Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Title: The Pledge

Author: Kimberly Derting

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Creative and cute

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlies is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

Interestingly enough, I felt as if The Pledge had a fairy-tale feel to it. I doubt it was intentional, but the way things played out made me feel as if this was transported to the past in a place of princes and princesses. Of course, that's not what happens at all, but I just sort of got that vibe.

The Pledge begins with Charlie listening to her friend's dad scorning the lowest class in merchant-tongue, which the lowest class can't understand. She then goes off to school, and is offended by upper class girls who don't think Charlie or her friends can understand them. But Charlie can . . .

Charlie didn't really seem like a Charlie to me. Charlotte? Yes. But Charlie felt way to masculine for her. She's sort of delicate. She loves her close ones with a passion, and would do anything to save them. However, she did end up following people around and only showed sass to Max. Which, by all means, is great. But eventually even that dies down.

The other characters are interesting. Brook, the most. She seems like an attention-high, seductive dark beauty. But is she really? And then there's Eden. She was cool with her blue hair and tough personality. 

The world was a bit confusing. While we had our caste system and queens, we also had automobiles and lights. I'd think that the surroundings would be more explained and elaborated on, but we only get a cursory glance. We get maybe a page on the country's history, and that's all. How the queens developed special powers, we don't know. I guess we'll find out in the next book. Not sure if I'm going to read it.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Cassie

Review: Tiger's Destiny by Colleen Houck

Title: Tiger's Destiny

Author: Colleen Houck

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Sweet and sweeter!

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Andaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume in the bestselling Tiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tigers' true destinies once and for all. A smart phone tag code on the back cover links readers the series website.

As with the other three books in the series, Tiger's Destiny has adventure, romance, and a captivating world. It begins with Kelsey in Lokesh's care, and begins almost right after the third one left off. While it does start rather abruptly, Colleen Houck does a wonderful job easing the previous books' details into Tiger's Destiny. So, despite having read the third book in the series a while ago, I was able to pick right back up where I left off.

If you hated Kelsey in the last books, I fear you won't like her any better. She's still extremely stubborn and needy, stereotypically jealous, and likes to think she's tough stuff. She's super self-conscious still and immediately hates gorgeous women. Every single man she encounters falls at her feet. However, I found her tolerable.

Ren and Kishan (and all the other characters) all make the book. They're very nice to read about, and we connect with them all in the fourth book again.

The plot, as with the others, is well-done. This particular one was a bit confusing, but then again we're talking about fantasy here, so hey! The world is just as lush and enthralling as the past ones.

There is a fifth and final one supposed to come out, but I wonder how a fifth one will be relevant. Everything works out as the curse says it will, so what's left? But hey, if we get more Kishan/Ren, I am ALL for it!

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Cassie

Review: Witch World by Christopher Pike

Title: Witch World

Author: Christopher Pike

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Thought-provoking

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Witches are real-and each of us may be one-in this all-new paranormal suspense novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christopher Pike. Heading off for a weekend in Las Vegas with her friends, Jessie Ralle has only one wory-how to make it through the road trip in the same car with her Ex, Jimmy Kelter. The guy who broke her heart five months ago when he dumped her for no reason. The guy who's finally ready to tell her why he did it, because he wants her back.

But what Jessie doesn't realize is that Jimmy is the least of her problems.

In Las Vegas she meets Russ, a mesmerizing stranger who shows her how to gamble, and who never seems to lose. Curious, Jessie wants to know his secret, and in response, alone in his hotel room, he teachers her a game that opens the door to another reality.

To Witch World.

Suddenly Jessie discovers that she's stumbled into a  world where some people can do the impossible, and others may not even be human. For a time she fears she's lost her mind. Are there really witches? Is she one of them?

In all honesty, I disliked this book SO MUCH. Okay, yes, I'll admit it; I read books to give my brain a break, you know, escape into a NICE world. I like to laugh when I read books, think like a teenager, and most importantly judge the characters without being a snob really.

This book is for readers who really enjoy books that make them THINK. If you like books with mature POVs and more intense plots and darker settings, you should definitely try this out. Ignore the rest of the review. However, read on if that doesn't apply to you and you're curious.

For starters, the first 200 or so pages were amazing. I was a bit confused but the pages kept turning and turning! And then it got weird. Really weird. Let me just say the positives and negatives:

 Positives:

-it shows readers that you should always, always have safe sex OTHERWISE you just might have a baby of doom and power (dun dun dun!)

