Life of a Blogger [22]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: Routines

Shower: Hair, face, body, shave.
Morning: Bathroom, breakfast, clothes, teeth.
Bed: Bathroom, clothes, plug in phone, check facebook, take forever to fall asleep.
Driving: Get in, close door, turn on, heater/AC on, find music, buckle up, go.
TV: Sit for hours and not move.
- Kelsey
P.S. Know too much about me yet?

Top Ten Tuesday [24]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

February 24: Top Ten Favorite Heroines From Books (Or you could pick movies/tv): We've done this topic before so you could always do heroines you love since the last time we did this topic, heroines in a particular genre, etc.

Kelsey:
1. Katniss from The Hunger Games by Suzanna Collins
2. Celaena from Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
3. Katy by Jennifer Armentrout
4. Florence Waverley by Ciye Cho
5. Tessa Gray by Cassandra Clare
6. Clary Fray by Cassandra Clare
7. Maggie Harper by Liesel K. Hill
8. Gemma by Libba Bray
9. Rosie from Sister's Red by Jackson Pearce
10. Coraline by Neil Gaiman

Review: Afterworlds

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Scott Westerfeld
Format: Paperback
Pages: 599
Rating: 6 out of 10

Summary (via Goodreads): Darcy Patel has put college and everything else on hold to publish her teen novel, Afterworlds. Arriving in New York with no apartment or friends she wonders whether she's made the right decision until she falls in with a crowd of other seasoned and fledgling writers who take her under their wings… 

Told in alternating chapters is Darcy's novel, a suspenseful thriller about Lizzie, a teen who slips into the 'Afterworld' to survive a terrorist attack. But the Afterworld is a place between the living and the dead and as Lizzie drifts between our world and that of the Afterworld, she discovers that many unsolved - and terrifying - stories need to be reconciled. And when a new threat resurfaces, Lizzie learns her special gifts may not be enough to protect those she loves and cares about most.

My Thoughts on the Subject: Ironically, this review is coming to you on it's 4 month release birthday. 

I enjoyed this book...some. I thought that, as someone who wants to be a writer when they are "all grown up", the story line was fascinating. I liked the characters, thought the world was generally interesting, and have never read anything quite like this book...

But it was so long. It was long and some parts were super boring. There was also not a lot of correlation between the two stories. Yes, one was being written by the other, but was it just shown to us to make a unique story. It would have been interesting to see how the changes made by the author affected the secondary story (which I thought was more interesting). We were already reading what Darcy had written, as she spoke of edits, we had already read the edits so I found myself not caring. I don't know. The idea was interesting but it made for a complicated, two books at once scenario, when it really didn't have to. It's not that I couldn't follow along, I all too frequently read multiple books at once. It's a problem I have. I'm not exactly sure how this problem could be fixed though..

It was just too much, all at once. It was a fantasy and a realistic novel at once. It was half drama and half romance/mystery/crime/I-don't-even-know-what. It was a lot. I mean, it gave the reader a lot to think about and focus on and wonder about. It also gave basically every genre known to man but it was a lot. Having so much made it drag. 600 pages is a long time commitment that I wasn't ready to take when I started to read this novel. 

So: I liked it but it took a long time. It was overwhelming to have two stories at once and not have them interact with each other. I would consider reading it again but not for a long time. Only those with a long attention span, who can read to novels at once should look into reading this novel.

Review: Gates of Thread and Stone

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Lori M. Lee
Format: ebook (Galley; honest review requested)
Pages: 335
Rating: 7 out of 10

Summary (from the gates of Goodreads): In the Labyrinth, we had a saying: keep silent, keep still, keep safe.

In a city of walls and secrets, where only one man is supposed to possess magic, seventeen-year-old Kai struggles to keep hidden her own secret—she can manipulate the threads of time. When Kai was eight, she was found by Reev on the riverbank, and her “brother” has taken care of her ever since. Kai doesn’t know where her ability comes from—or where she came from. All that matters is that she and Reev stay together, and maybe one day move out of the freight container they call home, away from the metal walls of the Labyrinth. Kai’s only friend is Avan, the shopkeeper’s son with the scandalous reputation that both frightens and intrigues her.

