Bridge of Snow by Marie Rutkoski: A Mini Review

Bridge of Snow by Marie Rutkoski

Prequel to The Winner's Curse trilogy

5 stars

Only Marie Rutkoski seems to be able to bring tears to my eyes with her beautiful tales. Her writing is so beautiful and the stories she weaves in her stories absolutely beautiful. There is no short story that I've loved this much just because it was it was story not because of the plot or what was happening. Rutkoski has become one of my favorite authors and I will read anything this woman writes. This story was absolutely magnificent and it was free. 

If you would like to read this beautiful story you can read it here. I urge you to please give it a shot. You won't regret it.

Phoenix Island by John Dixon

Phoenix Island by John Dixon

First in the Phoenix Island series

3 stars

Carl is sixteen years old and he has been in plenty enough trouble in his short life time. When he finds himself in court again the judge sentences him to Phoenix Island. Phoenix Island will reform him and it’s the place where orphans who also happen to be delinquents are sent. There are a lot of strange things going on at Phoenix Island and it’s up to Carl to save his friends and figure out the dark secrets surrounding the island. I did enjoy Phoenix Island, but I didn’t love it. The book started out pretty slow and it reminded me a lot of Holes. You know judge sends kid to mysterious camp in the middle of nowhere.

Holes is better though. At least the movie is I haven’t ever wanted to read the book. Phoenix Island does have good qualities it is very suspenseful where it needs to be and it keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. I wouldn’t say it’s completely captivating though because while the suspense is brilliantly done it can also be incredibly boring and dry in certain parts. Towards almost the middle of the book (page 63 to 125) it picked up a lot and there was a chapter or two immediately following that were completely entertaining and then it fell. It fell and it floundered to find equilibrium with this new plot. It eventually worked, but it struggled. The writing was decent and I think it helped even the plot out eventually but it took longer than necessary.


The main male character is Carl. Carl is decent enough in terms of being a good character. I didn’t connect to him or find him all that interesting. He had good and negative points. I liked the reasoning behind why he feels the need to beat bullies up. It was a remarkable reason and Carl has great back story. Of course, he also is incredibly boring to read about because he is a he-man. He tries to seem philosophical but he is too into his muscles at times and it messes up the balance.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 6

The main female character is Octavia. I like Octavia. In fact, her POV was the more interesting one out of the two. I’m not really sure why there are two POVs in the first place because it was completely unnecessary but she was much more interesting than Carl in her few chapters. I especially enjoyed the chapters during the Blue Phase.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 6The Villain- I can’t decide how I feel about the villain in Phoenix Island. He has potential to be a great villain, but in reality he is just another wanna-be-villain wanting to be Voldemort.


Villain Scale: 4

The only character I loved in this whole novel was Ross. He was funny and he was a good friend to Carl and even Octavia. His comedy was dry, but he did say a few funny things that made me smile.


Character Scale: 6.5

I think Phoenix Island is a good book and I do recommend it for fans of Holes because I feel like that is an audience that would really enjoy it especially younger boys or even teenage boys who don’t read often. It’s something they would really enjoy. I liked it, but I’m picky about books and hard to please recently. I do plan on recommending these books to my younger cousins because I know they would love these. I will give the sequel a shot though because I’m curious about Carl’s future and even Octavia’s.


Thank you, Mr. Dixon for being kind enough to send me a copy of your book because my Kindle galley expired before I could download it! You rock!

Cover Thoughts: The cover is very rough and dirty fitting. It fits the book well. Not my kind of cover, but I love that it fits the book and its atmosphere.

March Recap!

I'm a little late and I'm happy to say that this my month off and I'm free to do blog a lot and read and have fun. YAY!

Personal Life: Winter guard is over as of the of March and it was bittersweet. I was happy with the season, but sad to see it go. It's sad that all our hard work is no longer going to be viewed weekly. Our show song was King and Lionheart by Of Monsters and Men. It's a pretty good song and if I see a video of our show I'll post it. Besides that I received my permit! WHOOP! I don't think anything else interesting happened. I saw Divergent and I liked it, but didn't love it.

Books I've Finished (Links lead to review):


Insurgent by Veronica Roth 4.5 stars (not yet reviewed)
Cupcakes and Ink by Helena Hunting 3.5 stars
The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski 5 (billion) stars
Dating for Keeps by Rachel Hogan 1.5 stars (Not yet reviewed)
And We Stay by Jenny Hubbard DNF (2 stars)
To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee 2 stars (Not yet reviewed)
Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout 5 stars!!! (Not yet reviewed)
Terrorscape by Nenia Campbell 5 stars

Favorite Book of the Month:
The Winner's Curse was hands down my favorite book this month. It was absolutely stunning and just I can't even begin to formulate my words coherently even now.

