Review: The Death House by Sarah Pinborough

1/5 Stars
Pages: 320
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: September 1st, 2015
ISBN: 9781783298037

After a blood test Toby is sent to the death house, until he will get so sick that he is sent to the sanatorium. The only problem is that no one gets better. Knowing that they will die no matter what, no one even tries to get along with the other dorms. That is until Clara comes. Full of life and optimistic she changes everything. But what will happen when her and Toby become closer?

This book was not my cup of tea. I found the whole concept with the disease and everything cool but it didn't really make sense to me. I never really understood how it was possible that people got the disease or how exactly other people didn't catch it from them right away. I also kind of wondered how people couldn't find a cure for it and it made me wonder if anyone really, truly cared if some kids were dying. No one in the story really went into detail about why everyone who had the disease seemed to have different things happening to them. Some just had a cough and runny nose while others had worse things like bruises all over their body or getting sick. Overall there wasn't a set thing that showed they were sick and that made me kind of annoyed.

The romance sort of made me cringe. I don't know why but it sort of got on my nerves. It felt like they were too young to be doing the things they were doing. I'm around the same age as them and I know for a fact that I would not be doing half the things that they were. I just really couldn't connect with any of the characters and that really made the book unenjoyable. I just didn't like it.

The writing was okay, it was actually good once I got past the things I didn't like in the book. The plot was pretty slow and boring but I got through it. Overall I probably wouldn't recommend just because I didn't really enjoy it all that much. Its not horror-y like its hyped to be so just be ready for that too.

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I have given this above.***

Review: Crystal Kingdom by Amanda Hocking

4.5/5 stars
Pages: 432
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Release Date: August 4th, 2015
ISBN: 9781250049889

In this fast paced conclusion to the Kanin Chronicles, Bryn is on the run from the Kanin who accused her of murder and treason. She finds an ally in the most unlikely source, Konstantin Black, an enemy of all the kingdoms and who attempted to murder her father years before. Will Bryn and Konstantin find help with the Trylle or will they refuse to participate in the coming war? And what about all of Bryn's Kanin friends, including Ridley? Will she be forced to fight and maybe even kill them?

This was my favorite of the series. I loved how well all the loose ends were tied up and I feel like all my questions were answered in this book. It moved very smoothly and I loved how everything that happened made sense in its own way.

The characters were written so well that I felt like I really knew them. All of them seemed to really have their own personality and I loved that. Even the most minor characters were unique and I feel that really added to the overall feel of the book. Ridley and Bryn were perfect together but I loved the twist with Konstantin in the end. It helped to show just how much Bryn loved Ridley in my opinion. Konstantin was a complex character and I thought he was really mysterious, what with how he could put on a mask when he needed too and I liked how he didn't do that all that much with Bryn. He was probably my favorite character but I still shipped Ridley and Bryn much more.

I loved the how every few chapters there would be one of Ember's letters. It was a unique way to show what was happening in Kanin and how people were dealing with it. I also liked reading her letters and learning more about her personality especially since she's not in the book much after that. It was a really cool idea to include them in the book and it added to the world building of the book.

It was awesome how characters from the Trylle series were in this one especially Wendy, Loki, and Finn. It was fun to see that they were living happily and that Wendy was still as caring and compassionate as she was in the other series. The war scenes were a little graphic but overall they were pretty good. There was a ton of death and most of it was really sad but I'm not going to say who all died just because most of it is major spoilers. I just about cried about some of it and I didn't even cry when I read the Fault in Our Stars! It was pretty sad.

I would strongly recommend this series and the Trylle series. They both made my list of favorite series and whatever Amanda Hocking writes in the future I will definitely be reading!

***I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review. I have given this above.*** 

Review: The Devil and Winnie Flynn by Micol Ostow and David Ostow

3/5 stars
Pages: 336
Publisher: SOHO Teen
Release Date: October 13th, 2015
ISBN:  9781616955977
Genres: YA, Horror, Paranormal, Supernatural

After Winnie's mother dies in a sudden suicide, she decides to intern for a summer with her Aunt Maggie who runs a paranormal T.V. show. Winnie is a definite skeptic but after witnessing some things she's not so sure anymore. That combined with the cute paranormal investigator, the New Jersey Devil, and the truth behind her mothers death will make for one interesting summer...

I was lured into this book with the creepy cover and the promise of some ghosts or supernatural happenings. It turns out it was a little less focused on ghosts and more on the New Jersey Devil, but that was okay with me! Overall it was a pretty good read but it wasn't very memorable. I read it less than a week ago and I feel like I've already forgotten key points in the plot which usually doesn't happen to me until at least a month has gone by.

