The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes (Hunger Games #0)

 Author: Suzanne Collins

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Number of Pages: 439

Publisher: Scholastic Press

First Thoughts:

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this book, I've read the first three books and was blown away but after reading this which took place way before the previous books I wasn't sure I would be able to get into it. And in a way it was true, I had a hard time attaching myself with the characters. Not to mention it's been awhile since I read the first three books. It took me awhile to read this book because I just couldn't get into it until I finally forced myself to read it. And thank goodness I did because I would've missed out on an emotional deep amazingly detailed story. This was President Snows story and why he became the cold hard man he is.

Summary:

Coriolanus Snow is young and is struggling to just keep a roof over his head. Not many know he has money troubles but he is determined to graduate and able to go to college but where is he going to get the money?

The Hunger Games are about to start again and he wants to snag one of the most coveted spots in it; being a mentor. If his tribute wins, he not only gets the glory but he gets into college and money, oh the money. He could keep his late parents place, his reputation intact. 

Then comes Lucy Gray from district 12. She's anything but dark. She has spunk but can she actually win this thing?

Snow is desperate to win this thing but with winning comes deception. Can Coriolanus pull this off or will his family's once honored name be strike from the books?

Plot:

This book is the prequel to The Hunger Games, and gives an in-depth look into Snows young adulthood. It takes place before he became president. You get to see the struggles he was dealt with that shaped him to become the man we saw in the first three Hunger Games books. It was very weird at times and by the end there were so many questions left unanswered, most of them surrounding Lucy Gray. In ways I hated this book but in another way I absolutely thought it was brilliant. 

It takes place with the Hunger Games and Snow being picked to mentor district's 12 girl; Lucy Gray. At first Snow was dreading his tribute; thinking he was so sure he had a loser but soon Lucy shows her inner-beauty and determination. Her voice and outfit catching the eyes of the capital. 

The Hunger Games Is a lot different than the ones we saw in the first two books. You get to see the beginning policies. It was heart-breaking and moving to see how they were treated then. To experience it when it was in it's beginning stages. It was deeply emotional and weird, way different than the Hunger Games we are familiar with. 

It was hard to read, it may be one of the reasons I had to put it down because most of the book was serious. So, be prepared, find that one  sure fire book to cheer you up. Definitely know if you've read the first three books, this is a must read!

Romance:

The relationship between Snow and Lucy is complicated. I think it was a one sided relationship. One just wanted to desperately make a connection while the other let life complicate it. This was not a strong point for the book like it was in the first three books. So if you're looking for a romance book, this isn't it.

Characters:

Lucy Gray was the saving grace of this book. Without her personality  and spunk this book would've been unreadable. She was so well developed that it took a very deep and dark story into moments of relief. I'm not saying she was bright all the time but she was the comic relief in this book. And the other characters were interesting in the sense that they had their own roles and most of them stood out. The other tributes were different for sure, some nice others not so much. These characters have a lot of depth. They don't just fill the spaces, most of them contribute very important things in the story. Whether they contributed to the climax of the story or even the stepping stones to storyline they are all important.  Snow was the main focus in this book. This book was mainly written for him, to show the readers where he was before he became president. One thing to know is this was focused on the path to presidency but not the presidency itself. You look at Snow in the beginning. 

Transformation of Character: 

Snow changed the most in this book. He changes from something so innocent into something undeniable. At first his changes were subtle, he was struggling with inner turmoil and then near the end it became more prominent and it was hard to see. And then by the last word, everything had changed. Lucy maybe made subtle changes by the end of the book. During the games is when she changed some. But like with Katniss in the other 3 books you can see why that would happen. Overall, I think this was an important aspect of the book.

Description:

There was a lot of details in the scenes in this book, maybe even too much. It was so dark and weird. I remember the snake scene so well, and the Hunger Game itself. It's been months since reading this book and there's scenes that will be hard to forget. Details I don't even wish to remember. It took a lot of will power to just finish this book, not because it was terrible writing but because it dealt with serious problems. Ms. Collins can really let the reader picture what's happening in each scene. The description was great in this book, you were able to read like you can watch tv. I've seen there are a lot of complaints about the weird descriptions and things happening and I have to say I somewhat feel that way but you have to understand that's what kind of world that is. You can't change the world based on preference, you have to press on. So though weird things happened it had to happen and it made the book even more relatable and true.

