Dear Martin (ARC Review)

Dear Martin by Nic Stone
Genre: Young Adult/Contemporary
Page Length: 224 pages
Format: ARC (received at BookCon)
Publisher: Crown Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 17, 2017

About Dear Martin (via Goodreads):

Justyce McAllister is top of his class, captain of the debate team, and set for the Ivy League next year—but none of that matters to the police officer who just put him in handcuffs. He is eventually released without charges (or an apology), but the incident has Justyce spooked. Despite leaving his rough neighborhood, he can’t seem to escape the scorn of his former peers or the attitude of his prep school classmates. The only exception: Sarah Jane, Justyce’s gorgeous—and white—debate partner he wishes he didn’t have a thing for.

Struggling to cope with it all, Justyce starts a journal to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. But do Dr. King’s teachings hold up in the modern world? Justyce isn’t so sure.

Then comes the day Justyce goes driving with his best friend, Manny, windows rolled down, music turned up. Way up. Much to the fury of the white off-duty cop beside them. Words fly. Shots are fired. And Justyce and Manny get caught in the crosshairs. In the media fallout, it’s Justyce who is under attack. The truth of what happened that night—some would kill to know. Justyce is dying to forget.

Nic Stone's debut novel left me speechless and an emotional mess in the best of ways. Dear Martin was such a poignant yet hopeful debut and it told such an important story that is an absolute must-read for anyone and everyone.

Unapologetically real and raw, Dear Martin made me feel all the feels. LITERALLY ALL OF THEM. I was sobbing, screaming, shaking, and gasping in shock all in the span of 200ish pages (plus the bonus instances when I nearly threw my book across the room in anger or wanted to smack my head against all surfaces in annoyance).

The screaming, sobbing, and book-flinging emotions definitely were not a detriment though. Nic Stone delivered an emotional rollercoaster of a book, and the pure emotions I felt while reading about Justyce's experiences were incomparable to any novel I've ever read before. The emotional whirlwind only added to my experience and helped me recognize so much about the real world. Justyce's story was so authentic and relevant, and Nic Stone truly opened my eyes and broke my heart with her remarkable debut.

Although I was overcome by a lot of tears and anger, Nic Stone also authentically captured the teen experience as a whole. Whether it was school and the struggle of college acceptances, or covering extracurriculars like debate, Stone made sure that academics and other activities didn't fall to the wayside, making the contemporary even more realistic and relatable. The friendships were also so wonderful and real in the story. I found myself laughing and grinning so hard when I didn't feel the need to pummel the racist jerks throughout the book. The characters were so enjoyable to read about (except for aforementioned racist jerks) and were so masterfully written, with several lesser characters also going through dramatic transformations.

basically me unapologetically cheering on Justyce throughout Dear Martin

My favorite character was definitely Justyce though. He is by far one of my favorite characters of all time, and he was a character I couldn't help but love right from the start. His voice is so true and honest, and he is an absolute sweetheart. His story was a heartbreaking one, and he had a long and difficult journey, but he was able to persevere, and I loved watching him grow while still staying true to himself.


All in all, Dear Martin was an incredible, heart-wrenching, and mind-blowing read. Nic Stone truly packs a punch in her debut, and everyone NEEDS to read it when they have the chance. I can only hope that my review gave this book justyce.

My Rating: 5 stars

Windwitch (Review)

Windwitch by Susan Dennard
Series: The Witchlands #2
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy
Format: ARC (received from Susan Dennard)
Page Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen
Publication Date: January 10, 2017

I'd like to give a million thanks to Susan for sending me a copy of Windwitch. Although she provided me with a copy of her book, it in no way whatsoever affected my thoughts/opinions about this book. These opinions are completely my own.

About Windwitch (via Goodreads):

Sometimes our enemies are also our only allies…

After an explosion destroys his ship, the world believes Prince Merik, Windwitch, is dead. Scarred yet alive, Merik is determined to prove his sister’s treachery. Upon reaching the royal capital, crowded with refugees, he haunts the streets, fighting for the weak—which leads to whispers of a disfigured demigod, the Fury, who brings justice to the oppressed.

