Category: Young Adult

Title: 23:27
Author: H.L. Roberts
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: CaDaVa Publishing
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Release Date: September 2, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Fame.

Money.

Glory.

These were all the things that you would expect from being famous. The bait that the producers of the industry would tempt you with to get you on their side.

What they don’t tell you though are all the inner tragedies that come along just as quickly. They don’t tell you about the heartache that occurs when you realize that this wasn’t what you wanted at all.

They don’t tell you about the pressure that’s always on the verge of crushing you when you’re forced to do everything that the public demands for and not what you truly desire.

They don’t tell you about the self hatred that would soon take over your entire being at the thought that you will never be good enough.

No – they don’t tell you these things at all.

But, Lilith Rose will.

When Lilith Rose, lead singer to one of the most famous rock bands around gets tired of all the lies and secrets that comes with being famous.

She decides that it’s time for all of it to stop and ends up revealing everything on a Facebook live stream.

The result…

“Part of me wants to die tonight, part of me wants it to be an accident, and part of me wants someone to notice and save me.” – Lilith Rose.

Review:

This book jumps right into the action, which I liked. The writing got better as the story progressed. 

I was missing a lot of the background information in the beginning. I knew these characters were facing a lot of difficulties but I wasn’t convinced that I should root for them yet. 

Eventually, I got really into the story. There were some dramatic points where I had no idea what was going to happen next. That was exciting. 

I didn’t like that race was part of the reason that Alec and Lilith couldn’t be together. Up until that point, I didn’t even realize they were racially different. And their races were never mentioned again, so I think it was unnecessary. 

I was unsure of the setting throughout the whole book. I think it may be set in the U.K., because they mention that their album was released there but I’m not 100% sure. Sometimes they used British terms, but sometimes they used American terms. 

The story is alternately narrated by Lilith and Alec. I would have liked to see Lilith’s point of view more throughout the story. Alec tells most of it through the middle. It’s a bit of a secret how Lilith is feeling during that point so I can see why she has less parts, but I liked hearing her side of the story too. 

Overall, this was a pretty good story. 

Title: Shadow and Bone (The Grisha Trilogy #1)
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Henry Holt and Company
Source: Purchased
Release Date: June 5, 2012
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one lonely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life—a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha . . . and the secrets of her heart.

Review:

Well this book was well worth the hype!

It follows the typical YA fantasy storyline of a girl from poor circumstances who suddenly discovers she has powers. But this story was much more special than most.

I loved Leigh Bardugo’s writing style. It sounded so natural and was paced really well. It was so easy to read!

Alina was a powerful character, not only with her summoning powers, but also mentally. She stood up for herself when she needed to. She was also clever in wanting to blend in with the other summoners when she first arrived, rather than being put on a pedestal above them.

I was really surprised at the ending. I didn’t want it to end but I was satisfied with what happened. I can’t wait to see what happens next.

I recommend this book for YA readers! You may think it’s like the other popular fantasy series, but it’s amazing in its own way!

Title: Joined
Author: Mara Gan
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Source: YA Bound Book Tours
Release Date: September 12, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Duty and prophecy get in the way of everything.

All I ever wanted todo was read my books, play my sports, and help people. Life and prophecy had other things in mind. Helping people is what I do; asan empath and semi-frequent telepath, I can easily sense and understand people’s needs and emotions. Sometimes even before they do. Being able to read everyone’s thoughts and feelings all the time can drive me crazy with anxiety, but that moment when I can finally make someone’s life better makes everything worth it. Unfortunately, I’m also the next in line to rule the galaxy, I’m the only diplomat most planets will listen to, assassins try to kill meonan annoyingly regular basis, and a much-vaunted Prophecy has decreed that I’m going to die. Oh, and someone blew up my home planet. Kind of a lot to deal with, right? Too bad I just got another problem: a big, irritating, overbearing bodyguard with serious anger management issues.

And I think I’m falling for him.

Review:

This is an awesome story!

It reminded me of popular YA fantasy stories, such as Throne of Glass. However, this story has a princess who gets a protector. 

Though this is a stereotypical story (of the princess being saved), Meda is very rebellious. She is a multidimensional character: she has flaws. But I really liked her. 

