‘Bloodspell’ (The Cruentus Curse Duology #1) by Amalie Howard

4.5 stars - Really enjoyed this YA paranormal romance featuring witches and vampires.  All thoughts of similarities to ‘Twilight’ should be abandoned.

When we meet Tori, she is a young witch just coming into her powers.  Far removed from the rest of the magic world and with no mentor to guide her, she struggles to understand her abilities and is blissfully unaware of the centuries-old mistrust and disgust between witches and vampires.  When she transfers to a new high school to complete her senior year, she is quickly mesmerized by the handsome and skilled violin player she keeps bumping into.

Christian is a refreshingly non-brooding vampire, though he does despise the death and destruction that comes with being undead.  By his own choice, he moved away from Paris and the Council of Vampires and settled into a quieter life in Middle-Of-Nowhere, Maine.  He spends time doing what he loves; learning, playing music, and conversing with humans at a combination high school/college campus.

Inexplicably drawn to Tori on account of her special blood (and its curse), Christian soon realizes she is the witch written about in a vampire prophecy, the very witch his brother, Lucian, is searching for.

Most of ‘Bloodspell’ is narrated by Tori, but every so often Christian takes over the narration and we get to see inside his head, and details of his past.  Their forbidden romance plays out differently than most YA paranormal romances, which was also refreshing.  Diving into the second book of this series now, ‘Bloodcraft.’

‘The Raging Ones’ (The Raging Ones #1) by Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie

4 stars - Futuristic, sci-fi fantasy YA novel with amazing friendships/relationships.

Authors Krista Ritchie and Becca Ritchie provide excellent world building.  The story takes place on a frozen planet, centuries into the future.  Over the course of many chapters, readers are slowly exposed to the religious beliefs, scientific explanations, social structure, norms and customs of this planet’s inhabitants.  I really enjoyed learning about this planet and appreciated the lack of info-dump.

‘The Raging Ones’ is told through alternating points of view of Franny, Court, and Mykal, which blend together to provide readers with a more complete picture of the story than any character has on their own.  When the story begins, Franny is working on plans for her upcoming deathday.  Court and Mykal, having both inexplicably dodged their deathdays, are making arrangements to lie, steal, and deceive their way into the highly coveted and limited positions aboard a space shuttle.

After the boys rescue Franny from nefarious thieves, she joins in their preparations.  Of the three, only Court has experience with the upper-class Influentials whom they need to imitate in order to gain positions on the space mission.  Lessons in etiquette, posture, speech, writing, reading, eating, and dressing help to bring Franny up to speed and reinforce Mykal’s understanding.  Meanwhile, all three teenagers adjust to various aspects of living with their new bond.

Once the trio arrives at the space mission training center, they must compete with over a thousand other applicants.  The connection shared between them differentiates ‘The Raging Ones’ from other YA competition books such as The Selection or Hunger Games.

The beginning of the book might seem a little slow to some readers, but I’m very glad I stuck with it.  These three characters are far more interesting once they meet up and slowly share their secrets.  The friendships/relationships that build between them are wholly unique experiences, and what really makes this book shine in my opinion.

Join Franny, Court, and Mykal on their adventure, starting August 14, 2018.  #TheRagingOnes #NetGalley

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.  

Cover Reveal: 'Kiss of the Royal' by Lindsey Duga

About Kiss of the Royal:

In the war against the Forces of Darkness, the Royals are losing. Princess Ivy is determined to end this centuries-long conflict once and for all, so her new battle partner must succeed where the others failed. Prince Zach’s unparalleled skill with a sword, enhanced by Ivy’s magic Kiss, should make them an unstoppable pair—but try convincing Zach of that.

Prince Zach has spent his life preparing for battle, but he would rather be branded a heretic than use his lips as nothing more than a way to transfer magic. A kiss is a symbol of love, and love is the most powerful weapon they have—but try convincing Ivy of that.

With the fate of their world on the line, the battlefield has become a testing ground, and only one of them can be right. Falling for each other wasn’t part of the plan—but try convincing their hearts of that.

Want to read more? Pre-order your copy of Kiss of the Royal by Lindsey Duga today!

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About Lindsey Duga:

Lindsey Duga is a middle grade and young adult writer with a passion for fantasy, science fiction, and basically any genre that takes you away from the real world. She wrote her first novel in college while she was getting her bachelor’s in Mass Communication from Louisiana State University.

Other than writing and cuddling with her morkie puppy, Delphi, Lindsey loves catching up on the latest superhero TV show and practicing yoga.

