Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: Teen+, no language, a kiss, some animals hunted
Length: 384 pages
Author: Meagan Spooner
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: March 14th, 2017
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

 

TALE AS OLD AS TIME?

For a retelling I enjoyed this. Truly reminiscent of Beauty & the Beast with a twist, of course.

Yeva (Beauty) heads after her Father when he disappears from his hunting trip. Once finding him she is taken in by the Beast who needs her to find his query so he can be free.

What was nice in this version is that Yeva is more self-sufficient. She can hunt and take care of herself in the woods. Very different from the Disney princess version.

The Beast chapters increasingly made me sad because HE JUST WANTED TO BE FREE. And Yeva grasped that a bit late, but it wouldn’t be a love story otherwise, right?

Overall, I was entertained. It was simple and understated, but a solid retelling nonetheless.

No language, and no love scenes. Yeva gets tossed about a bit, but violence is minimal (unless you’re a rabbit).

 

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: New adult, some language, very adult love scenes, some violence
Length: 626 pages
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 3rd, 2016
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

CAN’T STOP. WON’T STOP.

I truly read this book (now I also add ACOWAR after) multiple times a year. It is my go to book when I’m in a slump, when I want to relive the romance, when I want to be reminded what I love about reading.

This book conveys every emotion under the sun, and you really understand the pain, love, and hope that flows through each character.

The slow burn of the romance between Feyre & Rhysand is amazing. It’s so far from insta-love that you actually have time to love each character separately, then who they become as a team.

The other members of the Night Court round out the perfect troupe. Each one has a unique voice that makes you laugh, cry, and cheer right along side of them.

Beautiful worlds, with lots of magic create a sight in your mind like no other. The fight scenes are crafted well without being too long and hard to follow. The love scenes are explicit, but loving all at the same time. Pacing flows smoothly from one scenario to the next weaving plot lines to a climax, then speeding to a conclusion that leaves you on the edge of your seat.

Love. love. LOVE these books.

 

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA+, no language, some intense-ish make-outs, violence super minimal
Length: 416 pages
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Release Date: May 29th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

LEGEN…wait for it…DARY!

Oh my goodness, this book truly had me from the first page. I was drawn in and taken on such an adventure I never wanted to end!

Seriously, I spent the entire book shouting: WHO IS LEGEND? Garber made my head spin in so many circles til it finally made sense. It was such inventive writing that kept me on the edge. Tella, Dante, Legend, and Jacks were amazing characters. Each was unique and you could feel their voices coming through as you read.

Also, ladies, don’t want ALL of those dresses?! Their descriptions had me drooling for a ball where I could have Jacks create me a dress. The world itself sounded straight out of my dreams as well. The descriptions had me craving to be there and enjoy the balls, and all that Carval has to offer.

Dante stole my heart. The tangle of him and Tella left me wanting more, more, more. The witty banter had me giving all the heart eyes. Their story was perfectly woven within the magic of Caraval.

No language, some make-outs, nothing too crazy. Violence super minimal, barely there status.

But remember, it’s only a game.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Flatiron Books for the digital ARC! Publication date and length are subject to change before publishing.

 

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA+, a few love scenes, some language, definitely some gun slinging
Length: 448 pages
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Harper Collins
Release Date: March 6th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

#WARNER

OKAY WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

*tries to gather self*

Uh, first off. WARNER JUST WANTS TO BE LOVED. Is that so hard everyone? Why can’t he have the things that he loves? Why the will they / won’t they? WHY. I mean, I get it, it’s the start of the ‘second half’ of the series, so ya gotta up the ante. I will sit here until I get the next book though because Mafi BETTER NOT LET ME DOWN.

Okay, after that caps parade, this book was great! I was super nervous when I heard that she was adding on more to the original trilogy, but this one rose above. It had all of the twists and turns that make for a wondrous novel. It had everything the first group did. So many emotions were put in, and I loved feeling for all of the characters. The emotions were raw. They were powerful. And I could barely handle it half the time.

When I figured out where Mafi was taking us, I was flabbergasted. That is such an amazing twist. I have no idea where the roller coaster will take us next, but I am buckled in for the rid.

Definitely some language. There were a few love scenes. I’d call them PG-14+. Nothing too descriptive. You did truly get the love between characters though. I always applaud an author who can convey that kind of emotion without it being raunchy. Minor violence compared to the battles from the previous books.