Review: Reviver (#1) by Seth Patrick

Title: Reviver (#1)

Author: Seth Patrick

Published by: Thomas Dunne Books

Released: 2013

Summary: Revivers, the next big thing in crime solving. Revivers are people blessed (or cursed) with the ability to bring back the recently dead for a short time. Since Revival has been discovered, and uneasily accepted by the public, Revival has become a booming business. Revivers can settle insurance claims, help families have closure with the death of a relative, and make solving violent crimes marginally easier. Jonah is a Forensic Reviver, he goes into murder scenes and brings back the victims in the hope they can identify their killers. Jonah is happy in his job because he feels like he has a purpose, that he is helping people. Then one revival goes bad, and Jonah feels a dark presence with him that won't leave. His superiors put it up to overwork, and give Jonah some time off. Then the body of Daniel Harker is found, the journalist who discovered Revival and brought it to life. Jonah decides to team up with Daniel's daughter Annabel, to find out just what happened to her father, and ends up embroiled in a far bigger web than anyone realized.

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed this debut work from Seth Patrick. I was drawn in just by the Acknowledgements alone, when he described how Edgar Allen Poe influenced the whole idea. The concept of the book was really intriguing and made for interesting reading.

There were some slow parts and a whole lot of information dumping in the first half of the book, but I could get through that because I was interested to see where the story went. That would have to be my only negative of the book.

I really enjoyed all the characters, there wasn't one person that I hated. Never Greary is probably the stand out character, followed closely by Marmite the cat. Jonah is an okay guy as well, maybe in the next book he won't be so mopey and depressed.

This was a very enjoyable read with a cool concept, likable characters, and an intriguing end. It's a little morbid, but I guess that's to be expected in a book where death is really the beginning of the story. I also found it very cool that this story will one day be a movie (or at least that was being discussed when I wrote this review. I'm not sure if the movie part is actually happening or has happened already). This is a solid read that I suggest to every crime fan out there.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

Death Is Only the Beginning

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Settings You Want To See More Of

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is the Top 5 Settings You Want To See More Of. I'll probably go off on a completely wrong tangent with this topic, but what I'm taking this to mean is what kind of book genres I want to see more of. I guess what I mean to say is topics of books that I want to see more of. Not just settings. Anyway, here's my list.

6. Thrillers - There are a generous amount of thrillers on the market already, but I just really enjoy them, especially all the YA thrillers. I feel like thrillers marketed to a YA audience are still fairly new, and I want to see more of them. Thrillers are just fun. They leave you guessing, and sometimes on the edge of your seat.

5. Urban Fantasy - This one I'm saying more for the YA genre in general. There are tons of Urban Fantasy Adult books, but not so much in the YA. Urban Fantasy is just a lot of fun. There is magic, sometimes cool creatures, and usually romance. Urban Fantasy tends to have a lot of action and adventure too. I like them.

4. Post-Apocalyptic - I am the biggest sucker for Post-Apocalyptic Fiction. There is just something about having to survive after civilization as we know it has ceased. I live for those stories of total strangers coming together and surviving, becoming a family. I love the Post-Apocalyptic landscapes of decaying roads and houses. There's usually a lot of action in Post-Apocalyptic Fiction too. I always used to get Post-Apocalyptic Fiction confused with Dystopian, but Post-Apocalyptic is sooo much better. Love it.

3. Zombies/Monsters - Another guilty pleasure of mine is the zombie/monster genre. These are a lot of fun. They can be so creative and just great.

2. Space - I've really been a fan of space books recently. They can be so creative and fun. I didn't really read them before because I'm not the biggest fan of books that focus a lot on the science of things, but if you just give me a fun space romp, I'll love it. I've also been into more space tv shows too. Now I haven't gone hardcore space, like Star Trek or Battlestar Galatica or any of that, because they can be too much for me, too weird. But space in YA can be a really good time.

1. Superpowers - Give me all the Superpower Books! All of them. Superpower books are sooo fun. I wish I had superpowers. I could definitely do with more superpower books.

So there's my Top 5 I Didn't Even Try To Stick To The Topic They Gave Me Top 5 Wednesday Post. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday is a new, fun topic to contemplate and come up with answers for. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers Here!

Review: The May Queen Murders by Sarah Jude

Title: The May Queen Murders

Author: Sarah Jude

Published by: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Released: May 3, 2016

Summary: In the community of Rowan's Glen, there are rules and traditions to follow. They are a tight knit community. They stay away from the people not part of their community, the Outsiders. Rowan Glen has secrets, a dark past, a tragedy that haunts them.

Ivy has always been happy to live in her cousin's shadow. Bright, vibrant Heather. Then Heather starts pulling away and Ivy doesn't know why. With the May Day Festival coming up and pets disappearing, the community is on edge, yet ready for a bit of fun. On the last May Day celebration, a girl was killed, hopefully the past doesn't repeat itself. With danger lurking in the woods and a past that haunts, Ivy will find out the secrets of the Glen.

My Thoughts: Thank You so much Houghton Mifflin Harcourt and Goodreads FirstReads Giveaway Program with supplying me with an arc to read and review. I love getting arcs.

This book wasn't what I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a standard YA murder mystery/thriller, and while it was that, it was more than that too. This book has one of the most unique atmospheres I've read in a while. It was strange, unique, and interesting all rolled into one.

Rowan's Glen is a strange community. They almost have a cult-like vibe, because of the way they live. It's like a mix of the Amish plus the mountain people of Appalachia. It's a community full of secrets, secrets that have come back from the past to haunt the future.

My favorite part of this book had to be the atmosphere. It was just so intriguing, I just had to find out how everything was going to end.

I didn't find Ivy to be the most exciting main character to follow. She's more timid and very superstitious. I didn't hate Ivy, but she wasn't the most memorable.

I really did enjoy all the character names in this. How they were all plant or bird related. Just added that extra spice to the book.

