[Blog Tour] Review: Heart of Mist by by Helen Scheuerer + Giveaway

Heart of Mist (The Oremere Chronicles #1)
by Helen Scheuerer
Published on: August 31st 2017
Published by: Talem Press
Purchase on: Amazon

Synopsis:

In a realm where toxic mist sweeps the lands and magic is forbidden, all Bleak wants is a cure for her power.

Still grieving the death of her guardian and dangerously self-medicating with alcohol, Bleak is snatched from her home by the Commander of the King’s Army, and summoned to the capital.

But the king isn’t the only one interested in Bleak’s powers.

The leader of an infamous society of warriors, the Valia Kindred, lays claim to her as well, and Bleak finds herself in the middle of a much bigger battle than she anticipated.

Heart of Mist is the gripping first book in The Oremere Chronicles, a fantasy series of epic proportions.

Blog Tour Schedule can be found here

Review

I decided to join the Heart of Mist blog tour to kinda force myself into reading because I've been on and off (but more so with on) a terrible book slump this year. Shealea @ The Bookshelf Bitch's rave tweets about this helped a lot in that decision though! 

While I can't say that I read the whole book in one seat nor that this cured this terrible book slump of mine, Heart of Mist sure is still one heck of an enjoyable book with distinct, mysterious, fun characters and a rich, complex, fantasy world.

One of the things that I really loved about the Heart of Mist is its pacing. There are parts where a lot of interesting things are happening at the same time, one after another; the pace can get too fast that my slump just don't have the time to make me bored. However, there are also moments where the information gets too much. As far as the characters go, I can't say that the protagonist, Bleak, is my favorite character because she can really be a handful but I also see that she has a lot of room for character growth and I'm actually pretty excited about that. As well, this is told in multiple POVs but for me, Bleak's POV is the most fun to read. It's also worth noting that Bleak is an alcoholic here. I had to do a double take in the first chapter and question myself if she was really the protagonist lol. But moving on, the other characters like Fiore, Swinton, and Bren though-- oh. they are to die for! I also found myself liking the Valian warriors despite their nature. Like I said this book has distinct characters. You might not like one character but rest assured that there's plenty more characters that you will fall in love with.

Speaking of love, there's sooo little romance here and as someone who's a huge sucker for romance... I don't mind it. At all. I guess the hints are there but they're just that: Hints. And for me, if I'm able to like a book that's got no romance then that's one hella good book.

Disclaimer: A review copy was received for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Giveaway

Follow this link below for the giveaway!

Book Review: The Art of Feeling by Laura Tims

The Art of Feeling
by Laura Tims
Published on: August 15th 2017
Published by: HarperTeen
Purchase links: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

Perfect for fans of Jennifer Niven’s New York Times bestseller All the Bright Places, this contemporary YA novel explores the friendship between a girl in constant pain and a boy who feels nothing at all.

Since the car accident, Samantha Herring has been in pain, not only from her leg injury, but also from her mother’s death, which has devastated her family. After pushing away her friends, Sam has receded into a fog of depression. But then Sam meets Eliot, a reckless loner with an attitude and an amazing secret—he can’t feel any pain. At first, Sam is jealous.

But then she learns more about his medical condition…and his self-destructive tendencies. In fact, Eliot doesn’t seem to care about anything at all—except maybe Sam. As they grow closer, they begin to confront Sam’s painful memories of the accident—memories that may hold a startling truth about what really happened that day.

Review

I'm going to sound exaggerated in this review but what the heck! This book has me blown away! Everything about this The Art of Feeling is love, love, love! I adore the characters and Sam and Eliot's relationship is the kind of romance that is to die for!

Eliot and Sam started out as just schoolmates who didn't really like each other but then became unlikely friends and then later became best friends. I feel like it's rare for main characters in YA standalone books to have such slow development romance-wise who, from not knowing each other, became best friends before being romantically involved. Needless to say, their relationship is the most natural thing in this book.

The Art of Feeling delves into so many topics; grief, familial relationships, friendships, (animal relationships!), and Eliot's illness. Romance isn't actually the main focus. In fact, the romance only became apparent during the last chapters of the book, but I'll be damned if Eliot and Sam doesn't make you all gooey on the inside even when they were just best friends. 

The Art of Feeling is cute, sad, and funny. It has all the good stuff rolled into one, it's perfect! The blurb says its perfect for fans of All the Bright Places, maybe because there's a LITTLE similarity between the two but really, it's almost negligible that I think it's unfair to compare this book to AtBP. But frankly speaking, without actually comparing comparing the two, I enjoyed this more than AtBP.

Disclaimer: A advance review copy was provided by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

Book Review: #famous by Jilly Gagnon (ARC)

#famous
by Jilly Gagnon
Published on: February 14th 2017
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Purchase links: Amazon | Book Depository

Synopsis:

In this modern-day love story, Girl likes Boy, Girl takes photo of Boy and posts it online, Boy becomes accidentally insta-famous. And what starts out as an innocent joke spirals into a whirlwind adventure that could change both their lives—and their hearts—forever. But are fame and love worth the price?

Told in alternating points of view, #famous captures the out-of-control thrill ride of falling for someone in front of everyone.

Review

#famous is such a cute read! Yes, it's cliché. Yes, it's predictable. Yes, Kyle is practically that dude from Target who went viral, but who cares? These didn’t change the fact that #famous is a fluffy, light-hearted book that made me ultra happy. I enjoyed reading it probably a lot more than I care to admit, because I’ll be honest; this isn’t the first time I’ve read a book about a popular dude and an outcast girl who fell in love with each other plus a jealous ex-girlfriend on the side. But, #famous isn’t only that. Like almost everything, #famous also has its own kind of uniqueness.

I think the way #famous tackled viral internet stuff and memes is what everyone can ultimately relate to with this book, though I thought that the representation here was a bit tamed. Everyone has probably said something either bad or good about people who became famous on the internet but what everybody doesn’t think of is how those comments affect said famous people. We often say things about them and to them not caring how they’re gonna feel about it because we think that just because they’re famous, they somehow got immune to insults and bullying and that is most definitely not true.

Something I found ironic about the characters however is that Rachel is actually a lot more interesting and funny than Kyle who’s supposed to be the more liked one – proof that people are more likely to admire someone based on their looks and not on what they do. Go figure. But all in all,  while I liked both Rachel and Kyle, Ollie is my most favorite character and I’m so bummed that he doesn’t have more scenes!