Then Reev disappears. When keeping silent and safe means losing him forever, Kai vows to do whatever it takes to find him. She will leave the only home she’s ever known and risk getting caught up in a revolution centuries in the making. But to save Reev, Kai must unravel the threads of her past and face shocking truths about her brother, her friendship with Avan, and her unique power. 

My Thoughts:

Can I just take a moment to talk to you about how beautiful everything about this novel is? I mean, that cover is fantastic (although this is my first time seeing it.) The font, as silly as it sounds to say, was amazing. The chapter opening? Perfect for the story. I pathetically got excited every time I say the threads.

Okay, but actual stuff that we care about. 

There was a perfect amount of description in this novel. I wasn't sure where the novel was going but I didn't really care all that much. I was in the moment with this one. I read it too fast, so it was a brief moment, but still it was a good time. I thought the use of language was good. It was clear that effort was put in to choose the perfect words. I liked that a lot.

It was upsetting to find another novel where this is something special about the main character but I suppose there really is nothing that can be done about that. I find as much as I tire of reading about "special" or "unique" girls, I find normal girls just as boring. This was another book with fun character names, especially when we get to Death and Famine and Conquest. Those, by the way, were a very interesting idea. I wish it was expanded upon a little bit more, but I guess that's what the next novel is for. One special thing about this novel (as small and stupid as it is) is that Avan claims its "not all about gender" sometimes. It plays a lot to the times but I don't care. Deal with it. 

I hate when the main character is manipulated by people. I hate that people manipulate people. Why can't we all just get along? Huh? Why not?

Finally, I thought that the ending was find of crap. I mean, it made sense. Soon enough, I saw it coming (right before but still). Just...like, oh this is hard without spoiling anything...let it go. Move on. 

Final Thoughts: This novel is beautiful with its interesting characters and fantastic description of a world so unlike my own, that I want to follow my uniquely named new found friends to find out what the solution to all of this is going to be. What is going to happen next? How is it going to end? Apparently, you don't find out until the next novel...Guess I'll have to keep an eye out for it.

Life of a Blogger [21]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: Organization

Ah, the thing I lack.
I am absolutely terrible at keeping track of things on a calendar. They are useless to me but I really need one for my job so I better fix that ASAP. My room constantly gets messy. I clean a lot but there is something about the floor that just attracts all my clothes. They seem to be unable to resist. I'm good at getting my work done on time but it's really a miracle because I'm not sure how I do it. Movies are on my shelf by colour. TV shows are on my shelf alphabetically. Books are on my shelves by favourite, than author, than series, than release date. Clothes are in my drawers by type/use. I have folders based on volunteer activity and I keep all writing ideas in a folder as well. Those are colour coordinated. These things just happen. It's like I have OCD but only sometimes and only for certain things. It's bizarre.
- Kelsey 

COVER REVEAL: The Botanist by Liesel K Hill

Guys... how excited are you that Liesel K Hill has a new novel coming out... because I am all kinds of excited for it!

Without further ado, I present to you The Botanist! (Click here to add it to your Goodreads TBR list!)

I think that this may be my favourite cover of Liesel's yet! It's just so beautiful! 

"In the heat of the desert, Detective Cody Oliver inadvertently stumbles upon a strange garden adorned with exotic flowers. Upon closer inspection, he finds the garden is but a cover for the scores of bodies buried below. Soon, the small town of Mt. Dessicate plunges into chaos as journalists, reporters, and cameramen from across the nation descend upon the tiny, desert town to get a piece of the action.

Along with the media, a mysterious woman appears—she may be the only person who has come face to face with the killer, dubbed the Botanist, and lived to tell the tale. If Cody can't piece together a timeline of the land the crime scene is located on, decipher how the woman's mysterious past is connected to the killer, and bring the Botanist to justice, he may lose the people he values most. "

Connect with Liesel! 

Facebook: facebook.com/lkhill

Twitter: twitter.com/lkhillbooks

Pinterest: pinterest.com/lkhillbooks

Goodreads: goodreads.com/authorlkhill

G+: plus.google.com/+LieselHill

Top Ten Tuesday [23]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

February 17: Ten Book Related Problems I Have.

