Caraval and Legendary by Stephanie Garber

It's only just a game... Caraval by Stephanie Garber

“Every person has the power to change their fate if they are brave enough to fight for what they desire more than anything.”

Scarlett Dragna has never left the tiny island where she and her sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval—the faraway, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show—are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt-of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. Nevertheless she becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic. And whether Caraval is real or not, Scarlett must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over or a dangerous domino effect of consequences will be set off, and her beloved sister will disappear forever.

Welcome, welcome to Caraval…beware of getting swept too far away.

 Caraval by Stephanie Garber

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★★★★★, a game that every reader won't be able to get enough of.

This one has completely changed the way I view whimsy, and how suspense is written. I have never seen a book written like this, and I have completely fallen in love the Garber's characters and world. Ah, I just can't get enough! The ideas that inspired the characters, locations, and unique front are shocking to be coming from a debut author. Garber you are mind-blowing! 

Being a sister myself, I know how close a bond I have with them; and it was refreshing to see Garber capture this element beautifully throughout the book. Scarlett and Tella are one of my favorite sister-duos to date, they are very different form one another; which makes their bond more realistic, because most sisters are. I am more of a Tella, but my older sister is defiantly a Scarlett. I just love that while reading this I thought of her a lot, and I might just have to have her read this series too. Julian is... Julian. I love how devious and mysterious he is, but also cunning. He had to be my favorite character from this on, hands-down. I really loved how Garber wrote him too. There were many times throughout the book you could see his thought process, but at the same time question his motives; it was ingenious. But finally, WHO IS LEGEND?!?! I hope that later in the series we get the chance to meet who he is, because there are so many complex elements to Caraval; he must be a character who is the most devious of all. 

Garber's writing style blew me away. This is just her debut and I can't get enough of her! The way she writes sounds like she has been writing for ages. I loved that way she created this world, introduced characters, and made readers guess at every turn. She held my attention from the first words to the last pages. Her style makes her one of the most prominent voices I've ever read from. I love how she took betrayal and manipulation and made it into something beautiful and whimsical. I have never had an author do that before, and I have been swept too far away with no intentions of ever coming back. 

Caraval is one of my top read of this year, and one this I will be recommending for many to come. Garber has easily become an author that I will be coming back to again and again. Through her renowned writing style, and whimsical world and characters; Garber has created a show-stopper that many years will be tripping over themselves for the next installment. I can't wait to see what journey she will take us on, and what puzzles she'll have us decode next.

The games have only just begun... Legendary by Stephanie Garber

“Every good story needs a villain. But the best villains are the ones you secretly like."

A heart to protect. A debt to repay. A game to win.

After being swept up in the magical world of Caraval, Donatella Dragna has finally escaped her father and saved her sister, Scarlett, from a disastrous arranged marriage. The girls should be celebrating, but Tella isn’t yet free. She made a desperate bargain with a mysterious criminal, and what Tella owes him no one has ever been able to deliver: Caraval Master Legend’s true name.

The only chance of uncovering Legend’s identity is to win Caraval, so Tella throws herself into the legendary competition once more—and into the path of the murderous heir to the throne, a doomed love story, and a web of secrets…including her sister's. Caraval has always demanded bravery, cunning, and sacrifice, but now the game is asking for more. If Tella can’t fulfill her bargain and deliver Legend’s name, she’ll lose everything she cares about—maybe even her life. But if she wins, 

Legend and Caraval will be destroyed forever...

Welcome, welcome to Caraval . . . the games have only just begun.

Legendary by Stephanie Garber

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★★★★★, just when I thought Garber has done it all, remember the games have only just begun.

If I thought Caraval was amazing, Legendary his flipped me upside down. I love it. Just when I think think I've discovered Garber's plot, she pulls the rug out from underneath me. I couldn't help getting swept away again, in this dangerous world of whimsy, it's hard not to. I loved Garber's unique flip of perspectives, her unique character choice, and finally finding out who Legend is. With all these combined, I have fallen even more into this story, and I don't have any intention of coming out soon.

This one is told from Tella's perspective and I couldn't get enough! I loved her unique perspective and how it was her turn to play the games. At first, I was a little apprehensive to read from her perspective, but after this one, I love her so much as a character. She reminds me of myself; fearless and driven, it was really refreshing. Even with the perspective change, Garber kept her original style and voice. This is one of the most difficult things for an author to master, but Garber did it resiliently. I have never seen such a smooth transition from one perspective to another, and I really enjoyed seeing her challenge readers with Tella's perspective. With this one being the squeal to Caraval, I feel like Garber has shown readers her full writing potential; she has shown readers how prominent and versatile her voice is through her character and world development.

