Challenge Wrap Up: Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge

It's time for the last weekly post and challenge wrap up of 2016. In addition to doing a favorite books of the year thing, once a week in December I did a challenge wrap up to talk about some of my favorite books in the categories that I did challenges for. I did a total of four challenges this year. The next and last of these is my Netgalley and Edelweiss Challenge. So basically, the review book category. I may finish one more Netgalley book this year but it's a 2017 release, plus I probably won't finish it so oh well.

My initial goal for the year was to read 25 books from Netgalley and Edelweiss. I nded up doing really well on this during the first half of the year and thinking I could read 50 by the end of the year but that did not happen. Although I did read 40 books from Netgalley/Edelweiss which is not to shabby for the Netgaklley/Edelweiss Challenge hosted by Falling for YA. That's a total of about 1/4 of my books for the year.

And I really did like many of these books but to be entirely honest, most of my least favorite books of the year also came from this challenge. You can't win them all, I guess. And because of this reason, I think this was the hardest one for me to make a list about. There were a few that I loved loved, but for the most part there were a lot of really good books that I wasn't sure about including on a best of list. But I did my best so here is the list of some of my favorites.

1.) The Skylighter by Becky Wallace - My Review
(Amazon / Goodreads )

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2016 so I was over the moon when I was approved for the book on Edelweiss and sent a physical ARC from the publisher. I read both so I could read it everywhere and anywhere and finish it as fast as possible.

And it did not disappoint. It made it's way onto my best of the year list because it was such an amazing and action-packed sequel. What I loved so much about this series is that it's one that from the outset seems like a typical YA fantasy but is super creative and unique. I loved the world inspired by Portugal, the really unique magical system, and the characters, Oh man, these characters, and these ships. So good. So so good. It was one of many books I read this year that wrecked me emotionally in the best possible way. I really wish it wasn't a duology and that there was a third book coming next year.

I would absolutely recommend this series. If you are like me and love YA fantasies and are looking for something a little different but still familiar, check this one out. Check it out and fall for Joanna, Rafi, and Dom with me. DOM!!!!

2.) Roses and Rot by Kat Howard - My Review
(Amazon / Goodreads)

When looking at my favorite books of the year, many of them are books that surprised me. Books I was interested in reading but didn't expect to love as much as I did. Books I did not expect to blow me away. Roses and Rot is one of those books. I was intrigued by it, yes, but I really loved it and that kind of surprised me.

I don't want to say too much about this book because part of it's charm is going in without knowing too much. I went in knowing very little about what this book was about and it caught me off guard. It was fascinating and captivating. I really loved the setting and the way that this book was written. it is beautiful and lyrical with a really fantastic Gothic vibe. It a;so has great characters and a completely realistic interaction between family and particularly sisters. I could totally really and was so enthralled by this book.

This is a book that I think flew under the radar a little bit this year and I wish it got more attention because it is really good. If you are a fan of Gothic fiction and/or modern classics I think you will enjoy this. I also this it has a great modern fairy tale kind of vibe. Honestly, it's great. Read it.

3.) Nevernight by Jay Kristoff - My Review
(Amazon / Goodreads)

This is a book that got some mixed reviews. I know a lot of people didn't really enjoy it or ended up DNFing it because they couldn't get into it. And I get that, I do. I am one of the people who pushed through the slow start and weirdness in the beginning and was rewarded with an amazing book.

Yes, this is a dense and slowly paced book but the payoff was intense and fantastic. It was super thrilling with tons of action and plot twists that I did not see coming. Not to mention it also has an totally interesting magical system that I think we have only just started to understand and I am really interested in seeing develop. This book is also not for someone looking for something fluffy and lighthearted. It's dark. Very dark. There is more sex and violence in this book than some of the books and TV shows that are known for being violent and sexual. But despite the fact that it was pretty erotic, I enjoyed it. A lot.

 This is not the kind of book for everyone, but if you are looking for a fantasy that is dark and violent and don't mind putting in the time to read this one you will be rewarded just like I was.

4.) Ghostly Echoes by William Ritter - My Review
(Amazon / Goodreads)

This is another book that I had a copy from Edelweiss but also got a physical ARC (this time from BEA) but like The Skylighter it was a very anticipated read and I was so incredibly excited to read it when I was approved on Edelweiss.

If you have been around for awhile you know that I am a huge fan of the Jackaby series. These books always make it on to my favorites of the year list. They are such amazing mysteries and perfectly balance humor and action. Seriously, they are so funny. Plus they combine historical fiction, fantasy, and mysteries in a way that I am hopeless to resist. Ghostly Echoes is not my favorite in the series but it was amazing and resolved some questions from the first book while bringing up even more questions for the series. Plus it was about Jenny who I adore so much.