Currently Reading:


Allegiant by Veronica Roth (On page 254 out of 526)
Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour (On page 39 out of 304)
Scandal by Navessa Allen (On chapter 4 of 11)
Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting (5% done)

Thoughts So Far: I'm enjoying Allegiant, but I think it's definitely the weakest book of the trilogy. I was surprised to receive Everything Leads to You from Penguin. I'm not big on LGBTQ stories because I feel like I don't really connect, but this one is fun so far. Plus I've enjoyed one of LaCour's other works (Hold Still) and thought I would give this one a shot. I'm reading Scandal online. It's fabulous and has a lot of sexy dirty times.;) You can read it here. I started Clipped Wings immediately after finishing the prequel, Cupcakes and Ink, but I'm not enjoying it. Hopefully it picks up soon because I hope  it's as good as the prequel.

Faux by Ken Hattaway

Faux by Ken Hattaway

Prequel to Bloodline

2 stars

Hmm... How do I explain Faux? Well basically there's some random demons placing bets on this girl named Dakota. I'm honestly not sure what the hell was going on. I know Dakota has dreams and she has her boyfriend drop her off at this psychiatric hospital or clinic. Then it just kinds of fizzled out into abrupt WTF-ery.



Maybe I missed something somewhere along the line, but I now understand why this is no longer for sale on Amazon. A) Because this short is short as hell. B) This is just random nothingness. C) Plot? What plot? D) Thank God, it was free! This probably could've been like a sample for the book Bloodline. In all honesty Faux would probably be better suited as a prologue than as a prequel. I will probably give Bloodline a shot because it wasn't a completely idiotic spree and it does have potential. I mean who can say no to dragons, but I'm just not feeling this.


Cover Thoughts: I think the cover is pretty cool. It's well-done compared to most self-published authors' covers and I like the icy feeling the cover gives off.

Cupcakes and Ink by Helena Hunting

Cupcakes and Ink by Helena Hunting

Novella of the Clipped Wings series

3.5 stars

Tenley Page has a new apartment and a new life plan. She needs to put her past behind her. She’s fascinated by the tattoo shop across from her apartment. Inked Armor is intriguing and one of the tattoo artists has caught Tenley’s eyes. Hayden’s aunt owns Serendipity, the place Tenley soon begins to work and he can’t seem to take his eye off of her. I actually really like this novella. It’s not amazing or captivating, but it’s entertaining and fun. It’s short and a quick read. I enjoyed the story and thought it was very interesting. I have started the Clipped Wings and I highly recommend reading Cupcakes and Ink before Clipped Wings. If you don’t read Clipped Wings you’ll be very confused and I feel like Cupcakes and Ink gives insight onto the characters as well as where the story in Clipped Wings will go.


The main female character is Tenley. I really like Tenley. I thought she was interesting and it’s very rare that I’m interested in a character in such a short novel.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 7

The main male character is Hayden. I’m not really sure about Hayden. He does sound very interesting and hot, but he also seems obsessive and possessive. He does sound interesting though and I guess I’ll be able to make a better judgment towards him in Clipped Wings.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 6.5

The Villain- It’s a novella so there wasn’t any villain and I highly doubt there will be in the upcoming books because it seems to be contemporary.

Villain Scale: none

I really liked Hayden’s aunt. I thought she was nice and seems to be a good character and friend to Tenley.

Character Scale: 6.5

I recommend this one if you are looking for a quick read. It’s definitely worth the short time spent reading.

Cover Thoughts: I like the cover, but I’m not a big fan of it all together.

Thank you, Netgalley and Pocket Star for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Double Book Review: The End of a Trilogy

So I'm catching up on my reviews and decided to combine a post on the two books I read in a trilogy. I love this trilogy with a passion. I'm very picky when it comes to indie authors and Nenia is one of my favorites. Yes, I'm friends with Nenia, but this in no way affects my love for her books. I think she's a great person, but an amazing writer. If you are interested in my review for the first book in the series, Fearscape, you can read here.
 

