Blog Tour: Everything Under the Sun by Jessica Redmerski!

Hello everyone! This is my stop on the blog tour for Everything Under the Sun! This tour is hosted by the one and only Lola's Blog Tours! It runs from July 30th - August 12th. Check out the full schedule here!

Title: Everything Under the Sun
Author: Jessica Redmerski
Publish Date: August 28th, 2017
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Source: A huge thank you to Jessica Redmerski and Lola for providing me with a review copy!

Thais Fenwick was eleven-years-old when civilization fell, devastated by a virus that killed off the majority of the world’s population. For seven years, Thais and her family lived in a community of survivors deep in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. But when her town is attacked by raiders, she and her blind sister are taken away to the East-Central Territory where she is destined to live the cruel and unjust kind of life her late mother warned her about. 

Atticus Hunt is a troubled soldier in Lexington City who has spent the past seven years trying to conform to the vicious nature of men in a post-apocalyptic society. He knows that in order to survive, he must abandon his morals and his conscience and become like those he is surrounded by. But when he meets Thais, morals and conscience win out over conformity, and he risks his rank and his life to help her. They escape the city and set out together on a long and perilous journey to find safety in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

Struggling to survive in a world without electricity, food, shelter, and clean water, Atticus and Thais shed their fear of growing too close, and they fall hopelessly in love. But can love survive in such dark times, or is it fated to die with them? 

If you're as excited about this book as I am, then look no further!

You can find Everything Under the Sun on Goodreads!
Or you can buy Everything Under the Sun on Amazon!

Penelope's Review

Where to begin?! This book was quite long but definitely worth the read. The cliffhanger at the end was unexpected as I didn't realize that this was going to become a series! Seeing what happens next with the characters is something I'm looking forward to!

In terms of main characters we had Thais and Atticus. Thais was a great female lead, very strong given everything she had to go through yet she still had a soft and delicate side which I found super refreshing! I also really enjoyed Atticus and his devotion to Thais - I did find his vulnerability a bit overkill, with his constant thoughts of not being good enough for Thais and fighting his demons - but once he was able to let go of that and really love Thais, I fell in love with their love story! Redmerski built up their relationship slowly and I enjoyed getting to know the characters both on their own and together. They have to go through so much but they persevere despite the odds and I love that in a book! Definitely an epic love story to say the least!

This book touched on some very difficult subjects for some, such as physical abuse and rape. However, I found it to be a very realistic version of the world should it ever end, and liked that Redmerski didn't hold back. I did find that sex in general played too big a role in the book for my taste. It was referenced constantly and while I understand the role it needed to play in the story, it just got to be a bit repetitive for me. The book was very dramatic but not quite to the point of OVER DRAMATIC. I mean, it's the end of the world... a little drama is expected lol.

Overall, I found the book to be out of the box, innovative, and exciting! I won't say that every single page was a heart-stopper but for a book to be this long and still hold a reader's attention is pretty impressive. The character building was slow but really gave insight into who these people were and how they thought and what they felt. The book was very well written with a unique storyline. I'm excited to see what happens next!

RATING: 4/5 Devils!

Please read below for my interview with Jessica Redmerski!

1. What inspired you to write Everything Under the Sun? 

Daryl and Beth on the television show The Walking Dead - If Beth had been just a little older, a relationship between them, forced by survival and the post-apocalyptic world they lived in, would have been sweet. But because that could never happen, I made it my duty to tell the love story inspired by them, that grew in my heart.

2. What is one book that you've read that stands out for the emotions it caused? i.e. crying, extreme anger, extreme happiness, etc.

THE BRONZE HORSEMAN trilogy by Paullina Simons

3. How did it feel when you had your very first book published? Was it a long journey? 

It was a awesome feeling! And yes, a long journey. I’ve been writing for about 25 years.