The ending was exciting, but after all the build up throughout the book, it wasn't exactly the ending I was hoping for. Finding out the bad guy was just normal, was slightly disappointing. The ending was also one punch after another, just when you think you've reached the end, it comes at you with something else. My thoughts when reading the ending, was that maybe there are no good guys in this place. The ending was definitely exciting, but maybe had too much going on.

I enjoyed this story. The best part about it is the eerie atmosphere. It wasn't the book I was expecting it to be, and that kept me intrigued. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read. It's an interesting experience.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5

Atmospheric and Intriguingly Strange

Reading Right Now! (71)

Title: No One Else Can Have You

Author: Kathleen Hale

I'm only about 25 pages through this, so I really have just dipped my toe in it. Just started it is what I'm trying to say if you didn't get the toe thing

So, I just started this and I don't know how to feel about it yet. I'm trying to go into this book with an open mind. I'm trying to forget that the author went semi-crazy over a bad review and ended up stalking the reviewer. I like to think that I can separate the author from their work. I don't want my feelings for the author to skew how I think of the book. But I'm sure some of my feelings for the author weasel in to how I'm thinking of this book.  But I want to give the book its fair shake. Do you get me? Do you get me?

So a very brief summary is: Kippy Bushman's best friend has just been found murdered in a field. Kippy is having to reconcile with the death of her best friend, and she's also finding out secrets about her friend. I think it's going to end up that she has to find the killer. Kind of a YA thriller/murder mystery kind of thing. I like those kinds of books.

So first 25 pages, I'm on the fence. It's got that whole tragedy trying to mix with funny, that so far has ended up kind of awkward. Like the awkward stand up comics hate, when none of their jokes hit. I can also sense a little bit of pretentiousness from Kippy (via the author I assume). About small towns being the worst places ever to live, how you just can't wait to leave them. Maybe go to an Ivy League school and leave those country bumpkins in the dust. Umm maybe a little bit of shade thrown at people who have a more Conservative mindset. And the old standby of making fun of the Christians, cause they are soooo annoying. In case you missed it, I incorporated some heavy sarcasm in some parts. All I can say is, the killer better not end up as a Conservative, religious member of the community, because I get so tired of that often used trope. I myself love small towns, am not embarrassed of my Conservative values, and am a proud Christian. So I'm not the most sure if this book and I are going to gel, but we'll see what happens. Don't judge it until you read it. That's the motto I want to live by when it comes to books. I also have the sequel, so I'll probably read that not too long after reading this one.

After that, I might pick up

Title: The Girl At Midnight (#1)

By: Melissa Grey

I want to stick to my purple theme here. Make it my power color or something.

I really know next to nothing about this one. Sounds like it has some strange creatures in it. It looks interesting though.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading? If you've read any of the books I mentioned, what did you think of them? Do you try to separate author from book too? Or if the author does something so repulsive, do you not even try to read their works? Have a great weekend!

Review: Winger (Winger #1) by Andrew Smith

Title: Winger (Winger #1)

Author: Andrew Smith

Published by: Simon & Schuster BFYR

Released: 2013

Illustrations by: Sam Bosma

Summary: Ryan Dean West is a 14 year old junior who attends the richy rich boarding school, Pine Mountain Academy. Because of some ne'er-do-well stuff he did, Ryan Dean has been regulated to O Hall. O Hall houses all the hard cases. Ryan Dean must navigate staying alive in O Hall, figure out how to make his crush see him as more than a friend, and be the best rugby player possible. This year will be the year Ryan Dean West figures out stuff.

My Thoughts: This book wasn't really what I was expecting. I did very much enjoy it, but I don't know if it lived up to all the hype. I've read another of Andrew Smith's works, The Marbury Lens, and came to the conclusion that it was weird, and I kind of feel the same way about Winger. The book really didn't have any plot to it, it was just Ryan Dean's strange adventures at Pine Mountain.

Overall, I really did enjoy it. It made for a very fast read. There were times that I chuckled and other times where I didn't know what to think.

There were some things I didn't care for in the story. They could be argued as stupid things, but my opinions are my own. First, I felt it a little unnecessary to call him Ryan Dean all the time. That's kind of a mouthful of a name, and I never really understood why he even had two names to begin with. I would have much rather just left it as Ryan.

Second, I didn't really like all the cursing. I also thought it was unnecessary. If he doesn't curse in real life, than why does he have to curse all the time in his writing? 

The third thing that just felt over-used to me was being constantly reminded of how Joey was gay. I only really needed to know that detail once, not over and over again. I think Ryan Dean made a bigger deal about Joey's sexual orientation than Joey did.

I'm also not sure how I felt about the ending. It kind of felt like having a book that just moseys along, not really talking about anything important, but being enjoyable, and then trying to stick a big, old issue on the end.

I did enjoy the story. It was fun. I liked the illustrations by Sam Bosma thrown in. It was kind of refreshing to read from a 14 year old boy's point of view in YA, even if that boy did have a very dirty mind. Overall, I thought it was an okay book. I never do know what to expect from Andrew Smith though.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5

Ryan Dean West get your mind out of the gutter!

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Favorite Videos/Posts

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is a fun one. A way to showcase what we're proud of when it comes to our bookish social medias. I think I'm going to use this post just as way to share my other internet haunts. Kind of like self-advertising. I decided to do it this way just because I don't think I have 5 specific posts that I'm proud of above all other posts. I'm proud of all my bookish social media. I'm grateful for all the followers and subscribers that have decided they like what I do. I'm not one of those people that started a booktube, blog, or bookstagram and just rose to fame after a couple months. I don't really have a tremendous amount of followers, but that's okay. Right now I enjoy posting bookish videos, doing book reviews on my blog and goodreads, and posting bookish photos. Maybe one day, I will have a nice chunk of subscribers and followers, and I'll know that it came from working hard and enjoying what I do. Also, I appreciate every subscriber I have! I'm not about the numbers, it's more about being involved in a community and being able to interact with people about what I love BOOKS! (Also sometimes make-up, video games, and movies/tv shows. Having only one hobby is boring). So here's some of my other bookish social medias with posts that I'm proud of.

