Lisa the Nerd

This is the third book in the Iron Fey series. You can read my review for them here and here. Spoilers for the first two books will abound. You've been warned.In a sentence or so: Meghan must prove she is the ultimate bridge between faery and mortal, Summer and Iron, the old and the new. She's up for the task...but at what cost?Meghan Chase is all stoked to go back home with her sexy faery prince boyfriend and live a normal life again. And then she remembers that SHE CAN'T BE NORMAL ANYMORE. Well, she doesn't remember so much as it is thrown all up in her pretty little face. As soon as she heads home she's ambushed by the Iron King. She knows she'll never be free of them unless she ends it once and for all.Obviously, ending this war between the Fae is not going to be easy. In fact, it may even be lethal. Meghan would rather risk her life than to risk the lives of those she loves. She'll have the help of Puck and Ash (obvs!) but really this is about her. This is about Meghan owning who she is and what her role in all of this is supposed to be. When it comes down to it, will she have the strength to fight for what she believes in? And more importantly, will she have the strength to let go?You guys, I just love Meghan Chase. She is smart, courageous, caring, thoughtful, badass and empowering. Yeah, she gets scared - but she deals with it. She reminds those around her of how important they are, how important the world is, and that everyone has a responsibility to save humanity.By this point, the love triangle is dead (PHEW) and we focus mostly on Meghan and her badassery and the war between the Iron and the Summer/Winter courts. I love me some battle scenes, and this did not disappoint. We continue to learn more about the faery lore - which is fantastic - while spending time with some truly loved characters. It just doesn't get much better than that.I read this book in a day. Yes. One day. Two sittings...but one day. The story is compelling and you know the characters so you are thrilled to be spending time with them. I felt totally absorbed in the story and didn't want to leave it when it was done. Is there higher praise then wanting to stay within the pages of the book forever? Methinks not.Fave Quote: "She nodded slowly. 'Like it or not, dove, you've become a major player in this war. You're balanced on the edge of everything - faery and mortal, Summer and Iron, the old ways and the march of progress. Which way will you fall? Which side will you choose?" (62)Fix er up: Bahahahahahahaha! NOPE.

In a sentence or so: A boy's parents are killed when he is just a tot. He grows up in a graveyard with a fantastical destiny he could never have imagined.After the boy's parents are killed by a man named Jack, he toddles over to the graveyard. The ghosts agree to take him in (though some quite reluctantly) and raise him as best they can. The caregiver agrees to help with the food and the clothes and the ghosts agree to help with the education and safety of the young boy. They think the best way to truly keep him safe is to keep him as low key as possible. And just like that, Nobody Owens has found a home.Bod grows up in the graveyard, but he always yearns for something more. He wants a normal life and he can't figure out why Silas, his protector, and the ghosts are worried about people finding out about him. Bod learns some sweet ghost moves like fading and haunting dreams, but he continues to long for a traditional human experience.We slowly discover who the man named Jack is, what he was doing in Bod's house that night, and how Bod fits into the grand scheme of things. Bod's life in the graveyard is bizarre and somewhat spooky, but he is also taught things and nurtured in a way that will prove incredibly useful in his not too distant and very important future.I loved the dark fantasy elements of The Graveyard Book. Bod fell a little flat for me sometimes, but the subtle incorporation of magical/fantastical plot points firmly held my interest. This is one of those books that has layer upon layer of meaning, so you can take it where you're at. I like that a lot.The Graveyard Book takes on some Big Life Questions. Who is our family? What does it mean to be alive? What is my purpose? Who am I meant to be? We see the answers for Bod and we are left pondering what it means for ourselves as the reader.While this didn't live up to the crazy amount of hype for me, The Graveyard Book is still a solid read with a unique story and some dark twists that will keep you interested. It is worth the read if just for the hours/days/weeks of self-reflection that come as a result.Fave quote: "You're alive, Bod. That means you have infinite potential. You can do anything, make anything, dream anything. If you change the world, the world will change." (179)Fix er up: A more compelling main character would have helped me connect with this book on a deeper level.Title: The Graveyard BookAuthor: Neil GaimanGenre: Death, Fantasy, Paranormal, Coming-of-AgePublishing Info: 2008, HarperCollins

