Week 52 Review: Believe Me

From Goodreads:

The devastatingly romantic fifth novella in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Shatter Me series, chronicling the events after Imagine Me, the explosive sixth novel.

Juliette and Warner fought hard to take down the Reestablishment once and for all. Life in the aftermath isn't easy, as they and their friends at the Sanctuary work with their limited resources to stabilize the world.

Warner has his sights set on more than just politics. Since he proposed to Juliette two weeks ago, he's been eager to finally marry her, the person he loves more than anything and has endured so much to be with. But with so much chaos around them, it's been nearly impossible for them to have a wedding. And even Juliette has been distracted by everything they need to do.

At long last, Warner and Juliette's future together is within reach, but the world continues to try to pull them apart. Will they finally be able to be happily, officially, together?

Celebrate the tenth anniversary of Tahereh Mafi's bestselling Shatter Me series with Believe Me!

My Review:
I really enjoyed this story! The second 3 books in this series, they were just a little bit odd, and sometimes I wish that they hadn't happened, because things just got a little bit too complicated and confusing. But this story of their lives post Reestablishment was a really great read!

This book really is a short novel, at over 200 pages, depending on the format. And I adored being in Warner's perspective, he's a favourite character, and I really can't get enough! I loved having this time where they're not fighting off a bad guy, just having some domestic moments! 

I'm just really glad that we got this story. The first half of this series was really fantastic, and the second half had my scratching my head, and this book wrapped things up really nicely, and it was really great to spend this time with the characters! 

This book gave us almost everything that we needed as fans of this series. We got to see how they're working to rebuild, which was really great. And we got some really great moments between Juliette and Warner. There were even some non-fade to black scenes! The one thing we didn't get was their full wedding! 

Loved reading this story, it was a great final moment in this series! 

Author: Tahereh Mafi
Series: Shatter Me #6.5
Read: December 29th, 2021
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing and this series, and it's a 2021 Dystopia Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: November 16th 2021

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Reviews: On the Merits of Unnaturalness, The Mask Falling

From Goodreads:

Be aware, my good Reader, that this Pamphlet, no matter how controversial its content, must never fall into enemy Hands.

The most important piece of clairvoyant literature written in the twenty-first century, On the Merits of Unnaturalness is a pamphlet first published anonymously in 2031 by Jaxon Hall, the voyant who would later become the mime-lord known as the White Binder.

Hall was the first to index both known and supposed forms of Unnaturalness, resulting in the classification of the Seven Orders. This controversial piece of literature spread across the voyant underworld like a plague, revolutionising the syndicate but also creating discord in the form of brutal gang wars between the newly-divided categories, the scars of which can still be seen today.

Revelatory and subversive, On the Merits of Unnaturalness is a must-read for any reader with a desire to further immerse themselves in the incredible world of Samantha Shannon's The Bone Season.

From Goodreads:

Dreamwalker Paige Mahoney has eluded death again. Snatched from the jaws of captivity and consigned to a safe house in the Scion Citadel of Paris, she finds herself caught between those factions that seek Scion's downfall and those who would kill to protect the Rephaim's puppet empire.

The mysterious Domino Program has plans for Paige, but she has ambitions of her own in this new citadel. With Arcturus Mesarthim-her former enemy-at her side, she embarks on an adventure that will lead her from the catacombs of Paris to the glittering hallways of Versailles. Her risks promise high reward: the Parisian underworld could yield the means to escalate her rebellion to outright war.

As Scion widens its bounds and the free world trembles in its shadow, Paige must fight her own memories after her ordeal at the hands of Scion. Meanwhile, she strives to understand her bond with Arcturus, which grows stronger by the day. But there are those who know the revolution began with them-and could end with them...

My Review:
I really enjoyed reading these books! The pamphlet that Jaxon wrote, I do wish I'd read it earlier in the series, because it does lay out the various types of voyants, and what their skill is, but I have now read it! And oh, The Mask Falling was just excellent!

Knowing that the pamphlet was written by Jaxon, you can tell, because there's this underlying nastiness, one that pits the voyants against one another, elevates some and pushes down others. And honestly, it was hard reading because it was a little dry, despite the edges on some of the comments! 

The Mask Falling is a bridge between the first 3 books, and the second set of 3 books in this series. Paige is now in Paris, and while she still kinda is the Mime Queen, she's also now an agent of the Domino Program. So that was some interesting dynamics and personalities that Paige had to juggle!