When the Bloodwitch Aeduan discovers a bounty on Iseult, he makes sure to be the first to find her—yet in a surprise twist, Iseult offers him a deal. She will return money stolen from him, if he locates Safi. Now they must work together to cross the Witchlands, while constantly wondering, who will betray whom first?

After a surprise attack and shipwreck, Safi and the Empress of Marstok barely escape with their lives. Alone in a land of pirates, every moment balances on a knife’s edge—especially when the pirates’ next move could unleash war upon the Witchlands.

I hate to bring in a pun from the start (it was not intended), but I have no other way of describing my feelings for this book: Windwitch completely blew me away. While I thoroughly enjoyed Truthwitch, Windwitch went above and beyond all my expectations and had me on the edge of my seat, captivated from start to finish. Susan’s writing truly shines through in this newest installment in the Witchlands series, and her hard work definitely paid off because the end result was absolutely magnificent.

The interwoven plots and character arcs throughout the story were so well done. I’ve never been the biggest fan of third-person, multi-POV books, but Dennard crafted this book masterfully. Although I’d sometimes wish that I could know what was happening to a character immediately after their chapter closed, I was quickly drawn back into the next character’s story again and loved the change of pace the new POV provided. The characters were so fleshed out and real to me, and I felt so attached and connected to them as they struggled and fought back against their enemies, whether those obstacles were people, their own raging emotions and thoughts, or something else entirely. Although this is a fantasy world, their emotions and struggles were no less real to me, which was quite refreshing.

Another amazing thing was that I actually liked every single character's POV, even those of the characters you are told to dislike in book one (particularly Vivia). In Windwitch, you really get to see a different side to all the characters, and it really makes you doubt everything you believed about them, especially those you believed were the antagonists of the story. I know some readers have mentioned how they disliked the separation of characters and friends from one another throughout the plot, but I have to disagree. I thought it was overall a positive thing. As I kind of mentioned before, the characters felt a lot more realistic and flawed to me in Windwitch, and I think those traits and their identities were made more clear and distinct due to the separation and individual struggles each had to face. Obviously a support network is a wonderful thing, but some battles have to be fought alone, especially when trying to discover one's identity/sense of self.

I'm not going to go into detail about the plot itself because I don't want to spoil anything, but Windwitch continued to raise the stakes for the characters and continued to pick up the pace. It was such a fantastic second installment in the series, and I can't wait to see what happens in Bloodwitch and beyond.

My rating: 5 stars

Stalking Jack the Ripper (Review)

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco
Series: Stalking Jack the Ripper #1
Genre: Young Adult/Mystery/Historical Fiction
Format: ARC (given to me by my lovely friend Rachel)
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Publication Date: September 20, 2016

About Stalking Jack the Ripper (via Goodreads):

Seventeen-year-old Audrey Rose Wadsworth was born a lord's daughter, with a life of wealth and privilege stretched out before her. But between the social teas and silk dress fittings, she leads a forbidden secret life.

Against her stern father's wishes and society's expectations, Audrey often slips away to her uncle's laboratory to study the gruesome practice of forensic medicine. When her work on a string of savagely killed corpses drags Audrey into the investigation of a serial murderer, her search for answers brings her close to her own sheltered world.

Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco was an absolutely fascinating and fantastic read. I went in with uncertainty, but quickly enthralled by Maniscalco's spectacular debut.

Historical fiction and mysteries are not the genres I typically gravitate toward, but Maniscalco's superb writing really transported me into late-19th century London and I was captivated by every intricate detail woven into the story. While some of the forensic elements were especially gory, it fortunately did not dominate the plot, as there were plenty of swoon-worthy romance scenes and laugh-out-loud dialogues.

The plot overall was just the right pace. It was a perfect blend of anticipation and action, and I was never bored because Maniscalco kept me on my toes with the mystery, romance, violence, and more. While I haven't read a lot of mysteries, Maniscalco did a splendid job redirecting my thoughts along with the characters. Although I kind of figured out who was behind it all before the characters did, I will admit that it was a completely random, serendipitous thing that led me to suspect the culprit. I don't want to say much else because I don't want to give it away, but despite suspecting the character, the ending definitely threw me for a loop anyway.

