Humming of Numbers

The Humming of Numbers by Joni Sensel

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I thought this was quite an interesting read. Aiden is a young novice monk, getting ready to take his final vows to enter the monastery. Living in 11th century Ireland and coming from a large family, he really has few options open to him. He also has a special talent that allows him to hear numeric vibrations from everything and everyone around him. He meets up with Lana who has been drug to the monastery by her biological father, and he hears an 11. This is the highest number he has ever heard from a person. He soon learns there is much more to her besides an 11.

After meeting Lana, a raid by Vikings is thrown into the mix and this gives a little drama and adventure to the story. We learn more about Lana and Aiden through all this but its never really explained why he hears numbers. Quite possibly its a form of synesthesia which really could not be explained at this time in history.

Overall, I really enjoyed this YA book. Even with the violence its not too over the top for the age group. It drew me in from the beginning and I had difficulty putting it down.



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Freedom to Read Blog Hop

Up for grabs in the Freedom to Read Blog Hop is my copy of the Inquisitor's Apprentice. This is an advance reader's copy that I got from Firtreads and is in excellent, new condition. I really enjoyed this YA read and you can find my review here. This is an international giveaway and as always, its not a requirement that you follow but its always appreciated.

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Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Out of all the books that I have read by this author this one is by far my favorite. There is so much character development you tend to forget the main plot of the Infernal Devices being the war with Mortmain. But you are never allowed to completely forget, its still there in the background, however the drama with the characters is so good you don't care.

We already knew that Tessa is preparing to wed Jem and she is dealing with her feelings for Will. But now we are facing the reality of Jem's mortality. It is heart wrenching seeing them all have to say good bye along with the guilt that Will and Tessa feel over their feelings for each other.

We also get to know the other characters so much more. The Lightwood brothers as well as Sophie and Will's sister Cecily are much more developed. There are new love interests and we learn just how complicated these characters are. Gideon and Gabriel are so much more than I realized in other books and they are both great characters both similar and different from each other as brothers usually are.

I loved the way all the loose ends were tied up and nearly all the questions explained. We learn more about what Tessa actually is and how she came to be. We learn her true identity and that is certainly a surprise. And I certainly never expected how the love triangle with Her and Jem and Will would be but it was a great ending to a great love story.

Overall, it was a great final book full of love and loss, tears and joy, endings and beginnings. If you enjoyed the other books in the Infernal Devices series you won't want to miss this one. Loved it! Awesome end to a great trilogy.



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Severed

Severed by Megg Jensen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

Although I liked this book I liked it the least out of the trilogy. Reychel is suffering from headaches like the first prophet and the cause is found to be from an unusual source. Afterwards, Reychel has decisions to make that not only will affect her and Mark but all of those in the kingdom.

The pace of this book is a much faster rate than those that came before it. And it feels like the level of magic is also at a much higher degree than before. It seems like anything is possible however improbable. If there is an issue with plot or timeline or a battle just use magic instead of coming up with a likely scenario. Reychel is also so worried about her visions of the future. But if she had paid any attention at all she would know that the future for her as any of us is uncertain. Her visions for her future changed with each decision that she made about her life. No two ever showed the same sequence except for her madness near the end and even those were different each time.

I was a bit disappointed in comparison with the rest of the trilogy. The story line was a bit all over the place and the ending seemed a bit unlikely. I'm glad I continued with the series and found out how things were all wrapped up even if I thought it could have been better.



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Obliette

Oubliette by Megg Jensen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.


Obliette is the second book in the Cloud Prophet Trilogy and picks up right where Anathema leaves off. Reychel finds herself in the Southern Kingdom with Nemison's daughter Krissen. Nemison was left behind on the other side of the portal in the Northern Kingdom and Reychel is on her own and unsure who to trust.

I love the world that Jenson has created as well as the new characters that have been introduced. However, Krissen goes beyond getting on my nerves. She is the princess and prone to tantrums but her mood swings make me want to find her some medication. The other characters are much more interesting and the intrigue definitely adds to the story. Nothing is as it really seems and just when you think you have it figured out you find you have it all wrong.