There where two really important pieces that happened in this book. Paige found out this one secret that Arcturus was keeping, which yeah, that was pretty shocking! And the other was the developments in their relationship, which is where the title comes from. So really loved that! 

Basically the whole of The Mask Falling, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop. Between her "capture" by the Grand Inquisitor of France and co, and the orders to kill the person in charge of Sheol II, there's just so much potential for something to go wrong. And that ending, well, that just brought my worst fears to life, and I'm just dying for book 5! 

Loved reading these two, and I can't wait to see where the series goes from here!

Author: Samantha Shannon
Series: The Bone Season #4
Read: December 27th, 27th, 2021
Source: Ebook.bike, Bought
Reason Why: Love this series, and they're 2021 Dystopia Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Books and The Mask Falling a WoW Book! 
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: January 27th 2015, January 26th 2021

 On the Merits of Unnaturalness: 

5/5 Hearts

3/5 Books

2/5 Stars

The Mask Falling 

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 48 Review: Earth & Sky

From Goodreads:
Seventeen-year-old Skylar has been haunted for as long as she can remember by fleeting yet powerful sensations that something is horribly wrong. But despite the panic attacks tormenting her, nothing ever happens, and Sky's beginning to think she's crazy. Then she meets a mysterious, otherworldly boy named Win and discovers the shocking truth her premonitions have tapped into: our world no longer belongs to us. For thousands of years, Earth has been at the mercy of alien scientists who care nothing for its inhabitants and are using us as the unwitting subjects of their time-manipulating experiments. Win belongs to a rebel faction seeking to put a stop to it, and he needs Skylar's help--but with each shift in the past, the very fabric of reality is unraveling, and soon there may be no Earth left to save.

My Review:
This book was so fantastic! I'm really glad that I'm reading more Megan Crewe books, I loved her other ones, and it was really great to start this series, to get into this world, and I can't wait to explore further in the rest of the trilogy! 

The whole thing where Earth has been viewed as a science experiment for aliens, that's pretty cool, and also pretty scary! Adding in that they're experimenting with time, that added an amazing layer to what was going on in this book! 

That her panic attacks are triggered when the aliens change something draws her into this fight. Along with Win, the search for an alien weapon that can destroy the systems the aliens are using to mess with time. I really enjoyed following along with the journey!

I'm so excited to see where things go from here! There's two more books to go, and with the scope of this world, I can't wait to see where we're going to go next! There's still so much to do, and more time to spend with Skylar and Win! I can't wait! 

This was a really great read, and I can't wait to continue! 

Author: Megan Crewe
Series: Earth & Sky #1
Read: November 28th, 2021
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Love her other books! And it's a 2021 Dystopia Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book and WoW Book! 
Publisher: Razorbill Canada
Published: October 28th 2014

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 47 Review: Angelfall

From Goodreads:

It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain. 

Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. 

When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back...

My Review:
This was such a great read! I'm pretty sure that I've only read one other book/series with the biblical apocalypse, but I'm pretty sure that didn't have angels carrying it out, so I really enjoyed this concept, and it played out so well! I've seen this book get a lot of love recently, and that's so great to see! 

Things are not good for Penryn, what with the apocalypse, and her unstable mother, and caring for her younger sister. But then her sister is kidnapped, and Penryn goes on a quest to rescue her. To survive and also search for her sister, that's a tall order!

I really enjoyed exploring this world, and how it's fallen apart since the apocalypse happened. It's a very dangerous world, and it takes a lot of effort just to survive, let alone go on this mission for her sister. I just couldn't get enough!

That she ends up helping Raffe from being hurt by his fellow angels, that maybe wasn't the best move on her part. Or maybe it was one of the best. It'll depend on how things end, but I loved watching them work together! And I'm so excited to see more of them! 

I had a really great time reading this book, and I can't wait to continue the series! 

Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn & the End of Days #1
Read: November 20th, 2021
Source: NetGalley/Bought
Reason Why: Sound really good, and it's a 2021 Dystopia Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book! 
Publisher: Skyscape
Published: May 23rd 2013

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 41 Review: The Empress

From Goodreads:
The thrilling sequel to S.J. Kincaid's The Diabolic, the New York Times bestseller that TeenVogue.com called "the perfect kind of high-pressure adventure."