#famous gets released on Feb 14th! So if you’re looking for a nice read on Valentine’s, #famous is a great choice for you– okay, what the heck, lemme scratch that. #famous is the perfect read for everyone who wants something fluffy and light and happy regardless what day of the year it is!

Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by HarperCollins in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5 stars!

Book Review: What Things Mean by Sophia N. Lee

What Things Mean
by Sophia N. Lee
Published May 2016
Published by Scholastic
Purchase at National Book Store

Synopsis:

FOR OLIVE GUERRERO, DIFFERENT IS MORE THAN JUST A WORD.

What does it mean to be different? 14-year-old Olive is struggling to find out. Everything about her is so different from the rest of her family. She is big-haired, brown skinned, and clumsy in a family of cream-colored beauties who are all popular and Good At Sports. She closely resembles a father she has never known, and about whom her mother never speaks, and no one wants to tell her why. She turns to books and other things in her quest to find answers, and as a way to cope with her loneliness. When she learns the truth about her father, she must decide whether or not she will let the differences in her life define her forever.

A unique coming-of-age story unfolding through dictionary-style chapters, What Things Mean takes a closer look at the things that define a life, and the many ways in which we find meaning.

*Grand Prize Winner, Scholastic Asian Book Award 2014

Review

While I thoroughly loved What Things Mean, it’s really difficult for me to describe how I feel about it. I lent this to a friend and forced her to read it just so we could discuss it together and maybe get ideas from her on how I could review this, but like me she couldn’t form coherent English sentences to express her feelings about it aside from “different” and “good” and “somewhat like Perks of Being a Wallflower” which, to be honest, in my opinion, are all understatements. I was thinking “awesome” which could also work as a full review for this book provided that the word “awesome” be capitalized in bold letters and with three exclamation points because it’s that. What Things Mean is awesome. But it’s more than just awesome. What Things Mean, for all its worth, goes beyond awesome! Also, this is written by a Filipino author and the book is set in the Philippines so there are lots of reference to the Filipino culture. 

First off, how adorable is this book? Every chapter begins with a dictionary entry featuring random words that aren't really random because each word gives deeper meaning to every chapter. It never ceased to impress me how simple words with simple dictionary definition could be so intricate and could define the whole universe. I get excited every time I start a new chapter because I know that the connection between the featured word and the chapter would be surprising and like I said, it never ceased to impress me. And as for our protagonist, Olive, she's a lonely character who doesn't fit into her family and you'll literally feel that about her. I wanted to pluck her out of the book and give her a big hug and a pat to the head. It's just amazing how the author could capture those emotions perfectly and turn them into words that effectively gets to the reader. 

What Things Mean is told in a non-chronological order of events in Olive's life. You'd think it's random and inadequate but by the end of the book, you'd feel as if you've known Olive your entire life. And did I mention that this only has 133 pages? But my god, it has EVERYTHING! That's another thing that this book got me so amazed. What Things Mean managed to be so intricate, poignant, beautiful, and powerful in just 133 pages with no loose ends nor rushed scenes. It's basically perfect! 

Bonus! Quotes from the book because Sophia Lee's writing is simply breathtaking!

"I think that's the thing that most people miss about magic - how it relies on one's ability to make people believe."

"I am reminded of something Mama always tells me - how these are people's dream homes, the fruit of years of hard work and sacrifice. I try to be mindful of that when I go on my walks, to remember how nice it is that different dreams can stand together, side by side."

"Here is what I wanted to say, but didn't: I was always going to be somewhere, stepping over some line. We all were - even if we didn't want to admit it. There was only forward or backward, and an infinite line of changes either way."

"Light always remains. The world turns, and days pass, and the sun warms the places that need it. Maybe that is how it is with everything else. Things go where they are needed, and when they do, we simply learn how to live without them."

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from Scholastic PH and Sophia N. Lee for free in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5 stars!

About the Author

Sophia N. Lee wanted to be many things growing up: doctor, teacher, ballerina, ninja, crime-fighting international spy, wizard, time traveler, journalist, and lawyer. She likes to think she can be all these things through writing. She loves words and the meanings behind them. Her favorite word is 'chance'. What Things Mean is her first book. She lives in Manila, Philippines.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Book Review: Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley

Words in Deep Blue
by Cath Crowley
Published August 30th 2016
Published by Pan Australia
Purchase: Pan MacMillan Australia

Summary:

This is a love story.

It's the story of Howling Books, where readers write letters to strangers, to lovers, to poets.

It's the story of Henry Jones and Rachel Sweetie. They were best friends once, before Rachel moved to the sea.

Now, she's back, working at the bookstore, grieving for her brother Cal and looking for the future in the books people love, and the words they leave behind.

Review:

Cath Crowley doesn't disappoint with her beautiful writing. And oh, the story of best friends turned lovers in a bookstore romance is probably every bookworm's dream. Love, love, love this book a lot and I love Cath Crowley a lot. Her Graffiti Moon will forever be one of my most favorite books in the universe but while I can't say the same for Words in Deep Blue, it's still the kind of book that I'll be recommending to friends in the years to come. It's sweet and tragic and beautiful all at the same time.

It has been months since I've read a YA book because I've been focused on reading classics and books about religion, science and morality, and the reason for that was because I lost interest in YA. I couldn't finish the YA books I was reading at the time. It felt like everything I read, I've already a thousand times and characters were just unbearable. I honestly feared that I have already outgrown YA but turns out, I was just reading the wrong books.

Thank you Cath Crowley for returning my faith to YA. Henry and Rachel are lovable characters. Henry is an idiot but extremely adorable and Rachel is a difficult character but nevertheless understandable. And I love them both to pieces. And oh goodlords, George and Martin! They are both funny and their interactions were to die for! And mygods, Cal too! It was so difficult to read Cal's letters - literally - because my tears would just flow spontaneously everytime and it was hard to read through tears!

The only downside of this book is Amy. Cath didn't even try to make her likable. She was already repulsive the moment she was introduced. If anything, I felt sorry for Amy that she was made into a plot device who has no character development whatsoever but in the big scheme of things, so to speak, her role in the book works really well for someone like me who abhors love triangles because this would've been more heartbreaking to read than it already is.

I've adored Cath Crowley for a long time and I'm so happy that she finally has a new release and that I got a hold of this book. it's really difficult for me to get physical books published only in Australia and I'm hoping that Knopf moves the US release sooner so that more people can read the beauty that is Words in Deep Blue in the soonest time possible!