Kelsey:

1. WHAT DO I READ NEXT?

2. Who can I talk to about this book?

3. Why does this cover have to come off?

4. When does the sequel come out?

5. Why isn't this book a movie yet?

6. Why are they making this book into a movie?

7. What if they ruin this book with a movie?

8. Why doesn't the story have my book yet?

9. How do I read this book on my bed without hurting myself?

10. Why does Goodreads hate my guts?

Review: A Lonely Magic

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Sarah Wynde
Format: eBook (Galley; honest review requested)
Pages: 270 (?)
Rating: 5 out of 10

Summary (With Goodreads, nobody is lonely): Nothing is what it seems in a glittering new fantasy by best-selling author Sarah Wynde

When a gorgeous guy demands Fen choose between getting shot or overdosing on drugs, she plunges into a sea of trouble. Although she’s rescued from her would-be killer by Luke, a teenage boy, and Kaio, his sexy older brother, escape won’t be so easy.

The protection the brothers provide simmers with unnerving undercurrents. They have secrets and Fen has questions. Who are they? How did they find her? What do they want with her? And why was she targeted for murder in the first place?

When Fen and Luke are forced to run for their lives, Luke spirits Fen down into an enchanting underwater city. But every enchantment has its dark edges. Caught in the tides of emotion, romance, and a plot to destroy humanity, Fen must look deep within herself to find the strength and courage she’ll need to stay afloat in this amazing new world.

Submerge yourself in the latest gripping novel from Sarah Wynde, author of the Tassamara series. You won’t want to come up for air before the final enthralling page of A Lonely Magic.

My Thoughts: How about this? I will talk about what I didn't like, then I will share what I did like. This is likely lack paragraph form as my notes are super confusing for this book. Sorry.

Okay, so the beginning was interesting enough but the speech seemed a little bit off. It struck me as too simple and speech is one of my things. It can cause me to hate or to fall in love with a book. I think that dialogue sets the tone. It creates the characters. In this novel, it bothered me a lot because I could see that there was so much more to this book than the bad speech patterns. Suddenly, I found that some of the character (no spoilers!) spoke in a very bizarre way. It is discussed, yes, however, the change in speech seemed too fast. Fen has been interacting with two of the characters for some time before they seem anything more than formal. By the end of the novel, they sound childlike. They devolved. That shouldn't have happened. Solution? The author just needs to listen more closely to the way people speak and not change speech patterns half way through.

I despised the ending. It wasn't an ending. It was another middle...with no ending after it. The novel was short. There was no reason why that one last little bit couldn't have been discussed. Another novel still would have been possible if that's what the publishers were worried about. I mean, there was still the central problem for the...people. It didn't just have to stop. It made me uncomfortable and unhappy and three days later, I'm still mad about it. Why couldn't we have just finished the stupid thing? 

That said, I enjoyed the general storyline. I liked the magic and the characters (at their core). I enjoyed the beauty of the world in which they lived. I thought that Fen was interesting. I thought Luke was brave. I have to be honest thought, I much prefer Kaio. I also liked the names. I'm a sucker for strange names (as long as you can pronounce them, of course.) 

I guess what I'm trying to say here is that I liked the novel...but it needed more work. It needed another few rounds of edits. It needed to have the speech double checked. Continuity and all that fun stuff. It needed to be dumbed down in some areas, and worked up in other areas. It just needed more work. Another six months of hard editing and work on this novel and it could have been amazing but, as it was, it was just too lacking and I doubt I will ever reread it because of this. If it wasn't for the fact that Fen couldn't stop thinking about how hot the characters were, I would suggest that this was for a younger group but I can't even claim that. Sorry.

REVIEW: After (After, #1) by Anna Todd

Reviewer: Kristen 
Author: Anna Todd
Pages: 592
Format: Paperback (provided by Simon & Schuster) 
My Rating: 8 out of 10 

Summary (you're golden, Goodreads): Tessa is a good girl with a sweet, reliable boyfriend back home. She’s got direction, ambition, and a mother who’s intent on keeping her that way. 

