Review: The Host by Stephenie Meyer

Title: The Host 
Author: Stephenie Meyer
Genre: Dystopian, Science Fiction
Publisher: Little, Brown and Company

Publication Date: May 6th 2008

Summary: 

Melanie Stryder refuses to fade away. The earth has been invaded by a species that take over the minds of human hosts while leaving their bodies intact. Wanderer, the invading "soul" who has been given Melanie's body, didn't expect to find its former tenant refusing to relinquish possession of her mind. As Melanie fills Wanderer's thoughts with visions of Jared, a human who still lives in hiding, Wanderer begins to yearn for a man she's never met. Reluctant allies, Wanderer and Melanie set off to search for the man they both love.

I think we are at a point in time that everyone has either heard of or read The Host. I first read The Host before we created The Book Bratz (which was almost 8 years ago!) so I never actually reviewed it, so I decided that when I was rereading it that it was going to get a proper review. Being 22 and reading it versus when I was 14 and reading it gave me a very different perspective on a lot of things with in this novel but also took away lessons that I didn't realize were there previously. 

I always love a good science fiction novel. Especially ones with aliens, rebellions and romance. That will always be my weak point. Stephenie Meyer whipped up just that. The world building in the novel was amazing and I could see everything clearly as if I was in Meyer's head as she was writing. The world isn't  unlike our own, the Souls (the aliens) didn't change much, all they did was take over their Host (the humans) bodies and establish peace and a world with no violence or conflict. Wanda even says several times through out the novel that humans were on a collision path to destroying their planet if the Souls hadn't stepped in. 

I loved the complexity of Wanda and Melanie's character(s.) Typically when a Soul takes over a Host, the Host's mind disappears, leaving room for the Soul. But in Wanda and Melanie's case both minds are there. Melanie refuses to disappear, desperate to protect Jared and Jamie from the hands of the Seeker who is so desperate to crush the Human rebellion. Seeing the development of Wanda and Melanie's relationship throughout the book is incredible, they go from enemies, to two minds that are on the same sides to almost sisters. It teaches an important lesson that sometimes your enemies can become your best friends. (Not in all cases, but in this one.)

The biggest lesson in this book that I didn't take away the first time is: Finding the place in where you belong. The whole novel we watch as Wanda struggles to fit in with Jeb and his people. Find the right balance with her friendship with Ian and blooming friendship with Jared. Because she is an outsider she constantly struggles with the thought of whether she actually belongs there, no matter how many times she is reassured that she is. It isn't until the last hundred or so pages of the novel does this lesson really hit hard. Wanda learns she is accepted and with being accepted she knows she has to make an incredibly hard choice. (I won't lie, I was crying like a baby at this.) 

Overall I loved The Host even more the second time around! Though I would love to see more of these characters and what would be in store next for them, I believe Meyer left this book off the way she did because the ending gives hope to the rebellion. All the loose ends are tied up neatly and I couldn't have asked for a better ending. I am so grateful that I decided to pick this book up again. I definitely plan on rewatching the movie now! 

Review: Memento by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Title: Memento (The Illuminae Files #.5)

Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Genre: Science Fiction

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: October 20th, 2020

eBook, 84 pages

Summary: From New York Times bestselling authors Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff comes an Illuminae prequel digital novella that gives readers a hair-raising glimpse into the calamity that befell the invincible AI system known as AIDAN–and the daring young programmer who would risk her life to keep it from crashing. AIDAN is the AI you’ll love to hate. The advanced AI system was supposed to protect a fleet of survivors who’d escaped the deadly attack on Kerenza IV. AIDAN was supposed to be infallible. But in the chaotic weeks and months that followed, it became clear that something was terribly, terribly wrong with AIDAN…

WHAT. HOW. NO. ADIAN. *internal screaming*

The Illumimae Files is one of my favorite series of all times so I was super bummed when I missed the preorder incentive for Aurora Rising and didn’t get Memento. I was thrilled when I heard that they would be publishing it!

