Review: The Kiss Quotient

Title: The Kiss Quotient
Series: The Kiss Quotient #1 
Author: Helen Hoang 
Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary 
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: June 5, 2018
Source: Bought 

A heartwarming and refreshing debut novel that proves one thing: there's not enough data in the world to predict what will make your heart tick.
Stella Lane thinks math is the only thing that unites the universe. She comes up with algorithms to predict customer purchases--a job that has given her more money than she knows what to do with, and way less experience in the dating department than the average thirty-year-old.
It doesn't help that Stella has Asperger's and French kissing reminds her of a shark getting its teeth cleaned by pilot fish. Her conclusion: she needs lots of practice--with a professional. Which is why she hires escort Michael Phan. The Vietnamese and Swedish stunner can't afford to turn down Stella's offer, and agrees to help her check off all the boxes on her lesson plan--from foreplay to more-than-missionary position...
Before long, Stella not only learns to appreciate his kisses, but to crave all the other things he's making her feel. Soon, their no-nonsense partnership starts making a strange kind of sense. And the pattern that emerges will convince Stella that love is the best kind of logic...

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

SO GOOD. 

That was my first thought after finishing this book! It was one of those reads that made me let out a big, happy sigh when I turned the last page. It's not often I find a book that genuinely brings a smile to my face but The Kiss Quotient did just that. I love the characters, the plot, and sizzling chemistry between the leads, and the fact that it was an ownvoices novel!

Okay, I absolutely freaking love Stella. She was such a badass and an all-around great character to read about! I loved how sweet she was and how passionate she was about her interests and the people she loved. Honestly, she's been a huge motivation and an inspiration to me since reading the book. I loved how strong she was and how willing she was to put the time and the effort into the things she wanted. Easily one of the strongest characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading about. While The Kiss Quotient is part of a series, I don't think the second book follows these characters and I'm so sad we won't see more of Stella in the next story. 

I also loved Michael (surprise surprise). He was such a sweet guy and put all of his efforts into making those around him happy. While this was very nice of him, it also lead to some frustration on my end. Like, I loved how caring and protective he was but I just wanted him to be selfish sometimes and put himself and his happiness first sometimes! A lot of the conflict in the novel sort of grew from that aspect of his personality. 

Even though I did have some issues with Michael, I still found his connection with Stella absolutely amazing. Holy cow, did these two have some insane chemistry! I really wasn't expecting this novel to be as hot as it was but . . . I mean, make sure you have a fan and an iced drink near when you read it!

Overall, this was an absolutely fantastic read. If you haven't picked it up yet, I really urge you to do so. It's full of so much heart and so many sweet moments. I'm so looking forward to read more books by Helen Hoang and already have the second book in the series -- The Bride Test -- listed on my TBR! 

“All the things that make you different make you perfect.” 

Four out of Five Teapots

Audiobook Review: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Title: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 
Series: Harry Potter #4
Author: J.K. Rowling
Narrator: Jim Dale 
Publisher: Pottermore from J.K. Rowling
Publication Date: November 20, 2015 (first published July 8, 2000
Source: Audible Credit

"'There will be three tasks, spaced throughout the school year, and they will test the champions in many different ways...their magical prowess - their daring - their powers of deduction - and, of course, their ability to cope with danger.'"
The Triwizard Tournament is to be held at Hogwarts. Only wizards who are over seventeen are allowed to enter - but that doesn't stop Harry dreaming that he will win the competition. Then at Hallowe'en, when the Goblet of Fire makes its selection, Harry is amazed to find his name is one of those that the magical cup picks out. He will face death-defying tasks, dragons and Dark wizards, but with the help of his best friends, Ron and Hermione, he might just make it through - alive!
Listening Length: 21 hours and 12 minutes

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

This was my first experience listening to an audiobook and I'm really surprised by how much I enjoyed it! I was worried going in that I wouldn't enjoy having someone else tell the story or that I would have trouble staying focused enough to listen to it. Luckily, I had no reason to worry -- this audiobook kept my attention. Having experienced this world in so many different ways (the original books, the illustrated editions, the movies, plays, etc), it was neat to have one more way to experience it. 

