Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance by Danielle Younge-Ullman

Title: Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance

Author: Danielle Younge-Ullman

Release Date: May 5, 2015

Publisher: Entangled Teen Publishing

Source: Publisher

Synopsis (Goodreads): Lola Carlyle is lonely, out of sorts, and in for a boring summer. So when her best friend Sydney calls to rave about the fun she’s having at a luxurious Malibu rehab (it’s basically a spa!) and reveals that the love of Lola’s life, Wade Miller, is being admitted, Lola knows what she has to do. Never mind that her worst addiction is decaf cappuccino; Lola is going to rehab. Lola fakes her way into Sunrise Rehab, only to discover she’s actually expected to be an addict. And get treatment. And she has insane roommates, and an irritatingly attractive intake advisor, Adam, who’s determined to thwart her at every turn. Worst of all is the strictly enforced NO ROMANCE rule.  Oh, and Sydney? Is gone.  Turns out Sunrise is more jail-like than spa-like, and it’s going to take more than Lola bargained for just to get through the program. 

My Review

I really enjoyed Lola Carlyle's 12-Step Romance. I thought that it was a really cute, summery type of book that had a lot of good things in it. 

The plot moved by really quickly, with a lot of crazy things happening. It was basically Lola's story of her time in rehab, which was very interesting. The main problem I had with this book though was that it was hard to believe. I didn't think Lola faking her way into rehab was something that could really happen. Other than that, this book was really cute and fun. 

I thought that the characters were a major part of this book, and were a huge positive. Lola started out kind of snotty and rude, but throughout the book she grows as a character into someone that everyone can relate to. I really loved Adam, because he was dorky and adorable, and I thought Wade was perfect for his role in the story. 

The dialogue in this book was hilarious. There were a lot of references to social media and everyday technology, and teenagers my age would use a lot of the same references and talk like the characters in Lola did. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier

Title: Sapphire Blue (Precious Stone #2) 

Author: Kerstin Gier

Release Date: October 30th, 2012

Publisher: Henry Holt 

Source: Own 

Add it: Goodreads

Buy it:  Book Depository

Synopsis (Goodreads): Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

My Review

I was really looking forward to reading Sapphire Blue. Ruby Red left on such a good note, and I was so excited to read the next installment. Since this is the second book in the Precious Stone trilogy, there will be spoilers for the first book, Ruby Red. 

The first thing I noticed right off the bat when I was reading Sapphire Blue was the romance. It was insta-love, and it happened right at the end of Ruby Red and carried into Sapphire Blue. I don't like insta-love, so that really peeved me that it was in this book.

I felt like this book wasn't as captivating as Ruby Red was. It was slightly bland, but still interesting and energetic. Not as much happened, and there wasn't very much drama.

The characters were still good. Gwen is still trying to understand the time travel gene that she was born with, and is still slightly naive. I'm still trying to figure out Gideon's character, but I'm thinking that I like him. And of course, Lesley is still the best friend that anyone could as for.

Rating: 4/5 worms

The Gift of Charms (The Land of Dragor) by Julia Suzuki

Title: The Gift of Charms

Author: Julia Suzuki

Publisher: Dino Books

Release Date: September 4, 2014

Pages: 288

Source: Author

Synopsis (Goodreads): In a secret land, far away from the habitation of man, dwell the world's remaining dragons -- hoping the dragsaur beasts have vanished forever. Here they try to live their daily lives, but all is not well and their talents are fading. 

Things change, however, when, from a strange egg, Yoshiko is born - a dragon with a unique destiny. 

Great adventure lies ahead as many challenges must be overcome, leading to a dangerous mission to the human world in attempt to return to the clans their missing magic!

Can Yoshiko make it in time?

My Review

I had never heard of The Gift of Charms before the author contacted me to review it, but I'm really glad that I read it. It's a really cute middle grade book that I flew through. 

The Gift of Charms tells the story of a dragon named Yoshiko, who is born different then any other dragon. It tells the story of his adventure that he undertakes and is a really quick read. I thought that the writing style was really easy to fall into and it kept me engaged throughout the book. I wish that the book would have gone a little more in depth and been a little bit longer, but it is a middle grade book so I totally understand why. 

I thought the world of Dragor was really interesting to read about, as well as the back story about this incredible land. There was a lot of information in this book that got carried throughout the story, so you got to see characters and events that were mentioned earlier come back in the end. The land of Dragor was described very well and I could picture the setting very well. The characters and clans were also described really well, and I had no trouble picturing the colored dragons. 

