Review: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Title: Fire & Flood

Author: Victoria Scott

Reviewed by: Cassie

Genre: Young adult, science fiction

Summary (from goodreads.com)

Time is slipping away . . . 

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to mote to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying-and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Victoria Scott's breathtaking novel grabs readers by the throat and doesn't let go.

WHEW. I was not expecting that!! I went in thinking it'd be a 'meh' read, but that was a great surprise!!!

It hooked me from the start.

It kept me hooked.

And then the ending... Well. Twas a cliff-hanger.

So yes. I was hooked throughout the whole dang book.

First off, lemme say Victoria Scott writes some wicked great characters. They're original, funny, and interesting, not to mention you find yourself loving them to bits and pieces.

Tella's narrative is HILARIOUS. Like, so many lines I just burst out laughing. 

For example.

"Today, I will die at the hands of a misconception."

and

"Homeboy's got a flag!"

In context, it's a lot funnier. I can't even explain it right.

Next.

I'd like to give a round of applause to Guy.

Because he's awesome.

And I like to think he's a babe.

But mostly he's awesome. In a totally un-cliche way and I totally got him and I was like

Because Guy is awesome.

He goes from "probable serial killer" to "I wanna have yo babies. Right here. Right now."

He's not sassy or snarky or witty or anything, he was just... Guy. And it worked.

Guy in all his model-esque glory

Yeppers.

Now, some may say "HOLD UP CASS, THIS REEKS OF BLASPHEMY!! IT'S A CARBON COPY OF THE HUNGER GAMES!!"

And I say to thee:

Have an open mind. Hunger Games is NOT 100% original either--the idea of a competition to death is not copyrighted, nor is revolution. (My parents say to look up The Running Man (1987))

Now. Do I think it was a tad fishy? Towards the end, yes. Yes indeed. It began to stank of Katniss-ery.

BUT ALAS.

Enjoy it. Because you probably will, if you don't get stuck up on the whole "IT BE HUNGER GAMES, YO".

Hugs and kisses~~

Cassie

Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout

Title: White Hot Kiss

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: Young Adult/ New Adult / Fantasy

Reviewed by: Cassie

Summary (from Goodreads.com)

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layal just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens-a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe-Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth-a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to-especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne . . . it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

I'm not sure how I felt about this book to be honest. It was like a hybrid mix of new adult and young adult, and didn't work out.

The plot: Decent? Kind of boring . . . I skimmed a crap ton of pages and that NEVER happens.

The characters: 

Because, really. All of them were boring and stale and bland.
I CAN'T EVEN SAY THE GUYS WERE HOT. Do you know how WRONG that is for a Jennifer Armentrout book???? So wrong.

My brain is in recover mode, because it couldn't handle the stupid it kept having to process.

Wish me luck my next book isn't a bust <3
hugs and kisses~~
Cassie

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Title: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Reviewed by: Cassie

Genre: Young Adult (Fantasy/Romance/Thriller/Mystery)

Summary (from goodreads.com)

Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she's been told.

There is.

She doesn't stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.

She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.

She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer's story.

Retribution has arrived.

************************
My thoughts starting the book:

My thoughts while reading the book:

and

My thoughts finishing it:

mixed with

The good:
-kept me on my toesies

-I love me some crazy... and Mara went crazy. Like so.

-Michelle Hodkin = fantastic writer
-devoured this book

The questionable:
-NOAH. WHAT THE HECKS. I started this baby thinking I would get my Noah fix, and let me just tell you... I was left hanging FOR TOO LONG!! Jesus, how many pages did I read, thinking "okay, this is fun and all... But give me my Noah Shaw, dammit."

Noah Shaw in all his glory. (or Max Irons if you prefer)

And then when he finally decided to make an appearance, I was... dismayed. Disappointed? Distressed.... Dis-SOMETHING. Where was my beautiful, tortured, sarcastic and adorable book boyfriend?? ME = ANGRY

-The ending.
Yeah. Imma leave it at that. It was....

As in, Michelle Hodkin, did you really just do that?
Somehow I feel... betrayed? And that it was cliche.
But...
I'll still reread the series. Probably.

Cheers!!! Hugs and kisses,
Cassie

We're back!!!!

Hey everyone.... Over a year ago, we decided to shut Fiction Fairies down due to homework overload but...
As of November 2, 2014 we have decided to revamp it!
Over the summer Cassie moved away to Texas, so it may be more disjointed than before. But fear not!! We have decided to try to post weekly, even if it is a boring review of our week.
Also!! Cassie (and possibly Rafia) is willing to read new adult requests, in addition to young adult. So restart those requests, and we'll start accepting again!!

Hugs and kisses-
Rafy and Cass