In a sentence or so: Meghan Chase isn't done kicking ass and taking names when it comes to the Iron Fey, the Unseelie Court, and life in general. The world needs her help and she is ready and willing to do what it takes to protect all of the Fey and the mortals she loves.When we left off in The Iron King, Meghan was en route to the Winter court with Prince Ash. To no one's surprise, she was greeted with a chilly reception. Until Queen Mab can decide what to do with her, Meghan remains a 'guest' of the winter court. Which wouldn't be so bad really if Prince Ash would so much as look at her. I mean really - she SAVED his ass, at least give her the time of day. No? Okay then.Of course, shit hits the fan and only a select few know the truth about what's going down. Queen Mab thinks that the Summer Court is behind the latest drama and decides to start a war. She won't hear anything from Meghan or Prince Ash to convince her otherwise. After a few more twists and turns and shocking revelations, Meghan is on the run to save the Fey from destroying themselves and protect the Nevernever from the Iron Fey - AGAIN. Seriously, what is with those clowns trying to take over all of the things?!It is no secret that I adored The Iron King. I was pleasantly surprised, despite the cliches of a love triangle and a girl who is powerful and hot and doesn't know it. I owe that love to Julie Kagawa's writing and fantastic character development and dedication to Fey lore. She did not disappoint in this installment either!In The Iron Daughter, we continue to see Meghan grow and recognize her power. We see hints and whispers of what she is to become, and I cannot WAIT to see her fully develop into the badass she is meant to be. We meet new characters that are full of awesome and get to hang out with some of our old faves (LOVE YOU GRIM).Ultimately, The Iron Daughter balanced character development and plot advancement perfectly. The read was absolutely addicting and fulfilling. I get why people are head over heels for this series! I count myself among them.The action, the swoon, the surprising plot twists, the goodness and badassery of Meghan Chase, and the unique voices of the secondary characters kept me hooked. I've already started reading The Iron Queen. Yeah, for serious.Fave quote: "You called Them, caith sith?""They owed me a favor," Grimalkin purred, as Puck glanced nervously at the sky. "We do not have the time to locate a trod, and this is the fastest way to travel from here. Deal with it." (311)Fix er up: Did you read this fangirlishness? Do you think I have anything I'd like to fix up? NOPE. Unless you count more Grimalkin as a fix er up. But really, I could read volumes about that cat and love every second of it.

In a sentence or so: Yeats must save a childhood friend of his father who is trapped inside of a classic story before she gets stuck there forever.Things haven't been great between Yeats's parents. His mother tries to be patient with his father's moods and the family frequently moves to try and help the situation. Nothing is working. Yeats knows, even as a pre-teen, that his parents are headed for a split. He just wishes there was something, ANYTHING, he could do to break his father's gloom once and for all.Yeats and fam arrive at his Gran's house as a last ditch effort to save their family. The house seems an odd choice, however, given that the whole place has a creepy vibe and is home to an ageless cat named Odysseus. Upon investigating his surroundings, Yeats discovers the core of his father's sadness is within the pages of a book and finds there just might be a way he can set things right for everyone. He will have to be brave, he will have to be clever, and he will have to survive by entering a The Arabian Nights and saving a girl all by himself.Between Two Ends by David Ward is one of those reads that gives many nods to other classic works of literature. I loved that! Grandma makes reference to The Hobbit, Yeats is named after a poet so of course we get all sorts of poetry dropped on us, and the brave adventure Yeats must undertake is to save a girl from within the pages of The Arabian Nights. All of the literature shout-outs definitely made my bookish heart go pitter-pat!I will always and forever have a soft spot for middle grade books. There is something that is unabashedly hopeful and whimsical and fun about them that I can't resist. Between Two Ends is no different! Sure, we all know how it ends. But it is the journey that we want anyway! We want to see how it is Yeats saves the girl, how he remains brave in a foreign land all by himself, and we want to see the love and commitment for his family in his heart.For a light middle grade fantasy with literary shout outs and a shot of silly characters to keep you entertained, read Between Two Ends by David Ward.Fave quote: "A plan?" Mr. Sutcliff raised an eyebrow. "Well, we are in a story. Something will present itself. Have you forgotten? We will have action. There is no story unless things happen." (217-218)Fix er up: I worry about the message that Yeats is able to cure his father's depression and that it minimizes the disease. I don't think that's what the author is trying to do, but I could definitely see that message being portrayed anyway.