Instagram or Bookstagram

https://www.instagram.com/gotbookcitement/

 

I like taking pictures of books! Also occasionally myself, my dogs, my cats, influenster campaigns, and makeup. I call it a bookstagram account, but I really just take pictures of what I want. I like it because it's another way to document my reading life. I don't use a fancy camera, it's just my phone camera, which I think does a spectacular job. I don't have fancy editing software. I just use what's on the instagram app. I also don't consider it a job or something I HAVE to do every day. It's just a fun thing for me to do. I'm hovering around the 200 followers mark, which is pretty cool. Thankyou to all my awesome followers. 

I do have my issues with bookstagram. Things that irritate me. I don't like shoutout for shoutout posts. The whole post 1 or 5 of my pictures, leave them up for 3 hours, tag me in the post, and I'll be kind enough to mention your name on my account. The idea of having to follow all these rules in order for someone to just mention your name/account just feels fake and dirty. It feels like a focus on numbers rather than just having fun and making friends. I also don't like the like for like posts or comments either. I'm going to like someone's photo because I like their photo, not because I feel obligated because they liked one of mine. The same with follow for follow. I'll follow you because I want to, not because we've made some kind of deal in order to gain more followers. The last thing that irks me is when people post book pictures and the comments are totally irrelevant to what the picture shows. I use my bookstagram account to show current reads, do short reviews of books I've just finished, or showcase books I've just acquired. There's just something that irks me about seeing a beautiful photo of a book and then the comment says, "Is anyone craving tacos? I'm craving tacos." or "I just had the longest day at work, it was awful." What is the point of that? I now know that your account is one that just has a stockpile of pictures of books, but the books are just there to be pretty, cause you're not talking about them.

Okay, rant over. I don't like everything about bookstagram. I think some people take it too seriously. But I like being on there, taking pictures, and sharing my reading life. Just spreading the word about books really.

Youtube subgenre Booktube

https://www.youtube.com/user/acbsgotbookcitement

I don't think I have a favorite favorite post I've made on booktube. I'm kind of okay with all of them. The only one that pops into my mind as a favorite is the Zombie Apocalypse BookTag, just because that was really fun to make. I'll include the link here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gYECbtnPty4

My relationship with booktube has been a little rocky. I started making videos in April of 2012 and have kind of had an on/off relationship with it. Making videos takes time. There's getting ready for them, filming them, editing them, posting them. Sometimes I get lazy and I don't want to do it. So my channel hasn't always been consistent. There were times when I was bitter because other channels were growing at crazy rates while I felt mine was on a plateau. I had to come to realize that I was making videos because it was fun for me, not because I wanted to get internet famous and have thousands of subscribers. I'm trying to be more consistent on my channel now. I'm trying to post a video once a week. We'll see how I do. I do really like booktube. I subscribe to a lot of channels. I've made great friends from it, like Ali and Ke-sha just to name a few. If I never pass the 1,000 subscriber mark, I'll be okay. As long as I enjoy doing it, I'm gonna do it.

Since I had an irk about bookstagram, I might as well give one about booktube. My one irk would have to be the influx of sponsored videos. Or at least booktubers that only seem to do sponsored videos. It makes me question the honesty of the reviews they are giving, because they are essentially being paid to promote a book. Now, I'm happy that they are successful, I just don't like the ones that get tons of subscribers and then lose that authenticity, that realness, the reason that I subscribed to them in the first place. Does that make sense? It's going to have to do.

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/7412993-ashley

I love Goodreads! I always have the tab open on my computer. I feel that it's a great way to discover new books and keep track of your reading progress. I love the yearly reading challenge Goodreads has. I've taken part in it since 2012, and it's just fun. Probably what I'm most proud of on my Goodreads account is my gif reviews. I'm so glad my friend Ke-sha showed me how to post gifs, because they are so fun. Here's an example of one of my gif reviews or reactions.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/753807411?book_show_action=false

As of now, I have no irks about Goodreads. I think it's really fun. They also have this cool thing called the Goodreads FirstReads Giveaways where you can enter for the chance to win free books. Did someone say free books? Yes Please. Now it's all a random draw thing and the more you review the books you win, the better your chances will be for winning another. But I have won 7+ books in Goodreads giveaways and there is no better feeling than getting that email saying you won. Love it! If you want to be friends with me on Goodreads, please do! I have no questions you have to answer or reasons of why you want to be my friend. I just like Goodreads.

My Blog

No link needed cause you are already here :D

My blog, which you are at right now! Hi, Nice to See You! I've had a strange relationship with my blog as well. I started it in January of 2012 and have taken breaks over the years. Recently, like at the beginning of 2016, I decided that I really wanted to keep my blog updated with posts. Like be consistent about doing reviews and other posts. So far, I feel that I've done an okay job with that. It's also been fun.

In the beginning, I had the false hopes of starting a blog and then just being bombarded with arcs. Reality set in, and I realized getting to that status would take a lot of hard work and time. I get arcs occasionally, and I'm always super excited when I do, but I still haven't reached that holy grail book blogger status. Maybe I never will, and that's okay. As long as my blog continues to be fun for me, I'm going to continue doing it.