The story was, of course, still the same as it has been in all the other editions of the book. And, like always, it pulled me quickly into the world and the lives of these characters. I really love this book in the series -- this is the one that truly starts delving into the history of Voldemort and we see Harry face him for the first time since he was baby alone -- away from Hogwarts and without Ron and Hermione by his side. It's a pretty pivotal point in the series and as terrible as the events of the book are (lots and lots of murder), I love reading it and watching Harry grow and fight against Voldemort. 

Jim Dale did a great job with the narration -- I appreciate the effort he put into creating unique voices for all the characters. These different voices made it much easier to follow the story without the physical book in front of me. I also thought the overall pace he set was a good one. I was tempted to speed it up at first but ultimately decided to just stick with the normal speed. 

My only complaint as far as the narration goes were the sometimes strange pronunciation and emphasis of certain words. For one, he pronounced Voldemort without the "t" sound at the end. Maybe this is how you're supposed to say it but I've always pronounced the "t" and I'm fairly certain the movies did, too. So that was a little hard to get used to. He also occasionally pronounced "okay" strangely -- he was say it like "OOoo . . . kay". Like, it was just too long and strangely said for the situation it was being said in. It created a weird emphasis. 

Overall, this was a great first experience with audiobooks! I enjoyed listening to it while I was walking my dog or working out. I'm looking forward to listening to the other audiobooks in this series and trying others!

“If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” 

Four* out of Five Teapots 

*The actual story will always be a solid five stars from me -- the four stars is specifically for this edition and the narration.

Review: Jock Row

Title: Jock Row 
Series: Jock Row #1 
Author: Sara Ney 
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary 
Publisher: Self-published 
Publication Date: May 3, 2018 
Source: Bought

Scarlett is always the sensible one: The sober driver. The planner. The one holding your hair back while you're worshiping the porcelain gods.
Week-after-week, she visits Jock Row with her friends—the university's hottest party scene and breeding ground for student athletes. And if keeping her friends out of trouble, and guys out of their pants, was a sport, she'd be the star athlete.
Being a well known jock-blocker gets her noticed for all the wrong reasons; just like that, she's banned from Jock Row. NO GUY WANTS A GIRL AROUND WHO KEEPS THEIR JOCK FRIENDS FROM GETTING LAID.
"Rowdy" Wade is the hot shot short-stop for the university's baseball team—and the unlucky bastard who drew the short straw: keep little Miss Goody Two-Shoes out of the Baseball House.
But week-after-week Scarlett returns, determined to get inside.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble 

Talk about a refreshing read! Jock Row was exactly what I needed. I had been in a bit of a reading slump when I picked it up and I was instantly sucked into this story (much to my relief)! Honestly, reading this book felt like a breath of fresh air. I'm so used to unnecessary and often-times frustrating drama and angst in contemporary reads but this one had none of that! It was a sweet, fun, and relaxing book to sit down with and made me excited to see what else I can read by this author!

The characters in this were both so sweet and so caring and so mature. It was a lovely change to have two characters who weren't constantly causing problems with each other because they didn't communicate well or they jumped to conclusions. Both Scarlett and Rowdy were very honest with each other and clearly devoted to staying with each other once they had moved from being just friends to being more. Seeing a couple who actually had a healthy relationship was amazing. 

Scarlett and Rowdy also had a sloooooow burn romance. And I loved it. Their relationship took its time developing from strangers to friends to more. It was lovely to witness and gave me all sorts of fluttery, happy feels. Everything felt so much more gratifying once they got together. 

Jock Row was an amazing, refreshing read. This is one of the best romances I've read this year -- I loved the lack of unnecessary drama and the maturity and openness of the two leads. While I haven't read anything else by Sara Ney, I definitely plan to check out her other works!

“What the hell could he possibly want?

And why is he so damn handsome?” 

