FICTIOUS FREAKOUTS 2013

Hey guys! So this is my awards type thing (more info in How the Blog Works) and basically highlights my favorite books I've reviewed this year. Which was sort of impossible to choose, but still. Also, I use bad puns.

(Click the covers to go to my review)

Fangirl Fiction

Books that'll turn any girl into a fan! 7/5 (7 books)

Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
I don't often read MG, and even then, I rarely love it. But Keeper of the Lost Cities completely blew me away with its worldbuilding and originality! I may have...possibly...read it as a YA book at times, but still! Who knew an MG book was so amazing? Not me. NOW I DO. Keeper of Amazing Books, methinks!






The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis
Guys, this ending was unbelievable and I cried so much throughout this. It's a gorgeous book with absolutely stunning writing and storyline that will just rip your heart into two. I really have no words except READ IT. Antonia Michaelis is a seriously talented Storyteller.







If I Lie by Corrine Jackson
If I Lie just completely and utterly destroyed me and I think I actually had a sort of emotional break down when I finished it. It's just heart rendering and I really wish that the pain in my chest when I think about it would just disappear. I swear, if I lie and you don't love, I'll eat my books.







In the Shadow of Blackbirdsy by Cat Winters
May ghosts haunt me if you don't love this book as much as I did! I'll be honest, I wasn't expecting much at first (It didn't sound like my type of book!) but I was quickly sucked into a historical world that's more supernatural that it seems. It has a thrilling element to it that makes it pretty much impossible to put down!






Mind Games by Kiersten White
So maybe this book is a HATE or LOVE kind of book, but I was definitely on the love side! I was a bit wary at first, but oh my gosh! The sisters' relationship warmed my heart and their abilities made everything so much more interesting. James, by the way? LOVE. This book just plays mind games on you and I really had NO CLUE WHAT was going to happen!




Just One Day by Gayle Forman
Ah, yes. My first Gayle Forman book. Oh God, you did not disappoint. It took me just one day to read it and just like that I fell in love with a new author. There's something rather enticing about the storyline, about a character who's off to look for her lost love, and her lost questions.







My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi
So Ashley @ Nose Graze was the one to recommend this to me and I am unbelievably happy that she did! My Life After Now was a truly stunning read that brings a lot into question, questions I've never really thought about before. The issues dealt in it are also pretty new, but I loved how Jessica Verdi wrote about them!

Fab Fiction

Absolutely FABULOUS fiction! 10/5 stars! (6 books most + sequel)

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton
OH GOD. ALL THE FEELS FOR THIS ONE. First of all, the worldbuilding is seriously amazing and the premise is just stunning. The writing is beautiful and so is Fear the book. I was just blown away (get it? The cover? Yeah? No?) by all of it and can NOT wait for Where the Silence Gathers!






Six Months Later by Natalie Richards
Oh my God, one of the best thrillers of the year! I'm a serious sucker for amnesia stories, so a book about a girl who can't remember the last six months of her life? Hell yeah! Plus the romance was unbelievably yummy and the twists absolutely surprising! I still can't believe them six months later. (And the puns just keep on coming.)






This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
I am just stunned by This Song Will Save Your Life. When I first heard of it, it didn't really stand out to me, but when I got the chance to read it...well, I'm so glad I did. It's a story that I think literally everyone can relate with. If you're not one character, you'll be another or another or another. This is possibly the truest version of high school, of a high schooler's life, I've ever read and what can I say but this book will save your life?




The Naturals by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
OH GOD THIS BOOK THIS BOOK THIS BOOK. The feels I have for this book are not Natural whatsoever. When reading it, I legit clung to a wall in History and cried and bemoaned my existence as my teacher looked on, completely confused over my lack of social life. This book had twists I could never see coming and ACK! THE LOVE INTERESTS.





3:59 by Gretchen McNeil
Oh hello again, first Gretchen McNeil book that I absolutely loved and broke my heart at the very end by ripping away my happily ever after dream. It's nice to see you again AFTER YOU COMPLETELY WRECKED ME.
That is all.

Stunning Sequels!

My favorite sequels of the year? (First, 7 stars. Second, 10 stars.)

Never Fade by Alexandra Bracken
OH GOD NEVER FADE WHY THE CLIFFHANGER WHY ALL THE FEELS WHY ALL THE PLOT TWISTS WHY ALL THE DEATH. Darkest Minds was a decent read, but not my favorite, but oh GOD, Never Fade! You just gutted me and left me for the book vultures to pick on. Well, one thing's for sure, your plot twists and FEELS will never fade from my mind.




