Review: The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis

The Female of the Species by Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: September 16th, 2016
Purchase: Amazon

Alex Craft knows how to kill someone. And she doesn’t feel bad about it. When her older sister, Anna, was murdered three years ago and the killer walked free, Alex uncaged the language she knows best. The language of violence.

While her crime goes unpunished, Alex knows she can’t be trusted among other people, even in her small hometown. She relegates herself to the shadows, a girl who goes unseen in plain sight, unremarkable in the high school hallways.

But Jack Fisher sees her. He’s the guy all other guys want to be: the star athlete gunning for valedictorian with the prom queen on his arm. Guilt over the role he played the night Anna’s body was discovered hasn’t let him forget Alex over the years, and now her green eyes amid a constellation of freckles have his attention. He doesn’t want to only see Alex Craft; he wants to know her.

So does Peekay, the preacher’s kid, a girl whose identity is entangled with her dad’s job, though that does not stop her from knowing the taste of beer or missing the touch of her ex-boyfriend. When Peekay and Alex start working together at the animal shelter, a friendship forms and Alex’s protective nature extends to more than just the dogs and cats they care for.

Circumstances bring Alex, Jack, and Peekay together as their senior year unfolds. While partying one night, Alex’s darker nature breaks out, setting the teens on a collision course that will change their lives forever.

My Thoughts:
Okay WARNING!  This review will be filled with SPOILERS!  Like BIG SPOILERS!  Like revealing who LIVES or DIES SPOILERS!!  I can't talk about this book without mentioning the ending SO YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!  SPOILERS!!!!!

Yep I am going to start off with that ending.  With any other book I would've been screaming NOOOOOO, but I think the ending that McGinnis picked had to happen.  There wasn't any other way and I applaud her for making this decision.  I am not a fan of unhappy ever afters especially when I adore the main character, but like I said there was no way for Alex to have the happy ending after her actions.  She was a phenomenal character and probably one of my favorites of all time, but she had to die.  Even though she did bad things for good reasons it still didn't absolve her of her actions and I think Jack knew that.  He loved her, but even in his gut he knew what she did wasn't right.  I think that might even be why he was drawn to Branley even in the end. 

Okay that being aside I really enjoyed this story.  McGinnis has this unique way of writing stories that start out super dark and then even out in the middle, but you can still feel that darkness lurking.  It isn't sinister it's just darkness that kinda closes in by the end and well it's pretty awesome.  The Female of the Species follows this pattern and I could not get enough.  It almost felt like there was someone constantly reading over my shoulder, but when I looked it was just a sunny sky overhead until that sun was blocked.  Mindy McGinnis is definitely in my top 5 favorite authors and I will read ANYTHING she writes!

I also loved the multiple POV's.  I enjoyed being in each characters heads and I thought it was interesting to see how they each saw each other.  I do wish Branley would've had her own POV. She was the character to hate, but she was so broken and I think it would've helped me connect with her a bit more if I could have seen inside her head. 

Alex where do I even start.  She was such a great character and one that I was so intrigued by.  I thought the author did a great job at weaving in her backstory and her dad.  This gave me the understanding for why she is the way she is and even that little scene with her mom was so eye opening.  Alex was broken in so many ways, but I am curious to know if she hadn't died what her fate would have been. Would she have stopped killing?  Would she have lived happy ever after with Jack?  My initial answer is no because well Jack wasn't the greatest boyfriend and I think her instincts would have gotten the better of her.  It would be nice to think that she would've had a HEA, but I just don't think that was in the cards for her dying or not.

The whole romance situation was weird for me.  This is why I have to go with 4.5 stars instead of 5.  I liked Jack and Alex together, I liked that they were both competing to be valedictorian, and I really liked that they understood each other.  What I didn't like was his male mentality.  He kept saying he wanted to be better and a good guy and he was to a point, but he could never stop himself from looking at the nude pictures Branley would send him.  That was just not okay.  Plus in that last scene he almost gave in to Branley because Alex would never have found out.  I mean really??  I wanted him to be completely faithful to Alex because that is what she deserved and even though he never acted on his impulses he wasn't 100% in with Alex.

One last thing I liked Peekay.  She was a unique character and I enjoyed reading her parts especially with her family.  She might have been the preachers kid, but that preacher was the greatest dad ever.  He took the time to talk to her and even though I think her parents should have kept a tighter hold on her I liked the fact that the lines of communication were open. Peekay just needed to use them more.  It was warming to see parents taking an involvement in a YA book.  They weren't perfect because Peekay drank a LOT in this book, but I have to give them credit for at least being aware of their daughter.

All in all this was fantastic!  I loved the darkness of the story and I felt so much throughout.  This story surprised me in so many ways and I have to be honest I thought Jack was going to be the one to die in the end.  With so much emphasis placed on females I thought Branley was going to kill him, but I was wrong and I am sorta glad.  I think it would have been cool for her to kill him and then her and Alex have a somewhat understanding. Strange maybe, but kinda cool in my opinion.  As the ending stands though I thought it was pretty perfect and I am okay with how it all happened.  I am curious to know if Jacks future turned out the way he feared though...

4.5 snowflakes

Review: A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis

A Madness so Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: October 6th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

In this beautifully twisted historical thriller, Mindy McGinnis, acclaimed author of Not a Drop to Drink and In a Handful of Dust, explores the fine line between sanity and insanity, good and evil—and the madness that exists in all of us. 

My thoughts:
A Madness so Discreet was a story within a story. On the surface we have murder and serial killers, but underneath that we have Grace a woman trying to forget her past by becoming invisible in the present.

This story starts off incredibly strong.  The setting is an insane asylum and it's dark and creepy beyond belief which I loved.  The events that occur while Grace is there are crazy and make for a great beginning to what I knew would be a truly terrifying book.  What surprised me though is the addition of the second story.  That one sort of smacked me in the head and I had to read faster to see what would happen to certain characters.  This second line was much darker than than the rest of the book and I found that it took center stage after a certain point. It is very dark though, just a warning for other readers.

The first story line captured me there's no doubt about that. I loved Thronhollow and Falsteed and the girls Nell and Elizabeth were amazing characters as well.  The serial killer plot line was really interesting and I found myself hoping for another victim so that I could see Grace and Thornhollow in action.  Even with all that excitement I still kept trying to read between the lines to see the second story line.  I understand why the author chose to keep it in the background, but for me this was the story.  I can't say too much because it is really spoilery and I can't ruin it for other readers, but I am curious how others will react to Grace's story.

Mindy McGinnis is an amazing writer.  This is my first novel by her and I can promise it won't be my last.  I really fell into this story, but the characters are what brought it to life.  I felt connected to each and every one of them.  Ms. McGinnis managed to make me look at the word "insane" very differently after meeting her characters and I don't think I will ever look at it the same again.

I have to talk about the romance and lack there of. LOVED IT!  I have been on the look out for a book that doesn't have one and this one is perfect.  Yes there is chemistry between Grace and Thornhollow, but it is between their minds and that's it.  Yes it was intimate, but a different kind of intimate and I absolutely loved that the author chose to make their relationship stop there. A romance was not needed.  This may bother some, but for me it was a breath of fresh air.

The only part I wasn't happy with was the conclusion to the serial killer plot line.  I think the author could have drawn it out a bit more and made it a little more creepy.  It ended rather suddenly and I felt like it was rushed.  I get where the author needed to go with that particular plot, but I would have liked a little more after putting in so much time as a reader to the story line.

That's my only complaint though. The rest of the story was brilliant!  I can't wait to dive into more from Mindy McGinnis!

4.5 snowflakes

Blog Tour: Top Ten with Mindy McGinnis

Recently I finished A Madness so Discreet and let me tell you it was perfection!  So when I was chosen to host Mindy on our blog I squeed from the rooftops!  For our stop on Mindy's tour we have her stopping by to list her top ten scariest sounds!  

1) The ass of your jeans tearing.

2) A raccoon fight – seriously. Horrifying.

3) The screech of brakes.

4) Dial up internet.

5) Silence when you’re waiting on a call or text.

6) The zombies from Tomb Raider (old school, PS1)

7) Velociraptors. Period.

8) Footsteps when you know you’re alone.

9) Angry pigs. I mean wow.

10) The noise when the Titanic broke in half.

 Quite a few of these gave me chill bumps!  The Titanic one I think is the one I never would have thought of and would definitely make my list!
What do you think, did she leave any out??

Grace Mae knows madness.

She keeps it locked away, along with her voice, trapped deep inside a brilliant mind that cannot forget horrific family secrets. Those secrets, along with the bulge in her belly, land her in a Boston insane asylum.

When her voice returns in a burst of violence, Grace is banished to the dark cellars, where her mind is discovered by a visiting doctor who dabbles in the new study of criminal psychology. With her keen eyes and sharp memory, Grace will make the perfect assistant at crime scenes. Escaping from Boston to the safety of an ethical Ohio asylum, Grace finds friendship and hope, hints of a life she should have had. But gruesome nights bring Grace and the doctor into the circle of a killer who stalks young women. Grace, continuing to operate under the cloak of madness, must hunt a murderer while she confronts the demons in her own past.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBook | The Book Depository

ABOUT MINDY McGINNIS:

Mindy McGinnis is a YA author who has worked in a high school library for thirteen years. Her debut, NOT A DROP TO DRINK, a post-apocalyptic survival story set in a world with very little freshwater, has been optioned for film my Stephanie Meyer's Fickle Fish Films. The companion novel, IN A HANDFUL OF DUST was released in 2014. Look for her Gothic historical thriller, A MADNESS SO DISCREET in October of 2015 from Katherine Tegen Books. Mindy is represented by Adriann Ranta of Wolf Literary.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Don't forget to stop by the rest of the amazing blogs on the tour!

Week 1:
10/5 - My Guilty Obsession: Top 10 Reasons Mindy Would be Committed to an Asylum in the 1800's
10/6 - Reads All the Books: Review
10/7 - The Book Addict's Guide: Q&A with Mindy McGinnis
10/8 - Paperback Princess - Review
10/9 - Addicted 2 Novels: Top 10 Horror Flicks/Books

Week 2:
10/12 - Words We Heart: Review
10/13 - Winterhaven Books: 10 Scariest Sounds
10/14 - A Perfection Called Books: Review
10/15 - Across the Words: Top 5 Creepiest Asylums
10/16 - Adventures in Reading: Review

GIVEAWAY INFO:

One Winner Will Receive a Harper Teen Horror-themed prizepack!

US Only

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Review: Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis

 Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Publisher: Katherine Tegan books

Expected Publication Date: September 24, 2013

B&N / Amazon / Goodreads

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.

Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.

But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….

With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

My Thoughts:

Not A Drop To Drink is about a mother and daughter who live in the basement of their farm house and by day and night protect their pond from the roof of their home. This survival story is one that touched me and was different from other dystopian novels I have read.

Lynn was a product of her environment. Her mother instilled survival instincts and the intelligence of doing so, but what this young lady lacked was friendship. Companionship was uncommon as Lynn and her mother lived in a desolate area and the only interaction was with wild animals and the occasional rogue. There is one exception, and that was Stebb. He lived off in the distant woods in what looked like a shack. Their interaction was very slim, but when Lynn needed someone the most, is when the reader truly got to know this man.

Their situation wasn’t uncommon, however, with the shortage of fresh water, they did what was necessary to protect the one thing they knew would alter their lives had they not had it; the pond. They had a daily routine of fetching buckets of water, heating it, and storing it for later use. This was sterilized which was important, as there was bacteria that could make them sick, or worse yet, be their demise.

The strength and courage they showcased was admirable. They weathered the roughest conditions and threats. Cutting their own firewood, fighting off ravenous wild animals, growing what food they could, killing those animals for meat, gutting, cleaning and storing of it as well.

These characters were well written and tough cookies. When an accident occurs, Lynn is left with a guilt and an unknown future. And enter Stebbs. Being alone with her mother her whole life, she is timid and unsure of the friendly guy.

The story really picked up when Lynn meets Eli. She develops a personality and it was a nice change of pace from the bland persona I had been used to. Trouble ensues and Lynn is forced to explore new emotions and step outside of the box so to speak.

Throughout the book, Lynn slowly opens up and evolves into a woman. She was no longer under the strict thumb of her mother and the pacing of this was perfection. I was relieved the further the story got and the change that Lynn made.

There were plenty of obstacles and twists thrown in, but some were so touching and heartbreaking I can’t even express. I had tears in my eyes on a couple occasions and I still, after a month ago reading this, can picture those scenes and my heart just throbs thinking of them. The decisions Lynn had to make, was just unfathomable. I think the author did an excellent job pulling the reader into these characters lives and world she created. She didn’t hold back on brutality of these characters lives and what they had to do to survive. I loved that about this story. It didn’t feel contrived, but very real for their situation and I give props to her for “going there.”

I would recommend Not A Drop To Drink to anyone. It was a wonderful story filled with survival, action, emotion, and a little bit of romance (Which was very well done in my opinion).

2ND Annual Authors Are Rockstars tour: Interview with Mindy McGinnis

Mindy McGinnis didn't hold back in her YA Debut novel, Not A Drop To Drink. She didn't shy away from the cruelty her characters' faced and I LOVED that about her book! She wasn't afraid to "go there."  Mindy is a fearless ROCKSTAR.

We are so excited to have Mindy on the blog today as part of the Authors ARE Rock Stars blog tour!! She was gracious enough to answer a few of our questions =) Take a look!

Favorite book when you were a child:

That's a tough one. I'm going to go with A WRINKLE IN TIME. Although, if I may fudge the question a little, my favorite book from that *series* is A SWIFTLY TILTING PLANET.  I think I read those books at least four times apiece.

What do you like to do when you’re not working/writing?

I'm an outdoorsy girl, and an athlete. So if the weather is good you can find me in the woods, the garden, the softball diamond or the pool. If the weather is bad I'll be reading.

Do you have any unique hobbies or talents?

I'm a knitter. And because of this I've learned that I have really acidic sweat and / or skin. Whenever I use a crochet needle, a stitching needle, or a knitting needle I rub the enamel off in fairly short order and am down to the actual metal. I don't really know that this is useful information, or even considered a talent. Also I have very fat thumb pads.

 Your top five authors:

      1.Stephen King

      2.Diana Gabaldon

      3. George RR Martin

      4. Chuck Palahniuk

      5. Donald Ray Pollock

Favorite line/quote from a book: 

"Wild nights are my glory." - A Wrinkle in Time

What was the hardest part of writing Not A Drop To Drink?

Honestly the book pretty much fell out of my head, which I realize is an attractive visual. It was a breeze to write. I really can't complain on this one!

What was your favorite chapter to write and why?
 Any time the character of Stebbs has a monologue or trades barbs with Lynn was fun to write. He was the easiest character in the world, because he produced natural dialogue all by himself and the other characters *wanted* to interact with him. 

What advice would you give to your younger self?
Don't be so confident. Do your homework. Realize you're not done when you type THE END.

What can we expect from you in the future? 

I'm calling for a nervous breakdown in 5 to 10 years.

Thank you Mindy for stopping by!!

Author links:
Goodreads  / B&N / Amazon / Website

For more tour stops and dates click on the banner at the top, and it will take you to the list of stops that are coming up!  Jamie, Rachel, and Mindy did a wonderful job with this amazing tour and the author line up is insane!! So go check it out =)