Book Review #701 - Geekerella by Ashley Poston

Geek girl Elle Wittimer lives and breathes Starfield, the classic science-fiction series she grew up watching with her late father. So when she sees a cosplay contest for a new Starfield movie, she has to enter. The prize? An invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. With savings from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck and her dad's old costume, Elle's determined to win - unless her stepsisters get there first.

Teen actor Darien Freeman used to live for cons - before he was famous. Now they're nothing but autographs and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Carmindor is all he has ever wanted, but Starfield fandom has written him off as just another dumb heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, Darien feels more and more like a fake - until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise. But when she disappears at midnight, will he ever be able to find her again?

Part-romance, part-love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.

My Rating: 4.5/5

I'm not really a huge reader of retellings as I'm not really a fan of fairytales at all and I never feel as if the retellings are unique enough.

This book, however, was one I was willing to try as it seemed like an unique, modern, pop-culture heavy story. 

I read this book in one sitting because it was just so much fun and easy to read. I read this book just after I had been to a comic-con and so I feel like that made me enjoy the book even more given that the book is centered around the build-up to a fan convention. 

I loved how this book included all the Cinderella references in really unique, quirky ways like the pumpkin food truck. 

I loved the inclusion of technology and that the romance really centered around it as it helped with the modern feel of the story. 

Book Review #660 - A Court of Thorns and Roses (A Court of Thorns and Roses #1) by Sarah J Maas

Feyre is a huntress.

She thinks nothing of slaughtering a wolf to capture its prey. But, like all mortals, she fears what lingers mercilessly beyond the forest. And she will learn that taking the life of a magical creature comes at a high price...

Imprisoned in an enchanted court in her enemy's kingdom, Feyre is free to roam but forbidden to escape. Her captor's body bears the scars of fighting, and his face is always masked - but his piercing stare draws her ever closer. As Feyre's feeling for Tamlin begin to burn through every warning she's been told about his kind, an ancient, wicked shadow grows.

Feyre must find a way to break a spell, or lose her heart forever.

My Rating: 4.5/5

After reading and loving Throne of Glass I had extremely high expectations for this book. 

The protagonist in this book Feyre was very reminiscent of Katniss in the way she looked after her family and just how generally strong she was. 

The world building in this book was intricate and amazingly imaginative. 

I have not really enjoyed faerie books in the past (it's probably my least favourite in the fantasy genre) and so it surprised me how much I enjoyed that aspect of it.

I loved how the history between the humans and faes was mentioned throughout and I am looking forward to this being expanded upon further into the series.

Tamlin was a complex character and I am looking forward to his development over future books. I loved how reserved and mysterious he was. 

I feel like there is a potential developing love triangle between Feyre, Tamlin and Rhysand which I am not sure how I feel about because love triangles seem to rarely work. 

Lucien was a character that was mysterious and at first I couldn't figure out if he was on Feyre's side or not. Lucien being present in a lot of scenes with Feyre and Tamlin and occasionally adding witty commentary made the tone lighter and also prevented the story from getting sappy. 

I am not completely sure what I feel about Rhysand. I feel like he wasn't developed adequately enough to formulate a real opinion about. 

The plot was based on a number of fairy tales, but builds so much onto them that it is easy to forget its a retelling. 

The ending was unexpected and left me wanting to read the sequel straight away. 

Book Review #489 - Dreamer's Pool (Blackthorn & Grim #1) by Juliet Marillier

In exchange for help escaping her long and wrongful imprisonment, embittered magical healer Blackthorn has vowed to set aside her bid for vengeance against the man who destroyed all that she once held dear. Followed by a former prison mate, a silent hulk of a man named Grim, she travels north to Dalriada. There she'll live on the fringe of a mysterious forest, duty bound for seven years to assist anyone who asks for her help. 

Oran, crown prince of Dalriada, has waited anxiously for the arrival of his future bride, Lady Flidais. He knows her only from a portrait and sweetly poetic correspondence that have convinced him Flidais is his destined true love. But Oran discovers letters can lie. For although his intended exactly resembles her portrait, her brutality upon arrival proves she is nothing like the sensitive woman of the letters. 

With the strategic marriage imminent, Oran sees no way out of his dilemma. Word has spread that Blackthorn possesses a remarkable gift for solving knotty problems, so the prince asks her for help. To save Oran from his treacherous nuptials, Blackthorn and Grim will need all their resources: courage, ingenuity, leaps of deduction, and more than a little magic.

