'End of Days' by Susan Ee

Amazon / Goodreads

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

I got this as an ARC. Thank you so much, Team Susan Ee. Best wishes! 

Such an amazing conclusion to this series. Wow.

I was surprised. I didn't know what to think as I went into this book. Would Raffe get his wings back? Would Paige turn back into a 'normal' human being? (Not that she isn't awesome. I love little Paige.) Would Penryn still be badass? (She's one of my favorite female fighters.) What happens to Uriel? Does he die? What does he do? 

There are so many questions. You truly don't know how the series could possibly end. And I like that. You have to turn the page to get the truth. 

I like Penryn. Still. She's still badass. In those scenes when she's fighting...wow. I love that about Penryn. She is so badass. She is a tough heroine. She can defend herself. She doesn't need a guy. She doesn't need anyone but her family. I love that about her. She isn't like other girls. She's that badass. 

Penryn does change. Wow. She changes a lot. In the first book 'Angelfall', she's innocence. The daughter of a 'crazy lady'. (Aren't we all a bit crazy sometimes?) She becomes a leader. A strong leader. Someone who is shoved under the position. She doesn't like it. I see that. But she's a good leader. She can make people rally. She's just that type of person. I love this. She's become a better heroine with her leadership. Penryn is badass to the max. One of my top heroines that exist. 

And Raffe. He isn't cold as usual. Which is great! (Kinda?) He's still awesome, though. He's still a good fighter. Not entirely the cold, distant guy we had in the earlier books. This guy is truly awesome. He's can fight. He's a great leader. Raffe is a colder, more angelic version of the Penryn we all know and love. And he's more buff. 

He's warming up to Penryn. Which is great. (I ship it.) I love that. He's losing this hard exterior. This is a good change. Really. This change is great. It really changes the dynamics of the story. It makes the relationship more viable. I'm happy this is happening. It took almost three books for it to happen, but Raffe ended up having a heart. 

The plot. I can gush about the plot. Wow. I can gush all day about this book's plot. 

The action was breathtaking. When you have someone like Penryn who isn't a novice to fighting and Raffe who has been fighting for years, you have perfect action sequences. Add those two components to angel adversaries and locusts. (Those locusts are odd. They're both foe and friend at once. Which seems abnormal.) This creates an amazing combination for fighting. Penryn is great with Pooky Bear. She knows her stuff. And Raffe...with or without a sword. He's a great fighter. They both know their stuff.

The drama with the relationship. That caused so much trouble in this book. That was making my pulse race. What would happen? You didn't know. It could turn any direction. Raffe was pulled back and forth. He was hot and cold. As they say. He would say he cared. Then push her away. It was always dramatic. Extremely. Such a soap opera.

The change in scenery. Okay. I want to know about the hellion world now. What happened? Will we know what happened? I know it has to do with Lucifer. But...what happened to the people? To the people living there. What made them turn into little beasts with horns and wings? What made them succumb to the Fallen? There is so much I want to know. 

And the talent show. Gah. That was perfect teamwork. I wanted to squeal in delight. The twins working with the others. Their genius is astounding at times. The way humanity works together for a good stand against the angels. It's their only chance. It was a beautiful scene. Especially the one with the ballerinas. That shattered my heart. Such a poignant scene. Showing the after of the apocalypse. The effects it has on humanity. How alone people are but never lonely. 

This plot=soap opera + kickass action + loneliness + different settings. 

Deep breath, guys. (Ooh. I feel like this is a spoiler... Kinda?) We've all been waiting for this relationship. I've been cheering for it. We all have. I know it. 

Admittedly. We were given what we wanted. Such steamy scenes. Penryn was melting. I honestly think she was a Popsicle in Raffe's arms. She was truly falling for him. All over again. Because wow. I was a bit uncomfortable actually. (If you know me well enough, you know about my...reluctance to romance.) 

While I might not like romance, these two are adorable. They both protect each other. Which isn't necessary. Penryn and Raffe can both fend for themselves if they had to. They don't always need the other. Except for support in times when the other is completely surrounded. That's when they might need the other. But. They were the duo that would fight back-to-back. (That should have been a scene!) 

