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

🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

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?

I wouldn't say that I love YA historical fiction or anything of the like but have been able to enjoy quite a few lately. I had my doubts about reading this one but since I have been having such good luck lately I thought that it might end up being worth the read. While I didn't hate Grave Mercy, I had a hard time paying attention while reading it. I actually stepped away from it and read other books before coming back to it and finally finishing it. I think that I didn't end up loving the story because I felt like it was going in circles. The villain would come up with a plot and Ismae and her comrades would attempt to foil it which would succeed or fail and this would go on and on until the end of the book. It became tiresome. I would have liked for the author to switch up the story a little and have Ismae in action more. I feel like all she did was sneak around and eavesdrop. I wanted to see more of the skills that she had learned from the convent. I also became irritated by her lack of experience and naivety when it came to her mission. She couldn't see things that were right in front of her face that I felt were super obvious. Don't get me wrong, I thought that the ideas behind this story were interesting and different but I would have liked to see more follow through with it. 

Hunted by Meagan Spooner

🌟🌟🌟🌓 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Beauty knows the Beast’s forest in her bones—and in her blood. Though she grew up with the city’s highest aristocrats, far from her father’s old lodge, she knows that the forest holds secrets and that her father is the only hunter who’s ever come close to discovering them. 

So when her father loses his fortune and moves Yeva and her sisters back to the outskirts of town, Yeva is secretly relieved. Out in the wilderness, there’s no pressure to make idle chatter with vapid baronessas…or to submit to marrying a wealthy gentleman. But Yeva’s father’s misfortune may have cost him his mind, and when he goes missing in the woods, Yeva sets her sights on one prey: the creature he’d been obsessively tracking just before his disappearance. 

Deaf to her sisters’ protests, Yeva hunts this strange Beast back into his own territory—a cursed valley, a ruined castle, and a world of creatures that Yeva’s only heard about in fairy tales. A world that can bring her ruin or salvation. Who will survive: the Beauty, or the Beast?

Hunted reminded me of a mix between Beauty and the Beast and The Wrath and the Dawn. She is a prisoner motivated by revenge. She wants the beast to pay for what he has done and will not stop until she has what she wants. I thought that Hunted was an interesting take on the classic fairy tale but I would have liked to have seen more of a departure from the original story. The story did hold my attention but I would have liked for it to grab my attention more so. I thought that Yeva was a fun character albeit a bit bland. Instead of being a bookworm she showed her differences from society by loving the woods and wanting to talk to others about hunting rather than gossip and the weather. I loved the fact that Megan Spooner decided not to have a Gaston character in the story and that she addressed the Stockholm syndrome that everyone points out with regards to this particular fairy tale.  I thought that it was a nice touch and added realism to the book that I feel other books lack. 
I was intrigued by the lesson or moral that the author chose to focus the story on because I felt that it was different than the other versions. It seems like they seem to focus on loving a person for more than their looks or looking past their flaws to the beauty beneath. Hunted was centered around finding happiness in your life rather than constantly seeking more. I also thought that the ending of the book tied into this message nicely. It was laid out in a very clever manner. 

Furyborn (Empirium #1) by Claire Legrand

🌟🌟🌟🌟 🌓out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

Follows two fiercely independent young women, centuries apart, who hold the power to save their world...or doom it.
When assassins ambush her best friend, the crown prince, Rielle Dardenne risks everything to save him, exposing her ability to perform all seven kinds of elemental magic. The only people who should possess this extraordinary power are a pair of prophesied queens: a queen of light and salvation and a queen of blood and destruction. To prove she is the Sun Queen, Rielle must endure seven trials to test her magic. If she fails, she will be executed...unless the trials kill her first.

A thousand years later, the legend of Queen Rielle is a mere fairy tale to bounty hunter Eliana Ferracora. When the Undying Empire conquered her kingdom, she embraced violence to keep her family alive. Now, she believes herself untouchable--until her mother vanishes without a trace, along with countless other women in their city. To find her, Eliana joins a rebel captain on a dangerous mission and discovers that the evil at the heart of the empire is more terrible than she ever imagined.