Five out of Five Teapots

Review: The Lies of Locke Lamora

Title: The Lies of Locke Lamora 
Series: Gentleman Bastard #1 
Author: Scott Lynch 
Genre: Adult, Fantasy
Publisher: Del Rey 
Publication Date: June 26, 2003 (First published June 27, 2006)
Source: Bought

The Thorn of Camorr is said to be an unbeatable swordsman, a master thief, a ghost that walks through walls. Half the city believes him to be a legendary champion of the poor. The other half believe him to be a foolish myth. Nobody has it quite right.
Slightly built, unlucky in love, and barely competent with a sword, Locke Lamora is, much to his annoyance, the fabled Thorn. He certainly didn't invite the rumors that swirl around his exploits, which are actually confidence games of the most intricate sort. And while Locke does indeed steal from the rich (who else, pray tell, would be worth stealing from?), the poor never see a penny of it. All of Locke's gains are strictly for himself and his tight-knit band of thieves, the Gentlemen Bastards.
Locke and company are con artists in an age where con artistry, as we understand it, is a new and unknown style of crime. The less attention anyone pays to them, the better! But a deadly mystery has begun to haunt the ancient city of Camorr, and a clandestine war is threatening to tear the city's underworld, the only home the Gentlemen Bastards have ever known, to bloody shreds. Caught up in a murderous game, Locke and his friends will find both their loyalty and their ingenuity tested to the breaking point as they struggle to stay alive...

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble 

I genuinely don't even know where to start this review. I can't express how much I absolutely love it. Going into it, I had almost no expectations -- I picked it up because one of my good friends and my favorite buddy reader wanted to read it! She definitely reads more adult fantasy books than I do so, while I trust her reading tastes, I expected not to like it as much as I would have liked a YA fantasy. 

BUT. 

I was totally wrong. I freaking fell in love with this book so hard. From the very first page, I was completely wrapped up in the world Scott Lynch created and was enamored with his characters. Locke Lamora certainly is an excellent thief because he 100% stole my heart (ba dum pss). But honestly, learning about Locke's history and seeing the way he grew throughout the book was amazing. He felt like a little puzzle I was desperate to figure out. Plus, he was just such a unique main character. I'm so used to reading about main characters who are strong and amazing at fighting but that wasn't Locke. His strengths lay in his smarts and his wit. I loved that about him. He was so funny and so clever -- I found myself consistently surprised and shocked while reading -- Locke was an unpredictable character which added so much excitement to my reading experience. 

Honestly, Scott Lynch, in general, did an amazing job of keeping me on my toes as I read. Several times throughout the novel, I found myself with my jaw on the ground because I'd just been absolutely turned around by the twists in it. Lynch definitely does not coddle his characters and he does not go easy on them. I felt the numerous threats looming over them throughout the story and loved being kept on my toes like that. 

I have so much I want to talk about in this review -- the other characters, like Jean, Calo, Galdo, Bug, and Chains. What an awesome cast of unique and three-dimensional characters. Even those who weren't in the book as frequently as Locke and Jean were written in a way that made me feel as though I had spent all 500+ pages with them. Each one made a place for themselves in my heart. 

I also want to talk briefly about the world -- we only saw such a small slice of this in this first book of the series but wow, what we did see was so vivid in detail. I can't wait to see where else the next books will take us!

This review is such a gushing mess and I've only expressed a fraction of the love I feel for this book. If you have any interest at all in fantasy books, I'd highly recommend reading this book. It's easily my favorite fantasy novel. Everything about it completely won me over -- the writing style, the world building, the surprising twists, the humor, and, of course, the characters.

“What kind of knife is this?” Locke held a rounded buttering utensil up for Chains’ inspection. “It’s all wrong. You couldn’t kill anyone with this.” 

