I Spy the Illuminati Eye: What's the Big Secret? gets 4 Stars {

The Illuminati aka a secret society about enlightenment that began long ago in a forest in Europe has possible connections to the Freemasons and other secret societies.  To be honest, I've never been one to think and ponder conspiracy theories.  To be honest, I didn't know much about the history of the Illuminati before this book.  However now... who knows, maybe I'll drive my husband bonkers with my Illuminati spottings.  😉

I Spy the Illuminate Eye: What's the Big Secret? by Sheila Keenan is a fun read.  It's an easy read, and it would make a great book (or gift, b/c books make great gifts *hint*hint*) for a middle school or high school student that doesn't  like to read.  The pop culture references and the secret societies are sure to engage every reader.  

After beginning this book with very little secret society knowledge (besides the movie Skulls that I watched way back when Blockbuster was a thing) I found myself engaged and wanting to keep turning the pages.  It's a fun book. Definitely check it out. 

If you are, or become an Illuminati believer, you may start seeing signs of the Illuminati all over.  Have you ever seen: 

• The eye on top of the pyramid found on US money?
• Someone make a symbol of a triangle? 
• A triangle drawn inside a triangle? 
• Seen an eye tattoo? 

The book even shows that the White House Lawns (shaped like an owl), and the top of the Washington Monument (looking down it's a circle with a dot in the middle) are both Illuminati symbols.  

Honestly, this book is quite a fun read, but I'm not sure I can say I'm an Illuminati Believer.  However, since reading I Spy the Illuminati Eye I've caught myself noticing little things here and there and it makes me chuckle and wonder for a second.  

What about you?  Do you find yourself saying "Illuminati Confirmed?" 

I Spy the Illuminati Eye: What's the Big Secret? by Sheila Keenan
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 10+, 4th grade and up
# of Pages:  111
Clean Read: Yes.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.  If conspiracy theories are fun for you, and you want a quick non-fiction read, then definitely give this book a check-out.
Buy It or Not: Maybe.  This book is a quick easy read and a good choice for middle school and high school reluctant readers.
Read Aloud:  No.  Non-fiction usually do not make the best read alouds, but they are fun to browse and read here and there.
Lesson Ideas: Illuminati, Secret Societies, Conspiracy Theories. 

Not that you could tell me if you are in the Illuminati or another secret society, but are you a conspiracy theory/secret society fan???


A few aspects I love about I Spy the Illuminati Eye that may make you grab a copy sooner rather than later:

There are instructions for making invisible ink. (pg 47) So cool! 


The Bohemian Grove, aka quite the gathering of people in a secret society, is a fun party like meeting every July in a redwood forest near San Francisco.  (pg 70)

The Illuminati Charts with famous musicians like Beyonce, Rihanna, and Eminem and their "supposed" Illuminati connections or signs. (pg 100-101)


Thank you Penguin Young Readers for the book to review.  All thoughts and comments are my own. 

Love and Gelato gets 4 Stars {ya lit, contemporary fiction, romance}

Tuscany. Romance. Sweet story. Delicious bakeries. Gelato.  

Seriously, there's not much you can't like about this sweet young adult book.  

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch is a fun book that any teenage girl would enjoy.  There's romance, mystery, great character development, and some deep subjects, like cancer, as well.  A fun book with some depth in topics is hard to find.  There's a lot to love with Love and Gelato, and therefore it's well deserving of it's 4 out of 5 stars rating.  

This novel is a quick read, and even though the story line was almost completely predictable, I'm pretty sure only adults reading this ya book would care about that.  I did feel the growth Lina experienced in the story was great.  I loved seeing, in a glossed over way I believe, how Lina dealt with her mother's death from cancer.  I loved seeing Lina find a father-like figure.  I believe there's a good chance this book could benefit others who have to deal and work through a death in the family especially a parent. 

Overall, this book was the light fun read I was looking for after a heavy book like Ghost Boy. 

If you pick this YA book up, enjoy! 

Happy Fun Light Romance in Tuscany YA Reading!  

