Synopsis:
Rose Red trusts no one with her secret. She hides in the forest, her face veiled in rags, shunning the company of all save her old father and her nanny goat. Her life is bleak and lonely.
Until she meets a privileged young man sent to spend his summer in the mountains. Headstrong young Leo startles everyone by befriending Rose Red, and together they begin searching for the monster rumored to be stalking these lands.
But the hunt, which began as a game, holds greater risk than either imagines. Soon both are forced to test their trust in each other as a far more terrifying scourge puts their entire land at risk.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
A few years ago, I read Heartless by Anne Elisabeth Stengl, and loved it. I loved the way the author made Christian fiction exciting, which is difficult to do, at least in my opinion. It's a genre I've never really liked until then. Ever since then, I've been wanting to read the second book in the series, Veiled Rose. It was hard for me to find, but I finally got a copy. I liked it, but it definitely wasn't as good as the first book in the series.
I thought that Veiled Rose was going to be a direct continuation of Heartless, with the same characters, and it wasn't. I was bummed about that. The stories were only slightly connected. In fact, I'm pretty sure Veiled Rose could be read as a standalone if you really wanted to do so. I do hope that at some point in the series, all of the characters' stories will intertwine together.
Other than that, I thought the book was decently good. I loved the story line, especially the first one hundred pages or so. I loved the characters I got introduced to. They were all interesting, and brought something new to the series. After that, the plot got boring, and dragged on at times, especially through the middle. By the end, it had picked up again, and I couldn't put it down.
Even though Veiled Rose wasn't what I was expecting, I did find it enjoyable. Even though this can be read as a standalone, I'm excited to continue the series, and see what Anne Elisabeth Stengl has in store next for readers. I'm sure it will be something good. This series has inspired me to read more Christian fantasy books whenever I can find them at my local library. I recommend this book to anyone wanting a different take on the fantasy genre.
I give Veiled Rose: 3/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.anneelisabethstengl.com/
Blog: http://anneelisabethstengl.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AEStengl/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AEStengl
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3145809.Anne_Elisabeth_Stengl
I received this book from the publisher, Bethany House, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Synopsis:
Who is Pusheen? This collection of oh-so-cute kitty comics—featuring the chubby, tubby tabby who has taken the Internet by storm—will fill you in on all the basics.
Things you should know about Pusheen.
Birthday: February 18
Sex: Female
Where she lives: In the house, on the couch, underfoot
Her favorite pastime: Blogging, sleeping
Her best feature: Her toe beans
Her favorite food: All of them
Pusheen is a pleasantly plump cat who has warmed hearts and tickled funny bones of millions worldwide with her signature GIF animated bops, bounces, and tail wiggles. Now, Pusheen is ready to make the leap from digital to print in her first comic collection! Learn what makes her purr and find out why millions of people have already fallen in love with this naughty, adorable kitty. Featuring some of the most popular stories from Pusheen’s Tumblr and Facebook pages (plus a healthy serving of never-before-seen material), I Am Pusheen the Cat is a treat for cat lovers and comics fans alike.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
I am slightly obsessed with Pusheen. I discovered it about five or six years ago, and have loved it ever since. It might because Pusheen is a cat, and I have an obsession with cats. I saw that there was a graphic novel called I Am Pusheen the Cat, and had to check it out. I enjoyed it.
I Am Pusheen the Cat was hysterical. I loved seeing all of Pusheen's adventures, and learning more about her. There's something about her that just so adorable. I especially loved the "Understanding your cat's emotions" comic. It reminded me a lot of my cat, Sir Pig. The only thing that I found slightly disappointing about this book was that I had seen a few of the comics online before. In fact, I have seen a couple of them so many times that it's starting to lose it's funniness, such as the 4th of July one. Most of them however, were new to me, and really funny.
I loved I Am Pusheen the Cat. It had me cracking up laughing most of the time I was reading it. The book was also extremely easy to identify with, being a cat owner. I hope that the author comes out with more of these comics in a physical book bind up. I would definitely read them. I recommend this book to cat lovers everywhere, and those that can't get enough of cute things.