Crown of Midnight by Sarah J. Maas
Crown of Midnight? Try Crown of Awesome. This was seriously an AMAZING book that I screamed at, cried at, and giggled at. Even if I am Team Dorian, I will admit that Chaol is pretty damn fine. Also, assassin Celaena is badass Celaena.

Fiction Favorite!

My (very hard to choose) favorite book of the year!

The Program by Suzanne Young
GODDAMMIT, PROGRAM. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO AND BREAK MY SPIRIT LIKE THAT.
When I finished my book I actually wrote down my reaction and sent it to all my friends via twitter. I won't go into detail, but it had a...few expletives. Ahahaha. This book also gave me my first bookish hangover that I had to deal with for over a week, and I actually screamed into my pillow when I was done. I've never been so tempted to throw a book at a wall with all the love in the world.
Guys, I belong in the Program because of The Program.



Honorable Mentions
-The Bone Season by Samantha Shannon
-Just Like Fate by Cat Patrick and Suzanne Young
-How To Lead a Life of Crime by Kirsten Miller
-A Darkness Strange and Lovely by Susan Dennard

How was your 2013? What were some of your favorite books? What are your most anticipated 2014 reads?

Week of a Fiction Freak + #NYE14Reads

Hey guys! Before we get into my week and my book haul (long overdue!) I wanted to tell you guys about #NYE14Reads!

It's almost 2014 y'all! And that means...

TWITTER PARTY! 

Or something of the like! Authors will be tweeting about other authors' books (linking Goodreads pages and the like) and we encourage you to do the same! Chat with authors, tweet about your most anticipated books, or just squeal about your excitement for 2014! 

It'll go throughout the day from noon to night. Support the 2014 debut authors and HAVE FUN! 

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So a) I made a new banner because the old one was...weird to me. So, yeah. 

WINTER BREAK!! HALLELUJAH. I think my midterms went pretty well (97 on History, 100 in English, 97 in Math, 88 in Art--we had an actual freaking written exam. What?, 95 in Science, and...Gym. Uh.)

It's been a pretty awesome break but this week, all my relaxing goes away and I have to start working on a giant project due the week we get back from break. So ugh. But anyways! 

Library

Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta

Amy and Roger's Epic Detour by Morgan Matson

Bought

Control by Lydia Kang

Flawed by Kate Avelynn

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson

Publisher

Ink by Amanda Son

Fire & Flood by Victoria Scott

These Broken Stars by Meagen Spooner and Amie Kaufman

Gifted

The Nightmare Dilemma by Mindee Arnett

Coldest Girl in Coldtown by Holly Black

Pivot Point by Kasie West

Giveaway

Strange and Beautiful Sorrows of Ava Lavender by Leslye Walton

Breakfast Served Anytime by Sarah Combs

The Chance You Won't Return by Annie Cardi

Caminar by Skila Brown

There Will Be Bears by Ryan Gebhart

I got my friend to check these two out for me (I asked her to get some others for me, but she couldn't get them SIGH.) since I lost my library card...ahahahaha...haha...anyways I read Amy and Roger's already and I ADORED IT SO MUCH. I need to get my own copy soon! I loved Matson's other book, Second Chance Summer, so I had high hopes for Amy and Roger's Epic Detour. Now, I'll officially read anything by Morgan Matson.
CONTROL! I'm so excited to read Control by Lydia Kang. I've been aching for a sci-fi lately, so this is perfect! I also stopped by Half Price Books and picked up Flaw, which seems heartbreakingly emotional, and Losing Lila, the sequel to Hunting Lila. I've been eyeing the series for a while and I jumped at the chance to get the sequel since it wasn't available in the US. Now I have to get my hands on a copy of the first book and I'll be good! 
INK! I got Ink from Harlequin Teen's Panel and I already had an ARC copy, but the finished copy is gorgeous! And I read both These Broken Stars and Fire and Flood--loved both! Reviews to come soon! (These Broken Stars though omg. I need a Pandora, btw.)
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO JESSI FOR THE NIGHTMARE DILEMMA! Read and loved and review shall come! Thanks to Eileen for Pivot Point which I've been DYING TO READ lately and THANKS SO MUCH to Inky for The Coldest Girl in Coldtown! 
I won a Candlewick Press Giveaway and WAS SO EXCITED TO READ THE STRANGE AND BEAUTIFUL SORROWS OF AVA LAVENDER. Which, by the way, is as strange and beautiful as the title suggests. I absolutely adored it. 