The romance was mainly superficial and that really annoyed me. It was sort of "love" at first sight for Winnie and I hated how gullible she was with everything. It wasn't really insti-love but still after just meeting him and not really knowing him it just seemed like he was the best thing ever to her. Overall he annoyed me (sorry, I forgot his name) and I just couldn't stand him the whole book. There was also a plot twist at the end that I won't get into but I saw it coming. It was really predictable.

There were awesome illustrations throughout the book and I loved looking at them. They seemed to add so much to the story and it helped me to imagine things better. They might have been one of my favorite parts and they made the book a lot more enjoyable! They added half a star to my rating.

Overall I might recommend this based on if you like ghost shows on T.V. Just saying, my favorite is Ghost Hunters even though this book gave me a whole new perspective on them!

***I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.***

The Gracekeepers by Kirsty Logan

DNF
Pages: 320
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Crown
Release date: May 19th, 2015
ISBN: 9780553446616

As a Gracekeeper, Callanish administers shoreside burials, sending the dead to their final resting place deep in the depths of the ocean. Alone on her island, she has exiled herself to a life of tending watery graves as penance for a long-ago mistake that still haunts her. Meanwhile, North works as a circus performer with the Excalibur, a floating troupe of acrobats, clowns, dancers, and trainers who sail from one archipelago to the next, entertaining in exchange for sustenance.
In a world divided between those inhabiting the mainland ("landlockers") and those who float on the sea ("damplings"), loneliness has become a way of life for North and Callanish, until a sudden storm offshore brings change to both their lives--offering them a new understanding of the world they live in and the consequences of the past, while restoring hope in an unexpected future. Inspired in part by Scottish myths and fairytales, The Gracekeepers tells a modern story of an irreparably changed world: one that harbors the same isolation and sadness, but also joys and marvels of our own age.

I really expected to enjoy this book. It sounded like it had some kind of creepy circus and maybe some death and gore. What I got was a confusing story that was all over the place and just couldn't keep my interest. I barely made it to the hundredth page and at that point I couldn't care less what happened to the characters. I felt I had no choice but to DNF the book.

The whole concept of landlockers and damplings confused me. How is it possible that damplings are so looked down upon and yet they made the choice to be that. At any time they could have just built a house on an island and changed society's whole outlook on them. Overall it didn't make sense for me and I was utterly confused reading it.

Since I DNF-ed it, you should not really put much thought into my review. I know that quite a few people really enjoyed it but I also know that a lot of people found it to be pretty confusing, me among them. I've heard some people compare it to the Night Circus which I have never even heard of, but I'm assuming that if you enjoyed that one you will enjoy this one too.

***I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. This I have given in my review above.***

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon

 5/5 Stars

Maddy is allergic to the world. She cannot leave her house and her only visitors must go through many precautions to even step foot into her house. Then one day Olly moves in next door. Talking online slowly turns to friendship and maybe even love. But how can they be together when stepping outside would kill Maddy?


This book was perfect for me. It sort of reminded me of The Fault in Our Stars with how tragic and star-crossed it was but in other ways it was completely different. I really fell in love with the characters and I found Olly to be very selfless and caring for both his family and Maddy. I really, truly loved this book.

The story was so sweet but sad. Maddy could die if she ever somehow got sick but she still finds the courage to meet with Olly behind her mother's back and they become friends. My one complaint was that he didn't seem to be careful enough with germs or other outside things. They definitely were told to never touch but they still hold hands whenever they see each other and that kind of annoyed me. In some ways he went really overboard with keeping her safe though so I guess it can be overlooked.

I cannot stop gushing about this book! Honestly it was really perfect for me and would be a nice beach read if parts of it weren't so sad. I cannot wait for it to be released so everyone can enjoy it!!

The writing was very good and the plot moved very smoothly. It seemed to constantly have something happening so I never got bored. Overall it was a nice change from some of the books I haven't really been able to get into lately. I would strongly recommend buying it right away when it is released this September.

***I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. This did not influence my rating or review in any way.***

Waiting on Wednesday #4 A Mad Zombie Party by Gena Showalter

The battle rages on.

Ali Bell and Cole Holland's crew of zombie slayers thought they'd won the war against Anima Industries, the evil company responsible for capturing and experimenting on zombies in an effort to discover the secret to immortality. In the last epic clash, the slayers lost many of their crew and closest friends. But Frosty, the ice man himself, has not recovered from one casualty in particular the love of his life, Kat Parker.

