[I'm-So-Sad Mini-Review] The Darkest Part of the Forest

The Darkest Part of the Forest
by Holly Black 

Children can have a cruel, absolute sense of justice. Children can kill a monster and feel quite proud of themselves. A girl can look at her brother and believe they’re destined to be a knight and a bard who battle evil. She can believe she’s found the thing she’s been made for.

Hazel lives with her brother, Ben, in the strange town of Fairfold where humans and fae exist side by side. The faeries’ seemingly harmless magic attracts tourists, but Hazel knows how dangerous they can be, and she knows how to stop them. Or she did, once.

At the center of it all, there is a glass coffin in the woods. It rests right on the ground and in it sleeps a boy with horns on his head and ears as pointed as knives. Hazel and Ben were both in love with him as children. The boy has slept there for generations, never waking.

Until one day, he does…

As the world turns upside down, Hazel tries to remember her years pretending to be a knight. But swept up in new love, shifting loyalties, and the fresh sting of betrayal, will it be enough?

 GOODREADS 

The rating itself is more of 2.5 stars which according to Goodreads is a little more than "it was okay". It saddens me, really. But no matter how intriguing the plot was and no matter how much I love the book cover, I just could not get into the book. 

From the very beginning, I was in love with the idea of the book. Fae folk living together with regulars and having a sleeping boy in a glass coffin in their woods. Dark, creepy fairy tale dream of every girl. But the writing style itself and the actually story itself was not enough to made me want to read it. But I tried. And I probably felt like my heart was being broken a little bit. Because how can you make such an appealing story become into.... That!

#ImDone

[Top Ten Tuesday] #26 - 2014 Releases I Didn't Get To

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given.

!Top Ten 2014 Releases I meant to Read But Didn't Get To!

I'm still pretty shaken up about how fast the year went. One moment you're planning your reviews on the Summer's release days & the next you're writing about last year's releases that you didn't get it. You want to know the saddest thing? I actually had couple of ARCs for the books listed below but just never downloaded them until they went into archived. & then the continuation of the catch up with Blog Tours and trying to figure out which book is best to be read in order to meet the deadline. 

I really hope I'm not the only one out there that does not because that would be me feel really really bad hehe But maybe that's why at the end of the year I felt burned out because of so many deadlines. 2015 definitely will have to be about enjoying the books more & not worrying about due dates (although those need to be met as well lol)

 Unhinged| This Star Won't Go Out| Exquisite Captive | Don't You Forget About Me | Sea of Shadows | Love, In English | Maybe Someday | Vivian Divine is Dead | Rebel Belle | Snow Like Ashes

What's on your list today? Leave the link below so I can stop by and check it out!! Happy Tuesday! xoxo 

[Book Review] The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley by Shaun Hutchinson

The Five Stages of Andrew 
by Shaun Hutchinson 

Andrew Brawley was supposed to die that night. His parents did, and so did his sister, but he survived.

Now he lives in the hospital. He serves food in the cafeteria, he hangs out with the nurses, and he sleeps in a forgotten supply closet. Drew blends in to near invisibility, hiding from his past, his guilt, and those who are trying to find him.

Then one night Rusty is wheeled into the ER, burned on half his body by hateful classmates. His agony calls out to Drew like a beacon, pulling them both together through all their pain and grief. In Rusty, Drew sees hope, happiness, and a future for both of them. A future outside the hospital, and away from their pasts.

But Drew knows that life is never that simple. Death roams the hospital, searching for Drew, and now Rusty. Drew lost his family, but he refuses to lose Rusty, too, so he’s determined to make things right. He’s determined to bargain, and to settle his debts once and for all.

But Death is not easily placated, and Drew’s life will have to get worse before there is any chance for things to get better.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

"There's a hole in me. A gaping wound. Every part of me misses every part of them. And it never stops hurting. I can't bear the thought of missing you, too."

The Five Stages of Andrew Brawley is a lot more emotional read that I expected it to be. With so much pain, loss, and grief, it is no wonder this is one of the book that I was mostly excited about in the new year.

"Life is about more than hate. It takes more than anger to make a hero."

He lost his family and could not stop blaming himself for it. There is no more life outside of the hospital for Andrew because everyone who he considered to love has died because of him. The stupid text that he just had to read while driving. But Death was late coming from him and now he tries to escape Her while living in the hospital and pretending to be one of the staff. 

He makes some friends with the nurses and patients, especially Trevor and Lexi. And then there's Rusty. The most beautiful boy that Andrew have seen and who might make him want to live again. Although he was on fire. And the pain and memory of that fire does not escape the mind that easily. 

"This hospital isn't my purgatory. It's my hell. The punishment I deserve. I will stay here until the end of my days. Until the sun finally sets. Until the worms rise up and devour me. Until Death extends her long-fingered hand and drags me away."

I'm sure there was definitely something wrong with Andrew. No one can escape the car accident and completely be normal and just walk away. I had to wonder if Death was actually real when everyone was seeing just a regular woman so it was interesting how it was a cross between reality and fantasy. All the characters were lovable, especially Trevor and Lexi. They were so simple but yet perfect for the story itself. 

