The One Where I Review THREATS OF SKY AND SEA

Threats of Sky and Sea (Threats of Sky and Sea #1)
by Jennifer Ellision
Source: Netgalley
Format: ebook
Pages: 360

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen year-old Breena Perdit has spent her life as a barmaid, innocent to her father’s past and happily free from the Elemental gifts that would condemn her to a life in the Egrian King’s army. Until the day that three Elemental soldiers recognize her father as a traitor to the throne and Bree’s father is thrown in jail—along with the secrets from his last mission as the King’s assassin. Secrets that could help the King win a war. Secrets he refuses to share.

Desperate to escape before the King’s capricious whims prove her and her father’s downfall, Bree bargains with him: information for their lives. It’s a good trade. And she has faith she’ll get them both out of the King’s grasp with time.

But that was before the discovery that she’s the weapon the King’s been waiting for in his war.

Now, time is running out. To save her father’s life and understand her own, Bree must unravel the knot of her father’s past before the King takes his life– and uses her to bring a nation to its knees.

This is one of those books that just kinda flies by under the radar waiting to be seen as the gem it is. Honestly, I don't even remember how I came upon this book, but as soon as I read summary, I knew (or hoped) it'd be something I'd enjoy. I was happy to find that it was still on Netgalley and took my chances on getting accepted and I'm so glad I did. 

This book was just all-around enjoyable. Did it still need some work? Yes. But that doesn't mean it wasn't good. I, for one, found myself eager to pick up my Kindle at every opportunity in order to finish it. 

This book follows the basic premises of most fantasy novels, yet was also refreshing.

First off, I really came to adore Breena. She's not exactly your typical heroine what with being a bar maiden and all, yet I loved her all the same. She is spirited, yet has common sense. She tends toward impulsivity, yet she catches herself, thinks things through, and realizes when to hold her tongue and when not to. Example? 

"There are times for defiance, but now is not one of them."

*taken from ARC - may change in final copy.

See?! INTELLIGENT with a healthy dose of common sense! She's been thrown into a situation that isn't exactly in her favor, yet she takes it in stride. She knows things can't always be changed and she accepts it. She tries to change what she can, but she's also understands when things are out of her control. She's simply a breath of fresh air.   

Also, another aspect not often found in books nowadays is a good relationship with parents. Sure, things aren't exactly what they seem when it comes to her dad (gotta make it interesting), but he truly cares about her and she him. They have a loving and caring relationship that adds freshness to the usual horrible/absent parenting. 

This book also has some great secondary characters found in the refreshingly sweet and calming Tregle and bristly, actually-hiding-her-true-emotions Princess Aleta. Add in a greedy, manipulative, heartless king and a too-trigger-happy Lady Katherine and you've got yourselves your villains. 

Another refreshing thing? The romance doesn't overtake the core plot of this book. Look, I'm all for romance, I just hate when characters become obsessed or do stupid things because of said love interest. I like romance, but I don't like it to be the focus. Therefore, it's always refreshing when it's there, but put on the back burner. Caden was sweet and genuine and had a thirst for knowledge. While I wasn't falling head-over-heels for him, I did see why Breena was starting to have feelings for him. 

While the idea of elementals is nothing new, I'm always intrigued by it (also, just starting Avatar so this is helping my obsession. Why haven't I started this series earlier?!). However, I will say the world-building could use some work. I believe some confusion was due to the elemental gifts (they can change the ecosystem) but it was a bit confusing. However, I was still intrigued by the various kingdoms and can't wait for the world to become even more fully fleshed out. 

Overall:

Thoroughly enjoyable. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it actually. While I do feel as if this first book skimmed the top of what this world has to offer, I was more than happy with it. Breena is a breath of fresh air. She's got the fiery attitude, but it's mixed with a healthy dose of common sense. It keeps her balanced, but she's not above rebellion. She's been thrown into a rather unfortunate situation, yet takes it in stride. This book also even threw a surprise my way! While I knew one, I certainly didn't guess the other! This book is a gem that's flown under the radar, but I'm here to make it shine ;) Read it! 

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Gilt by Katherine Longshore

Gilt (The Royal Circle #1)
by Katherine Longshore
Pages: 398
Source: Netgalley
Format: eARC


Rating: Loved it!!