It's a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don't have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite.

But having power isn't the same thing as keeping it, and change isn't always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.

Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she's found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it? 

My first review of The Empress
My Review:
This was such a fantastic book! I was apprehensive about reading it, because I knew how poorly things would go for these characters. But it's a really great story, and I loved reading it again! I felt so badly for Nemesis and Tyrus!

I forgot just how much happens in this book, and how many of these moments are up and down. And some of those ups and downs were pretty rapid. So this book definitely messes with my emotions in a big way! 

I did remember some of the things, like that the one planet got that gas used on it, that killed everyone on that planet who wasn't vaccinated. And that Tyrus ended up being forced to be addicted to a drug. But man, the emotions, this book really has some intense moments!

Speaking of intense, their wedding, everything that went down there, up, down, up, down! I really don't know how to feel, that ending was just so harsh, I need to know what's going to happen in the next book, see if that makes sense of what happened in this one! 

This was such a great book, and now I need to read the final one right away!

Author: S.J. Kincaid
Series: The Diabolic #2
First Read: August 16th, 2017

Read: October 15th, 2021
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading, and it's a 2021 Dystopia Book and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book!
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: October 31st 2017

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Junkyard Bargain: Review

From Goodreads:

Sometimes before you can face your enemies, you need to confront yourself.

Time is running out for Shining Smith and her crew to gather the weapons they need to rescue one of their own. But will they even make it to the ultimate battle? First, they'll need to hit the road to Charleston - a hell ride full of bandits, sex slavers, corrupt lawmen, and criminal bike gangs looking to move in on Shining's territory.

Shining's human allies will do anything to protect her - because they must. But will victory be worth it if she must compel more and more people to do her bidding? And will her feline warriors, the junkyard cats, remain loyal and risk their lives? Or are they just in it for the kibble?

My Review:
This was a fantastic sequel! I hadn't read the first book before yesterday, which is also when I read this one, because it kinda slipped my mind, even though I'd made this review post. So I read both of these back to back, and they were both just so easy to devour!

This book picks up not too long after Cats, and it's quickly decided that they need more gear to face Warhammer. So it's very different from the first book, where she's on her own turf. We get to travel, and meet new characters, which was really great, loved watching the band grow!

I loved to hate the sex slavers plot line. But watching how she dealt with it was fantastic, I loved watching these bad guys being taken down! It was a great time to learn how the whole group works together, which they're going to need to go after Warhammer! 

Things are set up for the 3rd book, and I don't know if a) it'll wrap everything up and be the end of the series b) wrap all things up but set up some new things, and the series continues, or c) wrap up some times and the series continues. But I can't wait to find out, see how she's going to deal with Warhammer!

This was another great read in this series, and I can't wait for book 3! 

Author: Faith Hunter 
Series: Junkyard Cats #2
Read: October 7th, 2021
Source: Let's Talk! Promotions Review Copy 
Reason Why: Love her writing so much, and this series, and it's a 2021 Dystopia Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book!
Publisher: Audible Originals
Published: February 25th 2021

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Bio:

Faith Hunter is the New York Times and USAToday bestselling author of the Jane Yellowrock series, the Soulwood series, and the Rogue Mage series, as well as the author of 16 thrillers under pen the names Gary Hunter and Gwen Hunter. She has 40+ books in print.

Faith collects orchids and animal skulls, loves thunder storms, and writes. She likes to cook soup, bake homemade bread, garden, and run Class III whitewater rivers. She edits the occasional anthology and drinks a lot of tea. Some days she’s a lady. Some days she ain't. 

For more, see www.faithhunter.net

To keep up with her, like her fan page at Facebook.

Contact and Buy AKA Links:

Website

Facebook

Facebook Fan Group

Twitter

Yellowrock Securities

Goodreads

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Audible

Week 40 Review: Junkyard Cats

From Goodreads:

From the author of the best-selling Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series comes a tough new heroine who is far more than she seems.

After the Final War, after the appearance of the Bug aliens and their enforced peace, Shining Smith is still alive, still doing business from the old scrapyard bequeathed to her by her father. But Shining is now something more than human. And the scrapyard is no longer just a scrapyard, but a place full of secrets that she has guarded for years.

This life she has built, while empty, is predictable and safe. Until the only friend left from her previous life shows up, dead, in the back of a scrapped Tesla warplane, a note to her clutched in his fingers - a note warning her of a coming attack.