Its true that Reychel is a bit naive and it seems like everyone, especially the headstrong princess, is taking advantage of her. But you must remember that she hasn't lived out in the world long and her knowledge and judge of human nature is limited.There was one thing about this part of her story that didn't seem right to me. She spent a good deal of her time pouring over the journals of the first prophet. However, she spent the biggest part of her life as a slave. Who taught her to read? What purpose would it have served to educate slaves? She wasn't born knowing how so how did she read all those journals?

Overall, I loved the book. If you enjoyed Anathema you should continue with Obliette. This is a fun series, if you like fantasy this is a good one to pick up.



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Anathema

Anathema by Megg Jensen

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this read from the very beginning. Reychel is a slave and wakes on her 15th birthday to find that her best friend is gone and a coin is left in her place. We quickly begin to learn about her life as a slave. How they shave their heads every morning as a sign of their place in life. How Reychel is treated differently from the rest by their master.

Once I started this read it was very hard to put down. I was quickly drawn into this story and loved the flow and pace of it. It has a definite fairy tale feel to it as we see the use of magic as well as magic cloaks and portals to other places. There were a few things that seemed unlikely. The use of wigs to hide the mark of a slave while may seem like a likely disguise I wondered where they got such elaborate wigs. The wigs were apparently so lifelike no one could tell it wasn't real hair. Maybe there was magic involved?

Early on a fast pace was set for this read, leaving little time for other characters to doubt Reychel and who she really was. All it took was a look in her eyes and all seemed to accept it. That didn't really make her a leader but that was never disputed either.

Overall, I really enjoyed this read and am continuing on with the next in this series. I am hoping to learn more of this world and about who exactly these people are. We have been dropped into the conflict between the slaves and the Malborn with little explanation so far. But I hope more becomes clear in time.

If you enjoy a good YA fantasy you are sure to enjoy this one. I know I did.



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Splintered

Splintered by A.G. Howard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


If you enjoy all things Alice in Wonderland then this is one for you. If you love new twists on old fairytales, then you will definitely like this one. Author AG Howard gives an updated twist on a much loved fairy tale and she does an awesome job.

Alyssa's life is turmoil: her mom is in a psychiatric instituion soon to get shock, she herself hears the whisperings of bugs and flowers, and her secret crush has another girlfriend. Finding herself pulled through the looking glass she inadvertently brings her love with her and they find themselves in Wonderland.

Wonderland is a dark and magical place, full of talking plants as well as animals. And things here are never as they seem. Just when you think you have things figured out there is another twist in the story. As with most YA books, there is the ever prevalent love triangle. And I can see why Alyssa would be pulled in two different directions even if I don't always like her choices. I had a hard time deciding if this truly is a YA because it leans more toward New Adult. Although there are no sex scenes there are some pretty steamy parts.

I definitely enjoyed this read even though it really didn't end the way I would have wanted it to. I love new twists on fairytales and this one definitely fit the bill. Not to mention, the cover alone is enough to make you want to pick this one up.



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Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

January 29th - February 4th

Co-hosted by BookLove101

 

Its time once again for another giveaway hop. Up for grabs is my copy of Cinder by Marissa Meyer and you can find my review here. This giveaway is open internationally and, as always, its not a requirement that you follow my blog but its always appreciated.

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The Darkest Minds

The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Wow, I have a lot of mixed feelings about this book. I would actually give this one 3.5 stars but it is a fun read so I will round it up to 4.

We meet Ruby who is in an internment camp and we have to wait to get her full story told as she looks back periodically into her past. She lives in a time where children either die from a mysterious disease or are mutated like with X-Men. Adults and the government are scared of the potential threat from the mutants and round them up and lock them away in horrible concentration camps with the lie of rehabilitation.

There is alot going on in this book. Ruby is broken out by an underground organization that claims to be trying to help the kids who she finds has alterior motives. She goes on the run and finds Lee and his group. There is action and adventure with a bit of the paranormal thrown in for spice. However, its all a bit predictable except for the ending (which I did not like). Without giving spoilers I'll just say that I think it could have plausibly ended differently.