Disclaimer: A review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

Book Review: Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science from Sherlock Homes to DNA by Bridget Heos

Blood, Bullets, and Bones: The Story of Forensic Science from Sherlock Holmes to DNA 
by Bridget Heos
Expected publication: October 4th 2016
Published by: Balzer + Bray

Synopsis:

Ever since the introduction of DNA testing, forensic science has been in the forefront of the public’s imagination, thanks especially to popular television shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. But forensic analysis has been practiced for thousands of years. Ancient Chinese detectives studied dead bodies for signs of foul play, and in Victorian England, officials used crime scene photography and criminal profiling to investigate the Jack the Ripper murders. In the intervening decades, forensic science has evolved to use the most cutting-edge, innovative techniques and technologies.

In this book, acclaimed author Bridget Heos uses real-life cases to tell the fascinating history of modern forensic science, from the first test for arsenic poisoning to fingerprinting, firearm and blood spatter analysis, DNA evidence, and all the important milestones in between. By turns captivating and shocking, Blood, Bullets, and Bones demonstrates the essential role forensic science has played in our criminal justice system.

Review

This is my first time to review a nonfiction book and this is also the first nonfiction I've read this year! I'm not big on nonfics but after seeing this on Edelweiss, I just couldn't not read it because forensic science!

After reading Blood, Bullets, and Bones, I feel like I now have what it takes to solve a cold case. But of course that's a stretch. 

Point is: I learned so many things from this book. From the science of murder investigations to the State laws (which doesn't really have any significance to me unless Philippines and USA have the same laws but it's nonetheless interesting.)

Serial killers stories have always fascinated (and terrified) me. Sometimes, I'd spend several hours on r/unsolvedmystery and other parts of the Internet just reading about real life murder stories and cold cases. But reading this book, I have come to the conclusion that murder investigations are 10000000x even more captivating and impressive. Science truly is amazing. But even if it has greatly evolved compared to centuries ago, it's true that it's still lacking in some aspects and the state laws still have several loopholes.

It's so depressing to read about people who were wrongfully convicted of crimes they didn't commit only to be exonerated 30 years later. In worse cases, they die from death sentence before their innocence is proved several years later. But, it's also terrifying when the ones who truly committed the crime gets acquitted only to confess to it after.

This book is very fast paced. There were no dull moments because it doesn't linger very long on any one case and the accounts are all brief and straight to the point, and neutral too. The transitions between stories are very smooth as well which made this unputdownable.

I rarely read nonfiction books (If I do at all) but for me this was a really good read.

Disclaimer: An early review copy was received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda 
by Becky Albertalli
Release date: April 7th 2015
Published by: Balzer + Bray
Purchase on: Amazon


Synopsis:

Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised.

With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Review

It took me 7 1/2 days to finish Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda. 7 days to get to the middle but just half a day to finish the rest. I really struggled with the first half. I know this is a popular book that is well-loved by many, but I just couldn't get into it. I liked the idea of the anonymous email exchanges. It reminded me somewhat of Tell Me Three Things, but compared to TMTT, I found this book to be lacking. If it wasn't for the fact that I only have access to my Kindle cloud reader for the whole week with no other tempting titles to read, I would've flat-out abandoned this.

With the way things were going (read: cliché) in the first half, I thought that I had it all figured out for the rest of story, but I was so glad that I was no Becky Albertalli because this proved to be not as predictable as I thought. It exceeded my expectations and then delivered some more.

I didn’t think I would get so invested into these characters because I found them really bland in the beginning. I felt equally nervous as Simon did whenever he planned about coming out to his friends or family. And I felt like my whole world just crumbled the same time his did when his secret came out. But there were also the moments when I’d get so absorbed into the story that I would forget that reality still exists like I’d randomly catch myself curling my toes giddily or grinning widely or sighing contentedly or three of those at the same time.

Pretty much all characters in this book are either easily likable or the kind that gradually grows on you. I loved the relationship within Simon’s family although I felt like it was too perfect to be real. His friends, Abby, Leah, and Nick, are very supportive friends but I didn’t really think that there’s anything remarkable about them. I even enjoyed Martin’s character more though I liked them all the same. And there’s also the matter with Blue. Ohmygod Blue. I lived for their subtle flirtatious emails. I probably would’ve read the second half faster had I not been squealing at their every conversation especially when they finally met! Even though it was totally obvious who Blue was, it never made the story less exciting instead I was even more hyped about their inevitable meeting.

I’m so glad Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda didn’t turn out to be the usual school bullying book where the formula is almost always protagonist + bff vs. the whole student population which eventually evolves to protagonist + love interest – bff vs. the whole school population. In Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda, more than half of the school population are non-bigot and they actually have common sense. There’s even a teacher who stands up to her students’ bullies!

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a fantastic take on a coming of age (and a coming out) story with lovable characters and an inexplicably sweet romance. It doesn’t sport heavy drama but at the same time it doesn’t take matters too lightly.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Book Review: Sula's Voyage by Catherine Torres

Sula's Voyage
by Catherine Torres
Release date: May 2016
Published by: Scholastic

Synopsis:

Fifteen-year-old Sula has always known she is different. Even though her parents have shown her nothing but love and acceptance, she sees her dark skin as a reminder of how she doesn’t fit in with the rest of her family.

What’s worse is she also feels that her parents are hiding something from her. After getting expelled from school, Sula reluctantly goes to stay with her mother’s friends. There she unexpectedly finds herself on a journey of self-discovery — a journey that keeps drawing her to the sea. Sula must not only figure our her parents’ secret, but also just how different, and possibly magical, she really is.

Review:

I was so excited to read Sula’s Voyage because:

     1. The author is a Filipino and Sula’s Voyage was a finalist in the 2014 Asian Book Award.

     2. The setting of Sula’s Voyage is in the Philippines (!!) and most of the events that happened in the book are inspired by real life events that happened in the Philippines (!!).

     3. Sula’s Voyage features Filipino mythology – one that I’ve never heard of before!

Needless to say, I was really hyped about Sula’s Voyage. And the fact that the book is actually a really engrossing read helped me to devour it.

Sula's Voyage revolves around our protagonist, Sula, but as the book is set in the Philippines, it also spotlights the Filipino culture. And part of our culture is our obsession with white skin, so Sula getting ridiculed by her classmates about her dark skin is not uncommon, though it doesn’t make it justifiable.

