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…

Review & Giveaway! The Rose Society by Marie Lu

                Welcome everyone I have something a bit more exciting today and that is my first giveaway of 2016!  That’s right it’s for a signed copy of the very book I’m going to be reviewing!  All the details will be down below in the rafflecopter.  I had to the pleasure of meeting Marie Lu when she visited Little Shop of Stories in Decatur GA (if you’re ever in the area I highly suggest swinging by the staff are great and make my 3.5-4 hr drive to come to their events worth every minute).  While I was there getting my copy of The RoseSociety signed I thought that there would be others who wouldn’t have the chance to meet her and I got a second copy and had her sign it as well so I could do this very thing!  Sorry for the delay but the end of the year with holidays, baking galore, and such it was a bit crazy.  So that’s enough of that, here are my thoughts on The Rose Society by the wonderful Marie Lu.  This is the sequel to The Young Elites (review) so if you haven’t read that yet there will be some spoilers for that one.

Rating:  5 Stars

                This is a villains story.  We pick up where we left off.  Adelina has suffered in life.  She has been treated badly by both family and friends.  All of this has turned her already dark thoughts down the bitter path of revenge.  When she was with the Daggers she was given the name White Wolf, and now everyone shall fear the White Wolf.  She has fled Kenetta with her sister after being cast out by those she thought of as friends.  Now looking for other Elites to create her own army with one goal, to strike down the Inquisition Axis and anyone who stands in her way.

                This book is intense.  Adelina is not a hero.  She is a villain.  Her powers are fed by fear and hate and they have grown out of her control.  There is a quote, a tagline for the book, and it pretty much sums it up and sends shivers down my arms:  Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends.  Then they betrayed her, and she destroyed them all.  See!  Adelina has found a small piece of family with her sister and their new journey and understanding, their one rule, never use their powers against one another.  Still the sins of the past still linger in her dark mind.  In The Young Elites, I know she was supposed to be the villain even then, but I still thought of her as the hero trying to do right but being put in pretty rough spots.  The Rose Society I never had any grand delusions that she was the hero and what’s more is that I don’t think there is a hero of the book.  Everyone is dark and devious and has their own agenda.  Still I found many instances where she did ‘hero-like’ things, but as her power rages on and out of control she becomes more sinister.  I was blown away by the depth of it all.  I was constantly unsure what I wanted to happen next.

                I can’t say this enough but wow.  Everything is so expanded upon much more.  We see a wider picture of the world they live in and different characters are moving about like pieces on a game board.  Each hungry for something.  I just loved how intricate everything was.  The way characters are developed is just astounding.  More on the Daggers, even getting to know more about Teren had me on edge and considering my thoughts on that man that is something.  We also get to know new Elites, as Adelina builds her own society, two of my favorites are Magiano and Sergio.  Also while her sister was central in the last book, having been kidnapped and providing motivation, in this we get to know her more as a person and see her power unfold. 

                There is so much happening, the last half of the book was just beyond insane.  I was shocked, happy, mad, and everything in between.  The chaos and confusion of emotions was just spot on.  Marie Lu did a spectacular job in this sequel.  I can’t wait for the next book to come out so I can know more.

                 I’d love to hear your thoughts on the sequel and the series as a whole so let me know in the comments below.   Now for the giveaway, it’s pretty simple.  I’m leaving this open for three weeks and announce the winner on February 1^st.  It's also going to be open internationally so everyone can enter!  So share and spread the love!  I’ll be checking the entries of course but look forward to sending this one out!  

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Not your typical Prince Charming...my thoughts on the upcoming book by Krystal Wade

                

Website Goodreads

               If you follow my blog regularly you know I’m a big fan of Krystal Wade and I even had the pleasure of interviewing her for her last book.  I have been a fan since I first got approved to read the first book in her first trilogy Wilde’s Fire.  She had such an interesting story to tell and characters I fell in love with and she even messaged me.  Come on who doesn’t get a little excited and fangirl happy when an author who wrote something you liked speaks to you?  No one with any sense.  She is a very down to earth person and pretty funny as well.  I follow her on Facebook and she has been posting teasers for her upcoming book Charming for some time now and I was lucky enough to snag myself an ARC to review.  Score!  *Did my little happy dance around the apartment*

                They say what doesn’t’ kill you makes you stronger, and that’s great…as long as you don’t die.

                What a tagline.  It says it all right there I think. 

Goodreads Amazon

                Charming is about our 16 year old Haley who once had it all, the prestigious school, great family, tons of friends, a boyfriend, and a bright future until it all fell apart.  Now with an alcoholic father, a bitter little sister, and only a headstone left of her mother she has nothing left.  On the flip side is Chris Charming, with his CEO father, money, school, anything he wants, including a reputation as a trouble maker.  He may not be everything people say he is, Haley knows she isn’t what everyone thinks she is.  He has his own struggles in life and the one thing he wants is: Haley.  Little do either of them know just how determined someone is to bring them together even if it means murder. 
                So yes this is a break from the supernatural type books in the previous series but more suspense/thriller.  What do you do when the guy who has everything you used to have seems to want you as well?  Can he be trusted?  Can you let him in or is it safer to stick to what you know and never let anyone it?  I wanted to devour this book in one sitting and every time I got interrupted I would hurry to get back to it.  I needed to see what was going to happen next, never really trusting anything in the book waiting for the other shoe to drop.  Let’s face it, Haley has it rough and she doesn’t expect good things, hoping for them hurts too much.  I understand that and my heart broke for her.  I think the beauty in this book is that you root for her and want to step into the book and help her through. 
                And you also want to know what the H is going on.  Because let me tell you there is so much happening and you are thinking of a million ways the story could go and who this mysterious person is who plays a sick kind of fairy godmother to her.  I was on the edge of my seat, and with the new chairs at work that is dangerous ground, reading and couldn’t wait to get home to finish it up.  If I didn’t live so close I might have went into an open room and just read but a 6 minute break to get home was all I could take.  I won’t say too much more I don’t want to ruin the surprise for all of you.  I enjoyed delving into the characters, particularly seeing everything and everyone from Haley’s perspective while she tries to find the best solution to an impossible mess.       
                Now knowing there are a variety of tastes and preferences out there, I do want to mention that if it isn’t clear there are some pretty dark times/themes in the book in parts.  This includes child abuse, but let me assure you it’s not gratuitous or in there for shock value.  The violence serves a purpose and moves the story along, so please don’t turn away just from the implied violence there is so very much more to the story and worth the read.  I highly recommend this book to everyone!
                  It comes out October 6^th and I have my official copy pre-ordered with Amazon.  Share your thoughts below!