Before the Broken Star by Emily King

3 Stars!!

“I believe in monsters. I have seen them take and destroy, suffocate and shred, every sliver of light in the world.” 

Everley lives on borrowed time. The only survivor of her family’s unexplained assassination, she was saved by an ingeniously crafted clockwork heart. But the time she has been gifted- will not last forever. Now, every tick-tock reminds her how little time she has, and quickens her quest to expose Killian, the navy admiral who shattered her world and left her for dead. But Everley’s hunt for justice will be a long and hard-won voyage.

Her journey takes her to a colony on a cursed island, where she will be married off and charged to build the new world. It is here, and beyond, that hidden realms hide, treasures are unearthed, her family secrets are buried, and young love will test the strength of her makeshift heart. When Everley discovers Killian may not be who he seems, her pursuit for truth is bound to his redemption, her tragic history, and her destiny.

I have read Kings previous series The Hundredth Queen and enjoyed it- though it did have its slow moments, it was a decent read with a great plot. I found a few similarities though with this series. Mainly the fact that the MC is forced into a marriage so it kind of threw me off a bit at first but-I enjoyed this book. Although, it did not come without holes. 

I was really invested in the book and starting to get on with the characters but after about the 50 % mark something shifted and it lost my full attention. I kept feeling a little confused - and thought that there were a lot of info dumping moments that were not really needed. Therefore leaving me a little bored. Other than that, it was an enjoyable read- just not my favorite. 

Overall- I am pretty sure I will give the next book in the series a go and look forward to seeing how everything comes together. 

The Last Girl (The Dominion Trilogy) by Joe Hart

3 Stars  🌟🌟🌟 Fear feeds the worst in all of us. It drives the most despicable of our natures to the surface.  A mysterious epidemic happens worldwide that causes the reduction in the births of baby girls. Scientists and Governments scramble to find the reason for this. Fast Forward 25 years and there is still no answer and an entire generation grows up with a population of fewer than a thousand women. Zoey and 6 other women are housed in a scientific compound that claims to be doing research on the girls. For 20 years, she’s been removed from her family, treated as a test subject, and locked away—told only that the virus has wiped out the rest of the world’s population. Captivity is the only life Zoey has ever known, and escaping her heavily armed captors is no easy task, but she’s determined to leave before she is subjected to the next round of tests…a program that no other woman has ever returned from. Even if she’s successful, Zoey has no idea what she’ll encounter in the strange new world beyond the facility’s walls. Winning her freedom will take brutality she never imagined she possessed, as well as all her strength and cunning—but Zoey is ready for war. I really love a good dystopian novel. I enjoy reading about how people become survivors and learn to live without all the spoils that we have in reality. This book had a great plot but a lot of holes. It had parts that were really good and others that moved pretty slow. The last 100 pages or so got really exciting and thats what gives me hope for the rest of the series.  I did enjoy this book for the most part. I did not like the fact that these 6 women could not all get along. The more I read it didn't bother me much but initially it sorta didn't make sense for them to fight, rather- maybe have them ban together and team up?? I dont know... but that was my main issue. The characters also lacked something Im not sure what maybe a little depth? It took most of the book for me to care a whole lot for these characters.  I think this was a decent enough start to what could be a great series. I am looking forward to trying the next book and see where it goes!

Allied by, Amy Tintera

3 Stars!!
There comes a time when we have to accept that people make their own choices, and we’re not responsible for those choices, even if they’re our family.

This is the most mellow Fantasy series I have ever read. The characters, even when at war- were really just chill for the most part. Its been a while since I have read the first two of the series but I remembered the story line and what was happening. For whatever reason, I really enjoyed those two way more than this one.

The writing was still fantastic and I enjoyed the end of the story- it just seemed to drag a little more than the others and the ending was a little predictable.

I appreciated seeing the romance blossom a little more in Allied, and we got to see how the two races would end up working together in the end.

Overall- this book was enjoyable it just went a little too slow for me or maybe just not much was happening, compared to the others in the series. I still recommend this book and the entire series! Totally worth the read :P

Defy Me by, Tahereh Mafi

3 Stars!!
“Happiness does not happen. Happiness must be uncovered, separated from the skin of pain. It must be claimed. Kept close. Protected.”

So....where do I begin? I liked it for sure... but pretty sure this is the Shatter Me series from another dimension cuz.... WOW.