Sula's different skin coloring was given emphasis in the beginning of the book that I feared that it will be the sole focus that made Sula different compared to others. I guess I just didn’t want this to be another book about racism and I’m glad that it was just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak, and that this subject became less and less relevant as the story progressed in regards to how other people see Sula physically and eventually, it paved way to the more important aspects of what ultimately makes her different from others. As well, Sula is the kind of character that grows on you. In the beginning, I was hesitant whether I’d fall in love with her or not but I did. I admired her unpredictability the most. Mira, Pedro, and Pablo are also the kinds of characters that will slowly creep up on you. I really didn’t like them at first what with how Sula portrayed them but as Sula grew and she became able to see through things, I was able to see through the three of them as well.

Sula’s Voyage also has romance but the plot doesn’t revolve around it. Sula’s love interest isn’t even around for the most part of the book, yet it doesn’t make the romance instant or forced as even though he’s absent pretty much over all, he still plays a big role in Sula’s self-discovery. His physical absence merely gives the readers time to focus on Sula’s growth as an individual.

Other things I love about this book are: Sula’s parents! They’re not the perfect parents and their family has issues of their own, but damn, are her parents savage! Also, Sula’s dreams. She tends to dream laughably weird dreams and Sula lampshading their weirdness but still getting scared by them is just so hilarious. With the kind of tone the book set in the beginning, I didn’t think it has the ability to have such ridiculously funny moments, but there they were and I am so pleased. But now that I’ve said it, still, don’t be fooled. Because Sula’s Voyage also has the power to make you weep like a little kid! As well, I can relate soooo hard with this book. Granted, the setting is the Philippines and I’ve been to some of the places the author mentioned in the book like the University of the Philippines Diliman. It’s a 15-min ride away from my place and we used to jog in the Oval and have taho or dirty ice cream. There is also the iconic Sunken Garden which is said to sink some millimetres every year.

Also, GUYS YOU SHOULD TOTALLY READ THIS WHEN YOUR STOMACH IS FULL BECAUSE THIS BOOK IS GONNA STARVE YOU WITH ALL ITS VIVID AND MOUTH-WATERING DESCRIPTION OF FILIPINO FOODS. I had to urge to take a jeepney to Antipolo to get a taste of that Antipolo suman and then fly to Puerto Galera just for the kinilaw na talaba, lechon de leche, and champorado. I’ve had lechon de leche and champorado, but I got a bit depressed because all those times my mother’s friends gave us talaba (oysters) and I didn’t take one bite because they all looked slimy and ew. Alas, this book was too good I couldn't stop reading to get myself out of bed even if I wanted to. But I did ask my mom to buy suman for breakfast the next morning so all was well. ;)

Sula’s Voyage delves deep into familial relationships, tragedy, and self-discovery. Those, combined with Catherine Torres’ beautiful writing style that flows so smoothly makes Sula’s Voyage a captivating read. And if you want to get a taste of what Filipino culture is like (because I swear this book is so spot-on in that part) then you really need to read this book.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy from Scholastic PH and Catherine Torres for free in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

About the Author

Catherine Torres (Catherine Rose Torres) is a diplomat and writer from Manila. Her work has taken her to postings in New Delhi, Singapore, and now, Berlin. When foreign affairs, as well as domestic ones, permit, Catherine travels around the world on boats made of words. Occasionally, as with these books, she even builds the boat herself.

Goodreads | Facebook | Website

Manga Mondays (6): My Hero Academia, vol. 01

Manga Mondays is a weekly meme hosted by Alison @ Alison Can Read

My Hero Academia, Vol. 01 (My Hero Academia #1)
by Horikoshi Kohei
Original Title: 僕のヒーローアカデミア (Boku no Hero Academia)
ISBN:1421582694 (ISBN13: 9781421582696)
Demographic: Shonen
Genre: Action, comedy, school life
Published by: Shueisha (Japanese), VIZ Media (English)
Purchase from: VIZ Media

Synopsis:

What would the world be like if 80 percent of the population manifested superpowers called “Quirks” at age four? Heroes and villains would be battling it out everywhere! Being a hero would mean learning to use your power, but where would you go to study? The Hero Academy of course! But what would you do if you were one of the 20 percent who were born Quirkless?

Middle school student Izuku Midoriya wants to be a hero more than anything, but he hasn’t got an ounce of power in him. With no chance of ever getting into the prestigious U.A. High School for budding heroes, his life is looking more and more like a dead end. Then an encounter with All Might, the greatest hero of them all, gives him a chance to change his destiny…

Review

My Hero Academia is set in present Japan where having super powers brought upon by “Quirk” is so common that it’s literally rare to not have it. The strength of one’s quirk varies from person to person. Some people — Villains— use their powers to do evil but there are others—Heroes— who have taken it upon themselves to save humanity from evil. Everyone can become a hero, so to speak, but to be a “professional” Hero isn’t an easy task. First, you need to get into the hero academy, U.A. High School, where the entrance exam’s passing stats is less than 1 out of 300 and then after graduating will a person only become a Professional Hero.

In MHA, heroes are treated like celebrities. The most famous and also hailed as the strongest is All Might. Kids and adults alike look up to him including our protagonist, Midoriya Izuku or Deku for short. Even at age 4, Deku was already set on becoming a hero like his idol, All Might, probably more than anyone in the world ever wanted. However, in the sea of people with quirks/super powers, Deku is one of the rare type—the quirkless one. So this story revolves around how Deku becomes the greatest hero ever without his own quirk.

When I started reading MHA, I thought that it was going to be just another shonen manga. This isn’t the first time I’ve read about a useless and weak underdog protagonist that ascended to greatness because of perseverance and hard work. Besides, I wasn’t really into super heroes or xmen-ish stuff, but there’s another hero manga called One-Punch Man that I really enjoyed so I gave this one a shot.

Kohei Hirokoshi’s art looks great. His character style for Deku is spot on. Kohei made Deku look ordinary and unhero-like, but his expressive wide eyes that give him a perpetual look of innocence set him apart from other characters in the series. His personality also sets him apart from other Shonen Jump protagonists. He’s not as hot-headed like Naruto nor is he as jolly as Luffy. He is fully aware of his weaknesses. He doesn’t try to deny them and he doesn’t act tough, instead he acknowledges them yet he never loses his sight on his goal. He’s the type of guy who’d probably lose to anyone in a physical fight and he knows it. But it never stopped him from wanting to help.

In a way, Deku reminds me of David from Steelheart because they are both Hero/Epic geeks! Since Deku doesn’t have superpowers, he has taken to analysing heroes’ superpowers much like what David did in order to defeat Epics although for Deku it really was just a hobby that later on became an important weapon against his enemies. David has this obsession on wanting to join the Reckoners much like Deku wants to become a Hero.