As Rielle and Eliana fight in a cosmic war that spans millennia, their stories intersect, and the shocking connections between them ultimately determine the fate of their world--and of each other.

I had my doubts when I began reading Furyborn because I wasn't sure that I would enjoy reading a book that switches between points of view that happen in different points in time. I thought that it would be confusing and that I would get lost within the story. Someone had told me that wasn't going to happen and I should have believed them. I was hooked from the first page and could not put it down until the story ended.


I noticed elements in Furyborn that were familiar in other YA fantasy books. There are others books out there that have elemental magic, royalty, and chosen ones but Furyborn offers a fresh twist on this genre. 

I loved both of the main characters and I was shocked by the amount of depth that was added to the story because of the amount of time separating the two of them. I came to appreciate Rielle's point of view because it explained the world beautifully. She and Eliana were each wonderfully written, each having flaws that made them both relatable and frustrating at times. There were times where I found myself shouting at each of them to wake up and realize what was happening around them. 

I thought that the connection that is hinted at in the synopsis of the book was obvious as was who was which queen in the story but it didn't take away from the book at all. I loved the characters, the plot, and the author's writing style. I can't wait to read the next book and it is horrible that I have to wait! I hope that the author keeps the book a dual point of view because I feel like Rielle has more story to tell in the next book. I have a feeling that things are about to get crazy on both sides of time!

Rebel of the Sands (Rebel of the Sands #1) by Alwyn Hamilton

🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic.  For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned, or female.

Amani Al’Hiza is all three.  She’s a gifted gunslinger with perfect aim, but she can’t shoot her way out of Dustwalk, the back-country town where she’s destined to wind up wed or dead.

Then she meets Jin, a rakish foreigner, in a shooting contest, and sees him as the perfect escape route. But though she’s spent years dreaming of leaving Dustwalk, she never imagined she’d gallop away on mythical horse—or that it would take a foreign fugitive to show her the heart of the desert she thought she knew.

Rebel of the Sands reveals what happens when a dream deferred explodes—in the fires of rebellion, of romantic passion, and the all-consuming inferno of a girl finally, at long last, embracing her power.

When I described this book to someone the other day, they said that the world that the author created wasn't one she would want to live in because it sounded sexist. She was right! Amani's world does everything that it can to bring her down beginning with the death of her mother and others in her hometown that treat her like she is a piece of property. It is no wonder that she enters a shooting contest disguised as a boy to attempt to make enough money to escape her fate. 

Amani was a great character! She was strong and stubborn. She had no intention of having a man push her around and define what her role was in life. I loved that she worked for what she wanted and took risks despite the danger the risks posed. I felt that the other characters were somewhat lacking but they still had a presence. It was clear that the author wanted the focus to be on Amani. 

I had thought that the story would end up being similar to Blood Red Road because the main characters are similar and live in a society that thinks that women are worth less than a man. I turned out to be wrong because Rebel of the Sands has fantastical elements to it. There are mythical horses and magical beings that add another layer to the story. It took me a minute to become acclimated to this aspect of the story because the book begins as more of a dystopian read and less of a fantasy but I did enjoy those elements because they added something even more exciting to the story. 

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #1) by Douglas Adams

🌟🌟🌓 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

Seconds before the Earth is demolished to make way for a galactic freeway, Arthur Dent is plucked off the planet by his friend Ford Prefect, a researcher for the revised edition of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy who, for the last fifteen years, has been posing as an out-of-work actor.

Together this dynamic pair begin a journey through space aided by quotes from The Hitchhiker's Guide ("A towel is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have") and a galaxy-full of fellow travelers: Zaphod Beeblebrox—the two-headed, three-armed ex-hippie and totally out-to-lunch president of the galaxy; Trillian, Zaphod's girlfriend (formally Tricia McMillan), whom Arthur tried to pick up at a cocktail party once upon a time zone; Marvin, a paranoid, brilliant, and chronically depressed robot; Veet Voojagig, a former graduate student who is obsessed with the disappearance of all the ballpoint pens he bought over the years.