Memento is a story all on its own. We learn things about ADIAN we never knew before. I was always curious at what point AIDAN had developed a sense of self awareness and we finally get that answer in this novella.

We also get to see the beginning of the attack on the Kerenza colony and how everyone including ADIAN reacts, especially after the damage it sustains.

Overall I really loved this novella and I can’t talk about much more without spoiling it. But it’s a great introduction or addition to an already amazing series.

ARC Review: When We Were Magic by Sarah Gailey

Title: When We Were Magic
Author: Sarah Gailey 
Genre: Fantasy, Witches, LGBT
Source: Simon Pulse via NetGalley 
Publisher: Simon Pulse 
Publication Date: March 3rd, 2020

Summary: 

A moving, darkly funny novel about six teens whose magic goes wildly awry from Magic for Liars author Sarah Gailey, who Chuck Wendig calls an “author to watch.” Keeping your magic a secret is hard. Being in love with your best friend is harder. Alexis has always been able to rely on two things: her best friends, and the magic powers they all share. Their secret is what brought them together, and their love for each other is unshakeable—even when that love is complicated. Complicated by problems like jealousy, or insecurity, or lust. Or love. That unshakeable, complicated love is one of the only things that doesn't change on prom night. When accidental magic goes sideways and a boy winds up dead, Alexis and her friends come together to try to right a terrible wrong. Their first attempt fails—and their second attempt fails even harder. Left with the remains of their failed spells and more consequences than anyone could have predicted, each of them must find a way to live with their part of the story.

When We Were Magic was the first book I finished in 2020 and I am so happy it is. This book is full of such a diverse cast of characters who love and support each other no matter what. Plus this book and it’s cover scream girl power! This story is about a group of witches, like c’mon!

All Alexis wanted to do on prom night was to lose her virginity, maybe it wasn’t for the best reasons but that was her plan. But when she is in the moment and her magic backfires causing a certain part of Josh explode which ends up killing him. Alexis calls her best friends to the rescue. Alexis, Roya, Pauli’s, Iris, Marceline and Maryam all have one specific thing in common: they are magic. After a spell goes wrong and their backup plan fails even worse, they must find a way to deal with the problem. But when their magic begins to punish them for the failed spells each girl must make it right.

I expected When We Were Magic to go in one direction BUT it actually went in a whole other direction that I didn’t think it was going to go. I expected it to more or less to just address the issue of Josh and whether the group of girls where going to be able to bring him back to life. When We Were Magic was so much more then that. It address Alexis’ friendship with each other girls, her growing feelings for Roya and her own insecurities that she doesn’t deserve the love and support that her friends are giving her.

I really enjoyed Alexis’s character and getting to be inside her head. I loved her rationale on certain things and her side comments, it made her feel more real to me in a way. Through out the novel we see Alexis dealing with the fall out of her decision, the regret, trying to defend it and in the end the tough love that she gets from Maryam about the whole thing. Throughout When We Were Magic we see her struggle with the idea that she doesn’t deserves her friends help and how they are sacrificing so much for her when they don’t need to be. I saw a lot of myself when Alexis would think these things because I think the same exact way sometimes.

I really enjoyed When We Were Magic and the dynamic of this witchy friend group. I’m sad to see that their story is over, but I feel like Sarah did a great job in wrapping it up and giving both Alexis and the reader the closure that was needed.

If you are looking for a book with a diverse cast, queer girls and some steamy moments, magic and witches then this is the book for you!