Love and Gelato by Jenna Evans Welch
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 13-18 year old girls, 7th grade and up 
Clean Read: Yes, a little language.   
Worth a Check Out: Yes, when you are looking for a fun light read.
Buy It or Not: Yes if you like chick-lit, Meg Cabot, or Ally Carter type of books.  
Book Club Discussion: Did Lina feel obligated to go to Tuscany b/c it was her mother's wish, or her mother's death-bed wish?  Why do you think Lina felt like it was difficult to be social after her mother's death? Cancer is always tough, but do you think it was tougher on Lina b/c she was a teenager?  Would you consider this story a "coming of age" story, if so why?

Did you read Love and Gelato?  What did you think? 

A quote I loved from Love and Gelato: 

"You know, people come to Italy for all sorts of reasons, but when they stay, it's for the same two things." 
"What?"
"Love and gelato."

The Beauty of Darkness gets 3.5 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, series: remnant chronicles #3}

With  Kiss of Deception and Heart of Betrayal read I, of course, had to finish off the Remnant Chronicles by reading The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson. 

This third book in the series gets 3.5 out of 5 stars.  It's a good story, though it does drag a bit more than the others.  The writing of the many action parts of the story felt choppy.  Overall, the writing was good, but it wasn't Pearson's best writing for the series.  Books one and two were far more engrossing with their writing even with the incredibly predictable and sort of annoying love triangle.  

In regards to characters, I felt Lia was a different person in this last book; she was too hardcore and cruel so the change/development wasn't for the better. I was frustrated that in 3 books Lia and Rafe still couldn't communicate and express their true feelings and thoughts.  I thought Kaden made a quick jump to team Lia and it would've been nice to see more struggle.  All in all, the characters were weaker and less developed in this last book.  
There are things I liked about the book.  I liked that it was a clean read.  I  liked that the main character is a strong girl.  I liked her brother's unwavering trust in Lia.  I liked the happy ending the minor characters received, but I was frustrated by the abruptness of the ending for Lia and Rafe.  

I really did like The Beauty of Darkness, but I don't think I would've been disappointed had I not read it.  I may have enjoyed the series more if hadn't b/c the ending left me with a bitter taste in my mouth for the series.  

Did you read the series?  What were your feelings of the last book? What would you rate the entire series?  I  think I'd give the series 4 stars, but that third book may have to lower that score. 

If you do pick up this book, and the Remnant of Chronicles series, Happy Fun Young Adult Fantasy reading!


The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson
Rating: 3.5/5 stars
Best For: 14 and up, 8th grade and up.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: No, unless you really need complete series in your life and you bought Kiss of Deception and Heart of Betrayal
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Topics: Lia ran from her fate of an arranged marriage, but did she stay true to herself when it came to her fate with the Book of Venda? Did you like or dislike Kaden's ending?  Lia and Rafe, good or bad ending?  

The Heart of Betrayal gets 4 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, series: remnant chronicles #2}

The Kiss of Deception, Book 1 in the Remnant Chronicles didn't leave me, as the reader, hanging for the next book, but it did grab my attention and make me want to read the next book.  I quickly requested it from the library.  Personally, I feel it is a sign of a good book when it makes me want to read the next one in the series, or it makes you sad the book is over.  I personally think a good author doesn't need a major cliff hanger to bring readers back.  Cliff hangers are cheap to me.  

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson is Book 2 in the Remnant Chronicles series.  Overall, this book and the series is fun, and it causes the reader to not want to put their book down.  

This clean read would be best for 8th grade and up.  

4 out of 5 stars is what The Heart of Betrayal earned.  It's a fun book where Lia still grew as a character with her gifts and her confidence.  I loved that Lia did some of the really hard things, and that she was able to treat the people with love.   There were parts of the story that I truly did not see coming, especially when it came to her dealings with the Komizar. (Wow!) The writing and the story line were good, and in my opinion it was a solid 2nd book for the trilogy.  

However, not everything was fantastic for me.  There were parts of the story that were a little convenient.  The Komizar not know Rafe was the Prince was a bit too convenient for me.  Lia, able to sneak around the castle, learn the language so perfectly and become the leader and person the people of Venda adored and needed also seemed a little too perfect.  The pace of the story dragged on a bit in Venda too. To be honest, it wasn't painfully slow, but it was a touch slow in parts.    