I found that I liked the main character Yoshiko more as the book went on. He started out rather whinny, and kind of hard to relate to, but as the book went on he really grew up both mentally and physically. He turned into a character that I enjoyed reading about. The other characters in this book were nice to read about too, especially Guya. I liked reading about some of the side characters stories, and would have liked to have known even more about them. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

This book is a very well written middle grade book that I would recommend to anyone who wants a fun and quick read! 

 

Broken City by D.D. Chant

Title: Broken City

Author: D.D. Chant

Release Date: February 11, 2011

Format: Ebook

Page Number: 363 

Source: Author

Synopsis (Goodreads): Deeta Richards has never seen the outside world. Before she was born a banking crisis brought civilization to an end and now no one leaves the safety of the compounds unless they need to, but Deeta still dreams of seeing more than the building she was born in. 

Tom is in the guard, this group are the only people that the tribal elders allow to leave the compound and Tom knows only too well that Deeta could never survive the harshness that exists outside. Then tragedy strikes and Deeta and her sister Jan find themselves captured by a hostile tribe. Why does Tom know so much about these people? And why do they know so much about him? As this mystery draws to a climax, they discover that their friend Tom is not quite what he seems...

My Review

Broken City took me way longer to read that I planned, but that was completely my fault. I had school, after school activities, and life in general, but that's besides the point. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to discuss it. 

Broken City is set in a post apocalyptic world where the world is divided into various tribes, and many people never go outside. When I was reading Broken City, I thought that the world building and the descriptions of the world were beautiful and very vivid. There is a particular scene where the descriptions are particularly lovely. There are various settings, and I was able to imagine all of them with perfect clarity. There is a lot of information given to you about the world in this book, and I think I would have retained a lot more of this book if I read it in less sittings, but never the less, I really enjoyed the world. 

The characters were rather hard to keep straight. There were so many characters that I couldn't keep them all straight; this also might have been because I read this book during a long period of time. Deeta's character was good; she was very trusting and compassionate. Tom felt very guarded during the book, but you find out why in the end. I absolutely loved Jan as a character, because she was so spunky and funny. She had funny dialogue and I couldn't help thinking of Jan from the Brady Bunch when I was reading this book. Meeting the characters from other tribes was also really interesting, because you get to see the differences in their ways of life in the book. 

I really enjoyed D.D. Chant's writing style. There really weren't any slow parts, and the book kept a good pace. There was a lot of words I had never heard before, and I really appreciated the variety of vocabulary. A lot of the dialogue in this book was hilarious, and I marked various passages that I loved. I also liked that this book wasn't filled with instalove, and all of the romances were developed and drawn out.  I felt that the ending of the book was very abrupt, but there is a sequel, so I can understand the abruptness. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

I really, really enjoyed this book and I wish I would have read it quicker. This book is a really great post apocalyptic book that has a lot to offer! 

Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce

Title: Sisters Red

Author: Jackson Pearce

Release Date: June 7, 2010

Publisher: Little Brown Books

Format: Paperback

Source: Own

Buy Sisters Red!

Synopis (Goodreads): Scarlett March lives to hunt the Fenris--the werewolves that took her eye when she was defending her sister Rosie from a brutal attack. Armed with a razor-sharp hatchet and blood-red cloak, Scarlett is an expert at luring and slaying the wolves. She's determined to protect other young girls from a grisly death, and her raging heart will not rest until every single wolf is dead.

Rosie March once felt her bond with her sister was unbreakable. Owing Scarlett her life, Rosie hunts ferociously alongside her. But even as more girls' bodies pile up in the city and the Fenris seem to be gaining power, Rosie dreams of a life beyond the wolves. She finds herself drawn to Silas, a young woodsman who is deadly with an ax and Scarlett's only friend--but does loving him mean betraying her sister and all that they've worked for?

My Review

I had been meaning to read Sisters Red for forever, so when I finally picked it up I was a little disappointed with it. 

Sisters Red follows two sisters as the fight werewolves to keep other girls safe. That alone made me want to read the book. I was so excited to read a book that had a little more gore to it, and I definitely got that. This book has a lot of action and is definitely a dark retelling of the classic story. 