-it's in Vegas.

-there's blackjack

-great cover

-Russ is a cool name

Yeah. That's it.

NEGATIVES:

-EVERY single teenager speaks way, way too old. I really don't care if Jessie was in the 5th percent, TEENAGERS DO NOT SPEAK LIKE THIS! And, they were all WAY too serious. It was either sex or life/death. Um, yeah . . . Totally up my alley . . .

-It basically said babies conceived out of lust (or not "true love") are doomed and born to be evil. That's totally incorrect- there are always going to be shining children in bad situations.

-They were focused so much on sex. *bangs head on wall* This is way bad for my teenage image. (And honestly, they ALWAYS called it "making love". NO. NO. NO.)

-Anyone cool (which there weren't many cool people . . .) got killed.

-Stupid ending

-It was a pain to read through. I honestly had issues trying to pick it back up.

-Jessie has so much hubris it disgusted me. This is a quote, "I liked to think I was pretty hot shit . . ." and then she goes in the beginning how she's actually way prettier than Alex but somehow no one notices her and all the guys go after Alex to reasons unbeknownst to Jessie.

A possible answer? You're just ugly.

Also: Jessie goes on about how sweet and innocent she was/is and all the while she is NOT. She's a crazy bitch and she's not even a cool one.

And finally, the last one I can think of off the top of my head (this one really made me annoyed) . . .

Jessie never had a boyfriend before Jimmy. Nothing. She says he was hesitant to make sexual moves on her, but after ONE MONTH of dating, she decides to make the move because she was tired of waiting. Oh, her innocence? Pshhh no such thing. She lures him into the shower (dunno about you, but I don't think any INEXPERIENCED dater would do that . . .) and then "makes love to him". I'm sorry, was that one month I read? I think that counts as "screws" not "makes love". But really, she sounded way to experienced for having no past experience and overall, her character doesn't add up. For her age, at least.

Now, I'm sorry you had to read my rant, but I do thank you for stopping by.

xoxo!

Cassie

Review: Mystic City by Theo Lawrence

Title: Mystic City

Author: Theo Lawrence

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: FANTABULOUS

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long politcal feud-and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection-and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city-including herself.

Ahhh okay, so I may be half-delirious because of the time. But I just HAD to review this baby. So, yes. It had many flaws (most of them editor ones) and yes I may have a crush on Hunter, but. Alas.

Mystic City begins with a mysterious little prologue. A girl and her lover are kissing passionately in the rain before her family rips them apart. She screams in defiance as her father raises a gun to her head.

Hello wowzers! Basically, I thought this was going to be a waste of my time. I put it down 100 pages through to work on my mac n' cheese (yummy yummy) and then I just couldn't stop thinking about it . . . So, yes. I recommend you try it. Plus, it was a GUY who wrote this! Love it.

Aria was tolerable. I didn't love the book because of her, I'll tell you that. But she's definitely tolerable. She's a high society girl who falls in love with a poor boy. Yawn yawn, heard it before, but NO. NO. Theo Lawrence works some magic because all of a sudden I'm seeing it. Basically, her situation is really constricting and aggravating and you want to punch the wall. Yes, she makes some stupid idiotic choices. But in the end she is redeemed.

The other characters are what made the book. Good God I loved Davida. She was loyal to a fault, passionate, sweet, and dedicated. Aria's family is despicable. Turk was freaking wicked. Mohawk, motorcycle, ripped? Hell yeah! And then there's other great people, but then we have Hunter.

*drools*

Ahem, erm, what was I saying?

Oh. RIGHT.

Yeah . . . This is what popped up whenever I thought of Hunter. Alex Pettyfer, baby.

But he's not just an Alex Pettyfer bookified. He's actually pretty funny, sweet, lovely, strong, and did I mention he's aesthetically pleasing?

The world could've been better, but I still really liked it! It's got the same technology renamed but then there are the mystics. Their power can be harnessed and used as energy and drugs. That's all I'll say.

Couldn't put it down, though! Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Cassie

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

 
Title: The Evolution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin
Reviewed by: Rafia

The Fairies Say: Intensely Breathtaking!

Summary (from Goodreads.com):
 

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.

She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head.

They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.

