These Books Among Us

Burned by Ellen Hopkins (544 pages) My Rating: 4 Stars Date Finished: 21 September 2016 Synopsis: Raised in a religious -- yet abusive -- family, Pattyn Von Stratten starts asking questions -- about God, a woman's role, sex, love. She experiences the first stirrings of passion, but when her father catches her in a compromising position, events spiral out of control. Pattyn is sent to live with an aunt in the wilds of Nevada to find salvation and redemption. What she finds instead is love and acceptance -- until she realizes that her old demons will not let her go. My Review: I honestly didn't know how I would feel about this book. I haven't been having the best week or so, so I didn't necessarily want to read something too heavy. While this book did have a lot of heavy themes, it wasn't too dark for me, which I was glad about. The rest of this review will have some spoilers, so read at your own peril. I didn't really know much about this book a...

Empire of Storms by Sarah J Maas (736 pages) My Rating: 4.5 Stars Date Read: 20 September 2016 Synopsis: The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Aelin's journey from assassin to queen has entranced millions across the globe, and this fifth installment will leave fans breathless. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down? My Review: This review will have a lot of spoilers for the books, so if you haven't read it, I suggest yo...

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi (408 page) Date Read: 13 September 2016 My Rating: 5 Stars Synopsis: The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love." With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn't know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won't keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that's not all he wants with her. The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games...

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi (461 pages) Date Read: 12 September 2016 My Rating: 4.5 Stars Synopsis: tick tick tick tick tick it's almost time for war. Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her—people with gifts—and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance. She's finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch. Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible. In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. Decisions that might involve choosing between her heart—and Adam's life. My Review: Since this was a re-read review, there will be spoilers in this review for this book and the rest of the series, so I suggest leaving this page if you have not already read the books. So let's ...

Throne of Glass Coloring Book by Sarah J Maas (96 pages) Date Read: 9 September 2016 My Rating: 5 Stars Synopsis: Enter the world of Throne of Glass Experience the vivid imagery of Sarah J. Maas's expansive world in her breathtaking New York Times bestselling Throne of Glass saga. Celaena on the rooftops of Rifthold, Chaol in the gardens of the glass castle, Manon riding her wyvern through the Crossing, and many other favorite moments, characters, and objects from the vibrantly detailed realm of Throne of Glass come to life. With stunning original black-and-white drawings, The Throne of Glass Coloring Book is a must-have companion for any reader looking to be swept up in the adventure of a lifetime. Awards for the Throne of Glass Series Queen of Shadows A Good Reads Choice Award winner for Best Young Adult Fantasy/Sci-Fi for 2015 Heir of Fire A USA Today bestseller Crown of Midnight A New York Times and USA Today bestseller Throne of Glass A Kirkus Best Teen B...

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (338 pages) Date Read: 7 September 2016 My Rating: 5 Stars Synopsis: I have a curse I have a gift I am a monster I'm more than human My touch is lethal My touch is power I am their weapon I will fight back Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days. The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe s...

The Tailor by Leigh Bardugo (18 pages) My Rating: 4 Stars Date Read: 2 September 2016 Synopsis: New scene from Shadow and Bone told from Genya's point of view. My Review: There are going to be spoilers not only for this story, but also for the Grisha trilogy, so if you haven't read either of those, please turn away now! I love Genya. She was one of my favorite characters in the Grisha Trilogy, so getting a story from her point of view is a gift! Oh my goodness, I forgot how much of an instigator she is. When she runs into the other Grisha, it's hilarious to see her push their buttons. Granted, this is really the only way she is able to interact with them, but still, it's great. She's such a perfectionist too! One thing I like about this story is that we get to see the reasons on why she acts as she does. We get to see the affects of the queen's constant abuse on her. How  the queen's betrayal from years before turned her into the soldier ...