Five out of Five Teapots

Review: The Bear and the Nightingale

Title: The Bear and the Nightingale 
Series: Winternight Trilogy #1 
Author: Katherine Arden 
Genre: Fantasy, Historical, Fairytale 
Publisher: Del Rey Books 
Publication Date: January 10, 2017 
Source: Purchased 

A magical debut novel for readers of Naomi Novik's Uprooted, Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus, and Neil Gaiman's myth-rich fantasies, The Bear and the Nightingale spins an irresistible spell as it announces the arrival of a singular talent with a gorgeous voice.
At the edge of the Russian wilderness, winter lasts most of the year and the snowdrifts grow taller than houses. But Vasilisa doesn't mind--she spends the winter nights huddled around the embers of a fire with her beloved siblings, listening to her nurse's fairy tales. Above all, she loves the chilling story of Frost, the blue-eyed winter demon, who appears in the frigid night to claim unwary souls. Wise Russians fear him, her nurse says, and honor the spirits of house and yard and forest that protect their homes from evil.
After Vasilisa's mother dies, her father goes to Moscow and brings home a new wife. Fiercely devout, city-bred, Vasilisa's new stepmother forbids her family from honoring the household spirits. The family acquiesces, but Vasilisa is frightened, sensing that more hinges upon their rituals than anyone knows.
And indeed, crops begin to fail, evil creatures of the forest creep nearer, and misfortune stalks the village. All the while, Vasilisa's stepmother grows ever harsher in her determination to groom her rebellious stepdaughter for either marriage or confinement in a convent.
As danger circles, Vasilisa must defy even the people she loves and call on dangerous gifts she has long concealed--this, in order to protect her family from a threat that seems to have stepped from her nurse's most frightening tales. 

Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository | Barnes & Noble 

So, I'm just going to come out and say it right away: I am obsessed with this book. Thoroughly obsessed. I read it a few weeks ago and still can't get it out of my head. There was something about the tone, the setting, and the characters that captured me and I haven't been able to shake that magic since (not that I want to). If you're a fan of historical fantasy with fairytale elements, I would 100% recommend picking this book up. 

The first thing I want to rave talk about is the setting. Holy wow, did this author put in work. The world building is extraordinary. It takes place in the Russian wilderness many, many years ago. While I knew almost nothing about Russia during this time while reading, I fell seamlessly into this world; the author did a fantastic job of introducing readers to the legends, life, and language of these people. I came out of this excited to do my own research and learn more about the world Vasilisa and her family would have lived in. 

 Speaking of Vasilisa . . . I don't think I've ever read about a character who was as resilient and true to herself as Vasilisa. We follow her from the time she's born until she's a teenager and watching her grow and embrace who she is despite the adversity she faced was amazing and inspirational. She was strong and determined to protect those she loved, even when they didn't necessarily accept or embrace who she was. It was heartbreaking watching her fight for people who weren't willing to fight for her but that's who she is. 

While the story was slow at times, I was never bored or tempted to put the book down. These slower parts were used for world building and to develop the characters, which I enjoyed a lot. I'd say it wasn't until halfway through that the plot picked up quite a bit and we got to see more action. I know that slowness might bother some people, but I enjoyed reading both the fast-paced and slower parts. 

I can't end this review without talking about Morozko -- I love this guy so much. Seriously, so much. I need more of him in the next books. There's still a lot of mystery surrounding him and I'm excited to solve that mystery with Vasilisa. 

This is a series I'll definitely be continuing -- the second book is already out and the third book, The Winter of the Witch, releases in August. I know some people might be turned off of this book because of the slower pace, trust me -- it's entirely worth the read. You don't want to miss experiencing this world and these characters!

“If this is the last decision I can ever make, at least it is my decision. Let me go, Alyosha. I am not afraid.” 

5/5 Teapots

Review: The Cruel Prince

Title: The Cruel Prince 
Series: The Folk of the Air #1 
Author: Holly Black 
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy 
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers 
Publication Date: January 2, 2018 
Source: Bought

By #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black, the first book in a stunning new series about a mortal girl who finds herself caught in a web of royal faerie intrigue.
This Barnes & Noble exclusive edition features a special jacket and bonus story starring fan-favorites Kaye and Roiben of the bestselling Tithe series, allowing readers to witness the pivotal coronation scene from an alternate point of view.
Of course I want to be like them. They're beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.
And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.
Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.
To win a place at the Court, she must defy him--and face the consequences.
In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

Find The Cruel Prince online! 