Yeah so everyone is just so watered down now. Warner is like a totally different person. Not to mention Juliet...



Whoops... I mean Ella?!?!?



Honestly I feel like what happened in this book probably could have been shortened and made into a novella. I miss the feel of the old peeps and...



Kenji was in this one because he is just what is needed when having to deal with Juliet's errr Ella's emotions- constantly all over the place.

So yeah- Im here for the long haul but I wasn't very excited with this installment. It fell flat for me. Really hoping the last book goes out with a BANG!!

Book Review - Vicious by, V.E.Schwab

3 Stars!! “Plenty of humans were monstrous, and plenty of monsters knew how to play at being human.” I'm going to be a minority …. I liked this well enough, I just didn't love it. The writing was amazing - there is no doubt Schwab can write and come up with amazing plots. This just wasn't a favorite of mine. This book does raise an interesting question...what makes a hero and what makes a villain? As we read through the book, that's the main thing you will keep asking yourself. I didn't like really any of the characters in this book. Victor an Elli were both psycho.. but I'm pretty sure that's the point. Can you choose the better of two evils? Most people have already read this book, but if you haven't, I would still recommend this one! Just because it wasn't my favorite doesn't mean it wont be yours!

Heartless by Marrissa Meyer

3 stars!! 🌟🌟🌟 “A heart, once stolen, can never be taken back.” This was unfortunately, just an ok read for me. I loved that it was a retelling, and the writing was amazing as is any Meyer book!! She doesn't waste her time on much world building - which I think is sorta awesome, in a sense, because she realizes most of her readers should already have a grasp on Wonderland. And its true! I had my own idea of wonderland and it worked for this retelling. I felt so sorry for Cath in the beginning and I hate that she was such a sweet girl - and ends up being a villain. But in Heartless, I had trouble connecting to her fully. Her and the Jest. I felt more of a pull and a connection with many of the side characters. They were written brilliantly. The cat and at Mad Hatter were two of my favorites. Overall I can see why this would be a 5 star book to a lot of people- it was just sort of a slow read for me. But I still recommend this to everyone because of the writing and HELLO its Marissa MEYER!!

Saga Volume 8 by, Brian K Vaughan

3 Stars!!  This was my least favorite so far. It seemed sort of thrown together and like a filler before the final book. Not much action takes place. I also missed the funny bantering between the characters- you know the Laugh out Loud moments - just weren’t there in this volume for me. Not to mention, this one was pretty political and I’m just not about that in my books. Looking forward to finishing this series though for sure!!

The Queen of Air and Darkness by, Cassandra Claire

3 Stars!! 

“The sky was a road and the stars made pathways; the moon was a watchtower, a lighthouse that led you home.” 

Whew! I have officially finished the MONSTER~and it feels fantastic! Another Shadowhunter story DOWN! So where do I start to review this monstrosity ?!?! Bare with me... while I activate my runes. 


Let's start at the beginning- It started right where LOS left off. Having to relive that tragic moment AGAIN wasn't fun but all the character babies needed to grieve and I get that. I was there with them, in "black ink" spirit. 


Soooo yeah we grieved.... for half the book it seemed like - to the point where I was done and over it. Like can we please talk about something else? Everyone is sad and it's depressing but can we fight someone or something?? 


In my opinion, the first half of the book seemed to just go on and on about nothing really... It didn't pick up until part 2 for me. And from that point on I was invested. Things slowly started to pick up and things started happening. 

I don't really feel the need to talk much about the plot of this story- because if you are reading this review, you obviously are invested enough to know that you are getting the WRAP UP to this trilogy. Seems like so much happened but at the same time, not much. 

I will talk about the Menage a Trois though- how can I review this and NOT. Can I just say that every time the book got to these three I could not help but think of Lito, Dani and Hernando from the Netflix Show Sense8 - Raise your hand if you know what Im talking about ???




Yeah… You know I'm right… (ps- if you have not watched Sense8 WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR LIFE??? GO WATCH IT!!) So … did I like this aspect?? Meh- I don't know honestly, I kind of do - but not for a YA book. Yeah I'm sure lots of teens get their groove on this way and that.. whatever- their prerogative... but as a mother, I just think this type of scene should be in an adult/new adult book. 