But she’s barely moved into her freshman dorm when she runs into Hardin. With his tousled brown hair, cocky British accent, tattoos, and lip ring, Hardin is cute and different from what she’s used to. 

But he’s also rude—to the point of cruelty, even. For all his attitude, Tessa should hate Hardin. And she does—until she finds herself alone with him in his room. Something about his dark mood grabs her, and when they kiss it ignites within her a passion she’s never known before. 

He’ll call her beautiful, then insist he isn't the one for her and disappear again and again. Despite the reckless way he treats her, Tessa is compelled to dig deeper and find the real Hardin beneath all his lies. He pushes her away again and again, yet every time she pushes back, he only pulls her in deeper. 

Tessa already has the perfect boyfriend. So why is she trying so hard to overcome her own hurt pride and Hardin’s prejudice about nice girls like her? 

Unless…could this be love?

Now newly revised and expanded, Anna Todd’s After fanfiction racked up 1 billion reads online and captivated readers across the globe. Experience the Internet’s most talked-about book for yourself!

There was the time before Tessa met Hardin, and then there’s everything AFTER ... Life will never be the same. #Hessa
My Thoughts: Just in time for all you enthusiastic Valentine's day folks, I present to you After by Anna Todd! Now, first things first. I need to get this off my chest because of reasons: Please don't not (double negative use, for the win) pick this up because you heard it was One Direction fanfiction, because I won't lie to you, I was all kinds of hesitant. But, like everything, you just have to give it a chance to actually form your own opinions on it. That's my two cents, so let's proceed with the actual book now. 

So, Tessa and Hardin.... Hardin is a little bit much at times. And because of that, I can understand why people are saying that he's a bad person and that the story romanticizes an abuse relationship. What I can't understand, however, is when people like Hardin and Tessa to Christian and Ana (those are the names from FSoG right?). Tessa doesn't take no shit - she's fiesty, she stands up for herself, she gives chances when she believes they are deserved, but if they blow their chance, it's blown. She's not just taking the crap that Hardin throws at her, and I think that that is a major reason why I didn't just write this off as some crappy novel with no redeeming qualities. 

This book is long. Incredibly long. So very long. It's like 3-novels-in-one kind of long. But you know what? It only took me two days to finish this book (and it only took me that long because of that incessant need to sleep). I was so completely swept up into the story - I wanted needed to know what happened to Tessa and Hardin. I needed to know why something was said. I needed to know why. I just could not put it down. 

This story is definitely on par with Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire and Thoughtless by S.C Stephens. If those are your kinda things, I definitely, without a doubt, recommend that you take this baby out for a test ride. I enjoyed it, and I'm actually really excited to read the next in this series. Anna Todd has found herself a new and I hate to admit it but kind of unlikely fan! 

Final Thoughts: If you're in the mood for a steamy, unapologetic romance that I liken to Thoughtless by S.C Stephens, then this book is for you. For all you romantics out there, I cannot recommend this enough! 

Life of a Blogger [20]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: Websites (favourites and most used?)

Tumblr. Facebook. Blogger. Twitter. You know, the usual.
I google a lot of things and use IMDb for TV shows and movies.
Oh, and Gmail for email.
I'm lame, I know.
- Kelsey

Top Ten Tuesday [22]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

February 10: Top Ten Things I Like/Dislike When It Comes To Romances In Books (can do a full list or split it up in likes/dislikes or even things you want to see MORE of in romances in fiction)

Kelsey:

Likes:

1. Comforting loved ones.

2. Being overall cute.

3. Experiencing new things.

4. Breaking out of who people think you are for something better.

5. Enjoying the feeling of shipping two people.

Dislikes:

6. Love Triangles

7. Abusive relationships glorified

8. Love Triangles

9. Viewing women in terms that make them sound young or like children (ie talking about how young they look or how small they are). This is just gross. Stop it.

10. Love Triangles

Review: Meant To Be

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Lauren Morrill
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 304
Rating: um er uh 
Rating: 5 out of 10

Summary (Meant To Be from Goodreads): Meant to be or not meant to be . . . that is the question. 