I find Deku to be extremely relatable. He is the character that every person who has ever been a fan wants to be. Deku’s being a hero otaku/geek never sat well with his classmates and he was oftentimes bullied by it. In Japan, the term Otaku translates to geek but it has a very negative connotation that could be synonymous to pervert. He was often shun for loving the things he loved and laughed at because this thing he loved the most is the very thing that he wants to be, but has been decided from the day he was born that he could never be. But he was given a chance.

Kohei did really well in portraying Deku's emotions through the art. I could feel his desires, his hope, and sadness very palpably. I cried when he cried, and I smiled when he laughed. Honestly, I felt like a mother to him. I just want him to reach his goals and be happy.

Overall, I think I'm obsessed with this series now. It is so good! And Kohei Hirokoshi is a great artist and story teller. The characters are so diversed. It's impressive that there could be so many mainstay characters and not have their personalities overlapping each other while still being natural and noncontrived. 

You all need to read this whether you’re into manga or not because the story and the characters are just so perfect!

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

[Blog Tour] Review + Excerpt: The Natural History of Us by Rachel Harris & Giveaway

The Natural History of Us (The Fine Art of Pretending #2)

by Rachel Harris
Release date: April 5th 2016
Published by: Spencer Hill Press
Purchase Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo | IndieBound | Order Personalized Copy until April 8th Here

Synopsis:

One class assignment. One second chance at love. The school player is all in. Now he needs to win back the sweet commitment girl who's forever owned his heart.

Justin Carter has a secret. He's not the total player Fairfield Academy believes him to be. Not really. In fact, he used to be a one-woman guy...and his feelings for her never went away. Too bad he broke her heart three years ago and made sure to ruin any chance she'd ever forgive him.

Peyton Williams is a liar. She pretends to be whole, counting down the days until graduation and helping her parents at the family ranch. But the truth is, she's done everything she can to get over Justin, and salvation is just around the corner. With graduation one short month away, she'll soon break free from the painful memories and start her life fresh. Of course, she has to get through working with him on one last assignment first.

For Justin, nothing ever felt as right as being with Peyton, and now that fate's given him a shot at redemption, he's determined to make the most of it. And for Peyton...well, Justin Carter has always been her kryptonite.

Review

“It’s not hate or anger pooling in my gut – God, I wish it were. More like humiliation, hurt, and intense regret. Also a dash of loneliness and stupid longing.”

Oh, this book. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t hooked by the first chapter! I tend to avoid second-chance romances because I can’t bear to see the characters relive the past that hurt them. I sympathize too much, not to mention my heart is seriously weak against fictional heartaches. I mean, no matter how light the book is supposed to be, there’s still always that tinge of heartache that gets to me. But Rachel Harris is one of those authors whose books have yet to fail me. As well, I liked Justin from The Fine Art of Pretending a lot so reading The Natural History of Us is just simply inevitable.

But as expected, The Natural History of Us was a little difficult to read for me. Not because it’s a horrible book but because of the emotions! It’s told from dual POV’s of Justin and Peyton in two alternating timelines: (1) freshman year before the “disaster” and; (2) senior year before graduation. That said, I got to really relive the time when Peyton got her heart broken by Justin. I was so nervous while reading the past because their freshman year romance was so cute, so sweet, and so natural—it was the kind that gave even me, as a reader, butterflies in the stomach—and I kept dreading the moment where everything would turn upside down. And lo, because when it did, it almost gave me a heart attack. I didn’t expect *that* to be in this book. Really, why did you do that, Rachel Harris?? These poor kids! And my poor heart!

If you’ve read The Fine Art of Pretending, chances are you already love Justin Carter. He is the catcher of the school’s baseball team and also the resident player, but we’ve all guessed from the first book that there’s more to him than just a guy who hooked up with random women. Justin grew up with his father, stepmother, and a younger half-brother. Not really feeling what it means to be part of a family nor how to be loved by a parent. They even leave him in their huge house when the three of them go on vacations. His brother is the only person in the family who seemed to actually love him, but he’s too young to catch on with the family’s issues. This truly broke my heart and I felt so much for Justin. Even when Peyton’s parents treated Justin as their son it wasn’t the same because they weren’t real family.

Peyton Williams, however, is the quiet girl who lives on a ranch and loves baseball and rodeo. She has Guillian Barre Syndrome but this never stopped her from chasing her dreams. Even if Peyton was only mentioned a couple of times in the first book, it was enough to make me curious about her and my curiosity has been well paid because I love her as a character. Her family is struggling to make the ends meet because of her illness that forced her to stay in a hospital for a long time. Peyton may be quiet but she’s bold, headstrong, and doesn’t back down from any challenge.

Harris’ The Natural History of Us perfectly captured the sweetness and the troubles of a teenage romance. It’s honest and it doesn’t hold back from telling events that are usually taboo in the usual light YA because such things do happen in real life even at a young age. Justin and Peyton are genuine characters. They aren’t flawless. At 15, they were reckless and confused but it doesn’t mean they will stay like that forever. The experience they gained helped in order to fix their mistakes from the past. I know I said that I tend to avoid second-chance romance books but after reading this book, I’m really craving for more of its kind!

Further, the format of the storytelling also brought out the best of the plot. It’s like reading two different stories at once because both have the kind of beginning that will set off your curiosity, a middle whose secrets will keep you second guessing, and an end which ultimately connect the two stories together. I don’t consider this book a light read–semi-light, maybe, but it doesn’t change the fact that The Natural History of Us is one enthralling read that demands to be finished in one sit.

The Natural History of Us maybe a sequel to The Fine Art of Pretending but it can also be read as a standalone.

A review copy was received for a blog tour in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars!

Excerpt

Planting my feet on the floor, I grab the assignment packet. I thumb through the long list of group dates, taking note of all the partner-time required (a lot), and a rush of endorphins floods my bloodstream. My heart pounds just like it did when I tagged out Jefferson to win last night’s game, and when a relieved exhale parts my lips, I hear Carlos say, “Uh oh.”

“What?” I ask distractedly.

“You’ve got that psycho look in your eyes.” I raise my eyes and he waves a finger back and forth in front of my face. “The same one you had before we egged Crestmont High last week. You’re planning something.”

Adrenaline bounces my knee. “Maybe I am.”

My hand beats out a rhythm on my thigh as I realize that this is exactly what I’d been waiting for. The answer to the itch under my skin. My extreme restlessness. It’s not a new feeling—if I were honest, it’s been on a low simmer for years. Being with Aly just brought it to a boil. I’ve been numb ever since I lost Peyton, and this… this insane marriage project is my chance to finally make things right.