Romance isn't my thing. But this couple isn't bad. 

The ending. Alright. 

It's not the ending I was expecting. I was expecting fanfare. Or another apocalypse. (I was disappointed to see that this was the last book in the series. I can't wait for Susan Ee's next book, though.) 

But it was a good ending. Raffe and Penryn were happy. Both of them. Which is great. I'm surprised that Raffe would give up that much for Penryn. But maybe that's the relationship between those two. I was taken aback by what Raffe did. Wow. He really did care. That's great. Honestly, that's amazing. A surprise twist! 

As an ending to a series...not bad. It was a happy ending. (To my surprise.) Both parties were happy. It doesn't have questions left. It's a good note to end on. 

For the entire series, I truly loved it. It was a great series. Action. Enough romance to make me turning the page without deterring me. Great characters. A fantastic twist on the classic apocalypse. 

Thank you, Susan Ee, for this great ride.

Weather:

Sunny with no chance of rain

5/5

'Mosquitoland' by David Arnold

Amazon / Goodreads

"I am a collection of oddities, a circus of neurons and electrons: my heart is the ringmaster, my soul is the trapeze artist, and the world is my audience. It sounds strange because it is, and it is, because I am strange." 
After the sudden collapse of her family, Mim Malone is dragged from her home in northern Ohio to the "wastelands" of Mississippi, where she lives in a medicated milieu with her dad and new stepmom. Before the dust has a chance to settle, she learns her mother is sick back in Cleveland. 
So she ditches her new life and hops aboard a northbound Greyhound bus to her real home and her real mother, meeting a quirky cast of fellow travelers along the way. But when her thousand-mile journey takes a few turns she could never see coming, Mim must confront her own demons, redefining her notions of love, loyalty, and what it means to be sane. 
Told in an unforgettable, kaleidoscopic voice, "Mosquitoland" is a modern American odyssey, as hilarious as it is heartbreaking.

One word:

Wow.

This was a really good book. A great book even. This book really made me think. I cared for the characters. I loved the plot. I just loved the book. 

I didn't care for Mim at first. Then loved her character. She used big words. She seemed cocky. Her voice was something else entirely. It is like someone was trying too hard to make her sound smarter. 

But. She grows on you. Her large vocabulary is something that is endearing. Her odd way of language. 

Her personality is outgoing. She is an angry person. She has so much under her skin. Anger. Determination. I love that she doesn't always do the 'right thing'. She sometimes is selfish. But she sometimes is selfless. Going to find Ahab? Yeah. That's selfless. Helping Walt? That too. She does things no one else will do. She becomes someone else. She's brave and determined. Some of the best qualities in a person. Some of the qualities I want in a heroine. 

But she's broken. If that makes any sense. She has a yearning for her mother. No matter what her mother did to make her father leave her. 

And the others? 

Walt. Okay. I'm not sure what to think about Walt. He's childish. And carefree. And youthful. I liked how innocent Walt was. Compared to Beck and Mim...Walt is so innocent. Walt had his father problems. (And maybe something with his mother.) But he always laughed. But he always smiled. He didn't see the horrors of the world. This is refreshing. This is different. We have the broken duo of Madagascar and Africa. (Of Mim and Beck.) Walt has gone through so much. But he's gone everything through with a smile and a laugh. 

Beck. Alright. His backstory was amazing. He was chasing Claire. Trying to keep his promise. Trying to get her to forgive him. He didn't need to be handsome. He didn't need to be muscular. He just needed to be himself. And Beck is a truly nice guy. I want him to get a good girl. (Whether that's Our Heroine or not.) I want him to be happy. But I also want Claire to remember. To forgive him. Beck was destroying himself. Berating himself. 

The plot was quite good. It was fascinating. A true road trip. I loved it. 

Mim traveled. No. She traversed the United States. She saw a baseball game. Was in Graceland. Went to her hometown. Her story seems to be one huge adventure. Mim is quite lucky. I would just love to do this. It would be so much fun. Just running across the United States? That sounds amazing. You get to go places you've never been. See things you've never seen. Be with special people. Life is an adventure. Truly. 

