The Darkest Minds

                Another week down, happy Friday!  I know we are only 15 days into the year but I already feel like things are starting out positive and I'm doing good with my goals and challenges so that's a positive.  If you are not aware one of the challenges I'm taking part in this year is the RockMyTBR challenge which is basically where I try to put a huge dent in my books I already own but haven't gotten to yet.  I have too many to count and I'm a bit ashamed but working on it.  On that list are lots of completed series I am looking forward to marathoning through, some older than others.  One I'm working on finishing only wrapped up last year and that is The Darkest Minds trilogy by Alexandra Bracken.  If you didn't know she has a new book Passenger, part one of a duology, that came out this month that I just adored, full review here.  Now I started her Darkest Minds series last year and read through book one in a weekend but then kept getting snagged up reading book two with life and other reading commitments.  I held off on posting my review hoping to be able to post all three in a relative close time so with book two finally complete I'm ready to push myself into finish the series and share my thoughts.  So today I'm discussing TheDarkest Minds, book one.

Rating: 5 Stars

               

                Kids suddenly come down with this disease that is sweeping the youth of America and it is killing or leaving the kids affected with powers.  There are five different powers that seem to develop and we follow the journey of Ruby who at only ten has her life changed forever.  She is sent to Thurmond, a horrid government controlled "rehab camp" that is more of a prison than rehab.  After being in the camp for six years and hiding the fact that she is one of the more dangerous ones she is found out and barely escapes with her life.  She has nowhere to go and no idea what her next move is when she runs into a small group of kids like herself.  She is drawn to them and their search for the so called safe haven of East River but she is terrified of getting close to anyone and hurting anyone else with her uncontrolled ability.  Still with both the government and the rebels fighting the government both searching for you finding someplace safe is the best option.

                I do like the powers aspect to the story.  I also find it interesting that everyone has one of similar abilities rather than everyone having some completely different ability it gives a set of boundaries and rules.  They are labeled by color: green, blue, yellow, orange, and red.  I also enjoyed that the majority of the story focused around our core group of characters and we really got to know them and feel for them.  When Ruby stumbles into this ready band of friends you can see how close they are.  Liam, Chubs, and Zu have been through lots together already and their connection is very clear and powerful.  Each with their own personality, Zu so sweet and adorable I just wanted to hug her so often and Chubs do I love him and his random facts and point blank attitude.  Then a more open and welcoming member with Liam.  He has this sweet southern boy kind of generosity and kindness even in a world like this. 

                 I enjoyed the story and while the beginning was more action packed and active the middle had more story development than action but I didn't find that to be a problem for me.  I enjoyed getting to know everyone and watching Ruby's struggle.  While at times it did seem a bit excessive that she was convinced she was such a monster and unable to really be close to anyone despite many reassurances otherwise, knowing what she's been through and that she went into the camp at such an early age it really did fit with her character.  Story wise though there were bouts of action and intrigue throughout but more towards the beginning and end.  The only thing I had a bit of a struggle with and I will say this every time but it's more personal preference than anything is chapter length.  I find I fly through books with shorter chapters fast, maybe because if the 'one more chapter' mentality that can lead to half a book later but when the chapters seem like forty plus pages it's harder to do that and makes finding a stopping place harder for short reading breaks.  But again just a personal thing there. 

                Overall, I really enjoyed the world building and the characters and was hooked with that ending.  I needed to know more.  I'm glad I didn't have to wait a year for the next book to find out what happened to some of my favorite characters.  The journey in the story it all made sense and fit the world I was pulled into.  Please share your thoughts on the book below in the comments I'd love to hear what your favorite part was or who was your favorite character.  I look forward to discussing Never Fade soon and hopefully finishing the series as well.

                Until next time…have a great weekend!

