10 out of 10 stars

(This was a really hard book to rate. I did love it and it totally blew me away. There is nothing that I didn't like about it and I think it will stick with me for some time but I was till reluctant to give it 10 stars for some reason. But in the end I had no reason not to).

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. I would absolutely recommend this book to everyone. If you are a fan of modern Shakespeare retellings in the vein of 10 Things I Hate About You then check this out. But even if you are not and you are looking for a story with great female friendship or a book that is a serious issue book that still has lighthearted moments then pick this up.

Have you read Exit, Pursued by a Bear? What did you think? Leave me a comment. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!