This book was a lot shorter than I thought it would be so you'd think that it would be a breeze to read through....and you'd be wrong. While I thought that the concept was interesting, I found it very hard to pay attention while reading this book. I had thought that it would have me in stitches while I was reading it. I chuckled a few times but there weren't really any laugh out loud moments. The author's writing style was very dry and it didn't really appeal to me. 

The Testing (The Testing, #1) by Joelle Charbonneau

🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one and the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honoured to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every gruelling (and deadly) day of the Testing.

To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust. 

The pacing was slow at the very beginning of the book when the author was setting up the world and establishing the main character. I had a hard time paying attention and getting invested in the story. I had heard that the story becomes more fast paced when the candidates reach the testing center which turned out to be true. I was glued to the story from that point on and the pacing steadily increased as the testing phases were completed.

I really liked Cia. She seemed like a jack of all trades type of character in her skill set but wasn't a warrior by any means. She mostly used her intellect to solve the problems she encountered which I admired. She didn't seem like the typical heroine that kicks butt. I enjoyed that she was more of a pacifist and wanted to believe the best in people. I feel like there is a fine line between optimism and naivete in characters and feel that the author was able to strike the right balance with Cia.

I enjoyed the book but I wish that it hadn't reminded me do much of The Hunger Games. The similarities distracted me from the story and I feel that I could have enjoyed it even more if that weren't the case.

The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw

🌟🌟🌟🌓 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

Welcome to the cursed town of Sparrow…

Where, two centuries ago, three sisters were sentenced to death for witchery. Stones were tied to their ankles and they were drowned in the deep waters surrounding the town.

Now, for a brief time each summer, the sisters return, stealing the bodies of three weak-hearted girls so that they may seek their revenge, luring boys into the harbor and pulling them under.

Like many locals, seventeen-year-old Penny Talbot has accepted the fate of the town. But this year, on the eve of the sisters’ return, a boy named Bo Carter arrives; unaware of the danger he has just stumbled into.

Mistrust and lies spread quickly through the salty, rain-soaked streets. The townspeople turn against one another. Penny and Bo suspect each other of hiding secrets. And death comes swiftly to those who cannot resist the call of the sisters.

But only Penny sees what others cannot. And she will be forced to choose: save Bo, or save herself.

I had heard good things about The Wicked Deep. People seemed to be very excited about a book that had witches that were a bit like sirens. I decided to give it a try because I have been wanting to find a good fantasy novel to sink my teeth into. I loved the eerie, creepy tone to it and the characters in the story were interesting. It felt like each of them had a secret and I wanted to read more so that I could uncover it. 

While I liked this book, the direction that the author took the story in wasn't for me. My problem was the romance and how everything happened for Penny, Bo, and the three sisters. The ending that the author leaves readers with is more of a depressing or bittersweet ending. The romance was quick to begin with but then feels forced towards the very end. There was a feeling of Bo settling for second best that I didn't like that made the ending of the book feel like no one really got a happy ending. 

The Bone Witch (The Bone Witch #1) by Rin Chupeco

🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:

In the captivating start to a new, darkly lyrical fantasy series for readers of Leigh Bardugo and Sabaa Tahir, Tea can raise the dead, but resurrection comes at a price...
Let me be clear: I never intended to raise my brother from his grave, though he may claim otherwise. If there's anything I've learned from him in the years since, it's that the dead hide truths as well as the living.

When Tea accidentally resurrects her brother from the dead, she learns she is different from the other witches in her family. Her gift for necromancy means that she's a bone witch, a title that makes her feared and ostracized by her community. But Tea finds solace and guidance with an older, wiser bone witch, who takes Tea and her brother to another land for training.

In her new home, Tea puts all her energy into becoming an asha-one who can wield elemental magic. But dark forces are approaching quickly, and in the face of danger, Tea will have to overcome her obstacles...and make a powerful choice.

I tried to finish this book but eventually DNF at 55%. It was upsetting for me because it is a good book. The writing is great as is the world that the author created. I found the story interesting and thought that the author had fresh ideas on witches and monsters/demons. 
My issue with the book was the pacing. I felt like the story dragged and got bogged down in details such as chores the main character had to complete and bone witch training. I was waiting for something to happen. I wanted some conflict or for the book to be heading somewhere.