The story was fast-paced. Some parts were repetitive because Meda kept acting up in the same way, which was frustrating. But the action moved quickly, so I was never stuck in one place too long. 

I really liked this story and recommend it for YA fantasy readers. 

About the Author:

A Pacific Northwesterner by birth and disposition, Mara has lived in Washington DC, Oregon, Japan, and most recently the beautiful Pacific Grove, California, before returning to her roots in Seattle. By day she teaches history to unsuspecting teenagers, and by night she writes books and travels to far-flung places. She loves to be with animals, read, play sports, and drink more London Fogs than is likely good for her.

Connect with Mara on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maraganbooks

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Book Tour Organized by: YA Bound Book Tours

Thank you to YA Bound Book Tours for letting me participate in this blog tour.

Title: She, Myself, and I
Author: Emma Young
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: ABRAMS Kids
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Ever since Rosa’s nerve disease rendered her quadriplegic, she’s depended on her handsome, confident older brother to be her rock and her mirror. But when a doctor from Boston chooses her to be a candidate for an experimental brain transplant, she and her family move from London in search of a miracle. Sylvia—a girl from a small town in Massachusetts—is brain dead, and her parents have agreed to donate her body to give Rosa a new life. But when Rosa wakes from surgery, she can’t help but wonder, with increasing obsession, who Sylvia was and what her life was like. Her fascination with her new body and her desire to understand Sylvia prompt a road trip based on self-discovery… and a surprising new romance. But will Rosa be able to solve the dilemma of her identity?

Review:

This story is amazing. 

It’s such a unique concept, but realistic too. It’s hard to imagine a brain transplant but it’s definitely a possibility for the future. Since other organs can be transplanted into a new body, why not a brain too?

The complications from this kind of surgery are fascinating as well. Not only does Rosa have to adjust to having a new body and a completely new face, the families of both Rosa and Sylvia have to adjust as well. It’s easier for some more than others. 

Many parts of this story reminded me of Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. Rosa must stay in the hospital to recover from the surgery, until she meets a boy… It wouldn’t be a YA book without a little romance. 

Though this book isn’t a thriller, some parts were so chilling that it made my heart pound. Just the idea of waking up from surgery with a new face and body is so hard to imagine. But that’s the magic of reading: living through things that are almost unbelievable. 

This is a great novel. I definitely recommend it. 

 

Title: Girls Made of Snow and Glass
Author: Melissa Bashardoust
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

At sixteen, Mina’s mother is dead, her magician father is vicious, and her silent heart has never beat with love for anyone—has never beat at all, in fact, but she’d always thought that fact normal. She never guessed that her father cut out her heart and replaced it with one of glass. When she moves to Whitespring Castle and sees its king for the first time, Mina forms a plan: win the king’s heart with her beauty, become queen, and finally know love. The only catch is that she’ll have to become a stepmother.

Fifteen-year-old Lynet looks just like her late mother, and one day she discovers why: a magician created her out of snow in the dead queen’s image, at her father’s order. But despite being the dead queen made flesh, Lynet would rather be like her fierce and regal stepmother, Mina. She gets her wish when her father makes Lynet queen of the southern territories, displacing Mina. Now Mina is starting to look at Lynet with something like hatred, and Lynet must decide what to do—and who to be—to win back the only mother she’s ever known…or else defeat her once and for all.

Entwining the stories of both Lynet and Mina in the past and present, Girls Made of Snow and Glass traces the relationship of two young women doomed to be rivals from the start. Only one can win all, while the other must lose everything—unless both can find a way to reshape themselves and their story.

Review:

I loved this fairy tale retelling!

One of my favourite things about this story, is that even though you can tell that it’s a retelling of Snow White, the story also has many original points. The story didn’t follow the typical plot of the Snow White story. I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I won’t name them, but I liked that the story was unpredictable. 

This is a modern, feminist story. The two main characters are Lynet and Mina, stepdaughter and stepmother. Again, if I say too much about the women in this story it would spoil it, but let’s just say there  is a lack of a prince here (which enhances Lynet’s power and independence). 