As I mentioned above, a major cliff hanger at the end of the book seems like a cop out for the author.  Sure, it's easier and can get your readers back, but it seems sloppy to me b/c you don't tie things up.  The Heart of Betrayal has a major cliff hanger, and I was frustrated by that.  Obviously, my review for Book 3: The Beauty of Darkness will come this week.  

All in all, The Heart of Betrayal is a great book, and a good 2nd book in the series.       


Happy Fun Young Adult Fantasy reading!

The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 14 and up, 8th grade and up.
Worth a Check Out: Yes.
Buy It or Not: Yes, if you bought Kiss of Deception
Read Aloud: No.
Book Club Discussion Topics: Did you think the storyline was well crafted, or were there too many convenient aspects to the story?  What is the benefit for a society ran like Venda?  Do you think there are no rules when it comes to survival?  Did you like book 1 or book 2 better, and why? 

What did you think of The Heart of Betrayal? 

Refugee gets 5 Stars {historical fiction, middle grade fiction}

Germany, Cuba, Syria aren't known for having too much in common.  Three different places.  Three different times. Three different families.  Refugee by Alan Gratz is the common denominator.  

Refugee gets 5 out of 5 stars in my book review of this upper middle grade (great choice for teens and adults as well) historical fiction.  This book is fantastic, powerful, emotional, inspiring, eye-opening, and a chance to change who you are and how you treat others. 

Refugee is well deserving of the 5 star rating.  It's a clean read (with some intense parts) and perfect for 5th grade through 10th grade.  However, all teens and adults could greatly benefit from and enjoy this read.   The chapters are short and perfect for short attention spans.  There's enough detail, but it isn't a super wordy read which is great for this targeted audience. All in all, the format and writing of the story is well done.      

Gratz intertwines three different characters, all refugees, from different time periods and different locations.  The connection between the three isn't as intertwined as other books I've read, like Echo.  Even though I was a tad confused at first and wasn't sure how these, what seemed to be, different stories would connect they did come together.  

I really enjoyed the stories of Josef, Isabel, and Mahmoud, and I gained new insight into a refugees life.  Josef a Jewish boy from Germany was trying to get to Cuba with his family in the 1930s.  Isabel, a Cuban girl in 1994 was trying to take a man made boat to America with her family and close friends. Mahmoud, a Syrian boy in 2015 was trying to escape to Germany with his family.  All three refugees had heartbreaking moments.  All three refugees reminded me of the importance of families and how quickly lives can change.  All three refugees had a somewhat happy ending even though they did go through a lot of hardship.  I liked their mostly happy ending, but I also realize not all refugees have happy endings.  I wouldn't say it is an uplifting book, b/.c there were times i was saddened for these characters.  However, Refugee is a very enlightening read, and I really enjoyed it.  

This book is powerful.  Teachers, parents, and librarians should try and get this book into the hands of as many kids, and adults, as you can.  There is power in this book to change people, and maybe help others to reach out to help refugees.  I have a good friend who has been working with Lifting Hands International.  This organization works with and helps refugees in a myriad of ways.  My friend says, volunteering with this organization and helping these people has changed her in ways she didn't know was possible.  She loves working with them, and she loves working with these amazingly strong and grateful refugees.

After reading this book, I realize the importance and need to help refugees.  What they go through isn't easy, but instead usually heartbreaking and extremely difficult.  What did you realize after reading this book? 

Happy Powerful and Emotional Historical Fiction reading! 

Refugee by Alan Gratz
Rating: 5/5 stars
Best For: 11 - 16 year olds, 5th through 11th grade.
Worth a Check Out: Yes, check it out.
Buy It or Not: It's a great purchase.
Read Aloud: Middle school teachers even early high school teachers could have some powerful discussions and essays written about this book. 
Lesson Ideas: History, Refugees, WWII, Cuba, Syria, Will to Live, Choices, Most value, How to help, Should government allow more refugees, etc. 

Caraval gets 4 Stars {ya lit, fantasy, subscription box}

What do you get when you mix the books Night Circus and Mr. Lemoncello's Library?  Caraval by Stephanie Garber is most definitely the answer.