Deliverance~ The Conclusion to a Series

                Happy Monday!  I had a very interesting weekend, I finished a couple of books, watched some movies, and tried sleeping off a possible on-coming cold.  So far so good there.  So real quick there is still time in my open giveaway for a signed copy of The Rose Society by Marie Lu, here.  Don't forget you can get one entry each day for just tweeting about it!  Now you may remember I mentioned that I was near finishing a series I started back in 2015, Defiance or The Courier's Daughter trilogy by C.J. Redwine.  I previously reviewed Defiance and Deception if you want to catch up there.  I have also finished the last book, Deliverance and can't wait to share my thoughts with you.  If you haven't finished the first two books there will be spoilers for those two.  

Rating:  5 Stars

                When we left off in Deception things were bad.  Really horribly bad.  Logan was incarcerated with Willow with two parties wanting him and the device both willing to destroy the city to get their way and both stopping him from going after Rachel.  Rachel who was injured and taken by Ian who has a serious rage hate going for Logan wanting him to suffer and hurting Rachel is a good place to do that.  Rachel is fighting for her life trying to escape at any opportunity but as she learns a secret that could put everyone she has left at risk she must hatch a new plan.  Logan our master of plans and last stitch schemes must join forces with the one man he has sought to kill since childhood.  At least until he can take down the larger threat. The enemy of thy enemy is thy friend they say.

                So I was a bit of a wreck through a majority of this book.  I did not in the least like Rachel in Ian's custody but even less as she was injured and not able to fully defend herself against his cruelty.  Thankfully we have Samuel there who is not the most likeable guy but at least he has a strict set of we'll call them morals and is determined to make sure Rachel makes it to the destination without Ian killing her.  I did almost grow to like him and I enjoyed getting to know a somewhat sane person from Rowansmark.  This book was rather dark, with lots of violence and pain happening.  Now the other two books aren't rainbows and sunshine by any stretch but this one seemed more vicious to me, maybe it was that it was the end and our MC's were in the thick of it and really struggling with everything but yeah it was serious.

                One aspect of this book that I really enjoyed was getting to see more of the world.  In Deception we moved in not only more of the Wasteland but also into Lankenshire which was progression.  In the conclusion not only do we get those but we also get to travel to Hodenswald, Chelmingford, and the evil power of Rowansmark.  I loved the travel and getting to meet different heads and seeing how everyone interacted not only with the Commander but with Logan and their band of unlikely allies.  I also just adored that Connor came along and kept on the journey with them.  He was one of my favorite new characters because well, he was kind of a book nerd and he spoke so well and with such purpose and poise that I just kind of swooned for him a bit.  He was a bit of a weakling in the more physical aspects but he could lay a verbal beat down like no ones business.  Such random awkward spills that come out of his mouth just loved him and he was the perfect Lankenshire ambassador. 

                Rachel in the last book was in a very dark place.  She was making decisions and going down a path of revenge and letting nothing or no one stand in her way.  Others were hurt in her blind and sometimes suicidal quest and she didn't care, any cost would balance out if the Commander died.  Quinn, oh wonderful Quinn, took it upon himself to try and make her see things clearly.  That the pain inside bottled up was not helping her and she had to choose to feel to let it in to be able to move on.  That struck true and as much as her stubborn self didn't like it, given what Quinn scarified for her she knew he was right and she turned a corner.  Seeing her whole journey through the books was amazing.  She grew so much and there is a specific moment in the book that basically sums it all up and when you get to it you will know it.  Seeing her in even more dyer circumstances than before but more determined to make it and move through it was beautifully written. 

                Logan is also forced to come to terms with his own issues.  He feels he is a failure and that most things can be traced back to him in some form or fashion and how can everyone not look at him and see that.  He also has to work with the man he's wanted to kill since he was but a child, brutally orphaned.  I really enjoyed watching him continue to work his wonderful mind and try to see every possible outcome and grow more confident in his choices for his family.  When he makes a stupid and crazy decision that goes against the odds and rational thought, soft for women, it was so very Logan.  Also his scenes with Willow, just loved them.  She warmed up several degrees since we first met her.  She is still everything we loved about her but she also has some softness.  As Rachel is with enemies Logan is with, well technically enemies and friends, but he has that group that support system.  We got to see more of Jodi, Adam, Nola, Smithson, Frankie, Drake and so on. 