Style:

I absolutely love Ms. Collins writing. She's talented and very creative. Just creating a prequel for the first three books after so long was amazing. I don't want to say this book was bad because it absolutely wasn't but it takes a special kind of person to both start this book and finish it. I loved seeing Snow's point of view because you didn't get it in the previous three books. You just saw him as the antagonist without the background. I loved seeing the way the characters were introduced, it allowed the audience to get better perspectives on the world and to see how some consequences came to light and what cause them. 

Quote of the Book:

" "Do you hear that, Coriolanus? It's the sound of snow falling.""

Last Thoughts:

Though it took me a while to read this book I led it. Some readers might not be able to enjoy this book like I did but if you read the previous book I would recommend this book. At least attempt to read it. But if you don't want a serious read then don't even attempt to read this. Also if you do end up reading this I advise to have a more light/funny book to read. It will allow you to take a break from this book and then pick it right up after you've had time to "rest."

Rating:

4 Blooms!

The Brightest Night (Origin #3) Review

 

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Number of Pages: 512

Publisher: Tor Teen

First Thoughts:

I was anticipating this the moment I finished reading "The Burning Star (Origin #2). This series is addicting. I love Ms. Armentrout's writing. She's not just a great writer but amazingly creative. This book did not disappoint and the ending? OMG! I did not expect to cry while I read through the book but boy did the tears flow. So be prepared and get a box of soft Kleenex's and be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster of a story.

Summary:

Evelyn's life has done a complete 180 since Luc came back into her life.  She's no longer the person she used to be and more conflicted than ever before except about Luc...Luc...Luc...she could never be conflicted about Luc anymore; right?

Both Evelyn and Luc are on the run. They find solace in a secret compound formed to protect the "good guys". But with a secret compound comes greater conflict. Evelyn's considered dangerous after her "transformation" but her heart is good. How do you convince the good guys that your good too?

Soon they find themselves in the fight of their life, their paths twist and turn so much that it's hard to see the path meant for them, in the end will Both Evelyn's and Luc's path go side by side or will they twist so much that they break apart?

Join in the rebellion, your new family is waiting for you....

Plot:

So much happened in this book. The plot was amazing, sometimes predictable but the ending was anything but. This has a pretty fast pace, though some believe it to be a little slow at times. As for me it's anything but. Ms.Armentrout's writing is like a drug, I can't get enough of it. This was 512 pages of pure ecstasy, an adrenaline rush at every turn. You learned more about Eve's "abilities" and even more about Luc. There was a lot more you learned not only about the characters but about the world itself. You have to read the first 2 books before reading this one or you'll be confused. This is another notch on the bedpost. It builds on from the first 2 books. I don't want to go into too much detail on the count it's best experienced from being the reader but be prepared for deep slumbered emotions. You might think what's going to happen won't affect you but oh will it! Don't say I didn't warn you! 

Romance:

Evelyn's and Luc's relationship is one of fairytales. The love between them is so sweet and deep that no one could ever doubt they were meant to be together till the bitter end. Everyone craves that so sweet love that Eve and Luc have. But behind every picture perfect love comes...complications. The end will leave you gasping and confused. Be prepared!

Characters:

Luc is such a lovable character at times and also frustrating at others. And Eve? She has a heart of gold but seems to doubt herself more than she does to the new people she meets. The compound they end up in brings on almost a whole new set of characters, each donned in their own personality and life. I really enjoyed meeting some old characters as well and some that were named in the previous 2 books but were only met in this one. They created this world and together they made something special. Each character had their own but necessary role. Some characters I hated but not any fault from the author more as it was on purpose. I fell in love with some characters as well, especially Grayson. It took awhile but once I found out more about him I can't all but love him. Zoe was there and so was Damien. All I'm saying is this book added so much more in-depth characters! You just got to see for yourself.

Transformation of Character:

A lot of the characters transformed in more ways than one. Luc was still lovable but different by the end (nope! You can't get the reason out of me I swear!). Eve did some changing but was still just as lovable. I wouldn't really say this was the strong point of the book except for one character; Grayson. He had this whole other side to him that comes out slowly, chapter by chapter.

Description:

There's a lot of emotional description in this book. It's sharp at times and smooth at others. I loved the description of the disserted city, it was so well written and easy to imagine. The compound they stay at is well described also, you can picture each little fine detail that it's like you're actually there. But like I mentioned above, the emotional description has got to be one of the best parts of this book. Without the emotion this book would fall flat. I got into each characters head, some by other characters conversation and some from the main point of view. But it's exciting at parts and devastating in others. I don't really want to ruin this book for you so I'll just leave it as this; without one tiny grain of sand in the oyster there could never be the pearls of the book.