This fantasy young adult fiction novel has the magic of a traveling circus of sorts, but a scavenger hunt type of a game.  It's a fun read, and earns 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  

I felt Caraval was a well written story, with a complex storyline, and good character development.  There were many aspects of the story that surprised me; I find myself feeling this novel was creative, fun, and unpredictable story with a happy ending.  It was definitely a fun read.   

The fun unpredictable story was great, but I also truly loved seeing Scarlett grow in confidence throughout the story.  Scarlett started as a girl that was afraid of her abusive father and throughout the story she began trusting herself more, standing up for herself, and even fighting for what she wanted.  Confidence is something I believe teens could definitely use more of, and a book that highlights how a character builds her confidence is definitely worthy of a check-out. 

Caraval is a mostly clean read.  There is no language, sex, or drugs, but there is violence related to action as well as sex being referred to tho it never happened.

In regards to the audience, this book is best geared for 8th graders and up.  It's a long book, and not a constant page turner therefore it is not for the reluctant reader.  However, reluctant readers, and all y'all that drive a lot or find life is too busy to read, will really enjoy the audiobook, which is well read, and gets you into the setting and suspense that much more.

A few aspects of the story that I wish was done better is in regards to the romance and the abuse.  Scarlett's romance with Julian was a bit too instant, but I guess that is the YA coming out.  Though, the romance just seemed too sudden and unbelievable.  I also felt the parent-child abuse Scarlett and Donatella experience by their father wasn't dealt with.  With abuse being a big aspect to the story, I feel Garber missed an opportunity to give her book more value and depth.

Overall, Caraval is a fun story.  It isn't amazing, but it's an enjoyable light fantasy read.  Definitely give it a check-out this summer. 

Just so you have a better idea of the storyline, Amazon had the following book description: 

"Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . beware of getting swept too far away."

I got this book in my February Owlcrate box, but it took me a couple months before I could get around to reading it. However, I felt the box was fun even though I don't use a lot of it. The tote bag does make an excellent piano lessons bag for my daughter, and the cotton candy chapstick is pretty fun. 

What did you think of Caraval? 

Happy Fantasy YA Lit Reading!  


Caraval by Stephanie Garber
Rating: 4/5 stars
Best For: 13 - 18 year olds, 8th grade and upWorth a Check Out: Yes!
Buy It or Not: Not.
Read Aloud: it's a great audiobook, so it could be a great read aloud, but I probably wouldn't.
Lesson Ideas: Confidence, Family relationships

Dumplin' gets 3.5 Stars {YA} {Realistic/Contemporary Fiction}

Dumplin' by Julie Murphy is a a YA/Young Adult/Teen read about an overweight girl that breaks stereotypes.  It's a fun contemporary fiction about Willowdean, a 16 year old, learning more about herself, what she is capable of, true friendship, and a little of what love and romance is. 

I give Dumplin' 3.5 out of 5 Stars in my book review. This fun quick read is good, but it wasn't great.  I liked that it was about breaking stereotypes. I liked that it is a book about a fat girl (she calls herself that, not me) and the struggles she has with loving and accepting herself.  I liked that this book, a first in a soon to be series, was a light, quick read.  

However, I didn't like that this book had so much potential and just left me with a "Meh" feeling.  I didn't like that Willowdean really didn't have a positive body image or herself when a book about breaking stereotypes and a fat girl really should have.

Overall, I liked Dumplin', but it wasn't amazing.  However, teenage girls in 9th grade and up would enjoy this read, and they probably wouldn't over analyze it like I do.  As far as content is concerned this book has language, underage drinking, and sex is talked about.  It's not squeaky clean, but it wasn't offensive. 

Amazon had the following book description: 

"For fans of John Green and Rainbow Rowell comes this powerful novel with the most fearless heroine—self-proclaimed fat girl Willowdean Dickson—from Julie Murphy, the acclaimed author of Side Effects May Vary. With starry Texas nights, red candy suckers, Dolly Parton songs, and a wildly unforgettable heroine—Dumplin’ is guaranteed to steal your heart.