Probably some of my favorite posts I've done on here haven't even been my book posts. I mean, I've been proud of some of my Top 5 Wednesday posts. I really love adding gifs to things. But the ones that I had the most fun doing this year have been my review posts of The 100 Season 3. I love that show! I still have to post my reviews for the last two episodes and my general thoughts on Season 3, I'll do that eventually. But they've also been the posts that have gotten the most views, which is always exciting to see. I'll put a couple of my favorites down here. WARNING! They have SPOILERS for the episodes they concern. So if you don't want to be SPOILED for anything that happens in The 100 in Season 3, don't click on the links.

http://ashleysgotbookcitement.blogspot.com/2016/04/what-did-i-think-of-100-season-3_19.html

http://ashleysgotbookcitement.blogspot.com/2016/04/what-did-i-think-of-100-season-3_27.html

Some people might not be fans, because they are not book related posts on my book blog, but I feel that this is my place, a place where I can share my different loves and hobbies. And they were just kind of fun to make, very time-consuming, but fun to make.

I've been really enjoying the blog life. It's been nice to see my view count go up each day. Maybe one day, I'll be one of those lucky book bloggers that gets arcs all the time. I can dream!

So that's my Top 5 Wednesday. I feel like I might have not done the best job of sticking to the topic of  my Top 5 Favorite Posts/Videos, but oh well. These are things I'm proud of and that I enjoy doing. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday, there is a new, fun topic to contemplate and discuss. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers Here!

Random Tuesday: What Did I Think of Black Sails Season 2 (maybe SPOILERS)

I have already told of my love of pirates. Especially pirates that operated during the Golden Age of Piracy. I really enjoy that romanticized aspect of men chasing freedom on the water and obtaining treasure. That is part of the reason that I wanted to check out this series in the first place. The other reason was for the actor that plays Captain Vane. He showed up in The 100 as Prince of Ice Nation, Roan, and I loved him so much.

In the review of Season 1, I was kind of meh about the show. It didn't romanticize pirates at all. They were very mean in Season 1. It was also very political in Season 1, which wasn't what I wanted either. So, one would think that I wouldn't continue watching the show, but I'm one of those people that has to continue once I start something. So I got Season 2 from the library.

A Summary of My Thoughts Regarding Season 2

I don't hate the show, but I don't love it either. The same problems I had with Season 1, I pretty much had with Season 2.

I like the romanticized version of the Golden Age of Piracy. I mean, I'm not dumb, I know the pirates were not nice guys. They were killers. They plundered, they scared, the killed, and they whored. I wouldn't want to meet with a real life pirate, they aren't good guys, but I like that pretend version that I've come to expect through movies and television.

This Season was very heavy into political dealings which I was just meh about.

I wasn't a fan of all the sex and nudity. It just seemed excessive to me mostly, it wasn't about furthering any story. Call me a prude if you wish, I don't care.

I also wasn't a fan of how every storyline seemed to revolve around many of the main characters' sexuality. I know that's an unpopular opinion. I know it's not the politically correct thing to say, but that's how I felt while watching it.

They did introduce (for just a short while) a very brutal villain. And as much as I was repelled by him, he was also interesting to watch. He's the definition of a bloodthirsty pirate for sure.

Ned Low is Scary!

I do have some favorite characters, or characters I enjoy seeing. They would be Captain Vane, Jack Rackham, Billy Bones, and Anne Bonny.

I have characters I'm not sure about, namely Mr. John Silver. I like how he's always out to protect himself, further his own interests, but I don't know if I'm drawn to him.

I'm also not sure how I feel of Captain Flint. All last Season he was focused on the gold, and then this Season, he just kind of forgets about it. I don't know. I also didn't really like his storyline this season.

The character I really have no love for is Eleanor. She reminds me of another character I don't like, Lexa from The 100. She's slightly unemotional and robotic, and all she cares about is becoming Queen Trader of the Island. I also don't like how she's so fickle in her relationships. She treats Captain Vane badly. From the first episode, I was hoping for a sweet love story between them, but then reality set in very quickly. I just don't like Eleanor.

One of my favorite things about the show is how it uses actual Pirates of history as characters. Jack Rackham, Anne Bonny, Charles Vane -- They were all real people. The thing that irks me about the show, especially when I watched the Special Features of Season 2, is how it tells you NOTHING about these actual historical figures. In the Season 2 Special Features, they had a little segment titled something like pirates of history or bringing pirate history to life, I can't remember exactly what it said. But I was excited, because I was expecting to hear about the exploits of Jack Rackham. How his pirate flag is one of the most famous and recognized. How he had Mary Read and Anne Bonny (two of the most famous women pirates) on his crew. How he was hanged for piracy and how nobody really knows what happened to Anne Bonny in the end. Even Charles Vane had a really fascinating history. His crew mutinied and abandoned him on an island. He was lucky enough to find a passing ship and disguise his identity, only to have someone recognize him. He died by hanging too. That history is just so fascinating to me. But that Special Feature on the dvd mentioned none of that. You've got all that cool history just waiting to be told, and you don't use it. Obviously, from my long rant, you can tell it irritated me.

So, I'm just kind of meh about the show overall. Will I probably check out the 3rd Season? Yeah, but I won't buy it. I'll check it out from the library when I'm able. I guess if I want that fun, romanticized Golden Age of Piracy version, I'll have to watch The Pirates of the Caribbean movies. I do love Jack Sparrow. 

So those were my thoughts. Have you watched this show? What did you think of it? Tell me in the comments below.

Review: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files _01) by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Title: Illuminae (The Illuminae Files _01)

Authors: Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Published by: Alfred A. Knopf

Released: 2015

Summary: How does this story really start? Let's back up, all the way to the beginning, with a pair of lovebirds named Ezra and Kady. Well, they used to be lovebirds. At the start of this tale, they've just broken up. Then their home planet of Kerenza gets blown to smithereens with them on it. What follows next is an escape through space, a terrifying disease, a rogue Artificial Intelligence, and an enemy Destroyer on their tale. Ezra and Kady will be lucky if they make it out alive.