In a sentence or so: Will Henry and the Monstrumologist he apprentices under have to save their small 1800s town from a pack of monsters with a serious desire for human flesh.Will Henry is an orphan. His parents died in a fire and the doctor who employed his father takes him under his wing. The thing is, the doctor isn't an ordinary doctor. OH NO. He studies monsters for a living. Which means Will Henry sees and hears and learns many absurd and surreal and downright frightening things from time to time. His greatest horror unfolds when a grave robber brings the body of a girl who is wrapped up with a monster. Now Will Henry and the doctor must identify the monster, figure out how it came to live here, how many more there are and how to kill them. And, you know, make sure no more innocent people die in the process.This Monstrumologist is dark. Like, crazy dark...and I loved it. I was hoping it didn't take the subject matter to a slapstick absurdity, and it did not disappoint. The monsters are described in vivid detail, the circumstances of Will Henry's life are completely and utterly depressing, and even the doctor is a character riddled with flaws and a damaged past.The complexities of characters and the mysterious and supernatural plot made for an excellent read. Slowly we find out more about what the monsters are, how they got there, and continue to worry about how in the world Will Henry and the doctor are going to take care of the problem!I was scared, excited, hopeful, anxious, and enthralled from cover to cover. The characters pulled at my heartstrings while the mystery kept me biting my nails. I can't wait to see where the rest of The Monstrumologist series takes me!Fave quotes:"These are the secrets I have kept. This is the trust I never betrayed." (pg 1. Opening like, y'all!)"There are indeed more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophy, but those things were, like the Anthropophagi, quite physical, entirely natural, capable of fulfilling our curious and baffling need for a marauding horror of malicious intent, thank you very much." (pg 121)Fix er up: This isn't a turn off for me, but it may be for some. The book is pretty lengthy. Like, 450 pages in a paperback form lengthy. You've been warned. But also, it's totally worth it.

In a sentence or so: Callilope goes bananas and decides to let Cronus out of his holding cell. Humanity's existence is threatened and it's up to the gods - and newly appointed Queen of the Underworld Kate - to stop them.We left off in The Goddess Test with Kate successfully completing the tests and going on a Greek getaway with James before heading down under to reign with Henry for 6 months out of the year. She returns to the underworld and to her husband Henry (Hades) and expects to get swept away in his arms and showered with his kisses. She's wrong. Instead, Henry is distant and preoccupied with the world coming to an end and doesn't seem to be giving Kate any attention at all. What's the deal?Aside from her marriage woes, there are some serious issues going down under the surface. Callilope is crazy as ever and decides if she can't be happy - NO ONE will be happy - and decides to really shake things up by releasing Cronus from his captivity. Cronus is a titan and one of the few that can harm the gods and destroy humanity with the flick of his wrist. To say everyone is scared to death is kind of an understatement.Kate decides to risk it all to save the world and hopes beyond hope that things will work out with her and Henry in the end. She'll have to form alliances with some undesirable characters in order to make it happen...but will it be enough?Dudes - I LOVE GREEK MYTHOLOGY. A whole helluva lot. If you haven't read my review of The Goddess Test in seven deadly sin form, I highly suggest you give it a peek before reading onward with this review. It will make some things a bit more clear.My undying love for Greek Mythology is just about the only thing that kept me reading Goddess Interrupted. I had high hopes because the plot was stellar and titans vs. olympians is just the best. Unfortunately, a bulk of the book was dedicated to Kate whining and sobbing and otherwise being lame with her relationship with Henry. I am not exaggerating when I say at least - AT LEAST - half of the plot in Goddess Interrupted is centered around her woe that Henry loves Persephone more. For real.On the plus side, the whole Cronus getting loose thing was awesome and I loved reading about the brothers and sisters and the alliances and the planning etc. Be warned that the book ends with a massive cliffhanger and a crazy twist to keep readers intrigued for book three.I wanted to love Goddess Interrupted. I really did. It would have been possible if not for the ridiculousness of Kate and her whining and her hiccuping sobs. She hiccup sobs more than anyone has the right to, ever. She also shows crazy bouts of courage, so I'm not sure how those two balance out...but there you have it.If you're a Greek Mythology junkie or if you've read The Goddess Test, I'd certainly recommend this your way. If you're looking for a heroine you can get behind and support and cheer on...I'm not sure you'll find it with Kate. At least, not in this installment.Fave quote: "Another thing I wasn't crazy about hearing: how powerful the goddess who wanted me dead happened to be." (644 of 3030 on Kindle)Fix er up: Super disappointed that so much of the plot centered around Kate feeling inadequate. It spoiled her as a character for me.

