Angela's October Wrap-Up

Clockwork Prince- Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Princess- Cassandra Clare
The Vincent Boys- Abbi Glines
Lev- Belle Aurora
Y the Last Man book 2- Brian K Vaughn
Steelheart- Brandon Sanderson
Room- Emma Donoghue
Romeo and Juliet- William Shakespeare
The Girl of Fire and Thorns- Rae Carson
Six of Crows- Leigh Bardugo
Addicted to You- Kristia Ritchie
Everything Leads to You- Nina LaCour
This Girl- Colleen Hoover


October is super special because I reached my Goodreads reading goal... Yes, I reached book 185! I can't believe it either! So freaking pumped about it. Don't know how I'll be able to top that in 2016... Might have to sell my soul or something. With reaching my goal I kind of took it easy this month. Honestly I'll probably be a little more sluggish about reading till the end of the year. I have a lot of events and movies coming up so those will probably eat away at a good bit of my free time. That's actually a reason this is being posted early. Leah and I are headed to Atlanta for WalkerStalker Con. This is the first time we've ever been and were both excited and a bit nervous since we don't really now what to expect. Of course well be posting about it once we get home so keep an eye out for that post. Enough of that though, lets get on to my tops and flops.

My top picks for October are: Clockwork Princess, This Girl, Lev, and Six of Crows. First Clockwork Princess was just as amazing as the hyped lead it to be. I'm so glad that I waited until this series was completely finished and for some of the buzz to die down before I got into it. Cassandra Clare nails love triangles. This book had me a mess. I did however still preferred The Mortal Instruments series to this one, but to each their own. On to This Girl, the third and final book in the Slammed series. It was so nice to get back into this story and hear everything from Will's point of view. I fell in love all over again. This was another book I was glad I waited on reading. Next is Lev. Thanked my luck stars when Belle sent me an ARC of the first book in her new series. She gives us a leading male like none I've ever read before. Such a good time read and I can't wait to get my hands on a finished copy. Lastly, Six of Crows. This would hands-down be my number one pick for the whole month. I liked her Shadow and Bone trilogy (emphasis on like) but this book... What a way to start a series. It blew my freaking mind!!!! I feared with so much hype and with so many main characters things wouldn't live up. It does. It has some of the best characters and world building I've read in the longest time.

As for my flops for October we have: Girl of Fire and Thorns, Addicted to You, and Everything Leads to You. I feel very mislead when it came to Girl of Fire and Thorns. I heard all this buzz about how great and action packed it was, but 150 pages in I had to DNF it. Our leading lady spent most of the book bashing her physical appearance. It got old fast! I tried so hard to push through it, but just couldn't. After DNFing it I so many people comment on my status/review saying that the end of the second book is where it picks up, and then right after someone would say that I was right to put it down. So I have no idea when Ill get back to this one. Might not revisit it until next year. Addicted to You  had the same problem. It was so hyped up in the world of romance reviews. People saying that this is their favorite NA/romance series, and I just could not get into it. I got 75% into the book before putting it down... That really says a lot because if I reached that point in most books I would just keep going. I will say this is a book I will for sure be revisiting in the near future because a part of me fears it might have just been "wrong time" read. Lastly, Everything Leads to You. This was a cover buy for me. I don't usually do contemporary but this book looked and sounded so sweet that I just had to give it ago. Also wanted to try it out because the lead girl in it is gay. This book was so boring! Nothing happens. There's no dramatic events, no plot twist, just one sluggish thing after another. I don't think I've ever DNFd so many books before. Sigh.

Till next month.
Angela

Aftermath by Tom Lewis

"The end of the world came fast. Between the time the warning had sounded on the TV, till when 16-year-old Paige O’Connor awakened sometime later, civilization had been crushed."-Goodread synopsis


Aftermath is a story that surrounds a high school student named Paige after an alien invasion occurs in her town. After the attack Paige and her friend decide to head to her hosue since they aren't really sure what's going down. Shortly after arriving home, and talking to her brother and friends, they find out via news report that there are attacks happening all over the world... At first when hearing this I thought "Hellz Yeah! I love me a good alien invasion".... But actually this ended up being kind of a problem for me a littler later on. Further into this book we find out that they are actually stuck inside a dome like state. So this kind of had me a little confused. These attacks are suppose to be happening everywhere yet there are people and military outside of the dome where I guess the aliens aren't. This might sound a little confusing as I'm explaining it, but that's all I can really give you because it's never fully explained to us. I'm assuming it's more of a contained situation but I don't know. This leads me into my next point, I didn't feel I got enough information. When it came to the aliens and their invasion I have so many unanswered questions. We are given a blush at the reason to why they have come and what they have in mind. We're told that they have come because they have been watching us and see that we are abusing out earth and they want to right the wrong... From what I have gathered from several alien reads this is pretty normal, so again this had me back to being excited. BUT then that's all were really told about them. We only get a very quick description of what they look like, what they arrive in, and really nothing further. This leaving me with even more questions.The thing I did love about these attacks was how they were played out. I really enjoyed The Crazies-I am Legend- meets The Host feel we got for it. I liked that the invaders put a chip in everyone and that when that switch was flipped, everyone went insane.

