Just wanted to stop in and say Merry Christmas to you guys!! I hope you all have a fantastic day!! I’m spending the day hanging out with these two and reading, since the hubs has to work.
Author: The Novel Girl
Happy Holidays!!
Hi everyone!! I hope that you are all having a great time getting in to the holiday season! We’re not doing much around here this year. I’m working right up until Christmas Day, but I do have a four day weekend coming up so I’m pretty stoked about that! You know what that means… Lots of reading time this weekend! I’m going to try to get at least one more review up for you guys before the end of the year. I’m not sure what it will be yet, but I’m thinking Six of Crows is up next. I will, of course, do an end of the year post with the best of the year, so stay tuned for that. Other than that, I really just wanted to tell you guys to have Happy Holidays, whatever and however you celebrate! You guys are the best! As always, thanks for reading!
-T
Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky, Book 2)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky
Genre: Dystopian/Sci-Fi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 368
After being forced to separate at the end of the first book, Aria and Perry are finally reunited in the desert. Aria has spent much of their time apart with Roar, training both her battle skills and their shared gift. Perry has gained a group of faithful followers, and has become the Blood Lord of the Tides. When Aria accompanies him back to the Tides, though, they are not a fan of her due to her being a Dweller. Events stemming from this, as well as a deal that Aria had to make in order to save Talon, force her to steal away in the night with Roar without Perry’s knowledge. When Perry finds out, he knows that he has to stay with the Tides rather than follow after them, and do his duty as Blood Lord. They all have a goal, a mission, to accomplish separately before they can come back together.
The second book in the series was actually more interesting than the first, in my opinion. The world and character building continued to improve, as did the relationship building. Several relationships were strengthened in this book, as well as those that completely fell apart. The story line got even better, as we watch Perry try to figure out the best way to be a leader to what is now his tribe and keep his relationship with Aria together at the same time. Aria seems to have settled in to the world outside of Reverie now, and she is trying to find her way as and prove herself to be more than a Dweller. More interesting characters are introduced that should play an interesting role as he story progresses. I think that the last book in this trilogy will be quite interesting to see how it plays out.
Under the Never Sky (Under the Never Sky, Book 1)
Author: Veronica Rossi
Series: Under the Never Sky
Genre: Dystopian/Sci-Fi
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 400
Aria has lived her entire life in the enclosed city of Reverie, where the only glimpses of a world outside of hers that she has seen have been artificial ones through her smart eye. That is, until a horrible event finds her exiled from her protected city and thrown in to the land known only to her as The Death Shop. She knows that she is sure to die out there, as her immune system is not made to withstand the world outside of the carefully controlled environment of Reverie. Perry has lived his life as an Outsider, a Savage. He is a gifted hunter for his tribe, where his brother is a blood lord. He is marked, meaning he has special abilities. When he and Aria meet, he is on a mission of redemption, after his nephew was taken while in his care. They soon realize that they can help one another, if they can stand each other long enough.
This is the first book in a trilogy, and it is a promising start. It has some interesting elements to it: the enclosed pod-like cities, the ether in the skies, etc. The characters were well developed and the world building was great. It read fairly quickly and only dragged in a couple of places. I am interested enough to read the next book in the trilogy to see what happens to Aria and Perry, as they continue on their journey. If you’re looking for something quick to pick up, this may be a good one to grab!
Remember Why You Fear Me
Source: Remember Why You Fear Me
Remember Why You Fear Me
Remember Why You Fear Me
Author: Robert Shearman
Genre: Dark Fiction/Horror
Publisher: ChiZine Publications
Pages: 425
This collection of short stories from Robert Shearman is exactly what you would want if you are looking for dark fiction. It is a collection of beautifully written short stories that are a bit frightening in a creepy, not necessarily scary, way. They are laced with enough satire and dark humor to lighten them a bit, but some of them will definitely leave you wondering if you should sleep with a night light on. I am utterly thankful that this author was recommended to me, and I look forward to reading more of Mr. Shearman’s works.
New Review Coming Up!
Hi everyone!
I hope that you all are having a great Holiday season! Mine has been spent buried in work so far. I just wanted to let you know that a new review will be up tonight on an author that I just discovered, and hope that you will love! Thanks for sticking with me while I’ve been a little absent during my transition in to management at work. It has ben an adjustment! As always: thanks for reading!
-T
The Forest of Hands and Teeth (The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Book 1)
Author: Carrie Ryan
Series: The Forest of Hands and Teeth
Genre: Dystopian
Publisher: Ember
Pages: 336
Mary lives in a world where things have always been pretty black and white: The Sisterhood has always been in charge, and they are right. The Guardians protect their village and mind the fences that keep them safe. The Unconsecrated (think zombies) want to get in to kill or turn them, and they will never stop trying. Their village is all that is left after The Return, and there is nothing beyond The Forest of Hands and Teeth. Only Mary grew up with her mother telling her stories of what life was like before The Return, and she has always dreamed and believed that there has to be more out there beyond their village and the Forest. A startling series of events turns Mary’s world upside down a very short period of time. The biggest change: the fences are breached… The unconsecrated swarm the village, and Mary and her group run for it. On the run, and looking for anywhere to go, Mary realizes that this is her chance to find out what it beyond the Forest. She also must choose between the man whom she is promised to and the man to whom her heart belongs, but is promised to her best friend.
This is not the first time that I have read The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but I obtained it in hard copy (my other copy is digital) in my post-Thanksgiving book buying, so I decided to read it again. I’m so glad that I did! I enjoyed it as much the second time as I did the first. Carrie Ryan does a beautiful job of world building in this novel, so the reader can really visualize what she imagines the land to be like post The Return. The characters are very well fleshed out, so the reader can feel for them, and really feel the emotions coming off of them as the book progresses. You can really feel Mary’s struggle in the book, and know what she is going through. There is definitely a love/romance component to the book, but I love how the author is able to balance that with the larger issues at hand, so that it doesn’t overwhelm it. If you are looking for a good, quick, zombie book, give this one a try! It’s definitely different than any of the other post-zombie apocalypse books that I have read before!
Just a little update…
I finished up The Forest of Hands and Teeth tonight, so that review will be up for you guys tomorrow. I’m starting Remember Why You Fear Me by Robert Shearman tonight, and I’m really excited about it. It’s a collection of dark short stories that was recommended to me by author Kelly Link, who wrote Get in Trouble Stories, which I adored! I can’t wait to share my thoughts on that one with you! As always- thanks for reading!
-T
The Creeping
Author: Alexandra Sirowy
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/Fantasy
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Pages: 400
Twelve years ago, when they were six, Stella and her friend Jeanie disappeared while picking strawberries in Jeanie’s front yard. Stella returned, Jeanie didn’t. No one knows what happened to them, and it has become what the town, and Stella, are known for. Stella has no memory of what happened that day, and she is beyond trying to figure it out. She is over everything having to do with it. That is until the body of another little red haired girl shows up. Fragments of Stella’s memories begin to resurface, and she begins to try to remember, with the help of those around her. If you hunt for monsters, you will find them…
I really enjoyed this book! It wasn’t quite what I thought that it was going to be, from simply looking at the cover and reading the blurb in the bookstore, but it turned out to be really enjoyable. The writing flows really well, and the characters are really well written. I had a very clear picture of them and the setting while I was reading. I actually became really engrossed in it and read the last 250 pages in one sitting, and I love when I can do that. It has some really great twists in it, and when I thought I had it figured out, I didn’t. I recommend it!
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