Review: Through the Ever Night

Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

Release: January 8, 2013

Source: ARC from Epic Reads

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It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable.

Despite its shaky world-building, Under the Never Sky was a fascinating and engrossing read. I grew to love Aria and Perry, and I found the world they inhabited absolutely terrifying. The second installment in the series, Through the Ever Night, begins with Aria and Perry reuniting. They've endured the odds, but bigger obstacles are yet to come.

Aria struggles to find acceptance with Perry's tribe. Understandably, there are those who are skeptical and those that begin to question Perry's ability as leader. This provides more tension, while Aria is (all the while) concerned with finding the Still Blue. The very safety of her and the tribe depend on it, as the Aether storms continue to rage.

For me, the romance between Aria and Perry went on the back-burner. Their love was still present and palpable, yes, but I what I love about this book was that it developed more of the world. Through the Ever Night made me love Roar, Talon, and others even more. Poor Roar. His story arc broke my heart, and I wanted nothing more than to cuddle him.

I think the struggles that Aria and Perry experience are expected, and necessary, but I have to admit it wasn't quite as engaging as the first installment. I do believe, though, that Through the Ever Night is the perfect bridge to the third (and final) book. It sets the stage nicely for an explosive ending. Let's just hope it meets expectations.

RATING: 4 SLICES

The Essence Blog Tour

TO FOLLOW THE TOUR, CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE FOR THE SCHEDULE. I'LL BE POSTING A REVIEW IN THE FOLLOWING WEEKS.

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“Danger, dread, mystery, and romance” (Booklist) continue in the second book of The Pledge trilogy, as Charlie’s reign is under siege from the most unusual of enemies.

At the luminous conclusion of The Pledge, Charlaina defeated the tyrant Sabara and took her place as Queen of Ludania. But Charlie knows that Sabara has not disappeared: The evil queen’s Essence is fused to Charlie’s psyche, ready to arise at the first sign of weakness.

Charlie is not weak, but she’s being pushed to the brink. In addition to suppressing the ever-present influence of Sabara, she’s busy being queen—and battling a growing resistance determined to return Ludania to its discriminatory caste system. Charlie wants to be the same girl Max loves, who Brook trusts, but she’s Your Majesty now, and she feels torn in two.

As Charlie journeys to an annual summit to meet with leaders of nearby Queendoms—an event where her ability to understand all languages will be the utmost asset—she is faced with the ultimate betrayal. And the only person she can turn to for help is the evil soul residing within.

Release date: January 1, 2013

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12631512-the-essence

ABOUT THE AUTHOR::

Kimberly is the author of the BODY FINDER series (HarperCollins) and THE PLEDGE trilogy (Simon & Schuster). She lives in the Pacific Northwest, the ideal place to write anything dark or creepy...a gloomy day can set the perfect mood. She lives with her husband and their three beautiful (and often mouthy) children who provide an endless source of inspiration.

Official site: http://www.kimberlyderting.com/

twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kimberlyderting

Bookshelf Tour

After dealing with some technical difficulties: I present my bookshelf tour! Hope you all enjoy.

Like I said in the video, I'm in the process of moving rooms, and I had to put up over half of my books. So, what you see here is not everything. Sometime in 2013 (Summer/Fall) I'll do another one with all my books. If you have a bookshelf tour of your own, don't be shy. Just leave a comment below and I'll come check it out. I love looking at bookshelf tours!

Until next time,
Happy reading.

Stacking the Shelves (23)

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Harry Potter Box Set by JK Rowling: Books 1-7 (Purchased)
Graceling by Kristen Cashore (Purchased)
The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken (Purchased)
The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick (Purchased)

The Madman's Daughter by Megan Shepherd (For Review; Edelwiess)
The Loop by Shandy Lawson (For Review; Netgalley)
School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins (For Review; Netgalley)

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans: HB (From publisher for review) | MY REVIEW
The 13th Sign by Kirsten Tubb O'Donnell (From publisher)
Shadowlands by Kate Brian (ARC tour)

2013 Resolutions

So 2012 has gone, and 2013 is here. It's been a rather eventual year. I graduated with a Bachelors in Nursing, got my first "real" job, started blogging, and I also started graduate school. PHEW. I've been busy. It's safe to say that things have gotten a little crazy, so I came up with a list of 10 resolutions for the new year. 

#1 Read the Harry Potter series from start until finish. I read up until the 5th book and have yet to finish. So this is the year.
#2 Read 100 books
#3 Schedule reviews for the blog (I have a bad habit of writing reviews the day before/day of my posting it).
#4 Be consistent in posting two reviews/week
#5 Write a review before starting another book
#6 Spend more time/effort on writing reviews
#7 Update blog FB page more often
#8 Go to the midnight premiere of Catching Fire! YEAH BBY!
#9 Reach out to authors/participate in more blog tours
#10 Read more adult books 

What are your 2013 resolutions?

