Restore Me (Shatter Me #4) by Tahereh Mafi (Review)

Series:	Shatter Me (#4)
Genre:	Young Adult, Dystopia, Romance
Publication Date:	March 6th, 2018
Pages:	448 (Hardcover)
Published By:	Harper Teen
Website:	Tahereh Mafi
	Restore Me on Goodreads
My review copy:	Bought

Where to get:

Juliette Ferrars thought she'd won. She took over Sector 45, was named the new Supreme Commander, and now has Warner by her side. But she's still the girl with the ability to kill with a single touch—and now she's got the whole world in the palm of her hand. When tragedy hits, who will she become? Will she be able to control the power she wields and use it for good?

(Goodreads)

Idiots are highly flammable, love. Let them all burn in hell.

I cannot let the broken girl inside of me inhale all that I've become. I cannot revert back to another version of myself. I will not shatter, not again, in the wake of an emotional earthquake.

The lies that make up my life. The threats against the innocent people of Sector 45. The certain death that awaits me. The frustration of having so much power, so much power and feeling so utterly, completely powerless. 

Politics, it turns out, is a science I don't yet understand. Killing things, breaking things -- destroying things? That, I understand. Getting angry and going to war, I understand. But patiently playing a confusing game of chess with a bunch of strangers from around the world?
God, I'd so much rather shoot someone.

      So... this was interesting.

     As a huge fan of Shatter Me series (the original trilogy), I was overjoyed when Tahereh Mafi broke the news about additional 3 books being added to the series. I’ve read the trilogy twice, I gobbled it down. I remember suffering from the most epic book hangover afterwards. So, yes, I was totally down for 3 more books and more heart pounding awesomeness.

     If you’re here because you want more of the gloriously intense relationship between Juliette and Warner and you’re hoping for some hot and juicy hanky-panky, well, you’re going to really enjoy Restore Me. Tahereh spent a substantial amount of time on those two, and we got to see how their relationship progressed after Juliette took over Secter 45 and became the Supreme Comander. Between Juliette and Warner’s point of view, we get a ton of insight into what these two are going through, what they’re thinking and feeling. And it’s all executed pretty flawlessly, if you ask me.

     On top of that, we get to see the aftermath of the events of Ignite Me. Juliette, Warmer and Castle might have won the battle, but they’re as far from winning the war as they can be. In fact, there’s so much more to the Establishment than we initially thought. I enjoyed unraveling the secrets and learning more about Juliette, her parents and her past. The tension was building up slowly throughout the book, and with every new information, the plot line grew more intense and exciting. The ending was truly shocking. Pure chaos, total destruction, lots of confusion and the biggest cliffhanger of the century. The wait for the next book is going to be truly painful. Why do I do this to myself? 

     Being reunited with these characters felt fabulous. We got to read more heart wrenching excerpts from Juliette’s diary, we got to hang out with Castle and Kenji again, and we also got to meet some new, interesting characters (including - spoiler alert - Warner’s ex girlfriend). On top of that, we learned more about the twisted world of the Establishment, and boy, were those some revelations! 

     Overall, reading Restore Me felt like coming home after a long absence (if your home is a broken, twisted world, and your family are a bunch of freaks with superpowers). Personally, I had a ton of fun. If you’re a big Shatter Me fan, chances are you’re going to love this new installment just as much as I did. On the other hand, if you weren’t really into the previous books, I honestly see no point of continuing with the series. It’s kind of like the Supernatural situation - hardcore fans are rejoicing at the renewal of the series for the 14th season, while the rest of the world is rolling their eyes. (I’m in the first group, if you’re wondering). So yeah, this book will not make you love the series if you aren’t already a fan.

Nyxia by Scott Reintgen (Review)

Genre:	Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publication Date:	September 12, 2017
Pages:	384 (Hardcover)
Published By:	Crown Books for Young Readers
Website:	Scott Reintgen
	Nyxia on Goodreads
My review copy:	Received from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Where to get:

Emmett Atwater isn’t just leaving Detroit; he’s leaving Earth. Why the Babel Corporation recruited him is a mystery, but the number of zeroes on their contract has him boarding their lightship and hoping to return to Earth with enough money to take care of his family.

Forever.

Before long, Emmett discovers that he is one of ten recruits, all of whom have troubled pasts and are a long way from home. Now each recruit must earn the right to travel down to the planet of Eden—a planet that Babel has kept hidden—where they will mine a substance called Nyxia that has quietly become the most valuable material in the universe.

But Babel’s ship is full of secrets. And Emmett will face the ultimate choice: win the fortune at any cost, or find a way to fight that won’t forever compromise what it means to be human.

