Every Day by David Levithan

 Title: Every Day

 Author: David Levithan

 Series: Everyday #1

 Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

 Date Published: August 28, 2012

 Genre: Contemporary, Fantasy?

 Pages: 338 (Hardcover)

Age Range: 12+




                                                                     Summary:

     Every day a different body. Every day a different life. Every day in love with the same girl.
     There’s never any warning about where it will be or who it will be. A has made peace with that, even established guidelines by which to live: Never get too attached. Avoid being noticed. Do not interfere.

     It’s all fine until the morning that A wakes up in the body of Justin and meets Justin’s girlfriend, Rhiannon. From that moment, the rules by which A has been living no longer apply. Because finally A has found someone he wants to be with—day in, day out, day after day.

                                                                       Review:

     From the flap, I was really interested in reading this book. That personal hype started around two years ago, and since then, it hasn't abated much. So, I read this book, aware of all the hype surrounding it, expecting (for once) to fall in love with this bit of hype, and get some amazing message to walk away with, and cherish in my heart forever. Instead, I was left with a bit of a sour taste, and a ton of lovey-dovey fluff that I didn't want anywhere near this story. I know the flap practically screams I'm a Romeo and Juliet kind of scenario but I was praying for something a bit more unique. What did I get? A Romeo and Juliet scenario.

     A's predicament was fascinating. Sure, it was never fully explained, it was kind of half thought out, and it had a plethora of rules that were just too convenient, but I liked it. I thought it was kind of original, and I wasn't that bothered by how convenient the rules were- well, I wasn't bothered at first. Then, I realized that we were never going to get a full background of this... traveling thing. And since I couldn't have that, I wanted everything to stop being so darned easy for A. Like, just because he finally meets someone he wants after about four hours of instalove does not mean that he can suddenly start screwing with rules that were set in stone before, just so he can stay near the object of his desires. All of that said, I did like A, and- dare I say it?- I actually felt pretty bad for him.

     Rhiannon, on the other hand... not so much. I'm just going to come straight out and say that I didn't feel as if she's good enough for A. A is actually a really good guy stuck in an unfavorable set of Life's Cards, and Rhiannon is a girl who sticks around her crummy boyfriend because she can. Honestly, we don't get a lot of character development for this girl, and what we do, is pretty negative. Her boyfriend isn't the best, but he also doesn't hurt her or anything, and sometimes he can actually be really great, and she's kind of an outcast because of her gloominess. Maybe I missed something with her, but I just din't feel like she was good enough for A.

     The plot was something that could have been shortened drastically, and had something of major relevance happen. Besides a weird outside threat, and a "will they, or won't they" kind of drama, nothing really happens besides some super cool body changing from A. I think something else that made this book drag its little feet is the writing. I actually thought the writing was very pretty, but a little too flowery in many parts. I feel like a bit more an action-packed writing style would've worked better.

    I don't even know what book two is about, so I don't know if I want to read it. I think I do, but if it's from Rhiannon's POV, or mainly about her, I'm passing. I want a lot more A in book two, and I want more background from his childhood.

                                                 

Sacrificed by Emily Wibberley

Title: Sacrificed

Series: The Last Oracle #1

Author: Emily Wibberley

Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing

Date Published: January 5, 2015

Genre: YA fiction, romance, action, thriller, fantasy, paranormal, suspense, mythology

Pages: 350 (paperback)




Summary


Knowing the future can save her city - but not her heart.

Born to serve the merciless Oracle, Clio wants nothing more than to break free. But when her entire family is murdered by Mannix, the king's adviser, Clio inherits the Oracle's power, a power she never wanted and doesn't understand.

Hunted by Mannix, Clio is forced to flee her home in Sheehan and seek refuge in a foreign city where oracles are forbidden. If she's found out, she will be sacrificed atop its great pyramid.