I also got a rather epic Secret Santa gift from my Merp Squad Secret Santa, Annabelle! She's a pretty awesome gift giver guys:

Bag of Jolly Ranchers (Actually Inky also got me a bag of Jolly Ranchers! I LOVE JOLLY RANCHERS)

Turquoise Maybelline eyeshadow

$20 B&N Gift Card

See's Dark Chocolate Raspberry Truffle (it was delicious)

Blue/Purple Scarf

CHRISTMAS CANDY! 

Loved this gift! <3 Annabelle is so sweet! 

AND THEN GUESS WHAT ELSE I GOT. WAIT FOR IT. WAIT FOR IT. (It being the terrible photo, but...)

I BOUGHT TEDDDDYYYYY BEARS. I couldn't decide so I got my mom to get one for herself. Then stole it from her. You know. (Hey so they're both the same but with different shades of brown. BUT THE SHADE OF BROWN IS IMPORTANT DUDE.)

My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi

Goodreads Blurb

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.
And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?
Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.

I'm a contemporary girl and if there's a book that'll make me cry or laugh, I'm going to read it. So when I heard about My Life After Now...well I was intrigued! The synopsis was a bit vague so I was curious--and when Ashley recommended it, I decided to grab a copy. I just didn't know how much I'd fall in love with the story!

The most prominent thing about My Life After Now is that it focuses on HIV, something that hasn't really been done before. Sure, we learn about HIV in health, but it never really stuck. Reading about a character, who we're attached to, go through it? That's a different matter and it was brilliant how Verdi wrote about it, giving us not only a heartbreaking story, but also giving us a warning and a lesson.
You can tell how well researched this is and her portrayal of how quickly everything can change was heartbreaking. Suddenly Lucy isn't just worrying about her absent-no-longer mom, or her tool of a boyfriend--now she's wondering how long she'll live, how she can possibly lead a normal life, and how people will ever love her again knowing her secret.

Lucy was such a strong and real character who didn't try to let anyone hurt her, though she did have her moments. She's been hurt again and again, but she rarely lets it get to her. And when she gets HIV, she's determined to keep it a secret from her parents, her friends, and everyone around her. While it wasn't the best decision, you have to admire her for trying to live out a normal life, despite everything that's happened.
All the characters, minor or major, were so well written and they all seemed to build Lucy up, even if they'd wanted to tear her down. It's beautiful how well Jessica Verdi was able to reflect the situation in My Life After Now and I can't deny that I shed a few tears throughout the book.

Romance takes a backseat in this story and instead we focus more on the relationships--before and after HIV. The relationships, like pretty much everything else in the book, are beautifully written, and I couldn't help but love most of the people around her.
Unlike most books, the parents play a big role in this book. Her mom ran away after giving birth to Lucy, leaving her with her dad and, later on, Papa, her other dad. And then right when things are already going downhill, her mom shows up, adding more stress than needed. Her dads were wonderful parents who supported, cared, and loved Lucy to no end and I loved their heartfelt dynamic.
Her relationships with her school friends become strained, though they don't know about HIV yet, and I hurt for Lucy. Then there was Evan, the love interest in this story--I absolutely loved him. He was sweet and cute, and loved Lucy. And, of course for other reasons. But you'll just have to read it for yourself!

Real, beautiful, and hopeful, My Life After Now gives us a story filled with dreams, tears, and a despair that makes you think about how quickly your life can turn around and how you'd respond to such terrifying news. It's a story of how one mistake can break you, but how it could build you up too. My Life After Now is a must read emotional rollercoaster that gives you a story you'll never forget.

Pages: 287

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: April 2, 2013

Rating: 7/5 stars

Broken by CJ Lyons

Pages: 336

Genre: Contemporary/Thriller

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Release Date: Nov 5, 2013

The only thing fifteen-year-old Scarlet Killian has ever wanted is a chance at a normal life. Diagnosed with a rare and untreatable heart condition, she has never taken the school bus. Or giggled with friends during lunch. Or spied on a crush out of the corner of her eye. So when her parents offer her three days to prove she can survive high school, Scarlet knows her time is now... or never. Scarlet can feel her heart beating out of control with every slammed locker and every sideways glance in the hallway. But this high school is far from normal. And finding out the truth might just kill Scarlet before her heart does.