Style:

Loved the writing!! I know it might sound redundant but I can't stop saying this author knows how to write! She's creative and very talented. This was written in Eve's point of view. You got in her head and it allowed the audience to have some secrets hidden to create a more exciting and fun story to experience. It was written in first person so you really got into Eve's head. Though I wanted to get in Luc's head. He's such a complex and complicated character that it would be amazing to get a glimpse into his head; what makes him tock? Though I must admit most of the time the reasons behind his decisions lies in the heart of the one he loves the most. I enjoyed this book to the very last page but the author's decision at the end left me itching to want to read the next book and I don't know when it'll come out. Just the two dreaded words, "Coming soon."

Quote of the book:

"I rested my cheek against his shoulder. "Do you think he will come back?"

"I think so."

"Why?"

"Because after meeting you, I don't see how anyone could stay away.""

Last Thoughts:

I cannot wait to read the fourth and final book. I want it to be published already but again I don't. I don't want to have to say goodbye to such a great cast of characters. And this world? Though I personally wouldn't want to live in it, I still want to see it expand. I want to see just one book where there's no issues just pure bliss. Guess you can't get everything you want. Am I the only one wanting a book like that? Huh? Guess so...

Rating:

4 Blooms (the ending caused that last bloom to fall to the ground, along with my tears.)

The Duke and I (Bridgertons book #1) Review

Author: Julia Quinn

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Number of Pages: 384

Publisher: Avon Books

Warning! For Mature audience only! Definitely steamy scenes for sure!

First Thoughts:

Like many of you I only just discovered this series by watching Season 1 of "The Bridgertons" on Netflix. I instantly fell in love with the show. So when I heard it was based off a book, I was beyond excited. And to add to the excitement my birthday wasn't too far off and was able to snag the whole series for my present! Now that was awesome. I immediately started the first book and wow! I thought the show was awesome but the book? Even better! You get more insight and backstory, it was like I missed parts of the story in the show. The first season of "The Bridgertons" is based off just this one book. So without any more lengthy wording, here's exactly what I thought of the book.

Summary: 

In the buzzing city of London in the 1800's Daphne Bridgerton is in search of her special someone. She's the fourth out of 8 children in the Bridgerton family. The first daughter of the Bridgerton family and she has a lot riding on her shoulders. Not just any eligible bachelor will do. And though most of the men who are eligible are her friends many only see her that way; a friend. Daphne feels the pressure from her mother to find a husband but unable to bear any of the men she's seen countless times she has to seek a plan.

Duke Simon Basset has had a hard childhood, not beloved by his own father and his mother dying at birth, there leaves a lot to be desired. He wants nothing more than to be single the rest of his life but being a Duke other things are expected.

Together the two form a "fake" relationship. Daphne can look more disable and Simon can take a break from the crushing elite society but can they ignore the sparks flying between them?

Plot:

The story was captivating the moment it started at Simon's backstory. I was intrigued with the Bridgerton family. It was a bit dramatic at times but it just added to the excitement. If you expect this to be just like the show you'll be pleasantly surprised. In this first book there was no Queen; no prince. This wasn't Daphne's first "Season." But I found a new love in the book. I love both the book and the show but in different ways. In the book you experience a little more of detail and inner-thoughts. You see more on the lives of the characters. Daphne wants to start a life of a wife; she wants children but she can't seem to catch the eye of any of the men in the elite society. Everyone knows her because of her name. But all the men only see her as a friend. Then, Simon comes into Daphne's life, and with a certain finesse they form a plot to appear together though their relationship is a farce. Simon doesn't want to date and Daphne wants to be married. Being in a relationship with Simon they both get what they want. Since Simon is a Duke being in a relationship with him will make Daphne desirable; the diamond of the season! I really liked that the book took different turns than in the show. This plot was filled with hidden gems and made reading the book fun and exciting!

Romance:

The romance was more pronounced in the book more than the show. You really got to know both Daphne and Simon. The love they feel starts as a spark and then dials up the more they spend time together. They both want to deny the feelings they have for each other but they also seem to proud to admit the love they have for each other. But when they are compromised they are forced to do something one loves the other hates. Soon the battle of wills comes head to head and their fate will be determined. The romance was definitely one of the best parts of this book! Hello! If you hate romance then this isn't worth your time.

Characters:

I think my favorite character has to be Simon. He has so much stacked against him and yet he has such a beautiful soul. The books starts with him as a kid then moves to him as an adult. He's such a complex person. He is having to constantly control his feelings and I'm sure it exhausts him. He has to be one of the strongest character in this book. Daphne is a well rounded character too but she's different. Such polar opposite than Simon. She had a good childhood (aside from losing her father). It was just fun watching these two characters join together. The secondary characters like Daphne's family were just as important. They made the book more enjoyable because they had life of their own. Definitely a great part of this book.