Website -- Twitter -- Instagram -- Goodreads -- Entangled Publishing

Now Available: Vacant Voices (The Blind Barriers Trilogy #3) by Sophie Davis

The Blind Barriers Trilogy

Vacant Voices: Book Three

By: Sophie Davis

Release Date: March 16^th, 2018

Genre: YA Mystery/Thriller

“Pretty Little Liars meets Gossip Girl”- Amazon Reviewer

Back Blurb:

If a stranger was begging for your help, would you answer?

Lark Kingsley had the perfect family, the perfect future, the perfect life.  Born and raised in affluent Manhattan society, she was bred for success. Lark had it all.  Until one day things go terribly wrong and she vanishes without a trace.

Raven Ferragamo is starting a new life.  Taking a year off High School, she moves to Washington, D.C., leaving her friends, her family, and her problems behind.  The clean break with her past starts off better than she could've dreamed.  For the first time in her short life, Raven really feels as though anything is possible.

In the midst of a nationwide hunt for the Kingsley Diamond heiress, Raven happens upon Lark's diary.  Without warning, she is drawn into the life of a girl with many secrets. Lark knew of the fate that would befall her before she ever disappeared.  Her desperate plea for help draws Raven in to a labyrinth of mysteries.   

Buy Link:

Available exclusively on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited

Author Bio:

"Sophie Davis" is the pseudonym for two best friends, roommates, and now writing partners. The pair met at Penn State's Dickinson School of Law in 2005 and instantly bonded over their love of great books and bad horror movies. After they graduated, when one longed for the ability to read minds so she wouldn't have to study for the bar exam, a Saga was born. When the Talented Saga went on to be an internationally bestselling series, the girls decided to throw caution to the wind and follow their shared life-long dream of being writers.

The duo currently is on the road touring US cities with a poodle and a rescued pup. The pups are their faithful companions—with frequent social media appearances—as the girls navigate the world of Indie Publishing.

Author Links:

Instagram: @seesophiewrite

Twitter: @SeeSophiesWrite

Facebook Author Page

Facebook Insiders

Website

‘Unraveled’ (Perfected #3) by Kate Jarvik Birch

4 stars - Excellent writing, captivating action-packed trilogy conclusion.

Read the series from the beginning:

‘Perfected’ Review

‘Tarnished’ Review

In ‘Tarnished,’ readers watch the often-underestimated Ella become an unlikely hero and strong defender of pet’s rights as human beings.  Though she, Penn and Missy manage to expose the dark details of breeding kennels, pets are in more danger now than ever.  The government, and Ella’s former owner specifically, have lied to the public; they intend to cover their tracks and erase their mistakes by exterminating the pets they’ve created, rather than treat them as the humans they are and educate them for an independent life.

Despite the good she and her friends have done in the public eye; the congressman has tricks up his sleeve at every turn.  They are forced to go underground and operate in secret with other rebels who believe in equal rights.  Then the group becomes a scapegoat for bombings and Penn is sent to jail, all leading up to a climactic meeting between Ella and her former owner.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. 

Don’t miss the trilogy’s gripping action-packed conclusion, ‘Unraveled’ available on April 3^rd!  #Unraveled #NetGalley

‘Tarnished’ (Perfected, #2) by Kate Jarvik Birch

4 stars - Excellent writing, captivating dystopian / science fiction novel.

Read the series from the beginning:

‘Perfected’ Review

When ‘Perfected’ ended, readers were left to wonder what would happen next to Ella -seeking asylum in Canada, and Penn - apprehended on US soil while trying to cross the border with her.  Ella spends approximately one week in a Canadian safe house before watching evidence of Penn’s suffering on the news and cannot sit idly by.

In ‘Tarnished,’ we follow Ella and her unlikely companion as they navigate the shockingly darker black market where pets can be bought, sold, or paid meager wages for jobs.  The more Ella discovers about the inhumane conditions these human pets are made to live in and that mutilated, dead bodies of pets are turning up but being kept quiet by bribed police departments, the more determined she becomes to do something about it.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s. 

Don’t miss the trilogy’s conclusion, ‘Unraveled’ available on April 3^rd!

‘Perfected’ (Perfected, #1) by Kate Jarvik Birch

4.5 stars - Excellent writing, captivating dystopian / science fiction novel.

Set in the present-day, the US government has approved of humans owning other humans.  These genetically engineered 'pets' are bred like dogs in order to attain certain features, such as beauty and small stature.  Ella is one such pet, bred at a kennel with 19 others and trained in posture, conversations with adults and composing one's features to always seem happy.  Though pets are given etiquette and voice lessons and are trained to play at least one musical instrument, they are never taught how to read or swim or fend for themselves.  They are bred and trained to be completely dependent upon their owners.