Short review since it's a DNF (Did Not Finish)

Oh God, when I first heard about this I was so unbelievably excited! I love these kind of stories that always seem to be a tearjerker and a thriller all in one, the ones that have that bit of mystery that just enthralls you. And I was so very curious about her disease.
Yet, this fell flat for me. I'm not sure whether it was because I was in a book slump or what, but this book just disappointed me.

I got about 50% in before I gave up and marked it DNF. Maybe I should've gone a little farther, but I wasn't the biggest fan of what I'd read so far. While the premise and the storyline was decent and probably thrilling, the way it was executed just didn't live up to its potential. Instead of having us gather clue by clue to piece the puzzle together, we were given giant pieces of obvious information that ruined the plot twist at the end. It came out as predictable and note very well written like I was so desperately hoping.

Another thing was the cliche of it. There were so many things that started to get on my nerves. On the first day of school, she happens to meet two sweet guys, make two friends, become a target of the most popular people in school, and gets this private information that no one seems to want to remember. Beginner's luck? Not to mention there was a love triangle--can you even call it that? I felt like our character was so desperate for some high school action she was instantly attracted to the guys who treated her normally. Which I guess I can understand, but not something I really wanted to see in this book since I categorize it as insta-love.

I really couldn't get into this book. The characters were a bit inconsistent for me and I was a bit annoyed by the giant hints sprinkled everywhere like cacti in a cacti farm (don't know why I picked cacti.) That's not to say that Broken didn't have its good points either though!

The premise really was amazing and just because it wasn't for me doesn't necessarily mean it isn't for you! While the plot twist was rather predictable, it does have a unique spin on it that makes you question yourself once in a while too, so maybe you will love it!

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Merry Christmas!

HEY HEY! Hope y'all are having an amazing Christmas today! While I don't have a giveaway (so sorry y'all!) I do have a ton of happy wishes for you! I hope you have the BEST ONE and hey? Maybe a little mistletoe action?

I've been reading too many romances. 

But seriously, have an amazing one! Christmas? THE BEST! Of course like my banner says, HAVE A BOOKISH ONES! Eat cookies, have some hot chocolate, snuggle with family (or a bf) and watch an old movie! :D Like last year all I ask of you is...

DECORATED HOUSES AND TREES. Because those are always fun to look at! Pretty please? Tweet it, Facebook it, whatever. I WANT TO SEE THE LIGHTS. Just not, you know, the good bye Nikki lights. 

Ah Christmas, I do love you. I hope our school has an ice day! 

Oh so story about a Christmas when I was little, because I'm running out of things to say on this post.

ONCE UPON A TIME...

Or not so long ago, maybe when I was 6 or 7, I believed in Santa. So I stayed up ALL NIGHT waiting for Santa. Except I fell asleep (but I didn't know it at the time. I THOUGHT FOR SURE I'D STAYED UP ALL NIGHT) I woke up when I heard a thump and I thought for sure it was Santa's sleigh! So I rushed to the living room and LO AND BEHOLD. There was a present all neatly tied up. 

Later my mom told me that the bump was her bumping into the bed when she came back from leaving my present in the living room. 

END STORY

Funnily, I also once asked Santa for an iPod, a phone, a TV, a laptop, and a dog, just to test if he was real. My mom broke down and told me he wasn't. #CraftybutbrokenheartedNikkialert

But it's okay. We all know he's real. 

HOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHOHO.

See? Proof.

LIKE SANTA SAID

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE

Waiting on Wednesday

Her Dark Curiosity by Megan Shepherd

Months have passed since Juliet Moreau returned to civilization after escaping her father's island—and the secrets she left behind. Now, back in London once more, she is rebuilding the life she once knew and trying to forget Dr. Moreau’s horrific legacy—though someone, or something, hasn’t forgotten her.
As people close to Juliet fall victim one by one to a murderer who leaves a macabre calling card of three clawlike slashes, Juliet fears one of her father’s creations may have also escaped the island. She is determined to find the killer before Scotland Yard does, though it means awakening sides of herself she had thought long banished, and facing loves from her past she never expected to see again.
As Juliet strives to stop a killer while searching for a serum to cure her own worsening illness, she finds herself once more in the midst of a world of scandal and danger. Her heart torn in two, past bubbling to the surface, life threatened by an obsessive killer—Juliet will be lucky to escape alive.
With inspiration from Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, this is a tantalizing mystery about the hidden natures of those we love and how far we’ll go to save them from themselves.

