Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend. Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable. But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness.
I have always been fascinated by the Frankenstein story and am immediately interested in any retelling that I become aware of. Kiersten White has written one from the perspective of Elizabeth, the woman who loved Victor Frankenstein. This has so much potential because her character has always fascinated me and I am eager to have a story that has her as its center focus.
This book pretty much demands to be read in October as it seems like a perfect read for the Halloween season. Its end of September release means it'll be out just in time to enjoy with a Pumpkin Spice Latte, a cozy blanket, and the doors locked.
Allie Hayes is in crisis mode. With graduation looming, she still doesn’t have the first clue about what she's going to do after college. To make matters worse, she’s nursing a broken heart thanks to the end of her longtime relationship. Wild rebound sex is definitely not the solution to her problems, but gorgeous hockey star Dean Di Laurentis is impossible to resist. Just once, though, because even if her future is uncertain, it sure as heck won’t include the king of one-night stands.
It’ll take more than flashy moves to win her over
Dean always gets what he wants. Girls, grades, girls, recognition, girls…he’s a ladies man, all right, and he’s yet to meet a woman who’s immune to his charms. Until Allie. For one night, the feisty blonde rocked his entire world—and now she wants to be friends? Nope. It’s not over until he says it’s over. Dean is in full-on pursuit, but when life-rocking changes strike, he starts to wonder if maybe it’s time to stop focusing on scoring…and shoot for love.
I like to venture into the New Adult genre from time to time. I had devoured the first two books in Elle Kennedy's Off Campus series and was eagerly anticipating the third. Dean Di Laurentis' story did not disappoint. This novel has some scorching chemistry, some perfectly paced angst, and a guy who proves himself to have a heart of gold under all his cocky swagger.
These novels are really good at balancing the plot elements along with the sexy scenes. These are really steamy novels, but they are done in a way that still keeps the focus on the plot. These books would be a good litmus test for those unsure if this genre is for them. It balances everything pretty evenly even if this one felt a little more sex focused than the others.
I always forget how hilarious these books are. There are definite laugh out loud moments in this that rival the blush worthy ones. From coded song choices at a bar to a hilariously awkward near miss, this book has plenty of lighter moments to help balance the darker ones within it.
Dean is the character that surprised me the most in this series so far. He is almost nothing like what you would expect. We've seen Dean through the viewpoint of others in the previous novels in this series and I feel that only gave us a surface level understanding of who Dean is. He is plenty of things you would expect him to be, but is also a lot of things you wouldn't. I expect that Dean even surprises himself at various points in this novel and that is one of my favourite things about The Score.
Allie is Dean's opposite in so many ways and that is exactly why their relationship works. Dean brings out a more adventurous side to Allie, and Allie grounds Dean in a lot of ways. They bring out the best in each other, while never wanting to change the other person. I love this kind of romance because it shows that someone cannot make you change, but they can encourage you and help you thrive.
There is a underlying commentary in this novel about slut shaming and the ways that society views men who enjoy sex versus women who enjoy sex. Allie feels guilty after her sex filled night with Dean. She judges herself a little bit which, for me, perfectly showcased how women internalize this narrative. We see people reassure her, and we see those who judge her just as harshly as she judges herself. There is a particularly brutal scene between Allie and her ex-boyfriend that felt like a gut punch. The books overall message of sexual empowerment is made extremely clear and that is something worth mentioning. I especially liked the 'erase the word slut from your vocabulary' advice that Allie is given. I wish the book had examined this a little more deeply, but I do applaud what it did manage to convey.
The Score is pretty much tied with The Deal for my favourite novel in the Off Campus series. It's a fun mix of everything I like in my New Adult reads. I highly recommend this book (and series in general) for anyone who wants some sexy sports themed reads.
It's that time of the week again. Time to show you what bookish goodies
made their way into my home and book closet (to be saved from the evil
book eating cat monster named Aria). This is inspired by the various
"mailbox" posts out there (eg. In My Mailbox by The Story Siren, and
Stacking the Shelves by Tynga's Reviews)
A few bookish goodies made their way into my mailbox this week. First up is a book from Penguin Random House that sounds like so much fun!
My Lady's Choosing by by Kitty Curran and Larissa Zageris (goodreads)
It sounds like a fun 'choose your own adventure' style book with a romance twist. I am excited to review it on the blog closer to release! Huge thank you to them for sending it along for me to review.