My Rating: 4/5

I received this book for review from Pan MacMillan Australia. 

This book was a lot different to the other Juliet Marillier book that I have read. This one follows the stories of 3 vastly different characters, all of whom have split chapter narrations. 

The other difference I found with this book was the age of the characters. I have only read one of her YA titles but I understand that even with her other adult novels, the characters are still relatively young. In this book however even though their ages are never revealed they are obviously older than usual. 

I love the historical elements that Juliet Marillier books all seem to have and this book is no different having been set in ancient Ireland. 

I always have trouble in high fantasy books with characters names and pronunciations, so it was helpful to have the index at the beginning of the book and I found myself flicking there quite regularly. 

I understand that this book is loosely based on the fairy tale 'Goose Girl'. I had never read nor heard of this story before and this proves I need to read more of that kind of genre. 

I highly recommend Juliet Marillier's writing to both fans of fantasy and historical fictions as she really blends these two genres perfectly. 

Book Review #472 - Grim by Various Authors and Edited by Christine Johnson

This is a book full of short stories including a lot by some of the most popular young adult authors of today. Surprisingly though I had not yet read any books by the majority of these authors.

Because there are a total of 17 short stories told over the course of 454 pages, each of the stories are unsurprisingly shorter than other short story compilations that I have previously read.

Also, these short stories are retellings of the original Grim fairy tales, and I often wasn't familiar with the original story. I will review the short stories separately.

1. Key by Rachel Hawkins

This story contained an amazing amount of depth for its short length.

2. Figment by Jeri Smith-Ready

This story had an interesting plot in that it was told from an inanimate object's perspective.

3. The Twelfth Girl by Malinda Lo

This story was slightly dark and very mysterious.

4. The Raven Princess by Jon Skrovon

This story had the most genuine fairy tale feel to it in the entire book.

5. Thinner Than Water by Saundra Mitchell

This story was significantly darker and more disturbing than the others, yet I found it somewhat enchanting at the same time.

6. Before the Rose Bloomed by Ellen Hopkins

Ellen Hopkins is an author that I have heard plenty of positive things about but hadn't got around to reading any of her work yet. Her unique writing style puts me off. I found that the verse format helped with the enchanting feel to the story and this was one of my favourite stories in the book.

7. Beast/Beast by Tessa Grafton

This was another one of my favourites and it reminded me of Beastly by Alex Flinn as it is obviously a retelling of Beauty and the Beast.

8. The Brothers Piggett by Julie Kagawa

This was a retelling of the Three Little Pigs, one of the last stories I had expected in this book. This story had a very unique concept and Julie Kagawa's high standard of writing.

9. Untethered by Sonia Gensler

Even though this story lacked the fairy tale feel to it, I found it quite intriguing and loved the dark undertones.

10. Better by Shaun David Hutchinson

This had a significantly more sci-fi than fairytale approach to it which I loved because it really stood out from the others.

11. Light it Up by Kimberly Derting

I was really captivated by this story. I loved the genuine sibling relationship and the simplicity of the plot. The fact that this was one of the few stories that I was aware of the original story helped.

12. Sharper than a Serpant's Tongue by Christine Johnson

This story was extremely short and had a distinct fable feel to it.

13. The Real Boy by Claudia Gray

I loved the dystopian like setting of this story but I found it hard to get invested in the story.

14. Skin Trade by Myra McEntire

This was a retelling of Pinocchio with a cyborg twist. I found this story hard to follow and rather cryptic.

15. Beauty and the Chad by Sarah Rees Brennan

I was a little surprised to see another Beauty and the Beast retelling in the same anthology. This one was interesting but the lack of dialogue frustrated me.

16. The Pink by Amanda Hocking

I would consider Amanda Hocking as one of my favourite authors and so this was the story I was most looking forward to reading. Because I wasn't even remotely familiar with the familiar story, I thought this story was rather unique and I really enjoyed the characters.

17. Sell Out by Jackson Pearce

I loved how far this story strayed from the original concept whilst at the same time kept the obvious link to the original story. I would have liked this to have either been longer or full length as I felt like it was just building when it ended.

Book Review #471 - Cloaked by Alex Flinn

I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Keys.

Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED.

My Rating: 3/5

Having read and loved both Beastly and A Kiss in Time I really hoped that Cloaked would be equally as good.

I had a really hard time getting into this book. Whilst I really enjoyed the magical aspect in the other books, in this one it felt too over the top.