Transformation of Character:

Both Daphne and Simon had a beautiful change. Daphne's change was more subtle than Simon's but still beautiful and fun the read. Simon was such a hard and gentle soul. It took a lot for him to just accept himself. He was a relatable character and he had the most to gain from a transformation.

Description:

It had a lot more detail than the movie for sure. It was wonderful to get more detail of the 1800's elite London society. All of the parties they have go through the wee hours of the night. I loved the way the London city landscape was described. I've never visited London(definitely not the 1800's LoL). It was great to picture the different high society mansions. This was a great detailed book and it made me want to read more about this society; to immerse myself in this detail because at times it was so "juicy". The thrill of gossip and seeing how the characters interact with each other and the situations that was thrown their way. This author was great at attention to detail. Definitely worth the sometimes lengthy detail about the situations.

Style:

This was written from the perspective of Simon and Daphne. Definitely the perfect for this style of book. It allowed the reader to get a more detailed picture of why the characters were reacting the way they were. I loved reading Ms. Quinn's writing. It was so smooth and enjoyable. I sometimes shy of reading books based in the past because things can get crossed and contradict what it really was like back then, but this book did not disappoint. It was fun and adding in Lady Whistledown was just the edge it needed. The suspense was wonderful, who was Lady Whistledown and how did she know the society's best kept secrets? And unlike the tv series we were not shown who it was in this book. Each chapter Lady Whistledown's gossip was splayed before the story continued. Thank you Ms.Quinn for such brilliant talent!

Quote of the Book:

"She felt tremors spread through her body, a stange shaking over which she had no control. And then she realized she was crying. Without a sound, without even a caught breath, she was crying.

    Dear God, what was she going to do?"

Last Thoughts:

I don't think I can truly explain how fun and great this book was! I absolutely fell in love with this world and would recommend it to anyone 18 and older and who loves a good romance! I will definitely read the entire series because I definitely love the writing and romance! I'm such a sap! So what are you waiting for? Get to your bookstore of choice and get it!!!

Rating:

4 Blooms!!

Echoes Between Us Review

Author: Katie McGarry

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Number of Pages: 384

Publisher: Tor Teen

First Thoughts:

I quite honestly thought this book was going to go a different way by just reading the summary. But boy was I wrong. What looked to start as a typical ghost story turned into something much more Psychological. It was a deep down psychological and emotional story. it had parts that really grabbed me and parts that set me with unease. I saw that a lot of readers thought this was a great story but it didn't hit me right. 

Summary:

Veronica is trying best to keep the secret that she has a brain tumor. As innocent as she portrays the tumor to be, she thinks it would turn her world upside down if anyone besides her dad, a few friends and doctors knew about it. She especially doesn't want the boy that just moved into the apartment under her house to know. 

Enter Sawyer, the picture perfect all star swimmer. But Sawyer has a secret of his own. One that is slowly consuming him, one that only he knows about. But Sawyer is one of the popular kids at small town high school. Secrets are bound to be told.

Veronica and Sawyer start on a journey of self-discovery, where they are bound by a school project and the ghosts that Veronica is determined to prove are real. But will their two secrets be revealed and if they are will Veronica and Sawyer be ready to own up to them?

Plot:

I thought this book would be more syfy and less emotional roller-coaster. It started in a typical manner, an opening scene of a breakfast between father and daughter. And Veronica has an obsession to prove, one she tells herself has to be real because if it wasn't meant something much worse. There's constantly a pull of emotions as characters come in and out throughout the story. It adds more dramatic pieces and slowly the plot thickens and causes the reader to want to want to read more; to stop only until the book ends. I mean the plot was good, took a turn I didn't anticipate but for an average reader, I think they'd like this book. My opinion is that it started off rocky but snowballed into something better by the end. I still have mix emotions about the story line. There was some dark scenes in this book, scenes that could cause a reader to want to put the book down. (at least that's what it did to me at parts.) Overall I can see how attractive the plot would be to most readers but like I mentioned above it didn't settle well with me.

Romance:

The relationship between Veronica and Sawyer was unexpected in the way that they would fit together. To me they had personalities that would clash and yes it did at times. It kind of seemed too easy to pair the two, like it was predictable in that way. But in the end it was okay, not the shining aspect of the story.