If you haven't read this series and you are a fan of historical fantasy or historical mysteries, or Sherlock, or nice things, you must read these books. They are seriously one of my all-time favorites. They're the perfect palette cleanser too because they are engaging but so fun and silly. But if I haven't convinced you to read these books yet I have failed you.

5.) The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - My Review
(Amazon / Goodreads )

I really liked The Fixer, which I read last year. This was another sequel that I was really excited about and was so pumped when I got approved on Netgalley. I couldn't wait to find out what happened next and to solve a new mystery with Tess.

I often hate comparisons like this but it really is Veronica Mars meets Scandal. It's just such a good mystery and political thriller with a tough and snarky teenage protagonist. But the best part of this book is the twists and reveals. Even when I predicted them they were still amazing and hit me so hard. It's such a good and fantastic read.

I would definitely recommend this book. If you are a fan of mysteries or political thrillers and are looking for a good YA one then definitely read this. But I seriously need you to read this and buy this book because I need a sequel. There are so many things that I need to see followed through on, even though there is a resolution. At this point it's a duology but I want more. I need more and the author has plans for more but it needs to sell well. Help a sister out!

6.) Enter Title Here by Rahul Kanakia - My Review
(Amazon / Goodreads)

This is a book that I honestly should have included on my list of favorite debuts of the year but in an attempt to not repeat myself too much I swapped this one with one that is on my honorable mention here because I liked that one more.

But this is another one of those books that I loved more than I was expecting. I'm not a huge contemporary reader but I have been reading a lot more lately and honestly really enjoying many of them. This is one that I enjoyed. One of the things I really appreciated about it was that this is a book that plays with the tropes. It's kind of got this book within a book vibe because of the main character trying to live the ideal life so she can write a book about it to get into college. But the best thing about this book is how unbelievably unlikable the main character is. She's kind of a terrible person and yet at the same time, you root for her. It's amazing.

 This is another book that is not for everyone, but if you are looking for a contemporary that is really different and plays with the tropes then check this one out. But again, this is a book that is not really for everyone. This is a book that is more towards people who are not big contemporary fans or are looking for something a little bit more of an issue book.

Honorable Mentions:

7.) The Smell of Other People's Houses by Bonnie-Sue Hitchcock - My Review
One of my favorite debuts of the year was a book I got as a Read Now on Netgalley. It's another book that surprised me, another book that flew under the radar, and another book that was amazing. It's a great book about how people's lives interweave. I loved it.

8.) The Steep and Thorny Way by Cat Winters - My Review
This was my first Cat Winters book. Can you believe it? It was. I should have been reading her books for years but I didn't. I'm glad I read this one though. It is one of the many amazing Shakespeare retellings I read this year,

9.) Heroine Complex by Gail Sarah Kuhn - My Review
I'm a sucker for books about superheroes. I was really intrigued by this one because it's from the perspective of the hero's assistant. Super interesting, man. And it was definitely interesting but also really fun and action-packed.

10.) Gena/Finn by Hannah Moskowitz and Kat Helgeson - My Review
I was not going to include this book because it's kind of similar to Enter Title Here. A lot of what I liked about it is similar. But it was also a really good under the radar book for the year.

There you have it, all my favorite books that I got for review from Netgalley or Edelweiss. If you want to see the full list on all the review books I read to this year and to find my thoughts, check out the Netgalley/Edelweiss Challenge page HERE. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!

ARC Review: The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

****This book is a sequel. If you haven't read The Fixer, proceed with caution. Also if you haven't read The Fixer, seriously get on that because it's fantastic. Here's my review ****

Title: The Long Game Series: The Fixer #2 Written by: Jennifer Lynn Barnes Published: June 7, 2016 by Bloomsbury (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Tess Kendrick, teen fixer extraordinaire, returns in a pulse-pounding thriller about a deadly conspiracy at the heart of Washington.  For Tess Kendrick, a junior at the elite Hardwicke School in Washington D.C., fixing runs in the family. But Tess has another legacy, too, one that involves power and the making of political dynasties. When Tess is asked to run a classmate's campaign for student council, she agrees. But when the candidates are children of politicians, even a high school election can involve life-shattering secrets.  Meanwhile, Tess's guardian has also taken on an impossible case, as a terrorist attack calls into doubt who can--and cannot--be trusted on Capitol Hill. Tess knows better than most that power is currency in D.C., but she's about to discover first-hand that power always comes with a price.  Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Ally Carter, the second book in this thrilling series will leave readers breathless.

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

This book is so complicated in the best possible way. I loved The Fixer for being a really solid YA political thriller and The Long Game was just like that, but more. More action, more thrills, more surprises, and more mystery. The Long Game did not disappoint.