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository 

This was one of my most anticipated reads of 2018.  Not only did it sound super dark and interesting, it's about faeries.  And faeries are my jam.  Seriously, give me everything faeries.  That being said, I hyped this book like nothing else. Whenever that happens, I always worry that I'll ruin the experience of reading the book by holding my expectations too high.  That said, this was absolutely not the case with The Cruel Prince.  I adored this book and was drawn into the world and the story in a way that I haven't been with a book in a long time.  This is the type of novel that would have ignited my love of reading and that continues to build my passion.

Ohhhh boy, was this a good one. I honestly don't really know where to start but I guess Jude, our main character, will do!  Jude was . . . so amazing. I loved how strong and morally gray Jude was -- she was so dynamic and complicated which I really appreciated.  I love it when books are full of morally ambiguous characters and The Cruel Prince had tons of them.  This made for a more complex and interesting reading experience!  Especially once we saw them all interacting with each other.  I was really interested in seeing the way Jude interacted with Prince Cardan, a faerie who is wicked and mean.  Characters like Cardan are my weakness and I honestly just couldn't help loving him.  I wanted to much more of him and Jude interacting and I'm hoping we see more of that in the books to come.  I also am really interested to explore the relationship between Jude and her adoptive faerie dad.  After what happened in this book . . . lets just say that their relationship is more complicated than ever and I LOVE IT.   

I've heard from a lot of people that the main problems they had with this book was that it was pretty slow, especially in the beginning.  Honestly, this wasn't something I even noticed or cared about when I was reading.  While the plot was maybe a little slower moving, I was completely entertained by the cool and complex world and the interesting characters.  There was clearly a lot of world building being done to set up for the next books in the series (which I'm pumped for!) But, like I said, this slow pace and set up didn't bother me in the slightest.  I just enjoyed spending time in this world that Holly Black has built and with these characters.  

As one of my most anticipated reads of 2018, The Cruel Prince lived up to and exceeded my expectations.  I'm completely taken with the world and the characters.  This is my first Holly Black book and I'm looking forward to reading more of her writing.  AND I'm looking forward to seeing where the rest of this series goes!  

“Most of all, I hate you because I think of you. Often. It's disgusting, and I can't stop.” 

Five out of Five Teapots! 

Review: Roomies

Before I write this review, I just wanted to say: I'm back!  I took an unexpected hiatus (again -- whoops) to spend more time with family and deal with some personal things.  I haven't had much time to read or write anything but -- finally -- things have begun to slow down and fall into place which means I'm back!  I'm excited to start posting and reading again. 

Title: Roomies 
Series: None 
Author: Christina Lauren 
Genre: Adult, Romance, Contemporary 
Publisher: Gallery Books 
Publication Date: December 5, 2017 
Source: Bought 

Marriages of convenience are so…inconvenient.
Rescued by Calvin McLoughlin from a would-be subway attacker, Holland Bakker pays the brilliant musician back by pulling some of her errand-girl strings and getting him an audition with a big-time musical director. When the tryout goes better than even Holland could have imagined, Calvin is set for a great entry into Broadway—until he admits his student visa has expired and he’s in the country illegally.
Holland impulsively offers to wed the Irishman to keep him in New York, her growing infatuation a secret only to him. As their relationship evolves from awkward roommates to besotted lovers, Calvin becomes the darling of Broadway. In the middle of the theatrics and the acting-not-acting, what will it take for Holland and Calvin to realise that they both stopped pretending a long time ago?

Find Roomies online!

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository

Christina Lauren books tend to be hit or miss for me.  For the most part, I've enjoyed them and I'm happy to say that Roomies is another one of their books I really liked!  While it was a little slow to start for me, I thought the premise was fun and interesting -- it certainly led to a lot of entertaining and swoon-worthy tension and situations between the main characters, Holland and Calvin!

I've come to the conclusion that my favorite romance stories to read are hate-to-love stories and marriages of convenience.  In Roomies, Holland and Calvin make a deal to get married in order for Calvin to pursue his dream as a musician on Broadway.  They go pretty quickly from strangers to husband and wife in order to ensure Calvin's ability to be in the Broadway show.  I loved seeing them quickly and genuinely grow to know and like each other throughout this process -- it was so sweet seeing how they gradually learned to trust and care for each other.  Even better was when they started to realize that their friendship was quickly turning into something more.  Talk about swoon!  