Characters:

Veronica was hard to connect with to me. She had a whole a lot of barriers up that made it hard for the reader to connect with. But as I got to know exactly what Veronica's life was like and how hard it was for her to deal with life's problems made it more connectable. But Veronica was a complex character, she had all of these beliefs that she thought were real and had such a tender heart. When I did connect with her, I became a fan of her. She was weak at times and others the bravest of souls.

Sawyer was a more rough kind of character. His personality had sharp edges that made it hard to understand. But as information was released throughout the story it was easier to understand him.

The rest of the secondary characters were introduced well and gave a good spectrum of personalities. Like Veronica's dad, he is not one of my favorite characters but then you get someone like Veronica, whose whole life is like balancing on a tight rope above a tank of piranhas. Definitely an interesting piece of the story.

Transformation of the Character:

Veronica definitely transformed as the reader was able to understand her. She had so much against her but those obstacles just pushed her over the edge. She had to break out of her "cocoon" because the alternative was way too dark for her. Sawyer did his own kind of transforming, I felt you didn't get his whole transformation by the end of the book but you were able to see some transformation. 

Description:

The scenery was well crafted to allow the reader to imagine each part, allowing the imagery to be pasted to our minds. There were some intense moments and the reader was able to really imagine the scene as it played out. One of the best scenes was the where Veronica and Sawyer first went out looking for ghosts by the bridge. That scene really made the reading experience terrifying and fun. The emotional part of this book was well described, I found myself on the verge of tears at parts. It really grabbed the reader and allowed them to understand what the character was feeling and thinking in some serious situations.

Style:

This was written in first person, it allowed the reader to understand what was going on in the character's mind. The emotional connection was better suited for first person. This was meant to be a deep and emotional book and it wouldn't have made such an impact if it was in 2nd or third person. This was also written in two point of views; Veronica's and Sawyers. I loved that it was two different point of views, it allowed a wider range of emotional connection. As for the writer's writing it was well written and enjoyable. As much as I have bashed this book, the writing itself isn't one of the reasons I had a hard time of connecting with the story. The author has a way with words that causes the reader to want to continue reading even though it doesn't connect with the reader.

Quote of the Book:

" "What's important is that you're comfortable with your body and how you decide to use it. If you want to kiss the boy and he wants to kiss you, you kiss. If you don't want to kiss the boy, you don't. Kissing is magical, but it's not magical enough to make your wounds heal. Only time can do that.""

Last Thoughts:

Even though I had parts of the book I didn't like doesn't mean I hated the book. It had it's moments. I think I really started to connect with the story when the characters became more serious; more realistic. I enjoy this author's writing and will continue to read other stories by her. I really; truly hope you will enjoy this book, maybe it's me; maybe I'm the reason it wasn't my favorite. Worth a try, happy reading!

Rating:

3 Blooms!

The Burning Shadow(Origin #2) Review

Date Published: October 8, 2019

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Number of pages: 432

Publisher: Tor Teen

First Thoughts:

Eeekkk! I love this series! It's not often a series takes me by surprise like this one does! I remember reading the first book "The darkest Star." I had no experience with this series's world. I wasn't expecting much from it but after reading "The Darkest Star" I was pretty hyped up. What caught me by surprise was, I had forgotten that another book in the series had come out last October. It wasn't until I stepped in Barnes and Noble's for the first time in months, that I had remembered. (Last year was a hard reading year for me.) And just like with the first book, I devoured this one too.

Summary:

Evelyn nicknamed "Evie" thought her life was going to finally get back on track, if only she didn't have gaps in her memory. Add in Luc, an Orgin and her life just becomes even more tangled. 

To make things worse, a mysterious illness/deaths are rising. And guess whose at the wrong end of the stick? Yep, the Luxen. But is it really them that is causing this "flu" like illness? Or is it something much more sinister?

Evie must try and figure out the missing pieces in her memory before the past tries to catch up to her. And things are happening to Evie, things she rather push to the furthest place in her mind. Things no "human" can do. 

Will Evie solve her memory problems? and will the mysterious Luc finally reveal some secrets of his own? 

Plot:

There were some predictable areas in this book and then some surprises! But the ending was a mixture of them both. Not going to spoil it for you but it definitely had a plot twist at the end. I loved that there were moments of comic relief because this book packed a lot of emotions! And not to spoil too much we did have to say goodbye to a few characters...it made me almost cry. But besides the intense emotions there was also some funny moments. Without them I don't think I could've finished this book as fast as I did or finished it period. This book was packed with action so it doesn't bore the reader. And there was some mystery to this book in the form of unexpected occurrences. Like I mentioned above, I could predict what would happen if not exactly then pretty similar. But there's nothing like a surprise. I love being surprised in a book and this book had a few. 