It's one thing to fall head over heels into a puddle of hazelnut coffee, and quite another to fall for the—gasp—wrong guy. Straight-A junior Julia may be accident prone, but she's queen of following rules and being prepared. That's why she keeps a pencil sharpener in her purse and a pocket Shakespeare in her, well, pocket. And that's also why she's chosen Mark Bixford, her childhood crush, as her MTB ("meant to be").

But this spring break, Julia's rules are about to get defenestrated (SAT word: to be thrown from a window) when she's partnered with her personal nemesis, class-clown Jason, on a school trip to London. After one wild party, Julia starts receiving romantic texts . . . from an unknown number! Jason promises to help discover the identity of her mysterious new suitor if she agrees to break a few rules along the way. And thus begins a wild goose chase through London, leading Julia closer and closer to the biggest surprise of all: true love.

Because sometimes the things you least expect are the most meant to be.

So: This cover is fantastic. It's so beautiful. It was the original reason that I continually returned to it. It took me about two weeks to finally decide to buy it but the cover was what had me even considering it. Later, it would be the fact that I liked Anna and the French Kiss that would draw me to this novel. I love the idea of books with travel because it is an unique way to explore the world without actually leaving your bedroom...or classroom in which you are trapped and forced to listen to a professor drone on and on about who knows what. It is especially wonderful when the novel travels somewhere you have been before because you can remember what it was like. This novel did that. HOWEVER, those two people on the front do not look like teenagers in high school. They both look thirty and I don't like that cause it leads to unrealistic expectations. I'm not talking about the book, although that is true also. It leads to unrealistic expectations for young people to think they should be like this or like that. Rant over. Anyway...

I don't understand how these two managed to sneak around at all. When I went to Europe on a school trip, we couldn't get anywhere practically; yet, these two manage to run off for entire days at a time. I don't buy it but it doesn't pull anything away from the novel.

I was excited to find that I only saw the end coming in part. Surprises are great things and true surprises are pretty rare. Points for that.

What bothered me most about this novel is that Julia ignores a lot about Jason's past in the end, even the recent past. From what I saw, I wouldn't want to spend any time with that guy so she had the right idea in the beginning. I wouldn't be able to forget the fact that he made the beginning of the trip complete hell or that he made offensive gestures towards me. Later, those gestures are brought up again and make her life suck in that moment to. I would not be nearly as forgiving as she was. 

The novel was alright but there was nothing outstanding about it. I wasn't awed by the unique characters or the description of the amazing places they visited. I doubt that I'd read this novel again even though I could relate to the breaking out of roles Julia did during the course of the novel. It just wasn't incredible. It didn't blow me away. I enjoyed it but when it ended, I moved on easily without much thinking back on the novel. 

Basically: The novel was okay but I (for some reason...sorry author) expected more from this book. I most likely won't read it again but that shouldn't stop you from reading it a first time. If you liked Anna and the French Kiss than you might like this novel; although, Anna and the French Kiss is much better as is the love interest in it. If you've got the money and the time, this novel is decent. It's probably for high school age girls, if that helps you at all.

Happy Release Day

Happy Release Day

Welcome to the world of the reader, beautiful book!

Check out the book trailer:

Or check out Kelsey's review for Darkness here

ENJOY!

Life of a Blogger [19]

Life of a Blogger is a weekly feature that I found through the amazing Rebecca at Vicariously! ,  hosted by the lovely Novel Heartbeat. Each week a subject will be chosen and we get to talk about it. The topics will be non-bookish so that you can get to know each other on a more personal level! Make sure to add your link on the linky list! 

This week's topic is: What superpower would you choose?

I would have telekinesis because I am super lazy. I'd never have to get up again. I used to say mind reading but I really don't want to have all that chatter in my head all the time; it's full enough in there. Plus, I don't think I should know what people are thinking about me all the time. I'm better off just being lazy and getting fat I think. 
If I couldn't have that than could I just have a super metabolism? I want to be able to eat whatever I want and never have to work out but still be thin. Sounds nice.
- Kelsey 

Top Ten Tuesday [21]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created by the lovely folks at The Broke and the Bookish. This feature was created because they are particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish. We'd love to share our lists with other bookish folks and would LOVE to see your top ten lists!