Comic strips between the story were a little off hand but I loved how they ended up playing at the end. Definitely haven't seen that coming & had the *gasp* moment. Just incredible!

[Top Ten Tuesday] #25 - Can't Wait for 2015 Debut Novels

This is a meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish where each week bloggers share a list of books for the prompt given.

!Top Ten Most Anticipated Debut Novels For 2015!

Wow. I just double checked and the last time I did Top Ten was like in summer. What is wrong with me?? Well not to fear! I am going to be a lot better about these lists because... well... it's awesome! & it's lists! Awesome lists. Ahem. So here it goes. The most anticipated debut novels for 2015. Do you guys think that there just will be TONS of new authors this year? If I wrote a book, it would definitely be a good number for me to be published. & if you are like me and had to Google what debut novels mean - it's the first novel of the author, kind of like an introduction to their name & writing style. You're welcome!

  

Red Queen| My Heart & Other Black Holes| Conspiracy of Us

  

Made You Up| Vendetta| Hello, I Love You

  

Mindwalker| Duplicity| Damage Done

What's on your list today? Leave the link below so I can stop by and check it out!! Happy Tuesday! xoxo 

[DNF Mini-Review] Under Different Stars by Amy A. Bartol

Under Different Stars
by Amy A. Bartol 

All she wants is a home, but can she find one...UNDER DIFFERENT STARS 

Kricket Hollowell is normally not one to wish upon stars; she believes they’re rarely in her favor. Well versed at dodging caseworkers from Chicago’s foster care system, the past few years on her own have made Kricket an expert at the art of survival and blending in. With her 18th birthday fast approaching, she dreams of the day when she can stop running and find what her heart needs most: a home. 

Trey Allairis hates Earth and doubts that anyone from his world can thrive here. What he’s learning of Kricket and her existence away from her true home only confirms his theory. But, when he and Kricket lie together under the stars of Ethar, counting them all may be easier than letting her go. 

Kyon Ensin’s secrets number the stars; he knows more about Kricket's gifts than anyone and plans to possess her because of them. He also knows she’s more valuable than any fire in the night sky. He’ll move the heavens and align them all in order to make her his own. 

When everything in their world can be broken, will Kricket rely upon love to save her under different stars? 

 GOODREADS

Although Under Different Stars had an incredible beginning with very likable & overall badass heroine, I would have to say that unfortunately I was not able to finish this one. 

I liked Kricket. Really did. Her ability to be strong & witty no matter what the situation is and actually surviving the world with having to depend on anyone is impressive. But somewhere in between the insta-love, aliens, and overall strange world, I lost interest. So disappointing.

[Stacking The Shelves] #27 - Digital All-the-Way

Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews featuring the books we got this week.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! Can you believe it's already 2015? I'm sure you heard this hundreds of times but it's still true though right? & what did they say? 2030 is just as close to us as 2000 was? I still think 10 years ago was 1990 so let's not get crazy here. 

Anyway... Digitals. I remember when e-ARCs were so popular and everyone wanted to get their hands on them as soon as they could. Is this still true? I value print books so much more now but still love me some ecopies for convenience. So I went a little crazy and might have got a little too much than I should.. Here's the titles that I have been approved for this week, so excited for them! 

   

   

What's on your list today?  Leave comments below & I'll return the favor! 

[Book Review] Dancing with Molly by Lena Horowitz

Dancing with Molly
by Lena Horowitz

Before, I was never the life of the party. I was the reliable one. The one no one had to worry about. The one no one had to think about. I was the one that everyone could ignore.

Until that night, when everything changed and I finally became someone.

Someone special.

Someone noticeable. 

Someone Carson might actually care about, as much as I cared about him.

But the cost of being someone is more than anyone can imagine. For every moment, there’s a price to pay. For every party. For every choice made. For every kiss.

Ultimately, living a life of PURE ECSTASY might be no different from not living at all.

AMAZON | GOODREADS 

Dancing with Molly is a multidimentional book in which I felt conflicted whether or not I actually agreed with the writing. The writing style itself was in a Diary form so it was very light and engaging. The thing that bothered me most is that by reading this book, I got an urge to do molly. & that is not what anyone should be thinking when reading a book. 

Story itself was very simple. You have your typical teenage girl who's not very popular and she likes to refer to herself as "band geek". Always in her sister's shadow who is hot, popular, and is confident - she just wants something to herself. So that's when she agrees to do some E (ecstasy) with her friend. The feelings that she described are so real and detailed, it really made me skip the pages because I was really into it. 

Next thing you know she tries molly which everyone refers to as "pure bliss" and they're right. She feels amazing and getting attention of a hot football player is definitely a benefit as well. Although she comes off as very self-centered and insecure, it's amazing to see the progression of her spiral. Her relationships around her and mistakes that she makes are what anyone would have and the details of everything are amazing. 

The only reason why I didn't rate this five stars is because of the reason I mentioned earlier. Books are supposed to inspire people to be better and to get lost in reality. I wouldn't want anyone to stop what their doing and try to get lost in drugs. Word is powerful and I just wish that noone will have the urge to try it.

coming june 2015! add to goodreads now >