But it seems so...coincidental at times. The bus breaking down especially. It decided to break down right then. Hm. Suspicious. It seems like too big of a coincidence. Could the tired be that faulty? Also...poor Arlene. Rest in peace, good same. RIP. Hm.

Is anyone else wondering about that? Also. Beck conveniently being there. Okay. Wow. That is definitely a coincidence. Why would he be there is just the right time? It seems too perfect. But...admittedly, coincidences do happen. 

The plot was dramatic and exciting. But not like action books. You didn't know what would happen next. Would Mim jump off the roof of the bus? Would she randomly get to IHOP? Who knows? Because of her surprises and reckless choices, you can't predict the way the book will turn. Such a good plot, though!

And the plot twist about her mother and then the one about Isabel? I was so surprised. I didn't expect that. I thought she was writing to someone else entirely. 

This book is about acceptance. It's about the truth and accepting it.

First. Mim hears her stepmother and father talking. She runs away from that. No acceptance. She's fleeing her problems. Fleeing her life. Determined to start an adventure where that doesn't matter. 

Then the letters. And she slowly pieces things together. But she doesn't accept Kathy. Not yet. She is reluctant. She can't see Kathy as anything but a fire-breathing monster. 

Then...Isabel. That pushes her closer and closer to acceptance. She learns more. But she's angry. So angry... I was scared for Isabel. What would she do next? Mim...her recklessness. Her actions that have no forethought. Sometimes, that's the scariest thing. 

Then...the truth about her mother. (And what a shocker that was!) There. She accepts it. She has to. There is no running for Mim. She has to face the facts and make her stand. 

The romance...I'll admit I was fine with it. It wasn't bad. I actually was laughing at Mim's antics. She was quite nervous. Which was kinda cute. 

As you know, I typically don't like romance. Like...ever. But this couple? Cute.

I know that both of them helped each other. Yup. Mim helped Beck. She helped him move along. And Beck helped Mim. Beck helped the most. He cared for Mim. Giving her a comforting shoulder to cry on. Someone she could trust. Her Africa. Which was great. Mim is...someone who has so much hidden. She keeps secrets well. She really needed someone to take part of her burden away. She had too much weighing her down. Beck helped lift the load. 

Who cares about the age gap? It's not weird. I want a sequel about this relationship. I would buy that book. 

The friendships Mim forms...beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. 

It's only a short time she knows them. She only knows them for a few days. But in those few days...everything changes. Her life is turned around.

I like this. She gains so much. Friendship. Love. Care. For once, with them, Mim can open up. She gains acceptance with the help of Walt and Beck. These two help her. They are companions for the ride. 

I can't wait for what happens next. 

Can you keep a secret? Good. I teared up a little at the end. Seeing her mother... It broke her heart. Her poor rebellious heart. I couldn't believe it. Such a touching, tender scene. I can understand why her mother denied Mim a visit. I can see why. I might not understand the emotions. But I can understand that.

Maybe that's all I need to understand. 

Weather:

Sunny with 0% chance of rain

5/5

Fangirl Friday: Paper Towns and Panic! At the Disco (I'm ALLOWED to Fangirl Over This) And Something Else

Fangirl Friday

Paper Towns and Panic! At the Disco (Who cares if this isn't bookish?) And Something Else...

Paper Towns Trailer

So. This is a thing. Apparently... 

The movie based on the John Green (Again?) book has released its official trailer!

Yay! 

Or...yay?

What do I think of the trailer?

____________________________________________________

Panic! At the Disco

Because I have revived my love of this band.

Even if this isn't bookish...oh well. 

I used to love this band.

Then stopped and moved on to Fall Out Boy. (FOB for life.) 

But now...

P!ATD has come back into my life! 

Wow. Okay. That's all I have. 

Wow...

GIF TME.

I actually love this song. This is an amusing GIF, though...