My Thoughts: I had a little bit of a strange relationship with this book. I was super pumped to read it because of all the hype I'd heard going around booktube and the blogosphere. I was also very excited to read it because of the different type of format it is told in. I did end up enjoying the book, but not loving it like I thought I would. I think the hype kind of messed with my head, which is what hype does, and while it was a good book, it didn't give me that epic, I LOVE THIS BOOK feeling. So it's a good, enjoyable book, and I am excited to continue with the series, but I wish my expectations for it hadn't been so high.

One thing that peaked my interest about this book was the style it was told in. It's written in a series of classified reports, interviews, e-mails, chatroom messages, and other interesting styles. It's really cool to flip through and look at. About halfway through the book, the novelty wore off a little for me, just seeing the same kinds of things over and over again.

I also came to a point in the book where I just wasn't as gripped by it as I once was. I think most of the problem lay with me being in sort of a slumpy reading mood. But I think the other part of the problem lay with how long it was. I didn't speed through it like I though I would. Some parts even dragged for a me a little.

I found the two main characters to be okay. I probably found Kady more interesting than Ezra. For the most part, they were fun to read about.

All in all, I enjoyed this book, but I don't think it's going to be one of my favorites for the year. I let the hype get to me and had my expectations built so high, that the actual story didn't quite reach for me. This was definitely a fun read, and I'm excited to read the sequel when it comes out.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

pretty fun

Reading Right Now! (70)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Title: The May Queen Murders

By: Sarah Jude

I won this through a FirstReads Goodreads giveway, so thank you to Goodreads and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for providing me with an early copy to review. It's already been released. Came out on May 3rd, 2016. I was really pulled in by the cover and the vague synopsis mentioning evil woods. I'm not very far into the book at the moment, I'm on page 52, which makes me like 17% through the book so far. I'm not really sure what's going on, it's kind of weird.

So what I can tell you about the book so far is that our main character is named Ivy and she lives in a place called Rowan's Glen. The Glen tries to keep itself separated from the outside world. They supply themselves their own electricity, all clothes are hand-me-downs, and the girls don't cut their hair. People outside The Glen believe them to be part of a cult. Ivy is also very superstitious, which comes from the stories her Mamie has told and the beliefs the community shares. Ivy has been told all her life to stay away from the woods at night. Sometimes she can hear screams coming from them. Lately, there has been the disappearances of pet dogs and cats, and some dead animals have been found close to the community. There is something going on, but I'm not sure what yet.

What I'm enjoying about this book so far, is the mystery and the creepy atmosphere. I'm excited to learn what's going on and what's going to happen. As a main character, Ivy doesn't steal the show, but than she's not supposed to. She's kind of meek and mouselike, standing in the shadows of her more vibrant cousin Heather. But I think something might happen to Heather. So far, the book just has an eerie sort of vibe to it which I always enjoy.

I'm glad I won it. I love winning arcs. I wish I was cool enough to get them all the time. Of course, then I would really have to do something about my library addiction. Maybe I could cure myself, or at least get myself under control, if I was gifted with arcs all the time!!

If I finish The May Queen Murders, then I might try and get to...

Title: No One Else Can Have You

By: Kathleen Hale

I've been interested in this one for a little while because of the cover, the synopsis, and the controversy surrounding this author. The story sounds like one of those weird ones that I do enjoy. And just the fact that the author stalked a reviewer is pretty crazy. I don't agree with the stalking, but I also don't agree with judging a book just based on its author. I really don't like knowing anything about the author, I'd rather their name just be words on a page. Sometimes knowing how the author acts and behaves can ruin the book reading experience. I want to judge each and every book on its own merit, how it makes me feel. I don't want to miss out on a great book just because I think the author is awful. So I'm just curious about this book. I want to see if I like it, or hate it, or just think it's mediocre.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you Reading? Let me know in the comments below. And if you've read any of the books I've mentioned, tell me what you thought of them. Happy Reading!

Review: Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1) by Jessica Spotswood

Title: Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1)

Author: Jessica Spotswood

Published by: G.P. Putnam's Sons

Released: 2012

Summary: When Cate's mother died, she made a promise to do everything she could to protect her sisters. That's proving to be a challenge, when Cate lives in a 20th century where women are second class citizens, and all three Cahill girls are witches. They must keep their powers a secret from everyone. If the Brotherhood finds out their secret, then the girls could be separated and sent to the Harwood Asylum or worse. With Cate's 17th birthday approaching, she must decide what to do with her life. She really only has two choices, marry or join the Sisters. With the Cahill secret in peril, Cate must do whatever she can to keep her family safe.

My Thoughts: I've had my eye on this book for awhile, and was glad to finally get my hands on it. I really enjoyed every minute of this book and am so glad I got to read it. I loved Spotswood's writing style. I was pretty much hooked from the first sentence. The writing just really drew me into the story. There are some books one just knows they are going to love based on the first paragraph, this book was one of those for me.

I really enjoyed the historical feel to the book, even though it wasn't a history based on absolute truth. The role of women was so interesting to read about, and as a girl, I was glad I wasn't born in this world. Having to choose what to do with your life at 17 was crazy! And the options offered of either marriage or the Sisterhood were just too limited. The Brotherhood was an interesting group and enjoyable villains. The Sisterhood is still a bit of a mystery, but I'm intrigued to find out more.

And the romance le sigh. This is definitely more of a girl book based on the butterfly inducing romance. I wasn't too sure what to think of the boys at first. I wasn't sure if McLeod was sincere in his intentions. And when we first met Finn, I wasn't sure if he was leading man material. He seemed kind of nerdy at first, but I believed in his hotness in the end.

This is a great witchy, romancey, historical book, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I can't wait to read the sequel because that ending just didn't leave much room for waiting.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5

Witchy and Great!

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Favorite Literary Fathers/Father Figures

This week's Top 5 Wednesday is all about Dear Old Dad. Oh how we love him. And since Father's Day is around the corner, it's the perfect time to recognize some of our favorite book Fathers. Fathers can be kind of hard to find in books, especially in YA books. So here are some of my Top 5 Favorite Literary Fathers/Father Figures. The guys I picked might not all be the best men, but I felt that they all had good qualities and really cared about their family. Here are my picks!