I was not expecting the romance that I got in this book. For once I was hoping to find a book without any romance! And while that wasn't the case, I thought the romance in this book was cute. It wasn't adorable, but it was cute. What I found more interesting than the romance was the bond between Rosie and Scarlett. Rosie feels indebted to Scarlett and continues to help her fight the werewolves even though she wants a different life. These two sisters really loved each other, and it was really obvious throughout the book. 

The writing in this book was good. The action scenes were filled with action, and the book was very well paced. I really enjoyed reading this book and I found that I flew through it. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Torn Away by Jennifer Brown

Title: Torn Away

Author: Jennifer Brown

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

Page Number: 288

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis (Goodreads): Born and raised in the Midwest, Jersey Cameron knows all about tornadoes. Or so she thinks. When her town is devastated by a twister, Jersey survives -- but loses her mother, her young sister, and her home. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with her only surviving relatives: first her biological father, then her estranged grandparents.

In an unfamiliar place, Jersey faces a reality she's never considered before -- one in which her mother wasn't perfect, and neither were her grandparents, but they all loved her just the same. Together, they create a new definition of family. And that's something no tornado can touch.

My Review

I was really blown away by Torn Away. When I picked it up, I wasn't expecting much, but I really enjoyed this book. This book tugs at your heart and makes you feel all the feels, but it is also a really touching story. 

This story is a very sad story about a girl named Jersey who loses all she has because of a tornado. It's raw, it's sad, but it's also very real. People lose everything  to tornadoes sometimes, and it just made the story that much more real. 

This book was very character driven. The main character, Jersey, goes through a lot in this book as she deals with the deaths of her mom and sister. She was a very realistic character, and she was broken throughout this book. Throughout this book, you could see Jersey's coping mechanisms for what happened to her, and it was very interesting to read about. At the end of the book, Jersey finally starts to heal, and that made me feel good. 

This book was incredibly descriptive. I could imagine everything that was happening during the tornado, the wreckage after, and everything else. Jennifer Brown's writing really drew me into the story and it was a really quick read. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

The Sting of Summer by Katherine Over

Title: The Sting of Summer

Author: Katherine Over

Release Date: May 11, 2014

Page Number: 246

Source: Author

Synopsis(Goodreads): Summer has arrived. For seventeen-year-old Becca, it marks the start of the wedding season. Her family operates an event venue in the form of a renovated barn, and nearly every weekend a wedding takes place in their backyard. Becca lends a helping hand for the accelerated schedule, but work is not the only task on her mind. Seth, her longtime crush, has nabbed a photography internship that requires wedding coverage, putting the two of them in close proximity. Becca intends to make Seth something more than a far-reaching fantasy, but it's hard to build a dream when a growing tension in her family life cannot be avoided. Will Becca succeed in her quest for love? Or will summer collide with her plans and leave nothing but a sting in her heart?

My Review

The Sting of Summer is an interesting book about family, change, and life. One of the main things I loved about this book were the themes it had. It talked a lot about family, change, and how sometimes things aren't always what they seem. The main character, Becca, realizes that her life is changing and that sometimes what she wants isn't what she thought it was. These themes are really relevant today and I think that people can really gain from this.

Becca was a really funny character. You got to see her try to find summer romance while she was dealing with change, and it was really interesting. She had a really quirky personality and is probably one of the funniest characters that I've read about in a while. All of the other characters were really interesting to read about, and they felt really well rounded. Andie was really funny and Nolan was really cute. 

As for writing style, I had a few problems with it. I felt that the overall plot of the book was really predictable, and you could figure out what was going to happen. I also didn't like how Katherine Over never used contractions; it made some of the dialogue really awkward and choppy. There were also some spelling and grammar errors. However, when Katherine was writing about the weddings, she used such detail that I found myself imagining the weddings in perfect detail. The characters were really well described and so were the situations that they were in. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Overall, I think this is a book that many people would like. The characters are funny, there are great themes, and the writing is vivid.  

Fire and Flood by Victoria Scott

Title: Fire and Flood

Author: Victoria Scott

Release Date: Feburary 25, 2014

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Format: eBook

Page Number: 304

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis(Goodreads): Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

My Review

In a world dominated by dystopians, I think that Fire and Flood was really good. Though it had some things that could be compared to The Hunger Games, I still think that it held its own. 

One thing I want to mention is that Fire and Flood is not just another Hunger Games wanna be. Fire and Flood has its own unique story line with its own unique twists and turns. Though some things seemed rather close to the Hunger Games, the Pandoras and other elements in the story made it different. 