                Everything was so beautifully written from the characters and the world to the pain both emotional and physical it just came off the page.  I cringed so many times throughout because while I knew it was just a book I still was so invested in the outcome it felt real.    I just loved it!

                I highly enjoyed Deliverance as a book and as a conclusion to the series.  I feel it wrapped up the storylines in a strong finish and also left the world there rip for another story maybe sometime in the future.  Also I should point out after finishing this book I found out there was a Quinn/Willow novella from when they were still with the tree people called Outcast available on kindle which I can't wait to read.  In case you didn't know about it I figured I'd help you out!  Anywho that is all for me today, I would love to hear your thoughts on this series in the comments below. 

                Until next time…

Deception by C.J. Redwine

                Happy Monday!  It is 2016 and I have big plans for the year.  As some of you may have noticed I added a new tab for reading challenges!  I plan to put a serious dent in my reading goal by participating in a couple and just getting right into it because let's face it they sound fun and are basically covering what I already planned to do anyways in 2016!  For more details if you're curious it's laid out there.  I am already making good progress and just yesterday finished the last book in a series I had been working on.  This is important because today I'd like to discuss the second book in the same trilogy, Deception by C.J. Redwine. 

Rating:  5 Stars

                Deception follows book one Defiance (review) where we left off, no wasted time.  Baalboden has been destroyed and only a small group remain.  Rachel is in a hard place having lost the two most important people in her life for so long and she is struggling with that.  Still she has Logan, the one bright spot for her.  Logan who becomes the leader of their rag tag group of survivors.  With the device so many have died over in hand and an army after then to claim it they must leave what is left of their home and face the dangers of the Wasteland.  But that isn't the worst of it as they face obstacles at every angle someone is also threatening them from within.  This puts even more strain on Logan and Rachel as the defacto leaders and pushes them further both physically and emotionally. 

                I was really excited to start this book having loved the first book and wanting to find out more.  I loved Rachel and Logan and seeing from both their perspectives was just…oh so heart wrenching at times.  Rachel has been through more than one should have to deal with and goes down the rabbit hole of her own.  She has been raised to be strong and fight but this isn't a battle she is prepared for.  Consumed with grief and the need for revenge things start to blur.  And poor Logan finding out some harsh truths that shatter his reality and feeling unable to keep those who look to him to lead safe.  He is such a strong character but he has such self doubt and unease.  I really loved the depth to the characters we saw in this book.  I already felt like I knew our mains pretty well but we got so much more from them in this book that I was there with them. 

                 We get to know more and more about the Wastelands and some of the other city-states.  We also get to know even more characters as we move through.  The story is very much one of action and conflict but also about the characters.  I loved getting to know more about Willow and Quinn!  They are just adorable and I just found out there is a novella for them and how they met Rachel's dad that I must read!  Another aspect I really enjoyed was getting to see how the people of Baalboden handled the adjustment.  They lived their entire life in a completely different world, especially the women.  Now they are being lead by someone they didn't think much of before the city fell and a woman who previously would have had no voice or power at all.  Now teaching everyone to survive and to think for themselves.  It was developed beautifully.  

                Overall I think this was a great aspect in the story and the twists and turns were there I mean I didn't see some of them coming at all.  More things are explained throughout as it develops.  There is the character development really kicked up a notch on top of the constant motion and battles.  Stay or run? When there is no clear cut easy answer how do you decide?  Oh and then we come to that cliffhanger.  I was completely at a loss for words.  I won't spoil it for anyone but it is hard to put down and I am so glad I didn't have to wait a year between books or I may have gone a bit crazy.