___________________________________

Something Else

You may or may not know this. But I'm a part of the Guardian's book...thing. It's hard to explain. I get books to read and review. (RAR, guys.)

Well.

My next book from this lovely group?

The Tiny Cooper story by David Levithan! (Not it's actually name.)

It's going to be a musical!

Look at that beauty! All sparkly and gay! (Because...dude. Tiny is gay. And in a stereotypical world, he would be REALLY gay.) 

In fact...

“the world’s largest person who is also really, really gay” 

I just took that from the blurb. Really.

I can't wait to get this! Squee!

Top Ten Tuesday: YA Contemporary Books

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Young Adult Contemporary Books

NOTE: The following books are listed not in order. NOT IN ORDER. 

Okay. I'll admit how much I love this book. It's not a favorite of mine. (Not by far.) But I still love it. How it writes out these teenagers' problems. It's heartbreaking. The details. The pain. The torture and hatred boiling under their skin. Willa Strayhorn did a fantastic job. 

I got this as an e-ARC from IW Gregorio. 

And I have to say that I didn't like how girlish the narrator was. I understand now, though, why IW wrote her that way. To show the change. To show that our girl was still female. Even if DNA told her otherwise.

This is a LGBT. A good LGBT book. It talks about intersex. Not a known part of LGBT. But still a part  nonetheless. This shows the real problems of bullying and trying to fit in. 

Even if you used to fit in.

While the romance annoyed me, I'll admit the sibling bond is great. Positively great. I love when familial or friendly bonds surpass romance. While that isn't true for this book (not really), it's still a good book. 

No surprise since it has a 4.10 out of 5 on Goodreads.

This book...it's interesting. I want to say more about it, but it's surpassed words really. 

It's a good book. 

Just read it. 

When talking about contemporary, this book comes to mind. This is a true contemporary book. Plus, it's been written to be understood. But not completely understood. 

If that makes sense.

It's a quick read. 

But it's much more.

I know I watched the movie first. (I'll sadly admit that.) But the book is much better. The movie shows the pain. It paints the picture the book speaks of...but it doesn't give what the book can give.

There is a reason this book has withstood time.

This book was emotional for me. A roller coaster.

And all because of my friend named Tyler.

I like this nonetheless.

It's all about the 'what's next'. The things that happen after the deed. 

There is always a tomorrow. Even if it doesn't seem that way.

I met Jody Casella. She's really nice. I have TWO signed copies of this book at home. I can't wait to get to giveaway time. (Coming soon!) I'll be giving this baby away.

But enough about that. 

This book...it's good. A brotherly bond.

And a surprise twist! (No spoilers!)

This book really is a ride. You have to cling to the pages to understand the story.

I read this a while back.

I still remember parts of it.

This book was good. It showed being outcast in a different light. Falling in love in a different light. 

I do recommend this book.

I can relate to some of the character traits. I get angry. I get sad. I hide my feelings sometimes. I find the truth in words written by people both alive and dead.

I feel these characters a bit more than the other main characters on this list.

I also know the power of a teacher's kind words. 

Remember the movie about DID? (Then called multiple personality disorder. Now called disassociative identity disorder.) This book reinvents DID. It shows it differently.

And not only does it show DID differently. It shows people differently. The past differently. How guilt wrecks us all. 

'The Infinite Moment of Us' by Lauren Myracle

Amazon / Goodreads

For as long as she can remember, Wren Gray’s goal has been to please her parents. But as high school graduation nears, so does an uncomfortable realization: Pleasing her parents once overlapped with pleasing herself, but now... not so much. Wren needs to honor her own desires, but how can she if she doesn’t even know what they are?

Charlie Parker, on the other hand, is painfully aware of his heart’s desire. A gentle boy with a troubled past, Charlie has loved Wren since the day he first saw her. But a girl like Wren would never fall for a guy like Charlie—at least not the sort of guy Charlie believes himself to be.

And yet certain things are written in the stars. And in the summer after high school, Wren and Charlie’s souls will collide. But souls are complicated, as are the bodies that house them...