Dubbed “Dumplin’” by her former beauty queen mom, Willowdean has always been at home in her own skin. Her thoughts on having the ultimate bikini body? Put a bikini on your body. With her all-American-beauty best friend, Ellen, by her side, things have always worked . . .  until Will takes a job at Harpy’s, the local fast-food joint. There she meets Private School Bo, a hot former jock. Will isn’t surprised to find herself attracted to Bo. But she is surprised when he seems to like her back.  

Instead of finding new heights of self-assurance in her relationship with Bo, Will starts to doubt herself. So she sets out to take back her confidence by doing the most horrifying thing she can imagine: entering the Miss Teen Blue Bonnet Pageant—along with several other unlikely candidates—to show the world that she deserves to be up there as much as any twiggy girl does. Along the way, she’ll shock the hell out of Clover City—and maybe herself most of all."

To be honest, I would put this book more in line with Rainbow Rowell; I think John Green's writing has more depth, but Dumplin' is still a fun read.  

Hare you read this book?  Are you going to read it? Go check it out! 

Happy Fun Light Contemporary Fiction Reading! 

Echo gets 4.5 Stars {Middle Grade Fiction} {Historical Fiction} {Newbery Honor}

I'm not sure if it is just me or if there is an influx of WWII books, but I have read A LOT of World War II historical fiction books in the past year.  I want to say I've read more WWII historical fictions this past year than the 10 previously, but that may not be completely accurate.  

I've told you before that I love historical fictions, and WWII historical fictions may be my favorite.  However, this past year I've read some truly AMAZING WWII historical fiction books. Nightingale, which I reviewed here, and The War That Saved My Life which will be reviewed on the blog tomorrow are my absolute two favorite books as of late. .

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan wrote this long, almost 600 page, amazing WWII historical fiction novel for kids between 5th and 10th grade.

I give this book 4.5 out of 5 stars.  This book was oh so close to earning the coveted perfect score, but I had just a couple minor glitches with it.  Echo was just a bit confusing at first and hard to get into.  I was especially confused when the story switched points of view as well as settings; it was a challenge and also difficult to get back into.  My only other questionable aspect of the story is that it's geared towards 5th grade and up, but it is a really long book that only bookworms would finish or even pick up.  I think 7th grade is the youngest I'd go, but a bookworm in 5th grade I'd let him or her read it.     

Echo is an absolutely beautiful story.  The way Ryan weaves the story together using an object was original and a lot of fun to read.  It also kept me thinking about the story once finished; that's a sign of a great book.  Pam Munoz Ryan really is an amazing author; every story I've read of hers is well written, complex, beautiful, and leaves you feeling empowered.  It's no wonder Ryan won a Newbery Honor this year for this book, and to be honest I'm surprised Echo only won the runner-up aka Honor book for the Odyssey Award.

The Odyssey Award is an award given to the best audiobook for children or teens, and Echo won the Honor medal for it.  I absolutely loved the audiobook production of Echo that I checked out from the library.  This book is a very musical book, and the music lover will love this well written book.  However, I would suggest everyone listen to the audiobook b/c the music pieces that is referenced in the book is actually played in the audiobook using a harmonica.  It is AMAZING for the non-musical person.  The audiobook truly made the book for me.  I liked the written book, but I loved the audiobook of Echo.  

Now, if you have a music loving student get them this audiobook to enjoy.  The great thing about audiobooks is if you have a less than excited reader, aka reluctant reader, they can listen to this book as they read it.  This reading/teaching strategy is something you can do for every book.  The student will enjoy the story and still benefit from listening to it

Definitely go check Echo out!  

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal: 

"Long before enchantment was eclipsed by doubt," a young boy named Otto lost in the woods is rescued by three sisters imprisoned there by a witch's curse. In return, he promises to help break the curse by carrying their spirits out of the forest in a mouth harp and passing the instrument along when the time is right. The narrative shifts to the 20th century, when the same mouth harp (aka harmonica) becomes the tangible thread that connects the stories of three children: Friedrich, a disfigured outcast; Mike, an impoverished orphan; and Ivy, an itinerant farmer's child. Their personal struggles are set against some of the darkest eras in human history: Friedrich, the rise of Nazi Germany; Mike, the Great Depression; Ivy, World War II. The children are linked by musical talent and the hand of fate that brings Otto's harmonica into their lives. Each recognizes something unusual about the instrument, not only its sound but its power to fill them with courage and hope. Friedrich, Mike, and Ivy are brought together by music and destiny in an emotionally triumphant conclusion at New York's Carnegie Hall. Meticulous historical detail and masterful storytelling frame the larger history, while the story of Otto and the cursed sisters honor timeless and traditional folktales. Ryan has created three contemporary characters who, through faith and perseverance, write their own happy endings, inspiring readers to believe they can do the same."