The characters were so snarky and witty and overall wonderful. I absolutely loved how Audrey Rose and Thomas interacted, with so much banter, attempts to outsmart each other, and steamy kiss scenes resulting from passionate arguments. Audrey's cousin Liza was also surprisingly a favorite of mine, despite (or possibly because of) all her deception as being the perfect daughter and lady when she was really quite bright and attuned to everything (and had her secret, somewhat scandalous motives).

All in all, I absolutely adored Stalking Jack the Ripper. In fact, it is now one of my favorite books ever, and I am eagerly anticipating Hunting Prince Dracula, the next installment in Maniscalco's brilliant series.

My rating: 5 stars

Everland (Review) ~ I Loved This Book to the Second Star and Back

Everland by Wendy Spinale
Series: Everland #1
Genre: Young Adult/Retelling/Steampunk
Page Length: 312 pages
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Scholastic Press

About Everland (via Goodreads):

London has been destroyed in a blitz of bombs and disease. The only ones who have survived are children, among them Gwen Darling and her siblings, Joanna and Mikey. They spend their nights scavenging and their days avoiding the ruthless Marauders -- the German army led by Captain Hanz Otto Oswald Kretschmer.

Unsure if the virus has spread past England's borders but desperate to leave, Captain Hook hunts for a cure, which he thinks can be found in one of the survivors. He and his Marauders stalk the streets snatching children for experimentation. None ever return. Until the day they grab Joanna. As Gwen sets out to save her, she meets a daredevil boy named Pete. Pete offers the assistance of his gang of Lost Boys and the fierce sharpshooter Bella, who have all been living in a city hidden underground. But in a place where help has a steep price and every promise is bound by blood, it will cost Gwen. And are she, Pete, the Lost Boys, and Bella enough to outsmart Captain Hook?

I am a sucker for retellings, and lately, I've been dying to read a good Peter Pan retelling. So when my friend Brittany recommended Everland to me, I knew I had to read this book. And my gosh, this book did not disappoint. Wendy Spinale delivered not only a captivating retelling of the classic tale, but also created such a brilliant and unique world, characters, and story. I absolutely love what Spinale did with the story, especially the wonderful steampunk flair.

The characters were so well done. Whether it was a main character, villain, or secondary character, each one was so developed and unique, and contributed something special to the story.

Although I quickly grew to hate Hook, Spinale was able to somehow make me sympathize with him at the same time. While I don't appreciate him trying to destroy the beloved cast of characters (especially for the sake of world domination), I could sort of understand him. At least a little bit, anyway. He had a tragic past, and he became a monster because of it. I don't blame him, even though I hated him with a burning passion for what he put everyone through.



Now for the heroes of the story. I loved Gwen as a protagonist because she was so realistic. Although she always had bravery within her, she wasn't jumping the gun or making rash decisions. Okay, to be fair, she did occasionally have bursts of emotions and irrational thoughts, but she is only human. So often, I feel like heroes and heroines automatically become these legends that everyone looks up to and trusts whole-heartedly. And that wasn't the case with Gwen.

It was frustrating when Bella acted a bit like this in the

beginning, but I still loved her as a character nonetheless.

She developed too much over the course of the novel for me

not to forgive her for her early bouts of brattiness.

Where do I even start with Bella? It took some time to warm up to her, but as soon as I did, I could see why all the Lost Boys loved her so much. She was fierce, spunky, courageous, clever, and caring. And sometimes vulnerable. But she didn't let her vulnerability or insecurities stop her. She was fueled by those things, and even though she did make some stupid decisions because of it, I respected her so much.

I adored all the Lost Boys, every single one. They were all so precious and it was heartwarming how they helped each other and were loyal through thick and thin. And their leader, Pete *fans self* I loved him so much. He could definitely be stubborn at times, but he had such a pure heart and fighting spirit. He was a ray of sunshine and hope in everyone's lives, and it was inspiring to see how much he cared for all the Lost Boys and Girls.


I don't want to talk about the plot all that much because it would give too much away, but let me just mention that the last half of the book tore me apart. I tried to pull myself together, but by the last quarter, I could no longer handle what the characters were going through. I just loved them too much, and it pained me so much to see them suffering and/or in grave danger.

On the bright side, the ending was definitely a satisfying conclusion to Everland! Although to be honest, the ending also makes me afraid to read the rest of the books because the characters may not bode as well in the final finale.