I give I Am Pusheen the Cat: 4/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Tumblr: http://clairetonic.tumblr.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Clairetonic
I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Synopsis:
Stephanie Barden has created a great role model for tweens. Cinderella Smith is confident, smart, and very real. Fans of Junie B. Jones and Clementine will love watching Cinderella conquer the problems of third-grade life, and parents will appreciate the vocabulary-enhancing words Stephanie Barden sprinkles through the story.
In The Super-Secret Mystery, third in the Cinderella Smith chapter-book series, Cinderella is excited to write a report on an endangered species. She can’t wait to investigate this important environmental issue. But every book she needs to do her research has disappeared from the library! That won’t stop Cinderella. She won’t be stopped by the mean-girl bullies and will follow every clue until she solves the mystery of the missing books.
Illustrations by Caldecott Honor winner Diane Goode add to the appeal of Cinderella’s story.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
I read the first two books in the Cinderella Smith series a couple of years ago, and I absolutely loved them. Recently, I found out that there was a third book in the series, Super Secret Mystery, and was excited to get my hands on it. I'm so glad I was able to read it. I loved it just as much as the first two books in the series, if not more so.
I was so excited to return to Cinderella Smith's chaotic, yet hilarious world. The third book, Super Secret Mystery, had a lot more humor than I remembered the other two books in the series. It had me laughing out loud when I was reading it at one in the morning. There was a lot of snarkiness in it. A few times I almost woke my husband up from laughing so hard. It reminded me of when I was a child, and used to get a lot of entertainment out of the Junie B. Jones series.
I also thought that the illustrations in Super Secret Mystery were absolutely adorable. All of them were cute, and really added something to the story line. They made the reader feel like they are in the story with Cinderella, experiencing doing the report, and all of the shenanigans that go along with it, right beside her.
I love the Cinderella Smith series so much, and Super Secret Mystery was no exception. I hope that the Stephanie Barden, the author of the series, continues to write books about Cinderella Smith. I'm not sure that she will though because the last time a book was released in this series was 2013. I recommend this series to younger kids everywhere, and adults that want a laugh while reading to their children.
I give Cinderella Smith: The Super Secret Mystery: 5/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.stephaniebarden.com/index.html
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4564365.Stephanie_Barden
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Synopsis:
Her friends warn her not to go to Brendan Fear's birthday party at his family's estate on mysterious Fear Island. But Rachel Martin has a crush on Brendan and is excited to be invited. Brendan has a lot of party games planned. But one game no one planned intrudes on his party—the game of murder. As the guests start dying one by one, Rachel realizes to her horror that she and the other teenagers are trapped on the tiny island with someone who may want to kill them all. How to escape this deadly game? Rachel doesn't know whom she can trust. She should have realized that nothing is as it seems… on Fear Island.
R.L. Stine makes his triumphant return to Shadyside, a town of nightmares, shadows, and genuine terror, and to the bestselling series that began his career writing horror for the juvenile market, in the new Fear Street book Party Games.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
R.L. Stine was one of my favorite authors when I was a kid. I used to love his Fear Street series, especially the books about the cheerleaders. I was excited to learn that he was re-booting the Fear Street series for a new generation. Party Games, the first book in the re-booted Fear Street series, was excellent. It brought back all of those nostalgic feelings that I remember while reading the original series as a child.
Even as an adult, I found Party Games to be suspenseful. It kept me on the edge of my seat wondering how Rachel and her friends were going to get out of the various terrifying situations they found themselves in. Some of the situations, such as what happened on the dock, were predictable. I knew that what happened couldn't be true. However, other situations, I had no idea what was going on, or how the characters were going to solve the problem. It brought me back to when I used to read R.L. Stine's books when I was younger, and they always scared the hell out of me. As an adult, the book wasn't terrifying, but it was suspenseful in it's own way. It was more of a mystery than a horror.
I loved the way R.L. Stine ended Party Games. It was an open ending in such a way that there could possibly be a sequel in the future. I really hope that he chooses to write one. I would definitely read it. I can't wait to read more books in the Fear Street Relaunch. I hope that they are just as good as this one. I recommend Party Games to kids and adults alike. I also recommend it to anyone that loves to get creeped out.
I give Party Games: 4/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://rlstine.com/index.php
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rlstine/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RL_Stine
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13730.R_L_Stine
I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Synopsis:
When Native American Fredricka ‘Fred’ Oday is invited to become the only girl on the school’s golf team, she can’t say no. This is an opportunity to shine, win a scholarship and go to university, something no one in her family has done.