(Goodreads)

You can’t expect to always feel like yourself. Just don’t lose who you are. Are you a bad person? Of course not. Does that mean you’ll always do the right thing? Of course not. No one’s perfect.

I don’t have to be perfect. I just have to be better than the other guy.

       To be perfectly frank, I did not immediately fall in love with Nyxia. It wasn’t “love at first page”, not even close to it. In fact, I started off rather skeptical and fully expecting to end up disappointed in this book, and that’s probably because I’m big on Sci Fi - and space travel / exploration of new worlds type of Sci Fi in particular - and over the years I’ve grown quite critical of the books I’ve been picking up.

     That being said, I am so very glad I picked this one up (many months ago, though I’m only writing this review on here now), because I enjoyed it immensely. Next to Space Odyssey, Chaos Walking Trilogy and Across the Universe, it’s my favorite Science Fiction set in space.

     The story is remarkably unique, complex, multi-layered, full of breathtaking action and unexpected plot twists (don’t even get me started on that ending!) and I finished the book with the feeling of amazement and satisfaction. Nyxia is deftly plotted and filled with characters that feel real. Characters you get attached to and end up caring deeply about. And it doesn’t help that some of them have secrets, some of them die, some of them never really show their true faces and in the end, you’re left with a whole bunch of questions, slightly dazed and confused, and yet still wanting to know more about all of the contestants, still worrying about them and cheering them on.

     The cast of characters is also diverse, which definitely makes the story that much more awesome.

     I’m going to admit that, initially, I was convinced that the entire training program was one big fake. Some sort of twisted government test designed to.. what? Find the most fierce fighter and survivor for some other, unfathomable purpose.. maybe? I didn’t believe these teens were actually training to become Nyxia miners on some far-away planet. I was literally blown away by the cliffhanger ending. And I’m now dying to read the second book (Nyxia Unleashed, already on my kindle as of few days ago!).

     Overall, I definitely recommend this book to all Sci Fi readers out there. It’s exciting, it’s exhilarating, it’s intense and thought-provoking. It’s also really smart and emotionally gripping, which is always a huge plus when it comes to the genre.

Book Review: The Last to Let Go by Amber Smith

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Publication Date:	February 6, 2018
Format:	Hardcover
Published By:	McElderry Books
Website:	Amber Smith
	The Last to Let Go on Goodreads
My review copy:	Received from the publisher

Where to get:

How do you let go of something you’ve never had?

Junior year for Brooke Winters is supposed to be about change. She’s transferring schools, starting fresh, and making plans for college so she can finally leave her hometown, her family, and her past behind.

But all of her dreams are shattered one hot summer afternoon when her mother is arrested for killing Brooke’s abusive father. No one really knows what happened that day, if it was premeditated or self-defense, whether it was right or wrong. And now Brooke and her siblings are on their own.

In a year of firsts—the first year without parents, first love, first heartbreak, and her first taste of freedom—Brooke must confront the shadow of her family’s violence and dysfunction, as she struggles to embrace her identity, finds her true place in the world, and learns how to let go.

(Goodreads)

Much like The Way I Used to Be, The Last to Let Go starts right in the thick of things. Brooke is headed home from her last day of school before summer and the cops are already swarming her apartment building. Fearing the worst, she is shocked to see her mother being taken away in handcuffs.

The story that follows is one of love, loss, acceptance, and learning to let go (sorry).

Brooke's life has never been easy. Her father abused her mother, and occasionally her older brother before he moved out, she and her sister lived in constant fear of him, and Brooke is so focused on her studies that she has zero friends to speak of.

After her mother is arrested for murder and is awaiting trial, Brooke is desperately trying to hold on to any semblance of family she can, but it's proving to be more difficult than she imagined. Her sister is barely speaking after witnessing the events between her parents and her brother is struggling just to keep a brave face. In addition to her issues at home, she is dealing with a new school and her growing feelings for a new friend and classmate.

The Last to Let Go feels like multiple stories at once, almost as if Brooke is living separate lives. There are flashbacks of Brooke's life when her father was alive, her life with her siblings now that he has died and their mother is in jail, and her life with Dani. And while these all feel, on some level, like they are separate from one another they form the heart wrenching tale of the Winters family.

Domestic violence is a serious topic and Amber does an excellent job of balancing Brooke's fictional tale with the realities of these situations. She doesn't belittle these experiences or victim blame, but approaches it with depth and honesty. She shows us how domestic violence affects not only those within the household, but also those outside of it. How this one aspect of someone's life can greatly affect everything in their life.

The Last to Let Go is a reminder that while we may feel alone and think we must shoulder the burden of ourselves and others, that is not the case. If we are honest, not only with ourselves but also with those in our life, we may not be as alone as originally thought. And we may find the strength we need to let go and move forward.