Each week we will post a new Top Ten list and everyone is welcome to join. All we ask is that you link back to The Broke and the Bookish on your own Top Ten Tuesday post AND add your name to the Linky widget so that everyone can check out other bloggers lists! If you don't have a blog, just post your answers as a comment. Have fun with it! It's a fun way to get to know your fellow bloggers.

February 3: Top Ten Books I Can't Believe I Haven't/Want To Read From X Genre (for example I feel like I'm pretty well read in contemporary YA but there are some STAPLES I can't believe I haven't read. Or if you just want to books you WANT to read in a particular genre..not necessarily long overdue)

Kelsey:
1. Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
2. Paper Towns by John Green
3.  Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi 
4. The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon
5. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
6. The Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick 
7. Wild Cards by Simone Elkeles 
8. Apollyon by Jennifer L Armentrout 
9. Tempting the Body Guard by Jennifer L Armentrout 
10. Cursed by Jennifer L Armentrout
-- Kristen had to help me by telling me what I was missing out on.

Review: Darkness (Florence Waverley #3)

Reviewer: Kelsey
Author: Ciye Cho
Format: ebook, ARC (honest review requested)
Pages: 309
Rating: 7 out of 10

**Spoiler warning: Part of a series. Read the review for Florence here and Luminaire here**

Summary (Thanks Goodreads): A dire prophecy has emerged, and the mer believe that humans and merfolk are in grave danger. Terror is closing in, but only one person holds the key to stopping it: Florence Waverley. However, her mission to save two worlds will lead her far, far out into the Darkness--a shadow-realm full of monsters, magic, and wicked tides that could tear apart bodies. 

With the help of her friends, Florry must uncover a secret about humans and mer. A long-lost secret that could change her life. And above all else, she must fight hard to light the darkness. Everything depends on her mission: her friends, her world, and the one she loves. 

The past, present, and future are about to collide--but can she stay afloat? One way or another, nothing will be the same when she enters the Darkness...

My Thoughts: So I should start by saying that I really had to reread the rest of the series before I started this novel. It wasn't because the series wasn't good; it had just been so long since reading them that I felt it necessary. If you read the first two when they came out, I'd recommend that you too reread the series so you know whats going on. You don't really have to reread it to follow along though. This novel also had a super hand glossary in the back of the book. 

So, my favourite thing about this novel and this series as a whole is the imagery used. The world sounds to amazing. It's so vivid and bright and colourful. It sounds simply amazing. I can picture it so easily. I'd read another five books in this series just for the world alone.

There is some death in this novel but I think it was needed. I can't stand novels where there is a war but nobody dies. How realistic is that? You should be sad when characters die and characters you like and become attached to should die because it happens in the real world. Authors should not be afraid to kill the characters that they like, that they know the readers will like. The reader just needs to learn to deal with it. It's necessary and it's exciting and it makes the novel more real. Pain can be good, I suppose.

As I began to read this novel (as I looked back on the last two novels from this series), I found that I had been missing the characters. Sometimes they were stupid...most of the beginning of the novel I badly wanted to punch a prince in the face but it's not too far from how the rest of the series went. I forgot how powerful Florence was. I forgot how strong and how brave she was. She is a fighter, even if she doesn't think that all the time. She doesn't realize just how strong fighting for her friends makes her be. I guess, in general, people will do things for their friends that they might not do for themselves. I should admit to you all that I did that funny thing where I ignore the age of the character and mentally make them my own age. It's fine...I don't have a problem...

This novel has less of a plot twist than the past novels in this series. It didn't seem to be as fast paced either. That was fine. This novel was a lot shorter than the other two and that made a big difference in my mind because you didn't need as much to keep the story going. I think that a lot of this novel was leading into a next one. I'd read it. Still, this was the only thing that I really wasn't 100% happy with. I wanted maybe just a little bit more. This may have been because the last two seemed so much longer. It honestly wasn't that big of a deal.

Basically: If you liked the last books in this series, mermaids, the sea, water, colours, or basically anything, you should read this book. Read the whole series.