This gave this book a lot of edge and was a huge highlight. The only part that had me baffled with the implant of chips was that they also received one in their hand that would track where they are, who they talk to, etc. etc. Yet our leading lass Paige is able to sneak around everywhere. Don't you think these wise aliens would have just pulled up her log and tracker where she was and then catch her?!

I thought as far as the world building went that it was definitely stronger towards the middle-end than it was at the start. After the first wave of events we really got to see more of how/what the world was becoming and where things might be headed. I wanted to wait to go over the main character Paige until I started talking about the plot and the pace of this book because I think they go hand-in-hand for me. The pace of Aftermath is full steam ahead the whole time. I liked the action scenes and how well written they are, but the amount of action that happened at times overwhelmed me and I think it did the same for the characters. We get non-stop action from the first few pages until the very end. Sometimes I just wanted them to stop, regroup, actually make a solid plan then act. What I got was Paige constantly throwing them into things without thinking thing through. It was so slammed with action that I didn't get the amount of dialogue I wanted or the connections I needed to love Paige. This stopped me from not just connecting with Paige but with the sub-characters too (I'll get to them in a minute). I had such a hard time relating to her... One minute she would start acting like a normal teenage girl and just when I thought I was starting to get a grasp on her she would do something so out there that she would slip through my fingers. She has this strong survival instinct rooted into her from an yearly age, but yet I didn't find it believable. Like when we found out she knew how to use a bow and arrow, I could get behind that, but then she would be like Macgyvering weapons out of like nothing and it would have me rolling my eyes. Plus she was always saying "I have an idea" when they got into a pickle and then would come up with some off the wall plan. All that being said I absolutely love action packed books, and this one is definitely full of it, and the scenes are amazingly written, but it got too the point where I asked myself "is this too much action? Is there this much action happening to cover up the lack of dialogue?"... So I guess I just wanted a little more character development and back-story and a little less running around.

As far as sub characters went we have Trish, Drew, and Chad as our main ones. Trish is Paige's new friends and again someone I struggled to connect with. Drew and Chad were both characters I enjoyed, but again wanted more out of. I liked that Drew brought some comic relief to the story. I was secretly hoping for some kind of love triangle with these two and Paige, but sadly this didn't happen. When it came to the "romance" aspect between Drew and Paige I just didn't get it. The few moments we have with them are sweet, but still lacking something. I just didn't fall in love with their love.

Aftermath was a book with nonstop action and an amazing concept. It was a quick read, one I was able to knock out in an afternoon. Lewis writing is both strong and fun. I feel like this book could have been longer, and that the amount of action, if spread out, wouldn't have felt so overpowering. I think if this book was anywhere from 50-100 pages more we could have gotten so much more out of it and it's characters. I believe this is the first book in a series and I'm very interested to see where it heads and hopefully get some answers too all my questions.

6.5/10 Stars 
-Angela

Under Different Stars: Amy A. Bartol

Under Different Stars: Amy A. Bartol
"Kricket Hollowell is normally not one to wish upon stars; she believes they’re rarely in her favor. Well versed at dodging caseworkers from Chicago’s foster care system, the past few years on her own have made Kricket an expert at the art of survival and blending in. With her 18th birthday fast approaching, she dreams of the day when she can stop running and find what her heart needs most: a home. Trey Allairis hates Earth and doubts that anyone from his world can thrive here. What he’s learning of Kricket and her existence away from her true home only confirms his theory. But, when he and Kricket lie together under the stars of Ethar, counting them all may be easier than letting her go. Kyon Ensin’s secrets number the stars; he knows more about Kricket's gifts than anyone and plans to possess her because of them. He also knows she’s more valuable than any fire in the night sky. He’ll move the heavens and align them all in order to make her his own.

When everything in their world can be broken, will Kricket rely upon love to save her under different stars?" [taken from goodreads]

First off I had no earthly (pun intended) idea what this book was about when I ordered it. I've never known anyone whose read it either. I bought it because of the cover. When I received the book in the mail it was as amazingly stunning and well built in person. I mean look at it is so pretty! It's image and title are both so suited to this book. Second this book got me out of a reading slump. Third I really don't think the description of this book does it justice.

