Ensnared {A Review}

Title: Ensnared
Author: AG Howard
Series: Splintered #3
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: January 6, 2015
Source/Format: Own/Hardcover
Rating: 5 freaking stars

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She's determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world--a parallel dimension filled with mutated and violent netherling outcasts. In the final installment of the wildly popular Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that's gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But if they succeed and come out alive, can everyone truly have their happily ever after?

 

I finished this series with a heavy heart. I have immensely enjoyed my stay in this world that AG Howard has created and was very sad to know that it was ending.

Starting the end of a series that I love is always so emotional for me. It's going to either make or break the love for me, as far as my undying love and devotion goes. But I usually trust the author to do what feels right, to have to story end true to the characters, to the plot. And this one? AG Howard succeeded... far beyond any expectations I could possibly have. I had no inkling which of many routes her characters would choose to make her take. But I was not disappointed.

I want to tell you all everything I loved about this book. But to do so would be to ruin some of it for you if you haven't read it. So here's what I can say (which mostly applies to the series as a whole):

1. The imagery. Howard gave herself the task of creating vastly different worlds. And that's not like moving a setting in a story from Paris to the United States. We're talking going from the human realm, with which we are all familiar, to Wonderland, and then to Any Elsewhere. And each world had its own feel to it. They were characters in and of themselves. I could see them, I could feel them, I could touch them. I was there.
2. The characters. They were 100% real... realistic. They could my brother, sister, parents, friends. I wanted them to be those things. I wanted them all to be happy, to be loved, to find themselves, to discover their own abilities, to cherish each other and what they had with one another.
3. Chemistry. I have read very few authors who can write a scene so sizzling hot yet entail very little detail (for lack of a better word at this moment). Where a touch in the book can send shivers down my spine. A mere kiss being shared can make my own lips tingle.
4. I'm not sure of a "heading" for this one, but everything that happened felt true to the story, to the characters. There were times I felt my heart ripping in two. There were times I cried. Times I laughed out loud (making the hubs look at me strangely, per usual). A few times I wanted to reach through the pages and strangle people, hug them, slap them, love them. 

Needless to say, I will be reading anything AG Howard decides to write. Going on blind faith... I'll just buy them without a care as to what they're even about. Even if it turns out to be her own take on the alphabet or dictionary, I won't care. She's that awesome. ;)

To keep it completely and utterly spoiler free, that's all I shall say. Other than if you haven't read this series, WHAT IN ALL THE WORLDS ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

Fracture Me {Review}

Title: Fracture Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me (#2.5)
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pub Date: Sept 2013
Source: Bought
Format: eBook
Rating: 4 stars

In this electrifying sixty-page companion novella to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, discover the fate of the Omega Point rebels as they go up against The Reestablishment. Set during and soon after the final moments of Unravel Me, Fracture Me is told from Adam's perspective.

As Omega Point prepares to launch an all-out assault on The Reestablishment soldiers stationed in Sector 45, Adam's focus couldn't be further from the upcoming battle. He's reeling from his breakup with Juliette, scared for his best friend's life, and as concerned as ever for his brother James's safety. And just as Adam begins to wonder if this life is really for him, the alarms sound. It's time for war.

On the battlefield, it seems like the odds are in their favor—but taking down Warner, Adam's newly discovered half brother, won't be that easy. The Reestablishment can't tolerate a rebellion, and they'll do anything to crush the resistance . . . including killing everyone Adam has ever cared about.

Fracture Me sets the stage for Ignite Me, the explosive finale in Tahereh Mafi's epic dystopian series. It's a novella not to be missed by fans who crave action-packed stories with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu.




In case you didn't know, I *loved* Shatter Me, and I *loved* Unravel Me. I am DYING for Ignite Me to come out (in 7 days from when I'm typing this... it'll be 5 when I post, so I'll be even more anxious by then...). So I was pretty excited to read something from Adam's point of view. Especially after reading from Warner's in Destroy Me. I wanted another side of things.

