Waiting on Wednesday #134

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine which spotlights highly anticipated upcoming releases.

Title: The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein

Author: Kiersten White 

Genre: Young Adult, Retelling, Historical, Fantasy, Horror

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Publication Date: September 25, 2018

Elizabeth Lavenza hasn't had a proper meal in weeks. Her thin arms are covered with bruises from her "caregiver," and she is on the verge of being thrown into the streets . . . until she is brought to the home of Victor Frankenstein, an unsmiling, solitary boy who has everything--except a friend.
Victor is her escape from misery. Elizabeth does everything she can to make herself indispensable--and it works. She is taken in by the Frankenstein family and rewarded with a warm bed, delicious food, and dresses of the finest silk. Soon she and Victor are inseparable.
But her new life comes at a price. As the years pass, Elizabeth's survival depends on managing Victor's dangerous temper and entertaining his every whim, no matter how depraved. Behind her blue eyes and sweet smile lies the calculating heart of a girl determined to stay alive no matter the cost . . . as the world she knows is consumed by darkness. 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Why I'm waiting on The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein this Wednesday: This book sounds freaking amazing. I've always loved Frankenstein retellings and this one sounds so unique and interesting. I love that it's about Elizabeth and I really like the sound of the conflict that arises between Elizabeth and Victor -- she sounds like such a strong character already, I can't wait to meet her!

Do you like Frankenstein retellings? What are some of your favorites? My favorite one I've read is called The Dark endeavor and I've heard almost nothing about it in the book community so I'm looking forward to reading another retelling that's being hyped up before I'll have people to talk with about it! 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday? 

Top 5 Spookiest Halloween Reads!

YOU GUYS, HALLOWEEN IS HERE!!! Well, almost here.  This is seriously my favorite time of year.  It's stormy and chilly and always smells AWESOME.  Leafs are changing, pumpkins are everywhere and - perhaps best of all - things are getting spooky!  Now, there's no better way to really get into the Halloween spirit than by curling up with a huge mug of tea (or any hot beverage - pick your poison) and a scary novel.  So, to help us all get into the swing of Halloween, I figured I could share my top five spookiest reads!  

1: Anna Dressed in Blood

2: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

3: This Dark Endeavor

4: Deadly Little Secret 

5: Thorn Jack

What are some of your favorite Halloween reads? After going through this list, I've realized I don't read a whole lot of actual "horror" YA novels - I need suggestions!  Let me know your go to scary book in the comments below!

Review: The Diviners (DNF)

Title:  The Diviners
Series:  The Diviners #1
Author:  Libba Bray (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date:  September 18, 2012
Source:  Gifted

Evie O’Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City—and she is pos-i-tute-ly ecstatic. It’s 1926, and New York is filled with speakeasies, Ziegfeld girls, and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is that she has to live with her uncle Will and his unhealthy obsession with the occult.
Evie worries he’ll discover her darkest secret: a supernatural power that has only brought her trouble so far. But when the police find a murdered girl branded with a cryptic symbol and Will is called to the scene, Evie realizes her gift could help catch a serial killer.
As Evie jumps headlong into a dance with a murderer, other stories unfold in the city that never sleeps. A young man named Memphis is caught between two worlds. A chorus girl named Theta is running from her past. A student named Jericho hides a shocking secret. And unknown to all, something dark and evil has awakened.

Find The Diviners online

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads | Book Depository

Man, I was so excited going into this book. While I had never read anything by Libba Bray before, I'd heard awesome things about her works, particularly this one.  However, I found I was pretty disappointed with this book.  I had the hardest time connecting with the characters, getting interested in the plot, and finding motivation to read it.  Eventually, I had to mark this one as DNF at about half way through.  

Connecting with characters is a must for me when I read a book.  If I don't care about the characters, I find I don't care much about the story overall.  With this one, I couldn't even bring myself to like the characters, particularly Evie, out main gal.  She was just...oh my gosh, so frustrating.  From the very beginning of the book, she cared less about the people around her and more about how she was perceived.  I grew tired of her thirst for fame very quickly, especially when she began going behind some of her loved ones backs in order to achieve it.  She was a shallow, snobby girl.  I can't say whether she improved or not toward the end of the novel since I didn't finish it but I couldn't find it in me to continue reading in order to find out.  

The other characters weren't much better but I can say that I at least liked them.  However, we didn't really get to know them much, at least not in the first half of the book.  The only character I'm honestly a bit sad that I won't get to know more about is Sam.  He was the highlight of the entire book for me.  Funny, charming, and a thief, he was exactly what I like in my book boys.  And his banter with Evie when they were together was off the charts.  I loved it!

The plot had the potential to be absolutely fabulous but I found it took a little too long to get rolling.  Nothing really major or interesting happened until about 100 pages in and by that time I was already playing with the idea of marking it as DNF.  I will admit though, once things did start happening, they were really interesting and creepy.

Another problem I had with this novel was that it was just unnecessarily long.  It's 500+ pages and it could have easily been cut down to 300, I think.  There was just way too much description.  There were entire pages of just description and I just got way too bored way too quickly with it.  

I'm sad I didn't like this book.  I really wanted to but I just could not get into it.  While it wasn't all bad, there was just too many of my bookish pet peeves rolled into these pages for me to really enjoy it.

“Your mother and I do not approve of drinking. Have you not heard of the Eighteenth Amendment?” 
“Prohibition? I drink to its health whenever I can.” 