ARC Review: Tweet Cute by Emma Lord

Title: Tweet Cute
Author: Emma Lord
Genre: Contemporary, Romance
Source: Wednesday Books via NetGalley
Publisher: Wednesday Books 
Publication Date: January 21st 2020 

Summary: 

A fresh, irresistible rom-com from debut author Emma Lord about the chances we take, the paths life can lead us on, and how love can be found in the opposite place you expected. Meet Pepper, swim team captain, chronic overachiever, and all-around perfectionist. Her family may be falling apart, but their massive fast-food chain is booming ― mainly thanks to Pepper, who is barely managing to juggle real life while secretly running Big League Burger’s massive Twitter account. Enter Jack, class clown and constant thorn in Pepper’s side. When he isn’t trying to duck out of his obscenely popular twin’s shadow, he’s busy working in his family’s deli. His relationship with the business that holds his future might be love/hate, but when Big League Burger steals his grandma’s iconic grilled cheese recipe, he’ll do whatever it takes to take them down, one tweet at a time. All’s fair in love and cheese ― that is, until Pepper and Jack’s spat turns into a viral Twitter war. Little do they know, while they’re publicly duking it out with snarky memes and retweet battles, they’re also falling for each other in real life ― on an anonymous chat app Jack built. As their relationship deepens and their online shenanigans escalate ― people on the internet are shipping them?? ― their battle gets more and more personal, until even these two rivals can’t ignore they were destined for the most unexpected, awkward, all-the-feels romance that neither of them expected.

We are starting 2020 off with a five star review and I am hyped! I actually read Tweet Cute back in July when my wish was granted on NetGalley. I am not the biggest contemporary fan, but from the synopsis of the book I was hooked and knew I needed it in my life. But I was so excited that I pushed my TBR pile aside and dived into it. I loved Tweet Cute so much that finished it in one sitting. It's cute, cheesy, (ha, get the pun?) funny and a fresh take on romance that is going to have readers everywhere swooning. 

Side note: I actually work at Wendy's and our social media has a habit of roasting their twitter followers, @ing their competition and basically causing a lot of fun havoc. (Did you know they also made a mix tape that you can find on Apple Music?) So reading a book about two restaurants going at each  other on twitter? I was really excited for it. 

Back to my review! 

Pepper's family owns a steadily growing popular fast food chain called Big League Burger, where Jack's family owned deli, Girl Cheese, is failing. BLB is launching their new grilled cheeses, but something is fishy about one of them. It is a rip off of the famous sandwich from Girl Cheese that Jack's grandmother created years prior. Taking to twitter to tweet at them, Jack doesn't expect the tweet to blow up. But it does and now its BLB vs. Girl Cheese in the twitter war of the year. Pepper secretly runs the BLB twitter that has millions of followers, which she isn't inclined to but with the pressure from her mom and the failing PR girl, she reluctantly does. But what happens when two competitors begin to fall for each other? Well let's say it isn't as simple at melting cheese on bread. (Another pun!)

Tweet Cute is told in alternating views of Jack and Pepper. I loved getting to see into both of their heads and the plans for the shenanigans the had planned for twitter next. This isn't just a story of two teens in a twitter war, it is also a story of following your dreams, finding your passions and learning that love can bloom in the most unlikeliness of places and even forgiveness. 

We see that Pepper's mom is hugely involved in BLB. It is her entire life. Back in Nashville they were tiny little restaurant that blossomed into something massive and to keep the business in the family (and after divorcing Pepper's father) they move to New York to open the corporate office. Pepper and her mom's relationship is on slightly rocky ground because of the whole social media thing. You can tell that her mother loves Pepper, but she also loves her company and because of that sacrifices time with her daughter. Their are a few instances in this book were Pepper's mom is gone for extended periods of time, leaving her teenage daughter alone. 

Jack lives in the shadow of his twin brother Ethan. Where Ethan is the head of student council and involved in clubs he is popular where Jack is not. But that doesn't stop people from confusing them on a continuous basis. Jack has a knack for app development and actually created an app that is an online chat room for his school. Everyone goes by animal alias and it is all completely one hundred percent anonymous until the app decided it is time to out them (which is all part of the fun.) Jack goes by Wolf and for the past few months has been talking to someone by the name of Blue Bird, I think we can all take a wild guess at who Blue Bird is. While being friends in real life, Jack and Pepper also don't know that the have been anonymously talking to each other for months with no idea. 