Book Review: The Hollow Girl by Hillary Monahan

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Young Adult, Horror
Publication Date:	October 10, 2017
Format:	eBook
Published By:	Delacorte Press
Website:	Hillary Monahan
	The Hollow Girl on Goodreads
My review copy:	Borrowed from local library

Where to get:

For fans of Asylum, Anna Dressed in Blood, and The Haunting of Sunshine Girl comes a new feminist horror novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Mary: The Summoning.

Five boys attacked her.
Now they must repay her with their blood and flesh.

Bethan is the apprentice to a green healer named Drina in a clan of Welsh Romanies. Her life is happy and ordered and modest, as required by Roma custom, except for one thing: Silas, the son of the chieftain, has been secretly harassing her.

One night, Silas and his friends brutally assault Bethan and a half-Roma friend, Martyn. As empty and hopeless as she feels from the attack, she asks Drina to bring Martyn back from death’s door. “There is always a price for this kind of magic,” Drina warns. The way to save him is gruesome. Bethan must collect grisly pieces to fuel the spell: an ear, some hair, an eye, a nose, and fingers.

She gives the boys who assaulted her a chance to come forward and apologize. And when they don’t, she knows exactly where to collect her ingredients to save Martyn.

(Goodreads)

The Hollow Girl was my last read of 2017 and the book that officially doubled my Goodreads goal. It was also an amazing book to end the year on. Graphic and intense, but amazing.

After Silas and his friends brutally assault Bethan and leave Martyn for dead, Bethan and Drina (aka Gran) give the boys a chance to apologize. When they don't, Gran informs Bethan that “their fates are yours. You can harvest them for what you need and banish them as mochadi. You can harvest them and allow them to stay. You can bind them to you to serve. You can kill them all if it pleases you. Whatever you choose, I support you.” That's love, guys.

Bethan goes through the emotions of mutilating these boys, from determination to regret and back again. She reminds herself of what they did to her and Martyn, which allows her to feel little pity regarding their fates.

Bethan grows from a shy and timid girl to a strong and fierce woman - extracting revenge by cutting off body parts will do that to people. There are times when Hillary gets rather graphic, but if you're not phased by gore and blood you'll be fine. If you are someone who isn't a huge fan of gore, deal with it because while this is a story of revenge, it's also about love, family, and not letting the bastards win.

Book Review: The Way I Used to Be by Amber Smith

Series:	Standalone
Genre:	Young Adult, Contemporary Fiction
Publication Date:	March 22, 2016
Format:	Audiobook
Published By:	Simon Schuster Audio
Website:	Amber Smith
	The Way I Used to Be on Goodreads
My review copy:	Borrowed from local library

Where to get:

In the tradition of Speak, this extraordinary debut novel shares the unforgettable story of a young woman as she struggles to find strength in the aftermath of an assault.

Eden was always good at being good. Starting high school didn’t change who she was. But the night her brother’s best friend rapes her, Eden’s world capsizes.

What was once simple, is now complex. What Eden once loved—who she once loved—she now hates. What she thought she knew to be true, is now lies. Nothing makes sense anymore, and she knows she’s supposed to tell someone what happened but she can’t. So she buries it instead. And she buries the way she used to be.

Told in four parts—freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior year—this provocative debut reveals the deep cuts of trauma. But it also demonstrates one young woman’s strength as she navigates the disappointment and unbearable pains of adolescence, of first love and first heartbreak, of friendships broken and rebuilt, and while learning to embrace a power of survival she never knew she had hidden within her heart.

(Goodreads)

The Way I Used to Be is a powerful and emotional novel. I listened to it in two days, finishing as an eBook because I couldn't stop and had to find out how it ended.

The story starts with Eden's rape. It's not grotesque, but not pleasant either. She wakes the next morning thinking it was a dream but quickly finds out it was real. She knows she should tell her Mom, but has trouble finding the words to do so. Instead, she showers and heads downstairs to have breakfast with her family and Kevin.

What follows is Eden's experience through high school while dealing with this traumatic event she has not told anyone. She experiences many common firsts in high school (making friends, losing friends, romantic relationships, etc.) while at the same time trying to "move on" from what happened without actually moving on.

Her relationships with her parents and brother suffer, she sleeps in a sleeping bag on the floor, and finds a comfort in continually updating her number with a string of random guys.

This story is raw and powerful. While a work of fiction, it's heartbreaking to know that some semblance of Eden's story and character is true to life. Individuals who have gone through traumatic experiences and are trying to cope with what happened to them. Trying to live.