  

 

5. Grandfather Veturius from An Ember in the Ashes

I'm having sort of mixed feelings about this book. I think it's kind of hard to find "Good Guy" authority figures. Elias' family is also all kinds of messed up. I picked Elias Grandfather because he really cares about Elias. While reading, I can sense the love there. Does he love him only because he was picked for the Blackcliff school to become a Mask? I don't know. The world these people live in is hard to understand, but I can sense that Grandpa Veturius has a lot of pride in his grandson. He took him in when he found out he had a grandson. So there's love there, love that goes both ways. That's why he makes it on my list.

4. Anna's Dad in the Altered saga

Anna's Dad in the Altered series wasn't the most honest and didn't tell her the truth from the start, but in his own way, he cared about her. He was someone that Anna could turn to when she needed help and he'd been a constant in her life. He didn't always make the best decisions, but I think he did what he could to protect Anna.

3. Arthur Weasley from Harry Potter

I love Arthur Weasley. He's the dad that you can be semi-embarrassed of, but the love for him is real. He shows a lot of love to all his children, he does everything he can to support them, and he's always there for them. Arthur Weasley offers a great example as a stable father, which can be hard to find in YA literature.

2. Alyssa's Dad in the Splintered trilogy

This is not my favorite series by a longshot, but it does offer a good example of a caring father. He's left in the dark most of the time, but he cares about Alyssa and what's best for her. I like having literary fathers that are there for their kids, that step up, that are responsible, that support them in whatever they do. So many literary father figures are absent, or they leave, or they are just not nice guys. Alyssa's dad is a nice guy and she really needs to treat him better.

1. Charlie in Twilight

I always loved Charlie in Twilight, both movie and book version. I loved the relationship that he was able to form with Bella through the course of the 4 books. They cared about each other and it was a nice relationship to see depicted. I also think Charlie had a tough go with Renee leaving and moving away. Bella felt that she had to go with her mother because her mother needed the most help. Charlie was left to fend for himself and I imagine was pretty lonely. I really enjoyed the journey of their father daughter relationship, how they started off awkward, but then really grew to depend on one another. Charlie was just a dependable, stable, loving father. He was a winner in my book!

So those are my Top 5 Favorite Literary Father/Father Figures. Who are your Top 5? Fathers' are amazing. In recognition of this coming up father's day, give your father (or father figure) a big hug, they deserve it. If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should! Each Wednesday is a new, fun topic to contemplate and consider. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers Here!

Review: Saga: Volume 3 by Brian K. Vaughan and Fiona Staples

Title: Saga: Volume 3

Written by: Brian K. Vaughan

Art by: Fiona Staples

Published by: Image Comics, Inc.

Released: March 2014

Summary: The saga continues... A brief time jump to the past finds our wanted lovers traveling to the planet of Quietus, to find an author whose work has meant so much to them. The Will has been detained on a strange planet, so his mission has been put on hold. Prince IV is also on his way to Quietus. The drama continues in Volume 3 of Saga.

My Thoughts: This was another fun edition of Saga. I don't think it's my favorite volume so far, but it's still really enjoyable. I'm interested to see how the story continues and just how things turn out.

The art, as always, is beautiful. So colorful and imaginative, although it can get very weird very quickly. Sometimes I don't know if those very graphic scenes are even needed.

I've come to really like The Will, so I would appreciate that nothing seriously bad will happen to him.

So yeah, this was another fun volume. The story is keeping my interest and the art is pretty to look at. It's fun reading.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5

Still Liking It!

Reading Right Now! (69)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

Title: An Ember in the Ashes (#1)

Author: Sabaa Tahir

I'm about 190 pages in, so I'm making my way through.

This book got allllll the hype last year. I'm talking all of it. It was marketed as a YA Fantasy Stand-Alone, but that turned out to be a lie. There is going to be a sequel coming out in the coming months, and I've now heard it's supposed to be a 4 book series. I'm not mad that it's going to be a series, I love series! I'm just mad that they misled us. Why not just say it was going to be a series in the first place!?

Anyway, a vague description of this book would be that it's loosely based on a Romanesque kind of setting. Think bloodthirsty Spartans and Intellectual Athenites. In this case, they are called Martials and Scholars. The Martials came into town and took everything over, years ago, and conquered everybody. The Scholar people are now viewed as lower than dirt. They are not allowed to pursue their intellectuals studies and it is illegal for them to even know how to read. Laia is a Scholar whose brother is taken prisoner by the Martials. With her family gone, she vows to do whatever she can to save her brother. Even if it means becoming a slave to a woman with no soul in order to spy and gain information for the Resistance. Elias is a Mask, the most elite solider in the Martial army. He's gone to a brutal school for the past 14 years, and can't wait to escape. But Fate comes to play in a crazy way and things just get so much more intense.

What do I think of it so far? Hmmm I'm not exactly sure. I'm not hating it, I can tell you that, but the hype that this book gets and continues to get, scares me. I don't want to set myself up for awesomeness and then get bogged down by mediocrity. Hype can be sooo dangerous. So far, it's not a 5 star read for me. I'm enjoying it, but I'm not proclaiming my love for it over the rooftops. So we'll see how this goes.

One thing I don't understand is why Laia would go along with such a stupid plan to become a slave to this awful woman. A woman who seems to me to be a sociopath. All her slaves are marred and injured daily. It just seems like a bad plan and who knows if the Resistance will even live up to their end of the deal. And Laia's spying isn't going so well at the moment. I do like imagining how attractive all these characters are though, that's always a fun thing to do. So that's what my thoughts are at the moment.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! Tell me what you are reading in the comments. If you've read An Ember in the Ashes tell me what you thought of it. Did you think it was awesome? Or did the hype let you down? I'd be curious to know. 