Danielle and I were talking about how excited we were for the upcoming release of Ignite Me, and we got to talking about Unravel Me. That night, I went back and read from *the* chapter (ch 62) until the end. So I was really geared up to read Fracture Me. Which worked out great, given that it starts nearly at the same place as chapter 62 ended. :)

I was really hoping to fall for Adam all over again, like in Shatter Me. Mafi has created such flawed, dimensional characters, and I was hoping to get more to Adam. Which we do. We get to see how things look from his perspective. I was left feeling a bit unsure, though. While I completely understand Adam's decisions throughout this short story, I wasn't left feeling anything different toward him. He's still a good guy. He still loves Juliette, his brother, and, begrudgingly, Kenji. He still risks his life to protect them. But I'm still just not sure...

What I am sure of is how much this little novella made me want Ignite Me in my hands now... sooner, rather than later. I mean, I get that authors need time to write and edit and all that jazz, but c'mon. ;)  I'm really curious to see how it all culminates in the end. Plus, the writing, the world she has created in this series, has yet to disappoint.

What do you think of this series? This particular book?

Smiles,
B

The Transfer {Review}

Title: The Transfer
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent (0.1)
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Pub Date: Sept 2013
Source: Bought
Format: eBook
Rating: 5 stars

More Four! Fans of the Divergent series by #1 New York Times bestselling author Veronica Roth will be thrilled by "The Transfer," the first of four new short stories told from Four’s perspective. Each brief story explores the world of the Divergent series through the eyes of the mysterious but charismatic Tobias Eaton, revealing previously unknown facets of his personality, backstory, and relationships.



Mini-Rant, first...

Okay, I hate to admit this. Allegiant has been sitting on my shelf since like two days after the release date, back in October. I have been putting off reading it for varying reasons. I don't want it to be over, I'm nervous about how Roth will end things, I didn't have anyone to talk to about it (IRL)... but then, in December, I totally accidentally, after TWO MONTHS of successfully avoiding *anything* Allegiant related online, saw a spoiler. It was a complete fluke that I saw it (I was scrolling through a blog, and a sentence jumped out at me). Now I don't know the context of said spoiler, or who it truly referred to (although I have an educated guess to that), but it really pissed me off. So I put it off even longer. Then, my friend Danielle read the entire (and yes, the entire) series in less than a week. And I was SO SO SO jealous that she had finished it already and knows what happens. My other friend, Malissa, and I were supposed to read a book "together"... so I finished Mockingjay and Malissa wasn't *quite* ready to start. So I read The Transfer. And The Path to Allegiant. And Fracture Me. And then I read Fangirl because she still wasn't ready. After reading The Transfer and The Path to Allegiant, I really wanted to read Allegiant. But, Malissa was ready right before I finished Fangirl. So... yeah. Allegiant is next. I think I'm ready.

:)

As far as The Transfer goes, I really enjoyed seeing how Tobias became Four. Yeah, we got some backstory in the first two books, and we knew he wasn't treated well at all by his dad, and his mom left. But we didn't get that from his perspective. I loved seeing the story through his eyes. We get to know what he was thinking, feeling... and how he decided to make himself a stronger person - mentally and physically. I really look forward to reading the other stories Roth has written about Four.

What have you thought of Divergent and its counterparts? (No spoilers for Allegiant, please... yet... :) )?

Smiles,
B

Top Ten Tuesday ♥ Sequels I Can't Wait to Become Acquainted With

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they provide a Top Ten topic for you to create your list, then you share it on their post so others can find you. :)

  ♥ Top Ten Six Sequels Installments I Can't Wait to Get My Hands On ♥

Okay. So as I was making my list for this I noticed that they weren't true sequels. They are all third in a series. Apparently I haven't started any series that I'm dying for the second one. lol That being said, I only came up with six anyway. ;) I really tried to go back, even to older series, but I just couldn't come up with some. Anywho.

Links to Goodreads, if you're interested:

Allegiant

Ignite Me

Raven Cycle #3

Dreams of Gods & Monsters

Isla & The Happily Ever After

Ensnared

What about you? What sequels, or third/fourth/fifth/etc installments, are you looking forward to? 

Smiles,
B

Dreaming of the Day...

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that highlights upcoming releases we're excited about.