Horrorscape by Nenia Campbell

Second in the Horrorscape Trilogy

5 stars

Val barely got away with her life last time and it looks like she’ll have to fight again if she wants to survive. Val receives another card very similar to the ones her stalker used to send. Is he back or is it all in her head? Val’s friends have been invited to a party and this party is all about games. Games that kids play with a deadly twist and the game host seems all too familiar to Val. The games are beginning and who will lose their life? This book was captivating and horrifying and intense. Horrorscape will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning every single page in hopes of what happens next. The games that Gavin plays are much higher in this book and the story is a lot darker. The atmosphere was dark and depressing and completely horrifying. I’ve never had such fun reading about a game before. The Hunger Games are fun and scary, but the games in Horrorscape are much more real and you never know what crazies lurk around the corner with the mind of Gavin.


The main female character is Val. I really like Val. She’s a damaged character and she can be naïve and stupid but it’s because she’s been traumatized.
"It’s very strange. You fall for my traps over and over, and never seem to learn from your mistakes.”
I’m not going to lie sometimes Val was like a dumb character in a horror movie who falls right into the serial killer’s trap and she did fall into each one. She also found ways to get out.
I really liked her quick resourcefulness out of fear. I like how Campbell shows that when people are scared they do things to protect themselves in hopes of survival without even realizing (i.e. the lamp scene).


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8

The main male character is Gavin.
"Power was a valuable commodity precisely because it was so difficult to obtain, and even more difficult to use- effectively, that is.”
He is truly scary. I’ve never been so scared of a character before and even though he scares me I love his POV and his insane games.
"Don’t play with things you don’t understand. They might play back, perhaps far better than you.”
I looked forward to the scenes he is present and he always present even when he’s not there in this book.


Swoon Worthy Scale: NO!

Villain Scale: 10

There are a lot more characters in this novel. There’s Val’s longtime friend, Lisa, her current boyfriend, James, James’s friend, Blake, Jason, Charlie, and some other kid who I don’t remember. Lisa has always been there for Val and she seemed like a good friend, but as the book progressed Lisa became more of a spiteful friend. She didn’t really seem to be as there for Val as it seemed and by the end of the book I didn’t like her as much as I used to because of her actions. James annoyed me even in his brief appearances in Fearscape and now I just really didn’t like him. He was a jerk and I didn’t like him at all. Blake was my favorite of Val’s friends. He was a good guy and he was genuine. Charlie and Jason were just crazy and Gavin probably picked them up at the Crazy Psychos Club.


Character Scale: 8

"You won the battle last time, my dear, but ultimately you lost the war. This time, you win nothing. I’ll make sure of it.”
The creepiness was much more amped up in this novel. There’s people talking to corpses, weird rooms, crazy people, and Gavin (can’t get much scarier than him). Everything was in this novel was just as good as or better than Fearscape. This is one series and author you won’t want to miss. Campbell knows how to evoke fear and make a captivating story that is sure to satisfy fans of thrillers, horror, and anyone looking for something different.


Cover Thoughts: I really like the covers for this trilogy. Particularly this one.

  
 

Terrorscape by Nenia Campbell
Third in the Horrorscape Trilogy

5 stars

Val has tried to put the past behind her. She has a new name and is starting at a new college. She’s trying to move on with her life, but she knows that one day Gavin will come back for her. She knows he won’t let her go this time. I hate finishing great series. I really do. The Horrorscape Trilogy is one of my favorite series and I’m glad I’ve been able to experience such absolute horror but love every second of it. Terrorscape is hands down my favorite of the trilogy. It’s darker and not as faced paced as the previous novel, but everything is much more chilling.


The main female character is, once again, Val. Val is at the darkest point a person can go. She’s a truly broken person. She’s experienced death and danced with a killer. She can’t catch a break. Val is a character I’ve enjoyed reading about. It’s sad to see Val go from the happy teen who loved animals to a broken girl who feels like death is the easiest way out, but doesn’t want to die. Her character growth has been haunting, but also enjoyable. I think Nenia does a great job with capturing the beauty of a damaged person.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8
The main male character is Gavin. Gavin is crazier than he’s ever been. There were those few brief moments were I loved Gavin, but he always says something and it just reminds me of how crazy he is. Gavin is a character who will stay with me forever. He’s a true psycho. He’s sadistic, calculating, cold, and empty. I loved every second of it! Maybe that makes me crazy but I loved his craziness.

Swoon Worthy Scale: No, thanks.

Villain Scale: 10
There were a few characters in this novel. Val’s roommate, her potential boyfriend, and a copycat of Gavin. I liked what all of them brought into the novel. Did I love them? No, but I liked what they brought to Val’s world and their characters interaction with her.

Character Scale: 7.5
That ending… I still can’t get over it. I’m so shocked and just I don’t know what to do. I want to say so much more, but I don’t want to give anything away. I adore this trilogy! It was brilliant and don’t miss the chance to read it. Sadly, Terrorscape was pulled off of Amazon but you can buy it on Smashwords. On the bright side, Nenia is writing an epilogue of sorts to the trilogy and I can’t wait to read it!