Review: Icons (Icons #1) by Margaret Stohl

Title: Icons (Icons #1)

Author: Margaret Stohl

Published by: Little, Brown and Company

Released: 2013

Summary: In one day, billions of people died and some of the largest cities around the world went silent. This was the day the Icons came down, an alien force that Earth didn't know it was fighting until it had already lost. The Icons use an electromagnetic force/pulse to literally stop the human heart. Dol's whole family was killed by the pulse, but miraculously, she survived. Dol also has the ability to feel the emotions of people around her. Dol and her friend Ro now live at a mission in the Grasslands, but one day they are captured by Sympa soldiers,, and taken to an island where they meet two more kids like them. Dol discovers that she might be more powerful than she ever dreamed, and her destiny might just be to save the world.

My Thoughts: This was just a mehh book for me. I was excited to get my hands on it, and really intrigued by the concept, but the overall story just left me wanting more.

I really enjoyed the concept of the story. The aliens, the pulse, and the powers were really intriguing. I also loved the secret documents and propaganda scattered throughout the text. Sometimes I would flip through the pages just so I could see where the next special text was. I'm a sucker for secret documents and little extras included in the story.

My main problem with the book was that nothing was ever really explained satisfactorily. The world building just felt off. All these terms were thrown around, like Sympas, Grass, Icons, the Hole, and nothing was ever really explained. I just felt so lost throughout 80-90% of the story. If things were explained more, than I really think I could have had the chance to get sucked into the world and the story. While reading, I just felt so behind and it was like playing catch up to grasp the significance of things, and understand where the characters were coming from.

I also didn't feel that drawn into the characters. Dol was distant. I didn't feel drawn to her as a character. In all honesty, she was a little boring. I also didn't buy the love interest thing.

Overall, I really enjoyed the concept of Icons, but the story inside failed to impress me. Just a mehh read for me. There were some exciting bits that I did enjoy. I don't know if I will actively seek out the sequel, but if I see it at my library, then I'll probably pick it up just to see what happens.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3/5

Just okay, didn't blow me away.

Top 5 Wednesday: Top 5 Favorite Character Names

Time for another Top 5 Wednesday and a fun topic. This week is our Top 5 Favorite Character Names. When reading a book, I like names that are easy to pronounce. If an author comes at me with a name that I have no idea how to say, and no directions on how to pronounce it, I'm not going to be a happy camper. I also don't like books that try too hard with character names, if it's too weird, I'm probably not going to be a fan of it. Character names that I like are usually names that I just like the sound of and I feel fit the character. The names I chose also come from both books and TV. So these are my Top 5 Favorite Character Names plus one extra, I just couldn't keep it to 5.

6. Willow from ???

I know I read a book with a character named Willow in it. The trouble is, I just can't remember what book that is. Anyway, I really like the name Willow. It's a nice name. I like the way it sounds.

5. Lily from the Harry Potter series

I always thought Lily was a very pretty name ever since I read it in Harry Potter. I think, I would even use that as a future child's name. I just think it's pretty. Maybe I just like flower names, I don't know. But I do think that Petunia got the short straw in the naming process. Lily is such a pretty name and Petunia is just not. Oh! You know what another pretty name is, Violet, I like that one too.

4. Bellamy from The 100

At first, I thought Bellamy was a dumb name. I didn't understand why Clarke got such a manly name, while Bellamy got such a girly name. But now, I love his name. It could just be because I love his character and therefore love everything about him. But I feel like Bellamy shortens into a good nickname, Bell. His name is good for drama situations because it just has that ring to it, especially when Clarke is yelling it. Oh Bellamy, you're just so adorable <3 <3 <3

3. Dean from Supernatural

I like the name Dean, not only because Dean from Supernatural is awesome, but also because it's a good name. It has a strength to it, I think. I also had a Great Uncle named Dean and he was a pretty cool guy. This is also a name I would contemplate naming future children.

2. Sawyer from Lost

It's all because of Lost that I fell in love with this name. I mean, I love Sawyer!! He's so sarcastic, sexy, he loves to read!! All around great character. He was one of my favorite parts of that show. And I just like the way the name sounds.

1. Jack from The Steampunk Chronicles

This name comes from the daring and adorable criminal character Jack Dandy. I also guess I could have used Captain Jack Sparrow, because I love him too. But again, I just like this name. There is something so simple about it, but strong too. This is another name that I would contemplate naming future children. It's also a family name. My step great grandpa was named Jack. He was a nice guy. We'd go to their house every Sunday and raid his cookie jar. I never even knew my by blood Great Grandpa, he died before I ever got to meet him, so Great Grandpa Jack was it. I also think Jack is just a cute name for a little boy. I like the name.

So those are my Top 5 Favorite Names. What are your favorite names? If you want to join in on the Top 5 Wednesday fun, you totally should. Each Wednesday is a new, fun topic to contemplate and consider. Check out all the other Top 5 Wednesday-ers Here!

Review: I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh

Title: I Let You Go

Author: Clare Mackintosh

Published by: Berkley

Released: May 2016

Summary: She let him go for one second, one second that she wishes she could take back. One second in which her life was forever altered. The car came out of nowhere. It sped across the rain soaked road and blended with the gray sky. Her son was in the road and the car didn't slow down. The car hit her son, as if in slow motion. Lying on the pavement, her son is dead, and the car has sped away into the night.

Two detectives are charged with the task of catching a killer. The investigation is slowed by few clues and no leads. They hope to bring justice for the boy, but nothing will bring him back.

My Thoughts: Thank You Goodreads First Reads Program and Berkley for letting me win a copy of this book. I love getting arcs. They make me feel so special for getting to read a book early. The most awesome thing in the world, to me, would be getting arcs all the time. I will continue to dream. Maybe one day, it will be my reality. Anyway, this book was awesome!