The main character Tella was kind of meh. She was really obsessed with Guy and her Pandora Madox, and it was kind of weird. I also felt she was trying to hard to be tough, and she was really naive at some parts of the book. The side characters of the book, especially Tella's friends were really interesting and it was cool to see their reasons for entering the race. 

There was a ton of awesome stuff that went down in this book. It was filled with tons of action and was really fun to read. Sometimes the writing made everything seem kind of awkward, but other times it was really good. The whole book was really engaging and it was a fast paced read!

Rating: 4/5 worms

Don't Even Think About It by Sarah Mlynowski

Title: Don't Even Think About It

Author: Sarah Mlynowski

Release Date: March 11th, 2014

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Format: Ebook

Source: Netgalley

Synopsis(Goodreads): We weren't always like this. We used to be average New York City high school sophomores. Until our homeroom went for flu shots. We were prepared for some side effects. Maybe a headache. Maybe a sore arm. We definitely didn't expect to get telepathic powers. But suddenly we could hear what everyone was thinking. Our friends. Our parents. Our crushes. Now we all know that Tess is in love with her best friend, Teddy. That Mackenzie cheated on Cooper. That, um, Nurse Carmichael used to be a stripper.

Since we've kept our freakish skill a secret, we can sit next to the class brainiac and ace our tests. We can dump our boyfriends right before they dump us. We know what our friends really think of our jeans, our breath, our new bangs. We always know what's coming. Some of us will thrive. Some of us will crack. None of us will ever be the same.
So stop obsessing about your ex. We're always listening.

My Review

I really enjoyed Sarah Mlynowski's Magic in Manhattan series, so I had high hopes for this book, and I can say that I wasn't disappointed. I really enjoyed this book, and I'm glad I got it for review. 

The concept of this book was crazy unique. I mean, come on! A flu shot that gives you telepathy! That's kind of awesome. I thought Sarah Mlynowski was able to deliver this topic through the kids very well, because we got to see what the kids with telepathy were thinking and feeling in this book. 

Although the plot was something I'd never heard of and played a major role in this book, I felt like this book was more character driven. The characters play a huge role in this book because you get to see their reactions to their new found superpowers, and you get to see what each person used their telepathy for. I also really liked how the characters, for the most part, stuck together as a group to try to figure out what was wrong with them.  

However, I didn't like trying to keep up with all the characters. It took me to the middle of the book to figure out who each one was, but after that it was easier to follow. 

In my opinion, the writing style of this book lacked some of the sparkle that it had in the Magic in Manhattan series. It didn't have the descriptions I was looking for, and it didn't have the funniness and wit that I remembered from her previous books. But, all in all, I think Sarah Mlynowski did a great job of creating this story. 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

Title: Fangirl

Author: Rainbow Rowell

Release Date: September 10th, 2013

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Format: Hardcover

Page Number: 448

Source: Own

 

Synopsis (Goodreads): Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life—and she’s really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it’s what got them through their mother leaving.

Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.

Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can’t let go. She doesn’t want to.
Now that they’re going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn’t want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She’s got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can’t stop worrying about her dad, who’s loving and fragile and has never really been alone.

For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
 

 My Thoughts

Fangirl caused a roar in the booktube and blogging communities, and after reading it I understand why. This book is a delightful story of growing up and changing, even if you don't really want to.

 

First of all, I want to adress that this book is us. And by us, I mean the Internet dwellers, the fanfiction writers, and anyone else who spends their days behind computer screens like me. Fanfiction please a major role in this book, and the main character Cath, writes fanfiction about a series very similar to our own Harry Potter. I loved this unique aspect and I though Rainbow Rowell did a great job carrying it through.

 

The main character, Cath, bothered me a bit. Cath starts off the book as a socially awkward freshman in college who doesn't want to do anything new. This annoyed me because she had so many opportunities to go out and do things to meet other people, but she waited until the end of the book to make any progress. However, she does make development as she goes from being a kid to growing into an adult through the course of this book. The side character were almost better than Cath in my opinion, especially Regan, who made me laugh like a crazy person with her witty dialogue, and the romance isn't bad either.

