Review: The Rose Throne by Mette Ivie Harrison

Posted on May 15, 2013 by Kristilyn

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Title: The Throne Rose
Author: Mette Ivie Harrison
Date(s) read: March 15 – 17, 2013
Genre: YA fantasy
Source: Publisher / Netgalley

Richly-imagined fantasy romance from the author of Princess and the Hound, a tale of two princesses–one with magic, one with none–who dare seek love in a world where real choice can never be theirs. For fans of Megan Whalen Turner, Catherine Fisher, and Cassandra Clare.

Ailsbet loves nothing more than music; tall and red-haired, she’s impatient with the artifice and ceremony of her father’s court. Marlissa adores the world of her island home and feels she has much to offer when she finally inherits the throne from her wise, good-tempered father. The trouble is that neither princess has the power–or the magic–to rule alone, and if the kingdoms can be united, which princess will end up ruling the joint land? For both, the only goal would seem to be a strategic marriage to a man who can bring his own brand of power to the throne. But will either girl be able to marry for love? And can either of these two princesses, rivals though they have never met, afford to let the other live?

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Thank you to Egmont USA and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this book for review!

I’ve never really been a fantasy person when it comes to books. I’m not sure why, but I always find myself drawn to books that are set in the here and the now with characters that I can relate to. Of course, sometimes I fall completely for a book cover or a synopsis and am thrown into a fantasy world that could go one of two ways.

With The Rose Throne, I was very intrigued by the synopsis — Two princesses? Magic? Love? Music? Sign me up! All of that mixed with a cover I fell in love with the instant I saw it on NetGalley meant that I was gone for. Although there were things I disliked about this book, there were plenty of things to love about it. Continue reading →

Review: Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, #1) by Veronica Rossi

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Kristilyn

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Title: Under the Never Sky
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky, #1
Date(s) read: March 3 – 6, 2013
Genre: YA Post Apocalyptic
Source: Library & Purchased (Hardcover)

Since she’d been on the outside, she’d survived an Aether storm, she’d had a knife held to her throat, and she’d seen men murdered. This was worse.

Exiled from her home, the enclosed city of Reverie, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland – known as The Death Shop – are slim. If the cannibals don’t get her, the violent, electrified energy storms will. She’s been taught that the very air she breathes can kill her. Then Aria meets an Outsider named Perry. He’s wild – a savage – and her only hope of staying alive.

A hunter for his tribe in a merciless landscape, Perry views Aria as sheltered and fragile – everything he would expect from a Dweller. But he needs Aria’s help too; she alone holds the key to his redemption. Opposites in nearly every way, Aria and Perry must accept each other to survive. Their unlikely alliance forges a bond that will determine the fate of all who live under the never sky.

my thoughts-01

You know those books that are on your radar, but you’re too scared to read them because of ALL THE HYPE surrounded them? Those books that everyone seems to love, but you’re convinced that the second you read these books you’ll hate them? Those books that keep you worried, day after day, on that edge of “should I read it?” and “should I let it go?” — leaving you hovering on that edge, unsure of which way to go?

OK, so maybe you don’t go to the extreme like that, but this was one of those books for me. There are so many hyped books that have left me either disappointed or wanting more and I didn’t want this book to be one of them just because a LOT of bloggers who’s opinions I take into consideration when choosing a book to read loved it. FORTUNATELY, this was not the case with this book. Thank goodness! Continue reading →

Review: Flat-Out Love, by Jessica Park

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Kristilyn

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Title: Flat-Out Love
Author: Jessica Park
Date(s) read: February 23 – 24, 2013
Genre: New adult
Source: Purchased (eBook)

He was tall, at least six feet, with dirty blond hair that hung over his eyes. His T-shirt read Nietzsche Is My Homeboy.

So, that was Matt. Who Julie Seagle likes. A lot. But there is also Finn. Who she flat out loves.

Complicated? Awkward? Completely.

But really, how was this freshly-minted Boston transplant and newbie college freshman supposed to know that she would end up living with the family of an old friend of her mother’s? This was all supposed to be temporary. Julie wasn’t supposed to be important to the Watkins family, or to fall in love with one of the brothers. Especially the one she’s never quite met. But what does that really matter? Finn gets her, like no one ever has before. They have connection.

But here’s the thing about love, in all its twisty, bumpy permutations—it always throws you a few curves. And no one ever escapes unscathed.

When I bought a copy of Jessica Park’s Flat Out Love, I’ll admit that I really had no idea what it was about. I figured it would be another new adult book, just like the others that had been so popular these days.

I really, really loved the romance in this story — some of it was a little predictable, but it was one of those good kinds of predictable. I kind of new what was going to happen and I was so happy when it did. I also liked that the romance really wasn’t instantaneous, but rather slow-building throughout the book. We really get to know the characters and fall in love with them first, before they fall in love with … well, I don’t want to ruin it … before they fall in love with the people they fall in love with. Continue reading →