She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Congratulation, Michelle Hodkin. You have successfully done it again. Completely and utterly blew my mind with Noah Shaw’s sexualness alone. Err, I mean that among other things, which are obviously as important. Obviously. Honestly, the Evolution of Mara Dyer was everything I wanted and so much more. The tension between Noah and Mara, their struggle, Jude’s evilness, and the PLOT TWISTS. Oh the plot twists…I just couldn’t even handle it. Evolution was amazing and I am absolutely dying for Retribution! Michelle Hodkin, kudos to you! Its hard to follow up with an extraordinary second book in a trilogy but Evolution just blew me away.

Mara’s background started developing more of a mystery with so many things slowly coming together. I really just didn’t like her lack of personality. She seemed like she could be a strong character though and her struggle with the madness is really scary, but I just wish she had some more traits that I could admire. But then we come to Noah. Learning so much more about him and watching him around Mara and her family just leaves me like this:

Alas, his tortured past is revealed in this book. He’s a really deep character and there is so much more to him than his extremely sexy body and pretty face and that’s really what makes a good character. I love how supportive he is and how much he cares for Mara. It really is aww worthy. I’m also glad Jamie comes back in this book, although he doesn’t really play a huge role, it’s still nice to welcome his sass.

The plot is so intense! Everything comes together so seamlessly, I just couldn’t even. Jude and his madness really scared me, but he’s an evil genius who drives Mara to the point of insanity. I really don’t have any complaints about the plot, but the twists and the suspense will possibly be life altering. It really was like a psychological thriller at time when certain scary things (trying really hard not to give anything away) are happening and you don’t  know why and its driving you insane. I like how things are constantly being mixed up and I definitely was hooked.

So now before I spontaneously combust, please please PLEASE go out and buy The Evolution of Mara Dyer and fangirl with me over Noah. Don’t forget to comment and follow, and thanks for dropping by!

xoxo

Rafia

 

Review: Defiance by C.J. Redwine

Title: Defiance

Author: C. J. Redwine

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Fierce and fascinating!

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Within the walls of Baalboden, beneath the shadow of the city's brutal leader, Rachel Adams has a secret. While the other girls sew dresses and obey their male Protectors, Rachel knows how to survive in the wilderness and deftly wield a sword. When her father, Jared, fails to return from a courier mission and is declared dead, the Commander assigns Rachel a new Protector, her father's apprentice, Logan--the same boy Rachel declared her love for two years ago, and the same one who handed her heart right back to her. Left with nothing but a fierce belief in her father's survival, Rachel decides to escape and find herself. But treason against the Commander carries a heavy price, and what awaits her in the Wasteland could destroy her.

At nineteen, Logan McEntire is many things. Orphan. Outcast. Inventor. As apprentice to the city's top courier, Logan is focused on learning his trade so he can escape the tyranny of Baalboden. But his plan never included being responsible for his mentor's impulsive daughter. Logan is determined to protect her, but when his escape plan goes wrong and Rachel pays the price, he realizes he has more at stake than disappointing Jared.

As Rachel and Logan battle their way through the Wasteland, stalked by a monster that can't be killed and an army of assassins out for blood, they discover romance, heartbreak, and a truth that will incite a war decades in the making.

Defiance begins with Rachel with her surrogate grandfather Oliver waiting and desperately hoping for her father to return. When he doesn't and the guards scrape the heavy gate closed, the Commander declares Jared Adams dead. And now, against the wishes of Oliver, Rachel, and Logan, Rachel is under the care of Logan.

Rachel is extremely fierce and amazing. Literally. She actually isn't afraid to use her knife, and I really admired her for that. I've said in the past I really wish I could read about a crazed, psychotic angry-girl. As the book progresses you'd think, Well Cassie, she kind of is . . . BUT that's the issue. Kind of. She's only crazy angry. She's not psychotic. That's a good thing, right? In some parts yes, but it makes reading her POV less interesting. I'll admit, at first I despised her character. She felt all "Oh shame frilly girls, how weak! MUST BE STRONG AND OFFENSIVE."
And then she actually did something fierce that I would never ever do and she earned respect.

The other characters now?
Logan - Okay so at first I was like, OH. Dark blue eyes you say? Dark blonde hair? YUM. But then I was thinking, and his personality is so WACK! For example, in the beginning he's sort of an angry, broody guy. Then he turns awkward and protective. Then he turns wicked smart inventor and super careful. And then he's part inventor part Rambo.
I have to say though, if you decide to read this READ THE CLAIMING CEREMONY. From Logan's POV. I died laughing. He sounded so much like my dad.
The other characters are well depicted. You'll hate the Commander. You'll love Oliver. Etc.