Sexy, romantic, and oh-so-true to life, this is an unforgettable look at first love from one of young adult fiction’s greatest writers. 

Throughout this review, I'll be very sarcastic and caustic. This book was supposed to be quite amazing. This Wren Gray was supposed to be someone I could look up to. Then...I dared to open the pages and peer inside. 

This review is essentially a rant. 

Let the ranting start. 

There is one word for this book. Potential. This book had so much potential. It could have been great. If it only hadn't gone down the teenagers-always-have-sex route...

I like the beginning. This book started off well. It didn't have the other aspects of the story that I hated. 

It was a book that seemed to go down the path of self discovery. We have this girl who isn't sure about her decisions. Are her parents influencing her too much? What will she do? As this boy...a foster kid...broken and lonely. But never alone. What will he do?

We're led down this path. This path that leads to self discovery and understanding. But that's not what we're given. 

This book showed so much potential. It could have been a beautiful piece. The beginning showed so much potential. It was a good, solid beginning. It promised a good story. 

I wanted to like Wren. I truly did. She had so much potential. She was a great character in the beginning. She had a backstory. Her parents wanted her to do something. They pressed their wants onto her. She was pressured. She was stressed. And forced to be someone else. She was a down-to-earth character. She was real. She had a good backstory. I wanted more, though. I wanted more about her past. I wanted more about her parents. Really. 

She was so similar to me. We are both only children. We don't have the best, outgoing personality. We had good friends. And good grades. We're oddly similar. Which is how I could feel for her. I felt like I was connected to this Wren at times. 

She isn't my favorite Wren, though. I've read another Wren which is...cooler. If that makes sense. She's smart and strong. (The other Wren.) But this Wren is high on my list of the five Wrens I've read. Second best. I'm trying to ignore the sex part. I'm focusing on her personality. 

She had friends. And people she was close with. I can tell she really cared for Tessa. They're close friends. Like sisters. A bond beyond friendship. She turned to Tessa for help. And Tessa turned to Wren. I'm like that as well.

As you can tell, I'm comparing her to me. Not because I want to. Because...we share the name Wren. 

Charlie. Well. I hate that he's so...teenage boy. Why? I can't stand reading boners. It's physical anatomy, but I just want to choke when I read it. He could have been great. (As I said, this book had potential.) He had a good backstory. A great backstory. Left by his mother? Wow. Tossed from foster home to foster home? You could really build on that. He could have been the bad boy that Wren reforms or something. Or perhaps he helps her understand life and herself. That would have been great. Positively great. But no. We were given a horny teenage boy. I didn't want that! I wanted a caring guy. Or a tough guy. Or something else. Anything but this... 

Also. With the way Charlie acts and whatnot, it doesn't seem likely for Mr. Horny to have buff muscles. He seems to never go to the gym. It's not mentioned once. At all. So. Please explain washboard abs and taunt, bulging biceps. Anyone? No? Okay then. 

This is marketed to young adults, but there is so much sex. So much sex. Wren even says they have sex so much they're like rabbits. Rabbits, my friends. That's means they were doing it. A lot. 

You have moments when you think it can be romantic and sweet. You think this book could be better than teens having sex 'like rabbits'. Then...sex. It infects the story and steals Wren's innocence. I really don't like that. (I wanted her to keep some innocence. She's a virgin. Innocent is practically tattooed into her skin. I wanted to keep that. Something along those lines if not keeping her virginity.) 

Don't think I expected sex in this book. I didn't. I thought it would be a coming of age book. Or self discovery. Not sex. Never sex... This was shocking for me. 

I know sex is part of life. (I never thought I would say that...) But that doesn't mean we need it explicitly. Especially a young adult book. Young adult books typically glance over sex. They say it along the lines of this: 

'The two of them looked into the other's eyes. "We can't," she whispered, placing her hand on his broad chest. He smiled at her, cupping her cheek. "We can," he said softly in her ear. He slowly leaned her back and kissed her neck with light kisses.

'She awoke to his warm body next to him. "Hey...wake up," she murmured sleepily. He tossed under the thin, scraggly blanket. "Hey..." She poked his bare chest.'