The ending of Madman's Daughter. THE ENDING. OMG. THAT WAS THE ABSOLUTE WORST SOMEONE SHOOT ME. 
Not to mention, you guys! Jekyll and Hyde! And a murderer. And woah there. "facing loves from her past" ARE WE TALKING ABOUT WHO I THINK WE'RE TALKING ABOUT? :D

The False Prince by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Goodreads Blurb

In a discontent kingdom, civil war is brewing. To unify the divided people, Conner, a nobleman of the court, devises a cunning plan to find an impersonator of the king's long-lost son and install him as a puppet prince. Four orphans are recruited to compete for the role, including a defiant boy named Sage. Sage knows that Conner's motives are more than questionable, yet his life balances on a sword's point -- he must be chosen to play the prince or he will certainly be killed. But Sage's rivals have their own agendas as well.
As Sage moves from a rundown orphanage to Conner's sumptuous palace, layer upon layer of treachery and deceit unfold, until finally, a truth is revealed that, in the end, may very well prove more dangerous than all of the lies taken together.
An extraordinary adventure filled with danger and action, lies and deadly truths that will have readers clinging to the edge of their seats.

So you guys know, I'm not usually an MG (Middle Grade) person, but I have to say, I think I've changed my mind about that! You'll probably find me raiding the library for some more soon enough! It reminded me what kind of books I LOVED before getting addicted to YA. Better start reading this stuff again!

The False Prince was unbelievably amazing and there's just something about MG that makes you realize how different it is from YA! There's no insta-love worries, there's no romance taking away from the plot, and there are no ridiculous things going on--it's just wonderful writing, amazing plot, action packed adventure, a crown to be fought for, and conspiracies of the best. Or wait. Is that just The False Prince?

Because this book had all of that and so much more!

This was so fun to read! Immediately, we get a sense for just how troublesome Sage is and he's a character you'll immediately like! He's clever,an absolute troublemaker, and he's just an amazing character who makes every boring thing something of interest! Not to say that the other 2 boys were less interesting! Not at all! they're all so completely different that there's no way you can fully hate one. Tobias is educated and smart, but not as strong or willful as Roden, but Roden, in turn, is pretty hard headed and a bit thick. If we're talking stereotypes, Tobias would be the nerd, Roden the jock, and Sage? He's somewhere in between all that. I think his only flaw, really, was that he never knew when to quit or when things were to dangerous. He was strong-willed and COMPLETELY stubborn and I'd love him less if he weren't!

The plot is by far the best thing about The False Prince! It can seem pretty slow at first, but when you get used to the pace, you'll love how the plot just slowly unfurls, throwing twists and turns at  you along the way (I, for one, COULD NOT believe that ending!). It's a captivating read that'll please everyone, no matter what the age or gender!

The False Prince is a book that's hard to dislike and easy to love! Fit for literally everyone and anyone, I'd recommend it to anyone who's getting tired of reading the same old over and over again!

Pages: 342
Genre: Fantasy/Middle Grade
Series: Ascendance Trilogy #1
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Rating: 5 stars

These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner

Pages: 374

Genre: Sci-fi/Romance

Series: Starbound #3

Publisher:Disney Hyperion

Release Date: Dec 10, 2013

It's a night like any other on board the Icarus. Then, catastrophe strikes: the massive luxury spaceliner is yanked out of hyperspace and plummets into the nearest planet. Lilac LaRoux and Tarver Merendsen survive. And they seem to be alone. Lilac is the daughter of the richest man in the universe. Tarver comes from nothing, a young war hero who learned long ago that girls like Lilac are more trouble than they’re worth. But with only each other to rely on, Lilac and Tarver must work together, making a tortuous journey across the eerie, deserted terrain to seek help. Then, against all odds, Lilac and Tarver find a strange blessing in the tragedy that has thrown them into each other’s arms. Without the hope of a future together in their own world, they begin to wonder—would they be better off staying here forever? Everything changes when they uncover the truth behind the chilling whispers that haunt their every step. Lilac and Tarver may find a way off this planet. But they won’t be the same people who landed on it.