It's a thriller, which is very trendy right now. I love thrillers. In every review I read, I kept hearing about the crazy twist. They were all right, because this book had a MASSIVE TWIST! Everything I had been led to believe had been a lie. My jaw might have dropped open in shock. This book was very good. Very, very good.

This is a slow-paced thriller, which was very interesting for me. There is not action on every page, but rather a compelling fascination to keep on reading. I really got sucked in. I Let You Go was never boring. The unimaginable grief of losing a child, which I've never experienced and hope never to experience, just added a deeper, emotional layer. It was all done really well.

The author story was interesting too. Knowing that she worked in the police force, on cases such as this, made it less fiction and more real. And knowing that she went through the loss of a child, just made the emotions more real.

The twist was so good, so well done.

I wasn't a fan of the two detectives relationship. I'm not a fan of cheating, I think it's bad form. I would have been fine with Ray and Kate's connection, if Ray hadn't been married. I don't really care if he thinks his marriage is stale or ho-hum, you don't cheat. And Kate is just as bad because she knew he was married from Day 1. I feel like there still could be problems down the line because they work in such close proximity.

I also didn't understand why the problems with Tom were included and their overall relevance to the story. I'm thinking, maybe, they were just included to give Ray a reality check, but they did feel a little random.

I also want to say that not all the twists were spectacular. The best one happened in the middle, which made all the other twists seem not as jaw-dropping. I didn't really like the final, big reveal. It felt too coincidental for me.

Ian was a despicable character. I was supposed to hate him, and I did. Reading about that situation was so tough, and knowing that there are people that go through those situations every day was even tougher. He was an awful guy.

I thought this book was fantastic! Bravo, Bravo. Just a very compelling read that really gripped me. I'd definitely recommend to the lovers of the thriller genre, and anybody else really. Just a really good read.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.2/5

A smack-you-in-the-face Twist!

Reading Right Now! (68)

What I'm Reading Right Now! is...

-- I Let You Go by Clare Mackintosh -- I am determined, or mostly determined, to finish this this weekend. I've been trying this whole thing of trying to read 3 books at once, like on rotation, and I'm not sure how well my method has been working. I mean, I've been reading books, but I don't necessarily know if I've been reading them faster. I know I definitely haven't been reading I Let You Go faster, simply because of my experimental method. But I really want to finish this for various reasons. One is because I won it in a Goodreads FirstReads giveaway, and feel a little pressure to do a review for it. I want to win more books, which means I have to review the ones I've already won. I'm also really enjoying this book. It's kind of a unique thriller in a way. It's a bit slow moving, but still gripping at the same time. And it has the most massive twist. I was honestly taken aback. Everything I had been led to believe was a lie. But yes, this book is great and I'm excited to finish it. I would definitely recommend it from what I've read so far.

What I Want To Start Next

 

-- Professor Gargoyle (Tales of Lovecraft Middle School #1) by Charles Gilman-- I remember when this series was going around booktube and was always just really interested in it. It looks creepy, cute, and I always love a good middle grade. I know there are four books in the series and am not sure if any more are planned after that. Plus I really like these covers, they are fun.

--An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir-- I want to know what the hype is all about. Am I going to like it? Or am I going to be the oddball that just thinks it's okay or doesn't like it at all? Overly hyped books scare me so much because sometimes they don't live up to the hype. Or I've made it so awesome in my head, and it can't live up to that picture when I actually read it. I'm curious about this one. Plus, I know the sequel is on its way to coming out, and if I end up loving this, I won't have that long to wait to read on. I'm nervous.

So that's what I'm Reading Right Now! Let me know what you are Reading Right Now! in the comments below. Talk books with me.

Review: Birthdays for the Dead (Ash Henderson #1) by Stuart MacBride

Title: Birthdays for the Dead (Ash Henderson #1)

Author: Stuart MacBride

Published by: Harper

Released: 2012

Summary: Detective Constable Ash Henderson has secrets, secrets that have taken over his life.

1. He used to be a gambler and a fighter.

2. He owes money to some very evil people.

3. He might be a policeman, but that doesn't mean he's going to follow all the rules.

4. His daughter, Rebeca, was taken and killed by the serial killer known as the Birthday Boy, and Ash plans to find him and make him pay!

Ash is determined to catch the Birthday Boy using any means necessary. The Birthday Boy is a killer, who kidnaps 12 year old girls before their 13th birthdays. The Birthday Boy tortures the girls, takes pictures, and kills them. Every year the Birthday Boy sends the murdered girl's parents a card and a picture. Ash Henderson hates those cards. 

When Ash teams up with Dr. Alice McDonald, a criminal psychologist, he's hoping her profile will help catch the Birthday Boy once and for all.

My Thoughts: Umm... wow. When I finished this book, I was shocked. I had to think, process, and sort out all the feels. This book really surprised me. It is unlike any crime thriller I've read so far. I will say that I did enjoy the book. It was disturbing, action packed, and kind of funny, all rolled into one. I wasn't expecting the story this book told.

What surprised me about this book was how it was more of a character driven story than a straight crime thriller. The reader learns a lot about Ash, what drives him, his demons. I kind of expected a father desperately searching for his daughter's killer, and I got that, but I also got a cop who really doesn't care about following the rules and can be all kinds of brutal when he feels like it. Ash was a tough guy to put my finger on. Sometimes he could be nice, and other times he could be scary! But I was captivated by Ash none-the-less.

I really enjoyed the humor in the book between Ash and Dr. McDonald. They were a good pair.

The ending shocked me. I wasn't expecting it to end the way it did. The killer's reveal was good, I really didn't expect him at all. But I didn't expect the ending to be so dark, that's what really shocked me.

All in all, I enjoyed this book. It was definitely something I never expected.

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5

Get Ready To Be Shocked.