Something like that. It's vague, but if you understand, they did the do. (Had sex. Made love. Did it. Whatever you care to call it.) 

Also. Did they not use a condom? Yes, Lauren Myracle, it's a good idea to advertise the great benefits you gain from not using a condom. It's such a 'better' experience. Wren definitely isn't pregnant or has the hopes of being pregnant. (Sarcasm. My best tool. Also. Wren probably is pregnant. Have fun going into labor, Wren darling.)

Let me explain this. Even if it wasn't between a girl named Wren and anyone else, I would be outraged. I would still have this conversation about the sex if it was a girl named Abigail and a guy named Chet. Okay? I'm outraged by the sex not by who it is between. 

The romance isn't the best. I feel like there isn't chemistry or history. How long did they know each for anyways? I feel like it was only a few days. Nothing more than that would not really fit into the time frame we're given. They're boyfriend and girlfriend for a good lump of time during the summer. 

Why did they start dating? What made Wren so attractive to Charlie? Don't say physical attraction. I know that's the first thing you notice. But still! And don't you dare mention the 'chemistry' between them when Wren stitched Charlie up. That doesn't count as why they started dating. I'm going to say that Wren's a nice girl who would do that for anyone. 

Why did they love each other? When did this love form? I read the book and saw them having a lot of sex and kissing and touching. This actually looked like a summer fling to be. The plot rushes the romance. It turns from not dating to dating to loving each other. 

Why did Charlie care for Wren before they even spoke? What was it about her that was so...desirable? He even says he likes her in his first chapter. 

There are so many questions I have. I wish I could walk up to Wren and Charlie and talk to them. (I would probably need to forcibly tear them apart. Their lips might come off if I tear them apart, though. Or something else...a certain male part from a certain female part.)  

The ending is just a whole bunch of drama. Geez. The plot is mostly sex and kissing until the end. I think that the plot is struggling to prove its worth. We're given so much drama. I'm choking on it. Drowning in it.

Anyways. What happened? Did Wren go? Will either of them go? The ending is so vague. I hope one of them goes to help children in Guatemala. Or both of them go and they can make love/have sex/made the bed shake/do the do/do it in little huts or on straw pallets. An adventure for both of them. 

As you can tell, I was ranting.

Well.

Rant over. 

Weather:

Cloudy with a 40% chance of rain

2/5

'Salt and Stone' by Victoria Scott

Amazon / Goodreads

What would you do to save someone you love?

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.

Tella. Tella oh Tella. She really turns into someone else. She became a leader. She is a very nice, good person. Tella is a great person. She really is. In the first book, I didn't know what to think. But now? She gains her leadership. She really does. She becomes this great heroine. I started to love her character. Tella is a caring and kind person. Someone who wouldn't hurt another person willingly. She would have someone in trouble to hurt anyone. She can't hurt people. It's not in her person. That's what I like about her. I'm starting to truly like Tella Holloway. She grows in this book. She becomes someone else. A stronger person. A person who takes risks to get what she wants. 

Guy turned into someone else in this book. He became someone else.  Completely. He seemed to be a tough guy. But he showed heart and feelings. There is one example I do care to point out. The end with M-4. Yeah. That shows how much he cared for M-4. How much heart Guy Chambers truly has. Guy wasn't a character I liked. This book changed everything. He turned into this guy who could be scared. He could be feared, but he could be scared. (If that makes sense.) Guy Chambers. His backstory is unknown. He was tutored in survival. He knows the truth about the Brimstone Bleed. He doesn't let this knowledge make him cocky or anything. He was still Guy Chambers. But I want to know about his brothers. And who is hurt in his family to make him a Contender. 

Harper! Huzzah! Something broke in her. I can tell. Something so earth-shatteringly devastating. She seemed different in this book. She was still cocky at times. But it doesn't seem like Harper is Harper anymore. I want Harper to heal. And it seems like she will at times. Then just all disappears. I hope Harper finds meaning in life. She is a great character. Brave. Determined. Courageous. She deserves to be happy. I hope she does end up happy. 

