Of Triton by Anna Banks Review

Title: Of Triton   
Author: Anna Banks   
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends  
Release Date: May 28, 2013 
Received: For review in return for a honest review

Summary:  In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

Review:  After the ending of the first book Of Poseidon I was dying to read this next installment. And Anna Banks did not let me down.Of Triton takes place not too much later and immediately jumps into the action

Even though it had been a year since I read Of Poseidon I was quickly caught up. I was super excited to fall back into the story. Emma's mom and Grom were in Of Triton a lot more than in the first book and I liked getting to know them. Even though they were rather annoying at times. 

I was glued to this book. I was supposed to be studying for my finals and I was trying to read one chapter at a time in between studying but I kept on reading all the way through. Of Triton is funny, heartbreaking, and tense. 

I really liked reading more about the Syrena kingdom and how it works as well as getting to know a few more characters. With that being said I liked reading more about the existing characters. Especially Reyna and Rachel.

Overall this is a great series with awesome characters and plenty of laughs.

Scarlet by Marissa Meyer Review

Title: Scarlet (Lunar Chroicles #2)
Author: Marissa Meyer   
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends  
Release Date: February 5, 2013
Received: For review in return for a honest review  

Summary:  Cinder returns in the second thrilling installment of the New York Times-bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She’s trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she’ll be the Commonwealth’s most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit’s grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn’t know about her grandmother and the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother’s whereabouts, she has no choice but to trust him, though he clearly has a few dark secrets of his own.

As Scarlet and Wolf work to unravel one mystery, they find another when they cross paths with Cinder. Together, they must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen who will do anything to make Prince Kai her husband, her king, her prisoner.

Review:  If you have not read Cinder you need to go do that. If the words sci-fi Cinderella retelling don't make you want to read it maybe my review will. Either way if you have not read Cinder I am warning you that this review will contain spoilers for Cinder, not for Scarlet just Cinder. 

 Scarlet was just as good as Cinder. A lot of the time second books tend to drag and not be nearly as good as the first book. But Scarlet does not fall into that trap. Maybe it is the introduction of a new POV or maybe it is the added cast of characters, but Scarlet manages to stay fresh where others fail. 

In case you could not figure it out, Scarlet is a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. A retelling that will blow your mind with how different it is from the source material. It takes place in the same world as Cinder just in a different country.  Scarlet is just as sassy as Cinder but they are different she is less insecure and even more kick-ass if you can believe it. If you fell in love with Cinder then you will like Scarlet. She is sassy and I swear I want her red hoodie. 

There are also some other new characters such as Wolf who is not all he seems, and Thorne who I thought was going to be annoying but I really liked getting to know. And don't fret, there are still some of your favorite characters from Cinder such as Iko, Queen Levana (though if you like her *side eye*) and of course Kai. 

 The two stories of Scarlet and Wolf looking for her grandmother and Cinder trying to escape Queen Levana may seem like they would not come together but they fall in place perfectly and are told through alternating chapters interspersed with chapters about Kai. 

Basically if you liked Cinder get ready for even more fun in Scarlet. Also while some questions are answered you will be joined with me in wanting Cress which does not come out till next year. 

Wicked Sweet by Mar'ce Merrell

Title: Wicked Sweet
Author: Mar'ce Merrell
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Release Date: May 22, 2012
Received: From publisher for review

Summary: 
Chantal is a planner, and her summer-before-senior-year plan requires best friend Jillian, resumé updating, and studying for AP classes. Jillian wants something different and is afraid to leave introverted Chantal in the dust. All that changes, though, when popular classmates Parker and Will suspiciously start hanging out with the girls.

Chantal only sees one thing: Jillian ditching her for Parker—a guy who can’t even be trusted! Chantal hatches a new plan, one that will expose Parker and Will for what they truly are, and along the way, get her best friend back with the littlest lie and a lot of mouthwatering cake. After all, what are best friends for? 

Review: 
I picked up this book because of the cover. I know you aren't supposed to judge a book by it's cover but we all do it. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the cover fit the book perfectly.

One thing I didn't know about Wicked Sweet was that it is told in alternate points of view of not only Chantal and Jillian but also, occasionally, Parker and Will. I liked this because it let me understand the boys' motivation and made them slightly more sympathetic characters.

Chantal's pov was my favorite because it seemed to me that she had the most story to tell. It also could have been because I related with her the best. I found Jillian kind of annoying and I didn't understand some of her decisions. Though her situation was very difficult I found her to be floppy but she grew up towards the end which I appreciated.

My favorite part had to have been when Chantal would bake. I am a baker so I could definitely relate, though it kind of made me hungry. I also enjoyed the scheme she came up with, it was fun to see what she would do next.

Overall this was a really cute and fun book filled with lessons of learning about yourself and not only focusing on other people.

Cinder

Title: Cinder

Author: Marissa Meyer

Publisher: Feiwel and Friends

Release Date: January 3, 2012
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary: 

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .
Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Review:

Happy New Year!

Today I have a review of a book I read back in October but comes out this week! I loved this book and definitely recommend you pick it up! Now onto my review:
I adore fairy tale retellings and this is one of my favorite ones I have read so far! This is a semi retelling of Cinderella, but it is so much more than that! There is romance, action, mystery, an evil stepmother, a land on the brink of war, and a deadly disease that is ravaging New Beijing.
I also liked how this wasn’t an “oh I need to be rescued” storyline. Cinder is a kick butt awesome character! She is self-sufficient but not cold, she lets certain people into her life and those she lets in, and who appreciate her she is loyal to.
The plague angle was a twist I would not have expected to have gone as well as it did, it was fully integrated into the storyline and added intrigue and an extra bit of leverage for the Lunars.
I have to admit I figured out one of the major plot twists in the story pretty early, but since I kept wavering about whether it was true or not it didn’t ruin it for me.
The dynamic between all the different characters I really liked. And I LOVED Kai, he was so sweet and down to earth, yet willing to do anything to protect his people.
Overall I loved this book and am left clamoring for the next book!
(Also I adore the cover!!!!)

Enclave

Title: Enclave (Razorland #1)

Author:  Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Release Date:  April 12, 2011

Received From:  Publisher in exchange for a honest review

Summary: 

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade's long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known. (Summary from BN.com)

Review:

There were aspects of this book that I loved as well as aspects that really bugged me.

I loved the main character! She was spicy and amazing, very similar to Katniss from the Hunger Games and Katsa from Graceling. She was strong, and not willing to let people walk all over her.

I also liked the overall plot, and I enjoyed the way that their “jobs” were chosen. I felt that the going out into the tunnels outside of the enclaves. It was similar to The Maze Runner by James Dashner in that aspect.

Things that I didn’t like: the very, very odd love triangle. The way the story kind of stopped I think it would have been better if the book was longer because it seemed like the entire book was just a set up for the next books. And while I got somewhat connected I wish the next book was connected to this book so there would be some more story line.

Overall an ok book and I’m still interested in reading the next book, to see what happens next.