Bonus: Nenia was amazing to include two short stories and a short essay in the novel. The first short story is about Gavin’s parents and I think that Gavin gets most of his psychosis from his mother. The second was about Gavin’s sister and him. Incest… gross. Plus Gavin’s sister is just plain disgusting. Gavin’s essay that was mentioned in Fearscape is featured. It’s quite brief and disturbing.

Cover Thoughts: I love the cover. It’s scary and if that’s what I pictured Gavin to look like. His eyes are horrifying.
Thank you Nenia for providing me with a copy of this book! I’m so glad I won your giveaway and I feel honored to have won it. 

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

5 billion stars!

First in The Winner’s Trilogy

Kestrel is the general’s daughter. She is Valorian. Valorians thrive on war and they enslave whatever they conquer. The Herrani are the enslaved. Kestrel wonders into a slave auction and finds a slave who refuses to slave. He sparks her interest and she buys him. Arin is not all what he seems and as Kestrel becomes ensnared with feelings she isn’t sure of she feels the sting of betrayal and the approaching war.




I LOVE The Winner’s Curse. I was lucky enough to win an ARC from Summer (Thank you!) and I was so excited to start it. I was also a little hesitant. The reviews for this book are glowing and I’ve been wanting this book since I read Steph’s review. I’m glad to say that I wasn’t disappointed! I’m not a reader of fantasy. I don’t get along with fantasy very well and I usually trudge through them. This is one fantasy novel that made me fall in love with brutal aspects of the people, country, politics, and life the people faced. I enjoyed this tale so very much. It’s been a while since I gobbled up a book like I did The Winner’s Curse. I read over 180 pages in a day. I haven’t done that in a while because I’m always so busy, but I started reading this book when I was a little ways in and then I couldn’t put it down. After I read everything so quickly I eased up because I didn’t want this book to end! It’s perfect and beautiful. My breath was literally taken away by some of the scenes. I haven’t had that happen in a while. I mean, yes, I read books in series that I love that take my breath away. I mean a new series to love that has captivated me in a way that trilogies always set out to do and ultimately fail or thrive.


The main female character is Kestrel. Kestrel is badass. I love her. She is brave, cunning, and flawed. She knows she does horrible things but she does them because she has to. I love her. If I had to choose to be a character in a book I would want to be Kestrel. I have also never appreciated music written a book so much. The way Kestrel was dedicated to music and her piano made me love this book. She has a hobby, a talent that she can’t live without. Her piano is just as much a part of her as her heart is. And I loved that. I also loved her romance with Arin (more on that in the next paragraph).


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 10

The main male character is Arin. Arin is perfect. He does horrible things but I understand why. He’s Herrani and he’s tired of being considered the savages ones even though the Valorians were once the savage. He wants freedom. I understand that. I love him all the more for it. He still did all what he did knowing that it could make Kestrel hate him and I think that’s true love. Arin’s love for Kestrel was real and when he said, “My soul is yours. You know it is.” I lost it. He is a truly swoon worthy character. He is the man that authors should try to write about. He does things because he has to not because he wants to. He is just as brave as Kestrel. He is also a singer. He understands Kestrel’s love for music. I love Arin and he is the kind of “prince” I would want to meet. (Arin isn’t a prince, but I’m using prince in the romantic sense not literal.)


Swoon Worthy Scale: 
 
My scale is broken...


The Villain- Who really is the villain in this novel? That’s what I love about The Winner’s Curse. There is no specific villain. It all depends whether you’re a Valorian or Herrani who you see as the villain and I love that. It was a true war and it was done beautifully.


Villain Scale: 10


I love all the characters in this book even the ones I grew to hate. *cough cough* Cheat *cough cough* I loved Kestrel’s friendship with Jess. It was real and beautiful and true. I loved Kestrel’s relationship with Enai. It was one of my favorites in this book. It was very complex but also simple. I enjoyed every character presented even the ones I hated.


Character Scale: 10
I’ve never been so blown away by a fantasy novel and I don’t know if I will be again, but The Winner’s Curse was beautiful and I recommend this to everyone! It has love, passion, friendship, fighting, bravery, betrayal, dancing, music, and everything you want in a book. I can’t wait for the sequels. I NEED THEM!

Cover Thoughts: This is one of my favorite covers ever! I adore the dress and the Valorian knife. I even love the braids in her hair that I’m going to pretend were done by Arin.