Goodreads Synopsis:


In the court of King Henry VIII, nothing is free--
and love comes at the highest price of all. 

When Kitty Tylney's best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII's heart and brings Kitty to court, she's thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat's shadow, Kitty's now caught between two men--the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat's meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.


My Review: 



   Welcome to the Tudor court, the breeding ground for vicious back-stabbers and master manipulators, where secrets are the currency. Enter if you dare.


   I used to think how fun it would be to live in medieval times. Come on, every girl wants those pretty dresses and gorgeous jewels the size of an egg. Seriously, its a girls dream. And most books just add to this sense of beauty. Sure, they didn't have plumbing (ewww) or toothpaste or whatnot, but in most books, they don't focus on that so it can be forgotten. You just get the pretty dresses and court intrigue. Heck, now that I look back at other historical fictions, the court intrigue wasn't as scandalous, but more political. They show you the good stuff. And, more often than not, the MC's go against the norm and are kick-butt and all that jazz. Well, Gilt brought reality crashing back down. Medieval times sucked.


   This is the story of Catherine Howard's rise to queendom. Starting off as a lowly maid and working her way to becoming the most powerful woman in England. 






   Alright, I'm going to be as nice as I possibly can but I have never hated someone so much. But I loved to hate her. Cat is the most manipulative, self-centered, selfish, vicious, vindictive, devious and shrewd person ever. Heck, those words don't even begin to describe her. Cat started off as a maid but even within that group she was their leader. You wanted to fit in? Cat had to like you. Cat could make or break you. All she wanted was more, more and more.She was never satisfied with anything and was willing to do anything in order to get what she wanted, even be mean and vile to those she considered "friends". Heck, even in the end she still wasn't happy even though she got what she wanted. In the end, it was all about Cat. 


   Kitty, our MC, was the complete opposite. She was like a kicked puppy. She followed Cat around like her shadow and did whatever Cat said. One moment Cat would actually be nice to her, but the next she would manipulate and condemn Kitty and she just dealt with it. She was a pansy and pathetic and passive, and yet I couldn't help but care for her. She was an orphan, and Cat was the only one ever there for her. So, even though Cat can be mean and manipulative, she deals with it. She knows that in order to fit in, she has do whatever Cat says. She's the Cady Heron to Mean Girl's Regina George. 




   The thing is, going into this book, you know it's not going to have a happy ending. I mean, come on! She's one of Henry VIII wives and we all know how well it worked out for them. So, you know this is just a car wreck waiting to happen, yet for some odd reason I simply couldn't put it down. Was it because I simply loved to hate Cat? Is it all the delicious scandals? The court gossip that could make or break you? Whatever it was, I was hooked. Throughout the story I was gasping and yelling and quite frankly calling Cat many names I'm not proud of. 


    I've tried to write this review without too many spoilers because although you know how it ends, its the journey that's the adventure. This book is a stark reality to the other historical fictions out there. This book makes you realize how easily you could be destroyed back then. One word and you were ruined. It was brutal. And women were treated worst of all. 


Overall:


   I simply loved to hate Cat and I hated to love Kitty. I really would have had a hard time not punching both of them back then, but at the same time I understand why they are like they are. Women were treated like nothing and the only thing they could get back then was a rich husband, so why not get the richest of them all? And for Kitty, Cat was the only one keeping her life better than it used to be. This book has scandals and gossip and backstabbing girls. It's like a high school! And it's so addicting. This is a historical fiction with real characters and while it may not have a happy ending for all of them, it's still a story worth reading and reading about what greed and manipulation can do to you. 

All the best ♥

Mackenzie 

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Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Kill Me Softly
By Sarah Cross
Pages: 314
Source: Netgalley
Format: Ebook


Rating: I Really Liked it


Goodreads Synopsis:


Mirabelle's past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents' tragic deaths to her guardians' half-truths about why she can't return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who's a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren't pretty things, and they don't always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy tale curses of their own . . . brothers who share a dark secret. And she'll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.


My Review:


If your looking for Disney princess happily-ever-afters, then stop right now because you won't find it in this book. This book is weird, creepy, and disturbing, yet so incredibly addicting. 