On the path to self-annihilation, Frosty receives a message from beyond Kat's spirit returns, insisting he partner with rogue slayer Camilla Marks. Frosty will do anything for Kat. Except that. Camilla is the one who betrayed them all, leading to Kat's death.

But when Anima rises from the grave to become a force the slayers may not have the strength to overcome, Frosty, Camilla and all the slayers will have to work together to survive. And one broken slayer will learn that sometimes, the line between hate and attraction is blurred and the road to redemption isn't through revenge, but in letting go of the past and grabbing hold of the future.



I feel like it was just yesterday that I found out there was going to be a fourth book and yet it feels like I've been waiting forever for it to be released! I loved the first three books and I really need to know what happens with Frosty and whether he can move on after Kat. I also want to see if Cole and Ali are living happily ever after like I want them to be!!! An understatement is to say that I really, really need this book. Luckily it will be released in a month so I don't have to wait much longer.

What book are you waiting for? Leave your reply in the comments!!!

Sever by Lauren DeStefano

                                    


   After escaping from Vaughn once again, Rhine hides with his brother, Reed, an inventor. Rhine knows she needs to somehow find her brother, Rowan, and convince him to stop destroying virus clinics but when she finds out who he's working for everything changes. At the same time Vaughn is experimenting on servants and trying to be the first to find the cure. All strings are tied up in this fast-paced conclusion to the trilogy.

Even though I gave this one the same rating that I gave the first one I feel like this one was significantly better. It wasn't as focused on the love triangle for one thing and that really brought out the best in the characters especially Rhine, Linden, and Cecily. There wasn't as much jealousy between them and I feel like Cecily really matured in the course of all three books. I really liked how all the characters ended up except Linden. I felt like the author took the easy way out in terms of who Rhine ended up with but at the same time she ended up with the guy I was rooting for the whole series so I'm not really complaining.

I felt the storyline was much more realistic than the one in the second book and there wasn't completely random stuff happening with the exception of the plane that Reed fixed. That was a little out of the blue but I guess that since he was an inventor that it could possibly really happen.

Linden really seemed to have no backbone. He just went with whatever Cecily said and his opinions and personality changed like the weather. It just seemed like he was a character there to do whatever needed to be done whether it was realistic or not. I really started to dislike him.

Gabriel was barely in this book. Finally at the end he was for about four pages but it was sort of like the author forgot about him. That part really disappointed me since he was one of my favorite characters and I don't think that him and Rhine got the ending they deserved.

Overall I would recommend this series. It was a good entertaining read and I may reread parts of it someday.

Trouble is a Friend of Mine by Stephanie Tromly

When Zoe first meets Digby she really didn't like him but as the new girl at school she doesn't have many friends. Somehow he manages to get her involved in his crazy schemes, including trying to find out who kidnapped a local girl. But who is Digby really? With hints of humor and a little bit of action, Trouble is a Friend of Mine is sure to be a hit.


I really wasn't sure what this one was going to be about. At first I was thinking it might be a mystery or a thriller... the cover doesn't give much away. It turns out it is a bit of a mystery but with many other genres mixed in. I have to say that I really enjoyed it!!

Zoe was an interesting character. All her father wants is for her to go to a prestigious college and that's what she thinks she wants to do too. Until she meets Digby. Unlike anyone she's ever met, he makes her rethink everything she's ever been told. Honestly, I saw her character change so much throughout the novel and I loved it. It really showed growth and I loved how she learned to get over things. I also loved how her relationship with her mom changed and she finally began to understand why she didn't leave her father years earlier when he first started cheating on her. This is a book with some tough concepts but the character took them on and was a better person for it. I strongly recommend it.

Digby was a character with many different sides. It was sort of unrealistic how smart he was, but it didn't impact my reading experience very much. Like I said before, I love how he changed Zoe for the better and even though there wasn't much romance between them I still ship them!!! I think they would be perfect and with an open ending there is a possibility for them in the future (fingers crossed for a sequel!!!). I don't think there will be a sequel though and in a way I hope there isn't since all the loose ends are tied up nicely. It seemed like the perfect ending for the book.

The writing was pretty average but the story was so interesting that the writing didn't really matter one way or another. The plot moved consistently and was never boring. I can honestly say that I really enjoyed this book and I strongly recommend it!!!