All in all, I absolutely fell in love with Wendy Spinale's Everland, and I am both frightened and excited to see what's in store for the Gwen, Pete, and the rest of the Lost Boys and Girls in the future.

My Rating: 5 stars

Daughter of Smoke and Bone (Review) - A Heartwrenchingly Beautiful "True [Love] Story"

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor
Series: Daughter of Smoke & Bone #1
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Page Length: 418 pages
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

About Daughter of Smoke and Bone (via Goodreads):

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages—not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers—beautiful, haunted Akiva—fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor was sublime. It had all of my favorite things in a book: a fantastic protagonist, a searing romance, and an exquisite world. Although the series is a pretty popular one, going into it I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into. However, the book was recently recommended to me by one of my favorite authors, so I knew I had waited long enough, and I chose to finally pick it up. Boy am I glad I did.

The world-building, though not as emphasized in the first half of the book, was one of my absolute favorite parts about Daughter of Smoke and Bone. As each tidbit of information was revealed about the magic system and the other worlds beyond our own, I was drawn further into the story's intricate web of tales. The magic system was so intriguing, otherworldly, and gloriously refreshing. I'd never read about anything quite like it. In addition to the other worlds Taylor built, however, I was also captivated by Prague and the many places Karou travelled throughout the novel. I actually really want to go to Prague now, even though I won't be able to find my own Akiva there to greet me.

The characters were so wonderfully eccentric and I loved them all dearly. I was so fascinated by the chimaera, seraphim, and even all the humans Taylor incorporated into the story, as well as their backgrounds and the history behind everything. I especially loved Karou. She might be one of my favorite protagonists out there! She's just so spunky, sassy, and overall fabulous! I LOVE HER. AND AKIVA. I LOVE HIM TOO. I LOVE THEM BOTH INDIVIDUALLY AND TOGETHER. THEY WERE JUST SO BRILLIANT AND ROMANTIC AND *fans self* PERFECTION.

Another thing I loved about the characters is that none of them are truly "bad guys". Throughout the novel, readers learn both sides of the story, and the lines are so blurred and grey. It's not as simple as black and white. There's hundreds of years of strife and it's hard (if not impossible) to pinpoint who's to blame. And it's brilliant. There is no true villain, except perhaps the concept of war itself.

Everything about Daughter of Smoke and Bone was so elegant and beautiful. The writing style was captivating, the descriptions gorgeously vivid, and the characters vibrant, deep, and perhaps a bit peculiar. Yet I soaked it all in and loved the story with every fiber of my being.

My Rating: 5 stars

The Star-Touched Queen (ARC Review)

The Star-Touched Queen by Roshani Chokshi
Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Mythology
Page Length: 352 pages
Format: ARC (won in a giveaway!)
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

I'd like to thank Roshani Chokshi for hosting the giveaway. Although she provided me with a copy of her book, it in no way whatsoever affected my thoughts/opinions about this book. These opinions are completely my own.

About The Star-Touched Queen (via Goodreads):

Cursed with a horoscope that promises a marriage of Death and Destruction, sixteen-year-old Maya has only earned the scorn and fear of her father's kingdom. Content to follow more scholarly pursuits, her world is upheaved when her father, the Raja, arranges a wedding of political convenience to quell outside rebellions. But when her wedding takes a fatal turn, Maya becomes the queen of Akaran and wife of Amar. Yet neither roles are what she expected. As Akaran's queen, she finds her voice and power. As Amar's wife, she finds friendship and warmth.

But Akaran has its own secrets - thousands of locked doors, gardens of glass, and a tree that bears memories instead of fruit. Beneath Akaran's magic, Maya begins to suspect her life is in danger. When she ignores Amar's plea for patience, her discoveries put more than new love at risk - it threatens the balance of all realms, human and Otherworldly.

Now, Maya must confront a secret that spans reincarnated lives and fight her way through the dangerous underbelly of the Otherworld if she wants to protect the people she loves.

The Star-Touched Queen is a lush, beautifully written and vividly imagined fantasy inspired by Indian mythology.