A Melting Pot:


There is no shortage of characters in this book. There are many unique characters with many different traits. While I fell in love with some, there were others that I could do without.  


I had a love/hate relationship with Mira. There were some things I really enjoyed about her, like her kindness and her curiosity and her growth by the end of the novel. However, there were reasons I didn't like her, but I don't know if that is the writing, or her. For example, the book starts off with her planning on running away, yet the author tells us that she's not normally rebellious, but shows us something different. Don't tell me one thing about her but show me the opposite. Also, once she meets Felix, she goes from "little miss innocent" to questioning herself (and going kind of sleazy) around him all the time. Look, I understand he's older (btw, she's total jailbait!) but she shouldn't worry about that. If he's worth it, he'll like her for who she is, immaturity and all. What really bothered me, however ,was the fact that she kept questioning herself, even when he showed her that he cared. She also gave way to many excuses for people's actions for my taste. "Well, he did this so it means that, but it could've meant this, but then again..." and so on, so forth. Annoying! However, although some things she did annoyed me, she grows a lot throughout the novel and learns to accept things about herself and others, even if she doesn't like it and her kindness and compassion really shows through her actions. If you're looking for a kick-butt character, then she's not what your looking for. But, she'll stand up for herself and others, and she grows a lot throughout, so I say give her a chance.


I loved Blue! Okay, not at first. Honestly, the first line out of his mouth is rather creepy, but I knew he was doing it for a reason and I wanted to know why. I like mysterious characters and trying to figure out the reasons behind their actions, but what I liked about him was that he wasn't just mysterious, he was funny and sarcastic and I loved his banter with Mira. But he was also incredibly kind and selfless, and although I can't say anything else without a huge spoiler, I will say that I felt incredibly sorry for him but because of his actions I fell in love with him.


Felix...was hot. No doubt about it. Heck, I'd have a hard time not falling for him! He was sweet and kind, yet mysterious. He's seemed like genuinely sweet guy yet everyone kept saying to stay away. I wanted to know why. In the end, like Blue, I felt bad for him. He just handles it in a completely different way than Blue. 


Freddie, on the other hand, annoyed me beyond belief. Prince Charming my butt. He was pathetic and week and annoying. Look, Prince Charming is supposed to be chivalrous, I get that, but he's also got the perfect amount of man's man in him. He should know how to make a gal feel better, but also be willing to beat the crap out of the person that hurt her. That is Prince Charming. Not "I look like a kicked puppy" Freddie. 


The other characters are all unique and really portray their "fairytale" characters well. While some annoyed me, at least I understood why. 


Happily Ever After? Yeah, right:


Let me give credit to the author for doing an utterly fantastic retelling of the fairy tales. Also, I like that this isn't the fluffy, disney movie types of fairy tales. Nope, this is the classic "what is this happily ever after you speak of" kinda deal. Now, I may have never read the classic Grimm's tales, but now I don't want to. Talk about depressing! Each tale was of misery and destruction! Yet, I enjoyed the fact that she incorporated the classics in. There was a certain...beauty, in it. While she kept the darkness of the originals, she gave the characters hope. Each knew their fate, but many tried to change it. She gave the characters opportunity and choice. Also, taking a look back at the incorporation of the classics in this modern tale, many of the woes the characters faced were due to their own decisions. They didn't have to do any of that, they chose to and the author is giving these characters the chance to choose the better one if only they'll take it. Is it easy? Probably not. But, I firmly believe their are always choices. Some just make different choices and handle things differently. 


What really kept me interested were the questions burning in my mind from the very first page. My thirst for answers was insatiable! And with these questions came a few twists I didn't see! I was shocked! And loved it! 




Overall:


This book is dark and depressing, but also beautiful with the characters learning to rule their own lives. Its a treasure to see how the characters react to their situations. When you know your fate is pre-determined, would you fight it or accept it? While I was iffy on some characters, the plot and the many burning questions that entailed were more than enough to keep me interested. 

All the best ♥

Mackenzie

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Goddess Interrupted by Aimee Carter

Goddess Interrupted (the Goddess Test #2)
by Aimee Carter
Release date: March 27, 2012
Source: Netgalley
Format: e-book


Rating: I liked it/It was alright


Goodreads Synopsis:
Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone


My Review:


I have to say, I did not enjoy this book as much as its predecessor. 