In the other books it was more about how magic exists in a modern world whereas in this book even though it was set in Florida, felt like it predominately revolved around a fantasy world.

I really liked how loyal and independent Johnny was and how family orientated he was however I didn't like him as much as I was probably supposed to.

It took me around 4 days to read this which is a extremely long time for me. I feel like this is largely due to the simplicity of the plot. I kept waiting for something more progressive to happen, but it just never did.

Book Review #468 - As Red as Blood (Lumikki Andersson #1) by Salla Simukka

In the midst of the freezing Arctic winter, seventeen-year-old Lumikki Andersson walks into her school’s dark room and finds a stash of wet, crimson-colored money. Thousands of Euros left to dry—splattered with someone’s blood.

Lumikki lives alone in a studio apartment far from her parents and the past she left behind. She transferred into a prestigious art school, and she’s singularly focused on studying and graduating. Lumikki ignores the cliques, the gossip, and the parties held by the school’s most popular and beautiful boys and girls.

But finding the blood-stained money changes everything. Suddenly, Lumikki is swept into a whirlpool of events as she finds herself helping to trace the origins of the money. Events turn even more deadly when evidence points to dirty cops and a notorious drug kingpin best known for the brutality with which he runs his business.

As Lumikki loses control of her carefully constructed world, she discovers that she’s been blind to the forces swirling around her—and she’s running out of time to set them right. When she sees the stark red of blood on snow, it may be too late to save her friends or herself.

My Rating: 3.5/5

I received this book for review from Five Mile Press.

I am actually really surprised by how well this book translated into English. I have read numerous translations that have seemed to have lost something in the translation, but this book didn't seem to have that problem.

The only negative thing I can say about this book was that I found the foreign names confusing and hard to distinguish them from one another at times.

The plot was my favourite part of the book. It was very intriguing, fast paced, action packed and rather intense.

Lumikki was a very strong, mature and independent protagonist.

I found this book rather slow paced until the last 70 or so pages where it sped up significantly.

Book Review #461 - Scarlet (Lunar Chronicles #2) by Marissa Meyer

This is not the fairytale you remember.

But it’s one you won’t forget.

Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. The police have closed her case. The only person Scarlet can turn to is Wolf, a street fighter she does not trust, but they are drawn to each other.

Meanwhile, in New Beijing, Cinder will become the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive – when she breaks out of prison to stay one step ahead of vicious Queen Levana.

As Scarlet and Wolf expose one mystery, they encounter Cinder and a new one unravels. Together they must challenge the evil queen, who will stop at nothing to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner . . .

My Rating: 5/5

This book is the sequel to Cinder which I read earlier this year.

When I first began reading this book it didn't feel like a sequel at all and felt rather more like a companion novel. This was due to the change of narrator.

Because of this, I found it a little difficult to get into the story, even though it was enjoyable, I had to adjust my expectations.

However, once Scarlet and Cinder's stories began to merge I was unable to put the book down and found that ultimately I liked this book a lot more than I liked Cinder.

I found Scarlet a lot more relatable that Cinder as I found her to be more genuine.

Book Review #433 - Cinder (The Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . . 

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Rating: 4/5

 

According to Goodreads I have had this book sitting unread on my bookshelf since February 2012. The fact that a book of this quality sat on my shelf that long is a little embarassing. 


From the first page when I discovered that this wasn't set in the United States like virtually every other dystopian book in existence I knew I would enjoy this book. 


I didn't really know that much about the book before reading and whilst reading didn't really ever know where the book was going - which is a massive positive. Although I did predict the main and major plot twist very early in the book which was very annoying. 


The Lunars were the ideal antagonists. The abilities they have that could potentially destroy humans is just terrifying. I would have liked more explanation about them though. Like information about their home and how they initiated contact with Earth. 


Although I am not very familiar with the story of Cinderella, the only similarities I could find between the two were Cinder's family life. 


Kai was a character that I was left quite disappointed with. For him as the main male protagonist and as the potential love interest for Cinder I had expected him to be developed more. He seemed likeable enough but there just wasn't enough substance to him to enable me to connect with him. 


There were a few brief moments were I felt some chemistry between Kai and Cinder however for the most part I wasn't a fan of them as a couple. 


Plot-wise there didn't seem like there was any major structure. It seemed to follow numerous smaller plot-lines which I thought worked perfectly for this book. 


At this point I can't really see how this story can span itself over four books but I am definitely on board for checking them out.