“Tell Abuelita I’ll be there,” I say, returning my gaze to the back of Peyton’s head. “And that I’ll be bringing a girl even she can’t complain about.” From the corner of my eye, I see him stare at me in confusion. “I’m bringing my wife.”

Carlos’s mouth opens in a mix of shock and doubt and I don’t blame him. I saw Peyton’s reaction, too. But I have three whole weeks between now and then, and a plan taking shape in my mind.
Peyton may think she hates me, but that’s only because she doesn’t know the total truth. Soon, that’ll change—but I can’t rush it. I have to start small. Ease into it. Use these dates and outings to show her how much I’ve changed since I was fifteen and screwed everything up.

But I will do it.

“Mark my words, Carlos,” I say, feeling excited about a girl for the first time in a very long time. But then, that’s because it’s not just any girl; it’s my girl. She just doesn’t know it yet. “I’m gonna be the best damn husband in this entire class.”

He looks at me uncertainly, but that doesn’t faze me. I won’t let it. I know I don’t deserve it. Hell, I never deserved her. But I’m not letting anything stop me. Not this time. Thanks to Coach Stasi, I’m going to remind Peyton of all the reasons she fell for me in the first place.

And then I’m going to make her do it again.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Rachel Harris writes humorous love stories about sassy girls-next-door and the hot guys that make them swoon. Vibrant settings, witty banter, and strong relationships are a staple in each of her books…and kissing. Lots of kissing.

An admitted Diet Mountain Dew addict and homeschool mom, she gets through each day by laughing at herself, hugging her kids, and watching way too much Food Network with her husband. She writes young adult, new adult, and adult romances, and LOVES talking with readers!

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Book Review: The Winner's Curse & The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, #1 & #2) by Marie Rutkoski + The Winner's Kiss Giveaway

The Winner's Curse & The Winner's Crime (The Winner's Trilogy, #1 & #2)

by Marie Rutkoski

Release date: March 4th 2014 | March 3rd 2015

Published by: Farrar Straus Giroux

Buy on Amazon: The Winner's Curse | The Winner's Crime

Synopsis:

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

---------

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement... if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

Review

I cannot even begin to describe just how good The Winner’s Curse and The Winner’s Crime are. Both were such fantastic reads and both left me completely speechless. The Winner’s Curse has been on my TBR list for so long now, but I’m so lucky to have only picked it up now when The Winner’s Crime has already been released and with The Winner’s Kiss being just around the corner, I don’t have to wait for a year to read it (but still, March 29th, please come sooner!!).

I clamored to get a copy of Crime after reading Curse because the ending broke me! Little did I know that Crime would’ve full-on destroyed me. The emotions I got from reading these two were all over the place intense—sorrow, joy, disgust, hope, distress, frustration, longing, anger. Sometimes either, sometimes mix, and sometimes all of them at the same time. It was maddening! And it felt so, so, so good to know that these events and characters could illicit such a number of emotions from me regardless whether it’s a positive or a negative emotion. I loved feeling all of it! And the fact I could connect so well with the characters thrilled me.

Kestrel was quite the interesting character. Actually, her trope is one of my most favourites. Kestrel may not be physically talented in a battle, but she is a genius schemer and that’s about as dangerous if not more. The book already had me transfixed to it from the beginning till end but I always find myself even more enthralled whenever Kestrel is in one of her mind games. Seeing the cogs turn in her head was a joy to read!

I find it interesting that Kestrel’s father would rather she join the army than to marry. The lack of discrimination against women was a breath of fresh air. I mean, in most stories the parents worry a lot about their daughters but in The Winner’s Curse, Kestrel’s father is willing to pitch his daughter in a war because he has so much conviction in her even though she’s not an exceptional fighter because he knows his daughter has a good head between her shoulders. I find it even more interesting though that Kestrel wants neither to join the army nor to marry. She loved playing the piano, but music is frowned upon in her society and is regarded as lowly—something only slaves do. It’s why she bought Arin, albeit on impulse, because he sings though he refuses to.

I really liked the master x slave relationship here. It’s another breath of fresh air that the master is a girl and the slave is a guy because mostly, in other books, the slave always tends to be a girl and the master, a guy with the slave being an impulsive sarc and the master, an overprotective rake. In The Winner’s Crime, Marie’s approach to the master x slave dynamic is different. Kestrel is brilliant and cautious, and Arin is quite and full of hatred. There were no funny banters involved. These books mean serious business. Kestrel and Arin genuinely didn’t want anything to do with each other and at first I was skeptic at the notion of these two being in a romantic relationship. But while I think Rutkoski handled this development quite well, I also think that the romance could have been reduced in some parts in Curse and maybe transferred to the second book because gods I craved it so much In The Winner’s Crime! That said, The Winner’s Trilogy doesn’t focus much on the romance. It’s more about war and politics and I love that it doesn’t shy away from character deaths.

The Winner’s Crime, though, was consistently a frustrating read from start to finish. There were moments when the frustration was too much to bear that I would just cry abruptly. It was torture but in the bestest way possible and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

It already goes without saying that I loved The Winner’s Curse but The Winner’s Crime is just WOW. Everything I loved about Curse all levelled up in Crime with the addition of some more awesome. The political mind games were set to an all-time high and the emotions, ohmyword, so genuine and so palpable. It was so difficult not to feel for these characters especially Kestrel because she suffers the most. And for Arin because he suffers too.

I know I’m lucky for just reading these two close to the final book’s release date but dang, if only I had a time machine!

Rating: 
The Winner's Curse: 4.5/5 stars!
The Winner's Crime: 5/5 stars!

Giveaway

My sister has just pointed out that March is my anniversary month. I keep forgetting that I have an anniversary so I've never done an anniversary giveaway but I'm doing one now so yay! 

Up for grabs is a copy of The Winner's Kiss, the third book in the The Winner's Trilogy, either from Amazon or Book Depository so yes, this is International.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also read a sneak peek of The Winner's Kiss here: https://t.co/gtJ28zdVqD

Book Review: A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro

A Study in Charlotte (Charlotte Holmes #1)
by Brittany Cavallaro
Release date: March 1st 2016
Published by: Katherine Tegen Books
Purchase: Amazon

Synopsis:

The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.

From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.

Equal parts tender, thrilling, and hilarious, A Study in Charlotte is the first in a trilogy brimming with wit and edge-of-the-seat suspense.