Here is the thing. I think I am basically tip toeing around this review bc I know I'll probably be a minority- but let me just get on with my REAL FEELINGS. I have been a Shadowhunter fan since Jump Street. I have read all the books and have watched it evolve. The MI and TID books were fabulous and I absolutely loved them. I do not feel the same way about this new Trilogy. While I have my favorite characters and LOVE LOVE LOVE the family dynamic in these- I just honestly feel like a huge portion of this new series was just recycled. 


This book has a lot of the original schemes and themes from the first books. As a reader, I don't want recycled plots. I need something new, I don't want to have to worry about someone we defeated in the first series to come back and haunt me again through another book OVER AND OVER again. It is just not fun or original. This was my main issue with this book. Could we not have made up some other bad guy or something - did we really have to go back to YOU KNOW WHO?? In some cases it works - but sadly, in this case- it did not work for me. Also what's with the ending?? The whole thing with Zara- Just WHY??



I really did enjoy parts of this book. I really enjoyed seeing all the REAL OGs from the past play a bigger role in this book. I am so glad that everyone's relationships got all worked out. I needed that closure, so i'm glad that part did come to pass. Also, I appreciate that Clare tackled some real world issues, and used diverse characters. The illustrations were phenomenal as well! 

Overall- I feel like this book was way too long and all over the place - Kinda like this review but clearly I am not a writer :P I feel a little off after reading it to be honest. I've said this in an earlier review of Clare's books- but I will say it again, I would really love to see her write another Fantasy or something that does not depend on her love interests to build conflicts in her story. Regardless Kudos Clare - you will probably still be an Auto Buy author even after today. Because lets face it- I am here for the long haul. #shadowhunter4life 

Smoke and Key by, Kelsey Sutton

3 Stars!! 

Smoke and Key begins with a girl falling out of her grave into a dark bottomless pit. As she struggles to come to terms with where she is, she starts to meet a group of others who share her fate and with no knowledge of what caused them to fall below into what they call "under". 


She comes across a boy claiming to be no one, which makes her head spin. He then tells her that's she's dead. But she cant be dead. She sets off to uncover the secrets of the past with the hope of finding lasting peace for the afterlife. 

The atmpsphere was dark and oh so creepy. 

How does one function underground??

I really enjoyed this book!! I had a hard time putting it down the first time. I kept flipping pages, feeling as desperate as the heroine to get answers! I thought the story line was unique and different. The pacing was perfect. We get flashbacks and present time Povs, along with a group of interesting characters. 

While I really enjoyed the read- there were some things that could have been done a little differently. I felt the writing was great and simple which made for an easy read. My biggest issue was the ending. It felt too rushed and I still had some questions that I needed answers for :( Besides that issue- I think its a great dark and interesting read and I would recommend it. 

Thank you to netgalley for this arc. Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The Kiss Thief by LJ Shen

3 Stars!!  “They say that all great love stories have a happy ending. I, Francesca Rossi, found myself erasing and rewriting mine until the very last chapter.”  This was just an ok read for me. I had some issues with some of it. Personally-some parts were good and some just annoyed me to no end. I think my main issue was something felt off for me almost like this was just a silly far fetched story to make way for the sexy times, that for me were NOT sexy they were sort of just too much. I'm down with a good romance novel - this one was just over the top for my liking. Not to mention the way things were handled the first time they got together, it repulsed me to be honest and from that moment on I had a hard time really feeling their relationship.  Plot: ★★★ Hero: ★★ Heroine: ★★★ Sex scenes: ★ Story ending: ★★★

The Eye of the World by, Robert Jordan

3 Stars!! 

“The Wheel of Time turns, and Ages come and pass. What was, what will be, and what is, may yet fall under the Shadow.” 

With very descriptive and well thought out writing, The Wheel of Time is a rich Epic Fantasy novel-There is no wonder why it is a classic. This book has intimidated me for a long time. I have heard a bazillion things about it and most of the good- came to pass. 

The world building is incredible and the writing- while at times, a bit long winded, still made a great read. I instantly found myself invested in a few of the characters- and they were what kept me going. And there are A LOT of characters in this series!! 

The story line is not really anything I haven't read before- its about a normal boy Rand- who finds himself on the run from the bad guys. Along his journey he grows and finds himself and his power. The difference is in the intricate world- a place you read, and you feel you can teleport to this place. Jordan has crafted such a detailed atmosphere, its almost poetic. 