Despite the familiar premise of a marriage of convenience, the overall plot was made exciting and new with the inclusion of the Broadway aspect.  I was really interested reading about the show and Calvin's passion for music.  Hearing the way Holland described Calvin's music made me wish I could hear it for myself!  It's clear he's immensely talented and he quickly becomes popular because of his talent.  The added element of Holland and Calvin having to deal with him becoming basically a celebrity was also a really interesting and fun element to read about in this story!  My only real problem with the plot was a few chapters toward the end when it felt like Holland was kinda . . . making problems that didn't necessarily need to be there.  I don't want to spoil anything so I won't say too much but her lack of communication began to frustrate me.  

This is the sort of story that just made me all sorts of happy.  It was full of so much sweetness, swoon-worthy scenes, and intense tension between the two main characters!  I couldn't resist falling for Calvin and Holland and I hope Christina Lauren's next novel is full of all the magic this one was!  

“Do you have cats?” I blink. “Cats?” “I’m allergic.” “Oh.” I frown. This is really where his brain goes first? Mine went straight to bare skin and sex sounds. “No cats.” 

Four Teapots

  

Review: An Enchantment of Ravens

Title: An Enchantment of Ravens 
Series: N/A
Author: Margaret Rogerson 
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance 
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: September 26, 2017
Source: Bought

Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized among them. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes – a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love, violating the fair folks’ ruthless Good Law. There's only one way to save both their lives, Isobel must drink from the Green Well, whose water will transform her into a fair one—at the cost of her Craft, for immortality is as stagnant as it is timeless.
Isobel has a choice: she can sacrifice her art for a future, or arm herself with paint and canvas against the ancient power of the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.

Find An Enchantment of Ravens online!

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository

I have such a thing for faeries.  They're my favorite fantasy/supernatural creature to read about (and write about).  I just find them so cool.  So when my friend brought this book to my attention, there was never a question about whether I would read it.  PLUS it's been compared to A Court of Thorns and Roses?!  Yeah, I was making serious heart-eyes at this book and I'm so happy that it lived up to my expectations!

The world building was one of my favorite aspects of this novel.  It was a high fantasy in a completely new world but all the rules made sense and connected easily.  I never found myself confused or lost when it came to the parameters of what was possible and what wasn't possible.  The lives of the humans and the faeries made sense to me, as well as how they interacted and the way their relationships worked.  It was so complex and full of details but it all worked together seamlessly.  The author clearly put in the work to make this world feel real.  I loved it.  

Isobel and Rook were amazing characters.  I couldn't get enough of their hilarious interactions, arguments, and adventures.  I was a bit worried at first because their relationship almost felt like instalove but luckily, that didn't end up happening.  Their relationship progressed really well and I had a lot of fun watching them slowly grow to get to know each other and understand each other.  Isobel was a strong and smart character.  She was easy to get behind and cheer on and she proved herself countless times.  Rook was just an adorable little cinnamon roll.  He was arrogant and cocky but he really showed his vulnerability at times.  I honestly just love this character so much.

I'm so sad that this book isn't apart of a series (at least not currently).  While the ending wrapped up nicely, there were some questions remaining that I'm desperate to get answers for.  I'd love to get another book in this world and I hope that with the success this book has achieved so far, that will happen! 

“You are like a living rose among wax flowers. We maybe last forever, but you bloom brighter and smell sweeter, and draw blood with your thorns.”

Five out of Five Teapots!