The world was a bit confusing. My big question is HOW EXACTLY DID HUMANITY REVERSE?? Women, needing Protectors? Hmph. Tyrant? City-states? Yet somehow there's some technology.
However, I still think it was fascinating and you should most definitely try this!!

Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Cassie

Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

Title: Crewel

Author: Gennifer Albin

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Dazzling and delightful!

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That's what the other grils whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she's exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn't interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they're coming for her-tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom's overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister's academy gossip and laugh at her Dad's stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything's okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there's no turning back.

Okay, Crewel left me kind of speechless. 

I went like this..

And then...

Yeah.

Crewel begins with Adelice picking up her sister from her academy. And they go home. No one in her family knows she messed up and accidentally wove. Her sister is disappointed her big sis won't be a glamorous Spinster, but her parents are secretly relieved. They even bought her a fancy white cake that's probably worth half a week's rations. And she only has an hour until it all comes crashing down.

Adelice is pretty cool. I mean, she has this wicked power. She's really sarcastic, but not in the "look at me, such a smart-mouth. laugh and praise me". It's more a "let me give you a verbal finger. I dare you to slap me."

So that really made me admire her. The sarcasm just flew from her mouth and I was like, YOU GO GIRL!

She's sorta got the quiet power thing goin'. There are super strong, kick-butt heroines who have no impulse control. Then there are weak, whiney, or stupid heroines. I like to think she's in the middle, leaning towards strong.

The characters are really well-written. The guys could've been more seductive *cough* interesting, but hey that's just me.

Otherwise, the villains/evil wenches are nicely done. The only issue I had was that Adelice didn't really have a friend . . . And hey, I am down with that. It's just that she seriously could've friended a maid for all I care. She felt too cold from this, to me.

And the best part of the book is the world!!! Gennifer Albin gets a huge, fat A+ for her world. It was amazing. Questionable, but amazing.

And we also are left craving for the next book.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

xoxo

Cassie

Book Trailer Reveal: Opal by Jennifer Armentrout

Oh God. Oh God.
It's here.
The official book trailer of Opal!!!!!!
And we only have, oh . . . LESS THAN THREE WEEKS!
Ready for some wicked yummy, lovelies?

Here goes.

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn't fooling around. Doubting him isn't something I'll do again, and now that we've made it through the rough patches, well. . . There's a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.
But even he can't protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.
After everything, I'm no longer the same Katy. I'm different . . . And I'm not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I'm capable of. The death of someone close still lingers help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won't turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.
Together we're stronger . . . and they know it.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

 USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in

Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s
not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie
movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time
writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult
paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance
under the name J. Lynn.

Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Review: Venom by Fiona Paul

Title: Venom

Author: Fiona Paul

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Delicious and dazzling!

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Cassandra Caravello is one of Renaissance Venice's lucky elite: with elegant gowns, sparkling jewels, her own lady's maid, and a wealthy fiance, she has everything a girl could desire. Yet ever since her parents' death, Cassandra has felt trapped, alone in a city of water, where the dark and labyrinthine canals whisper of escape.

When Cass stumbles upon a murdered woman-practically in her own backyard-she's drawn into a dangerous world of courtesans, killers, and secret socieities. Soon, she finds herself falling for Falco, a mysterious artist with a mischievous grin . . . and a spectacular skill for trouble. Can Cassandra find the murderer, before her finds her? And will she stay true to her fiance, or succumb to her uncontrollable feelings for Falco?

Beauty, love, romance, and mystery weave together in a stunning novel that's as seductive and surprising as the city of Venice itself.

I didn't expect Venom to be historical fiction/murder-mystery. I kinda have a pet peeve for historical fiction (I know, boo me) and so usually I end up fuming 10% in and annoying the hell out of my dad. I'll admit, I got 75 pages into this and was ranting to my dad already. Thankfully, it did manage to turn around.

Venom starts out at Cass's very close friend's funeral. Livi, the girl, was only 14 when she died, and Cass is taking it badly. She steps out to get a breather, and BAM! A mysterious artist boy (Falco; btw I love that name) falls on her.

You would expect me to be raining praise on Cass because, hey! I have a namesake now! Well, I didn't really like Cass for a lot of the book. All I got from her was that she was a whiny, spoiled, rich brat who wanted to 'live'. Ha. Does that include endangering your life just because you're dared to? Yeah, Cass isn't the strongest of women. She'll claim she's "not like the other girls" (THAT IS A QUOTE!)

