Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA, no language, a love scene, plenty of gore
Length: 352 pages
Author: Adrienne Young
Publisher: Wednesday Books
Release Date: April 24th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

WE ARE FAMILY.

…got all my sisters [and brother] with me!

This book was so good! The Vikings essence of it was what originally drew me to this book and it didn’t disappoint. It was the first one I’ve happened to come across about Vikings that was written beautifully.

There was a big focus on blood and family being first. Eeyln dealing with her brother’s betrayal forces her to see the big picture. Does her hate for the Riki really outweigh the fact her brother is alive?

The fact that it isn’t a ‘love at first sight’ kind of concept was FANTASTIC. I love bitter angst between characters before they come together. And a well written [tasteful] love scene…*SWOON*.

Eeyln’s character really evolves through the book. She loses herself and finds that fire within her to gain it back as the final battle descends. Fiske, Inge, Halvard and every Iri help her gain what she’s been missing. Her family and peace.

No language, some kissing and one love scene [written appropriately for younger audiences]. Clearly, lots of throat slashing, arrows hitting their mark, and sword stabbing, because Vikings.

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher, Wednesday Books, for the digital ARC!

 

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA+, [redacted] language, some kissing, shooting & explosions galore
Length: 615 pages
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Release Date: March 13th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

SO GOOD. SO GOOD.

I have too many feelings going on right now. I LOVE THESE BOOKS. This series was so unique, so mind-blowing, and so very very good.

These books are crafted so cleverly. The time it must’ve taken to decide what should go on each page (video footage, artwork, notes, explosions, etc.)?! Can’t even fathom, can’t even deal.

You are taken on a roller coaster of emotions never knowing who died, who actually died, and which part of the universe is still around. The love between characters is great and the group dynamics are amazing. Each character has their own strengths and weaknesses that add to the collective story.

Also, totally feel this is how all of BeiTech feels about the situation muwhaha.

It’s really nice to see authors collaborate and create great reads that you just can’t put down.

There is quite a bit of language, but it’s all redacted [to explain: the story is presented as a file to go over what happened previously so they ‘blacked-out’ the language], but you definitely know what they meant to say haha. Plenty of guns going off, and ships exploding. Some kisses here and there, but clean.

 

Rating: ☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA, some language, a few kisses
Length: 280 pages
Author: Kati Gardner
Publisher: North Star Editions / Flux
Release Date: August 21st, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

 

ALL THE FEELS.

Reminiscent of The Fault in Our Stars, Brave Enough follows two main characters who are struggling with their own afflictions. Cason, currently dealing with cancer, and Davis, who previously had cancer. The difference in this book is what Davis brings to the table, drug addiction.

Everyone has their own trials, but few go through what these characters do. As I read, it made me consider just how true these feelings are. Pain, turmoil, loss of dreams, none of it is easy. Cason was previously a ballerina who has to come to terms with her new identity.

Gardner draws on her own life story (she survived childhood cancer), and creates a beautiful, fictional version.

The love story is sweet, and real. Davis and Cason both had to deal with their own internal issues before they could find solid ground to stand on together. The ups and downs may not be full of “drama,” but you feel for their stories all the same.

It was a good, quick read that was different from my normal choices. There is some language, and of course discussion of the turmoil that is drug addiction (and the potential fall-outs).

Thank you to Netgalley, and the Publisher for sending me a digital ARC. The length, release date, and page counts were taken from an ARC and are subject to change upon publication.

 

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆
Audience: YA, little language, lots of killing, no love scenes
Length: 504 pages
Author: Neal Shusterman
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: January 9th, 2018
Image & Other Reviews on: Goodreads

WHAT JUST HAPPENED.

I have no words. For a second book, this was FANTASTIC.

How in the world did Shusterman fit all of this into one book? The drama, the friendship, the angst, the betrayal, it was a collaboration that I thoroughly enjoyed.

I have so much to say and I’m trying to formulate it without adding spoilers, *SIGH*, but I digress.

I love a good romantic component to books, yet this is one where it plays maybe a 5% portion and I can’t help reading faster and faster to get to the end. The twists and turns create great plot lines that weave a tangled web.

The world building is so CRAZY. I spent half of my reading wondering what kind of world it would be if we had a Thunderhead (who’s to say that won’t happen though??). I can’t even fathom scythes, gleaning, and a cloud controlling the universe. It makes these novels all the more enticing.

Everything draws me in about this series. Some portions were left open that will definitely craft an insane finale. I feel like using character names will give too much away though, so mums the word! I’ll sit in anticipation for book 3 because all hell has broken loose in MidMerica.

His characters are complicated, intense, and without remorse. I love them all. (Well, I could name a few I’d glean myself…).

Very little language, lots of death (to be expected, haha), no love scenes. Overall, a clean book if you’re okay with all of the gleaning.