Review

I was counting on A Study in Charlotte to be a cool and fun read because Charlotte and James are supposed to be great great great something children of the Holmes and Watson that we all love even today.

Well, okay, so I admit that I don’t really know the original Holmes other than what RDJ portrayed and I don’t know how different he is from the original, so I really shouldn’t be one to talk, but the point is: I didn’t get what I expected here. I wanted a light, easy and fun read. What I got though, isn’t necessarily bad either.

The journey in A Study in Charlotte is, most of the time, deep and heavy and it delves on issues like drug addiction, rape and possibly mental instability. I just wish they discussed the second issue more because it felt like it didn’t get the hate it deserved despite the circumstances.

The story is told from Jamie’s point of view though I really didn’t dig his voice that much. Not to say that I didn’t like him, however. His character was an okay one, but his voice sounded bland most of the time and while it was perfectly understandable why he seemed to fall in love with Charlotte at first sight, I just didn’t like the way he pined after her. Plus points for him though for trying to stay away from Charlotte but you know, it’s love, so.

The boy had been briefed about the Holmes’ family at a young age and is constantly being updated to news about the Holmes’ as he grew up because why not when the Watson’s and Holmes’ go way, way back in the days and Jamie’s father is somewhat of a Holmes fanboy himself.

Charlotte, however, is a difficult character for me. I couldn’t read her at all. She is riddled by a mysterious past and an even more troubled present. I hated her sometimes for using Jamie and keeping him in the dark in their investigations like she didn’t trust him despite everything he did to help her. I did like her deduction skills though.

I liked the mystery the most. If anything, it was the “it” that kept me glued to the book and it left second-guessing the entire time which is just as well because I’d be extremely disappointed if I found out who the killer was before Jamie and Charlotte did.

Overall, A Study in Charlotte has a well-paced plot and with an unpredictable mystery. It could use some more development in the romance and character department, but other than those, A Study in Charlotte was a good read.

Rating: 3/5 stars!

Book Review: These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

These Shallow Graves
by Jennifer Donnelly
Release date: October 27th 2015
Published by: Delacorte Press
Purchase link: Amazon

Synopsis:

Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.

The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.

Review

I haven’t read mystery or historical for quite a while now so These Shallow Graves was definitely a welcome surprise for me especially since it’s both mystery and historical and also because Donnelly wrote this so magnificently that it was seriously hard for me to put it down. Yes, it was that good! The book is a little thicker and bigger compared to my recent reads and with my disappointment with Donnelly’s previous book, Revolution, I was partial about this but a friend told me it was really good, so why not.

The historical setting, 1890’s New York City, in These Shallow Graves was a breath of fresh air. And the mysterIES? I am head over heels in love despite one of them being utterly predictable. But even so, Jo and Eddie as amateur detectives was a fun sight indeed. My favourite part though would be the autopsies. Finding out the manner of death of a person based on the wounds, blood clots, the position of the body, etc. will forever be a source of awe for me.

As well, the romance in this book is breath-taking. There’s no insta-love here and the process of Jo and Eddie falling in love was so natural. I loved their banters—both playful and serious alike. I admit that at times my excitement for the mystery was overshadowed by my desire for them to just talk and be together, which says so much because I freaking love, love, love the mystery here, guys! The problem with their relationship though is that whereas Jo came from a wealthy family, Eddie is a mere newspaper reporter, so he’s basically poor.

On that note, wealth is one of the more prominent issues here, and so is sexism, which is why I hated Jo’s grandmother so much. She firmly believes that a woman’s essence in life is to produce a child and their ultimate goal should be to marry a wealthy gentleman. It wasn’t only she who thought that. Even the teenage girls seemed to have accepted that to be a fact as well. It was sickening how they sometimes compare women to expensive dogs that you can sell on the market, yet it was the reality of the 19th century. I mean even now, there are some people who still think that way.

It is why loving Jo as a character, to me, was inevitable because she’s a very headstrong person for doing the opposite of what the society expected from women like her, and more so because she’s only just a girl in a time when sexism was a real deal.

These Shallow Graves blends mystery and romance in the most spectacular way possible. There was literally no boring part in this book. I loved every pages of it and I love that it touches on issues that are still relevant today.

Rating: 5/5 stars!

Book Review: Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Truthwitch (Witchlands #1)

by Susan Dennard

Release date: January 5th 2016

Published by: Tor Teen

Purchase link: Amazon

Synopsis:

In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.

In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

Review

Ohhlala Truthwitch~ It was a spur of the moment decision to pick this up from the bookstore, but I am so glad for that moment because Truthwitch turned out to be one hella fantastic read!

Truthwitch kicks off with a pretty action-packed first chapter. The kind of pilot chapter that will make you think, “Oh, this is about to be good.” We have two headstrong girls, Safi and Iz, and they scream girl power! They’ve been Threadsisters for the longest time and I love, love, love their bond. Their friendship is one of the highlights in this book for me. They complement each other’s personality just as well. Safi is impulsive and spontaneous while Iz plans and thinks things through. Safi tends to be spoiled and self-centrered at times when it comes to other people, but is very protective of Iz and both of them will go out of their ways to save the other.

I do love their relationship and I like Iz alright, but I gotta admit that Safi did get on my nerves though only for a short while. I love that she would do everything in her power to save Iz—and she did but in the process, endangered the lives of other people as well. She exploited Merik’s limitations and most of the time it wasn’t even for something important, but only because she can. I was as frustrated as her as Merik was. But then she had a change of heart and that was when I started to really love her as Safi. Dennard wrote her emotions quite well because I could totally feel her remorse making the change in her character feel even more precious to me.

Another thing that’s worth noting though is the romance. THERE IS NO INSTA-LOVE! Thank goodness for that. I enjoyed Merik and Safi’s banters not because they’re being cute together but because they just genuinely disliked each other, and also because they were cute. They went from enemies to ones who like each other more than friends, haha. That’s another thing I loved about the romance. Truthwitch doesn’t focus on the romance however it’s crystal clear that it’s going to be a big deal in the coming books. The slow burn of it also ensures that readers can see why and how these characters came to feel what they feel for the other. There’s no full on love between the two and it’s just making me crave for MerikxSafi even more.

As for the other characters— gosh, Merik, Safi and Iz aren’t the only interesting people here. I adored Kullen’s loyalty to Merik, but it also broke my heart. Aeduan, also, is not your conventional villain and I do believe that there is more to him than what he showed in this book. Polly as well came as a huge surprise for me. Dennard wrote characters that grow on you and characters that will keep you second-guessing, and then both.