I loved the bantering and the arguing that Pepper and Jack continuously have. Their relationship as friends and how it develops into something more was a slow progression and it made them feel even more real to me. The best part is that they actually act like their age, sometimes high school students are written to be extremely immature or too mature and both Pepper and Jack make mistakes and learn from them and are exploring life. It was refreshing and I loved seeing it. 

I basically spent most of this book wanting to reach into my kindle and smash both of their faces together. I was basically like: "WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO KISS!?" But needless to saw I found the romance aspect of this book to be flawless and adorable. 

Overall I really enjoyed Tweet Cute and I know many others are going to love Emma's debut novel. There is so much of this story to love and so many laugh at loud moments that you are not going to be able to help but smile. Tweet Cute also sparked me wanting to read some more contemporary so yay for that! 

If you enjoyed this review please head over to Goodreads and give it a like! 

Review: The Thousand Steps by Helen Brain

Title: The Thousand Steps (Elevation #1)
Author: Helen Brain
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Source: Publisher via Edelweiss
Publisher: Catalyst Press
Publication Date: September 6th 2019

Summary: 

Ebba has never even seen the sun but now must reunite four sacred amulets to save the earth from destruction. On the brink of execution, 16 year old Ebba den Eeden is unexpectedly elevated from the bunker deep in Africa's Table Mountain where she has lived all her life, believing--as do all the other teenagers who toil daily to make their food and power the bunker--that the world "Above" is uninhabitable due to a nuclear holocaust. Instead, she is heiress to a massive fortune—one that everyone wants to control. While dealing with the machinations of the High Priest, his handsome son Hal, and the rules and regulations of a society and religion she doesn't understand, she must also try and save her three friends, still stuck in the bunker and facing execution any day.

I was actually really excited about this book but honestly it was one of my biggest let downs of the year so far. Quite honestly I typically DNF books that I am not enjoying, but I did want to see how this book played out so I finished it. It was also really relativity short, 240 pages, so I didn't see the harm on finishing it out. (I also had slight hopes that it would end up getting better, it didn't.)

I feel like this was basically just Edda's day to day activities. Plus, she inherits a whole island and there is virtually no information regarding it. Like, what? I also feel that there was virtually no character development on Edda's end as well as the secondary characters. I found the characters to be super bland and I didn't really care much for them or this quest they were suppose to be on. 

Just like the no character development I feel like the world building was also severely lacking. Why are they in a bunker? What made the earth barren? What was the conflict that caused it all? I am still super unclear about everything. It almost makes me want to continue on in this series, but if the next books are anything like the The Thousand Steps then I am gonna pass on it. 

I typically save one star ratings for books I DNF, but I couldn't find anything that I liked about this book. The concept had a lot of potential but that was about it. In the end this one wasn't my cup of tea. I do wish I ended up liking it a lot more then I did. 

Mini Reviews: Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon by Mary Fan & The Rule of Many Ashley Saunders & Leslie Saunders

Title: Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon
Author: Mary Fan 
Genre: Fantasy, Steampunk 
Source: Page Street Kids via NetGalley
Publisher: Page Street Kids
Publication Date: June 11th 2019

Summary: 

When a powerful viceroy arrives with a fleet of mechanical dragons and stops an attack on Anlei’s village, the villagers see him as a godsend. They agree to give him their sacred, enchanted River Pearl in exchange for permanent protection—if he’ll marry one of the village girls to solidify the alliance. Anlei is appalled when the viceroy selects her as a bride, but with the fate of her people at stake, she sees no choice but to consent. Anlei’s noble plans are sent into a tailspin, however, when a young thief steals the River Pearl for himself. Knowing the viceroy won’t protect her village without the jewel, she takes matters into her own hands. But once she catches the thief, she discovers he needs the pearl just as much as she does. The two embark on an epic quest across the land and into the Courts of Hell, taking Anlei on a journey that reveals more is at stake than she could have ever imagined. With incredibly vivid world building and fast-paced storytelling, Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon is great for readers who are looking for something fresh in epic fantasy.