4. What made you decide to write books in several different genres as opposed to sticking to just one? 

I can’t stick to one genre. I love writing all types of stories. I’d start to feel claustrophobic if I had to write in the same genre all the time. Unfortunately, I think it confuses my readers that I write everything under the same author name. I regret that decision to this day. My advice to authors considering it: Don’t make this mistake! I’m in the process now of correcting that error.

5. Does writing energize you or exhaust you? 

Both! I’m energized during the process, but exhausted once it’s over. It’s a long process, where you’re using all of your emotions on a daily basis, so exhaustion after excitement is inevitable.

6. Of the books you have published, which one did you find the most challenging to write/complete? 

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN. Only because it took so long, and is such a large book.

About the Author:

Jessica Redmerski is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, international bestseller, and award winner, who juggles several different genres. She began self-publishing in 2012, and later with the success of THE EDGE OF NEVER, signed on with Grand Central Publishing/Forever Romance. Her works have been translated into more than twenty languages.

Jessica is a hybrid author who, in addition to working with a traditional publisher, also continues to self-publish. Her popular crime and suspense series, In the Company of Killers, has been optioned for television and film by actor and model William Levy.

She also writes as J.A. Redmerski.

You can find and contact Jessica here:

Her Website!

Facebook

Twitter

Goodreads

Amazon as Jessica Redmerski

Amazon as J.A. Redmerski

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Title: Carve the Mark

Author: Veronica Roth

Publish Date: January 17th, 2017

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

Source: Bought

Summary by Goodreads.

In a galaxy powered by the current, everyone has a gift.

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.
Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akos is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost.
Then Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?

Penelope's Review

Carve the Mark was an interesting and enjoyable read for me  - I actually read it whilst on a beach in Cuba so maybe that's improved my opinion lol! 

I definitely liked the character Akos - there were many sides to him that I found intriguing and I liked his strong sense of loyalty to his brother despite what him and his brother have to go through. Cyra, another of the main characters, I also liked but I wouldn't say she was my all time favorite. Her currentgift created many issues for her and I did enjoy seeing how she slowly learned to cope with it and come to a better understanding of what it is and how it can be used but it just took me some time to get past her negative attitude and enjoy her role in the book. 

I've read quite a few reviews commenting on how slow the book was and that some didn't finish the book at all - while I do agree that it was perhaps a bit longer than it needed to be, I in no way felt that it was something I didn't want to finish! The plot was interesting, what with the different worlds and the merging of such different characters. I found the currentgift concept to be an interesting part of the story as well as the fates that befell the 'favored families'. 

I enjoy Roth's writing style and loved her Divergent series as I'm sure most of you did as well! I'm happy that she came out with this and am very excited to read the second and final book in the duology! (Which I just recently bought, yay!) Overall, Carve the Mark was definitely another great read from a great author, and I'm excited to see what she comes up with next!

RATING: 4/5 Devils!

You Will Be Mine by Natasha Preston

Title: You Will Be Mine

Author: Natasha Preston

Publish Date: February 6th, 2018

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: Received an ARC from Raincoast Books!

Summary by Goodreads. 

ROSES ARE RED
VIOLETS ARE BLUE
WATCH YOUR BACK
I'M COMING FOR YOU

Lylah and her friends can't wait to spend a night out together. Partying is the perfect way to let loose from the stress of life and school, and Lylah hopes that hitting the dance floor with Chace, her best friend, will bring them closer together. She's been crushing on him since they met. If only he thought of her the same way...

The girls are touching up their makeup and the guys are sliding on their coats when the doorbell rings. No one is there. An envelope sits on the doormat. It's an anonymous note addressed to their friend Sonny. A secret admirer? Maybe. They all laugh it off.

Except Sonny never comes home. And a new note arrives:

YOUR TURN

PENELOPE'S REVIEW

So this book is a YA mystery/thriller type novel and while I did enjoy the plot, I found the writing itself to be quite amateur and that was hard for me to get past. As I said though, the story was good if a bit on the dramatic side. I did not guess the murderer correctly which of course made the ending quite impressive for me. I went through most of the novel quite sure that I knew exactly who was responsible and so when the tables started to turn near the end, I was very surprised which added to my opinion of the book. Very fast-paced, and definitely interesting if you are into this type of book.