The only thing I can say that this one lacked for me was excitement. It was a journey book, and though there was action- it wasn't really exciting. I think this had more to do with pacing issues not so much with the plot. So I was left really only reading to find out what happens to my favorite characters. Then there was the magic system and the measure of time in which we hear about but don't learn much about how they work. I think this is something that probably happens over time, since there are a ton of books in this series. 

Overall- I thought this was an excellent start to the series. The characters and the writing were what really drew me in. I think I could read this story over and over and still find things I missed from this first read. It has that much depth- so I think the series will develop over.. TIME :P

Dare You to Lie by Amber Lynn Natusch

3 Stars!!  Calling all Veronica Mars Fans!!! This one is for YOU!  In Dare You to Lie, we get two mysteries in one. We follow main character Kylene, who has just returned to Ohio to seek out some answers, and to fix some things that happened before she moved away. In Jasperville, she is known as the town liar- along with her father who is a cop, in prison for a supposed murder. She sets out to clear both of their names, but has no idea who or what she is dealing with behind the scenes. She doesn't realize it, but she is in for a dangerous ride.  Ky is a snarky, sarcastic and fun character. She has a take no crap- personality and is willing to dig and do whatever it takes to clean up these allegations. But that's not always a good thing- her inability to keep her mouth shut- makes her a target!  I love the friendships in this book. She has a best friend Garrett, she has known since childhood who has never let what others say stop him from being there for her. And then there is a naïve new girl in school who just fits right in with them both.  I really enjoyed the sassiness in this book and the VM Vibes were so strong- I felt like I was binge watching a new season in my brain. The only problem I had was for some reason, I found myself not being able to fully connect to the story/characters. It was really good, but something was missing and I am not sure what it was. Maybe since this is the first book in the series- whatever was missing in this one, will be in the next one!  If you like YA- and are looking for a good mystery, with a kick ass, snarky MC- with no insta-love or romance, this one is for you!!

Nice Dragons Finish Last by, Rachel Aaron

3 stars !! “Why are mortals always so eager to declare things impossible, anyway? It’s not like things do or don’t exist just because you say so.”  Julius likes to sit in his room and play video games. His mother thinks that his a failure at being a dragon, so she puts a curse on him that keeps him in his human form. She has also banished him to the DFZ- a place where dragons are killed on the spot. His mother wants him to prove himself as a dragon, or else she will kill him. He is swept away on an assignment, which includes some very hot headed, and colorful siblings. Before he goes on his little quest, he meets Marcy who is a powerful Mage. She thinks Julius just has a curse and no clue that he is a dragon. Somehow, she gets drawn into this adventure along side Julius.  I picked this up because - DUH DRAGONS This book was FUN! It was like a tiny little geek fest too - full of gamer references and tech talk. I don't usually enjoy urban fantasy, but this one, I must admit -was so much fun. The characters were so different with distinct personalities. Julius has some brothers who are involved in his quest- and they are absolutely hilarious. I loved the family aspect and their banter with one another.  Nice Dragons Finish Last was action packed from the start. The pace was perfect and there weren't really any dull moments. It moves fast, and goes by pretty quickly at right under 300 pages. If you're looking for an urban fantasy that is silly and fun a little different from the norm- Id totally recommend this one!

Saga Volume 7 by, Brian K Vaughan

3.5 stars!!  WHAT WAS THAT ENDING???? This volume wasn't as good as the others to me for some reason. I still enjoyed it though, for the most part. This series is so weirdly addicting. I cant believe I have held on for this long because it really is low key disturbing. LOL- I'm so glad the Robot dude is changing because I was SOOO done with him.. Hopefully he will continue to do so. But volume 7 almost made me cry and I don't like all these feels. Everything is about to come to an end! Only a few left...