In a sentence or so: The world is broken and divided after the detonations. Two teens from opposite sides of the conflict find themselves reluctantly relying on each other to change the future.The detonations divided the people into the Pure and the fused. Either you were inside the dome and are living a perfectly controlled life, or you’re scarred and broken and mutated with pieces of whatever you were holding – or wherever you were – permanently fused to you. Partridge was inside the dome. He’s not mutilated but he does have some serious emotional baggage. His dad was the one responsible for the whole detonation, his mother died in the detonations, and his brother died by suicide inside the dome. After a slip of the tongue from his father, Patridge thinks his mother might not be dead after all and decides to risk life outside the dome. Pressia was outside the dome. She lives with her grandpa in an old barber shop where he repairs people the best he can and she trades her wire creatures for what they need to survive. She’s desperate to have memories of her parents, yet the ones her grandpa gives her don’t resonate for her. Why can’t she remember her life before the detonations? Holy world building, Batman! Julianna Baggott creates a world filled with incredible detail, backstory, mystery, and conspiracy theories. Each of her characters had a unique history and specific purpose within the plot. Watching the characters come together throughout the read provided lots of twists and turns while also adding depth. Ultimately, Pure by Julianna Baggott is a dystopian meets science-fiction with incredible depth and detail. The plot is always moving forward, even if you’re not always sure where you’re heading. Julianna Baggott doesn’t shy away from the horrors of war and what I imagine a dystopian society would include, which was spooky and refreshing. Lots of groundwork takes place in this one which means lots of action should follow in the series!Fave quote: "Partridge isn't so sure - to be in a cage or set loose into this world? This is a question that he should be able to answer." (Pg. 213)Fix er up: While I enjoyed Pure, I did have some issues with the read. The chapters started with a character and a title. I assumed that the character would be the one narrating, but that was not always the case. Sometimes we would get the inner thoughts of the character and sometimes we wouldn’t. It was almost like the chapter was centered around that character…but not quite.

(Kiss of Life is the second book in the Generation Dead series. There will be some spoilers for book one)In a sentence or so: Tensions are heating up to dangerous levels between the traditionally biotic (the living) and the differently biotic (the zombies).Adam sacrificed himself to save Phoebe at the differently biotic (db) and returned almost immediately after dying. Despite his quick return to the land of the living, his return to a normal way of life has not been so quick. He can barely talk, move, or function – no matter how much time Phoebe spends with him. Phoebe wants Adam to return to as close of a version to his old self as possible and spends as much time as she can getting him to recover. Nothing seems to be working, however, and she feels as if she’s failing him. She knows he’s trying, but something is holding him back. Although she spends most of her waking time with Adam, she can’t help but feel Tommy creeping back into her thoughts.Without Tommy there to rein them in, some of the other db kids in town start to unravel and get out of control. Between veiled threats against Phoebe and eating the neighborhood cats, the db are really widening the divide between the living and the dead.Phoebe is faced with devoting her time to Adam’s recovery or taking on the db focused blog left behind by her ex-boyfriend Tommy. Both are incredibly important to her…but which will win out as the most important? Can she help Adam make a full recovery? Can she shoulder the responsibility left behind by Tommy? Can she reconcile her feelings for both db boys?I really enjoyed Generation Dead and had high hopes for Kiss of Life. I was let down. Even after 200 pages into the book I was so bored I could barely make myself read onward to find out what happened next. I don’t know if this was a case of too many characters so the plot was spread too thin or if it is a case of middle book syndrome that essentially strings us along to a dramatic conclusion of the series. Regardless, I wanted so much to like this but I was too bored to enjoy any of it. I get that the author was posing some good questions about acceptance and discovering yourself and equality – but certainly that could have been done within a plot that moved along and held my interest.If you’re looking for a fresh take on the zombie scene, this series may be for you. It presents the whole zombie issue in fresh light which I do enjoy. There were many peeps who enjoyed the book, if you’re looking for an alternate view.Paranormal WastelandsThe Book SmugglersBitten by BooksSophistikatied ReviewsFave quote: "Speaking with the dead was always disconcerting, but speaking with Karen DeSonne was positively otherworldly." (pg 17)Fix er up: Oh, I think you get it. I won’t rehash here.