Ella is chosen by the congressman who made all of this come about; the one who introduced the legislation and pushed it through to approval.  Naturally, it is only fitting that he and his family have one of these pets after he fought so hard.  Each member of his family seems to have a different opinion regarding humans-as-pets; from the young daughter who likes to play dress-up and hairdos with Ella, to the congressman’s wife who is clearly annoyed that her husband brought a second pet into their home, after some unsavory events occurred with their first one.

Though we see Ella put on display for many of the congressman’s friends, donors, and political connections, other characters are introduced who view the practice of humans-as-pets to be the creepy slavery that it is.  When Ella is exposed to other aspects of life, away from the rich and powerful, she questions whether being a pet is really all that bad, if it allows her this luxurious lifestyle.

It is the congressman’s teenage son who has the most powerful reaction to Ella, and sparks feelings and desires in Ella that she was never trained to understand or deal with.  Being together would be wrong, according to everyone’s views, except that it feels so right.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

‘Lost Boy, Found Boy’ by Jenn Polish

3.5 stars

‘Lost Boy, Found Boy’ is a short work of science fiction loosely based upon characters from ‘Peter Pan.’  Author Polish has included familiar character names and elements, while adding an original plot and making some changes to the characters.

We start off with Peter and his enbyfriend Mir.  Circumstances are vague, but the story clearly takes place in the future, after Earth is no longer habitable, oxygen is hard to come by, and a war is being fought.  Peter wakes one morning to learn that Mir has volunteered for the war effort, desperately wanting to fly.  Peter, master programmer and hacker that he is, copes with Mir’s leaving by creating a virtual world in which their physical bodies can safely inhabit.  Peter thinks he’s programed the interface in such a way that not only would he and Mir be able to fly in this created space, Neverland, but also that Mir’s memory would be altered to forget leaving Peter to join the war.  Peter wants nothing more than to be reunited with his paramour and for the pair to be left alone together.

Peter’s overestimation of his programming abilities causes some issues.  First a cyborg with a hook shows up, a boy with some flesh left, but whose veins have been replaced with wires by the war effort.  Then Gwen shows up, and names the interface Tinker Bell, after the noises it/she makes when communicating.  Then Gwen and Tink seem to grow close, and Hook seems to have a crush on Peter.  As Peter urges Tink on to find the correct human companion, Mir, Tink brings in Jon, Michael, Nibs, and Slightly; boys lost to the war effort who all seem to have memory issues upon entering Neverland through Tink’s portal.  One last desperate attempt brings Mir to Peter, at the height of memory problems and interface overloads.

Will Mir and Peter remember each other and get to live happily ever after?  Will Tink overload and send all the children back to the horrible war?  Find out on March 19^th!

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.  #LostBoy,FoundBoy #NetGalley

‘Charm: A Cinderella Reverse Fairytale’ (Reverse Fairytales) by J.A. Armitage

4.5 stars

J.A. Armitage's series is a magical fairy-tale retelling of Cinderella, combined with elements that remind me of Kiera Cass' 'The Selection' series.  Not only are the genders swapped, but Armitage adds her own original story here as well. 

In this kingdom, magic users have been oppressed by generations of royals; with paying jobs hard to come by simply because of their natural abilities, and their peaceful protests broken apart by a biased police force.  This is a tale of an oppressor at the head of government, a resistance who only seek equality, and a sheltered princess who can hardly believe people are forced to live under these conditions.  Both Princess Charmaine and Cynder are easy to root for.

An enjoyable quick read, highly recommended for fairy-tale fans and Kiera Cass fans.

The entire series is currently available as part of the Kindle Unlimited program.

‘Owl Eyes: A Fairy Tale’ by Molly Lazer

4.5 stars

'Owl Eyes' is a well thought out re-imagining of Cinderella in which readers spend most of the book learning about our main character, Nora, and the warm, loving people who help her serve the Lord of the house.  This is an original tale about a young woman and how she came to be a servant living in a Lord's kitchen house.  Though she contributes heavily to food preparation, Nora is prohibited from serving the family in person and is punished when she dares to inquire about her dead parents. 

As she makes several discoveries about her birth parents and the family she serves, readers learn more about the way magic works in Lazer’s fictional fantasy world.  Ultimately, Nora participates in elements of the traditional Cinderella tale, and faces a new and original dilemma; whether following in her mother’s footsteps is worth losing her loving kitchen house family and a chance for real romance.

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book.  All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

'Owl Eyes' will be available on March 20, 2018.  #OwlEyes:afairyTale #NetGalley