Truthwitch was one hell of a ride for me. It started out good, then meh, then better, then “holy what?!” and then “oh my words please I want more!” It’s one of the most anticipated books of 2016 with tons of early rave reviews so naturally, I tread with it really carefully because me and popular books don’t get along well that much. I didn’t even know anything about the story except for what the title seems to mean, and that only makes me all the more thrilled about this book. So yes, it goes without saying that I am head over heels for Truthwitch. It has a lot of foreshadowing, too, and I cannot wait to see what Dennard will make of them and what more she has in store for us.

Overall, Truthwitch is a story with a fantastic premise, well-rounded characters, interesting villains, and awesome world-building with swoony romance.

Rating: 4.5 stars!

Book Review: Blackhearts (ARC)

Blackhearts
by Nicole Castroman
Expected publication: February 9th 2016
Published by: Simon Pulse
Pre-order: Amazon

Synopsis:

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

Review

Blackhearts is a reimagination of Edward Teach, more popularly known as Blackbeard’s, life pre-piracy. He was one if not the most infamous pirate, and I daresay one of the most interesting ones, to have ever existed. The real Blackbeard’s origin and life prior to piracy are still unknown so here in Blackhearts, Nicole Castroman makes use of that unknown part of Teach’s life to imagine the factors that led Edward Teach to become the infamous pirate Blackbeard.

I originally added Blackhearts to my TBR because PIRATES! Pirates have had my interest since grade school days. Also because I don’t see any Pirate YA novels around that actually has real pirate personas as characters. Upon learning that this will be about his pre-piracy life though, my level of excitement still didn’t falter because like I said, I find Blackbeard to be one of the most interesting pirates along with Edward Low, Anne Bonny, and Mary Read. What I didn’t expect however, is for this book to be almost completely about romance between Teach and Anne.

Edward “Teach” Drummond is a son of a wealthy merchant who has a penchant for sailing the seas. He has just gotten back after years in the sea. Anne however, is an illegitimate daughter of another merchant who became a maid in the Drummond household. Their first meeting didn’t go well. It was hate at first sight. I found this quite amusing actually and I thought that it was the start of a really good read but my amusement stopped there.

Others may call Anne headstrong but to me she’s an arrogant girl who doesn’t know her place. She’s a maid but the way she talks to Teach, her young master, is full of pride and defiance. I’d have lauded her for it had Teach been a spoiled rich kid but he’s not. Everything she hated about Teach was only because of a misunderstanding but she wouldn’t hear of his explanations so she just assumed the worst in him.

Teach also is a difficult character. I have a love and hate relationship with him though. On one hand, he’s not the spoiled rich kid who uses his wealth to take advantage of those inferior to him like what Anne makes him out to be. But on the other, I just don’t like him around Anne. He is obsessed with her and acts as if he knows everything that’s best for Anne. He also has a temper and a tendency for violence but he never used it to harm Anne.

Their relationship wasn’t a spectacular one either, at least in the beginning. Teach was the first one to crack but all I felt was pity towards him because while Anne obviously feels something for him as well, she is a practical girl who has a goal and is set on seeing it come to life. It actually broke my heart a little when it was only Teach who was fighting for her while Anne was all about planning her escape. It was in these parts that I started feeling for the book again and the first time for me to feel sympathy for the characters. Of course Anne eventually opened herself up to Teach and boy did I love her then.

This last quarter of the book is where everything rearranged itself to fall into their rightful places and I found myself flipping the pages faster and faster until there was no more page to turn to. I thought there was no more hope for these characters, but I was wrong because their development is astounding. I can honestly say that this redeemed the whole book for me and I’m just glad that I stuck to it until the end. It’s still not a happy ending though and I’m really hoping for a sequel which is also a reimagination of Blackbeard’s life during piracy because we all know what became of the real Blackbeard and I’ll be damned if another sad ending befall these two.

A copy was received from publisher via Edelweiss for free in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Book Review: Invisibility

Invisibility
by Andrea Cremer, David Levithan
Release date: May 7th 2013
Published by: Penguin

Synopsis:

A magical romance between a boy cursed with invisibility and the one girl who can see him, by New York Times bestselling authors Andrea Cremer and David Levithan.

Stephen is used to invisibility. He was born that way. Invisible. Cursed.

Elizabeth sometimes wishes for invisibility. When you’re invisible, no one can hurt you. So when her mother decides to move the family to New York City, Elizabeth is thrilled. It’s easy to blend in there.

Then Stephen and Elizabeth meet. To Stephen’s amazement, she can see him. And to Elizabeth’s amazement, she wants him to be able to see her—all of her. But as the two become closer, an invisible world gets in their way—a world of grudges and misfortunes, spells and curses. And once they’re thrust into this world, Elizabeth and Stephen must decide how deep they’re going to go—because the answer could mean the difference between love and death.

I didn’t know what to expect when I started reading this, but I admit that the summary sounds like the typical supernatural with cliché romance. It should’ve been the red light for me, but this came highly recommended by a friend who I borrow books from. We were supposed to fangirl together, but after reading I definitely need to pass on the fangirling part.

Stephen was born invisible, like he literally came out of his mother and nobody was able to see him. Creepy, right? Later, we learn that it’s because of a curse that was actually put on her mother by his grandfather. He lives in an apartment building alone. His mother is dead and his father has a new family, but still supports Stephen financially. Elizabeth and her family, on the other, has just moved to the same apartment as Stephen. When they met; surprise, surprise! She could see him. The first and only person ever to be able to see Stephen. And then they fall in love.

It seems weird that Stephen managed to live all alone in an apartment building for so long without anyone noticing something weird about him. Even when it was explained that everything he needed, he took to the Internet to get, like ordering groceries online or online school, it still sounded way too easy and convenient.

The beginning of the book actually looked promising and I really thought that I was gonna like it but I was wrong. As the story progressed, I found myself seriously trying hard not to facepalm. And I couldn’t feel any sort of attachment towards the characters. The only one that came close was Laurie, Elizabeth’s younger brother, who’s gay. He was the only rational character. He tries to be funny most of the time but also fails most of the time. The others are just flat-out boring. I think the only unique part about this book is Stephen’s invisibility but then his situation can also be paralleled to other supernatural YA wherein the guy meets a one-of-a-kind girl who is the first ever person who can do something that no one has ever done to him in a supernatural kind of way. I like that there’s a Tiny Cooper reference here though but still, I’m sad to say that Invisibility just doesn’t cut it for me.

Rating: 2/5 stars