The chapters alternated between Lynet and Mina. At the beginning, it followed both of them through their teen years, jumping back in time to when Mina arrived at Whitespring. But halfway through, Mina’s story suddenly jumped many years and continued in the present along with Lynet. I liked the way it showed the ways these two different women acted during the same point in their lives at the beginning. But it was also important to give Mina’s perspective of the current events. 

I loved this story! It definitely lived up to the hype for me. 

Title: My Sophomore Year of Rules (School Dayz Book 3)
Author: Jennifer DiGiovanni
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Source: Enchanted Book Promotions
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Colette Rodriguez hates rules. Just ask her perfect, older, gorgeous, rule-following sister, Jana.

But now that Jana’s away at college and Colette’s a sophomore in high school, things are going to change. She’s gotta find a way to get out from under her sister’s shadow.

The problem is, everyone, including the boys, remembers perfectly-hot-Jana and they constantly compare Colette to her.

With Jana finally out of the house, Colette decides that sophomore year is the best time to make her mark on the world. She vows to follow the rules, although rule-following has never been her strong point. When a teacher asks Colette to lead a STEM Mentoring project, working with middle school kids, Colette sees her chance to stand out, though she doubts her ability to take charge.

Enter Will Gamen, junior football star. Looking for a club to boost his chances of a college scholarship, Will signs up for STEM. From the first meeting, when Will inadvertently takes over, Colette wonders if he should really be the person to run the project. And, in an even more confusing turn of events, Will starts to drop by her house for unplanned study dates. After the two spend one fabulous Saturday night together, he suddenly backs off.

But Colette and Will started out as friends and she’s determined not to let one meaningless kiss come between them. Plus, keeping Will on her team is the best thing for the STEM project. And it also gives her more time to convince him that they work better as a couple.

Review:

This is a cute story. 

I really liked the importance of STEM in this story. Collette demonstrates how it is important to teach younger kids about this possible career path. She also represents girls who are not necessarily leaders of STEM programs. 

The romances and relationships in the story weren’t predictable, so I enjoyed the story. 

I liked that the story was told by Collette. It gave her perspective of events, and developed her character further. 

I haven’t read any other books in this series, but I was able to enjoy it. Some things were mentioned in passing that may have happened in past books, but I didn’t feel like I was left out of anything. 

This is a great book if you want a light, YA read.  

Links:

Buy on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2vQphjY

Add on Goodreads

Author Bio:

Jennifer DiGiovanni is a freelance writer and YA author of the School Dayz series. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading, working on home design projects, or trying to meet the daily goals on her Fitbit. She also likes to try new sports and activities, from archery to ballroom dancing, with varying degrees of success.

Swoon Romance on Twitter: @SwoonRomance

Swoon Romance on Facebook

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Title: Scarlet (The Lunar Chronicles #3)
Author: Marissa Meyer
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Source: Purchased
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Review:

This is the second book in the Lunar Chronicles series. Cinder’s story gets more intense in this instalment. Now Scarlet (who plays the role of Little Red Riding Hood) is added to the mix.

I like the role that Wolf plays in the story. He is a fighter who saves Scarlet. Their relationship is very cute to see unfolding.

When I read this book, I found I kept waiting for Cinder’s story to return. I like Scarlet but Cinder will always be my favourite character.

I love this series so much! My review for Cinder can be found here.

Title: Body Parts
Author: Jessica Kapp
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Diversion Publishing
Source: Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours
Release Date: August 15, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

People would kill for her body.

Raised in an elite foster center off the California coast, sixteen-year-old Tabitha’s been sculpted into a world-class athlete. Her trainers have told her she’ll need to be in top physical condition to be matched with a loving family, even though personal health has taken a backseat outside the training facility. While Tabitha swims laps and shaves seconds off her mile time, hoping to find a permanent home, the rest of the community takes pills produced by pharmaceutical giant PharmPerfect to erase their wrinkles, grow hair, and develop superhuman strength.

When Tabitha’s finally paired, instead of being taken to meet her new parents, she wakes up immobile on a hospital bed. Moments before she’s sliced open, a group of renegade teenagers rescues her, and she learns the real reason for her perfect health: PharmPerfect is using her foster program as a replacement factory for their pill-addicted clients’ failing organs. And her friends from the center, the only family she’s ever known, are next in line to be harvested.