The characters themselves were ok, there was quite a range of personalities which was intriguing, and I did like Lylah the main character. Chase however, I most certainly did not like. Too possessive at times for my taste, and in his attempts to be heroic, he came across as quite chauvinistic.

Overall, I did enjoy the read, it just wasn't my all-time favorite. I'm glad I gave it a chance though and if there is a sequel (which is hinted at with the cliffhanger ending!) I will definitely give it a try as well!

RATING: 3.5 DEVILS!

A Game of Thrones by George R. R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones

Author: George R.R. Martin

Publish Date: August 6th, 1996

Publisher: Bantam

Source: Bought

Summary by Goodreads. 

Here is the first volume in George R. R. Martin’s magnificent cycle of novels that includes A Clash of Kings and A Storm of Swords. As a whole, this series comprises a genuine masterpiece of modern fantasy, bringing together the best the genre has to offer. Magic, mystery, intrigue, romance, and adventure fill these pages and transport us to a world unlike any we have ever experienced. Already hailed as a classic, George R. R. Martin’s stunning series is destined to stand as one of the great achievements of imaginative fiction.
A GAME OF THRONES
Long ago, in a time forgotten, a preternatural event threw the seasons out of balance. In a land where summers can last decades and winters a lifetime, trouble is brewing. The cold is returning, and in the frozen wastes to the north of Winterfell, sinister and supernatural forces are massing beyond the kingdom’s protective Wall. At the center of the conflict lie the Starks of Winterfell, a family as harsh and unyielding as the land they were born to. Sweeping from a land of brutal cold to a distant summertime kingdom of epicurean plenty, here is a tale of lords and ladies, soldiers and sorcerers, assassins and bastards, who come together in a time of grim omens.
Here an enigmatic band of warriors bear swords of no human metal; a tribe of fierce wildlings carry men off into madness; a cruel young dragon prince barters his sister to win back his throne; and a determined woman undertakes the most treacherous of journeys. Amid plots and counterplots, tragedy and betrayal, victory and terror, the fate of the Starks, their allies, and their enemies hangs perilously in the balance, as each endeavors to win that deadliest of conflicts: the game of thrones.

Penelope's Review

I'd first like to point out that I did watch the TV series before reading this book, something I don't normally do but in this case, am glad that I did. Don't get me wrong, the book was AMAZING! But I do feel that had I not watched the show first, and seen all of the names and faces and locations for myself, I most likely would have gotten quite lost during this read. There is A LOT to take in in terms of the amount of characters and places to follow.

However! That does not mean that it wasn't a fantastic novel. The book was incredibly well written and I give my respects to George R.R. Martin for being able to put together such a masterpiece! The planning that must have gone into writing this is astounding! But let's get to the point and discuss WHY it's so good!

First off - the characters! There was such depth to all of the characters in this book! No black and white evil/good people, there were dimensions! Personalities! Reasons behind the bad and noble causes behind the good! Every character was instrumental to the development of the story and there were quite a few deaths that I was NOT expecting (Well.... had I not watched the show first I wouldn't have expected it while reading lol). The twists and turns in this book kept me wanting more until the very last page!

The plot was great, plenty of scenes for whatever your cup of tea is! Violent scenes, passionate scenes, betrayal scenes, sad scenes, happy scenes, angry scenes! You name it, it's IN THIS BOOK! 

Now it is a bit of a longer read, but well worth it believe me. If you've already watched the show, this book is even more amazing because it's like reading the script for the show with the addition of deleted scenes! So cool!  

Overall, I was VERY impressed with the read.. so much so that I went and purchased the rest of the series! I am now very happily on to the second book!

RATING: 5/5 Devils!