                That's all I have for now.  Stay tuned for the review of the final book in the Defiance or Courier's Daughter trilogy (it has both names listed in different places) which I plant to have up next week.  I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below on Deception and the Defiance trilogy.  I hope you all are having a fantasist start to 2016!

                Until next time…

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini

                Hello readers!  I hope you had a great weekend.  I completed my first rosette cake, a smash cake for one of the two 1st birthday parties I went to on Saturday, my birthday, so it was full of sweets and birthday cheer!  I think the cake turned out very good!  I'll post pictures below.  What I really wanted to discuss today is a newer release, Firewalker by Josephine Angelini.  This is the sequel to Trial by Fire which I reviewed here.  I was beyond excited to get this book as I had been waiting a long time for it.  This being a sequel there will be some spoilers for the first book as this picks up at the exact moment Trial by Fire left us hanging. 

Rating: 5 Willstones

                Worlds divided, magic slays, and love lies.

                That's the tagline.  Lily is back in her own world, and she's ready to start a new life with Rowan by her side.  After healing from her near death Pyre incident. She now must hide her magic for obvious reasons.  Still things seem much easier than the near constant threat of death she faced in the other Salem with the monstrous Woven and her evil other self.  Still other her, Lillian, the ruthless ruler of the other word is not willing to let her and Rowan go.  She decides if she can't reason her into coming home she will force her hand in any way necessary.

                Firewalker was my other must have release of September 1st and I got right to it.  First I have to mention the cover change.  Now I loved the original cover for book one but the new ones are even prettier.  It's even pretty naked.  Now I'm not a huge fan of my covers not matching but still it's pretty.  Also there is a novella between the two books, it's not necessary it's just from Rowan's perspective as he finds Lily and believes she is Lillian and how he comes to realize that isn't the case.  As I mentioned Trial by Fire may have left us with a cliff hanger, Lily and Rowan about to jump worlds after he said he was sticking with her always.  Super sweet.  Well they jumped.  Downside is that Lily is in seriously bad shape after staying on pyre so long for her first time first fueling her army and then for the world jump.  She needs her mechanics attention.  Turns out coming home also has some troubles besides healing up.  Apparently when you go missing for weeks on end the authorities get involved. 

                Rowan is put into a work he is completely unfamiliar with and tasked with saving his witch with the help of her mother who's head isn't always in this world and her sister in this world, a nurse, who isn't sure what she believes. Tristan of her world is there as well, he has been worried for her since she disappeared.  Her Tristan is like Rowans best friend, he has the power to be a strong mechanic inside of him but in a world without magic he was never awoken but with a witch in this world, and a powerful one, there will be those now drawn to her power if not knowingly. 

                Lily quickly makes a new group of friends and at Rowans insistence her own coven.  There is a lot going on and we see it from different perspectives which was interesting.  There were also lots of flashbacks/memories that Lillian shared with Lily trying to make her see her side of things and convince her to return.  I liked seeing the reversal of roles, Rowan in an unfamiliar setting.  People questioning him.  Though it was like a walk in the park learning to navigate the new world with the internet and such vs constantly being on the move and attacked from all different sides from the cities and the Woven.

                That's all I can really say without giving any spoilers.  Now I want to talk about the characters some more but I have some serious things to say and some will be spoilers.  You've been warned so read on at your own discretion. 

                Lily.  She has grown so much since the first book.  She has come into her power and while it does call to her she is able to resist it and is scared of the feelings it gives her, making her want to lose control.  I agree with Rowan here, her being careful and fearful of losing control makes me think she will never be like Lillian in the sense that she respects the power she was given more.  Still seeing her in her own world, where she left broken hearted and weak and coming back strong in many ways and with the love of her life there with her was great.  She had a huge crush on Tristan and had thought something was finally happening between them when she caught him with another girl and then proceeded to have an episode and went straight to another world.  Seeing her face him again, I was proud of the way she handled herself.  Even as things turned bad and she could have easily sought out solace in him, in that way, she didn't and I really liked that.