Clio has no choice but to win the trust of Riece, an enemy warrior. Despite the undeniable attraction between them, Clio knows that if he finds out who she really is, he won't hesitate to execute her.
Clio tries to hide her budding powers, but the Visions she keeps having of Mannix and his barbarian army slaughtering her people torture her conscience. She alone has the strength and foresight to stop him, but only if she can embrace her destiny and sacrifice everything.


Review


This book caught my interest from the very beginning! The summary sounded good so I decided to give it a try, and ended up loving the book just as much as its synopsis! The cool book cover also caught my interest.

The writing was good, not amazing but pretty great. The characters were...genius! Riece is sexy and enticing and mysterious; yet open. Clio is tough, smart, and daring. And Mannix is evil beyond a doubt.

Derik is pretty nice too but he wasn't in the book very much so there wasn't much time to get a feel for who he was. I actually thought he was secretly siding with Mannix for a while, and was intending to betray Clio. That did not happen, thank goodness! Because now book two will have a very interesting love triangle (that, at the same time, isn't really a love triangle because Clio considers Derik as family).

I really liked how Clio grew up so dramatically. It's always refreshing to read about a character that evolves so strongly. I felt really sad for her in the beginning even though I knew what was going to happen to her family. I felt like the author captured Clio's pain pretty well considering that she didn't have a strong bond with her family. Clio cared about her family and grieved for them but it wasn't overdone.

Mannix. Everything about him was amazing! He was such a good villain! There was one thing about him that I hadn't seen coming though 
(SPOILER AHEAD)...that he was Clio's sister!! I was totally caught off guard with that one! I figured he was an Untouched but I wasn't sure how since he still had his tongue. This detail was very believable for this book.

SPOILER FREE ZONE

The last 50 pages or so were so action-packed!! The whole book is pretty action-packed but the last pages had me on the edge of my seat! I could not put it down!
I am pretty excited about reading the sequel soon because I really want to know what will happen between Riece and Clio, Clio and Derik, and Mannix and Clio. I need answers!!! Where did Mannix go? What is he going to plan next? Will Clio go back for Riece? Will Riece take Clio after everything she said to him to drive him away? Will Derik make a move for Clio now that Riece is sort of out of the picture?
So many questions!! And I really need answers! 

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Holiday Giveaway!

Goodreads Book Giveaway

The Darkest Light

by Ashley Earley

Giveaway ends December 31, 2015.

See the giveaway details at Goodreads.

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Cyber Monday Sale!

The Darkest Light is on sale on Smashwords.com!!

Originally $2.99 - Now $1.50

  Just in time for the holidays! The Darkest Light is 50% OFF!! Today is the last day so don't miss out!  Visit Smashwords.com to purchase The Darkest Light as an eBook for $1.50 when typing in the code: CQ59Y. Then download the eBook to your reading device!

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Black Friday Book Sale!

The Darkest Light is on sale on Smashwords.com!!

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 Just in time for the holidays! The Darkest Light is 50% off as of today and until the end of the month (November 30th)! Visit Smashwords.com to purchase The Darkest Light as an eBook for $1.50 when typing in the code: CQ59Y

Here is the link to the website: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/542697

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Holiday Book Sale!

Ashley Earley's Blog: Holiday Book Sale!

The Darkest Light is on sale on Smashwords.com!!

Originally $2.99 - Now $1.50

 Just in time for the holidays! The Darkest Light is 50% off as of today and until the end of the month (November 30th)! Visit Smashwords.com to purchase The Darkest Light as an eBook for $1.50 when typing in the code: CQ59Y

Here is the link to the website: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/542697

I will be doing another sale before Christmas as well so stay tuned! :)
Thank you for the support!

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A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

 Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses

 Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses

 Author: Sarah J. Maas

 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's

 Date Published: May 5, 2015

Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance

Pages: 432 (Hardcover)

Age Range: 14+






                                                                       Summary:

      When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin--one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow over the faerie lands is growing, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin--and his world--forever.