It's at times uncomfortable and unsettling, but Amber handles this with grace, class, and honestly. Eden goes through a hard and lonely journey, but at the same time her journey is a meaningful one that ends with something we could all use a little more of: hope.

Blog Tour: Renegades by Marissa Meyer (My Favourite Villains)

I am so excited to be participating in the blog tour for Marissa Meyer's Renegades today! Check out my TOP 8 Fave villains list and don't forget to pre-order Renegades - it's releasing November 7!!! 

Series:	Renegades
Genre:	Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date:	November 7, 2017
Pages:	576 (Hardcover)
Published By:	Feiwel & Friends
Website:	Marissa Meyer
	Renegades on Goodreads
My review copy:	Received from the publisher for blog tour

Where to get:

Secret Identities. Extraordinary Powers. She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

(Goodreads)

In the midst of her cries, he squeezed her tight, aimed the gun at the sleeping man, and fired.

Bold. Valianr. Just. Do you have what it takes to be a hero?

My Top Eight Villains in Literature/Comics/Movies

I've always been attracted to the dark side, I'm not even going to pretend otherwise. Villains, anti-heroes, bad boys and bad girls.. send them all my way! Ever since I was a little kid watching Sailor Moon and Dragon Ball on TV, I would root for those misunderstood and seemingly completely evil (provided that they had some redeeming qualities, of course).

Without further ado, I present you with the list of my favorite literary and cinematic villains:

1) Moriarty from Sherlock

I mean, this quote really says it all. Moriarty is the ultimate villain - charming, charismatic, with a fabulous sense of humor, and OH, SO HANDSOME!

2)  Murdoc from McGyver (yes, I am a fossilized dinosaur, deal with it).

I believe Murdoc is a super villain. He never dies (not even McGyver can kill him), he plays piano like a pro, has the most wicked villain faces (especially after the burn), takes photos of his victims at the exact moment of their deaths, his disguises are masterful, you never know when and where he's going to show up.. I mean, come on. Murdoc was the ultimate super villain of my pre-teen years.

3) Sibyl Vane - but not the original Dorian Gray Sibyl, I'm talking about the Graham Masterton novel Sibyl from Picture of Evil.

Picture of Evil is, of course, a darker (bloodier) horror retelling of The Picture of Dorian Gray. When I was a teenager (many springs ago), I used to obsessively read Graham Masterton, James Herbert, Stephen King and the like. Horror was (and still is) my THANG. And so, villains were also (and still are, duh) my THANG. Sibyl Vane from this particular retelling was as cold as ice, as dangerous as the most venomous snake and as beautiful and Sharon Stone in Basic Instinct. I absolutely love how evil she was, because her flavor of evil was.. complex, sophisticated and completely delightful.

4) Aaron Warner from Shatter Me series 

While Warner was a short-term antagonist, he was always a (gorgeous, beautiful, charming, sweeping, breath-taking) bad boy. I loved him from page one, I will always and forever love him. He is, hands down, my favorite literary character of all times. And I need that TV show to be out soon. Like, yesterday!

5) Jadis the White Witch from The Chronicles of Narnia

Jadis is so fabulously evil, it makes my toes curl. I love her badass looks, the whole ice cold thing she's got going on, and how unforgiving and cruel she can get. She was the most powerful sorceress who once ruled the Narnia, and who forced Narnia into a 100-year old Winter, covering everything with snow and ice.

6) Spike from Buffy

Ahhh, Spike. *instert heart-eyes*
I was a huge Buffy fan back in the days, and I must admit, I originally fell for Angel. But then Angel majorly screwed it up and I was so over him! And then there was Spike. At first, I was appalled by his cockiness, he was just a little bit over the top, a bit too self-absorbed hahaha. But then - and I'm not sure when that happened exactly - I began to see him differently. As we got to know him and his backstory better, I began to really enjoy his appearances more and more. And then BAM, I was hooked on Spike!

7) Joffrey Baratheon from Game of Thrones

Now, don't get me wrong, I am so not attracted to Joffrey. He is simply the villain I love to hate. He was so horrible, so incredibly twisted and dark, I hated him with burning passion. I despised him. That being said, I must say, as far as villains are concerned, he is a great one. And I enjoyed his death (well, that's a creepy thing to say, but yeah) thoroughly. It was a beautiful crescendo ending to an incredibly, blood-pressure raising build-up.

8) Norman Bates from The Bates Motel / Psycho

I loved both the book and TV Show (I gotta say Norma is still my favorite character of the show, but Norman was absolutely brilliant too). I think Norman Bates is a fascinating, multi-layered antagonist, that isn't bad at the core, but rather failed by the system and society. I find his story completely mind-blowing.