Book Review #361 - Last Kiss in Venice (Legend of the White Snake #1) by Martin Chu Shui

 

Beside a bridge over a canal in Venice, Charlie is spellbound not only by Caitlin’s absolute beauty but also by what seems like a mythical bond between them. The more he knows about her, the more mysterious she becomes. As they finally admit their love to each other in Paris, then move to settle down in Australia together, it looks like the start of Happily Ever After. But neither of them realizes that this is just the start of a heart-wrenching journey.

After a lifetime of searching, Caitlin finally finds her true love, settles down in the beautiful rolling countryside of outback Australia, and starts to raise a family, but her enemy is never far away. She loves Charlie deeply and is certain he is her soul mate, but she knows she can never reveal her secret; he must never know who she really is, and that is her downfall. Information in the hands of her enemy brings her life crashing down around her. To save all she has worked for, she must fight for her love and the right to survive.

“Last Kiss in Venice” is a reinterpretation of one of China’s most famous love stories, ‘Legend of the White Snake’. It is a supernatural love epic that encompasses both eastern and western culture to tell a story of love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, revenge and justice. This cocktail of oriental magic, vampires, and sword fights is a legend not easily forgotten.

 

 

 

My Rating: 3.5/5

 

 

I received this book for review from the author. The author's Goodreads page can be found here.

 

 

This book is a modern retelling of a Chinese legend, of which I am unfamiliar of.

 

 

This book is primarily romance which on its own I am not usually that fond of. However, this book contained enough paranormal elements to keep me interested.

 

 

I liked how many locations this book included - especially as it one was my city. I also enjoyed the insight this book gave to the Chinese culture.

 

Book Review #263 - A Kiss in Time by Alex Flinn

Talia fell under a spell...Jack broke the curse.

I was told to beware the accursed spindle, but it was so enchanting, so hypnotic...

I was looking for a little adventure the day I ditched my tour group. But finding a comatose town, with a hot-looking chick asleep in it, was so not what I had in mind.

I awakened in the same place but in another time—to a stranger's soft kiss.

I couldn't help kissing her. Sometimes you just have to kiss someone. I didn't know this would happen.

Now I am in dire trouble because my father, the king, says I have brought ruin upon our country. I have no choice but to run away with this commoner!

Now I'm stuck with a bratty princess and a trunk full of her jewels...The good news: My parents will freak!

Think you have dating issues? Try locking lips with a snoozing stunner who turns out to be 316 years old. Can a kiss transcend all—even time?

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

I didn't expect to like this book as much as Beastly but there were aspects in this book that I thought were superior.


I didn't completely connect with either of the two main characters. They both seemed better whilst they were together. When they were apart Talia came across as spoilt and Jack as arrogant.


The plot at first I thought was unrealistic and I was thinking that I wasn't going to like it. Once the characters travel back to Miami, that was when I started to become immursed in the story.


The only part of the book that I didn't really like was the ending. It felt a little rushed and seemed too perfect.


Compared to Beastly, I thought this book had a lot more action and adventure involved. There was a broader range of locations used which helped.

Book Review #212 - Between the Lines by Jodi Picoult & Samantha van Leer

Delilah is a bit of a loner who prefers spending her time in the school library with her head in a book—one book in particular. Between the Lines may be a fairy tale, but it feels real. Prince Oliver is brave, adventurous, and loving. He really speaks to Delilah.

And then one day Oliver actually speaks to her. Turns out, Oliver is more than a one-dimensional storybook prince. He’s a restless teen who feels trapped by his literary existence and hates that his entire life is predetermined. He’s sure there’s more for him out there in the real world, and Delilah might just be his key to freedom.

Delilah and Oliver work together to attempt to get Oliver out of his book, a challenging task that forces them to examine their perceptions of fate, the world, and their places in it. And as their attraction to each other grows along the way, a romance blossoms that is anything but a fairy tale.

My Rating: 5/5

 

Although I have never read any of Jodi Picoult's books I had high expectations for this book based on her reputation of writing good books.

 

I read this book in only a few hours. I flew through it as I was unable to put it down. It was hard to believe it was over 300 pages.

 

I really liked all the characters especially Delilah, which is weird because female protagonists are usually never my favourite characters.

 

My favourite aspect of this book was the concept of a book within a book. I found that really fascinating.

Book Review #208 - Happily Never After (The Grimm Chronicles #2) by Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky

200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world.

Literally.

Now the characters of the Grimms’ stories walk among us. With every day that passes, they grow more evil. They are the Corrupted, and only a hero can save them.

