Book Tour: Phoenix Fire by S.D. Grimm

Entangled: Teen
March 5th 2018
432 Pages

After spending her life in foster care, Ava has finally found home. But all it takes is a chance encounter with hot nerd Wyatt Wilcox for it to unravel.

Now, things are starting to change. First, the flashes of memories slowly creeping in. Memories of other lives, lives that Wyatt is somehow in. Then, the healing. Any cut? Gone.

But when Cade and Nick show up, claiming to be her brothers, things get even weirder. They tell her she’s a Phoenix, sent to protect the world from monsters—monsters she never knew existed. It’s a little hard to accept. Especially when they tell her she has to end the life of a Phoenix turned rogue, or Cade will die.

With Wyatt’s increasingly suspicious behavior, Ava’s determined to figure out what he’s hiding. Unless she can discover Wyatt’s secret in time and complete her Phoenix training, she’ll lose the life, love, and family she never thought she could have.-Goodreads

Jumping right into this, I had an issue with Ava. For someone who has spent most of her life in foster care, she is a brat and that is the first impression you get from her. She claims to love her new family so much, that she throws a tantrum and throws it in their face that she is not blood. Its horrible really and for the rest of the book, it left a bad taste in my mouth and I generally did not like or care for her throughout the book. Ava proved to be a very judgmental and stereotypical character. But I kept going through the book. What was the saving grace was the fact that the story is told through different point of views.

But although the idea of the story drew me in, what kept me from fully enjoying the book was how narrow the storyline really was and how there wasn’t enough depth in characters. I wasn’t invested in them and that made me feel some type of way. The romance, cute but not enough for me to ship for them. I liked the build of the story but wished for more mythology. I felt that the author took too much time on little things as opposed giving the characters a deeper history and stronger voice. As for setting the author get points because I saw everything and felt that you know what maybe this could be a thing.

The pace of the novel wasn’t too bad. The author jumps right into the story and I appreciate that. It does stall and plot weakens after a few chapters. The book is just too long and not enough drive to want to finish it.

However, overall I was disappointed in this read because it didn’t provide enough history/mythology, the intensity wasn’t really there, the characters lack substance and the romance wasn’t exactly romantic. Do I think this was a decent start to a series? Kind of. There is a lot of promise and as I see a bunch of conflict in Ava and surround characters’ lives, if the author throws in more past trauma, more once a upon a time this happened, and more chemistry, this will be a great series to look after. I wanted to like this book but it was drawn out without enough passion.

2 Pickles

Book Review: Haven by Mary Lindsey

Entangled: Teen
Published Nov. 7, 2017
371 Pages

Rain Ryland has never belonged anywhere, He’s used to people judging him for his rough background, his intimidating size, and now, his orphan status. He’s always been on the outside, looking in, and he’s fine with that. Until he moves to New Wurzburg and meets Friederike Burkhart.

Freddie isn’t like normal teen girls, though. And someone wants her dead for it. Freddie warns he’d better stay far away if he wants to stay alive, but Rain’s never been good at running from trouble. For the first time, Rain has something worth fighting for, worth living for. Worth dying for.- Goodreads

I had no idea what I was getting into when I began this book. I thought it was going to be one of those books where the protagonist falls into the dark whole and has to fight the world to get back to where they came from. This book is slightly like that. Rain gets involves into a world that is different from what his world only in the sense that this new world involves some supernatural beings.

Let me begin by saying I loved Rain. Between his logical loyalty, kindness and street smarts, he was a really like-able character and I wanted the best for him beginning and end. Who I didn’t like was Freddie. What Rain saw in her, I don’t know. She was rude, disrespectful and a hothead. She didn’t want people to make their own decision and caught and attitude when they did. Rain made a huge point when he told her the reason she liked him was because he doesn’t let her boss him around and that he makes he own decision. From that moment on, he was my favorite. But I hated Freddie, even at the end of the book.

What this book was missing was the mythology part of it. The fact that Rain, for the most part, accepted how everything came to be was surprising. Yes, he questioned the way things were going but he didn’t question how it came to be. Were they always here? How was the counsel formed? Who is the most powerful? Things like that I felt could have been answered with the help of some story telling within the plot. I am big on supernatural and mythology and this book would have been perfect for it.

Rain and Freddie’s romance wasn’t forced but it came off more adult than I thought it would have been. Freddie likes control and is a bit extreme regarding that, while Rain is much more willing to compromise. I guess it made the relationship, when it actually happened, balanced.

Another issue I had with this read, is there was a lot of he said she said. A lot of supporting characters did a lot of talk behind everyone’s back and it was redundant to hear the gossip as opposed to something actually going on. I understand the small town aspect behind that but every other page was about what someone else did as opposed to something happening in live time.

Finally, what was bothering me while reading and what is still bothering after reading, is the lack of time the author took to talk about Rain’s family history. She throws it in there, so you know what happened initially and Rain even talks about it with his Aunt but it was lazy. There wasn’t enough time and care into his life other than the few snippets. I was disappointed in that.

Overall, I liked this book. I loved reading it through Rain’s point of view and I hope that there is a book two but with much more details, drama and emotion.

3 Pickles

Blog Tour: The Uncrossing by Melissa Eastlake

Entangled Teen
Published Oct. 2, 2017
292 Pages

Luke can uncross almost any curse—they unravel themselves for him like no one else. So working for the Kovrovs, one of the families controlling all the magic in New York, is exciting and dangerous, especially when he encounters the first curse he can’t break. And it involves Jeremy, the beloved, sheltered prince of the Kovrov family—the one boy he absolutely shouldn’t be falling for.