I ADORED THIS BOOK. Actually, I more than adored it. THIS BOOK GAVE ME PURE UNADULTERATED HAPPINESS. Okay, maybe not pure happiness because I was shrieking in despair for some of the book, but it was so breathtakingly beautiful I didn't even care that my heart was fracturing into a billion pieces. I ached for the characters and their broken hearts and battered souls, and sang in happiness when things fell into place, even if it was only for a fleeting moment.

The Star-Touched Queen is the most captivating and exquisite book I have ever read in my entire existence. Roshani Chokshi's words cast a spell on me, and every detail was so vivid and poetic. Her words were true magic.

The plot was heavily entwined with Maya's relationship with Amar, but it wasn't overwhelmingly so. Their romance scorched the pages and left me longing for more. It was heartbreaking but beautiful, and I loved every second of it. However, in the end, the story was also about Maya's renewal and her quest to find herself after losing her sense of identity.  Maya's transformation throughout the course of the novel was like watching a butterfly break out of its cocoon and test its wings for the first time—it was a truly unique and joyous experience.

Before reading The Star-Touched Queen, I knew next to nothing about Indian mythology, but Chokshi's writing opened my eyes to the beauty of Indian culture and their myths and legends, and I was completely enraptured by the lore. I have always been a fan of mythology, so even though the book was absolutely stunning on its own, learning about a completely foreign culture and mythology in the process was an added bonus.

Reading The Star-Touched Queen was like taking a breath of fresh air. I needed to keep reading like my life depended on it. It was that good. In fact, I loved The Star-Touched Queen so much that I would give it every star in the universe if I could. The Star-Touched Queen was an absolute masterpiece, and I could not have asked for anything more.

Rating: 5 stars

Blackhearts (Review)

Blackhearts by Nicole Castroman
Genre: Young Adult/Historical Fiction
Page Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Format: Hardcover (purchased)

About Blackhearts (via Goodreads):

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

I honestly don't know where to begin. I mean, I was definitely anticipating Blackhearts, but I had no idea just how much I would fall in love with Teach and Anne's story. Blackhearts completely blew me out of the water, and hit me in the feels in so many ways. It filled my heart with so many emotions, from hope to happiness to shock to anger to heartbreak and everything in between. It was definitely a whirlwind of a story, and I loved every second of it.

Most of the secondary characters were horrible people. There was little to love about them, since they were quite pretentious and haughty, but they definitely provided amusement and left me making unintelligible noises from the pure shock of their actions. They definitely provided a great contrast to characters, and made me root for Anne and Teach so much more.

Anne was such a strong female character, despite all the horrible atrocities she seemed to face. Her snark and wit were so refreshing, and even though she made some mistakes, she was a respectable and intriguing character. I admired her determination and unwillingness to allow others to treat her badly based on her gender and ethnic background, and her drive to be free and happy. I also loved seeing Teach embrace change and fight back against his father and society's expectations of him. Towards the beginning, he was a bit annoying and cold, but he quickly became a passionate character who fought for himself and what he believed in.

When you put Anne and Teach together, sparks flew. At first their personalities clashed due to all they had in common (and their banter was hilarious), but they slowly became accustomed to each others' presence and their interactions were precious. It took a long time for their relationship to develop, but once it did, I was squealing in delight. They had their differences, naturally, but their chemistry was incredible nonetheless. Somehow they were still just so perfect together and I SHIP THEM SO HARD.

Now let's talk about the plot. There were a few times where the plot lulled, but I loved all the characters, the writing, and the overall story so much that I couldn't stop reading, even during those parts. I JUST NEEDED TO FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED NEXT. I WAS SO HOOKED ON THIS BOOK. (I mean, I did devour it in less than 24 hours, and if that doesn't prove anything, I don't know what will.)

All in all, I absolutely adored Blackhearts, and hope everyone will give Nicole Castroman's stunning debut a try. I have never been much of a historical fiction fan, but Teach and Anne's story enchanted me from beginning to end, and Blackhearts has definitely become one of my favorite books.

✪✪✪✪✪

Illuminae (ARC Review)

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files #1
Genre: Young Adult/Sci-Fi
Page Length: 608 pages
Format: ARC (advanced reader's copy)
Publication Date: October 20, 2015
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Source: Hardcover ARC received at BookCon 2015

Although I received a free copy of this book, my opinion of it is completely my own.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where do I even begin with the brilliance that is Illuminae? I honestly am breathless after reading it, so please bear with me. I'll try my best to put my feelings into words.