I got These Broken Stars a little after release, and by then people were fawning over it, talking about how much they loved it, how amazing it was so suffice to say, I had high expectations. Very high expectations. So high I screwed studyimg for finals and read it instead.

And you know what? I loved it. Right from the start I loved it and it broke my slump of starting 8 books and finishing none of them. That's how amazing These Broken Stars was. Plus, that cover! 

So I actually have no idea how to start this review. It's always hardest to write about a book you loved, I guess? But let's start with characters. 
I adored Lilac as a character. She was brilliant character who was completely amazing throughout the entire book. She was smart, witty, and was willing to do what she could. She pretended to be the flighty heiress everything thought she'd be, but her reasons for doing so was heartbreaking and I actually felt heartbroken by page twenty. She was a character I could sympathize with and it's amazing that Lilac went through some character growth without losing my admiration. 
Tarver was swoony. Can I leave it at that? Fine. He was sweet and swoony and amazing and swoony and I loved him and his swooniness. In all seriousness though, Tarver was just as brilliant as Lilac, though more street smart than book smart, and it showed. I loved how caring he was towards Lilac and how badass he was, though not without his vulnerability. 

The romance was swoon worthy, but I think I've already used that word too much. I'm always a fan of hate/love relationship which is definitely how their relationship seemed when they crashed. I adored how they first met though, although it did seem a bit insta lovey, but the romance after that was entirely amazing. And I actually loved the insta love part of it too, surprisingly. I'm pretty sure there's a meme that's like "True love is when you take care of each other even if you're angry." or something like that and it definitely applies to the book. Also? Let me just say that I couldn't contain my squeals (and screams) at all. 

The worldbuilding and the vivid descriptions were a giant part of the novel and the science part was...mind blowing and just...brilliant. It was amazing, the things behind the whispers, behind the mysterious terraformed planet and it's definitely a creative, if not somewhat original, idea. 

These Broken Stars is, at it's core, a survival story and I loved that. I never knew watching people walk could be so fascinating. Of course, that's not all that happens. There was a mystery on the edges of the book and you couldn't help but get enraptured, wondering, dying to know what was happening, what was causing this or that, whether they were going crazy, or if there really was something...other.
What I think I loved the most was that our characters reached the conclusion before we did, which is actually pretty hard to do. And it wasn't just some wild leap, there was actually evidence to back it up and it was...interesting, seeing where we'd be taken next.

These Broken Stars is, perhaps, one of my favorite sci-fi books out there and I can't wait to read book two, which I'm hoping will at least have a Lilac or Tarver cameo! (It has to guys, it has to.) Heartbreaking and awe inspiring, These Broken Stars is just one that'll have to  make it to the top of your TBR, no matter how towering it already is!

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Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger

Goodreads Blurb

Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.
Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.
When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Okay, you know those books that you have such high expectations for, but they just fall flat? This was so not one of those. I officially love anything Shannon Messenger writes. I absolutely loved her MG book, Keeper of the Lost Cities and the same definitely goes for Let the Sky Fall! She's just a genius with worldbuilding and plot!

Seriously. Worldbuilding first. The world of the sylphs/Windwalkers was so completely vivid and so well thought out! It was stunningly real and beautifully breathtaking (pun intended). I probably wouldn't make a lot of sense if I tried to explain the complexities of the world, but trust me, you;ll get it when you read it! It was definitely took a ton of creative power though, I'll say that!

Audra was such a strong character. I know I say that a lot, but she really was. She took the blame for her father's death but she never, not once, wallowed in self pity. Instead, she honored her promise to protect a boy, who was unbelievably stubborn, with her life. She sacrificed her own wants and needs for him and always put Vane first. She's a hardworking character who, even though she belongs in the air, is actually pretty down-to-earth.
Vane was...a guy. Or, like the stereotypical guys you roll your eyes at sometimes. He made a few perverted jokes throughout the series that really irritated me sometimes, but he really came through in the end. If anything, he's loyal to a fault, but it's one of the best things about him!

The romance was a bit insta-lovey, honestly, but you can quickly forget that once you see how perfect Vane and Audra are! They just complete each other so well, but ugh, forbidden love strikes again! So much conflicting feelings on Audra's part! Like I said, majorly strong character here.

The plot. Oh God, this killed me. The ending. The ending. Talk about a twist! I never saw it coming. Actually, I never saw a lot of things coming! Shannon Messenger has a way of throwing things at you that you never see coming. I wanted to curl into a ball and cry for out main characters. It was horrible. 