Kate....Oh, Kate. One thing I loved about you was your heart and your selfless and admirable qualities. How I found you lacking those. Instead, you whined and complained and gave the ultimatum more times than I could count. I understand you love Henry and want to be with him, but the guy was in love with his old wife for one thousand years....that's not something you get over easily. Sorry hon, but I think its gonna take a little more than a few months for him to get over it. Quit giving him the ultimatum, quit putting your own selfish desires before everyone else's and give him a chance. One redeeming quality? At least you recognized it when you were acting selfishly. However, thats kind of a moot point when you don't do anything about it. The only point when you actually did do something? When you already ruined everything. Good job. Don't worry, I still think your awesome. I'm still rooting for you. And at the end, I was incredibly happy for you (you know, until the very end. read it to find out). 


Henry...you poor thing you. I feel for you, I really do. But eventually you are going to have to get over it.  Wanna know an awesome saying? Life moves on! However, at least I understand why you are standoffish. And, I'm alright with that. Let Kate help you! You can do it!


Alright, now that I've reprimanded the characters, time to move onto the plot. 


Meh.....total love/hate relationship going on. This plot really could've gone somewhere! I think it was a nice turn of events. However....it felt very anti-climatic. All of a sudden your like "yeah! something's gonna happen! woot!" and then....its done. I don't really quite know how to explain it. The plot was extremely interesting its just that when it came time for something awesome to happen, it didn't. Also, for some weird reason, this kind of feels like a filler book to me. I know that the plot actually contributes to the series as a whole, but I guess since it felt anti-climatic is why I feel as if this was a filler. I feel as if this book could have been more fleshed out and not so heavily focused on Kate and her complaining. Until the end. The end is where it got really interesting. And that bring me to.....


YOU CAN'T END A BOOK LIKE THAT! o_O Mind is blown. Seriously, WHAT?!? I'll give you credit Aimee Carter, you now have someone who will get the next book by whatever means necessary. 


Overall, I enjoyed the plot but I think it could have been more fleshed out. I think that if the book focused more on the plot instead of Kate's complaining, this could've been much more interesting. However, I will still continue. I'm invested enough to want to know what happens (and that cliffhanger really helps). I believe those who absolutely fell in love with the first book won't be disappointed by this next book. For those who are skeptics? I think you should still give it a chance. Although this may feel like a filler, I can tell the next book will be very interesting. 

All the best ♥

Part of my 2012 Mythology Challenge

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Cross My Heart by Sasha Gould

Cross My Heart
by Sasha Gould
Pages: 262
Release Date: March 13, 2012
Source: Netgalley
Format: Ebook


Rating: I liked it


Goodreads Synopsis: 
When 16-year-old Laura della Scala learns that her older sister, Beatrice, has drowned, she is given no time to grieve. Instead, Laura's father removes her from the convent where he forcibly sent her years earlier and orders her to marry Beatrice's fiancé, a repulsive old merchant named Vincenzo. Panicked, Laura betrays a powerful man to earn her way into the Segreta, a shadowy society of women who deal in only one currency—secrets. The Segreta seems like the answer to Laura's prayers. The day after she joins their ranks, Vincenzo is publicly humiliated and conveniently exiled. Soon, however, Laura begins to suspect that her sister's death was not a tragic accident but a cold-blooded murder—one that might involve the Segreta and the women she has come to trust.


My Review:

In a city of secrets, what is yours worth?

     
That is the sentence that first drew me to this book. Secrets? Maybe its the gossip lover in me, but that sounds fascinating. 


Cover Love:


I am totally loving the cover. It gorgeous and fits the book perfectly! The mask of Venice, the sinister smoke, its just beautiful. 

Beauty Abounds:

One aspect of this book that really drew me in was the author’s beautiful and enticing descriptions. It has been a while since I’ve been to Venice, but her language brought all of those images back to me. Venice truly is a beautiful city and I can only imagine how beautiful it must have been then with all the masquerade balls and glittering dresses. 

Not much character love:

I liked Laura well enough, but she wasn’t memorable. As I’m writing this, I don’t even really remember much of her personality! Don’t get me wrong, I liked her, just wasn’t saying “Go Laura!” throughout the book. I guess indifferent is a good word to describe my feelings towards her.