Book Blitz: Raindrops on Roses by Millenia Black

Hello everyone! This is my stop on the Book Blitz tour for Raindrops on Roses! This tour is hosted by the one and only Lola's Blog Tours! It runs from February 1st - 7th. Check out the full schedule here!

Title: Raindrops on Roses
Author: Millenia Black
Publish Date: September 2016
Publisher: Eye on Life Publications

A Searing New Trilogy from the #1 Bestselling Author of The Great Pretender 

What happens when his ex just won't let go?

Mayfair Island, Florida. Grief-stricken after the sudden loss of her beloved grandmother, an enduring but reclusive Hollywood icon, young Priscilla Bauer finds herself adrift and looking to find solace in the arms of her vast inheritance, when she meets the kind and considerate corporate brand designer, Michael Frost—a drop dead gorgeous beacon of light in her all too dark night. 

Falling hard and falling fast, Priscilla has no idea she’s stepped into dangerous territory...someone else has already branded Michael Frost her very own—with no intention of letting him go! 

Love. Loss. Jealousy. Vengeance. Passions are high but bitter vengeance gets even higher in this razor-sharp love triangle you won't forget! 

With Raindrops on Roses, the captivating Favorite Things Trilogy takes flight!

So! By now you must be asking, where can I get this book?! I am happy to say you have options my little devils! See below:

-Amazon
-Amazon Paperback

Or check it out on Goodreads!

You can also go see the exciting book trailer on Youtube!

AND! In case you didn't know, for the duration of this book blitz, you can get a copy of Raindrops on Roses for only $0.99!!!!!

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Raindrops on Roses Excerpt:

When he entered the apartment, he saw that Amber had fallen asleep on the sofa and was snoring softly, sprawled out against the oversized pillows. She'd popped open a mini-wine bottle and left it half empty on the end table next to her wine glass. Her phone lay in the palm of her hand and she looked almost camera-ready lying there with her porcelain face still in full make-up and her ash blonde hair fanned out like a halo around her head. The top of her Forever Amber tattoo peeked out from her ample cleavage.

She must've gone out, he thought, noticing her heels had been kicked off near the coffee table. But she had clearly fallen asleep out here waiting for him.

Of course she did—what'd you expect?

Truth was, Michael hadn't expected anything. He hadn't thought much about Amber in hours. Once he'd laid eyes on Priscilla, he'd lost all concepts of logic and reasoning. But the funny thing was—he'd loved it! The time he'd spent in her company had made him feel alive, in a way he hadn't known he'd been out of touch with until now.

The spacious three-bedroom apartment he shared with Amber had always been cozy, a really nice home for the two of them, but Michael stood there now, looking around the living room, sensing that the end of their life together had just begun.

He saw an uncovered dish of lasagna sitting cold on the dining room bar. When he flipped on the kitchen light to put it away, Amber woke up, looking around as if she wasn't exactly sure where she was.

"Hey you," he said, hoping she wouldn't notice how rumpled he looked—or how sad he felt. Relax, he told himself. She'll just think the funeral got the best of you.

She got up and walked over to him, slipping her arms around his waist. "Memories?" she asked, searching his eyes.

He shrugged. "Yeah, it was pretty rough. But still, they did give her a nice send off." Michael returned the hug, praying she wouldn't ask what had kept him out until five in the morning.

"Lasagna's on the bar,"—she indicated the dish—"but we can just put it away for later."

"No, no," Michael said, giving her an uneasy smile, "let's have some now. I feel bad that you tried to wait up and I'm really sorry. I should've called but there was just so much going on, you know? So many people there to talk to. It was crazy."

"Yeah, but you could've texted me back, at least," she replied. "Anyway, if you're sure about lasagna for breakfast, I'm game. Let's eat."

They went into the kitchen and got busy heating up. Soon after, a delicious smell wafted through the air as Amber poured orange juice. She handed Michael his favorite dinner plate, then threw a light salad together.