Echo is a great book and a clean read, and it is an amazing audiobook!  Go find either version/copy at your library!

Happy Award Winning WWII Historical Fiction book reading and/or listening!

Splintered gets 3 Stars {YA} {Fairytale Twist}

Splintered by A.G. Howard is the first of a four book urban Alice in Wonderland twist story.  The four books in the series are Splintered, Unhinged, Ensnared, and Untamed. 

Splintered is her first book, and apparently she got the idea for this book and series while working in a school library.  Go school libraries!  

I read Splintered for book club; it was actually the book I suggested.  I love book clubs and I love when you read books everyone chooses.  That will usually allow you to read a wide variety of books.  We've read 18th century settings as well as urban fairy tale settings.  I think the variety is good. 

I give Splintered 3 out of 5 stars.  Now to be honest I wish I could've given it 4.5 of 5 stars; it's always fun to suggest an awesome book for book club. :) If you are looking for a great book for your book club just click on the "5 Stars" tag.  

I feel this book was just blah.  It dragged on and was incredibly cheesy, and I do not plan to read the others in the series.  There were several lines Alyssa and Jeb said in their little romance that was a bit dorky and childish (though I guess middle school or high school kids wouldn't mind).  I also felt the obvious characterization lacked originality; there are too many books with the main character in love with the handsome guy who's dating the mean rich and beautiful girl.

Now, I am all for fairy tale retellings or fairy tales with a twist; I love them. However, I was disappointed with Splintered.  If you love modern day fairy tale retellings give Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce a read; his Fairytale Retelling series is fun. 

Splintered is a mostly clean read.  There was no sex, drug use, or language that I can recall.  However, there were some adult ideas and sex and virgnity was talked about.  As we discussed in book club, the writing is geared towards middle school girls, but some of those adult topics make it inappropriate for some parents to allow their children to read.  

Though, there were things I liked.  I think the setting and it's descriptions were fascinating, and the idea of it would make a great movie with a lot of action.  I also think this book would drag a little less if you enjoyed it as an audiobook.  I also think Morpheus, the most interesting character, was written well.  During the reading I found myself going back and forth with him being a good guy or a bad guy.

All in all, it's okay.  If you love Alice in Wonderland or you are looking for an audiobook series to enjoy give this one a read.  

Amazon had the following book review from School Library Journal:

"This darker, modern update of Alice in Wonderland is more likely to please fans of Tim Burton's film adaptation than those of Lewis Carroll's novel. Alyssa, 16, is a descendant of Alice Liddell, the girl who was Carroll's inspiration for Alice. Her mother lives in a mental institution, and she herself struggles with hearing voices from insects and flowers. Do the women in her family suffer from a curse that can somehow be traced back to the original Alice? The opening chapters drag a bit, but the action picks up when Alyssa finds herself in Wonderland, fighting for her survival-and for her mother's sanity. Howard maintains a lush atmosphere throughout, reintroducing Carroll's characters as truly nightmarish monsters. Though Alyssa's ongoing quests can sometimes seem aimless and the requisite love triangle forced, teens looking for a creepy, descriptive read with a generous dollop of romance will gravitate toward this title."         


Have you read Splintered? What did you think? 


Happy Fun Modern Alice in Wonderland Fairy Tale Twist Reading! 

Star Cursed gets 4.5 Stars {Supernatural, Fantasy} {YA} {Cahill Witch Chronicles #2}

Star Cursed by Jessica Spotswood is the 2nd Book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles, and I liked it better than Born Wicked, the first one.  Just like I mentioned in Born Wicked's book review, if you are in 7th grade through high school and you like the Vampire Diaries or the House of Night series you should give this one a read; it's completely clean with a slight romance and a lot of action.   

However, read Born Wicked first; this is definitely a book series that needs to be read in order if you want to avoid frustration and confusion.      