But I did like Giacomo. He’s not seen very much throughout the book but Laura’s descriptions of him made me swoon a bit. It wasn't so much he himself that made him intriguing, but how Laura describes him. And he’s Italian…so he’s automatically pretty hot. However, as with Laura, I can’t remember his personality too much except that he was kind and always had humor in his eyes. Now, grant it, I am writing this review almost 2 weeks after I read it, but most books can still resonate with me that long afterwards.

Engaging Plot:

While I was indifferent to the main character, the plot was very intriguing. With the death of her sister, she will now be set to marry her sister’s fiancée, someone she doesn’t love. In order to get out of the marriage she meets with a secret society of women, the Segreta, who help her in situation. However, there is always a price to be paid.

I love secret societies. If the description mentions it, I’m almost guaranteed to give it a shot. And this one was interesting. I like that it was a way of female empowerment. While men may lead the society of Venice on the outside, the women truly lead it behind the scenes. Their secrets and gossiping ways are what rule this society. Make the wrong person mad and your status plummets. Scandalous, isn’t it? I love scandal ;)

Well…I wasn’t expecting that:

While the plot was still interesting, I wasn’t….in love with it. Yes, it kept me interested and I wanted to know what happened I just wasn’t “OMG WHATS GONNA HAPPEN?!?!”. This plot had a more subdued feel to it. However, at the end was when I was like “What?!”. I'll be honest, I didn't really know who was the "villain" here. However, the "villain" was not even someone that was on my list of possibilities! And because of this twist, I ended up enjoying it a lot more. I must say that I was indeed shocked! Also, the whole thing with Giacomo surprised me to! I love when a book has twists or shocking reveals. 

Overall:

Cross My Heart is a beautifully written story that takes place in the heart of Venice. The descriptive writing ensnares you in its beauty and culture. While I didn’t fall in love with the characters, it was the twists in the story that really drew my attention.

People that will enjoy it:

Those that like a more subdued feel to a book, light historical fiction (as in not a ton a scandal or intrigue, just some), and beautiful writing language. 

All the best,

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Katana by Cole Gibsen

Katana 
by Cole Gibsen
Release Date: March 8, 2012
Pages: 384
Source: Netgalley
Format: Ebook
Rating: I really liked it! 


Goodreads Snyopsis: 
Rileigh Martin would love to believe that adrenaline had given her the uncanny courage and strength to fend off three muggers. But it doesn't explain her dreams of 15th-century Japan, the incredible fighting skills she suddenly possesses, or the strange voice giving her battle tips and danger warnings.

While worrying that she's going crazy (always a reputation ruiner), Rileigh gets a visit from Kim, a handsome martial arts instructor, who tells Rileigh she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior.

Relentlessly attacked by ninjas, Rileigh has no choice but to master the katana--a deadly Japanese sword that's also the key to her past. As the spirit grows stronger and her feelings for Kim intensify, Rileigh is torn between continuing as the girl she's always been and embracing the warrior inside her.


My Review: (its been a while since I've read it so hopefully I cover everything!)
Samurais, hot guys, and plenty of action. What more could you ask for?!


To be honest, I wasn't quite sure what I'd think about it. But when I read the synopsis and heard the words "she's harboring the spirit of a five-hundred-year-old samurai warrior" I just knew I had to give it a chance and I wasn't disappointed!


Welcome Rileigh, your normal skater girl outcast. There is no shortage of snarkiness and smartbutt remarks from her, something that for me definitely makes the story interesting. She's headstrong and stubborn and can kick-butt. Literally (awesome huh?!). This book actually turned out to be very funny and that all has to do with Riliegh and her friend Quentin. Honestly, I loved him. He was freakin hilarious! I'd love to have a friend like that!! He never ceases to lighten the mood :)


And Kim....I actually ended up really liking him! Strong and hardened yet calm and protective. He really cares about his friends. Not to mention he's a samurai! Which is totally hot in and of itself ;) The rest of the secondary characters were interesting, but not all were fleshed out as much as I would have liked. 


I really liked the story and loved the inclusion of the backstory. It gives you an idea of her previous life without going into too much detail. Also, I really liked the story behind the reincarnation. It was fleshed out and you are given an answer for everything (so far as I remember).