                                                                         Review:

     Sarah J. Maas has done it again. I am slightly disappointed because she published this while the Throne of Glass sextet is only four-sixths of the way finished, BUT BUT BUT this book is totally worth waiting on Throne of Glass for.
     Feyre is this girl, and she starts out being an incredible Katniss rip-off. Feyre isn't a parody, but a serious re-representation of this girl. Feyre hunts to provide for her otherwise-screwed family, and she shoots with- guess what??- a bow and arrow. I could draw more similarities from The Hunger Games to this book than I could with Beauty and the Beast; this book is supposed to be a Beauty and the Beast re-telling, and while I did find some of those traits, I found more Hunger Games characteristics, especially in the characters. So while Feyre can be renamed Katniss, her younger sisters can be renamed Selfish Idiot, and Prim. Nesta got on my nerves, and I never really ended up liking her. I actually forgot the youngest sister's name. Their father, too, got on my nerves. He was so weak, and he truly became his ailment.
     Moving on to the actually juicy drama, Tamlin was all sorts of amazing. Of course, I could see the Beast in him, but I could really see the Beast in Rhysand the most. Tamlin reminded me of Fluffy from Harry Potter: big and scary, but secretly cuddly. Rhysand was kind of a mixture of the opposite, and some weird form of secretly good. I'm team Tamlin, but I have a sneaky feeling that we'll be seeing a lot more of Rhysand. And Lucien!! We MUST have more of him!!!
      The plot of this book was all over the place- in a good way! First we have the whole thing going on with The Evil Queen, then we have the thing going on with Tamlin, and then we have stuff going on with Rhysand and faeries. I can't say much without being spoilery, but things went in fantastic directions.
     Now, I must read Queen of Shadows. I do believe that Sarah J. Maas can do no wrong.

                                             

Uninvited and Unleashed by Sophie Jordan

 Title: Uninvited

 Author: Sophie Jordan

 Series: Uninvited Series #1

 Publisher: HarperTeen

 Date Published: January 28, 2014

 Genre: Dystopian, Romance

 Pages: 384 (Hardcover)

 Age Range: 14+






                                                                    Summary:

     Davy had everything—a terrific boyfriend, the homecoming crown, a bright future at Julliard—but when her genetic tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome, she loses it all. Uninvited from her prestigious school, avoided by her friends and family, she is placed in a special class with other "carriers" who are treated like the murderers they someday might become.

     Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life and tells her that she alone controls her actions—not the code embedded into her DNA. But even if she can learn to trust him, can Davy trust herself?

                                                                      Review:

     Sophie Jordan is coming to my town, so I just had to read a book by her before I get a book signed. I had some pretty average expectations for this book. I was expecting a pretty interesting plot, some meh characters, and a killer cliffhanger that would make me want to kill someone to have the next book. I waltzed into this story only having read the flap, and that is the best way to go into this book- knowing nothing. Now is where I say that this book went beyond what I had imagined. It was surprisingly good, and it left me thinking. That being said, the book fell flat at the same time.

     One way that the book fell short in my opinion was that things moved very erratically. At first things start chugging along, and then things slow down drastically before they pick up again. Besides the erratic pace, I didn't like some of the characters. Tori felt like a completely random, unnecessary character just used as a plot device. Zac, I just despised- I never really liked him; his affection always seemed stilted. I disliked the ending of this book too. This book did NOT need to be a duology! This book could have easily been a slightly longer standalone. In fact, I would've liked the book better if everything had been resolved in this installment.

     Besides those rather small issues, I really did like this book. I LOVED Sean. Oh my, goodness gracious. Yes, he was cliche, and yes, there was instalove. HOWEVER, he was so sweet, and a bad-boy which I love. I also really liked Davy herself. She wasn't anything super special, but she fit perfectly into the story. I REALLY, REALLY wanted to read more about Mitchell. He was so funny, sarcastic, and I really wanted to wanted to see some more depth on his part. Honestly, I just wanted a lot more of Mitchell. I enjoyed meeting Sabine and Gil, but I hoped that they would get together.
     The near-ending was... interesting. For awhile, it looked like we would have a promising, open-ended ending. Instead, we had... the ending that we did. I really was praying that this book would end in one book, but of course it couldn't! Goodness gracious.