New Cover for book 1

                On the flip side, her other world self Lillian changed some too.  Not so much the character changed but our understanding of her changed.  She has always said she has a reason for the evil she has done and she will be the villain to let him stay the hero, that she really loved Rowan and that what she did to him was out of love.  I always thought she had knocked her head or got a bit to high on witch magic with that line of thought.  Every good villain always thinks they are doing what is best.  Still seeing her memories and how her good intentions were turned against her and would create something none of her world would survive I understood.  I still don't agree with her methods and don't think I could ever forgive her some acts, but I understand what was driving her.  That was a unique perspective to have.  Understanding of the villain of the story. 

                Then we have Rowan.  I was cold to him at the start of the first book because he was kind of an ass.  As the story wore on I understood him and his reasoning and conflict but grew to love him.  I was just so happy for him and Lily.  Still I knew something was off from the start.  Knowing everything he had been through I even suspected things.  Still these two suffer from a huge obstacle.  Lies and half-truths.  I think so much of this could have been cleared up with honesty, it would have sucked and it would have hurt but I think it would have been understood and then everyone would have been on the same page.  I also think if Lillian had just been honest she could have saved so much trouble.  While I understand the desire to protect the one you love from that information, I think in the end it would have been easier for him to take. I thought Rowan was a strong character and I think both Lillian and Lily sold him short on what he could handle.  Lily in particular who is always upset about him trying to decide what she can and cannot handle. Though my views on Rowan change by books end.

                The journey of this book, trying to understand the past and find a solution for the future of this world is epic.  Facing the different woven, trying to understand them and feeling their may me more to them.  Firewalker let me more heartbroken and in a state of emotional duress than the first book and all I want is to know what happens next and hope that some things can be fixed, though I'm not sure they have not passed the point of no return.

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                *****Spoilers***** Really need to discuss so only read this next paragraph if you've finished Firewalker*****

                 I went from loving Rowan to having an issue with him and not liking him one bit.  First he is going to leave her, which is a dick move by the way after you swore your place is by her side and you came with her to begin with.  I understood his need to go back but to wish to be apart and keeping it from her was not cool.  Also he's all about wanting to know everything and not be pushed out but he does a lot of secret keeping and pushing her out of things which makes him a hypocrite and I'm never fond of those.  Then back in the other world together all happy and even finally have their alone uninterrupted sexy fun times and it all seems good, minus her small secret but that seems simple now.  Nope then he does the unforgivable.  He sides against her.  He does it by taking her willstones.  That's it for me for him.  I don't care his reasoning behind it and I don’t know if anything could ever make up for it to redeem his character to me.  He made her show him what those creeps did to her and her willstones when they tortured her.  He knew what they did and he vowed to never let that happen to her again.  Then he DID that very thing to her himself.  What they did to her in that place was evil and unforgivable but I feel what he did, knowing that and what it did to her, makes him a bigger monster.  He was too chicken to do that to the evil Lillian whom did horrible things but he was able to do it to the sweet Lily who just wanted to make things better and only wanted to help people, who always tried to respect the power she had been given.  The one whom he said he had always loved, she's the one he was able to torture like that.  I'm curious how he plays into the next book but honestly I'd be okay if he was brutally murdered at this point. 

*****Spoiler rant over*****

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               That's all I have to share about Firewalker.  I did enjoy the book, though it left me an emotional wreck and in desperate need of the next book.  I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys fantasy, magic, witches, parallel universes, rebellions, constantly evolving characters and all that good stuff.  Just be prepared to be in shock and awe.  Tell me what you think in the comments below.  Have you read Firewalker yet?  Tell me what you think about my rant, though please state spoiler in the comment to be safe.  I'm dying to discuss this book with someone!  Until next time.