 

Speaking of dialogue, Rainbow Rowell has an incredible writing style, and she definitely didn't disappoint me in this book. She gives such realistic and witty dialogue to her characters that I believed that I was reading something that my friends said. There are now tons of sticky notes marking some of my favorite passages in this book. She also gave a really nice interpretation (in my opinion) of college life, since I haven't attended college yet. However, I felt that Rainbow could have delivered a little more on the plot, because I thought it was a little slow in some spots.

 

Rating: 4/5 worms

This book is a delightful treat for anyone who loves contemporary or is addicted to the Internet like me!

 

 

Anatomy of a Single Girl by Daria Snadowsky

Title: Anatomy of a Single Girl

Author: Daria Snadowsky

Release Date: January 8, 2013

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Format: Hardcover

Page Number: 227

Source: Author (Thanks Daria)

 

Synopsis (Goodreads): With Judy Blume-like honesty and insight, this sequel to Anatomy of a Boyfriend is about life after first love--romance, sex, friendship, family, and the ups and downs of life as a single girl.

After everything that happened—my first boyfriend, my first time, my first breakup—jumping back into the dating game seemed like the least healthy thing I could do. It’s not that I didn’t want to fall in love again, since that’s about the best feeling ever. But as a busy college premed still raw from heartbreak, which is the worst feeling ever, I figured I’d lie low for a while. Of course, as soon as I stopped looking for someone, an impossibly amazing—and devastatingly cute—guy came along, and I learned that having a new boyfriend is the quickest way to recover from losing your old one.

The moment we got together, all my preconceptions about romance and sex were turned upside down. I discovered physical and emotional firsts I never knew existed. I learned to let go of my past by living in the present. It was thrilling. It was hot. It was just what the doctor ordered.

But I couldn’t avoid my future forever.

 

My Review

I enjoyed Anatomy of a Single Girl even more than Anatomy of a Boyfriend. It was really interesting to read about Dom's second boyfriend, and seeing her story continue.  

 

Dom definitely grew up in this book. She had a year more experience and a first love under her belt at the the beginning of this book. Whenever she was contemplating her relationship, she didn't go through all the complicating things like she did in the last book. I admired that she was weary to go into a new relationship, but she took the plunge and went for it,  and I was proud of her.

 

The overall plot was similar to Anatomy of a Boyfriend, but I thought it was still really good. Enought about it was diferent that kept me reading, and I was interested in Dom and her new boy. The stuff that Dom and Guy did was also more grown up, though I wished they would have gone on more dates.

 

They characters were still really good and I liked the development that Amy and Dom went through. You could see them growing as characters from the beginning of the book to the end, even if the book was short. Amy and Dom also developed in their friendship, which I thought was great.

 

Rating: 4/5 worms

Overall, Anatomy of a Single Girl is a great new adult book and I really enjoyed it!

 

 

Anatomy of a Boyfriend by Daria Snadowsky

Title: Anatomy of a Boyfriend

Author: Daria Snadowsky

Release Date: January 9, 2007

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Format: Paperback

Page Number: 272

Source: Author (Thanks Daria!)

Synopsis(Goodreads): Before this all happened, the closest I'd ever come to getting physical with a guy was playing the board game Operation. Okay, so maybe that sounds pathetic, but it's not like there were any guys at my high school who I cared to share more than three words with, let alone my body.

Then I met Wes, a track star senior from across town. Maybe it was his soulful blue eyes, or maybe my hormones just started raging. Either way, I was hooked. And after a while, he was too. I couldn't believe how intense my feelings became, or the fact that I was seeing—and touching—parts of the body I'd only read about in my Gray's Anatomy textbook. You could say Wes and I experienced a lot of firsts together that spring. It was scary. It was fun. It was love.

And then came the fall.
 

My Review

Anatomy of a Boyfriend is a very interesting and intriguing story of first love and all the ups and downs that come with it.

I thought that Anatomy of a Boyfriend had a really nice romance. After reading so much YA with instalove, I was truly sick of it. This book was such a change of pace and it was really quite refreshing. I thought it was very interesting to read about Dominique’s first love, and all the heartbreak and love that came with it. The romance felt real, and not cheesy.

Dominique was a pretty good character. Reading about her experiences with first love gave me insight about what it’s like to fall in love. She was kind of obsessive toward her boyfriend, which was a little weird. Wes was a good character too, and I ended up hating him along with Dominique at the end of the book. Out of all the characters, my favorite was definitely Amy. She was such a good friend to Dominique that I couldn’t help loving her. I thought that all the characters were really good in this book.