Romance:

There definitely were some heated scenes. Especially from Evie and Luc. I know, I know, anyone could've predicted there would be something between the two of them. It was quite predictable, it was fated in my opinion that they would end up together. Quite honestly I thought they were together in the first book (like an actual couple) but apparently they weren't. Anyways if you don't like some "heavy" breathing romance scenes (no sex), then I would caution you to read this series.

Other than Evie and Luc's budding relationship there were other couples and I enjoyed reading about them. Nothing like seeing young love!

Characters:

Evie is a fun but at times frustrating character to read about. She has this great personality but also at the same time blocks herself from achieving things. But she's still fun to read along with and Luc, honestly can be worse than her. But Evie is a complex character. She sometimes puts roadblocks in front of her when there shouldn't have been any to start with. She definitely tries hard, she honestly doesn't want to harm anyone(well any innocent people or otherwise). But I also think were not seeing all there is to know about Evie. Which I know makes a book so good. (who wants to read a book where we know everything about the main character in the first half of it?!)  

Luc is definitely a firecracker. He likes to rile people up for situations he can't control. He has this dedication to protecting others especially Evie. He thinks he's in control of things when in reality he shouldn't have that control to begin with. But he is definitely fun to read along with as with the other secondary characters.

Transformation of the Character:

Evie is still evolving in this book and I quite honestly believe she will continue to evolve until the end of time. She's complex like I mentioned above and with that comes details we may never find. She still has this problem of facing her problems. She can't seem to push past them, she likes to let it fester like a thorn under the skin. She rather push it to the very back of her mind until she explodes. So she does has some growing up to do.

As for Luc and the others they evolved some, Luc more than the others but he definitely has awhile to go also.

Description:

The detail is very much one of my favorite things about this book. The way a Luxen looks when in it's true form is very well described. And the emotions?! Phew, I sometimes had to step back for a bit because it was so well described that it was powerful. The scenery was well described also, they way she described the characters and surroundings allowed the reader to get a pretty good idea on how the characters interacted with it. Best part by far, is the way she describes things that pipes the readers interest. It's all about the way to draw the reader in, to catch their attention. This is what the author did and excelled at.

Style:

This was written in first person, which allowed the reader to get a better grasp on what was happening and to understand the story line better. This was also written in only Evie's point of view so really, the main focus of the book was on her and the ever-changing things infecting her life.The author's writing is also a big "wow". This author has a way with words that invite the reader in and allow them to be snared, making it hard to put the book down. She is by far one of my favorite authors because of her excellent writing.

Quote of the Book:

""You never struck me as the type to ever be afraid," I said, being honest.

"Usually I'm not, but when it comes to you..." He trailed off, looking away. A muscle flexed along his jaw. He inhaled deeply.

"We'll figure this out.""

Last Thoughts:

Loved this book and hopefully come October I'll remember this time to pick up the next book in this series called, "The Brightest Night." I would totally recommend this book to YA readers, and if you still haven't checked this series out, you so should!!! Thank you's to the author for creating such a creative and thrilling world, till next time....

Rating:

4 Blooms!

The Vanishing Season(book 4 of The Collector Series)

Date Published: May 21, 2019

Author: Dot Hutchison

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Number of pages: 317

Publisher: Thomas & Mercer

Warning! Book 4 of this series! Should read books 1-3 first to truly enjoy this book.

First Thoughts:

Sad to see an end to this series. Though in all honesty it ran it's necessary course and ended just right. I will miss the sparky and real characters. I will miss these amazing thought-out cases. It all started in a butterfly garden, where girls had tattoo butterfly wings on their backs, the very first case in this series. And it ended in a very emotional and very heart-pounding case. If you like the other books you will definitely love the characters in this journey. If you haven't read any of the other books, can I suggest you read them?! Anyways, let me wipe my eyes, blow my nose and start this review!

Summary: 

FBI agent Eliza Sterling is on a case that she has to solve before another girl's fate ends badly. With the help of her fellow group of agents this should be easy right? Well it's not easy solving a case that might involve Agent Eddison's missing sister. Eddison is doing his best to contain his emotions as this case rapidly increases as it becomes apparent that the abducted girl isn't the only one involved in this case. They have to rush to find Brooklyn before it's too late.

Eddison's temper and emotions are spiraling out of control but can Eliza bring Eddison back from this darkness in time to help solve the case or will he be more of a liability? With the help of her fellow agents theys rush to solve this case of both abducted Brooklyn and the missing girls that formed over years. Will these girls cases finally get solved or will Eddison drag all the agents down with him.