In a sentence or so: An unlikely trio of teenagers across history must join forces, despite the hundreds of years between them, to save a kingdom from destruction and psychological warfare.Tess is a princess who is just learning to hone in her ability to receive psychic messages. This isn't an ability unique to Tess, but rather one that many people in that kingdom possess. Most use that power for good. There are others who have sharpened that ability to a razor sharp tool, ready for destruction.Clay and John begin having strange and recurring dreams. They are in the library of a castle and move around like ghosts, but can talk and interact with each other. Their purpose is revealed and they are faced with saving a time and place that is not their own. Despite John being from the 1800s and John being from the 21st century, they must help Tess if they are to stop those whom need to be stopped.I liked the premise of this book a whole heckuva lot. I also really dug on the whole esp thing. It reminded me of A Kid in King Arthur's Court meets Graceling/Fire. Each of the characters had a unique voice and were completely invested in defeating the bad guys.Unfortunately, this book lacked a certain spark for me. All of the pieces were there, but it just didn't click. The writing was good, the characters were solid, and the plot was unique. I'd definitely be interested in reading books by this author in the future as I have hope that the other titles will be fun to read as well, and will hold out for that special something that makes my bookish heart swell.I have read a couple other reviews that lurved the book, so keep that in mind.Melanie's Book AddictionMy Guilty ObsessionFave Quote: "Something special was going on, and he couldn't wait to find out what it was." (Clay 385 of 2770 on Kindle)Fix er up: I just needed that spark for all of the pieces to fit together and win me over.

In a sentence or so: An unlikely trio of teenagers across history must join forces, despite the hundreds of years between them, to save a kingdom from destruction and psychological warfare.Tess is a princess who is just learning to hone in her ability to receive psychic messages. This isn't an ability unique to Tess, but rather one that many people in that kingdom possess. Most use that power for good. There are others who have sharpened that ability to a razor sharp tool, ready for destruction.Clay and John begin having strange and recurring dreams. They are in the library of a castle and move around like ghosts, but can talk and interact with each other. Their purpose is revealed and they are faced with saving a time and place that is not their own. Despite John being from the 1800s and John being from the 21st century, they must help Tess if they are to stop those whom need to be stopped.I liked the premise of this book a whole heckuva lot. I also really dug on the whole esp thing. It reminded me of A Kid in King Arthur's Court meets Graceling/Fire. Each of the characters had a unique voice and were completely invested in defeating the bad guys.Unfortunately, this book lacked a certain spark for me. All of the pieces were there, but it just didn't click. The writing was good, the characters were solid, and the plot was unique. I'd definitely be interested in reading books by this author in the future as I have hope that the other titles will be fun to read as well, and will hold out for that special something that makes my bookish heart swell.I have read a couple other reviews that lurved the book, so keep that in mind.Melanie's Book AddictionMy Guilty ObsessionFave Quote: "Something special was going on, and he couldn't wait to find out what it was." (Clay 385 of 2770 on Kindle)Fix er up: I just needed that spark for all of the pieces to fit together and win me over.