Two Teapots

Review: Famous Last Words

Title:  Famous Last Words
Series:  None
Author:  Katie Alender (Website | Twitter)
Age Group:  Young Adult
Publisher:  Point
Publication Date:  September 30, 2014
Source:  An ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

Hollywood history, mystery, murder, mayhem, and delicious romance collide in this unputdownable thriller from master storyteller Katie Alender.
Willa is freaking out. It seems like she's seeing things. Like a dead body in her swimming pool. Frantic messages on her walls. A reflection that is not her own. It's almost as if someone -- or something -- is trying to send her a message.
Meanwhile, a killer is stalking Los Angeles -- a killer who reenacts famous movie murder scenes. Could Willa's strange visions have to do with these unsolved murders? Or is she going crazy? And who can she confide in? There's Marnie, her new friend who may not be totally trustworthy. And there's Reed, who's ridiculously handsome and seems to get Willa. There's also Wyatt, who's super smart but unhealthily obsessed with the Hollywood Killer.
All Willa knows is, she has to confront the possible-ghost in her house, or she just might lose her mind . . . or her life.
Acclaimed author Katie Alender puts an unforgettable twist on this spine-chilling tale of murder, mystery, mayhem -- and the movies.

 Find Famous Last Words online

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

My Review:  This book gave me chills.  Seriously, it was so good!  I loved all of the horror and the Hollywood mystery aspects in it.  I was thoroughly creeped out for most of it but I just loved it so much, I couldn't stop.  Horror and mystery definitely aren't my favorite genres but after reading this one, I think I'm going to have to start giving more books like this one a chance

The characters in this book were great.  I really loved that they weren't classic YA stereotypes.  The main character, Willa, had her flaws but I still found myself rooting for her the whole time.  I could sympathize with her and I totally connect with the way she tried to deal with all of the spooky things happening around her and to her.  The only big problem I had with her was how she was being a bit overdramatic when dealing with Wyatt and her step father.  I felt bad for them at times when they were at the receiving end of her attitude.  But besides that, she was an easy character to read about and connect with.  Another character I really appreciated was Wyatt.  I'll admit, I wasn't getting all swoon over him but I definitely did like the way he called Willa on her lies.  He wasn't at all what I was expecting and I enjoyed trying to figure him out throughout the novel.  

The whole mystery aspect of this story was interesting though a bit predictable.  I guessed the culprit the minute they walked onto the page but kept on doubting myself as the novel moved forward.  They doubt that Katie Alender made creep up on me was thrilling.  I loved having to second guess myself and rethink all of the facts.  

Like I said before, the horror factor was what really had me flipping these pages.  I wouldn't call myself a well-versed reader of horror books so I'm not sure how it compares but, for me, Famous Last Words had me looking over my shoulder and avoiding dark hallways at night.  I honestly wouldn't even get out of bed at night for a glass of water because all I could think about was all the scary things that happened to Willa.  And I totally loved it (you know, after I got that glass of water).

Famous Last Words is a book that I would soooo recommend, especially if you are interested in reading more horror but aren't ready to jump into the really hard-core stuff.  It has a little bit of a lot of things from YA novels such cute boys, flawed (but wonderful) characters, and a plot that will keep you guessing.

“Maybe it’s human nature to be drawn to the things that have hurt us the most.” 

Three Cards

Review: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Title:  Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Series:  Between #1
Author:  April Genevieve Tucholke
Publisher:  Dial
Pages:  368
Format:  Hardcover
Source:  Bought

You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…

Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.

Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.

My Review:  Wow.  Wow.  This books was absolutely fantastic.  I really can't quite find the right words to describe it in it's entirety.  I bought it and finished it five hours later if that tells you anything.  I was just in a fog after I'd finished it, trying to regain my bearings.  I'm almost a little angry at myself for reading it right when it released because now I have forever to wait for the sequel, Between the Spark and the Burn.

The writing style was stunning.  The images it painted in my head while I read were lovely and elegant and terrifying.  I was so consumed by the words on the page that it felt as though I was watching everything unfold in a movie.  The writing just made the story so vivid.  And the way it flowed was wonderful - so lyrical and smooth.

I loved Violet.  She was a really unique character and capture my attention from the get go.  I liked seeing all the different sides of her and I liked seeing her be a little reckless. She was an engaging and captivating character that I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know.  All of her quirks and her fashion style and the way she treated those around her and how she viewed the world absolutely snagged me and made her stand out like no other character I'd ever read.  I enjoyed her character so much.

And River.  This guy gives me chills and butterflies at the same time.  He like a drug - you know it's no good for you but it's so great you continue on with it anyways.  That's how I felt when it came to him.  I liked the way I was always on edge when he was in a scene and even when he wasn't, thoughts of him were always tickling the edges of my mind.  I loved how he could be so wicked one moment and so sweet the next.  He completely captured my heart and I don't care if he's a rather terrible person.  I like him anyways.  The other characters were also amazing.  All of them were three dimensional and stood out in the story.  I especially like Neely and Jack.  Their relationships with Violet were sweet and wonderful.

The story in all had me on edge throughout.  There was an obvious darkness and danger in this world and I felt as though I was right there with the characters while reading.  Some scenes had chills running up my spine while others had me melting into a big, gooey puddle.  I liked the intense emotions this book gave me and how I could go from feeling one to another so quickly.  

Another thing I couldn't help but think in this books was that it reminded me of The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald.  It was a few very subtle things but sometimes some of the characters in this book reminded me of the characters in that one.  For example, Sunshine really reminded me of Daisy and River reminded me a lot of Gatsby.  And just some of the references and descriptions of clothes had my mind going to The Great Gatsby.  It was interesting and I loved it.  

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea has quite easily become one of my favorite books of all time.  It terrified and thrilled me all at the same time and I adored it for that.  Very rarely do you find a book that has the ability to do what this one has accomplished.  I'm very eagerly awaiting the next installment.

Five Cards