Plot:

Just like with the other three books, the case is a tough one to solve and read. It still surprises me that something like this book has probably in one form or another come to past in reality. 

I love books that are like this. The good guys trying to make a imprint in this world. The plot really becomes deep in parts and makes the reader want to comfort the agents who are battling the bad guy(s). It deals a lot with the agents trying to solve this case that actually evolves to more. It becomes a man-hunt to solve who could've taken Brooklyn and why. And why is it when Eliza gets closer to touch deeper in the case she's pushed 3 steps back? Eliza is determined to solve this case and others, so that she may one day see a happy ending. 

This plot was up and down and dealt with a lot of emotions. Though it necessarily didn't make me cry it still was an emotional roller-coaster. And the cases were thoroughly picked apart by Eliza and her fellow FBI agents. Definitely a good plot that had only a few dry spells. And by dry I mean slow and kinda boring. But overall it was a pretty good plot.

Romance:

Eliza and Eddison are dating and their relationship was definitely tested in this book. With Eddison's little sister's case possibly being connected to Brooklyn's his anger slowly builds. And with anger comes things you wouldn't normally do. Eddison's anger towards the world comes to come against Eliza. I have mixed feelings about their relationship. With what Eliza dealt with, I'm not sure I could've stayed. With my past especially. Overall this wasn't the best part of the book.

Characters:

Eliza was such a strong character. She had so much thrown at her. When we met her in the previous books she was kind of a "just there" character. She supported her fellow agents but you couldn't see her true colors until this book. We got to see her step up. See her finally get rid of that wedding dress from her first almost wedding to a previous guy. But man I literally cheered when she did that. I think I might of yelled when it came across that part. In this book she was the lead on this case. She took it by the reins. but by no means was able to solve it by herself.

Eddison another primary character was an emotional character. He was kinda a weak character in this particular book. But I guess you would be weak when your missing little sister became a possible connection with the new case. 

The other agents were good in their own parts. The visiting "butterflies" were fun to see and it allowed the reader to be okay with the series ending.

Transformation of the Character:

Eliza blossomed in this book as I mentioned above. She really shone in this book and it made me excited to see just how much she did bloom. I thought she was weak in the other books but when it came time to help put relief to Eddison's torment she really grew up. 

Eddison on the other hand transformed in a different way. He had a different kind of hurdle. When a case hits close to home you're bound to have a harder time with the case as than the other agents. He had to come to terms that his little sister may have been a part of this case. He gets super emotional and moody. He doesn't really try to get better in my opinion until the case comes to a conclusion. Not going to spoil it but he definitely wasn't that transformed like Eliza.

Description: 

There was definitely good descriptions in this book. The findings of bones and how they were found and described was phenomenal. The author really did her research. It seemed so legit that I doubt it was made up! And how she described Eddison's emotions really got to me. It was like I was right there with him. Even though I mentioned I thought Eddison was a weak character doesn't mean I didn't like him. I honestly can't blame him for how he felt because I would feel the same way. But the author really got the reader to engage with the book and it's description. It was like I was actually there! One roller-coaster of a book ride!The scenery was well polished and pulled at the reader. Really liked this part of the book.

Style:

This was written in multiple P.O.V.s but mainly Eliza's. I liked the way the author chose to choose when necessary to add in the other point of view. Eliza's point of view was definitely important but it was definitely in the best interest of the book to add in other point of views. Especially when it came to understanding exactly what was going on. Also this book was written in first person. It allowed the reader to connect with Eliza. There's only so much you can get out of third person or even second person. But as this story being a FBI book, you needed to get in the head of the person really into the case.

The author's writing itself was beautiful. Really caught the readers attention. Not rocky but at times sharp. Definitely would recommend her writing. 

Quote of the Book:

""Faith? You're not out here all alone, are you?"

She stopped on the sidewalk and looked up. "umm...that depends," she hedged. "Are you going to tell my mama?"

The man smiled. "No, I won't tell her anything.""

Last Thoughts:

Man, I miss this series already. Though I'm trying to take a break on FBI books. I need something more light. A "happy" book if there really is any. I would totally recommend this book to anyone who likes pyschological thrillers or FBI based stories. Of course, if you liked any of the first three books then you would definitely be down for this book. Be ready for your life to be changed!

Rating:

4 Blooms! 

The Darkest Star Review

Date to be published: October 30, 2018

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

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Number of Pages: 368

Publisher: Tor Teen

First Thoughts:

I literally devoured this book in a matter of a day or so. I literally couldn't put this book down (that's how good it was). If you loved Jennifer's Lux series you're going to love her Origin series just as much! The characters are just not feisty and yummy but they're really mysterious and devour-able. The Lux are at it again and you won't want to miss what else they have up their sleeves! 