Jeremy’s been in love with cocky, talented Luke since they were kids. But from their first kiss, something’s missing. Jeremy’s family keeps generations of deadly secrets, forcing him to choose between love and loyalty. As Luke fights to break the curse, a magical, citywide war starts crackling, and it’s tied to Jeremy.

This might be the one curse Luke can’t uncross. If true love’s kiss fails, what’s left for him and Jeremy?- Goodreads

Well well.. this was something I was not expecting. Jumping right into this the book is a bit cliche. Breaking the curse for a chance of love with the one you really want. We’ve heard it and read it before. The thing about it you are reminded how much you have heard this before.

Jeremy is the perfect human being that is getting hit with the worst things possible and needs saving, a real good hug and love. But the thing with Jeremy is despite that he was an entitled brat and at times came off really, really annoying. Like roll your eyes status  I liked Luke with his “we can do this at any cost” attitude. But there romance was a little weird for me. Personally, Jeremy wouldn’t even be the last person on earth, I would speak to. I would avoid him. So it was interesting to see Luke falling for him.

I did enjoy the romance between the two but it seemed to die down as the book went on and I wasn’t too thrilled with that. I wanted that spark to keep burning for like ever.

What I loved was the setting and how the author created this magical world. I wanted more from this world. Not necessarily Luke or Jeremy but the author did some really good stuff creating the environment in which magic rules.

But the book despite it being only 292 pages on the ebook felt long and at times I felt the author was reaching. There was too much repetition within the book especially with Luke and Jeremy fighting. Also the lack of backstory was a killer. I love when books jump right into things but questions that would normally come in the beginning need to show up during the book.

Also the ending could use some work. Leaving it open for either a book two or just because isn’t appeal and can come off as lazy.

Overall, it was an alright read. There is ton of potential and the author can pull you into a world. The trick is keeping you there.

2 Pickles

Book Review: The Things They’ve Taken by Katie McElhenney

Entangled: Teen
Published May 1, 2017
278 Pages

All Lo Campbell wants is to be a normal teenager—to go to one high school, live in one place, and have one real friend. Instead, she travels the country with her mother, chasing the unknown, the what else that’s out there…

Until one day, the what else chases back.

Determined to rescue her mom from whatever supernatural being took her, Lo will need more help than a badly dressed demon obsessed with country music. She’s going to need a Tracker—and lucky for her, she finds one. Shaw is strong, good-looking, possibly available, and utterly infuriating. Sure, he may have secrets, and his help costs more than a brand-new car, but she’ll have to deal with him if she wants to find her mother—and get her home alive.- Goodreads

Jumping right into things, I would like to say I cannot tell you why I truly enjoyed this book and am looking forward to book two.

The thing about it is the overall story was written well.  I loved the concept of someone who knows nothing about the other world is willing to do whatever it takes to get her mother back. But despite that, there are some things that caused the book to drop in rating for me.

Firstly, Lo. She wasn’t the sharpest tool in the box and she is constantly blinded by her emotions AND she believes the whole world should be revolving around her mission to save her mother. She was selfish and even at the turning point ending, I still strongly believe she was selfish. Although she is justified for being hurt, her selfishness, her immaturity completely makes things so much worst than what it is.

Secondly, not much really happens in this book. There is a lot of driving, a lot of meeting new people and Lo reminding the tracker she paid him to do a job. Predictability is within this book, however, the author was still able to pull a trick out without being seen. I strongly feel that the author didn’t put enough in the book; enough character development, backstory or even romance.

Despite all of this, because I know it is a lot, I want to read book two. I want to know what really is going on. What is the tracker’s backstory, what didn’t Lo’s mom tell her, where is Lo’s father… there are so many questions that the author does even touch but they are there and I want those answers.

I liked the story and it moved faster than a book that didn’t have a whole bunch going on should. I appreciated that. I know that I gave a lot of negatives to this book but I recommend it because there is a crap load of potential in this series and I am looking forward to its growth.

3 Pickles

Book Review: Garden of Thorns by Amber Mitchell

Entangled Teen
Published March 6th 2017
370 Pages

The Garden-burlesque troupe of slave girls, has been Rose’s life for the past 7 years. At 16 years old, she has an opportunity to escape but things do not go as plan when she randomly chooses the former heir to the throne, the leader of the rebellion against the Empire, Rayce.

Rayce isn’t sure about Rose and her “randomness.” And takes Rose hostage as he figures out if she was sent to kill him. Rose must prove her loyalty and convince Rayce to save her sisters in the Garden and finally come to terms with a secret, she has held since she was captured. 

This book took longer to read and that is because I am an adult and had adult crap to do. But if I was able to put my time into this read like I wanted to, it would have been finished the day I started it.

From the beginning you are drawn in by the Garden not necessarily Rose. For a while, there was something about her that didn’t capture me. The fight within and outside the Garden defined her and I understand it was her life but there was nothing else to her. This is not to say that she ruined the book because she didn’t. The author was able to develop a story around the character that things moved along without Rose having a personality.

The plot was moving; even when things slowed down, there was something about the words that kept you at the edge of the seat. It really wasn’t the secret that Rose was holding. Oddly enough the secret was clear but it wasn’t what kept the book going. And it doesn’t take long for Rose to “meet” with Rayce. My issue with Rayce is that he is perfect. I don’t know if his perfect personality and stance on justice will be questioned in book two but he was too good at playing the hero roll.

Overall, I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would and I am looking forward to book two.

4 Pickles