I give Star Cursed 4.5 out of 5 Stars.  For not being a supernatural fan I'm sure enjoying this book series.  For the most part it was fast paced and kept my attention.  I felt the character development had more depth than the first book, and I loved seeing the complexity of Finn, Tess, Maura, as well as Cate.  I will say I was a little annoyed with Cate at times, but I felt her actions were true to her age and maturity level.  I enjoyed the strong female characters in Cate, Maura, and Tess; I especially love the storyline of Tess really coming into her own.  

Star Cursed lost 1/2 a star for one of the same reasons as Born Wicked.  Spotswood seems to really love the drastic cliffhanger at the end of the book; these cliffhangers remind me of James Dashner and the Maze Runner series.  I feel the drastic cliffhanger is a weaker writing style and down right mean to readers.  The end of Star Cursed had me upset; I honestly, out loud said, "Ahhhhh!  How could she do that?!"  She being Maura, but that is all I am going to tell you. 

I have already requested the 3rd book, Sister's Fate.  Are you reading this series?       

Amazon had the following book review from Booklist.  It should give you a better picture of the plot and storyline. 

"In the second title in the Witches of Cahill series, Cate, a protected novitiate at the Sisterhood’s convent, is being groomed to be Sister Cora’s successor. Yet she has never had a vision and, in spite of her mind-magic and healing powers, is unable to hold an illusion for more than a few minutes. She doubts her own designation within the prophecy as the most powerful witch in centuries, especially once her sisters Maura and Tess arrive at the convent. Maura grandly announces her intent to join forces with Sister Inez, who is determined to wage war on the evil Brotherhood; sweet Tess seems older, wiser, and more prescient than her 12 years. The Brotherhood’s blatant vendetta against all women regardless of age; their imprisonment and torture of those females who are merely suspected of being outside the norm; and Maura’s jealousy and frustration with her older sister—not to mention lovers Cate and Finn’s clandestine meetings—make for a riveting paranormal-historical fiction adventure whose outcome readers will absolutely refuse to accept without a sequel, a fait accompli the author has promised in a recent blog post." 

Happy Plot Driven Supernatural Book Series Reading!

Did you read this book?  What was your reaction to the end of the book? 

Born Wicked gets 4 Stars {Fantasy, Supernatural} {YA}

Born Wicked by Jessica Spotswood is the first book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles.  It's a YA/Young Adult/Teen Read, and it was definitely written for the junior high and/or high school girls who love the supernatural genre.  If you liked Twilight, Vampire Diaries, House of Night book series, or even the Young Elites then you will be a fan of this fantasy/supernatural book series. 

I give Born Wicked 4 out of 5 stars in my book review.  I feel Born Wicked is a great series for the YA supernatural genre for girls.  I liked the alternative historical setting to the Salem Witch Trials time period; I liked the idea of the "Brotherhood" similar to the Puritans controlling society with the "Sisterhood" which is full of witches no one knows about.  I liked Cate, Maura, and Tess; their sister relationship was fun to read.  I really liked Tess; she's awesome!  I liked the character development, and I loved that it was a clean read with no sex, language, or even violence.  I liked the strong female characters, and felt that Cate as a teenager trying to figure herself out and find her way was correctly portrayed.  I liked that the story wasn't predictable and kept a good pace once it got going.  All in all, I really thought Born Wicked was a fun light read perfect for the beach or a rainy day. 

Born Wicked lost a star for two reasons.  First, the beginning of the book was a bit slow to get moving; a lot of people I saw on Goodreads abandoned ship and DNF (did not finish).  The second reason this book lost a star is b/c of the blatant series push and the cliffhanger ending.  I think it is poor writing or a poor storyline decision for an author to have such a blatant cliff hanger ending just to get you to read the next book.  However, besides those two reasons I did thoroughly enjoy the book. 

I am not much of a supernatural genre (a branch of the fantasy genre) fan, but I enjoyed this read enough to want to read the 2nd and 3rd books in the series.  So, I guess that is saying something. 

Have you read Born Wicked; what did you think? 

Amazon had the following book review from Booklist so you can get a better idea of the storyline. 