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff is everything I could ever want in a book. It's use of IMs, surveillance footage, PA announcements, blueprints and so much more was a unique and exciting way to tell a story. I was wary at first because I wasn't sure how one could convey so much through those methods, but I was blown out of my mind by the artistry in which Kaufman and Kristoff pulled it off. I felt every emotion on the spectrum: sadness, anger, disbelief, joy, amusement, and even fear. I was eagerly anticipating (and sometimes dreading, in the best way possible) what new emotion the next page would evoke.

The story was told in a way that each piece of data collected could be read relatively quickly. Although everything connected fluidly, it was nice that each document was still relatively solitary, so there was always a perfect stopping point. At the same time, however, it was woven so beautifully together that I didn't want to stop. Since each piece was pretty short, I was lured to read into the wee hours of the night. A voice in my head was constantly telling me something along the lines of, "oh this next section is only 5 more pages, surely you have the time for just one more IM conversation"… which thus led me to read 200 more pages in one sitting. Oops.

I loved Kady and Ezra as characters.  Actually, I loved them all. Except for one that made me want to hide under the covers and never come out. But I won't go into detail about that little devil… Also, the pop culture references that many characters made were amazing additions to the story. Even though they did not play major roles in the plot, those snippets truly lightened the mood, even in the direst of situations.

Kady and Ezra were both such strong and admirable characters who loved from the bottom of their hearts, and were willing to risk everything (and do incredibly stupid and rash things) for the people and things they cared about most.  It was interesting seeing their interactions and actions solely via message, footage, etc., but it was surprisingly still clear and obvious how much they cared about each other.  I continued to cheer them on throughout the novel, throughout every up and down.  They went through so much, but still tried their best to be optimistic nonetheless.
AIDAN, the fleet's AI (artificial intelligence), was a fascinating character in the book. I don't want to go into too much detail (because I don't want to spoil anything), but it was so difficult to understand him. At the same time, however, I couldn't help but feel a tad bit sympathetic once I learned more about him. I have always been afraid of the idea of artificial intelligence, and for a while I was afraid of what AIDAN was capable of, but he slowly started growing on me.

What surprised me most was definitely how many feels I had while reading the book. Kaufman and Kristoff made me go insane from all the different feels. All the characters were so realistic and I felt like I could relate to all of them in so many ways. The book was devastating and brilliant and glorious and hilarious and everything all at once, and I loved every minute of it, even though the minute something would get better, I'd only be punched in the gut again. Sort of like this:

I am not usually someone who reads science fiction, but I was completely sucked into the world of Illuminae. I was fascinated by the intricacies of the spacecrafts, AIDAN, and all the different documents used to tell the story. The artwork and designs that were in the book were truly superb, and I felt like I could visualize everything that was happening vividly.

Illuminae was an absolute masterpiece. It was such a pleasure to read an advanced copy of it, and it is definitely one of my favorite books of the year. I was a bit worried about reading such a long book, but it captured my attention the whole time and went by so quickly that I ultimately didn't want it to end.

Also, WHY CANT THE SECOND BOOK BE OUT ALREADY?!? Of course I'm saying that while the first book still hasn't even been released to the public, but I don't know if I can wait that long. But I must. I will be patient. I WILL. I. WILL. BE. PATIENT. Asdfghjkl; *takes deep breath* I apologize for my little [glitch], but it was just absolutely amazing and I need the next book so badly… GO READ ILLUMINAE. IT IS ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.

My Rating: ✪✪✪✪✪

About Illuminae (via Goodreads):

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

The Wrath and the Dawn (Review)

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh

Series: The Wrath and the Dawn #1

Genre: Young Adult/Fantasy/Retelling

Page Length: 388 pages

Format: Hardcover (purchased)

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh left me breathless.  It took me several months to work up the courage to read this highly-anticipated and highly-reviewed book, but I am so glad that I finally dove in.  From the very beginning, Ahdieh weaves a tale to remember.  Her writing is absolutely exquisite, flowing from one chapter to the next like liquid gold.  She truly has a way with words, and I was captivated by every page.  Ahdieh made sure that the reader was fully immersed in the story and culture, constructing mouth-watering descriptions of the meals and beautiful imagery to make the story shine.