But Fred’s presence on the team isn’t exactly welcome — especially not to rich golden boy Ryan Berenger, whose best friend was kicked off the team to make a spot for Fred.
But there’s no denying that things are happening between the girl with the killer swing and the boy with the killer smile...
GET HOOKED ON A GIRL NAMED FRED.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
I have made it a mission of mine this year to get my NetGalley tbr down to zero. I was flipping through my shelves on NetGalley, and found Hooked. I thought the premise sounded interesting, so I decided to give it a try. Despite it having a few flaws, I found myself enjoying the book. First of all, I loved the diverse representation in this book. It was on point. I love the fact that Hooked had a female Native American main character. That's so rare it's almost unheard of in young adult literature. Also, I loved the fact that the book made me so emotionally invested in the characters. I was a sobbing mess during certain parts of the book because I could empathize with the characters, and feel what they were feeling. There were a few things that I didn't like about Hooked as well. I wasn't a big fan of the way the point of view kept switching. It was confusing, and took a while to get used to. By the time I would figure it out, the author would move onto to the other character's point of view, and I'd have to get used to it all over again. I also thought it was confusing that the female main character was nicknamed Fred, and she played golf. I had to keep reminding myself that she was female, and it made reading the book a lot more complicated than it should have been. I'm all for weird nicknames, but this one just didn't work. Despite all of that, I did have a lot of fun reading Hooked. I thought it was a great young adult contemporary with a creative cast that usually isn't seen in young adult literature. I recommend this book to anyone who loves an enjoyable contemporary with a diverse cast of characters.
I give Hooked: 3.5/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://lizficherablog.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liz.fichera.1?ref=search
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LizFichera
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LizFichera1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4050842.Liz_Fichera
I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Synopsis for Stung:
There is no cure for being stung.
Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she awakens, her world no longer exists. Her house is abandoned and broken. Her neighborhood is barren and dead. And there is a tattoo on her right hand. A tattoo Fiona doesn’t remember getting…but somehow she must conceal at any cost. Because humanity has been divided.
Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded, while a select few live protected inside a fortresslike wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.
And Fiona has awoken branded, on the wrong side of the wall, and…normal.
From the author of Shifting comes this remarkable reimagining of Sleeping Beauty, where the sting of a bee, rather than the prick of a needle, can destroy the world.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
Synopsis for Cured:
Now that Fiona Tarsis and her twin brother, Jonah, are no longer beasts, they set out to find their mother, with the help of Bowen and a former neighbor, Jacqui. Heading for a safe settlement rumored to be in Wyoming, they plan to spread the cure along the way--until they are attacked by raiders. Luckily, they find a new ally in Kevin, who saves them and leads them to safety in his underground shelter. But the more they get to know Kevin, the more they suspect he has ties to the raiders. He also seems to know too many details about Jacqui and her family—details that could endanger them all. For the raiders will do anything they can to destroy the cure that would bring an end to their way of life. Bethany Wiggins’s reimagining of our world after an environmental catastrophe won’t fail to stun readers.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
I've had the Stung duology on my tbr for a very long time. It's one of those series where the synopsis has always intrigued me, but it kept getting pushed to the bottom of my stack of books because I kept adding more and more books to my tbr. Recently, a readathon happened and I decided it would be the perfect time to read the duology. I loved it. I wish I would have read it sooner.
The Stung duology was everything that a dystopian series should be. It was thrilling from beginning to end. It didn't shy away from taboo topics that actually would happen in a post apocalyptic society, such as rape. The premise of the bees going extinct is something that I could easily see happening in our society with the way things are going in our world. The book made me aware of everything we would lose if that happened. Most of the things I had never even thought about, or connected with bees at all.
Typically I don't like it when books in the same series are from different character perspectives, but the Stung duology pulls it off well. I loved both Fiona's perspective, and Jack's perspective equally. They both brought different elements into the story line. In fact, I might have actually liked Cured a little better than Stung because the reader was introduced to Kevin, who quickly became my favorite character. I loved how mysterious he was, and his snarky sense of humor.
The only thing that disappointed me about the duology was that I felt that the ending was rushed. I would have loved to see the journey to where the main characters ended up in the end. Otherwise, I thought the Stung duology was absolutely perfect. I can't wait to read Bethany Wiggins' other books. I hope she continues writing sci-fi books. I recommend this duology for dystopian lovers everywhere, and preppers.