Title: Unleashed

Author: Sophie Jordan

Series: Uninvited Series #2

Publisher: HarperTeen

Date Published: February 24, 2015

Genre: Dystopian

Pages: 368 (Hardcover)

Age Range: 14+




                                                                       Summary:

     Davy has spent the last few months trying to come to terms with the fact that she tested positive for the kill gene HTS (also known as Homicidal Tendency Syndrome). She swore she would not let it change her, and that her DNA did not define her . . . but then she killed a man.

     Now on the run, Davy must decide whether she'll be ruled by the kill gene, or if she'll follow her heart and fight for her right to live free. But with her own potential for violence laying right beneath the surface, Davy doesn't even know if she can trust herself.

                                                                         Review:

     Honestly, this book was not necessary. At all. Now that I have read it, I can definitely say that this book adds very little to the story. I am very upset that this book is so bad, especially since I loved the first one so much.

     This book totally ruined what we built in the first one. Whatever we built with Sean became a problem after it wasn't a problem in the first book. And then, Sophie Jordan cruelly throws this new guy in here.. that I also love. WHY YOU DO THIS TO ME?!?! This book is both more boring, and more action-y than the first one. At times, I wanted to blow something up to make something- anything- happen. And other times, I was panting.

     Davy didn't change very much in this installment. She became a bit tougher, and she became more brutal, but- if anything- she made some steps backwards. We meet some new characters, and not a whole lot of them stick out to me. I did love Junie, even what ended up happening to her. Besides her, the only other character that I can really remember is Tabatha. And I felt very... meh towards her. Then, my favorite character is Caden. He was wonderful, and I was severely torn about this whole Sean vs. Caden thing.

     The plot thing with Sabine and Sean was... wow. Just wow. I was really angry because we never got to see what ended up playing out with Sean and Sabine and Gil while Davy was gone. The letter that Gil sent Davy at the end had me tearing up a little because, letters man. They always kill me.

     Overall, I would give this series four stars. The first book was so much better than the second, but they were both pretty decent.

                                       

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

 Title: Red Queen

 Series: Red Queen Series #1

 Author: Victoria Aveyard

 Publisher: HarperTeen

 Date Published: February 10, 2015

 Genre: Dystopian

 Pages: 400 (Hardcover)

 Age Range: 14+




            Summary:

     Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?
      Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

      To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

                                                        Review:

     I'm pretty sure that people would kill to get their hands on this book. I have heard nothing except glowing praise, and that kind of scared me away from this book. Very rarely do so many different people love such a book so much- so passionately. But, I grabbed this book at the first opportunity, set on reading it to find out what all the hype was about. Aaaaand, I really just don't see it. Don't get me wrong, some things were great, but they were really scarce in comparison to the not-so-good.
     The plot was interesting, but it felt so old and done before. A girl doesn't realize she's a special snowflake until she finds out in some wildly public way. Then, we have the ensuing cover-up act, and the love interests all vying for this selfish, seemingly perfect, doesn't-know-she's-gorgeous, bland girl. Don't get me wrong, I did like the plot, I just didn't find it as original and fresh as everybody else seemed to.
     The characters kind of bled into one another for me. Mare was...just kind of meh. She wasn't bad, but nothing really made her stick out from the hordes of other female book characters that I have read about over the years. She was a SPECIAL SNOWFLAKE that didn't understand her true specialness. And then we had our princes- Cal and Maven. First off, I do love their names, and Cal is probably my favorite character out of them all. He was sweet and funny, but he was also... preoccupied with Evangeline for a lot of the book. Kilorn kind of existed? I liked him, but he also got on my nerves, with his stupid decisions and reckless behavior. Maven... he was... there? I liked him around the middle of the book, but my feelings for him kind of ebbed away, and I was left with this great ambivalence. I just couldn't be bothered to care. And Evangeline. I had a hate-love relationship with her. She's a great villain, but I'm supposed to hate her. Kind of like I love Bellatrix from Harry Potter, but just because she is so evil.
     Let's discuss the plot twist. That plot twist was actually very well done. It was perfect wrench in the plans with an amazing execution, and my mouth actually dropped open. That being said, it helps me settle on my feelings for two certain characters, and that feeling is hate. Immense hate. Seriously, I cannot fathom why some people still ship Mare and... a certain male lead. That plot twist though! *applause* Brilliantly done, Mrs. Aveyard. And bringing a character back into the plot from the grave... I'm still bowing down to that genius.
     One more thing, our love pentagon? Square? Octagon? That needs to go. Mare is going to end up with Cal. End of story.