*Thank you so much Page Street Kids & NetGalley for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review!*

I ended up enjoying Stronger Than a Bronze Dragon more then I thought I was going to. I'm peculiar when it comes to steampunk books so I knew this book was going to be either a hit or miss for me. But Chinese warrior girls and steampunk dragons basically had me sold.

I really enjoyed Anlei's character and the fact she made the decision to marry the viceroy knowing it was the only way to save her village. I also liked how she wants to be a warrior and not some girl who is fluffed up and trapped in a castle all the time. Her warrior thinking is why she ended up on the quest to rescue the River Pearl with Tai who is searching for the River Pearl to save his people from Mowang and the gates of hell. I enjoyed Tai's carefree demeanor and how he never took anything seriously. 

Overall I really liked Strong Than a Bronze Dragon and it had me intrigued from page one. I can't wait to read more from Mary. 

___

Title: The Rule of Many

(The Rule of One #2)

Author: Ashley Saunders & Leslie Saunders  

Genre: Science Fiction

Source: Skyscape via NetGalley

Publisher: Skycape 

Publication Date: May 7th 2019

Summary: 

Born to a death sentence in a near-future America, rebellious sisters herald a revolution—if they can survive. Twins Ava and Mira Goodwin defy the Rule of One simply by existing. The single-child law, ruthlessly enforced by Texas’s Governor Roth, has made the sisters famous fugitives and inspirations for the resurgent rebellion known as the Common. But the relentless governor and his implacable Texas State Guard threaten that fragile hope, as Roth consolidates his power in a bid for ultimate authority. As Ava and Mira relinquish the relative safety of their Canadian haven to stand against Roth, new allies arise: Owen, a gifted young programmer, impulsively abandons his comfortable life in a moment of compassion, while Zee, an abused labor camp escapee, finds new purpose in resistance. The four will converge on Dallas for a reckoning with Roth, with nothing less than their destinies—and the promise of a future free from oppression—on the line. Disobedience means death. But a life worth living demands rebellion.

*Thank you so much Skysape & NetGalley for the eGalley in exchange for an honest review!*

Check out my review of The Rule of One!

The Rule of Many picks off right where book one ended, and from page one it doesn't stop. Though I had my issues with the first book I was super excited to see where The Rule of Many was going to take readers considering the explosive end to The Rule of One. 

I think my only complaint with The Rule of Many was the introduction of a lot of characters and very little explanation of who they were. I lost track a couple of times of who was who, and who was suppose to be doing what. But other then that I really enjoyed this one. I really liked seeing how much Ava and Mira grew through out this book and their overall growth in the series so far. 

With how The Rule of Many ended off I am going to say it is safe to assume there is going to be another book. I am really excited to see what the Saunders sisters are going to have in store for readers next.  

ARC Review: The Last 8 by Laura Pohl

Title: The Last 8 (The Last 8 #1)
Author: Laura Pohl 
Genre: Post Apocolypitic, Science Fiction
Source: Sourcebooks via NetGalley
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publication Date: March 1st 2019

Summary: 

Clover Martinez has always been a survivor, which is the only reason she isn't among the dead when aliens invade and destroy Earth as she knows it. When Clover hears an inexplicable radio message, she's shocked to learn there are other survivors—and that they're all at the former Area 51. When she arrives, she's greeted by a band of misfits who call themselves The Last Teenagers on Earth. Only they aren't the ragtag group of heroes Clover was expecting. The group seems more interested in hiding than fighting back, and Clover starts to wonder if she was better off alone. But then she finds a hidden spaceship, and she doesn't know what to believe…or who to trust.

***Trigger Warnings: Clover suffers from PTSD and depression and discusses her suicide attempts***

I want to start my review off with this: The Last 8 is a book that you aren't going to want to miss this year. This book is being marketed for fans of The 5th Wave and anyone who knows me, knows I LOVE that book and movie with all my heart. The Last 8 exceeded all of my expectations. Filled with finding friendships, aliens, finding yourself in the face of disaster The Last 8 is the perfect way to bring in 2019 and alien invasions. 