I give Stung duology: 4/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://bethanywiggins.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bethany.wiggins.5
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WiggB
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4582548.Bethany_Wiggins
I received these books from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
Synopsis for The Oracle's Flame:
The Kingdom of Altnoia is on the cusp of civil war. The king and heir have been murdered, the throne taken by their uncle, and the kingdom's only hope lies with Prince Edan who has been missing for the past year. The Oracle appoints her new Dragon of Fire one task: Find Prince Edan and keep him alive.
It should have been a simple task, but Dragon did not anticipate that Prince Edan would hide away on a pirate ship, forcing Dragon not only to endure pirates, but sea-sickness and his fear of water. And nothing, not even the Oracle, could have prepared him for the twins and the complicated feelings they spark.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
Synopsis for The Oracle's Hatchling:
Ling is hated because his birth killed his mother. He hopes that testing will ease his troubles—either his rank will be so low that everyone forgets about him, or it will be so high they'll be forced to respect him. What he doesn't expect is to walk out of the testing chamber with an egg emblazoned on his back. Laughed out of the Monastery, Ling hides himself in Altnoia, where he becomes embroiled in a plot to overthrow King Edan and the Oracle who supports him.
The ringleader behind the plot is Prince Damarion, son of the evil despot who forced King Edan to flee in the first place—but his motives are not anything that Ling could have anticipated. Neither could he anticipate a friendship, or what that friendship could become, and the choices it would force him to make.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
Synopsis for The Oracle's Golem:
Golem has never known anything but pain. He exists solely to serve the Oracle's whims and needs. Determined to escape a life of abuse and servitude, he runs away and finds refuge in a cave.
Then one day a child falls asleep in his lap …
Marl isn't anyone special. He's low in the Earth Caste, set to watch over the Caste's problem child, Lichen. In search of the errant Lichen one day, he unexpectedly comes across Golem hiding deep in the mountains. Even more surprising is the reason that Golem is hiding, a reason that forces Marl to make a choice: Oracle or Golem.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
Synopsis for The Oracle's Sprite:
At just eighteen years of age, Keir became the leader of the army fighting against the usurper king while Princes Edan and Egan led the navy. At his side, willing to help from time to time, was Sprite.
A friendly ghost, Sprite likes to keep Keir company and occasionally play tricks on Keir's sister. When the Oracle demands Keir's presence, he expects Sprite to travel with him.
He doesn't expect the gale that knocks him overboard and into an adventure that might just kill him.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).
My Thoughts:
I love reading LGBTQ+ fiction. I also love reading fantasy books. When the two genres are combined, it's a must read for me. I saw the Oracle series, and fell in love with the covers. After seeing them, I knew I had to read the series. Unfortunately, after reading all four books in the series, it was just okay. There were parts that I liked, but the parts that I disliked outweighed that.
I have different feelings about each of the books. In the first book in the series, The Oracle's Flame, the twincest made me very uncomfortable. I did love the way that both of the guys fell in love with who they did, but the twincest just creeped me out. However, I did think that the next book in the series, The Oracle's Hatchling was enjoyable. I had problems with a few things in the book, but I thought it brought something new and different to the story of the dragon's world that Mell Eight had created. The third book in the series, The Oracle's Golem was really good as well. I liked how the two main characters took the time to build their relationship, instead of just instantly falling in love. I did expect a different ending to The Oracle's Golem, and was really disappointed when it didn't happen. The last book in the series, The Oracle's Sprite, was just weird. I wasn't sure what to think of it at first. when the big plot twist was revealed, I understood it better, but I still thought it was odd. It was definitely my least favorite book in the series.
Even though I have a lot of mixed feelings on The Oracle series, I did find it enjoyable. The ending of The Oracle's Sprite said that there would be a fifth book, but as far as I know, it was never released. If a fifth book does get released, I will probably read it because I've invested a lot in reading the series up until this point.
I give The Oracle series: 3/5.
Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://melleightfiction.weebly.com/
Blog: http://melleightsblog.weebly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MellEightFiction?ref=hl
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MellEight
Tumblr: http://mell-eight.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5757481.Mell_Eight
I received these books from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.