Once they sat down to eat, she said, "So, how'd it go? What famous people did you meet? I saw on the news that most of the big name recluses came out for it."

"Yeah," Michael grumbled, "and it turned that poor woman's funeral service into a goddamn media circus." He dug into the lasagna, shaking his head. "Dad was like, 'just ignore it,' but that was next to impossible."

"Well, I offered to go with you for support," said Amber, "but you told me to stay home and work...that it wasn't necessary for me to come."

He saw now from her demeanor that her feelings had been hurt. "Well," he said, avoiding her eyes, "maybe I was wrong." He watched as her face relaxed and thought, Why's she so sensitive lately?

When they finished eating, Amber put the dishes in the sink and then immediately slipped into her mating dance. Smiling, she opened the refrigerator and Michael watched from hooded eyes as she produced a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries. Despite the circumstances, he felt compelled to

return her amorous smile. Didn't he have to? Even as his body still reeled with the sweet aftershocks of having just made love to someone else?

Swaying back over to the table, Amber placed her lips firmly against his ear and whispered, "So how 'bout you come into the bedroom and help me eat some of these, hmm?" She put the tray in front of him and stroked his cheek.

"Sounds delicious," he replied, not quite meeting her gaze.

Lacing their fingers, she led him into their bedroom, where soft pink curtains draped the windows and red satin sheets clothed the bed in a rich blend of Amber’s favorite colors. She began undressing herself, her clothes quickly hitting the carpet to reveal a fresh Brazilian wax. Then she climbed into the bed and motioned for him to join her.

Armed with a strawberry, Michael teasingly ran it over her lips before slowly feeding it to her.

She quickly reached for his belt. "Baby, you should get a little more comfortable." Then she began teasing him with her tongue, helping him undress.

Once he was completely naked, she plucked two of the strawberries from the tray, fed him one and lay back against the pillows with the other, partially inserting it into herself. "So now you know where to go if you want more," she said with a grin.

Michael obliged. With any luck, he could make her forget he'd been out all night

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Want some even more exciting news?! Once you've devoured this one, there's TWO MORE you can sink your horns into! Check out where to get them below!! 

Blue Satins Sashes (Favorite Things #2)

-Amazon Kindle

-Amazon Paperback

Or check it out on Goodreads!

When the Bee Stings (Favorite Things #3)

-Amazon Kindle

-Amazon Paperback

Or check it out on Goodreads!

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Praise for Millenia Black:

"Intensely intriguing and deeply riveting, Black's latest is a first-rate page-turner that will draw you in from the very beginning and never let go." —Sheri Melnick, RT Book Reviews, Top Pick

"Ms. Black is a talented writer, and I can't wait to read many more of her books..."—Carol Ann Culbert Johnson, MyShelf.com

"Millenia Black is a mistress at neatly laying out each part of the story, like building an elaborate building that forms a fascinating whole. She clearly and succinctly draws verbal pictures of each character and their interrelationships with each other. It is masterful..." —Jeri Neal, The Romance Reader's Connection

About the Author:

No one does family and relationship drama quite like bestselling author Millenia Black! Heralded as a double life and relationship expert, she's been a featured guest on radio shows across the country, discussing the 7 Smoke Signals Your Man is Living a Double Life.

Millenia lives in Florida where she's currently unmarried and has never dated anyone living a double life...

She thinks.

You can find and contact Millenia Black here:

- Website 

- Blog 

- Facebook 

- Twitter 

- Goodreads 

- Amazon

- Pinterest

- Youtube

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If all that isn't enough, you can also enter the tour giveaway!

These are the prizes you can win:

- One winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card

- Five winners will win an e-copy of Blue Satin Sashes (Favorite Things #2) by Millenia Black

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can't Wait Wednesday #2

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally, they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. Find out more here! 

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This week I am super excited to hear that the fourth installment in the Shatter Me series is coming out in March! I have absolutely LOVED all three of these books and so I am highly anticipating seeing what Tahereh Mafi does with this next chapter!