All of Clover's dreams and actions for working for NASA are thrown of the window when the aliens invade earth and kill off most of earth's population, all except for Clover and seven other teenagers who have been hanging out in Area 51 since the invasion. When Clover hears a radio message that leads her to Area 51 and the other teens, she finally feels like she has a chance to fight back, only: everyone is pretty content with just existing and playing video games and staying safe. Clover isn't having it though and after uncovering some dark government secrets learns that everything isn't exactly what they thought and there might be hope for them after all. 

*This paragraph is going to discuss Clover's suicide attempts if you would like to skip a head to the next paragraph!*

I love Clover's character. Clover is a seventeen year old ace/aro pilot who longs to be in the sky even when it is no longer safe. From the beginning of the novel we see how intelligent and resourceful Clover is and how she continues to be through out the entirety of the novel. Though I know not many people are going to take lightly to the talk over Clover's suicide attempts I did actually appreciate them in the novel. Clover doesn't shy away from the fact that she has had struggles since the invasion, that at times she felt like life wasn't continuing. I loved the part where she acknowledges the fact that Adam is developing feelings for and she explains to him how something between them will never happen because she identifies as bisexual and aromantic. I enjoyed the fact that The Last 8 didn't need a romance aspect to move the plot forward. 

I never expected a book about aliens to make me tear up but the friendships built between the characters definitely pulled at my heart strings a little bit. The plot of The Last 8 was fast paced and didn't stop for one moment. Each chapter was a new development in the plot to drive it forward. Overall I really enjoyed The Last 8 and I can't wait to see where Pohl is going to take this gang of characters next! 

Teaser Review: Wilder Girls by Rory Power

Title: Wilder Girls
Author: Rory Power
Genre: Mystery
Source: ARC borrowed from Chloe
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: July 9th 2019
Hardcover, 368 pages

Summary: 

It's been eighteen months since the Raxter School for Girls was put under quarantine. Since the Tox hit and pulled Hetty's life out from under her. It started slow. First the teachers died one by one. Then it began to infect the students, turning their bodies strange and foreign. Now, cut off from the rest of the world and left to fend for themselves on their island home, the girls don't dare wander outside the school's fence, where the Tox has made the woods wild and dangerous. They wait for the cure they were promised as the Tox seeps into everything. But when Byatt goes missing, Hetty will do anything to find her, even if it means breaking quarantine and braving the horrors that lie beyond the fence. And when she does, Hetty learns that there's more to their story, to their life at Raxter, than she could have ever thought true.

***Rory listed all of the Trigger Warnings for Wilder Girls on her website here!***

I want to start off my teaser review thanking Chloe @ The Elven Warrior for being the best and letting me borrow her ARC of Wilder Girls when she heard how much I wanted to read it. This book was a thrill ride from page one. Rory has a beautiful style of writing that brought the world of Raxter and The Tox alive before my eyes. 

• The idea is unique and terrifying. When the cause of The Tox is finally revealed in the last few pages it is horribly terrifying because it seems so real and like something that could actually happen.
  

• As grisly as some scenes were I loved seeing what The Tox did to the girls, Mr. Harker and the animals and vegetation that called Raxter Island their home. From girls having multiple hearts, growth of an additional spine, silver scales spread across their hands the affects were terrifying and had me flipping the pages to know how this mysterious virus worked. 

• As I mentioned above Rory's writing is beautiful and I have established that I will probably read her grocery list if she decided to publish that. 

• We are interviewing Rory on the blog on May 5th and having read the answers to some of her questions gave me a greater appreciation of Wilder Girls and where is takes place.

• The ending killed me because my imagination is running rampant with the million different ways things could happen. I have so many questions and there is a part of me that is hoping for another book, but I also like the open ended aspect because I get to decide for myself how these girls story ends. 

Overall, I loved Wilder Girls and I can't waiting for this beautiful, strange and horrifying (in a good way!) novel to be out in the world for everyone to read and love just as much as I did. Check back closer to release date for my full review and on May 5th for an exclusive interview with Rory!