 

Review: Queen of the Tearling

Title: The Queen of the Tearling 
Series: The Queen of the Tearling #1 
Author: Erika Johansen 
Genre: Adult, Fantasy 
Publisher: Harper 
Publication Date: July 8, 2014 
Source: Bought

An untested young princess must claim her throne, learn to become a queen, and combat a malevolent sorceress in an epic battle between light and darkness in this spectacular debut—the first novel in a trilogy.
Young Kelsea Raleigh was raised in hiding after the death of her mother, Queen Elyssa, far from the intrigues of the royal Keep and in the care of two devoted servants who pledged their lives to protect her. Growing up in a cottage deep in the woods, Kelsea knows little of her kingdom's haunted past . . . or that its fate will soon rest in her hands.
Long ago, Kelsea's forefathers sailed away from a decaying world to establish a new land free of modern technology. Three hundred years later, this feudal society has divided into three fearful nations who pay duties to a fourth: the powerful Mortmesne, ruled by the cunning Red Queen. Now, on Kelsea's nineteenth birthday, the tattered remnants of the Queen's Guard—loyal soldiers who protect the throne—have appeared to escort the princess on a perilous journey to the capital to ascend to her rightful place as the new Queen of the Tearling.
Though born of royal blood and in possession of the Tear sapphire, a jewel of immense power and magic, Kelsea has never felt more uncertain of her ability to rule. But the shocking evil she discovers in the heart of her realm will precipitate an act of immense daring, throwing the entire kingdom into turmoil—and unleashing the Red Queen's vengeance. A cabal of enemies with an array of deadly weapons, from crimson-caped assassins to the darkest blood magic, plots to destroy her. But Kelsea is growing in strength and stealth, her steely resolve earning her loyal allies, including the Queen's Guard, led by the enigmatic Lazarus, and the intriguing outlaw known simply as "the Fetch."
Kelsea's quest to save her kingdom and meet her destiny has only just begun. Riddled with mysteries, betrayals, and treacherous battles, Kelsea's journey is a trial by fire that will either forge a legend . . . or destroy her.

Find The Queen of the Tearling online!

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository

I have SO MANY feelings about this book.  My friend Olivia had been telling me to read it for ages and I'd sort of been putting it off due to other books I'd planned to read.  I picked up at random when I was in Barnes & Noble and began reading it right there in the store and I just didn't.  Stop.  I read the entire 450 page book in one day.  It's the sort of book that once I picked it up, I was hooked and I couldn't put it down until I turned that last page.  

This world in which this story is set is really interesting and unique.  While this is definitely a fantasy, it's also sort of a dystopian?  It's set way in the future in what I believe is England?  I don't think it's ever outrightly stated so I could be wrong but that's the impression I got.  However, this world differs wildly from our own and has its own complex magic system.  There's a lot of layers to it and the magic is wild and dark . . . there were more than a few times while reading that the magic just freaked me out and made me uneasy.  I'm really looking forward to learning more about it in the next books!   

Kelsea is the rightful queen of the Tearling and has been kept in hiding from her kingdom for nineteen years because of dangerous forces that wish to kill her.  She's such a strong and interesting character to read about.  She was smart and well read but in so many ways she was also naive and innocent.  She'd been kept hidden for her entire life with only her two guardians to look after her.  When Kelsea makes it back to her kingdom, there's definitely a learning curve and I appreciated seeing how she sometimes questioned her decisions and was unsure of herself.  It's clear from the beginning that she's a strong leader and willing to go to extreme ends for her kingdom.  I loved that while she was a strong ruler, she was also a nineteen year old girl; she was insecure at times and sometimes embarrassed and crushed on boys.  Just a really great, well rounded character.  

There were so many amazing and three dimensional characters in this book.  Kelsea's Queen's Guard were full of men who I adored and who we got to know as Kelsea got to know them.  I love The Mace, Kelsea's leader of the Guard.  He was blunt and unamused and just wonderful.  It was great seeing the way their relationship grew and evolved the longer they were together.  There was one character, The Fetch, that I really wanted to know more about.  We didn't get to see him as much as I would have liked in this novel but I'm hoping he plays a larger role in the second and third book and that we find out more about his past. 

This book was so engaging and addicting; I honestly could not put it down and I had just an amazing time reading it.  It's not often I read adult fantasy but I've enjoyed this one so thoroughly that I may look for more similar to it to check out!  After, of course, I devour the rest of this series! 

“We don't always choose, Majesty. We simply make the best choices we can once the deed is done.” 

Five out of Five Teapots!