Let the Sky Fall was absolutely captivating from start to finish. I never wanted to put it down and throughout the entire thing, I was both dreading and anticipating the ending. (Which, again, nearly killed me.) With the ultimate sacrifices, the ultimate betrayal, this one's going to send you in an explosion of feelings. Trust me. I've been there.

Also, couldn't Raiden (that's his name, right) just google Vane Weston? He never changed his name and it's rather...unique.

Pages: 416
Genre: Fantasy
Series: Let the Sky Fall #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Release Date:  March 5, 2013
Rating: 4.5-->5 stars

Shadowlands by Kate Brian

Goodreads Blurb

Rory Miller had one chance to fight back and she took it. Rory survived… and the serial killer who attacked her escaped. Now that the infamous Steven Nell is on the loose, Rory must enter the witness protection with her father and sister, Darcy, leaving their friends and family without so much as a goodbye. 
Starting over in a new town with only each other is unimaginable for Rory and Darcy. They were inseparable as children, but now they can barely stand each other. As the sisters settle in to Juniper Landing, a picturesque vacation island, it seems like their new home may be just the fresh start they need. They fall in with a group of beautiful, carefree teens and spend their days surfing, partying on the beach, and hiking into endless sunsets. But just as they’re starting to feel safe again, one of their new friends goes missing. Is it a coincidence? Or is the nightmare beginning all over again?

I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed in Shadowlands. I mean, I was expecting so much from its creepy premise, but it really didn't meet my expectations. Too bad, it sounded really good! (But thanks to that killer *heheheh* ending, I'm definitely buying the sequel. I can't believe she just cut it off there!)

I had...issues with the characters. Rory was a weak character who didn't really seem to have an outstanding personality and wasn't exactly as broken as Nell thought, in my opinion. She was a flat character that I really wish was more well written than she was--she definitely would've been a better heroine then. She wasn't completely bad, but I couldn't connect with her at all.
Her sister, Darcy, on the other hand, was fiery, but she was so shallow. She was basically in love with a guy and ditched, manipulated, and did every other horrible-sister things to see him. When said guy blew Darcy off and Rory tried to (gently) tell her that, Darcy basically had a tantrum and I was facepalming myself mentally quite a bit throughout.

The romance was pretty annoying as well. While there honestly wasn't much, I still have to point out that Rory seemed a bit attracted to Tristan at first sight and, while they never really fell in love or anything, it was still pretty annoying to me. And I already told you about Darcy, so...well, yeah.

The plot had some twists that did shock me, but at the same time, were completely predictable. The biggest twist, though, actually seemed a bit cliche, but it was definitely unexpected! There were definitely a ton of creepy parts of the book that chilled me to the bone, but I can't say there was enough to keep me interested. We had two big scenes in the first half, but after that, nothing really happened from then until the second half, when things got just a tad more engaging. There were enough chilly hints to keep me reading, but not enough to make me want to sit down and furiously flip the pages like I'd hoped.

Overall, I guess it was a decent read, but it's not something I'd recommend immediately to someone. Maybe to someone just getting into thrillers would enjoy this, but definitely not someone who has a lot of trouble with flat characters. I liked it okay enough, but...well.

Pages: 336
Genre: Suspense/Thriller/Paranormal-ish
Series: Shadowlands #1
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: Jan 8, 2013
Rating: 2.5-->3 stars

Waiting on Wednesday

Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

Now that Nikki has rescued Jack, all she wants is to be with him and graduate high school. But Cole tricked Nikki into feeding off him, and she’s begun the process of turning into an Everliving herself... which means she must feed on a Forfeit soon — or die.

Terrified for her survival, Nikki and Jack begin a desperate attempt to reverse the process using any means possible. Even Cole, who they expected to fight them at every turn, has become an unlikely ally — but how long can it last? Nikki needs to feed on Cole to survive, Cole needs Nikki to gain the throne in the Everneath, Jack needs Nikki because she is everything to him — and together, they must travel back to the Underworld to undo Nikki’s fate and make her mortal once more. But Cole isn’t the only one with plans for Nikki: the Queen has not forgotten Nikki’s treachery, and she wants her destroyed for good. Will Nikki be forced to spend eternity in the Underworld, or does she have what it takes to bring down the Everneath once and for all?