There are, as you know, books coming out left and right that we all want to read. One I am looking most forward to is...



So I'm currently reading Unravel Me (Book #2 in the Shatter Me series) and loving it. Although I haven't gotten to the end of it yet, I'm already looking forward to continuing the series when this one comes out (according to Goodreads that will be Feb 4, 2014).

What are you waiting on?

From Start to Finish

Top Ten Tuesday is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they provide a Top Ten topic for you to create your list, then you share it on their post so others can find you. :)

♥ Top Ten Series I'd Like to Start But Haven't ♥

Oh schnikies. Only ten? *sigh* Really? There's a million out there, probably. An exaggeration? Maybe, but not by much. :)  I'm also going to include ones I've started but not finished. Because they deserve recognition as well. Let's face it. This week, there will be more than ten. It's going to happen.

Let's see...

Want to Start
Anna by Kendare Blake

 I got Anna Dressed in Blood as a gift and it sounds so intriguing. I really do look forward to this one.  

Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare
 
I *loved* the Mortal Instruments series (well, as you'll see later, the first three... dang her for continuing so far apart...). So I can only imagine I would love this as well.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Sounds like something I would really enjoy and I've read some great non-spoilery reviews.

The Narnia Chronicles by CS Lewis

I nearly feel bad by *having* to have this on the list. By that I mean that I feel bad I have yet to read this series. I own them, and have for quite some time. I just haven't gotten to them, ever. :'(

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

There's been so much buzz about this that I can't help but want to read it and see what all the hoopla is about.

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

 I love the cover of these and I do have one on my shelf. I'm looking forward to starting them sometime this year (hopefully). 
 
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
 
I've read some great reviews, and skimmed some (not a fan of spoilers so I am ever so cautious), so this one definitely earns a spot on this list.

Divergent by Veronic Roth

I have heard good things about this one as well. I'd say, again, that I can't wait to read it, but I say that too often. lol

Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater

I loved The Scorpio Races and The Raven Boys; hopefully this lives up to my love of her writing.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor
 
I have the first one on my shelf and am looking forward to starting this. I've heard such great things.


Started but *Want* to Finish
Because I want to know what happens... The fact that I haven't finished these is in no way a testament to how much I liked the first one(s), just that there was a gap in between releases and I haven't gotten to them. Life, other books, and all that.

Heist Society by Ally Carter
 
I read the first one and enjoyed it quite a bit. But by the time the second one came around I think I had forgotten a lot of it. So I actually want to re-read the first one and then finish out the series. :-) 
 
Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare

I read the first three, then she decided to add more... *sigh* I loved Clary and Jace

Matched by Ally Condie

 I read Matched and really enjoyed it. Then there was a huge lull, since I read it when it came out. Silly me. You'd think I'd learn. Then, when my library got Crossed in, we only got it in large print. I, personally, can't read large print; it bothers my eyes (I imagine that will change some day... lol).

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Obviously there's a reason I haven't finished this one... and it's only because we haven't been united yet. But soon... very soon. In fact, unless Amazon lied... today soon. But, Amazon has been known to lie before. Maybe unintentionally, yet it is so.


Honorable Mentions
Because I can... :-) I want to read these, but maybe not *quite* as much as the first list... depending on the day.

Little Blue Envelope by Maureen Johnson
Really, I like Maureen Johnson - she's so much fun to follow on Twitter. This sounds fun, though, and I look forward to reading it eventually.

Ruby Oliver by E. Lockhart
I *loved* The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau Banks, so I do want to read more of E Lockhart some day.

Fallen by Lauren Kate
Another one I haven't heard quite enough about to push me over the edge to make it move up on the list, but I do want to read it sometime.

His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman 
Malissa says it's really good, and as we know she's not steered me wrong yet. Someday I will read it. I will.

Fallen Star by Jessica Sorenson
I have an e-copy of this I will get to eventually. It sounds promising, but I haven't heard enough about it to make it top the list.  

Across the Universe by Beth Revis
If it weren't for the rave reviews I've seen I may not be so interested in this one. But reviews will push me over that fence any time. So I'm there. I will read it. 

What series have you wanted to start/finish?

Smiles,
B