What shined the most for me, however, were the characters.  In fact, with the exception of three or four people, I loved each and every character in the book.

Shahrzad was a fantastic female protagonist, who was sharp-tongued, stubborn, but also very honest.  Although I’ve found that characters with similar traits in other books can be frustrating, I could not help but love her as a character, especially her sheer determination and willpower.  She fights her own battles, with the worst ones seeming to be ones from within.  Despite all her turmoil and struggles, she manages to stay strong and make decisions.  Some of her antics I would consider crazy, but that just made her a better, more intriguing protagonist.  She acknowledged her flaws, and was willing to look past others’ to see their full potential.  Shahrzad was a wonderful and fascinating character, and I loved following her on her journey from the first page until the very end.

Khalid was an enigma of his own.  He could come across as cold at many points during the story, but during others I couldn’t help but fall in love with him as Shahrzad did.  He had many demons, and although he had his secrets, he almost always had Shahrzad’s best interest at heart.  I think out of all the characters, Khalid was my favorite (with Shahrzad coming in a close second, or perhaps tied with him).  I am often a sucker for mysterious and gorgeous royals with secrets, so it was not much of a surprise when I found myself loving Khalid.  He was hard to crack, but when he did, he was passionate and caring and just… So adorable.  Yes, the “monster” is adorable.  Once you break down his walls and thaw his icy and tormented heart, he is really just a boy.

I will not go into detail in fear of spoilers, but let’s just say I hated both Tariq and Shahrzad’s dad even more than the “bad guys”.  And that’s saying something, considering the fact that the bad guys were pretty... well… bad.  It had nothing to do with the writing at all, but something about them both just completely rubbed me the wrong way even from the start, so I hated reading from their perspectives...

Shahrzad and Khalid both resisted their romance for so long, but the whole time it just felt so right.  The romance grew slowly, and when it finally blossomed, it was stunning.  Although their relationship often seemed like two steps forward and one step back, I just felt so much joy knowing that they were moving somewhere.  Shahrzad and Khalid often contrasted like day and night, the sun and the moon, or even dawn and dusk, yet they also seemed so similar--so broken--that together, they just seemed whole.  They loved each other with such radiance that even a million suns could not outshine the beauty of their love.

Overall, Ahdieh wove a masterpiece of a story: the characters were each unique and (mostly) loveable, with even the minor characters having a special depth to them, the world-building was stunning and informative without a single info-dump in sight, and everything about the novel was just brilliant.  The ending left me reeling, and if anything could make me truly happy right now, it would be having the sequel in my hands.  I cannot wait to read the rest of Shahrzad and Khalid's beautiful tale, and I could never thank Renée Ahdieh enough for making her wonderful retelling of A Thousand and One Nights a reality.

Rating: ✪✪✪✪✪

About The Wrath and the Dawn (via Goodreads):

One Life to One Dawn.

In a land ruled by a murderous boy-king, each dawn brings heartache to a new family. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, is a monster. Each night he takes a new bride only to have a silk cord wrapped around her throat come morning. When sixteen-year-old Shahrzad's dearest friend falls victim to Khalid, Shahrzad vows vengeance and volunteers to be his next bride. Shahrzad is determined not only to stay alive, but to end the caliph's reign of terror once and for all.

Night after night, Shahrzad beguiles Khalid, weaving stories that enchant, ensuring her survival, though she knows each dawn could be her last. But something she never expected begins to happen: Khalid is nothing like what she'd imagined him to be. This monster is a boy with a tormented heart. Incredibly, Shahrzad finds herself falling in love. How is this possible? It's an unforgivable betrayal. Still, Shahrzad has come to understand all is not as it seems in this palace of marble and stone. She resolves to uncover whatever secrets lurk and, despite her love, be ready to take Khalid's life as retribution for the many lives he's stolen. Can their love survive this world of stories and secrets?

Inspired by A Thousand and One Nights, The Wrath and the Dawn is a sumptuous and enthralling read from beginning to end.