The Willing by C.S. Splitter

The Willing by C.S. Splitter

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Willing is a fast-paced, action-packed thrill ride. It’s a story you’d expect from Vince Flynn, if he was tasked with writing an episode of Sons of Anarchy. Assassins, secret operatives, shady organizations, biker gangs- it’s all there. Amid the struggling balance between violence and justice is Tom Crayder, just a guy who wants to make some money and protect his wife, Jenny. Tom and his intriguing cast of supporting characters take you on an adventure through the darker side of normal, immersing you in a believable, detailed story with twists and turns you won’t see coming.

This was an entertaining read, and when I say that, keep in mind that I received an early review copy of this story. Understandably, paragraph breaks were inconsistent, typos were populous, and there was the occasional missing word- not to mention some grammatical errors. Also keep in mind that I’m an obsessive, compulsive editor. It’s not just my job; it’s something inherent in me. So while reading this, my inner critic was screaming in agony, and yet I enjoyed the story. So that fact alone should speak louder than anything I could articulate here.

In summary, this was my introduction to C.S. Splitter and I was thoroughly impressed.

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Tags: Action, Books, C.S. Splitter, Fiction, Goodreads, Review, Review Copy, The Willing, Thriller

Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer

Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, and for fans of the series, it was certainly worth the wait. There is so much action and tension in this book- almost nonstop- that I doubt many readers could have been justifiably disappointed.

When I read Nightshade, I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. The concepts were interesting, but it was too romantic, and too trivial a story for me to really claim interest. Despite that, I watched an interview with Andrea Cremer before Wolfsbane- book number two- came out, and she hinted that Calla’s romance (the clichéd drama of choosing between two loves- Team Ren or Team Shay?) would be put on hold. So I gave it a chance. I enjoyed it, like I enjoyed Bloodrose, but I still can’t get 100% behind Andrea Cremer’s writing style.

A lot of YA fiction out there presents teenagers as mature young adults, which, as I know from being a teenager once upon a time, is not always an accurate portrayal. Cremer strikes a delicate balance between childlike interaction and mature behavior in her characters. The childishness sometimes seems overdone, but I figure it’s intentional to show the pack mentality and behavior. Wolves are dogs. Even my grown dogs act like puppies sometimes. But in doing so, much of her witty or funny dialogue was ruined for me. A character would say something unusually funny, but then everyone would discuss that character’s sense of humor for a paragraph. It reminded me that Cremer’s characters were, indeed, kids, despite being thrown into very adult situations and being forced to make adult decisions. But that’s what makes YA fiction so great, so my complaint here really isn’t warranted.

The trilogy is a fun, interesting read, and its final conclusion in Bloodrose is completely unpredictable. I could not have imagined a better ending. Even if you’re still on the fence about Nightshade and Wolfsbane, Bloodrose will win you over. It’s the best book of the trilogy.

That being said, I’m unsure of this last title. Like Nightshade and Wolfsbane, Bloodrose certainly sounds cool, but is that all it is? Did Cremer really just pick a cool-sounding name for the last book, or did I miss something? In the first book, we’re introduced to the Nightshade pack and its alpha, the main character of the trilogy. Hence its title. In the second book, we learn more about the animosity between the two Guardian packs, the Nightshades and the Banes, and the union between Calla and Ren, a Nightshade and a Bane, respectively, comes to a breaking point. Hence the title. I cannot explain Bloodrose, though. Not even a little bit.

But it does sound cool.

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My review on Nightshade, Book One

My review on Wolfsbane, Book Two

Tags: Andrea Cremer, Bloodrose, Books, Fiction, Goodreads, Nightshade, Review, Series, Trilogy, Wolfsbane, YA fiction

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

At first, I was worried that this book might be a 418-pg cliche. The inside jacket and back cover do not do it justice. Daughter of Smoke & Bone surpassed my expectations with endless surprises. There is everything in this book: art, magic, family, love, war, mystery. From cover to cover, it’s a completely fun and thought-provoking adventure. I loved every second of it.

Karou is inspirational, just as an artistic young woman living in Prague. And even if that’s all she was, she’d be a great, dynamic character. But she’s so much more than that. And as she begins to uncover the truth of her past and her identity, readers uncover other truths- not just about her world, but about ours, and about how the black and white preconceptions we’ve always believed in have the preeminent potential to be false; a blurred line of grays and hidden truths that exist in place of the ideology we’ve been taught. And amid all of that, simple concepts prevail, like peace and hope.

Laini Taylor is a master storyteller. Her insights, peppered deftly throughout Daughter of Smoke & Bone, could change more than Karou’s world of fictional seraphim and chimaera, but our own world as well. And like Taylor comments, our world is a “wild and inspiring place,” which is all the more apparent after reading her awe-inspiring tale.

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Tags: Book Reviews, Books, Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Fiction, Goodreads, Laini Taylor, Series, YA fiction

Practice Cake by Dalya Moon

Practice Cake by Dalya Moon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book was unlike anything I’ve ever read before. It was realistic, upbeat, and honest. Sometimes hilarious, sometimes bittersweet, Practice Cake is the story of an average girl trying to find herself in a world that doesn’t seem to give her a second look.

Most YA that I read involves teenagers in supernatural worlds, or in abnormal circumstances in dystopian worlds. I’ve never read a book about a teenager in our world, doing normal teenager things. Admittedly, it always sounded a little boring to me, but Practice Cake made me reconsider my hesitation.

In fact, I decided to read this book because my darker selections were giving me odd dreams at night. I opted for some Practice Cake before bed in hopes of some relief, and I was rewarded with more than I expected.

I should warn readers, however, that this book is likely to cause them to make spontaneous trips to their local bakeries. The artistry and detail of the cupcakes, cakes, and cookies sold at Angelo’s Bakery almost made me consider a career change.

Dalya Moon writes with refreshing honesty. This is an essential read for women of all ages.

Note: I received this book from the author, but at no point did she request a review or attempt to influence my opinions.

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Tags: Dalya Moon, eBooks, Practice Cake, YA fiction