In a sentence or so: William Sheppard reflects back on his life as a boy growing up on Swope Ranch Boys' Reformatory after stabbing his abusive father.Will sees a horse dying in the middle of a busy street after the trailer carrying the horse was hit by a SUV. Cradling the dying horse's head in his arms and comforting the animal as it passes drudges up old memories. Memories that Will would rather he not remember. Will knows by thinking his memories, let alone writing them down, they will become freshly vivid and intense and overwhelming - even after fifty years. He also knows he has to do it in order to get justice, maybe even revenge, for his closest friends.In a balance of memoir and narrative fiction, Will takes the reader on his emotionally raw and overwhelming journey. Starting at only 13, Will is arrested for what many readers will believe is a justifiable crime. None the less, Will is sent to a reformatory to serve out a two year sentence. Those two years bring pain, injustice, heart break, unspeakable tragedies and so much hurt. They also bring friendship, an increasing awareness of the world and the adults who run it, and self discovery.This book made me ill. I do mean that as a compliment, by the way. By having the main character reflect back on his past, we get an account of how things really went down without the dialogue feeling forced or the emotions feeling too adult. The horror these kids went through - brought on by themselves, from their peers, or the adults who ran the place - was gut-wrenching to read. It's an incredible story and fantastically written, so despite the gnawing ache of nausea in my stomach, I read on. I always read on because Will's story demanded to be heard.This book is not for the weak of heart. Hell, it's not even for the strong of heart. This is a book that exposes the real hurt and insanity and twisted desire for pain that exists in our world. I never felt like any of it was too over the top either, or that none of it couldn't possibly be real. Which, of course, was the worst part of all.If you're looking for an emotionally intense and compelling and ultimately rewarding coming-of-age story told from an adult perspective, give this one a read. I can't stress enough how well written and balanced this book is in terms of action, plot, hurt, hope, and confusion. Really, it's fantastic. Just make sure you take frequent breaks to look at pictures of rainbows or unicorns or something.Fave Quotes: "In the summer of 1963, when I was thirteen, I stabbed my father in the chest with a Davy Crockett Explorers pocketknife." (OPENING LINE. I know. pg. 1)"Horses came and went, delinquent boys came and went. The boys broke the horses, Swope Reformatory broke the boys." (pg. 25)Fix er up: Truly, this was so well written. The hits just kept coming and coming and it was too much for my heart to bear sometimes.

In a sentence or so: A plucky girl and a mysterious boy wake up naked together with no memory of how they got there are who they are. But the thing is, that's not too unusual for Summer Falls.Elyse wakes up first. She's in bed with a boy who is crazy sexy...but has no idea who he is. Come to think of it, she's not sure who she is either. Then the boy stirs.Marshall wakes up to find a ridiculously gorgeous girl laying in his bed. He'd be more excited about this fact if he knew who the hell she was or who's room they were in. It appears to be a boys room from the decor and overall smell of the place...but he doesn't recognize anything. It can't be his room, right?Elyse and Marshall try and go about their daily lives, whatever the heck those are, which only yields distressing results. For example, no one seemed to miss either of them last night. Elyse's mother can't seem to remember if Marshall is staying at the family hotel or not. Marshall tries to talk to a couple at the hotel about their stay, and things get a little tense. Rather than share any information that might be helpful, the couple passes out. Right there, on the kitchen floor. Out cold. They wake up a few moments later from what Summer Falls refers to as heatnaps.Yeah, heatnaps. Sure thing, boss.Obviously, some weird and spooky stuff is going down in Summer Falls and Marshall and Elyse must rely on each other to figure it out. No one else seems to have any idea that anything's off. No one else seems to notice when people go missing - permanently. No one else seems to have any memories of anything bad at all, actually. Together, Marshall and Elyse pool their resources to piece together the mystery. And you guys, this is a DOOZY. Summer Falls is like the YA equivalent of Twin Peaks and it was THE BEST. I loved the twists and turns and WTF moments. On top of the crazy plot, the characters are pretty rad themselves. Elyse and Marshall had unique voices with developed personalities and thought for themselves. They live in a world where adults don't always do the right thing, or don't do anything at all, which was refreshing and frustrating because that's how things really are.For a read that combines spooky elements, a twisted mystery, two main characters you can totally get behind, with a touch of darkness and intensity, give this one a whirl. The best part about this book (other than it being awesome from cover to cover, obvs) is that it is a stand alone! HUZZAH!Fave quote: "I love being shoehorned into the role of headstrong, surly teen when all I freaking did was get dressed and walk downstairs." (Elyse 121)Fix er up: There were some loose ends that weren't tied up and some questions that remained unanswered. Since the copy I read was an arc, it's highly possible that will change. The ending is conclusive, don't get me wrong...but the more I thought about different elements, the more I wondered what that was about after all.Also, Elyse has honey colored hair and crazy green eyes. Where are they, cover? Hm?