Next up is my February #otspsecretsister package! I love all of the pink! The button is perfect, the chocolate may already be eaten, and I am excited to use the rock sugar in some tea!
Misadventures Of A City Girl by Meredith Wild and Chelle Bliss (goodreads)
This book sounds like a fun read and is entirely new to me so I am excited to give it a try when I can fit it into my review schedule! A huge thank you to whoever has me this round. Excited to get to know you!
What bookish goodies made their way into your mailbox this week? Let me know in the comments.
The awesome Kelly at KellyVision started posting a weekly post highlighting whatever she happened to be obsessed with that week. I LOVE this idea, so much in fact that I will be doing it myself every Saturday. BOOKS Cover Of Courtney Summer's Sadie (goodreads)
People have raved about Courtney Summer's novels to me before. I have not read nearly as many of them as I should but I have read enough of them to know that her books are powerful, and her newest sounds like no exception.
Courtney's newest novel is being compared to the Serial podcast and sounds like it has a great murder mystery hook that will (most likely) also examine missing girls in general.
I also happen to love this cover. It's striking and eye catching while being very simple. I am super excited for this one as I think it is going to be one of the must reads of fall 2018 for a lot of people. When We Caught Fire by Anna Godbersen (goodreads)
Publisher's Weekly recently posted their Children's Books Fall 2018 Sneak Peek and this title caught my eye. It is described as "relating the fictional story of the love triangle that started Chicago’s Great Fire" which immediately intrigued me. I am looking forward to hearing more about this one when the Fall catalog is released.
Cover of The Dark Descent Of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten White (goodreads)
A creepy sounding book deserves a creepy cover and Kiersten White's newest has got one of the creepiest covers I've seen in a long time.
This Frankenstein retelling has a cover that looks, chillingly, like sewn skin (even if it is pink velvet). It instantly brings to mind the classic story of Frankenstein while the title tells you that it's something all together different.
I am excited to see what this version of Frankenstein does to twist and reimagine the story. I am so excited to get my hands on this one, and that amazing cover is just one of the reasons.
Cover of The Lady's Guide To Petticoats And Piracy (goodreads)
I loved The Gentleman's Guide To Vice and Virtue. I especially loved Monty's sister, Felicity, and was thrilled that she was getting her own novel!
The cover of that novel has recently been revealed, and it is amazing!
I love that it is both similar to Monty's cover and yet uniquely Felicity's at the same time. I cannot wait to see what adventures await Felicity and the new characters we are to meet! TV/MOVIE Jessica Jones Season Two Trailer
My love for Jessica Jones is well documented and I am very (im)patiently counting down the days until I can binge watch season two.
This newest trailer is doing nothing to make the wait any easier. It's even better than the first trailer that was released. It pretty much filled with everything I love about Jessica Jones - Jessica's snarky one liners, Trish being the kind of best friend we all want, and Jessica calling men out on their shit.
I love that this show calls out rape culture the way that it does. It was vital to season one because of the plot, but it is nice to see that it is still part of the show for its second season. March 8th isn't that far away right? *cries*
OTHER Grease Funko Pops
I am a huge fan of classic movies, and Grease is one of my favourites. It is a movie I remember vividly from my childhood and is one I still watch when I am feeling nostalgic.
I was excited when Funko announced during their huge batch of Toy Fair announcements that they would be making some Grease Funko Pops!
We get two different versions of Sandy and Danny and I am pretty sure I am going to need both of them. I also really want to see the back of the yellow dress Sandy as I am sure her hair is amazing.
More Stranger Things Funkos
Along with the above mentioned Grease announcement, Funko also announced some new Stranger Things Funko Pops that have me already clearing some room on my shelves.
I am, for sure, going to need both of the Steve Funkos, and that Eleven is pretty awesome. I may also have to add Billy to my collection, and who could resist Bob dressed a vampire (it certainly doesn't suck)? The details on these Funko Pops keep getting better and these are some of the best I have seen yet.
Javan Najafai, crown prince of Akram, has spent the last ten years at an elite boarding school, far away from his kingdom. But his eagerly awaited return home is cut short when a mysterious imposter takes his place—and no one believes Javan is the true prince.