The Witch of Duva by Leigh Bardugo (32 pages) My Rating: 4.5 Stars Date Read: 2 September 2016 Synopsis: There was a time when the woods near Duva ate girls...or so the story goes. But it’s just possible that the danger may be a little bit closer to home. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s debut novel, Shadow and Bone. My Review: There will 100% be spoilers in this review, so read at your own caution. Um. I did not see that ending coming. Not by a long shot. Okay, Leigh Bardugo is a master wordsmith. This story was so creepy and foreboding, I just can't keep up with her. The writing style was kind of mystical and whimsical, but it a really dark way. I have no  idea how she does it, but holy crap, she does it so freaking well! I love how the ending was such a twist. I thought, in trying to "out-trick" Ms. Bardugo, that it was going to be Nadya who was the monster because that would be something weird, right? WRONG!! Wrong on every ...

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (505 pages) My  Rating: 4.5 Stars Date Read: 28 August 2016 Synopsis: Cinder is back and trying to break out of prison—even though she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive if she does—in this second installment from Marissa Meyer. Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother, or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana. My Review: Okay, so this book gets a 4.5 stars, but, again, I am rounding up for this book because it was honestly close enough to a 5 t...

Hamilton: The Revolution by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Heremy McCarter (288 pages) My Rating: 5 Stars Date Read: 24 August 2016 Synopsis: Winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and Eleven Tony Awards, including Best Musical Lin-Manuel Miranda's groundbreaking musical Hamilton is as revolutionary as its subject, the poor kid from the Caribbean who fought the British, defended the Constitution, and helped to found the United States. Fusing hip-hop, pop, R&B, and the best traditions of theater, this once-in-a-generation show broadens the sound of Broadway, reveals the storytelling power of rap, and claims our country's origins for a diverse new generation. HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION gives readers an unprecedented view of both revolutions, from the only two writers able to provide it. Miranda, along with Jeremy McCarter, a cultural critic and theater artist who was involved in the project from its earliest stages--"since before this was even a show," acco...

The Too-Clever Fox by Leigh Bardugo (32 pages) My Rating: 4 Stars Date Read: 17 August 2016 Synopsis: In Ravka, just because you avoid one trap, it doesn't mean you'll escape the next. This story is a companion folk tale to Leigh Bardugo’s upcoming novel, Siege and Storm, the second book in the Grisha Trilogy. This story is also included in Some of the Best From Tor.com, 2013 Edition My Review: One thing I love about Leigh Bardugo is that she goes so in depth in the world she created! I absolutely love basically anything Leigh Bardugo will ever write, these short stories included! This story, like the others, gives the female characters so much agency and power!! There are spoilers in the rest of the review from here, so be warned! We, as both the readers and as the Fox, don't suspect this seemingly weak character to be able to do anything, but boy does she surprise us!! I loved how the fox was so trusting in this girl because how could a girl be dange...

The Winner's Kiss by Marie Rutkoski (486 pages) My Rating: 3.5 Stars Date Read: 16 August 2-16 Synopsis: Some kisses come at a price. War has begun. Arin is in the thick of it with untrustworthy new allies and the empire as his enemy. Though he has convinced himself that he no longer loves Kestrel, Arin hasn’t forgotten her, or how she became exactly the kind of person he has always despised. She cared more for the empire than she did for the lives of innocent people—and certainly more than she did for him. At least, that’s what he thinks. In the frozen north, Kestrel is a prisoner in a brutal work camp. As she searches desperately for a way to escape, she wishes Arin could know what she sacrificed for him. She wishes she could make the empire pay for what they’ve done to her. But no one gets what they want just by wishing. As the war intensifies, both Kestrel and Arin discover that the world is changing. The East is pitted against the West, and they are caught ...

Hello All!!! So I have decided that I will be posting reviews every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for as long as I'm able. I am hoping to be reading a lot of stuff soon! I have also started watching 30 Rock (which I started three days ago and I'm already on season 4. Don't judge.)  So that's fun!! I hope you all have a fantastic Labor Day weekend (if you're from the US)! XOXO Dana