Determined to save them, Tabitha joins forces with her rescuers, led by moody and mysterious Gavin Stiles. As they race to infiltrate the hospital and uncover the rest of PharmPerfect’s secrets, though, Tabitha finds herself with more questions than answers. Will trusting the enigmatic group of rebels lead her back to the slaughterhouse?

Excerpt:

The exit door buzzes. My breath catches when I notice it’s not a trainer—it’s Ms. Preen. And, she’s holding a red file, which can only mean one thing.

One of us is getting out.

Her heels make quick, light clicks as she crosses the floor past the weight equipment and yoga mats. She crinkles her nose as she moves through the thick cloud of sweat. By the time she reaches us, Meghan’s out of the pool. We stand, two-dozen bodies huddled together, anxious to hear the news. I scan my friends’ faces, wondering whose turn it is to go. Parker wraps his free arm around me. I imagine this is how a gymnast feels after a routine, waiting for her scores. Did I perform well enough? Could I have done more?

Will I win the ultimate prize: a family?

Ms. Preen presses through to the pool area, but stands far from our group, as if she thinks we’ll throw her in.

It’s crossed our minds before.

The light shines off her blonde bob, and her face is flawless. Freeze-dried, we like to say.

“Where is she?” Ms. Preen looks at our group as if she can’t tell us apart, which is probably true. Even though she pops in at least once a month to check on our vitals, she isn’t interested in getting to know us. She’s the one in charge of pairing us with families, but all she knows is what we’re good at. Meghan is the fast one; Paige climbs like she’s part monkey; Parker’s built like a brick house; and me, I have the lungs.

“The redhead, where is she?”

All eyes turn to me.

“We have names, you know,” Paige says, her voice curt. “Hers is Tabitha. T-A-B…”

Ms. Preen pulls a piece of paper out of the file, holding it up toward the row of skylights to read it. “Yes. She’s the one.”

Parker tightens his hold on me and I clasp my hands together to stop them from shaking. Ms. Preen doesn’t need to know I’m nervous. I’m supposed to be elated, ready to go. Maybe I’ve been fooling myself.

I wiggle out of Parker’s grip to step forward. “That’s me.”

Ms. Preen shoves the paper back into the file. “Get dressed. I’m taking you for your final screening. If you pass, you’ll be out tomorrow.” Her voice is hard and she turns to walk away.

I glance back at the group, at the faces I’ve known since childhood. They’re excited for me, but I can see the disappointment in their eyes. I know the look, because up until today I’ve watched friends leave, waiting for my turn.

Now that it is, I can’t move.

Review: 

This is a fascinating story. I can imagine this happening in real life: people being raised in secret to harvest their organs to benefit those who have used artificial means to destroy their health. It’s a disturbing reality but possible nonetheless.

I was immediately sympathetic with Tabitha. She’s a strong girl, but she had been deceived her whole life so she was at a disadvantage in life. She made some mistakes by trusting the wrong people, but that can be understood since her life has been a lie.

This book was very exciting. I can’t tell you how many times my heart was pounding and I didn’t know what was going to happen. I couldn’t put it down, and I ended up reading it in one evening.

I highly recommend this book if you enjoy YA dystopia stories.

About the Author:

Jessica Kapp enjoys writing Young Adult Contemporary and Speculative Fiction. Story ideas often strike at inopportune times, and she’s been known to text herself reminders from under the covers.

She lives on a small farm in Washington with far too many goats and an occasional cow.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads 

Giveaway:

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Book Tour Organized by: Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours

Thank you to Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for letting me participate in this blog tour.

Title: Cinderella Necromancer
Author: F.M. Boughan
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Month9Books
Source: Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours
Release Date: September 5, 2017
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis:

Darkness can only be controlled by those with the darkest of hearts.

Ellison lost her mother at an early age. Now, sixteen, her father has found love again. He’s happy and doesn’t quite notice that Ellison does not get along with his new wife or her vicious daughters.

When Ellison discovers a necromantic tome while traveling the secret passages of her father’s mansion, she wonders if it could be the key to her eventual freedom.

Until then, she must master her dark new power, even as her stepmother makes her a servant in her own home. And when her younger brother falls incurably ill, Ellison will do anything to ease his pain, including falling prey to her stepmother’s and stepsisters’ every whim and fancy.