With that out the way the way lets get on to the review. This book has to be one of the best intros to a series I've read in; I don't even know how long. Under Different Star reminds me a lot of Throne of Glass. It has the same feel too it and the writing styles are similar along with the two leading ladies. But they are still very different... I mean that in the best way ever because I loved both so much.

The characters in this book are great!!! I'm not just talking about the main characters... I'm talking all the characters' sub and all. Kricket is a breath of fresh air. She isn't four feet tall weighing 90 pounds. She is Five eleven, curvy, and I loved it. Kricket is an truly wonderful LT.  She is witty, comical, wild, free, smart, and has no filter. She has easily become one of my favorite fems if not my actual fav. I really liked her that much. Her passion for life is something so special to read. The reason this book reminded me so much of Throne of Glass is because Kricket is a Phoenix. She has never had it easy and rises from the ashes of a hard upbringing. She's been abused, forgotten, and nearly killed but refuses to let that be what defines her. She was born with special gifts. Her mother was a priestess and passed along her powers. The one we know of really early on is that she can tell if people are lying or not (too a point) the other things she can do are slowly revealed and I think more will come as the series continue. Every thing about her is strong.

"I'll survive." "Really?" He asks with a surprise in his tone. "Yes." I nod once. "All alone?" "Yes." "It will take a very hard, very determined personality to survive what is ahead for you without help." "Got it," I growl through clenched teeth, anger flaring up in me at the sympathy in his voice. "You're tough?" "I'm stone." "Stone can be broken." Tilting my head toward him, I meet his eyes. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine. I'm used  to holding on to nothing as tight as I can." 

Like wow right! She is this poetic and put together the whole book.

The leading men in this book are Trey and Kyron...

Oh Trey! He jumped high up on the book boyfriend list. The above six foot Cavar with tattoos and a sassy attitude stole my heart. Everything from his honesty, to his sexy attitude had me praying he would  come take me away from Earth. I had to stop a few times and fan myself. It's hinted/pretty much done/said early on that Kricket and Trey will have a relationship. Before it happens though they drive each other insane. Their first encounter probably didn't help that case *hint* it involves mace. Trey is use to giving orders and she's use to not listening to them. Their relationship is something I loved reading. It's starts off so slow but builds. They go from pretending to be lovers to wanting to be lovers. The things they say to each other, whoosh, so freaking sweet. The moments between them had me swooning all over town. One of those said moments is when they are traveling back they have to keep Kricket's identity hidden till they have her safely in Rafe. Her and Trey pretend to have have a terrible time on their honeymoon and that she lost her ID. On the way back some soldiers ask about the wedding and I won't go too into detail about what revolves around that, because I loved this whole scene so much. 

“I told him that when we first met... I felt like a butterfly trapped in a net. But... I told him that the more time I spent with him, the more I began to realize how much he means to me I told him that since it seems to be my destiny to dodge raindrops... I was grateful to be dodging them with him. So, I promised him that it would always be his name on my mind when I start my rotation... and when I go to bed each evening... and every quiet moment in between. It will be his name... savored on my lips... stretched across my heart... worshiped by my body... and branded in my mind... until death do us part... and forever after that.”

Trey and Krickets relationship will have you falling in love. 

Kyon isn't a superstar, a there 24/7 character but I would still consider him a leading man. He is evil though... Evil; but sadly still sexy. He wants Kricket to marry him since she's been promised too him. 

"You belong to me Kricket. I'm here to take you home," he replies and he's not lying. He believes every word he just said. "I've come with ambassadors from Alameeda and Wurthem. We'll work out the terms for your release. It will be just a matter of negotiations. "Hold up... can you go back to the part where you said I'm yours? Because that's where I stopped listening to you." 

He's multiplicative, crazy, and brings the drama. The sub characters in this book are some of my favorites. Jax and Wayra were both hilarious. Their reactions to things like lacy bras, toenail polish, salsa dancing, and the statement "you bet your ass"  had me holding my sides. They were just so perfect and are part of the many reason I'm looking forward to book two.

This book was like watching a movie. I could see everything playing out in my head. Even with a bunch of worlds I was never confused. Even when there's not a whole lot of action going on I was never once bored. I was looking forward to the times of the day when I could get my hands on it and just binge read. Most of the high pace action comes towards the end, but the from start to that point is just flawless. At one point I was raging so hard I almost tossed my book at a wall and fell out my seat. There's a twist and a big surprise that happens as well which had me FREAKING OUT!!!! 

  

This book was so much more that I expected. Didn't expect to fall so hard for this novel, but I did. I will be counting down the days till book two comes out. 

15/10 Stars... yes 15 

-Angela