And Cotton. I wanted more. I know his secret. But still. I want his family situation. How his family reacted to him being called into being a Contender. And how he was chosen. And why they added him as a Contender. 

The plot was quite interesting. Okay...very interesting. It was exciting. 

The action drew me in. I was attracted to the thrilling action. It was very good action. I had to know what happened next. I read it quickly. I could barely put this book down. I had to know what happened. I couldn't not know. The action is quick. And the fights are not really external. It's the internal battle to keep going. Can I keep going? And there is the threat of attack. People die in the Brimstone Bleed. They die and struggle and survive. 

This book has a lot of dramatic moments. Moments when you're clinging to the pages and praying something great happens. It's like that for the rest of the book. 

The plot twists tore me apart. The one about Cotton? The one with Harper? Man. Those were heart-wrenching! I couldn't believe them. 

The characters really were connected. These environments really proved the importance of friendship. They had a close bond. It was beyond friendship. Maybe a familial-like bond. I loved this bond. 

It shows that romance isn't everything. Your friends can help you. You don't need to go into life alone. People can help you. They don't always hurt you. I think Tella really needed her friends. Why? She's a person-person. Being around others is good for her. Unlike Guy who can probably do the Brimstone Bleed by himself and not suffer the consequences, Tella needs other opinions to get her through decisions. She needs friends to support her. People to defend her. Other Pandoras to stand up when she's threatened. Tella is a strong person. Tella is a good character. But she does need other people to help her. 

I can't wait for the next book. The ending meant for another book. 

About the ending...who won? I couldn't figure that out. It seemed too vague. So...I know who it's not. But...I'm unsure of how the 'first five gets job' works. What if they're kids? Do they wait? I'm confused... 

And I'm left with questions. Where is Madox? How is he? What about Cody? What will happen next? Where will Braun go? How about the others? What about those that lose? What happens to the Pandoras? So many questions and no answers. 

The things I'm talking about are some small details. The ending is pretty good. The story seems to lead to the conclusion of the Brimstone Bleed. Once you get there, the ending isn't easy to get. The winner is hard to attain. You truly have to be in best condition to win. Those two physical limitations tests? I can't even imagine trying to do them. They seem like pure torture for someone who isn't conditioned to run or swim. 

The ending leaves for more. Which is exactly why I can't wait for the next book. As much as I hate cliffhangers and waiting for the next book, this series is worth it so far for me. 

I'm not sure about the romance. I feel like it has chemistry, but I don't agree with the emotional troubled caused. Guy and Tella are a love-hate relationship. They push and pull each other. Tella is insulted. Guy insults. It's tiring to read. I can't imagine how it is to both parties. This book really shows their differences. I'm surprised that the two didn't kiss more. Oh well. This book doesn't follow the rules of young adult fiction. These two aren't the best for each other, though. Guy doesn't always see that Tella is a big girl who can stand on her own two feet. She's strong and smart. She doesn't always need someone leading her by the hand. And Tella doesn't see that Guy truly cares. He's not trying to be rude or anything. He's just being Guy Chambers. 

And the new guy and Harper. Hm. I'm not sure. I think they'll be good for each other. They are both lost people. They need someone to help. Harper, as I said, is really different in this book. She's off. She's not paying attention to everything. Harper seems like she's floating off in her own little world. And New Guy. He has so many things he could do. He could be cruel. He could be kind. He has to choose. Family or his morals. These two could go anywhere. I thought that New Guy was actually tricking Harper. Like he was leading her on or something. I was surprised when he was actually being true. Which seems odd in the Brimstone Bleed. I guess people under pressure can surprise you. 

And I just noticed a funny joke. New Guy. Like...New Guy Chambers? Get it? Haha. I meant New Guy as new person, though. Don't think I'm using the new person as Guy's replacement. Guy is perfectly fine. 

I didn't like that Tella still had her moments as an annoying teenaged girl. This actually really annoys me. I don't like teenager speak or teenager personality. I see enough teenager personality in real life. I don't need it I books as well. 