***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not impact my review in any way.***

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Now that Rhine and Gabriel have escaped from Rhine's forced marriage and Gabriel's servitude, they are on the run from Linden's father. But this is just the beginning. Being taken by a circus and just managing to escape, they make their way to New York to try and find Rhine's brother- but what they find there changes everything. Will they be able to finally truly escape from Rhine's forced marriage and somehow find a cure for the virus?

 

This book wasn't as good as the first one for me. It seemed like the writing was really forced and it impacted the book negatively. Also the plot was sort of weird paced and it didn't seem to go anywhere until the end of the book. It definitely had "second book syndrome".

 

I was okay with the characters but there weren't many main ones in this book. It was basically just Rhine and Gabriel the whole book with a few new characters introduced every 50 pages or so but not many of them were described in much detail. That really disappointed me since I like books with really 3D characters. Overall it was okay though.

 

The romance really heated up between Rhine and Gabriel but it sort of annoyed me how Rhine wouldn't stop thinking about Linden at the same time. It felt like she wasn't completely over him which was kind of weird since she never wanted to be married to him in the first place and not much happened between them in terms of romance. I understand how she missed Cecily and worried about her though and I liked how it showed how caring of a person she was. Overall she was a good character to read about.

 

Overall I would recommend this series as a whole but definitely not because of this one. It is my least favorite in the series so you shouldn't judge the series on this book.

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

 

In Rhine's world males live to the age of 25 and females live to be 20. For that reason, young girls are kidnapped and forced into marriage. This is what happens to Rhine along two other girls who will also be Linden's wifes. All that Rhine wants is to somehow escape to be with the only family she has left; her brother. She needs to find a way to escape, especially from Linden's father who is trying to find an antidote for the virus. Will she fall in love while trying to escape and will he help her?

I was a little bit surprised with this book. I wasn't expecting very much since it seemed like a typical YA dystopia with no world building and completely focused on the romance. I also wasn't sure how heavy the romance might be between Rhine and Linden but I was pleasantly surprised when it was barely there and leaning more towards friendship. I liked Rhine and Gabriel's relationship much better and this was one of the rare series where I actually cared who the main character ended up with (Gabriel!!!!). The love triangle didn't bother me since in a way it was forced on Rhine. The underage marriage did a little bit but I understand that its a dystopia and that the world could get tough like that someday.

The plot moved smoothly and I loved the relationships between the girls. There was almost no jealousy, except from Cecily a little. I like how close they all were to each other but it kind of creeped me out how they were all married to the same guy. It grossed me out really bad to how Cecily was only thirteen and she was pregnant. That was what made me really hate Linden. Overall I didn't really like him but going into the book I knew I wouldn't. Even if he didn't kidnap Rhine directly he was still a part of it and I hated how oblivious to it all he was.

The writing was super good. I really liked DeStefano's writing in her Perfect Ruin series and this was just like it. It seems lyrical and for some reason I just read through it really quickly. It just flows beautifully. I will honestly read anything by her!!!

I would recommend this series even though I only gave this one three stars. The last book is the best in my opinion so even if you didn't really like this one you should stick through it because it gets better!

A Night Divided by Jennifer L. Nielsen

The rise of the Berlin Wall separates Gerta's family; she's on the East side with her mother and her brother, Fritz and her father and other brother, Dominic are on the West side. Gerta and Fritz will do anything to bring their family back together- but are they going to be able to face the struggles of escaping East Berlin and the Soviet's tyrant rule?

I found this to be a definite page-turner. It really seemed to be historically accurate and it really surprised me when I learned that this is the author's first try in historical fiction. She wrote like she really knew her facts and I liked that.

I actually enjoyed this a lot more than this author's False Prince series. They're completely different genres but for some reason this one appealed to me a lot more and for that reason I think that this author should keep writing historical fiction. Her fantasy novels are good too but after reading this book it seems like she truly shines with historical fiction.

The plot moved steadily and was never very slow. I found myself needing to know what was going to happen next and I couldn't put the book down. This is classified as middle grade but I feel like it has crossover appeal for young adult too and could actually be classified as such. I really enjoyed it.

I love any historical fiction but this one really stood out from other books I've read recently. It seemed like the Berlin Wall is a subject that hasn't been written about enough and I had no idea what it was until I read "The Notorious Pagan Jones" earlier this summer. That got me hooked and when I found out about this book I knew I had to read it.

I loved all the courage the characters had. Gerta's father had to have been super brave just to have been able to communicate over the wall and Gerta had to have been even more brave to go through with digging the tunnel. I feel that each of the characters showed bravery in their own kind of way and I loved that about the book. It really shows that you can make it out of any situation as long as you stay confident. I really saw the love between the characters and it made the book even more memorable for me.