However, although I liked the story and the characters overall, there were a few things that bugged me. One, Rileigh took a bit to long to come around for my taste. Also, I knew who the bad guy was pretty quickly (but it didn't bother me too much). Third, A few of the secondary characters weren't fleshed out as much as I like. And finally, while I really liked his explanations of the reincarnation processs it was also...weird. I mean, he was a guy in a past life and he's (she's?) now a girl? Wait...WHAT!??! However, I let that go to the back of my head instead of letting myself focus on it.


Overall, I really enjoyed it. There is no shortage of snarkiness and action. While I did have a few issues, I ended up really enjoying it! I encourage those who like action, reincarnation, and humor with a good dose of romance to read this. 


All the best,

Part of my Debut Author Challenge

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Pure (Pure #1) by Julianna Baggott

Pure (Pure #1)
by Julianna Baggott
Release Date: February 8, 2012
Pages: 448
Source: Netgalley
Format: e-book
★★★★★ 


Goodreads Synopsis: 
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet, she thinks about what is lost--how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies.


My Review: 

Wow…….that was not what I was expecting. And that’s not a bad thing.

Pure is dark. Its raw and dangerous and twisted. This has got to the one of the darkest dystopians I’ve ever read. Most other dystopian books at least have a bit of fluff, but not Pure. Its nothing but death, destruction and carnage and I loved it. Though I warn you now, if you can’t handle that stuff, do not read it. You have been warned.

 Pure takes place after a bomb, also called the Detonation, is set off in America. This harmed everyone in some way, except for those that made it to the Dome before the Detonations. This book takes place between two main POVs. There is that of Pressia who was outside the Dome, and Partridge who was inside the dome.

Those outside the dome are called wretches, someone who was fused with something because of the detonations. Yes, you read right: fused. These detonations, if they didn’t kill you, caused you to fuse with whatever you were touching at the time, whether it be an animal or a toy or even a stone. It was absolute destruction. There were even those that fused with the earth, called Dusts. However, those that were inside the Dome came away unscathed.

  What I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that it really digs into human nature. This book is a story of survival and what people are willing to do in order to live. Each character reacted to the Detonations differently. You have Pressia who is resigned to what happens and tries to see the beauty even in the destruction. Although she lost so much, she doesn’t become a savage. She does whatever it takes to take care of her grandpa. Then there is Bradwell who is a conspiracy theorist who believes that it is easier to survive when alone. However, he is incredibly intelligent, strong, tough and may just prove to be right. You have Partridge who was fed lies in the dome. Who loves his mother so much that he decides to do anything he can to find his mother who didn’t make it to the dome. El Capitan who has to carry the weight of this brother. Who is resigned and goes with the group that seems to be winning.

    Each of these characters reacts in their own way. This book really takes “survival to the fittest” to a whole new level. Its shows such a stark reality that really makes you think. We’d all like to think that we’d still be ourselves if such a thing happened but would we? Morals and values tend to disappear when your fighting for you life. People are willing to do whatever it takes to survive. Only the strong remain.  

  However, it wasn’t only the characters that were interesting, but the story itself. I can’t say to much without giving stuff away but I will say that there are parts that will shock you and there are twists. It also shows that people can be plain awful. Actually that doesn’t even do the villain justice. He’s crazy, sick, twisted, desperate…I just had a hard time believing someone could do that.

However, although I loved this book, there were a few things that bugged me.

1. where exactly did the bomb go off? I’m assuming somewhere in the middle of the US because if they were at the center, it would have disintegrated them. However, since they still lived but were still fused, I assume they were on the edge of the bombs radius.

2. Pressia, actually all of them, are rather smart for having hardly any education. The detonations happened when they were all in elementary.

3. What about the other countries? I assume they know what happened but have they sent no help? Is there any communication? Or are they part of it? I'd just like to know a bit about how the rest of the world, specifically our allies, reacted. 

4. a few other inconsitancies but nothing drastic (and at this moment I can’t think of any specifics so they must not have bothered me to much!)

However, although there are some things that bugged me, the rawness and starkness completely blew my mind making me forget about these small things. 