Stay tuned tomorrow for a X-mas book haul, followed by a bookshelf tour!

Review: Level 2

Level 2 by Lenore Appelhans

Release: Januar 15, 2012 

Source: ARC provided by publisher*

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Since her untimely death the day before her eighteenth birthday, Felicia Ward has been trapped in Level 2, a stark white afterlife located between our world and the next. Along with her fellow drones, Felicia passes the endless hours reliving memories of her time on Earth and mourning what she’s lost—family, friends, and Neil, the boy she loved.

Then a girl in a neighboring chamber is found dead, and nobody but Felicia recalls that she existed in the first place. When Julian—a dangerously charming guy Felicia knew in life—comes to offer Felicia a way out, Felicia learns the truth: If she joins the rebellion to overthrow the Morati, the angel guardians of Level 2, she can be with Neil again.

Suspended between Heaven and Earth, Felicia finds herself at the center of an age-old struggle between good and evil. As memories from her life come back to haunt her, and as the Morati hunt her down, Felicia will discover it’s not just her own redemption at stake… but the salvation of all mankind.

Level 2 was undoubtedly unique. The idea for purgatory is simple enough, but Appelhans manages to make it extremely unique. In this world, in Level 2, people are placed in memory chambers where they relive memories from their past life--mostly the good and rarely the bad. These good memories can also be traded and used as currency to relive other people's memories. I definitely found the premise intriguing.

At the center of the story, though, is Felicia. She died just before her 18th birthday, and now she's reliving memories and mourning the loss of those she loves. Specifically, she mourns the loss of Neil, her boyfriend. This kind of situation could lead to excessive angst, moaning, and a "woe is me" mentality, but Felica is a strong and compelling character. When strange things start happening in Level 2, when a boy from her past appears and tells her there is a rebellion, she is quick to step into action (although hesitant to trust the boy). The boy, Julian, says he knows where Neil is and if she helps him, he can reunite the two lovers.

What follows is a story full of twists, turns, and flashbacks.

There are times when flashbacks become too much, to the point where it becomes the main story, but this never happens in Level 2. Every flashback, every memory, serves to paint a picture of Felicia and her relationship with Neil. It also depicts the toxic and complicated affair she once had with Julian. Both boys represent two points in Felicia's life, and serve as a foundation for her character arc.

And now, the big question: team Neil or Julian? Despite the things he did, and being overall un-trustworty, I think Julian is a more well-rounded and interesting character. Neil never stood out and he never caught my interest (which made it hard to understand why Felicia kept obsessing over him). I'm hoping to see more development with Neil in the future. So for fun, I'd stick with Julian. For being sweet and dependable, though, Neil is your guy.

Overall, Level 2 was a quick, face paced read, but it never seemed too short. Given the length, this is definitely a plus. And with that twisty, cliff-hangery (yet satisfying) end, I am dying to read more!

RATING: 4 SLICES

*receiving ARC from publisher, in no way, affects my opinion of the book*

Review: Iron King

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Release: February 1, 2010

Source: Purchased 

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Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Let me preface this by saying Eileen of Singing and Reading the Rain convinced me to read this book. Her enthusiasm, and the overwhelming positive reviews, convinced me that I needed to read this series. ASAP.

With that said, the Iron King was an interesting read. It's full of action, twists, and turns! Meagan Chase has an ordinary life, although she's always felt different. Then her brother begins to act strange, and suddenly, she is thrust into a whole new world of Fey. The brother she knows has been taken and replaced by a changeling. She will stop at nothing to rescue him.

The things I love about the Iron Fey include the world, the action, and pace. So much goes on in this book! Never once did I lose interest, as I kept turning the pages to find out the truth behind her brother's disappearance. Were some of the twists cliched? Yes. But that's part of the fun in reading this book.

Now, I admire Meagan's devotion and dedication, but I found her character uninspired. Typical. Thankfully, there are other characters who make Meagan's journey a riot. Puck is hilarious and dependent and Ash is...aloof and intriguing. From reviews, I know there is a love triangle between the two guys. But honestly? I don't feel like I know either of them well enough to choose. Thankfully, this story doesn't focus on the romance, so okay with letting the romance slowly develop over four books. And my favorite character? It has to be Grimalkin, the ingenious cat. Oh, how I love him! 

Needless to say, I will be back for more. Thanks, Eileen, for introducing me to this series! 

RATING: 4 SLICES