"The prophecy written in Mother’s diary is clear: “A trio of sisters will come of age, all witches. One of the sisters, who will be gifted with mind-magic, will be the most powerful witch born in centuries.” Her daughters—Cate, Maura, and Tess—compose the trio, and Cate is the one who possesses mind-magic. But Mother is dead, Father is oblivious, and the Brotherhood is intent on stamping out all witches in New England in an effort to squelch female independence and initiative. How can Cate protect herself and her sisters from the Brotherhood’s terrifying scrutiny? Spotswood has melded historical fiction with the paranormal into an intriguing story of witchcraft, family responsibility, and unrequited love. A constant undercurrent of uneasiness permeates the novel; readers will find themselves tantalized by Cate’s two suitors and their marriage proposals, terrified by the Brotherhoods hatred and disgust of girls and women, and frustrated at the necessity to wait for the second book in the Cahill Witch Chronicles to learn what becomes of the sisters."

Happy Supernatural Feminist YA Book reading! 

Audiobook fans...

I was able to listen to part of this book on audiobook and felt the reader was great!  It didn't drag nearly as much on audiobook.  However, books 2 and 3 are not on audiobook as far as I can tell. 

The Rose Society gets 4 Stars (Young Elites #2} {YA} {Series}

The Rose Society by Marie Lu is the second book in the Young Elites series.  This series is full of action and has a slight love/romance to it just like the Legend series. 

I give The Rose Society 4 out of 5 Stars.  It's a good book and an entertaining series, but I do not like it as much as Lu's last series.  The character development of Adelina, the main character, is well written; it really is quite impressive that Lu is able to have an anti-hero as the main character and some people actually like her.

I know some people actually like Adelina.  She's powerful and ambitious, but to me she is a little annoying.  I don't like how hung up on power and revenge she is to the point of treating, even her sister whom she loves, so poorly.  As a redeeming quality, Adelina is finally realizing that even though she may be getting the revenge and power she thinks she wants she is at least realizing that being alone with her accomplishments isn't all that great.  

I do like this book, but there is too much darkness in it for me. The story is dark and full of action and violence, but besides the action/violence it is a clean story.  

This Young Adult/Teen read is a great story for boys and girls alike in ninth grade or above.  However, younger students/readers that don't mind the action and darkness will be fine reading this series.  

This book lost a star in my book review b/c there were aspects in the story I didn't love. I didn't love how dark the story was, and I didn't love how cruel, and somewhat evil, Adelina, the main character, was.  The love story, well love stories, was okay.  I liked one of them, and the other one just made me mad.    

All in all, I am glad I read the book.  However, I have learned that I do have a darkness limit, and to be honest I'm not sure I can handle the third book.  Though, I'm sure I'll read it b/c I'm a sucker for a series.  

Amazon had the following book review to give you a little more detail into the storyline.  

"Once upon a time, a girl had a father, a prince, a society of friends. Then they betrayed her, so she destroyed them all." Lu's epic series takes a dark, gritty turn with her latest offering. Adelina, known as the White Wolf, has fled Kenettra with Violetta, her sister, in order to recruit other malfettos (superpowered humans) for revenge upon the Inquisition—the faction that killed her love Enzo and countless other malfettos. Turned out and betrayed by her former comrades, the Daggers, Adelina is determined to form her own army, especially once she stumbles upon the near-mythical malfetto named Magiano. As the leader of the Inquisition, Teren, continues to search for Adelina so he can destroy her, she turns toward a more somber facet of her energy. Her path explodes into a dizzying array of power, murder, and revenge, leaving Adelina to question her true nature. When a malfetto queen conspires to raise Enzo from the dead, Adelina must face, once and for all, her feelings and her desires for power. What sets this novel apart is Adelina's slow spiral into bleak, joyless corruption; Lu doesn't wrap up the narrative with a shiny bow. Teens will be fascinated to watch the main character descend into villainy and revel in it. VERDICT Fans of Sarah Maas's Throne of Glass (Bloomsbury, 2012) and Sabaa Tahir's An Ember in the Ashes (Penguin, 2015) will enjoy the author's latest."

How are you with Dark stories?

Happy Dark Fantasy and Action YA Reading!  

What are you reading?