Pure is dark, twisted, and depressing. But it is also a story of hope. It is a story of human survival. It is both twisted and beautiful, a lethal combination. If you can handle dark stories, this is a must-read. 

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Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One) by Victoria Foyt

Revealing Eden (Save the Pearls Part One)
by Victoria Foyt
Release date: January 10, 2012
Pages: 307
Format: ebook
Source: netgalley
★★



Goodreads Synopsis:
Eden Newman must mate before her 18th birthday in six months or she'll be left outside to die in a burning world. But who will pick up her mate-option when she's cursed with white skin and a tragically low mate-rate of 15%? In a post-apocalyptic, totalitarian, underground world where class and beauty are defined by resistance to an overheated environment, Eden's coloring brands her as a member of the lowest class, a weak and ugly Pearl. If only she can mate with a dark-skinned Coal from the ruling class, she'll be safe. Just maybe one Coal sees the Real Eden and will be her salvation her co-worker Jamal has begun secretly dating her. But when Eden unwittingly compromises her father's secret biological experiment, she finds herself in the eye of a storm and thrown into the last area of rainforest, a strange and dangerous land. Eden must fight to save her father, who may be humanity's last hope, while standing up to a powerful beast-man she believes is her enemy, despite her overwhelming attraction. Eden must change to survive but only if she can redefine her ideas of beauty and of love, along with a little help from her "adopted aunt" Emily Dickinson.


My Review: 

Well that was…different. Though I’m not quite sure whether that is good or bad.

The Good:

  I really enjoyed the premise of this story. The synopsis is what initially drew me in. Though this story is much different than what I was expecting. For some reason, I was thinking it would be more like Tarzan. But its nothing like that.

 

  In this world, everyone has moved underground because the suns radiation is so bad. “Why” the radiation became so bad is never explained, it just is. Because of this, white people, who are more susceptible to the harmful rays, are now at the bottom of the social structure. Personally, I liked this reversal. However, I know for a fact that I would hate to live there. I’m ridiculously pale so I’d be screwed!!

  I also liked the beast. Not only he himself, but the idea of him. Again, I was thinking Tarzan so I was interested to see how he and Eden would interact. This had to be the part I was most interested in. I was both satisfied and dissatisfied when it came to this. Some parts where they were together were pretty steamy, but some were just awkward.

The Bad:

 The world building really bugged me at the beginning. The second half she did a great job of describing the jungle, but the part of her imagined world she didn’t execute very well. Yes, I get there are caves and that they live underground but not much else. When it comes to world-building, I’d rather have to many details than to little. In this case,  it was the latter.

Also, I thought the entire world went underground. No. While I understand her world, what happened to the rest of the world? Did all of them go underground? Did the rest die off? Or did they survive above ground?

Also, the action scenes lacked direction and detail. I was confused through many action parts, especially when she's actually in the process of leaving for the outside world. That whole part was well…confusing! When I read, I like to see it in my head. Therefore, I need details and direction. This book lacked that leaving me dazed and confused. I had to rely on the dialogue to get me through.

Eden also bugged me. I felt bad for her because of all the prejudice she faced, but there were plenty of times where she acted just plain idiotic. I often wanted to just smack some sense into her!! There were way to many times, especially when it came to the romance, that she would realize something, would almost act on it, then do something stupid, and return to where she was before she came to the realization. So…pretty much her epiphany was pointless. It really really really irritated me! There were plenty of times that she acted selfishly. Though she does redeem herself at the end, but it took waaayyyyy to long.

Another bad thing about the lack of descriptions was the fact that I could not picture what the beast man looked like. I need details!! That may be me, but, again, I like to picture what I read. I like to make a movie in my head! Yes, I love a good story and good characters, but when I don’t understand what they are doing, then I’m just sitting there confused. I don’t like being confused. At first I though he looked like an Egyptian god. Ya know, body of a human and head of a jaguar. But from the descriptions….I don’t know, I just couldn’t picture it. While she described it, I just couldn’t wrap my mind round it.

Overall, while I found the premise interesting, I felt the execution lacking. For me, I was just to confused due to way to few details. Although there is another book, I’m not exactly begging for it. However, I encourage you to give it a try. While this book may not have been for me, if you find the premise interesting and aren’t bothered by lack of details, then you might enjoy it! 

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