The Lost Sisters by, Holly Black

3 Stars!!  So... this is not really what I was expecting.. This only showed me how Boldness is not viewed the same by everyone.. CLEARLY- Taryn has ISSUES. This was just full of excuses and showed what kind of a person she really is. Maybe its a little nugget for The Wicked King- I don't know but this was just kind of a pointless read to me. I mean we already knew she was heartless. It did make me THAT MUCH MORE ready for The Wicked King though!! So there is that :P

Let the Sky Fall by, Shannon Messenger

3 Stars!! 

“The wind is a part of who I am, and when I expose my heart to it, I feel it calling me home” 

This is a classic Ya read - filled with lots of action, angst, romance and charm. Audra is a slythe/wind walker/elemental. Ever since Vanes parents died in a storm when he was little, she has been in charge of looking after him. The catch is, he doesn't know she's been watching over him all this time. All he can remember from that dreadful day, is a girl with long dark hair, the one who keeps showing up in his dreams. 

Audra was a strong character, who is willing to do anything to protect Vane. Vane is such a fun character. He's super funny and charming and has no clue about the supernatural things going on around him or the war that is brewing. Though I liked the characters, I didn't really connect with them fully. They were just ok. The story, writing, plot was also decent just nothing GREAT about it. It was an enjoyable read and it had its moments where it reminded me a little bit of Avatar- the last air bender. If you're looking for a fun YA fantasy without a ton of depth, and a quick read - I would recommend it!

Here There are Monsters by, Amelinda Berube

3 stars!  "What is it with you guys and the end of the world?" I asked. "Its just interesting," William said. "Like, everyone has to show their true colors. Everyone knows who they really are at the end of the world. No more bullshit."  Here There Are Monsters was gripping from the very start. This was a story about how easy it can be to get wrapped up in your own fantasy, and have trouble deciphering what's real and what's not. How nightmares can become reality if you allow yourself to go there.  Skye is the older sister to Deirdre who likes to make everything a fantasy land. As Skye gets older, she realizes she doesn't want to play the games Deirdre plays anymore. One day something happens to Deirdre and Skyes race to find her begins.  This book reminded me a lot of a messed up version of Bridge to Terabithia. That's the best way I can sort of describe it. The story was creepy and dark. We follow MC Skye as she tests her limits of reality. The plot was a little confusing especially towards the end. The pacing was good, but the climax failed to deliver fully for me. It was still decent and I enjoyed the read, I guess for as engaged as I was- when the time came for a reveal - I was scratching my head a little. With that being said, I was still impressed by the authors ability to hold my attention and her writing was simple and smooth. Overall I think people will enjoy this if they are looking for something fast paced with a Creepy Atmosphere.  **Special thanks to the publishers and Netgalley for providing an arc in exchange for a fair and honest review**

Repeat by, Kylie Scott

3 Stars!!  Mysterious, Second chance romance. This was pretty enjoyable. I liked the characters, and the plot. I will say that it all felt a little rushed, especially the ending. I had a lot of questions while reading it, but I guess they just weren't meant to be answered since the MC does have amnesia after all- and that is what the whole book revolves around. Overall, It was a decent read, but I wish it would have been a little bit more realistic.

Forever by Maggie Stiefvater

2.5 Stars!! “Mutual, respectful, enduring love is completely attainable as long as you swear you won't settle for less.”  Beautiful writing as always!! But I feel like something happened with this book. It ends so abruptly that I am left feeling at a loss. An extreme loss. I am glad that I found out there is one more book in this series- otherwise I would be like WHAT THE HECK?!?! I did not find this one to be as engaging as the first two. With the second one being so action packed, I just knew this one would go out with a bang- sadly it didn't.  At this point, I find Grace and Sam to be incredibly boring - and I only looked forward to Isabel and Coles POVs. So the one thing I am very excited to know is that the next book is all about Cole and Isabel- or else I would probably be done.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

3 stars!!!

“Some days seem to fit together like a stained glass window. A hundred little pieces of different color and mood that, when combined, create a complete picture.” 

Sweet and moving, Shiver is a cute and magical love story that captures you from the beginning. Maggie Stiefvater is an amazing poet with words. She has a way of weaving a story into a beautiful one. I enjoyed the plot and have never really seen a werewolf book quite like this one. It was a different take on the wolves, and I found it to be unique. As an adult, a lot of this book was a little cringe- but I also found it to be endearing. There aren't many ya books, that include romance, that are done with as much tact as Stiefvater used in this book. 

The characters were likable, but I had a hard time completely connecting to them for whatever reason. That usually takes me away from a book- but it was not that bad, because I was enjoying the plot and the writing. Overall- this was a decent read and I will probably try the next in the series to see where it takes me.