Title: Restore Me

Author: Tahereh Mafi

Publication Date: March 6th, 2018

Publisher: HarperCollins

Summary by Goodreads.

Juliette Ferrars thought she'd won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good? 

Can't Wait Wednesday #1

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

This is the first time that I will be participating the weekly book blog meme, Can't-Wait Wednesday! I think this is an awesome meme for me because it's going to allow me to really delve deep into upcoming releases! More for my TBR pile! YAY! 

Lol, so without further ado, one of the books that I am MOST excited about is:

Title: Say You'll Remember Me

Author: Katy McGarry

Publication Date: January 30th, 2018

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Summary by Goodreads.

When Drix was convicted of a crime--one he didn't commit--he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the new Second Chance Program, the governor's newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. 

Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.
Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor's daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn't may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle's parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix's messy life.

Fighting against a society that can't imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves--Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence--and each other to finally get what they deserve.

As You Wish by Chelsea Sedoti

Title: As You Wish

Author: Chelsea Sedoti

Publish Date: January 2nd, 2018

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Source: ARC courtesy of Raincoast Books! (received late due to post office confusion)

Summary by Goodreads.

What if you could ask for anything- and get it?

In the sandy Mojave Desert, Madison is a small town on the road between nothing and nowhere. But Eldon wouldn’t want to live anywhere else, because in Madison, everyone gets one wish—and that wish always comes true.
Some people wish for money, some people wish for love, but Eldon has seen how wishes have broken the people around him. And with the lives of his family and friends in chaos, he’s left with more questions than answers. Can he make their lives better? How can he be happy if the people around him aren’t? And what hope is there for any of them if happiness isn’t an achievable dream?
Doubts build, leading Eldon to a more outlandish and scary thought: maybe you can’t wish for happiness…maybe, just maybe, you have to make it for yourself.

Penelope's Review

     

As you Wish ended up being an ok, fairly interesting read. I found the plot to be quite unique which is what attracted me to the novel in the first place (I mean really, who doesn't wish for a wish to come true, right?) However, there was a few things that I didn't really enjoy that prevented this from being a favorite. 

The main character, Eldon, was very self-centered and arrogant and although there were some redeeming qualities about him, such as his evident love for his sister, that didn't much change throughout the novel. Even his wish, the whole point of the book, turned out to be kind of selfish. I believe that it was meant to come across as 'for others' or 'in the best interests of the town of Madison' but I was hoping for something more. In the end, I didn't see the character development of Eldon that I would have liked. He stayed pretty much the same, as pointed out by his ex-girlfriend Juniper. 

I did also find the story slow going. Yes I was able to finish the book quickly, but not much happens throughout the book and with such a fascinating premise I feel there could have been a lot more done with it. Every chapter was much of the same thing over and over again. Eldon needs to figure out what to wish for, he complains every step of the way, and there just isn't much more to it than that.  

I also didn't like the multitude of touchy subjects brought into the book but not really expanded upon or integrated into the story (such as God and domestic abuse). I feel that if the author wanted to include such topics they should have been more tied into the plot and not just thrown into the story as they were.

I really wanted to like this book, and while it wasn't horrible by any means, it just wasn't my favorite. I'm sure others have various opinions however so I encourage you to try it out for yourself and form your own opinions!

RATING: 3/5 Devils!

  

The Black Witch by Laurie Forester Review

Title: The Black Witch
Author: Laurie Forester
Publish Date: May 2nd, 2017
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Source: Bought

Summary by Goodreads.

A new Black Witch will rise…her powers vast beyond imagining.