Overall, I think its a good YA read. And I enjoyed the characters both the good and the bad. It is a bit on the dark side with the concentration camps and the abuse of the kids simply because they are different from no fault of their own. But if this genre intrests you at all I would say give this on a try.



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Cinder

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I would probably actually give this one 3.5 stars, but we can't give half stars on GR, so I will stretch it up to 4 because it is a fun read.

This is a re-telling of the Cinderella story with a futuristic twist. Cinder is a cyborg whose not allowed to go to the ball. There's a plague thats threatening the planet and Lunars (ppl that live on the moon) are trying to start a war. Throw in a handsome prince and you've got a great futuristic fairytale.

I love the character of Cinder. She's a strong female character that keeps her head even in the worst of situations. She thinks things through and makes tough decisions that is the right thing to do even if its not best for her. Likewise the Prince Kai is going to be crowned emperor before he is ready at the death of his father from letumosis. Like Cinder, he also has to make tough decisions for what is best for his people.

On the downside, not a lot is explained. There no history of the Lunar colony such as how long they had existed there or how they developed their magic. And the setting in Beijing didn't feel acurate. There is very little reference to Chinese culture.

Overall its a great YA read. I really enjoyed this take on the Cinderella fairytale and I will definitely continue the Lunar Chronicles.



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The Death Cure

The Death Cure by James Dashner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I might stretch this up to 3.5 stars. I had some issues with it but overall I liked it. This is the third and final book in the Maze Runner trilogy. And being such, I expected more answers to questions I had in the first two books (maybe those will be in the prequel I have yet to read).

YA Mythology Hop

Up for grabs in this blog hop is my copy of The Mark of Athena. Its in new condition as I read it once to review it. Since this is such a large book this giveaway is for US and Canada only. As always, its not a requirement to be a follower to win but its always appreciated.

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Adventures In Funeral Crashing

Adventures in Funeral Crashing by Milda Harris

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! It was such a fun read, a wonderful YA mystery that that was quite an adventure.

BookPushalooza!

Welcome
to the FIRST EVER BookPushalooza!

July 26^th ONLY

9
Books, only .99.

In the Mailbox

Here are some new reads that have come my way this weekend.



Synopsis

First in a powerful new trilogy capturing the unbreakable spirit of a proud people. When an army of Spanish conquistadors descend upon the land that is now known as Georgia and South Carolina, the peaceful Muskogee are forced into captivity . . . and Calling Crow, their beloved chief, is enslaved. But he vows to free his people.

Time Keepers Excerpt Post

Author Nicki J. Markus has sent an excerpt from he new book Time Keepers that is expected to be released in July.

Blurb
In the not so distant future, Supernaturals have announced their presence to the world. But now a secret government agency is rounding them up, hoping to use them for its own purposes.
With Supernaturals going missing every day, Nick has been careful to guard his own secret, never giving anyone reason to notice him. That is until Ellie comes careering into his train carriage.
Instantly drawn to her, he tries to help. But soon both their secrets are revealed and they find themselves on the run in a desperate bid to escape from the mysterious Time Keepers, whose net is closing in around them.

Morning Star

Morning Star by Desiree Finkbeiner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


I received a free copy of this book for review.

I would probably stretch this up to 3.5 stars. I thought it was fairly well written and I enjoyed this original story.

Who doesn't enjoy a story with giant dragonflies, magic mushrooms, and hot guys with angel wings. Throw in an evil doer and her race of minions and you have a perfect story. Well almost. It is a wonderful story of forbidden love with people from other deminsions and great imagry, but there is an almost overpowering religious aspect to it. There is all of this purity and chastity related to Kalen and Brianna and their destiny. Their love is taboo, and so much so that it equated with going to hell. Any diversion from the path of physical purity would have spelled certain disaster for all worlds. (I admit it, I had to take a break in the middle and read something smutty before I could continue.) The only other issue I had was in a couple of places the actions of the characters wasn't logical. I don't want to give any spoilers so I will just say in a couple of places Briana and Kalen seemed to go toward danger instead of away from it.

Overall its a good story for YA and lovers of fantasy if you don't mind the religious overtones. And I admit, I'm curious to see where this series is headed.



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