Yes. Teenagers are that vain. That blunt. That sex-loving. They judge future lovers on whether they have abs or not. That is the teenager lifestyle. 

And...I thought Tella would outgrow that part of her. I thought she would end up gaining insight and stop thinking like that. She sort of does what I hoped for. She brings up Guy's physique sometimes. (Which I don't like. I don't care if he's tall and muscular. I rather get on with the story.) 

I hope she doesn't lose her past self. I hope she doesn't become emotionless. While the teenager Tella annoys me, I know it's her way of coping. Letting her mind become Old Tella for a moment. That's how she survives. Which gives reason to teenager Tella.

This book isn't like the other ones. Unlike other books, not everyone is pairing off. The action is fantastic. Victoria Scott has a writing style of her own. The characters have depth. You care for the Pandoras. 

I have one word for this sequel.

Wow. 

In case you were wondering...I still say wow even though the score is not a five out of five. Why? Because I'm being wrong? Nope. It's because even if I give it a four out of five, the other things impressed me. I just didn't love everything. 

Weather:

Sunny with a 15% chance of rain

4/5

'The Letting' by Cathrine Goldstein: Blitz

The Letting

by Cathrine Goldstein 

Release Date: 12/15/14

335 pages

Summary from Goodreads:

What if the Devil doesn’t know he’s the Devil?

This is the question Veronica “Ronnie” Billings poses to Phoenix, her sworn enemy, the leader of the Peaceful Revolution, and the one she loves.

Kidnapped by Phoenix’s rebels, Ronnie learns how wrong she has been. She had no idea that her patriotism was wasted on a corrupt government. Ronnie was proud to be a Leader; taking hundreds of harvested girls to the Letting facility. After all, she was saving them from future Couplings and bringing them to the safety of the New World. Or so she thought…

Confused, Ronnie realizes the only way to discover the truth is to trust her heart. Together, Phoenix and Ronnie devise a plan to stop their corrupt government and preempt the dangerous rebel coup which is approaching. But when their plan goes awry, will Ronnie be strong enough to save Phoenix, her country, and herself?

THE LETTING IS ON SALE FOR ONY $.99 March 13-27! #theletting99cents

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Excerpt:

“What if the Devil doesn’t know he’s the Devil?” I ask. 

Phoenix shakes his head, confused.“What?”

“Why? Why does the bad I’ve done have to define me?”

“Because you’re a murdering sadist,” he snaps back at me.

“No, I am not.” I clench my teeth, standing my ground. I am tired of these labels I am suddenly wearing. “I never, I mean never knew what happened to those girls I led to the Lettings. I am so very sorry I played any role in this vile enterprise in which we exist, but I was clueless. Maybe I’m ignorant, or downright stupid, but I would rather have been dead than be responsible for hurting anyone. And before you go throwing malicious names around, maybe it’s time you consider maybe you’re wrong…? What if you kidnapped and tortured me in the name of a revolution that is wrong?”

“It’s not,” he argues.

“But I didn’t think I was wrong, either.” I am exasperated. “Don’t you get it?” He takes a step back away from me, but I go on. “We are completely turned around. The only information we’re fed is from a corrupt enterprise. What makes you think your information is any more accurate than mine?” 

For the first time ever, he looks terrified. I let a moment go by before I gesture for Raven to come over, and she hurries to my side. 

“This is Raven,” I say, slowly, talking to Phoenix. “She’s your sister.” 

About the Author
Given my love for cities and all that is gritty, my new obsession with trees really has me stumped. (Sorry.) Maybe it's because trees are the inspiration behind my new YA/NA novel, theLETTING.

Whatever the reason for my new infatuation, some things remain constant -- like my love for: coffee (although sadly, it's now decaf); yoga; Luna bars (I am petitioning for them to bring back Chocolate Raspberry!); running in my neighborhood; Hemingway; Bukowski... and, above all, my husband and my girls.

I am the author of the bestselling novel, Sleeping With Mortals: The Story of a New York Mistress, and I'm also a playwright. I have my B.A. in English and my M.A. in Theatre. 

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