Elloren Gardner is the granddaughter of the last prophesied Black Witch, Carnissa Gardner, who drove back the enemy forces and saved the Gardnerian people during the Realm War. But while she is the absolute spitting image of her famous grandmother, Elloren is utterly devoid of power in a society that prizes magical ability above all else.
When she is granted the opportunity to pursue her lifelong dream of becoming an apothecary, Elloren joins her brothers at the prestigious Verpax University to embrace a destiny of her own, free from the shadow of her grandmother’s legacy. But she soon realizes that the university, which admits all manner of people—including the fire-wielding, winged Icarals, the sworn enemies of all Gardnerians—is a treacherous place for the granddaughter of the Black Witch.
As evil looms on the horizon and the pressure to live up to her heritage builds, everything Elloren thought she knew will be challenged and torn away. Her best hope of survival may be among the most unlikely band of misfits…if only she can find the courage to trust those she’s been taught to hate and fear.

Penelope's Review

     

Well where to begin. I understand that there is a *huge* amount of criticism surrounding this book for various reasons so before reading ahead please keep in mind that this is my opinion and if you don't like it, no one is forcing you to continue reading. 

I actually did not read any reviews before delving into this book, so I went in with a completely open mind. I'm actually incredibly thankful I did that because I feel as though the multitude of bad reviews would have colored my judgement of the novel overall. It is only after I was finished that I went online and read tons of mixed reviews, but my opinion did not change. 

I happen to think that this was an excellent book for many reasons. It is far more complex than a lot of reviews have given it credit for and that's a shame because many readers now won't even give this book a chance. The writing style is very skillful and serves as proof that Forester is an exquisite author. I'm very happy to have been introduced to her work through this novel and will continue to enjoy the series as it gets released.  

Elloren was a wonderfully developed main character that made up her own mind about things as opposed to just following along with what her aunt and society told her to believe. While she grew up being told that other races such as the Urisks, Lupines, Kelts, Icarals, etc. were horrid half-breeds and Garderians (her own race) was the only pure-blooded race, she went off to University and discovered on her own that there more to these people than she initially thought. Right from the beginning Elloren questions everything which is something I admired about her character. She formed her own opinions about the people she met and made her own decisions about who to become friends with.

While I understand that the main area of controversy is around the racist/homophobic atmosphere of the story, I believe it was necessary for the character development. Not just for Elloren, but for characters such as Aislinn, Yvan, Wynter, and even Ariel. The novel encompasses the fact that yes, the world is racist and homophobic BUT when left to their own devices, certain characters are able to overcome the prejudices they have been taught, to form their own ideas about what is right and wrong.

Forester focuses on the building of relationships, the necessity of teamwork, and the enlightenment that people undergo in what they considered, at first, to be highly uncomfortable situations (ahem, Aislinn and her Chemistrie class at first?!)

Overall, I think the book touched on some real-world issues in a thoughtful and well-put manner, and I'm incredibly excited to see what Forester has in store for us next in The Black Witch Chronicles!


RATING: 4.5/5 Devils!

  

Welcome to my Blog!

Hello all!

My name is Penelope, and I'm here to introduce you to my blog!

While I initially created this blog back in 2012, I wasn't able to keep up with it unfortunately. However, I'm happy to say that I am ready to take it back on! I've decided to completely clear it out and start fresh, with more mature reviews that will be better written and much more indicative of a book's true worth (in my opinion anyway lol).

While this may change, I plan on posting at least one book review per week while I am in university (although during exam times that might stretch to one every 2 weeks) and hopefully 2-3 per week during the summer. My reviews will mainly be young adult, adult fiction, romance, and fantasy. There may be some other genres thrown in occasionally but I am still a hardcore YA fan and probably always will be.

A bit about me... I have loved reading ever since I was a baby (seriously... my first present EVER was given to me on the date of my birth IN THE HOSPITAL and it was... you guessed it... a book! Seems the family knew my nerd tendencies even then.. lol). And I have read ever since... to an extreme though... I'm talking my mom and dad grounded me from going to the library at one point kind of extreme... yea. Good times.

So my goal with this whole adventure is really to just share my intense love of words on paper with everyone who cares to read it. I hope you enjoy!