My favorite part of this whole book was when Dominique went off to college. I’ve been watching a lot of “Grey’s Anatomy” lately, and I thought it was a great touch that Dominique was going to premed. I thought that was such a great addition to the book. The plot was pretty good too, but it really picked up when the characters went off to college.

Rating: 4/5 worms

 

Steel by Carrie Vaughn

Title: Steel

Author: Carrie Vaughn

Release Date: March 15, 2011

Publisher: HarperTeen

Page Number: 291

Format: Hardcover

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It was a slender length of rusted steel, tapered to a point at one end and jagged at the other, as if it had broken. A thousand people would step over it and think it trash, but not her.

This was the tip of a rapier.

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she find

 

Synopsis:

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It was a slender length of rusted steel, tapered to a point at one end and jagged at the other, as if it had broken. A thousand people would step over it and think it trash, but not her.

This was the tip of a rapier.

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword pieIt was a slender length of rusted steel, tapered to a point at one end and jagged at the other, as if it ha broken. A thousand people would step over it and think it trash, but not her.

This was the tip of a rapier.

Sixteen-year-old Jill has fought in dozens of fencing tournaments, but she has never held a sharpened blade. When she finds a corroded sword piece on a Caribbean beach, she is instantly intrigued and pockets it as her own personal treasure.

The broken tip holds secrets, though, and it transports Jill through time to the deck of a pirate ship. Stranded in the past and surrounded by strangers, she is forced to sign on as crew. But a pirate's life is bloody and brief, and as Jill learns about the dark magic that brought her there, she forms a desperate scheme to get home--one that risks everything in a duel to the death with a villainous pirate captain.

 

My Review

I hadn't read a pirate book before I picked up Steel, and I really enjoyed it. I wouldn't have normally picked this up, but it was on my friend's shelf and I figured why not.

The main idea of this book is Jill trying to find her way home after she was transported to the time of the pirates. I thought that was a pretty neat concept, and I thought it was cool that Jill was a fencer, because I also hadn't read any books on fencing. The pirates in this book aren't your typical movie pirates, but they aren't total softies either. They rescue slaves from slave ships, but they also are willing to fight a ship if need be. I thought these pirates were very well done.

Truth be told, I would have liked some more action in this book. I thought when I went into it that there were going to be fights on pratically every page, and that lots of people were going to die. And while I didn't get a lot of fighting, I was okay with what I had, though more would have been nice. This book went along at a fairly nice pace, and I found it rather enjoyable to read about.

Jill as a main character was pretty good. I liked her, and I liked how she wasn't cocky about her fencing skills and that she wasn't soft and terrified. I didn't love her as much as I was hoping to, but she was still a pretty good character. Like I said, I liked the pirates and I thought that all their characters were done really well too.

The writing style of this book was good. I liked how Carrie Vaughn described the whole aspect of pirate life, and I thought it was really neat. I liked how she created her characters, especially the pirates, and the whole aspect of this book was really unique.

Rating: 4/5 worms

I think this book would please many pirate fans and general readers alike. I enjoyed the pirates most of all and I would definitely recommend it.



Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin's #1) by Robin LaFevers

Title: Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin's #1)

Author(s): Robin LaFevers

Release Date: April 3, 2012

Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Page Number: 549

Format: Hardcover

Source: Library

Synopsis: Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart? -Goodreads

My Review

When I first heard about Grave Mercy being about assassin nuns, I definitely knew I wanted to read it. And I was glad I did because it was fantastic.

 

I didn't really like Ismae at first. She was really cruel, cold, and bitter. She had escaped her arranged marriage and was now learning to be an assassin. Imagine going through that. But she fit the story perfectly and as the story went on she started to shed her cruel and bitter feelings. Duval was also pretty awesome. He would do anything for those he cared about and always put them first. I thought the characters were really good.

 

The idea of a book about assassin nuns is honestly crazy. Robin LaFevers gets points for coming up with that crazy idea. The story itself went at a medium speed, but it was really enjoyable because you got to read what all was happening in court, and things weren't what they first seemed. I thought it was great. There weren't any high paced action scenes I was hoping for though.

 

The writing style of this book was great. It took a few chapters to get into, because I don't really read a lot of historical fiction, but I felt that it really captured the mood of the book. Robin's writing style was really descriptive and I enjoyed it very much.

 

Rating: 4/5 worms

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who likes historical fiction. Definitely going to continue on with the rest of the series.