Someone knows who she is. Someone knows what she is guarding. Will she be able to protect the scrapyard? Will she even survive? Or will she have to destroy everything she loves to keep her secrets out of the wrong hands?

My Review:
Wow, this was such a great read! And it's short and intense, so quick to read! I dived into this world so easily, and it just kept coming and coming! I loved learning about Shining and watching her face this threat, with the various weapons at her disposal! 

Shining has so many secrets, though there's a few secrets that are being kept from her. And as the situation intensified, some actions needed those secrets revealed, and the action just kept continuing! I couldn't put it down! 

I really enjoyed getting to know Shining, even in these tense circumstances! We got little tidbits of her past, and who she was, and getting to know her and this very broken down world was incredible to read, and can't wait to spend more time in and with, and learn more!

The action in this book was just on point! And very creative, given the way that things work in this world, with Shining, and with the cats! I can't wait to explore further-because the action has only just started, and I can't wait to see what the fallout is going to be for all of this! 

Loved this book, and I just need to read more! 

Author: Faith Hunter
Series: Junkyard Cats #1
Read: October 7th, 2021
Source: Ebook.bike
Reason Why: Love her writing, and it sounded really great, and it's a 2021 Dystopia Book and a Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book!
Publisher: Audible Originals 
Published: January 2nd 2020

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: The Storm

From Goodreads:
"I'll tell you a weird thing about apocalypses - a thing I didn't even know until I was in one: they seem pretty bad, don't they? Well, take it from me: they can always get worse."

Three months after the killer rain first fell, Ruby is beginning to realise her father might be dead . . . and that she cannot survive alone. When a chance encounter lands her back in the army camp, Ruby thinks she is safe - at a price. Being forced to live with Darius Spratt is bad enough, but if Ruby wants to stay she must keep her eyes - and her mouth - shut. It's not going to happen. When she realizes what is going on - the army is trying to find a cure by experimenting on human subjects - Ruby flips out . . . and makes an even more shocking discovery: she's not useless at all. The Storm begins . . . 

My Review:
Man, this was such a fantastic read! I loved reading the first book, and I was really excited to be back in this world! And boy, it was such a great read! Things were still pretty bad at the end of the first book, and I had to know what was going to happen next! 

I just love the way that this book is told! Ruby's writing in a journal, and she's writing to whomever picks it up, and that's us. So there's moments where she's talking straight at us, and it was such a great choice for this series! 

Oh, and Darius! I loved her interactions with him, they had a particular relationship, and I loved watching it develop! He was a really great character to read about, espcailly his interactions with Ruby, and the love that they grew to share! 

The science stuff in this book was pretty interesting as well. I have no idea how it'd work, but it seemed logical from my view point. And of course things went down a certain way, and the ending was really entertaining. I would love to have a bit more, to see how the world is doing after everything that happened! 

This was a fantastic read, and I can't wait to read more by Virginia Bergin! 

Author: Virginia Bergin
Series: The Rain #2
Read: August 29th, 2021
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a 2021 Dystopia Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book, Sophomore Challenge Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Published: October 6th 2015

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 35 Review: Cold Falling White

From Goodreads:

Two teens fight for their lives after an alien invasion in this heart-stopping follow-up to Zero Repeat Forever.

Humans. Clones. Aliens. No one is safe anymore. It's the end of the world.

Xander Liu survived the alien invasion—just barely. For more than a year, he has outsmarted, hidden from, and otherwise avoided the ruthless intruders, the Nahx, dodging the deadly darts that have claimed so many. When the murder of his friend leaves him in the protective company of August, a rebellious Nahx soldier, Xander is finally able to make his way back to human controlled territory and relative safety. But safety among the humans is not what it seems.

When Raven awakes on a wide expanse of snowy sand dunes, she has many questions. What has happened to her and the other reanimated humans gathered around her? What is the meaning of the Nahx ships that hover ominously above them? And most pressing of all, where is August, who promised to keep her safe?

In the shadow of an unforgiving Canadian winter, Xander and Raven find themselves on opposite sides of an alien war. Left with little choice about their roles in the looming battle, they search for answers and allies all while being drawn back to the place where their respective fates were determined, and to the one who determined them: August. 