In a sentence or so: After Willo's family goes missing from their secluded mountainside hideaway, he is thrust into wild with the ever falling snow and an unwilling companion on a search that's much greater than he knows.Willo may not know much, but he knows how to survive. In a world that faces extreme cold most of the year, he knows how to trap animals and build fires and absorbs any and all the advice of his father.One day when he's out trapping, his family disappears. All they left behind were their footprints and tire tracks. He is faced with living all alone in the wilderness or getting revenge on the man he knows turned his family in. He doesn't know how to find him, but he is determined to give him what he deserves.That's before Willow meets a girl. A starving girl who is on the brink of starvation and death. He can't just leave her behind. This girl will end up leading him on a path that he doesn't expect, but it is the path he must follow to fulfill an unexpected destiny.Willo is more than a little bit country. I mean, dude wears dog skulls on his head to help guide his conscience. He makes his own coats and gloves out of rabbit fur. He has a dialect that is challenging to read at times, but definitely unique and fitting for his character. So yeah, he's kind of a badass.The book was slow to start, but once it picked up about 75 pages in or so, I was digging it. In fact, I'll even admit that I was pleasantly surprised when I started to get hooked into the story after the sluggish beginning. I was intrigued by the post-apocalyptic slums and the constant snow and how Willo struggled to survive. Slowly, the greater plot was revealed and Willo's greater purpose slowly comes to focus. And y'all know how this kid loves character development and coming-of-age.While I loved where the book headed, I was supremely disappointed with the conclusion. Obviously, I won't discuss it because I am ardently anti-spoiler. I will tell you there was a ton of build up and suspense toward the end that I loved and I'm trying to hold on to that. Ultimately, the first 25% was slow build, the middle 70% was build up and world building and tension and awesomeness, and the final 5% was major let down.Fave Quote: "Even though she's just a pesky starving girl who gonna eat my food and get heavy on my back, she still gonna know where I am and what I been, so I aint quite alone. That's it - I ant alone now i got the girl here, and it feel better than before even though I don't know her or nothing." (77)Fix er up: THE ENDING.

in a sentence or so: Marcie and her mother move away after they spot her father in public with a boyfriend. Marcie is alone, lonely, starting a new school, trying to keep her mother sane and keep her life together.Marcie has the best group of friends a girl could ask for in Boise. the trouble is, she's not in Boise. she doesn't get to spend day in and day out with her quirky best friend Katie, her amazing boyfriend Linus, and the rest of the ragtag group affectionately called The Leftovers. instead she's trying to figure out how to eat, shower, and prepare herself for a brand new school while her mother slips in and out of ambien comas.what starts out as a temporary move is looking more and more permanent. while Marcie isn't exactly making new best friends, she is starting to settle in to the new apartment and doing what she can to survive a new school. including debating whether or not to encourage the affections of a charming redheaded boy.i adore novels in verse because it adds an emotional depth without being overwhelming. it's a creative and insightful way to utilize the first person narrator without it being repetitive and two dimensional. Marcie is thrust into anxiety, change, confusion and high emotions and is dealing with it almost completely by herself. she is desperate to find strength, understanding, and compassion - and we, as the reader, are desperate for her to find that as well.if you haven't read a novel in verse before, i highly recommend this one. it's a great representation of the style and it has a story that's emotionally complex and ultimately fulfilling.fave quote: "To make mortar out of tears." (385)fix er up: i felt like the resolution was a bit too quaint. but i'd be lying if i said it didn't make me happy.