After barely escaping the imposter’s assassins, Javan is thrown into Maqbara, the kingdom’s most dangerous prison. The only way to gain an audience with the king — and reveal Javan’s identity — is to fight in Maqbara’s yearly tournament. But winning is much harder than acing competitions at school, and soon Javan finds himself beset not just by the terrifying creatures in the arena, but also a band of prisoners allied against him, and even the warden herself.
The only person who can help him is Sajda, who has been enslaved by Maqbara’s warden since she was a child, and whose guarded demeanor and powerful right hook keep the prisoners in check. Working with Sajda might be the only way Javan can escape alive — but she has dangerous secrets.
Together, Javan and Sajda have to outwit the vicious warden, outfight the deadly creatures, and outlast the murderous prisoners intent on killing Javan. If they fail, they’ll be trapped in Maqbara for good—and the secret Sajda’s been hiding will bury them both.
The next novel in the Ravenspire series offers up a fantasy twist to The Prince And The Pauper tale It is a story that I am not overly familiar with (other than some vague memory of Mickey Mouse cartoon) but one that grabbed my interest immediately due to my love of retellings. It offers a story about identity, freedom, and the responsibility a leader has to those they serve.
The world that CJ Redwine has built over the course of the three novels within the Ravenspire series is breathtaking. There are so many details that make you want to dig deeper. There is a richness to the overall world that entices you to discover more. It's a series that could easily continue for countless books simply because of the vastness of stories that could be told. It's the world that shines the brightest within these stories and that fact is used to its fullest.
Javan, the rightful prince of Akram, is filled with honour and noble intentions. He wants nothing more than to make his father, and his kingdom, proud. He is so kind and caring that, at times, it is hard to believe him capable of the violence he has to commit to survive the deadly tournament he finds himself in. He is, at times, selfless to his own determent.
Sajda is the character who I found the most fascinating. An enslaved young woman who has had to learn to protect herself. She wants nothing more than her freedom. Freedom from her captors. Freedom from the harsh reality that is her life. The freedom to live her life the way she wants to. She is Javan's polar opposite in that she is jaded, bitter, and guarded. Her story is one of the more heartbreaking elements of this novel, and one I found myself really invested in.
This novel benefits from a decent villain in Rahim. It is easy to understand his motivations. He acts in his own self interest at all times which makes for an interesting dynamic as the story progresses. He is not overused and the author does not rely on this character to carry the conflict in this story. The secondary threats, such as the prison warden, do a lot of the heavy lifting, but Rahim is perfectly used as someone pulling the strings in the background.
There is some romance lightly sprinkled within the story. A romance that worked for me because of the sparseness in which it was used. The romance only carried the plot when necessary, and ensured that both characters grew because of the connection growing between them.
The nods to the original tale of The Prince And The Pauper are sprinkled throughout the story. The item that reveals the true identity of the prince is found, along with idea that there is much to learn from having to walk in someone else's shoes. A large part of the story revolves around Javan having his eyes opened to the realities of the kingdom he is desperate to save. It makes him realize things that his privilege may have prevented him from seeing.
The ending of this story, while satisfying, felt a little rushed for me. I wish it had taken a little more time to allow the events that occur during the novel to really be felt. The adjustment that would happen due to the events that transpire did not feel as jarring as I anticipate it would. It felt a little too neatly wrapped up, but I expect many will be happy with an ending that feels as hopeful as this one does.
If you're a fan of retellings and are looking for one that feels a little more unique, I recommend this series and this particular book in particular. The Prince And The Pauper is not an inspiration for many YA retellings, so this one really felt fresh to me while I reading it. It's a welcome addition to the Ravenspire series, one that I hope sets up many more to come.
Sadie hasn't had an easy life. Growing up on her own, she's been raising her sister Mattie in an isolated small town, trying her best to provide a normal life and keep their heads above water. But when Mattie is found dead, Sadie's entire world crumbles. After a somewhat botched police investigation, Sadie is determined to bring her sister's killer to justice and hits the road following a few meagre clues to find him. When West McCray—a radio personality working on a segment about small, forgotten towns in America—overhears Sadie's story at a local gas station, he becomes obsessed with finding the missing girl. He starts his own podcast as he tracks Sadie's journey, trying to figure out what happened, hoping to find her before it's too late.