I would highly recommend this!! Anyone who loves historical fiction should really check it out and I am sure you will find something about it that you love!

***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This did not impact my review in any way.***

Thanks for reading!
~Bri

Evolution by Stephanie Diaz

 Clementine's world is on the brink of destruction.  Clementine and her compatriots have no choice but to retreat to the Core to escape the alien ships attacking the Surface, but safety in the Core means forming a temporary alliance with their sworn enemy, Commander Charlie. Unless old feuds can be set aside long enough for a diplomatic solution to be found, all of Kiel's people will be destroyed, and everything Clementine and her friends have sacrificed in their fight for peace will have been for nothing. 

This was my favorite book in the series. It seemed like all my problems with the first two were fixed and like with the first two the writing was awesome.

The world was very well explained. Too many times in science fiction books the world building is just glossed over, but that was not the case with this one. Everything was described so well that it actually felt like I was watching a movie. I also liked how the writing sort of got to the point of things but it still managed to describe. For this reason, my favorite part of this series was the writing.

The plot moved smoothly, unlike the second book. Also it didn't take me very long to get into this one. The other two seemed to drag on in the beginning and this one didn't do that at all. The plot might have been a little jumbled once in a while but the book was so entertaining that it didn't affect the overall enjoyment very much.

I still think that the characters were very well fleshed out and 3D. I loved how independent Clem was and how she could fight for herself. She didn't wait for Logan or anyone else to save her and that is a nice change in the YA genre. The romance was still pretty light, but not quite as much so as the first two books. It was partially because Logan and Clem could finally be with each other but it was also because their relationship had progressed to that point. Its more PG13 than the other books.

I loved this series and I'm really sad to see it end. Be sure to read this one and the first two books! Evolution is released September 8th this year so be sure to look for it. If you like science fiction books with a little romance and kick-butt characters, definitely read the first book, Extraction, RIGHT NOW!!!

***I received an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. I have given this above. A huge thank you goes out to St.Martin's Press!***

Armada by Ernest Cline

Zack Lightman has spent his life dreaming. Dreaming that the real world could be a little more like the countless science-fiction books, movies, and videogames he’s spent his life consuming. Dreaming that one day, some fantastic, world-altering event will shatter the monotony of his humdrum existence and whisk him off on some grand space-faring adventure.But hey, there’s nothing wrong with a little escapism, right? After all, Zack tells himself, he knows the difference between fantasy and reality. He knows that here in the real world, aimless teenage gamers with anger issues don’t get chosen to save the universe.And then he sees the flying saucer...

I really wasn't a fan of this book. I wasn't sure what it would really be about (other than video games) and I guess that the video games were the part I really did not enjoy about the book. I sometimes play video games, but its not hard-core stuff like Armada or any of the other games that Zack plays. I also do not play every single day, maybe not even every week so I couldn't really connect with how obsessed Zack was.

I thought the new take on videogames being used to train people for fighting was really interesting. I thought that it was kind of weird though, and I found it really unbelievable that the school wouldn't have stopped Zack from being taken, literally, right before class started. Even if it was the government who took him, I would hope that they would ask more questions.

Zach's family situation was really sad. He basically only had his mother, what with his father being dead. I also really felt sorry for him when other kids tried to fight him. I was glad when he showed them that he could fight and didn't take any crap from them. I found it really unrealistic though when no teachers seemed to stop any of the bullying going on and just seemed to ignore it.

Pretty much the only real thing that I enjoyed about this book, stopping it from being one star, was the writing. It was super good and the only thing keeping me reading. The author also really knew about videogames and I'm only sorry that I sort of skimmed over that stuff since its not my thing.

I might recommend this based on how many videogames you play and if you're obsessed with them like Zach. If you're like me and barely play any I would definitely recommend a different book.

***I received a review copy from the publisher via bloggingforbooks.com This did not influence my rating or review in any way.***

Thanks for reading and remember to follow!
~Bri

Waiting on Wednesday #3

Dark Tide by Jennifer Donnelly

Once a lost and confused princess, Serafina is now a confident leader of the Black Fin Resistance (BFR). While she works on sabotaging her enemy and enlisting allies for battle, her friends face challenges of their own. Ling is in the hold of Rafe Mfeme's giant trawler, on her way to a prison camp. Becca meets up with Astrid and learns why the Ondalinian mermaid is always so angry: she is hiding a shameful secret. Ava can't return home, because death riders await her arrival. And it is getting more and more difficult for Mahdi, Serafina's betrothed, to keep up the ruse that he is in love with Lucia Volerno. If Lucia's parents become suspicious, his life--and all of Sera's hopes--will be extinguished. Political intrigue, dangerous liaisons, and spine-tingling suspense swirl like a maelstrom in this penultimate book in the WaterFire saga.