Summary:

Evie's life is turned on its end the night she meets Luc in the one place she's not supposed to be; a club where Luxen mingle with humans. There she meets Luc who is not only mysterious but comes to her aid when the club is raided.

Soon the two's lives become intertwined. No matter how hard Evie fights it, it only seems to bring Luc closer. As the days start to add up, Evie's life gets more and more uncontrollable. She learns things about her past and Luc and soon she has nothing to control anymore. Will Evie recover from what she's learned in time to face the real problem? The problem that no one saw coming?

Plot:

Jennifer did a great job on keeping the reader entertained the entire book; not once was I bored. I was itching to turn each page faster; wanting to absorb Evie's world. This book took place after the war between the humans and the Luxen. We learn even more about the Luxen and the characters past and present.  I will admit, I wasn't this absorbed in the Luxen series as I was with this one. You don't have to read the Lux series to start this series! You can start with this book, it pretty much tells you all you need to know to get this book. You can always go back and read the Lux series later. Also, this book had so much going on, new and old characters introduced, elements new and old but it still drew me in. It was heart breaking at times and laughable at others. But this book really dealt with mental strength for Evie. She was put through some terrible things and yet had to decide whether to come out stronger or let it devour her. The ending left me wanting more and there will definitely be more in this series and I can't wait to devour them too! I want to know what happens next! Lots of twists and also some predictable parts too but it didn't seem to bother me. I still enjoyed reading it.

Romance:

Okay, the tension between Luc and Evie was sexual and high! Though almost the entire time Evie was fighting it! So it was frustrating at times to see the two interact but also realastic. I mean realistically speaking you're not going to thrust yourself at a mysterious stranger; someone you just met! He could be a serial killer for all you know! If you're smart, you'll take things slow and that's how the romance in this book played out.

Characters:

Loved, loved, loved Evie and Luc together. The two of them together were a hoot! I literally laughed at them since the beginning. They clashed yet were inseparable at the same time. Without one the other just didn't make sense. Luc has got to be one of my favorite characters of the year so far! He had the perfect attitude and personality. Jennifer did a great job creating him; allowing him in this world at the right moments to make the book more exciting and memorable. Some of Evie's friends like Zoe were good characters too. And Heidi. They were both great supporting characters! They were perfectly introduced into the story at the right moment to help give Evie a supporting hand. Luc's fellows were just as great as he was. I cannot emphasize how much the characters made this book so enjoyable and fun to read! 

Transformation of the Character:

Evie definitely did a lot of transforming in this book; she literally had to. Not only did her life depend on it but so did others. I don't want to go into too much detail on this; I do not want to spoil this book for you...at all. But she did transform and I imagine she will blossom even more as this series progresses.

Description:

I liked that Jennifer described the scenery in a way that it kinda foreshadowed what was to come. She was poetic at times and hilarious at others. By hilarious I mean she described the scene in a way that put the reader at ease but also strung her up by her toes at the same time. It left the reader both frustrated but happy at the same time. The description was brilliant. The way the luxen were described gave the reader a idea on how to identify them later on. Also if you hadn't read the Lux series this was a huge help. 

Style:

This was written in first person and in one point of view. I liked that Jennifer kept to just writing in Evie's point of view because it drew out the answers. It allowed the reader to guess and ponder what it could mean. Evie was ignorant for a lot of the book so it allowed that to happen. Being written in first person allowed the reader to get inside Evie's mind and see exactly how she was going to react to some of the situations. Jennifer's writing was just as eloquent and fun to read as ever. I've been attracted to her writing ever since I picked up her first book. She has a way with words for sure. Her writing draws the reader in....

Quote of the Book (Subject to changed. Read a advanced readers copy):

" "I don't want to talk to you anymore."

"Good...I can think of a lot more interesting things to do in a tiny, dark space that would pass the time."

My muscles locked up. "You try something and you will regret it." "

Last Thoughts:

There's so much to like about this book, the humor parts, the serious parts and best of all the Luc parts. Definitely hands down one of my favorite books by Jennifer. I seriously encourage you to go and pre-order this now. If you liked her Lux series you're going to LOVE her Origins series too! Totally recommend this to sci-fi and Lux readers! Also, if you loved Jennifer's writing in another book, you'll going to love her writing in here! She was utterly brilliant!

Rating:

5 Blooms! Fully Bloomed!