She made me want to pull out my hair at times like this.

Seriously.

The other characters were actually decent. I enjoyed erm... Siena. Luca could prove very interesting.

HOWEVER. Venice really wowed me. Completely made up for Cass. It was beautiful beautiful beautiful! (somewhat overdone but SO PERTY!) The setting is great, and even though it's historical fiction I ended up liking it!

THAT IS A BIG FIRST GUYS.

Thus, if you don't have a prejudice against hist. fiction, go! Go for this! :)

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Cassie

Review: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Title: Breathe

Author: Sarah Crossan

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Refreshing and real!

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Inhale. Exhale.

Breathe.

Breathe.

Breathe . . .

The world is dead.

The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

Alina

has been stealing for a long time. She's a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she's never been caught before. If she's careful, it'll be easy. If she's careful.

Quinn

should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it's also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn't every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her.

Bea

wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they'd planned a trip together, the two of them, and she'd hoped he'd discover her out here, not another girl.

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days' worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Breathe is one of the most original books I've read in a while. I thought that with this idea, it'd be recycled and boring. Oh, the world's destroyed and only the bubble where they live is it possible to live? Heard it before. But ohhhh I was pleasantly surprised ;)

It begins with Alina on a super secret mission, but probably shouldn't be doing. She brought in Abel because, well, honestly? Because she wanted to be alone with him. It may or may not bite her in the butt because of her hasty decision.

The main characters are actually really well developed. We may not get to understand them all, but their personalities are really realistic and even cool! My favorite character was Maude, an old woman who's not afraid to stab random people and has too much sass for her own good!

In all honesty, this book intrigued me. Yes, how The Switch happened is unclear. How exactly did oxygen levels plummet to 6% from 18%? (possibly 20%) What happened? How does the Pod work? So many questions, so few answers. But while usually it would make me want to stab the book, Sarah Crossan worked it. I finished feeling utterly fascinated.

She leaves many questions unanswered, but the biggest one for me is: What happened with Abel?
Because, lemme tell you somethin'. I really, really hope he comes back super evil but undeniably attractive.
And he's out for Alina.
How AWESOME would that be????

Okay. Shoo. Go read this.
Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo
Cassie

Review: Silver by Talia Vance

Title: Silver

Author: Talia Vance

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Exhilarating and exciting

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

"As I step into the room, a silver flash blurs my vision. Before I can take a breath, the world falls away."

Brianna has always felt invisible. People stare right past her, including the one boy she can't resist, Blake Williams. But everything changes at a house party where Brianna's charm bracelet slips off and time stands still. In that one frozen, silver moment, Blake not only sees her, he recognizes something deep inside her she's been hiding even from herself.

Discovering she is descended from Danu, the legendary Bandia of Celtic myth, Brianna finds herself questioning the truth of who she is. And when she accidentally binds her soul to Blake, their mutual attraction becomes undeniable.

But Blake has his own secret, one that could prove deadly for them both.

Bound together by forbidden magic, Brianna and Blake find themselves at the heart of an ancient feud that threatens to destroy their lives and their love.

Let me put this out there before I start: Silver has a GORGEOUS cover and and unique story line. So please, try it out.

Silver starts out at a house party. Not very original, but the first chapter ends with a bang. Time literally stops after a bright silver flash, and all of a sudden Blake (the guy she's been crushing on hard for a year) looks over at her.

And says to her, "Mine." As in, she's his.

Wowzers.

Brianna bugged me to no end. Now, I get don't get me wrong. She's cool when she's mad. But when she's not? She's a total slut!

Right off the bat, we get told that Brianna is invisible and that people act surprised when they see her picture. As in, they're surprised that she's pretty, cuz she KNOWS she's pretty they just don't notice her, goshdarnit! Well, glad to hear it. Don't we all wish that was true, and we only have to take off a charm bracelet to be the most gorgeous girl in the world.

Now, slutdom? She just couldn't keep her hands to herself.

Her personality? Fake. She claims her best friends are super tight, but they're just frenemies with sugar on top.

The other characters lacked. Austin we didn't learn about, and what we did learn is that he's a man-whore. Who is very nice to Brianna and her "BFF".

Blake? PLEASE. Not only is he a man-whore, but he's a total buttocks! He keeps shoving away Brianna right after he sticks his tongue down her throat.