I really liked the first book in this series even if I was a little bit disappointed with the second one. I really can't wait to see what happens though and I hope that I enjoy this one as much as I enjoyed the first one. It is set to be released October 13th this year but that feels like so far away!

Rebellion by Stephanie Diaz

 

The uprising has begun.It's been seven days since Clementine and Logan, along with their allies, retreated into hiding on the Surface. The rebels may have won one battle against Commander Charlie, but the fight is far from finished. He has vowed to find a way to win—no matter the cost. Do the rebels have what it takes to defeat him...and put an end to this war?As Clementine and Logan enter a desperate race against time to defeat Commander Charlie—and attempt to weaken his power within his own ranks—they find themselves in a terrifying endgame that pits them against a brutal enemy, and each other. With every step, Clementine draws closer to losing Logan...and losing control of herself.

 I'm really not sure what to think about Rebellion. I read it a few months ago and to this day I'm not sure where it went wrong with me. I loved the first book; it was very well-written and entertaining. This one just couldn't seem to work with me.

First of all, I'm just going to say that the cover is amazing. Its so pretty and the colors just go along so well. I really like all the covers in this series but this one is by far my favorite.

My main problem with this book was how slow paced it was. The first book was a little bit slow but not like this. It seemed to drag on and on. It had a lot of stuff happening in it, but that all just sort of got jumbled together and didn't seem to make much sense for me. It was almost like this book should have been divided into two books with a little more things added to it. Usually I hate it when there are too many books in a series, but in this case it seemed like there should have been one more.

Clem is one of the strongest girl characters I have encountered in YA. She didn't take anything from anyone and fought for the things she believed in. I liked how romance didn't overtake the whole storyline and she was an actual person when she wasn't with Logan. It was obvious that they cared for each other though and I liked that.

 Even though I didn't enjoy this one as much as the first book or the last book I would still recommend this whole series. Just be aware that this one isn't as enjoyable as the other ones.

Thanks for reading!
~Bri

Awake by Natasha Preston

 Scarlett doesn’t remember anything before the age of five. Her parents say it’s from the trauma of seeing her house burn down, and she accepts the life they’ve created for her without question—until a car accident causes Scarlett to start remembering pieces of an unfamiliar past.When a new guy moves into town, Scarlett feels an instant spark. But Noah knows the truth of Scarlett’s past, and he’s determined to shield her from it...because Scarlett grew up in a cult called Eternal Light, controlled by her biological parents.And they want her back. 

Stay tuned for ranting and general negativity towards this book... Don't say I didn't warn you.

I have no idea what I just read. I was so excited when I was approved for this one on Netgalley... I read The Cellar, also by this author, and I really loved it. It was a thriller filled with kidnap and murder... just the kind of book that I love. It was also kind of dark, which is an added bonus. All of the things that were amazing in that book were missing in this one.

The very first thing that ruined the book for me was the insti-love. I HATE INSTILOVE!!!!! I cannot say this enough. I'm generally okay with love triangles but for some reason love at first sight just bugs the heck out of me. It's not realistic and sends the wrong message to teens that are reading these books. The relationships are so unhealthy and I can't stand it.

Noah was by far the worst character. I could not believe that Scarlett would fall "in love" with him. He had as much personality as a cardboard box, and I could see his secret from the beginning. I hated him and after the huge plot twist (if you could even call it that) I couldn't believe that it worked out with him and Scarlett. What a jerk.

Scarlett was so naïve it drove me crazy. By the middle of the book I really didn't care what would happen to her since she got where she was by her dumb decisions. If she wouldn't have trusted Noah quite so much she might have avoided the situation that she ended up in. I did not feel sorry for her at all.

Plot holes, unevenly paced storyline... the writing in The Cellar was MUCH better. I hope that from now on the author will stick with writing thrillers since The Cellar was so good. If she does, I will forget I ever read this book and become a huge fan again. I would not recommend this. Reread The Cellar instead!

***An ARC was provided from Sourcebooks via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This I have given in my review above.***

Thanks for reading!
~Bri