For 18-year-old Alice Goodenough, that means taking precious time off from her summer vacation. In addition to volunteering at the local library, Alice must stop the Corrupted who are now actively hunting her down. With the help of her magic pen and her trusty rabbit friend, the world has suddenly gotten a lot more complex. The Corrupted are everywhere, and only Alice can see them for what they truly are.

 

 

 

My Rating: 4/5

 

 

I received this book for review from the author. The author's Goodreads page can be found here.

 

 

This book is the sequel to Prince Charming Must Die. I found that I didn't like this book as much as the first.

 

 

I found the protagonist Alice annoying at times, especially when she was whinging about her parents.

 

 

Briar the Rabbit is my favourite character, and he has the best lines. I enjoyed the chapter from his point of view.

 

 

This book involved alot more action than the first book which I enjoyed. I also liked the inclusion of sharks as they are my favourite animal.

 

 

This book was really unpredictable, and I was never able to guess where the story was going to go.

Book Review #205 - Prince Charming Must Die (The Grimm Chronicles #1) by Isabella Fontaine and Ken Brosky

On the eve of her 18th birthday, high school junior Alice Goodenough feels on top of the world. Classes are almost finished. She’s about to start her summer job at the local library, where she’ll be surrounded by all of her favorite books. And she has a wonderful boyfriend.

Then the rabbit shows up. The giant talking rabbit. He has a message:

 

200 years ago, the Brothers Grimm unleashed their stories upon the world.

 

Literally.

With the help of a magic pen and paper, Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm brought all of their characters to life. The world was a more magical place … for a time. Cinderella found her prince. Briar Rose's spell was broken. The dancing princesses spent their nights hidden away in a secret underground city. The old miller's boy found true love.

 

Then, slowly, the Grimms’ characters began to change for the worse. They became Corrupted. Evil. They didn’t belong in our world, but it was too late for the Brothers Grimm to destroy them.

 

Only a hero can save the day. Every generation for the past 200 years, a hero has been chosen to fight the Corrupted and rid the world of the Grimms’ fairy tales. To her horror, Alice has been chosen as the next hero. As her 18th birthday nears, she begins to realize life is never going back to normal. School will never be the same.

As for her boyfriend, Edward … well, he might be hiding a terrible secret.

 

 

 

My Rating: 5/5

 

 

I received this book from the author for review. The author's Goodreads page is here.

 

 

I found this book really fast paced and because it was also really short I read this in next to no time.

 

 

Whilst it does lack depth, I think that it being light and fun makes it more effective, and it does have alot of depth for its length.

 

 

I have never read any of Grimm's fairytales although I am familar with some of them, so I appreciated that the stories that were related to this book were included at the end.

 

 

This story is entirely unique which is what I loved the most about it, and I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Book Review #47 - Beastly by Alex Flinn

A beast. Not quite wolf or gorilla or dog, but a horrible new creature with fangs, claws, and hair springing from every pore. I am a walking monster. 

You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. And I'll stay this way forever - unless I can break the spell.

Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, the perfect girl, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly.....beastly. 

My Rating: 5/5

As this is the modern retelling of the fairytale Beauty and the Beast I wasn't quite sure if I was going to like it. I knew nothing about the fairytale before reading this book. 

From the first page I was into the story, although I didn't like the protagonist at first I warmed up to him as the story progressed and so did he. 

I liked the IM conversation parts at the end of each part of the book, but what was the purpose of it? It was unnecessary.

Although I can't compare this book to the original story, I can say that this book was amazing and I would recommend it to anyone especially those, like me aren't familiar with the story.

Book Review #35 - Sisters Red (Fairytale Retellings #1) by Jackson Pearce

Love and fear collide

in a twilight world

Countless teenage girls have been brutally murdered and Scarlett and Rosie March know how they died - torn apart by werewolves. For Scarlett, the memories of a similar attack have left not just emotional scars, but physical ones. The sisters fight side by side to save others from the same fate. 

When the mysterious and brooding Silas arrives he inadvertently causes a series of events that could endanger them all. As passion grows between Rosie and Silas, Scarlett uncovers some shocking secrets about Silas's family history that could tear the sisters apart - one way or another......

My Rating: 5/5

I liked Rosie and Silas, didn't care much for Scarlett. I thought Scarlett was selfish, bossy and manipulative towards Rosie. 

I thought that the writing made the story seem more real, like the world really existed somewhere very far away.