This novel has been compared to the Serial podcast, and seems like it is going to be catnip to my true crime obsessed self. It also sounds like we might have two stories running parallel to each other. Sadie chasing down Mattie's killer, and West following Sadie's trail. I like the idea of getting to see things through two different perspectives and that seems highly likely in this story.
I love that this is a fall release and it feels like an appropriately atmospheric read for that time of year. It might seem like a long wait, but I am fairly certain it'll be worth it.
For Nell Becker, life is a competition she needs to win.
For Jackson Hart, everyone is a pawn in his own game.
They both have everything to lose.
Nell wants to succeed at everything—school, sports, life. And victory is sweeter when it means beating Jackson Hart, the rich, privileged, undisputed king of Cedar Woods Prep Academy. Yet no matter how hard she tries, Jackson is somehow one step ahead. They’re a match made in hell, but opposites do attract.
Drawn to each other by their rivalry, Nell and Jackson fall into a whirlwind romance that consumes everything in their lives. But when a devastating secret exposes their relationship as just another game, how far will Nell go to win?
Visceral and whip-smart, Laurie Devore’s Winner Take All paints an unflinching portrait of obsessive love, toxic competition, and the drive for perfection.
After devouring How To Break A Boy I knew that I was instantly going to read whatever Laurie Devore wrote next. It offered an unsettling look at the type of friendships that consume us, and turn us into the worst versions of ourselves. I was thrilled when her next book was announced and it sounded just as intense and discussion worthy.
It is a not a secret that these books are going to invoke a wide range of varying perspectives when it comes to discussing how much people enjoyed them. Books like Winner Take All often get called polarizing. The characters within both of the books by this author are so unflinchingly and unapologetically flawed that it makes you work for it in a lot of ways. It makes you have to invest in characters that you may even find unlikeable, and that is a hard sell for some readers. These characters fascinate me. Nell Becker fascinates me because I cannot relate to her. This novel does its job of making me understand her, and I think that makes all the difference while reading a book like this.
Nell is a character that is going to garner some strong reactions from readers, and I hope readers examine why they are having these reactions. I hope it ignites a conversation about female characters and the way we are so unforgiving of them. I hope it continues the conversation about the imbalance that exists for male and female characters. Both Nell and Jackson do some incredibly awful things to each other. They are both, at various times, horrible people. I predict, however, that Jackson will be judged less harshly than Nell will be. Male characters are often easily forgiven for things that female characters are crucified for, and that is pretty much the over arching theme of this book. It is a message that, I feel, Laurie Devore captures perfectly.
Girls are often told contradictory messages. Smile, but not too much. Be confident, but not too much. A woman who strives to be the best, who is competitive, who dares to ask for what she deserves is looked at in a very specific, very unflattering, way. Nell is a character who embodies this. The pressure that Nell feels is overwhelming at times, and yet she is often viewed as simply 'too much' by those around her. This is sharply contrasted with the treatment of Jackson, the golden boy of the high school. We should be telling girls that it is okay to want, to make mistakes, and to take up space. They should demand what they worth, and strive for everything they want to achieve. I hope we eventually stop punishing them for it when they do take the chance.
Jackson is everything the jacket copy promises. He's easy to love. He's charming, even when he is infuriating. He is exactly the type of male character we all too easily forgive because of his panty dropping smile and effortless charisma, even if he is all too often a jerk. He is written to be the polar opposite of Nell, and that contrast is really what drives home what this book is trying to say. I feel that just as much work went into creating both of these characters because they each so dependent on the other in order for the story to work.
The love story in this one, much like the characters, is not pretty. It's not some romantic tale complete with a happily ever after. It is unhealthy most of the time. Nell and Jackson are not good for each other in the current state that they are each in. What makes this relationship work are the vulnerable moments that exist between them. The moments that make you see what this relationship could possibly be. Those moments are interwoven into the narrative at the exact right moments. The pacing of the entire novel worked for me as a whole. The increasing tension feels like the lead up to an explosion which is pretty much a metaphor for Nell and Jackon's entire relationship. That it is felt in the pacing of the novel only showcases the talent Laurie Devore has.
Winner Take All does for toxic relationships what How To Break A Boy did for toxic friendships. Laurie Devore is quickly becoming a writer who is known for her flawed, messy characters and thought provoking novels. I am eager to see what she does next and follow her characters down whatever dark paths she may want to take them.