So I love this cover, but the dress reminds me of octopus legs. Just me?
Anywho, Brodi Ashton knows her cliffhangers! OMG EVERBOUND YOU KILLED ME. KILLLLEEEDDDDD ME. I am not kidding that has got to be the worst cliffhanger ever next to Everneath's. Ugh. COME TO ME MY LOVE. 

Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield

Goodreads Blurb

"Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness. 
When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England. 
Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion... 
Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.

Oh my God. The cover. The synopsis. Is it any wonder I've been dying for this since the reveal? I loved the idea of this, the magic, and historical is one of my favorite genres! Of course I had to read it.
And, you guys, it did not disappoint.

I loved the worldbuilding in this, though I do wish we had dug a little deeper into it. But it was wonderfully thought out and had a haunting atmosphere that made the book so much more enjoyable than it already was! Historical fantasy is always something I find fascinating since you're both creating a world and mixing in historical references and places. Sometimes, the world is horrible--Chantress's was far from terrible!

I loved Lucy. She was a wonderful character who was real enough to believe in--she wasn't selfish and mean or whiny, but she wasn't Miss Perfect, selfless to the core, and that was a relief!
Our minor characters were my favorite though! They each had such quirky traits and individual personalities! They brought the story to life!

There was, honestly, barely any romance except on the last page. And, sadly, only one kissing scene. THIS ROMANTIC NEEDS MORE KISSING! I did love how their relationship was slow, though, and not rushed like how it usually is in YA. I can't wait to see the couple in the sequel!

The plot was, admittedly, a bit slow in the middle. It started out wonderfully, action packed already, but the pacing slowed distinctively after a hundred pages or so. Not to say it wasn't fascinating and entertaining. It was! It just wasnt as action packed as I hoped.

Absolutely enchanting and magical, Chantress is a book that will leave you absolutely speechless and dying until the sequel!

Pages:336
Genre: Historical/Fantasy
Series: Chantress Trilogy #1
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Rating: 3.5-->4 stars

Premeditated by Josin L. McQuein

Goodreads Blurb

A week ago, Dinah’s cousin Claire cut her wrists.
Five days ago, Dinah found Claire’s diary and discovered why.
Three days ago, Dinah stopped crying and came up with a plan.
Two days ago, she ditched her piercings and bleached the black dye from her hair.
Yesterday, knee socks and uniform plaid became a predator’s camouflage.
Today, she’ll find the boy who broke Claire.
By tomorrow, he’ll wish he were dead.

Ever since I read the synopsis oh-so long ago, I've been aching to read this. The short and to the point phrasing makes the synopsis absolutely chilling, dark, and unbelievably intriguing, not to mention revenge stories are always amazing! 
I'm a bit torn up around the ending, so it's still a bit hard to write this review. I'm sort of a wreck right now!

The first few pages were absolutely amazing, but I started worrying that I may not love Premeditated as much as I'd hoped. No matter how realidtic it can make a character seem, I've always hated it when characters seemed flat and obsessed with only one goal, forcing the story to go on. 

But that didn't happen--instead I just sort of fell in love with Dinah's character and her heart. Premeditated focuses on the characters more than the plot, and I can't say I didn't love that! Seeing Dinah grow from hell bent on making Brooks pay to sympathizing and reluctantly starting to like him was one of my favorite parts. I always do love some internal conflict. 

Along with character development, the story also focuses on relationships, and not just romance. I'd been rooting from the start for Brooks and Dinah (and by start I mean when I first discovered this) and I was unbelievably excited to see that my ship was happening--though it wasn't mentioned much throughout the book. Their friendship seemed to be more important, Dinah struggling to find the Brooks in Claire's diary in the person in front of her, and Brooks starting to let down his walls. 
More than that, seeing how much Dinah cared for Claire was heartbreaking and heart warming all at once. It's a touching relationship that I couldn't help but love, but made everything so much more painful. 

I honestly can't say much about the plot since it'll pretty much ruin the entire thing, but I will say that the plot twist was fairly predictable, but it made everything so much more suspenseful!

Filled with suspense and a wide range of quirky and lovable characters, Premeditated is one of the books I've been anticipating all year--that managed to not disappoint me, which is actually pretty impressive!  The relationships are gorgeous and the development throughout the story just warms your heart. The suspense in the novel is brilliant and I was just blown away by the entire story.

Pages: 336

Genre: Thriller/Contemporary

Series: Standalone

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: Oct 8, 2013
Rating: 4 stars