One of the things I love about this series is the characters. It's been called Veronica Mars meets Scandal and there have never been a more apt description. The Veronica Mars of this equation is our main character Tess Kendrick. I very quickly fell in love with Tess in the first book so here it was great catching up with her and seeing her in action, solving mysteries and fixing problems. She's a smart and sassy teen detective that stands up for those she cares about. But she's also vulnerable, rash, reckless, and constantly getting stuff wrong. I love how complex she is. But she's not the only one.

The Scandal description is because this book is really about the Washington elite and their dealings, which often involves corruption and so much interconnected scheming. A lot of that comes to a head at the school that Tess goes to which is made up of the children of these politicians and wheelers and dealers. There are so many fantastic secondary characters here that are odious and interesting. I love all Tess's friends at the school especially Asher who needs more screen time because he's such a great balance for some of the more serious characters. Tess' sister Ivy is an Olivia Pope-like fixer but Ivy really took a back burner in this book and so did a lot of the other politicians that were a big part of the first book. There was something bigger and even more sinister at play here and it was up to Tess to solve these problems which made it even more interesting and thrilling.

Just like in The Fixer, the plot of this book is full of secrets and intrigue that manifests in an incredibly complicated mystery. It had me seriously guessing from start to finish who was involved and how. I like being able to solve mysteries but just like Veronica Mars I eventually gave up and decided it was better to be along for the ride and let it all unfold. And boy did it unfold. There were so many crazy surprises throughout this book and I seriously could not put it down because everytime I thought there couldn't possible be something else coming, that's exactly what happened. From the word go this book took you on a thrill ride full of mystery and it didn't let you go. Like not even when the book was over did it let you go.

But that being said, I think the pacing may have been a little too much. There was a lot going on. A lot of moving parts to the book that didn't always work together well and flow in a way that felt cohesive. There was a lot of action for sure, which I liked, but things sometimes moved so fast that I didn't have time to register why certain things were happening. It did all come together in the end but the specific plot of this book and the larger plot of the series did kind of feel separate for most of the book. My biggest criticism for this series has always been that it leaves you with a non-resolved resolution and that's what I felt again here. I don't necessarily need it in a tiny bow but if it's going to attempt to wrap there should be no feelings of uncertainty. But it also left me needing a third book so badly. I need there to be a resolution here and for certain things to be validated and vindicated,

On the whole I absolutely loved this book. It really is a brilliant YA political thriller and I seriously hope there is a third book because there is more going on here and I need to know what happens next. I need more Tess in my life.

I give The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes 9 out of 10 stars

Buy/Borrow/Bypass: Buy. If you liked The Fixer you will not be disappointed by this sequel. And if you like YA mysteries that have you questioning everything, political thrillers, or want something to get you through until Scandal comes back in the fall check out this series. It's fantastic!

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

Waiting on Wednesday: The Long Game by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Title: The Long Game Series: The Fixer #2 Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes Published: June 7, 2016 by Bloosmbury (Amazon / Goodreads) Synopsis: Tess Kendrick, teen fixer extraordinaire, returns in a pulse-pounding thriller about a deadly conspiracy at the heart of Washington.  For Tess Kendrick, a junior at the elite Hardwicke School in Washington D.C., fixing runs in the family. But Tess has another legacy, too, one that involves power and the making of political dynasties. When Tess is asked to run a classmate's campaign for student council, she agrees. But when the candidates are children of politicians, even a high school election can involve life-shattering secrets. Meanwhile, Tess's guardian has also taken on an impossible case, as a terrorist attack calls into doubt who can--and cannot--be trusted on Capitol Hill. Tess knows better than most that power is currency in D.C., but she's about to discover first-hand that power always comes with a price. Perfect for fans of Harlan Coben and Ally Carter, the second book in this thrilling series will leave readers breathless.

Why I'm Waiting 

You know what's fun? When you find out one of your most anticipated sequels comes out a month earlier than you expected. Less waiting, yeah! I thought this book came out in July but imagine my surprise when I saw it on Netgalley and it had a release date of June 6th instead of July 7th.

I read the first book in this series, The Fixer, last summer and it was an absolutely amazing political thriller. And it's YA you guys. How many of those are out there. SO few. But seriously, this book is YA Scandal which is everything you want it to be and more. It's got an amazing mystery, which has super high stakes and will keep you guessing. Plus I feel like there were so many aspects on the mystery that weren't resolved so I need to keep reading to find out how it all gets resolved.

Plus I need more Tess Kendrick in my life. She's a fantastic heroine. Snarky and too smart for her own good and the perfect combination of Veronica Mars and Olivia Pope. I like the way that she has these smaller mysteries at the school that overlap with larger stuff. It's great. I can't wait for more.

I was just approved for this on Netgalley (Thanks Bloosmbury!) and it's taking so much of my self-control not to dive right in because I'm so excited to read it.

What about you? What are you waiting for this Wednesday? Are you waiting on The Long Game along with me? Leave me a comment with your thoughts. Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY READING!