  

 

Review: Bad Romance

Title: Bad Romance 
Series: None
Author: Heather Demetrios
Genre: Contemporary, Romance, Young Adult
Publisher: Henry Holt & Company Inc
Publication Date: June 13, 2017
Source: Gifted.  Thank you!

Grace wants out. Out of her house, where her stepfather wields fear like a weapon and her mother makes her scrub imaginary dirt off the floors. Out of her California town, too small to contain her big city dreams. Out of her life, and into the role of Parisian artist, New York director—anything but scared and alone.
Enter Gavin: charming, talented, adored. Controlling. Dangerous. When Grace and Gavin fall in love, Grace is sure it's too good to be true. She has no idea their relationship will become a prison she's unable to escape.
Deeply affecting and unflinchingly honest, this is a story about spiraling into darkness—and emerging into the light again.

Find Bad Romance online!

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository

Wow.  Wow.  This book was . . . amazing.  It was heart-wrenching and intense and scary but so amazing and so necessary.  It honestly felt really eye opening to read.  It follows an abusive relationship between Grace and Gavin and some of the behaviors that Gavin exhibited . . . were unnervingly similar to the behaviors of a lot of fictional male characters that are very well liked in the community and have been in the past (Hello, Edward Cullen).  Also, I feel like I should warn anyone who would like to know, there are some triggering themes in this novel such as: self-harm, sexual abuse, rape, verbal and physical abuse, and suicide.  It's not a book that's read lightly but it's definitely one I'm glad to have read.

There's been a lot of talk about this book and a lot of mixed opinions, largely due to the way in which it was written.  It's an interesting POV . . . it's told in first person but the narrator, Grace, is addressing her abuser, Gavin, as "you", making it feel at times like the reader is Gavin.  (Example: "I gave you my heart on a silver f*cking platter and you ate it, piece by bloody piece." Example taken from the book.)  This writing style didn't bother me at all; in fact, I found it really compelling to read and it made the story feel more personal for me.  

Okay, so the story itself, like I said, was super intense.  It's so hard to read because the book makes you feel exactly what Grace was feeling.  When she liked Gavin, it was hard not to like him.  When she was scared of him, I was scared of him.  When she hated him, I hated him.  Demetrios just knows how to pull out emotions from her readers, and with content that is so emotionally charged already, it was hard not to get completely swept up in it.

What was the most unnerving aspect of this book (for me, at least), was how often I had seen Gavin's abusive behaviors in other young adult and even adult books.  In nearly every other book I've read, these abusive behaviors have been written about and cast in a positive and even charming light.  **Very mild spoiler ahead** The most glaring example was when Grace finds out that Gavin's been watching her sleep without her knowledge.  Sound familiar?  Yeah, Edward Cullen did that (and I'm sure other heroes I'm forgetting) and it was viewed as something sweet and romantic and not totally creepy, like it is.  It's so harmful to provide people, especially young teens, with content that glorifies these abusive behaviors and doesn't call them out for what they are.  It was so nice to see these behaviors called out in this book.   

I loved how important friendships were in this book for Grace.  Her two friends, Nat and Lys, were absolutely amazing and it was so great to see how they stuck by Grace and were always there for her, no matter what.  Reading about their friendship made me want to go hug my own friends.  They were just so awesome and it was nice to see such important female friendships highlighted in this book.  

I have much more I can say about this book but I think I'll go ahead and stop here.  Bottom line is: this book was intense and important and amazing, but also triggering.  It deals with a lot of heavy topics, so if you're going to read it, make sure you're prepared and taking care of yourself.  I'm glad I read this book and I'm happy for the impact it has made in my life. 

“When you're a stupid girl in love, it's almost impossible to see the red flags. It's so easy to pretend they're not there, to pretend everything is perfect.” 

Five out of Five Teapots

The author, Heather Demetrios, provides information on her website and in the back of this book on how to recognize the signs of abuse and how to help yourself or someone you know out of an abusive relationship.  For all the information and resources she provides, visit this page.

Phone number for the National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673) 

Phone number for the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (1-800-799-7233)