My Review:
Oh wow, this was such a fantastic read! After the ending of the first book, I just had to know what was going to happen next! And oh, it was so fantastic and entertaining to read, I couldn't turn the pages fast enough! It was just so good! 

When we left Raven, she was in, or had finished the process of what happens to a darted human. And oh, I had no clue what was coming, why they were doing what they were. But we learn more in this book, and that was just great! 

In this book we got Xander's perspective, which was really great, because we got to see what itw as like in the human controlled areas. Which, if you can imagine, isn't doing too well, because humanity can't help but be kinda awful, even in the midst of an alien invasion. 

That ending though? It kinda felt like the end of a book 2 in a trilogy, you know? Like, that there's supposed to be a 3rd book. I don't think it's likely, given that it's been 2 years since this book came out, and there isn't one. Which is a little sad, because I'm really enjoying it, but oh, well!

This was a really fantastic read, and I can't wait to read more by G.S. Prendergast! 

Author: G.S. Prendergast
Series: The Nahx Invasion #2
Read: August 28th, 2021
Source: NetGalley/Bought
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a 2021 Dystopia Book, End of Series 2021 Book, Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Book and a RR Book!
Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published: November 19th 2019

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 28 Reviews: This Savage Song, Our Dark Duet

From Goodreads:
The city of Verity has been overrun with monsters, born from the worst of human evil. In North Verity, the Corsai and the Malchai run free. Under the rule of Callum Harker, the monsters kill any human who has not paid for protection. In the South, Henry Flynn hunts the monsters who cross the border into his territory, aided by the most dangerous and darkest monsters of them all—the Sunai, dark creatures who use music to steal their victim's souls.

As one of only three Sunai in existence, August Flynn has always wanted to play a bigger role in the war between the north and the south. When the chance arises to keep an eye on Kate Harker, daughter of the leader of North Verity, August jumps on it.

When Kate discovers August's secret, the pair find themselves running for their lives and battling monsters from both sides of the wall. As the city dissolves into chaos, it's up to them to foster a peace between monsters and humans.

A unique, fast-paced adventure that looks at the monsters we face every day—including the monster within.

From Goodreads:

The sequel—and conclusion—to Victoria Schwab's instant #1 New York Times bestseller, This Savage Song.

Kate Harker is a girl who isn't afraid of the dark. She's a girl who hunts monsters. And she's good at it. August Flynn is a monster who can never be human. No matter how much he once yearned for it. He has a part to play. And he will play it, no matter the cost.

Nearly six months after Kate and August were first thrown together, the war between the monsters and the humans is a terrifying reality. In Verity, August has become the leader he never wished to be, and in Prosperity, Kate has become the ruthless hunter she knew she could be. When a new monster emerges from the shadows—one who feeds on chaos and brings out its victim's inner demons—it lures Kate home, where she finds more than she bargained for. She'll face a monster she thought she killed, a boy she thought she knew, and a demon all her own.

A gorgeously written dark fantasy from New York Times-bestselling author Victoria Schwab, and one to hand to fans of Holly Black, Laini Taylor, and Maggie Stiefvater.

My first review of This Savage Song

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this duology, though it darn well hurt! It's about monsters, and it's dark and things don't really go well. I loved reading about Kate and August, and learning who they were as living beings! But boy, where wrong choices made sometimes!

I don't know who I enjoyed reading about more, Kate or August. Kate, a human who wants to be more like her father, who is not a good person, to say the least. August, who's a monster, but seems to want to be human. They were both so great!

I'd basically forgotten what happened in This Savage Song, though I remembered that about half of it was them running. I'd forgotten the particulars, though, and everything that happened at the end, so it was so fantastic to read it again!

And oh, Our Dark Duet broke my heart! We did get to explore more outside of Verity (and I'd love a spin off series that could've been created by those deleted scenes) and we got to see these characters struggle with the events of the previous book. But that ending? Oh, man, that ending! Amazing and brutal and a perfect ending to this dark series! 

This was such a fantastic duology, and I'm really glad that I read it! 

Author: Victoria Schwab
Series: Monsters of Verity #1
First Read: August 30th, 2016

Read: July 10th, 11th, 2021
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading, and they're 2021 Dystopia Books and Prequel & Sequel Challenge 2021 Books, and Our Dark Duet is a End of Series 2021 Book and a WoW Book!
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Published: July 5th 2016, June 13th 2017

This Savage Song:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Our Dark Duet:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars