Review: TITANS by Victoria Scott

TITANS by Victoria Scott
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Amazon  B&N

From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds.
 Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch. She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them. But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

My Thoughts:

 First off...that cover! I'm loving the electric blue and black. And let me start off by saying that Titans would be a perfect Scholastic Book Fair book. You remember the days when your Scholastic book order forms came home with you from school, right? You milled through the selection hoping one book spoke to you and you begged your parents to let you get it. You promised you'd read it, unlike some of the others you'd ordered and ended up collecting dust or were sold in a garage sale. This is the book you want to read, love, share with your friends, and tell them to get their own copy because it is a keeper. Honestly.

Titans isn't just about racing robotic horses. There are many situations readers will relate to and that's a huge part of why I love this book. Astrid (the protagonist) is a relateable character. She's from a blue-collar middle class family trying to make it one pay check at a time, that is until her father looses his job. Gambling addictions have altered these characters lives and the way they view the world and the people around them. She has her best friend Magnolia, who, despite her families financial issues, finds an outlet to help her family with her creative talents. She's bubbly, and maybe a little outspoken, but she has drive and proves to be a great friend to Astrid.

Astrid resents the situation her father's gambling put her and her family into. Her older sister is in a relationship with a guy who is a controlling jerk. Astrids world is collapsing around her and her family seems to be falling apart at the seams.  It isn't until an opportunity presents itself that Astrid has hope to change her families future.

Astrid is so likeable. She has a heart, she holds the weight of everyone's burdens on her shoulders, she's determined to find a way to a better life for her, and her family.  Rags and his friend Barney offer her an opportunity of a lifetime: to ride a Titan. And since Magnolia and Astrid's fathers are out of work and the pressures of eviction lay at the forefront of their minds, she agrees to train and ride the Titan. In order for her to enter the races, Astrid needs financial backing. It's not cheap. Then enters Lottie, whom I absolutely loved by the way! She may be the financial assistance Astrid needed, but Lottie taught Astrid and Magnolia about becoming better in many ways, but also staying true to themselves and setting goals, staying strong, and defying the odds.

  "Strength is forgetting everything I've taught you and becoming a machine. It's reaching inside yourself and finding you are not someone to be toyed with. It's taking every doubt you have and crushing it beneath your heel. 
  "You, Astrid Sullivan, are an Oleander--beautiful, graceful, intoxicating. 
  "May God have mercy on the person who touches you, and brings their fingers to their lips." (This is just a glimpse of the quote that made my heart skip a beat. Lottie is an amazing mentor and taught very valuable lessons to Astrid and Magnolia.)

Astrid had many road blocks along the way. But she leaned on her friend and trusted in those who believed in her the most. It broke my heart that her father wasn't the man she needed him to be. She sought after his approval and loving arms only to be denied and mocked. I actually couldn't stand her father. He made my blood boil. Here's a quote that made me angry and broke my heart. As much as Astrid wants to win, and as angry as her dad is at her, what he says out loud pierced a hole in my heart for her.

"I've been going to those races since I was thirteen years old. And now I'm riding them. I'm doing well, and I can do even better." I suck in a deep breath. "I can win, Daddy."

My dad does the worst thing he could--he laughs. He laughs, but his eyes brim with sadness as he glares at Rags. "She can't win. You know it, and I know it. She'll only get hurt."

And let's talk about that infamous Titan, Padlock. This robotic creature grew on me and I adored it. Astrid's relationship with her Titan was slow building. Realistically, she saw it as a machine, not a real animal that feels emotion. And along their journey Astrid opens her heart up to Padlock and allows herself to trust and care for him. There were some cute moments between the two.

In the final stretch, you really understand just how amazing Astrid is, and how big her heart is. A memorable character is one who stands out. It could be something you relate to, or even could be on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. Either way, you just don't forget about them for quite some time. This book has multiple memorable characters.

Races came and went. But what really drove me to love this story besides the action was everything else. The emotion behind the characters actions, the reasoning as to who they were in the story. It's almost too difficult to put into words. But trust me, this is one fantastic book!

 

Review: When My Heart Was Wicked by Tricia Stirling

When My Heart Was Wicked by Tricia Stirling 

Published February 24th 2015 by Scholastic Press

"I used to be one of those girls. The kind who loved to deliver bad news. When I colored my hair, I imagined it seeping into my scalp, black dye pooling into my veins. But that was the old Lacy. Now, when I cast spells, they are always for good."
16-year-old Lacy believes that magic and science can work side by side. She's a botanist who knows how to harness the healing power of plants. So when her father dies, Lacy tries to stay with her step-mother in Chico, where her magic is good and healing. She fears the darkness that her real mother, Cheyenne, brings out, stripping away everything that is light and kind. Yet Cheyenne never stays away for long. Beautiful, bewitching, unstable Cheyenne who will stop at nothing, not even black magic, to keep control of her daughter's heart. She forces Lacy to accompany her to Sacramento, and before long, the "old" Lacy starts to resurface. But when Lacy survives a traumatic encounter, she finds herself faced with a choice. Will she use her powers to exact revenge and spiral into the darkness forever? Or will she find the strength to embrace the light? 

MY THOUGHTS

I feel like I just watched a really weird episode of Supernatural. You know the set up right before the Winchester's rush in to crack the case. The devil witch of a mother uses spells & drugs to keep her daughter by her side. She also uses some seriously black magic to steals her daughter's heart.

I must admit cover lust hit me hard on this one. I mean just look at it, it's gorgeous. I also was thrilled to see the blurb with the promise of a girl battling a wicked past and darker part of herself. This story was more along the lines of an abusive mother and a daughter feeling guilt for not being able to "fix" her. Cheyenne is the type of mother who just up and leaves her daughter one day to fend for herself. She also had burned Lacy for asking too many questions and tied her to a tree so she wouldn't wander off. I wish I was exaggerating. Then one day, Cheyenne up and just disappears leaving lacy to fend for herself for days until she finally calls her dad to come pick her up. Years and years later after lady's father death, Cheyenne is back to claim Lacy. Sadly the law is not a friend so, she must go.

The dynamic between these two was strenuous on good days and down right uncomfortable on bad ones. The bad outweigh the good ten fold. Cheyenne was a manipulative, irresponsible person and it made me so anger to see Lacy give in her to and not defend herself.  I also can very much relate to this. My mother was a raging alcoholic among other issues. She would leave me home alone at 6 to go to the bar up the street all afternoon and would yell at me for getting upset and calling a neighbor to come stay with me. She has long since passed away but there is something so fundamentally wrong with a situation when the child doesn't feel safe around a parent. This is one part of the story that Tricia hit right on the head. Her descriptions of Cheyenne's behavior was so very eerily similar to what I endured that I ended up in tears quite a few times out of sheer memory alone. This made me hate her and I wanted so desperately for Lacy to tell her to F off but she doesn't. It's so easy to forgot that other side of the coin where no matter what it is still your mother. The only one you have so you still long for approval and love no matter what the cost. Well, in Lacy case she lost her heart. 

The magical elements in this story were spread few and far between. I don't know if they were meant to be witches or not but there was way too little of this for my taste. Yes, there were a few binding spells but nothing huge. The magic was almost as it if peppered into the plot as an after thought. Perhaps it was meant to be a suggestive type of things but the story didn't have a very good flow because of this. It was choppy with weird flashbacks where all Lacy did was tell us what a terrible person she used to be. Well I didn't see a whole lot of that either. I CALL FALSE BLURBING! Yes she wished some bad things but she wasn't like the grim reaper or anything, which i what I was kind of expecting. Disappointing to say the least. Here is an example of a random chapter just dropped in between two other chapters discussing Lacy's school drama.

I am capable of bad things. Moved by jealousy I am capable of evil. When I was little I wanted to go to Paris. I wanted my mother to myself and I did bad things to make that happen. In the end it didn't even matter; she left me all alone. I wish I were a robot incapable of emotion. The best thing would be not to let myself feel anything at all. 

This is a sad, compelling train of thought but it just didn't fit where it was randomly dropped. This style of writing was highly disruptive to the flow. Had this story not been the length it was I would have most likely put it down or just skipped to the weird end to figure out what the hell was going on. When the plot crescendo finally did come to light it was resolved in a really cheesy manner. So meh! I will not be continuing on with this series, as if there is anything else to write about. The relationships were done well but that was all that held this story from falling completely apart.

2 SNOWFLAKES

Review: Woven by Michael Jensen & David Powers King

Woven by Michael Jensen & David Powers King 

Published January 27th 2015 

by Scholastic Press  

Two unlikely allies must journey across a kingdom in the hopes of thwarting death itself. All his life, Nels has wanted to be a knight of the kingdom of Avërand. Tall and strong, and with a knack for helping those in need, the people of his sleepy little village have even taken to calling him the Knight of Cobblestown. But that was before Nels died, murdered outside his home by a mysterious figure. Now the young hero has awoken as a ghost, invisible to all around him save one person—his only hope for understanding what happened to him—the kingdom’s heir, Princess Tyra. At first the spoiled royal wants nothing to do with Nels, but as the mystery of his death unravels, the two find themselves linked by a secret, and an enemy who could be hiding behind any face. Nels and Tyra have no choice but to abscond from the castle, charting a hidden world of tangled magic and forlorn phantoms. They must seek out an ancient needle with the power to mend what has been torn, and they have to move fast. Because soon Nels will disappear forever.

My Thoughts  

This was a cute fantasy read.

Woven follows Nels, a young man who wants to be knight, unfortunately his life is cut short by his tragic and mysterious murder. Nel's mother is fiercely protective and has always kept him away from strangers and public events for fear of this exact thing happening. Nel realizes (a bit to late) that his mother had good reason for keeping him cooped up all to herself, she was trying to keep him alive. This is where the story really begins. Nel is ghost and the only person who seems to be able to see him is the Princess Tyra. This is the last thing either of them want but Nels has the presence of mind to know it must be for a reason.

I have to admit I wasn't that into this book by the end of it. There was some really great stuff combatting some super annoying stuff that I just couldn't get past. I am a very character driven person and I felt that most of these people unfortunately fell flat.  I did really enjoyed Nels character, even though he was a ghost. He was kind and brave and had some faults and short comings but he learned from his mistakes. The other main P.O.V. was the Princess Tyra and I COULD NOT STAND HER! I don't know if it was intentional or not but the book is written in limited 3rd person so the author would refer to Nel as peasant even though it was through narration. I get if Tyra was saying or thinking it but it sometimes was distracting and I would wonder who the peasant was. When I don't like one of the leading characters it becomes quite a challenge for me to stay invested in the rest. I did however find the secretive society of the Vagas very intriguing. 

The other thing that kept me invested was the magical system that was created. It was definitely unique take of  Fabricating life. The authors did a great job spreading out vital information so that it trickled into the plot at just the right points. It took a bit longer to get to "the big reveal" then I would have liked and it wasn't what I expected but still liked it nonetheless. I can't get to into this topic with out giving away the bank so that is all I'll say.There was some serious things going on but the tone of most the book seemed rather light to me. This made it incredibly easy to breeze through.

I would say if you like fun fantasy adventures that have ghost and a bit of mystery, this one is right up your alley. It is unique tale if you can overlook a few minor snafu's

3 Snowflakes

Double Review: The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury

The Sin Eater's Daughter by Melinda Salisbury
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: February 5th, 2015
Purchase: Amazon / B&N

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.

She’s the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

Tina's Thoughts:

You know, after reading the first chapter I started to wonder if this was for me. I don't usually care for torture in my escapes, even in a fantasy setting, but I was curious, so I kept reading. And man, I'm glad I did. The Sin Eater's Daughter turned out to be a stunning, fascinating and the most unpredictable book I've read this year. There were many times I felt conflicted, but I can't deny how floored I felt once everything was said and done.

Our story starts off with Twylla who is the Daunem Embodied, she is the daughter of two Gods who ruled over the sun and the darkness. The Sin Eater's Daughter. She is gifted (or cursed) with the killing touch. A tool to queen and country and engaged to Prince Merek of Lormere. And really, that's all I'm gonna say about the storyline since everything from then on in is one giant leap of loops after the other. This is one story that takes plot-driven to a whole new level. There were so many moments in this book where I couldn't believe how far the twist and turns went. I mean, nothing is what it seems and the minute the story takes off at an entirely different directions, my head was spinning. At first I felt a little robbed. I liked the mythology of the story and while it was disturbing at times, it's what made this so compelling. Still, after we learn certain surprising revelations, I had to admit by that point I was already completely invested and couldn't wait to see how Melinda Salisbury would play this out.

Twylla is a great character but at times I was a little baffled by her actions and decisions. Although she hates her job as executioner, she plays her part well, maybe a little to well. She remains the ever loyal puppet to her queen with no rebellious action or thought. Defeated by the fate of the Gods and obedient to every command. It's not till the plot-twist do we see a different side to Twylla, when she finally sees the truth for what it is, but even then, Twylla stays constantly conflicted throughout the story and I wish I could have seen some kind of spark or fight in her.

When we first meet Leif, I found him to be annoyingly good. He was always so proper, pleasant and pleasing, and I wasn't sure how much more I could take, but then as the relationship between him and Twylla grew, I started to enjoy what he brought into the story. Hope, strength, protectiveness and love. But in true tone to this particular read, he isn't what it seems either and I still don't know how I feel about that. Surprisingly enough I actually liked Merek. I thought he would be one of the villains along with his deranged mother, but he's actually a really kind and fair man.

All in all, I really enjoyed this book. The writing is strong and intense. The storyline is filled with crazy twists, illusions, betrayal and deceit while these characters are cunning, calculating and truly standout. The ending left us on a satisfying note so I'm not sure where the story can go from here, but you wouldn't hear me complain if we got more. A great debut and a mind-bending escape!

                                                                    4 Snowflakes

Crystal's thoughts:
Oh boy okay let me first say that this review is just based on my reading preferences at this time.  I do not think most will agree with me.  Please PLEASE understand that I am not saying this was a bad book at all even though I am rating it so low, it's just that it wasn't at all what I thought and well I am left feeling meh about it regardless of the beautiful writing.

This story like I said is not what I thought it was going to be.  The cover is gorgeous and definitely one of the best I have ever seen and the title I mean come on that title screams creepy right??  In the beginning the story lived up to its name and I was loving it, but when Lief entered the picture things changed.  The story went from being a creepy deadly poisoned filled adventure to a pining girl who falls in love contemporary.

Everything I loved about the beginning was taken away rather quickly and I was left with a contemporary novel. Is this bad..not if you like contemporary novels, but for this is bad.  I'm not a contemporary fan at all these days and when this story took that turn I was left with not a whole lot to be interested in.

I loved the Sin Eating and the God lore that was entwined throughout the story, but they were all in the background.  I wish the author would have focused more on the Eating.  I was incredibly interested in that and well for that being the main title I kind of expected more on that plotline.  It's in the story, but takes a big backseat unfortunately.  Honestly at times it felt like the author had three really great ideas and just didn't know which one she liked more so she just threw them all together.  This saddens me because I think each individual idea was great and could have made an amazing book by themselves.  Or maybe even since this is a series spread each idea out throughout each book.  I don't know it just felt too crowded and I wish the author would have stayed more focused on the story instead of the romance.

The characters were okay I suppose.  I didn't really connect with any of them which again is probably just me.  Twylla wasn't bad, a bit naive but not horrible. She was really dealt a bad hand and in the end I'm glad she made the decision she did.  She needed to come to terms with her choices and I think she did the only thing that was right for her.  Merek and Lief were also just okay.  I think they both wanted to use Twylla and that didn't set well with me, but again they weren't terrible just too self serving.  Now the Queen I would have loved to have known more about.  Was she crazy hell yes!  But that's where my reading tastes are at the moment.  The more crazy the character the more I want to know them.  She was crazy from lots of different reasons and I am not saying I agreed with her one bit but she was interesting and did a lot of unthinkable things.

The one thing that really bothered me about this book was the ending.  This big twist that was dropped never got resolved and while I know this is a series I just don't get where it even fits in to the overall storyline. I think this book would have worked a lot better as a contemporary historical fiction.  It doesn't need the added Lore and fantasy elements because they both get dropped by the wayside towards the middle to end of the book.  I think it would have been a stronger book if those things were dropped and if in the mood to read that genre I would have appreciated it more.

This is just me though.  I know romance is heavy in YA especially right now so a lot of readers will devour this and love every minute.  I am swaying more towards the romance being in the background right now so this wasn't for me.  And in my defense that cover, summary, and title are a bit misleading in my opinion so I can't take the blame for picking something up that I probably wouldn't like. Which is why I am rating this and not just saying it wasn't for me. I picked this up thinking it was going to be an amazing creepy fantasy and that wasn't what I read.  Please try this book if you like fantasy with a heavy dose of romance because I do think you will like it.

2 snowflakes

Teaser Tuesday #82, Ignite by Sara B. Larsen

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn't give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

IGNITE by Sara B. Larson

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: December 30, 2014

Blurb: 

Murder, abductions, and forbidden romance abound in this thrilling sequel to Sara B. Larson's acclaimed YA debut, DEFY.

Alexa remains by the newly crowned King Damian’s side as his guard, ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people, despite continuing to harbor a secret love for him. However, when another threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on their newly forged allies from Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. With the fate of her nation hanging in the balance once again, will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late?

TEASERS at 3.9%

Now that everyone knew I was a girl, most of the other guards treated me differently--they seemed to think that I was suddenly weaker than I used to be, even though I hadn't changed. I was still the same person--the same soldier--I'd always been.


I wouldn't be the one found relaxing on the job, allowing something, or someone, to get past me. My life was devoted to protecting my king.
  But the expression on Damian's face wouldn't leave me, the pain he was so adept at hiding from everyone--everyone but me. I, who knew him best and had hurt him the worst.
  What if the person he needed protection from the most was me?


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks! 

Review& Giveaway: Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott & Exclusive final sneak peek!

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: February 27, 2014

Amazon / B&N

A modern day thrill ride, where a teen girl and her animal companion must participate in a breathtaking race to save her brother's life—and her own.

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.
Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.
The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

Final Exclusive Sneak Peek...

“If you are hearing this message, then you have successfully completed the Pandora Selection Process. It also means you are now at the official starting line.”

Around me, Contenders whoop with excitement. Seriously? They’re about to plunge into a wild jungle, and that brings them happiness? Once again, I realize how out of my league I am. I don’t even have a change of clothes, for crying out loud.

“As you may have realized, you are on the outskirts of a rain forest. This will be the jungle part of the course. You will have two weeks to arrive at the jungle’s base camp. You will find this base camp by following the path of blue flags.”


Contestants glance around, immediately looking for the first blue flag. As for me, I’m watching the taillights of the semi and having a massive coronary.

“If you are the first to encounter a blue flag, you may remove it, but you may not remove the stake it is attached to. Doing so will result in immediate disqualification.”

I wonder why anyone would want to remove the flag to begin with. No one else seems concerned by this.

“While the Cure will be awarded to a single winner at the end of the last ecosystem, we will bestow a smaller prize for each leg of the race. The prize for the jungle portion will be monetary.” The woman pauses dramatically. “I’d like to officially welcome you to the Brimstone Bleed. May the bravest Contender win.”

That’s it? That’s all she’s going to say? Because it seriously sounds like she’s wrapping up. So why aren’t I running after the trucks? Why am I not chasing after my only way out of this jungle like my life depends on it? I know the answer — though I wish I didn’t. Cody would do this for me. I am his only hope. I have to believe his cure exists. My only other option is to return home and watch my brother die. If I could even get back home.


I glance around frantically, looking for someone to tell me what to do. The Contenders have formed a long line, the kind you see at the start of a marathon. A few yards down from where I stand — I see him. My throat tightens when I realize his cold blue eyes are locked on me. It’s the guy from the Pandora Selection Process. The serial killer–looking dude who I thought was going to kidney punch me. He glares in my direction like he might take this opportunity to finish what he never started. I raise my hand in a small wave, hoping it says something like: See? Look how friendly I am!

He lifts his own enormous hand. For a moment, I brighten. I think maybe that — even though it looks like he hates every fiber of my being — he’s going to wave back. But he doesn’t. He holds up two fingers — his pointer and his middle — places them under his eyes, and then points in front of us.

Oh no, he didn’t. I think he basically just told me to pay attention. I’m still processing this when the woman’s voice rings in my ear.

“Go!”

My Thoughts...
Once again, I am amazed by the unique story Victoria Scott has crafted. Fire & Flood is a hit!
She broke through a heavily weighed down genre and slipped in a unique and refreshing action-packed story that will be a hit with tweens and teens!

Tella's family moved from the city to nowhere Montana. Her brother Cody is deathly ill and there hasn't been hope of a cure. Tella discovered a small device. Once she placed it and pressed the little red button, an announcement came on. It was an invitation to the Brimstone Bleed. Her father immediately took it away from her and in an attempt to destroy it, he threw it into a fire.


She recovers the device and listened to the announcement. She was selected for the Brimstone Bleed. All contenders were to report within forty-eight hours. The Pandora Selection Process is where the contenders select their Pandora and it's their only source of assistance throughout the race.
The race lasts three months and takes place across four ecosystems: desert, sea, mountains, jungle. The winning prize will be the Cure; a remedy for any illness, for any single person.


Tella sneaks away for an adventure of her life with one goal in mind: win the race, and save her brother, Cody.
The love Tella had for her brother was touching. Of course they bickered back and forth, but you could really tell she cared so much for him. She had no clue really as to what she would be faced with entering the competition. She's a strong protagonist and one easily relatable to.
Unlike many of the other contenders, Tella named her Pandora Madox (which is a fox). I knew right away that he was special and unlike the others. I loved the way these Pandoras were crafted into the story and became such a HUGE part of the race. They aren't a normal animal. They were genetically engineered with special capabilities to assist their Contenders.


This race was brutal to say the least. You never knew who was good or bad. It was like survival of the fittest out there. But, along the way, Tella made some friends, which she knew in the long run only one would win.
Enter the mysterious Guy. I have to say, I was very intrigued by this character. For some reason, he has been somewhat of a Guardian Angel to Tella. And I think there are developing feelings there between the two. Honestly, I can't wait to find out what happens in the next book between those two.


Each of the Pandora's were so unique and had a personality of their own. I was amazed by Madox, though. The chemistry between Tella and Madox was realistic and sweet. She cared for her Pandora unlike some of the other Condenders who treated theirs more as an object than a living, feeling creature.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I started Fire & Flood. And don't let prejudices and opinions that say this is another 'Hunger Games' sway your vote not to read this. It isn't. Yes, there is a similarity when it comes to it being a survival game, but this is a totally different world, different circumstances and in my opinion, it's not even close.

I knew it would be good (No doubt there), but as far as how the competition would go, and the blend of Pandora's, it was fascinating to say the least. Lots of action, emotion, and chemistry between the character and their Pandora's. I'm really excited for this series. I know there is so much more to come and I look forward to it.

I'd like the Thank Scholastic Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. In no way has this changed my opinion or rating.

                                                            4.5 Snowflakes

Now for the giveaway!!  I am giving away a copy of Fire & Flood to one lucky follower!  This giveaway is open to anywhere The Book Depository ships to!  

Good Luck!

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Review: Defy by Sara B. Larson

Defy by Sara B. Larson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: January 7, 2014
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

My Thoughts:
What a fantastic debut by Sara B. Larson! After I had read the synopsis of this little gem, I knew instantly that I had to get it. Defy will appeal to fans of C.J. Redwine, Maria V. Snyder, Rae Carson, Trisha Wolfe, Kristin Cashore.

I loved Alexa (aka Alex) as she was a brave and strong female protagonist. When a wicked strong sorcerer killed her and her twin brother Marcel's parents, Alexa and her twin made a decision that ultimately saved Alexa from a very dark future. She was a fierce fighter and gained a reputable position among the Prince's guard.

Marcel was a brother every girl could only hope for. He was Alexa's best friend and he was always there to protect her and guide her. Alexa posed as a guy, she had to be careful around the other guards, watch her tone and push emotion away. It wasn't a land that protected their women. Quite the opposite actually due to the nasty, twisted king Hector. He declared war for power and also made everyone believe sorcery was evil and  to hate them and magic. Yet, he had the dirtiest of them working as his guardian and advisor. This king was as sinister as they come and the things he did were just unimaginable.

Prince Damian was nothing like his father. He came across as if he was lazy and didn't care, but there was soooo much more to this man than he led people to believe, and that was his self defense mechanism. As everyone in Antion was guarded, and the Prince was no different. Prince Damian will turn you off at first, but then you really get to know his character and the tides turn. I loved his character and found him to be a hunky, intelligent, and strong male lead.

I just LOVED Jax! He was the most honest, cutest little boy ever. He stole my heart right away.

"I saw Damian save you. Mama said he exposed his secret because he cared too much about you to let you die. She said love can either make a person stronger or weaker, and she hasn't decided if he's getting stronger or weaker yet"

There is so much mystery, magic and action within those pages and I can tell you, you won't soon forget the courageous journey these Antion warriors take to overcome the wicked king Hector and his evil sidekick, Iker.

The further along in the story I got, the more intense it became and I found myself staying up late into the night to finish this gem. I loved that the author created such an intense story that pulled me in. There wasn't anything negative to say about this book. The secondary characters were fantastic and filled with stories of their own. They all had a past or a negative association to the king. And they all had a common interest in taking him down. There are two love interests that vie for Alexa's attentions, but her heart only wanted one and in the end she had to make a difficult decision and one she thought was best. I'm not going to lie, I was hoping for that HEA, and in a way we get it, but in the other, I was a little disappointed in her choice. But, I totally understood why she did what she did. And that right there shows her loyalty and strength.

Defy is full of action, mystery, magic, death, and romance. This is one debut that I will keep on my favorites shelf and am highly anticipating the next.




Thank you, Scholastic and Netgalley for providing a copy. This has in no way altered my opinion or rating of the book.

Teaser Tuesday, #54 Defy by Sara B. Larson

k Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...

Defy (Defy, #1) by Sara B. Larson
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: January 7, 2014


*Quotes taken from an Advanced Readers Copy. They may change in the final copy.



Quotes...

"Sometimes it seemed like those with the most rotten interiors were blessed with the most exquisite exteriors."

“Have you ever heard of the theory that it is better for one man to die than an entire nation to suffer? Do you believe that to be true? Is it ever okay to take a life in hopes of saving others?”  




PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

FIRE & FLOOD- Exclusive Bonus Scene and Giveaway!

Winterhavenbooks is very excited to share an Exclusive Bonus Scene from FIRE & FLOOD by Victoria Scott! And that's not all! Enter for a chance to win an ARC of FIRE & Flood!



FIRE & FLOOD (Fire & Flood, #1) by Victoria Scott
February 25, 2014
Publisher: Scholastic Press





**A note from author Victoria Scott...

I hope you enjoy this sneak peak into the world of FIRE & FLOOD and like meeting Harper Shaw, a character that Tella and Guy spend a great deal of time with in the story.

FIRE & FLOOD Bonus Scene

Harper Shaw, Minor Character

 

 The Brimstone Bleed started four hours ago, give or take. I’ve traveled as far as necessary for now, put adequate distance between myself and the other Contenders. There will be plenty who travel without stopping, without making a plan.

Idiots.

Like the others, I don’t know anything about this race, only that I need the prize—the Cure—more than I need my own beating heart. I can still remember my mother’s words as I left our home.

“I don’t know where you think you’re going, Harper,” she said. “But you can’t just leave us like this. Not now.”

But I did leave. It’s not like I could tell her about the invitation. Or explain what would happen next. Because the truth was, I didn’t know. Two days ago, I was lounging on my bed, listening to Linkin Park and watching MTV on mute. Today, I’m here, in a jungle, fighting to save the most important person in my life.

A caw rips through the late afternoon, and the dense canopy overhead rustles. I breathe in the smell of rich, damp soil that is almost invigorating. The air is thick and damp and clings to my skin, and everywhere I look is a plant I’ve never seen before. The world is a canvas of purple vines and orange flowers and greenery that swallows the ground beneath my feet. It’s both horrific and captivating at once.

Every few seconds, I stop to swipe insects off my skin. It doesn’t bother me. I’m not the squeamish type. The only thing I’m worried about is the egg in my Brimstone Bleed issued bag. A Pandora, the device said. An animal that will help me win this competition. My heart roars in my chest when the bag against my hip stirs once again.

Now that we’re alone, I drop to my knees and remove the egg. When I see a prominent crack down the side, my entire body buzzes with anticipation. I’ve never had a pet before. Not a dog, not a cat…not even a goldfish. And now I’m supposed to travel with an animal that could potentially save my life and Lillian’s? It’s hard to absorb.

The egg cracks again, and I freeze. My hands hover over the iridescent shell, unsure of what to do. But this Pandora doesn’t need my help. It’s eager to escape its prison, eager to fulfill its destiny. I admire its tenacity already, but my stomach churns wondering what my Pandora will be like. Will it be ruthless? Endearing? Will it make it so that I don’t feel utterly alone?

The egg burst open and I fall back, a gasp escaping my throat. I glance around to ensure we are alone. And when I look back, my hands shaking, my eyes widening, I see it—

A feather.

**Enter for a chance to win an ARC of FIRE & FLOOD by Victoria Scott**

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