In a sentence or so: Meghan discovers she is part fae and thrust right in the middle of a crazy conflict between the Summer and Winter courts, as well as a third court that no one – fae or human – knows exists.Meghan Chase thinks she’s leading a normal, if supremely disappointing, life. She has a relentlessly upbeat best friend, a loving mother and stepfather and a sweet little brother. After having been publically humiliated by the cutest boy in school on her sixteenth birthday, she thinks her day has hit rock bottom…but it hasn’t.It’s not until her little brother is replaced with a changeling that she learns she is the daughter of a Faery King. Meghan discovers she is a half fey princess and that her bestie Robbie has been protecting her. Meghan journeys into the world of fey with determination to get her brother back. The journey will be hard, complicated, dangerous, and life-threatening. The journey will also include a dark prince from the Winter court who is ridiculously gorgeous…so it’s not ALL bad. It’s been awhile since I’ve read a fae book. And you know what? I missed it. A LOT. I missed reading about the different courts and creatures and things like CHIMERAS and CHANGELINGS and OTHER COOL THINGS.Meghan had a genuine teenage voice and reacted to this onslaught of information in a totally believable way. This definitely has some familiar elements for paranormal readers: she doesn’t know she’s special, she requires a guide to tell her information, things have to be explained to her so that the reader can understand them as well, a love triangle, etc. For some reason, these did not bother me in the slightest. Either I’ve been avoiding books like this for long enough that I can read it without getting annoyed, or Julie Kagawa packaged it in such a way that I just didn’t care! Also, her sassy and rad guide Grimalkin is a cat. HE RULES.For anyone out there who has yet to read The Iron Fey series, it starts off fabulously. I was hooked into the story and the pace was a perfect blend of action, information, character development, and emotional connections. If it isn’t obvious, I’ll be digging into the next book in the series pretty dang soon.Fave quote: "What if I can't?" I whispered. "What if the Iron King truly is invincible?" "Then we will all die," said the Elder Dryad, and faded back into her oak. The other dryads left, leaving me alone with a cat, a prince, and a stick. I sighed and looked down at the wood in my hands."No pressure or anything," I muttered. (pg. 279)Fix er up: The only thing that bothers me in the slightest in all of this was near the end. Again, for those who haven’t read this, I will spare you a spoiler. For those who have, I’m referring to the big nosed girl at the coffee shop. What the what?

In a sentence or so: On her way to deliver back a box of ticket stubs, bottle caps, a stolen sugar container and other mementos from their whirlwind relationship, Min writes a letter to Ed about why they broke up.Min met Ed at a party for her best friend Al. Ed is the star of the basketball team and Min adores vintage films. Ed is part of the in-crowd with a bit of a player reputation while Min has a group of arty friends and hangs mostly on the fringes. She never thought he’d notice a girl like her, but he did. Ed never thought he’d buy a girl a camera just because she wanted it, but he did. Neither of them thought they’d be so head over heels so quickly…but they were.Like all relationships, Min and Ed's brief courtship had highs and lows and everywhere in between. Min relives the best and the worst of them through her letter to Ed and patiently and passionately explains why they broke up.I loved the concept for this book. You know their relationship ends, so reading about it from the beginning and knowing its doomed provided an original take on puppy love for me. Neither Min or Ed are perfect or blameless, which makes them authentic and relatable. While at times the book felt like it was written from a much older perspective, I still loved the idea and execution of this story. I found this to be emotionally rich and invested easily with the characters. The fresh take on a doomed puppy love was absorbing and surprisingly fulfilling.There are illustrations that create additional layers to the read that weren’t included in this ARC, but did come in postcard form. If you’re interested in getting one of these postcards from yours truly, be one of the first five people to leave a comment with your email address and I’ll contact you so I can send one your way! Fave quote: "Here we are at the bottom, almost empty. It's like confetti, these dried remnants you find in the street for a party no one invited you to. But they used to be, I can admit, part of something beautiful." (pg. 325)Fix er up: While I did enjoy Al as a character, I wasn’t a huge fan of the secondary role he played. I won’t spoil anything for potential readers by sharing further…but if you have read this, let me know so we can discuss!