Stumbling into a chance meeting with Prince William during a secret visit to her mother’s grave feels like a trick of fate when her stepmother refuses to allow Ellison to attend a palace festival where she might see him once more.

But what if Ellison could see the kind and handsome prince again? What if she could attend the festival? What if she could have everything she’s ever wanted and deserved by conjuring spirits to take revenge on her cruel stepmother? And what if she actually liked watching her stepmother suffer?

As Ellison’s power grows, she loses control over the evil spirits meant to do her bidding. And as they begin to exert their own power over Ellison, it becomes harder to tell whether it is she or her stepmother who is the true monster.

CINDERELLA NECROMANCER is CINDER meets ANNA DRESSED IN BLOOD and was inspired by a real medieval grimoire of necromancy from 15th-century Germany.

Review:

I love fairy tale retellings. The Cinderella tale has been told so many times so it’s hard to find a unique perspective but I loved this one. It’s very original.

Ella narrates the story. She speaks in an old fashioned style, so it seems like the story really is happening centuries ago. 

I liked the addition of Ella’s brother. I haven’t read a version where she has siblings. This demonstrates her protective side, and gave her a reason to stay home from the ball. 

I also really liked that Ella uses spells to solve her problems, rather than having a fairy godmother do everything for her. She brings about her own destiny, making her a stronger character than she is typically portrayed. She also has to deal with the consequences of her spells on her own. 

This story is so much more than the original love story. There is love, but not the kind that is expected in a Cinderella story. It is a great adaptation of Cinderella that I highly recommend. 

About the Author:

F.M. Boughan is a bibliophile, a writer, and an unabashed parrot enthusiast. She can often be found writing in local coffee shops, namely because it’s hard to concentrate with a cat lying on the keyboard and a small, colorful parrot screaming into her ear. Her work is somewhat dark, somewhat violent, somewhat hopeful, and always contains a hint of magic.

 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway:

One (1) winner will receive an  Echo Dot
Code:

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Blog Tour Organized by: Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours

Thank you to Chapter by Chapter Blog Tours for letting me participate in this blog tour.

 

 

Title: Zero Repeat Forever
Author: G.S. Prendergast
Genre: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Canada
Source: NetGalley
Release Date: August 29, 2017
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

He has no voice, or name, only a rank, Eighth. He doesn’t know the details of the mission, only the directives that hum in his mind.

Dart the humans. Leave them where they fall.

His job is to protect his Offside. Let her do the shooting.

Until a human kills her…

Sixteen year-old Raven is at summer camp when the terrifying armored Nahx invade, annihilating entire cities, taking control of the Earth. Isolated in the wilderness, Raven and her friends have only a fragment of instruction from the human resistance.

Shelter in place.

Which seems like good advice at first. Stay put. Await rescue. Raven doesn’t like feeling helpless but what choice does she have?

Then a Nahx kills her boyfriend.

Thrown together in a violent, unfamiliar world, Eighth and Raven should feel only hate and fear. But when Raven is injured, and Eighth deserts his unit, their survival comes to depend on trusting each other…

Review:

First of all, I’m so proud that this book is Canadian! I love seeing a contemporary fantasy/sci fi novel set in my home country!

This book throws you right into the action, and you’re left to figure out what’s going on. This was exciting because the world was already fully developed, you just have to catch up to it. 

Though there are many YA dystopia novels that are popular right now, this one is unique because we get two perspectives: our main character Raven and Eighth, one of the Nahx creatures. So we can see the aftermath from the point of view of a surviving human and her enemy. 

I did lose some interest in part 3. It was getting so repetitive and the story stopped moving forward. But once I pushed past that part, it got exciting again. It was quite emotional too. I had tears in my eyes for the last quarter of the book. And the ending was so thrilling and shocking! 

Throughout the book I was wondering what the title meant. And wow! When they explain that phrase in the novel I was so excited. It refers to something literary, which I love (I won’t give away any more because I don’t want to spoil it). If you read the book you’ll understand. 

This is a great story with an original twist. I highly recommend it. I’m curious to hear your thoughts on this book if you’ve read it!