And, btw, Brianna is a stalker. She can't take a no.

Other than that, the plot was decent. The mythology ROCKED! If you can deal with sketchy characters, GO FOR THIS! Celtic mythology rocked my world, ladies and gentlemen.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Cassie

Review: Cursed by Jennifer Armentrout

Title: Cursed

Author: Jennifer Armentrout

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say:

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.

Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse as a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out.

However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

Cursed starts out with Ember's horrible, horrible day at school. Literally, it's fantastically horrendous. It made me cringe, and I'm IN high school! She gets her five-year-old sister ready for school, while her mother vegetates in her room.

Just a forewarning: I may be a little harsh because I'm a huge Jennifer Armentrout fan and had way too high expectations for this

Ember is a relateable heroine, but I had so many issues with her. But, see, this has to do with me, so if you find you don't relate with me, ignore me.
This is me when angry: 1.) calculate best advantage 2.) stare down victim 3.) let loose fists of fury ORRRRRR 1.) stare down victim 2.) let loose angry, angry words 3.) victory dance

Ember does not do this. She is so passive I was really surprised. Alex and Katy from Jennifer's previous books have sass and fight in them both, but Ember doesn't. I got this when I read Cursed:

And maybe a little...

The characters? Well, I think they're pretty interesting. Only problem is that Ember is so angsty that she doesn't really take the time to try to understand them.
Hayden- the boy, as you know there must be. A lot of readers will find him attractive.
I found him bleh-tastic. He has no sexy moves, he's way too emotional for me (I love you so, but wait! I cannot *runs away*) and well... yeah.
But, hey... he is pretty attractive.

The plot is something I've seen before- powers that mystify - BUT I like Jennifer Armentrout's approach on it. She introduces the possibility that people with powers actually have problems. (both mental and emotionally) We don't get that much because it seems to damper the mood BUT I LIKED IT. GO JENNIFER! Woohoo!

I really, really wished it was funny, but I must congratulate her because this type of story is completely different from her other series. I realize she wrote it way before the others, but I think Jennifer Armentrout's capability to achieve many different personalities in her characters is extremely impressive.


I like to think she can do this.

Thanks for stopping by guys!

xoxo

Cassie

Review: Beta by Rachel Cohn

Title: Beta

Author: Rachel Cohn

Reviewed by: Cassie

The Fairies Say: Surprising and sophisticated

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

Elysia is created in a laboratory, born as a sixteen-year-old girl, an empty vessel with no life experience to draw from. She is a Beta, an experimental model of a teenage clone. She was replicated from another teenage girl, who had to die in order for Elysia to exist.

Elysia's purpose is to serve the inhabitants of Demesne, an island paradise for the wealthiest people on earth. Everything about Demesne is bioengineered for perfection. Even the air induces a strange, euphoric high, which only the island's workers--soulless clones like Elysia--are immune to.

At first, Elysia's life is idyllic and pampered. But she soon sees that Demesne's human residents, who should want for nothing, yearn. But for what, exactly? She also comes to realize that beneath the island's flawless exterior, there is an under-current of discontent among Demesne's worker clones. She knows she is soulless and cannot feel and should not care--so why are overpowering sensations clouding Elysia's mind?

If anyone discovers that Elysia isn't the unfeeling clone she must pretend to be, she will suffer a fate too terrible to imagine. When her one chance at happiness is ripped away with breathtaking cruelty, emotions she's always had but never understood are unleashed. As rage, terror, and desire threaten to overwhelm her, Elysia must find the will to survive.

Beta  starts out with Elysia being bought by a very respected woman- the Governor's wife. She's ready to go, ready to serve, and doesn't have any emotions. She is soulless, after all.

Elysia was a character I feel like has potential, but you have to be patient with. She's very clone-like for a good portion of the book, but then these pesky emotions start tainting her. Oh, the horror! She might be a Defect. (dun dun dun) And at times she has these streaks of stubborn that could have been charming, but ended up being annoying. However, she's a curious POV to read about. She's really interesting.

The other characters seemed unimportant from the way they are written about. We don't really get a feel for them, except when Elysia has these bursts of intense emotions. 

The plot is actually really intriguing but to some people it may be controversial. It deals with souls, sexual assault, servitude, and murder. You should try to make your mind extra open for this one, because while it's extremely pretty it's got a lot of ugly in it.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxo

Cassie