                                          

The Darkest Light Giveaway

  Hi everybody!!

 I'm giving away 2 paperback copies of The Darkest Light on Goodreads!

 The giveaway has already started and lasts until September 10th of this year :)

Click the link below to enter to win!
https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/145336-the-darkest-light

Burn For Burn By Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian

 Title: Burn For Burn

 Author: Jenny Han, Siobhan Vivian

 Series: Burn for Burn Trilogy #1

 Publisher: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers

 Date Published: August 6, 2013

 Genre: Contemporary, Paranoramal-y

 Pages: 384 (paperback)

 Age Range: 13+ 




                                                    Summary:

     Postcard-perfect Jar Island is home to charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, amazing oceanfront homes—and three girls secretly plotting revenge.
     KAT is sick and tired of being bullied by her former best friend.
     LILLIA has always looked out for her little sister, so when she discovers that one of her guy friends has been secretly hooking up with her, she’s going to put a stop to it.
     MARY is perpetually haunted by a traumatic event from years past, and the boy who’s responsible has yet to get what’s coming to him.
     None of the girls can act on their revenge fantasies alone without being suspected. But together…anything is possible.
     With an alliance in place, there will be no more “I wish I’d said…” or “If I could go back and do things differently...” These girls will show Jar Island that revenge is a dish best enjoyed together.

                                                    Review:

     This is the first book in what I think is going to be a trilogy, and already we have had A LOT of action. We have a handful of three wildly vengeful girls on our hands, all willing to go to the extremes to extract their personal, sweet revenge. In this book, we read from three different POVs, and all of them have their own, distinct voice. Kat, Mary, and Lillia all are very different people that join together seamlessly to create this intense, crazy story.
     First off, the characters! Mary kinda weirded me out. I mean, yes she is a vital person in the plot, and yes, she has maybe the most reason to want revenge. Buuut, she still gave me some major heebie jeebies. I'm kind of on the fence about her because I feel so bad for her, and because she seems genuinely sweet, but she also seems to have some weird ulterior motive with some odd, paranormal aspect going on with her. I just don't know. Kat, I just felt meh about. She was kind of an annoying, flighty little girl, but I love her rebellious streak that brings out some craziness in the other girls. Lillia is my favorite character out of the three. She seems like a really nice girl stuck with the wrong group of people. As for the group of friends that we are dealing with, I really like Alex, I like Nadia (honestly, just because we share a name), I hate Rennie, and I feel meh towards Reeve (but love his name).
     The plot of this book is really fast-paced. I suppose that I should dislike that this book revolves around petty revenge, but my inner girly-girl is loving it! I really like the character and plot development that we've seen so far. Everything really moved along, but I'm not sure if I like how Rennie and Reeve are kind of grouped together. I almost feel like they each deserve their own special hell... But.....We'll see what happens in book two!
     This book was surprisingly good, and it has a really pretty cover. I have book two half-read on my shelf right now.