I'm not going to lie, I was a little shocked at how many new characters Garber add to the plot. I absolutely loved the Jack of Hearts; Jacks, well loved to hate. I love me some good villains, and he is one of my favorites. I loved his devious smile and mysterious motives, he had me at the first scene he was in. He's spicy cinnamon roll, with extra spice. I was really shocked at how close he grew with the original character line-up. But I am still at little apprehensive about his motivates, I am curious to see where he will end up in the nest installment. Now...it i time... WE FINALLY KNOW WHO LEGEND IS!!! All I'm gonna say is yes...yes, Yes, yEs, YES! I am so happy with who they end-up being, and it's so perfect. They my ultimate cinnamon roll, but I'm so frustrated with them. Oh, I cannot. I am hysterically laughing with Tella right now. I am so nervous to see where Garber is going to take us. I just don't what going to happen, I just want everyone to be happy, but I have a feeling we're going to have to sacrifice so much to get there. Garber, you kill me.

All in all, Legendary has set the stage. I haven't read a series this good in a long time and can't wait to see where Garber takes this next. With the impeccable writing style, original character choice, and vivid world; Legendary has readers on the edge of their seats. Through her unique writing style, Garber has guessing at what she has in-store next. I am anticipating the day I get Finale in my hands. So, until then Garber, I will be waiting...

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Fawkes by Nadine Brandes - A world re-imaged.

“Take a breath, Thomas. There has always been fear. There will always be fear. It's up to us to stand tall, even when the fear demands we bow to it.”

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father’s plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared, but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn’t do something soon, he’ll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot—claiming it will put an end to the plague—Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas’s choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there’s no turning back.

Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

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★★★★★, I'm such a sucker for romance and treason, so I was excited to finally get my hands on Fawkes!

Before reading this one, I had no idea who Guy Fawkes was or anything about the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. This whimsy tale swept me off my feet and I was blown away with this captivating retelling. I loved learning about the history of the Gunpowder Plot and read about characters that fascinated me. I can say now that I will never pass a November 5th the same way again. And I hope to have Fawkes close to me when the date passes from here on.

I still can't believe that history has made its way back to the Young Adult stage. It has been a long time since I've picked up a YA book that has inspired me to go and learn about the history. I loved seeing Brandes take a classic plot and giving it a new face. The romance and treason, magic, and finally Brandes style and perspective are what really made me love this one. I couldn't put this one down once I've started, and I hope you won't either.

On to the romance and treason, I loved how Brandes took this plot and gave it the face of Thomas. I feel that when reading history, most of us lose touch with what we read, but not the case with this one. I loved reading about Thomas and his struggles he faced with the plague and honor. He was a very reliable main character. And his romance with Emma really put into perspective how people of the 17th century persevered race and gender roles at the time. And when Thomas gets invited into the plot to kill the ling, it puts a lot a strain on them both. I like how Brandes choose to show how much this Plot effect not just the people within it, but also those outside surrounding the plotters. Whenever I see a treasonous plot, I can't resist picking it up, it always puts a flame in y reading behind it. 

The magic Brandes conjured in this one was vivid. The idea that colors could be the root of magic was so incredibly ingenious. I have never read or heard of anything of it's kind before and Barndes has blown me away. I liked that each color had a different ability, and whatever color one mastered, they could manipulate things within that color realm. If I had color magic, I don't know what I color origin I would have. Blue? Yellow? Maybe Brown? I don't know, I need a quiz! But I also liked the thought of white magic; magic that is powerful, hard to master, and combines the abilities of all other colors. It's dangerous, and I loved seeing how the story unfolded around white magic, and Thomas's battle with it. 

The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was one of the biggest plots of the 17th centenary. I loved that Brandes took this plot and inspired a re-imaged world to tell its tale. The Gunpowder Plot of 1605 was a failed assassination attempt against King James I by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby. As a person who loves history, I could really appreciate Brandes's efforts to keep the original plot, but also creating new elements to keep readers' attention. With the original plot still upheld in this debut novel, Brandes has proven to be a unique story-teller and a credible writer.

Finally, I loved the message that Brandes sends readers; stand-up for what you believe in and educate yourself on why they are your beliefs. Through out this read Thomas had to go out and get answers for himself, and when he was curious about something, he would always have to find the proof. You don't come across a character that is as driven as he too often. And it was inspirational to know that when people read Fawkes, they can find the courage to go out and do that in their daily lives too. Through Brandes's creative retelling, readers everywhere will never forget the tale of a brave boy, his journey to find the truth, and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

ARC Reveiw: Grace and Fury by Tracy Banghart

Title: Grace and Fury
Author: Tracy Banghart
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publishing on: July 31, 2018 (Little Brown Publishing)
Source: Paperback ARC
Rating: ★★★★

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"Bold, brutal, and beautiful—a must-read fantasy full of fierce sisterhood, action, and political intrigue for fans of The Selection series and Caraval."

In a world where women have no rights, sisters Serina and Nomi Tessaro face two very different fates: one in the palace, the other in prison.

Serina has been groomed her whole life to become a Grace–someone to stand by the heir to the throne as a shining, subjugated example of the perfect woman. But when her headstrong and rebellious younger sister, Nomi, catches the heir’s eye, it’s Serina who takes the fall for the dangerous secret that Nomi has been hiding.

Now trapped in a life she never wanted, Nomi has only one way to save Serina: surrender to her role as a Grace until she can use her position to release her sister. This is easier said than done. A traitor walks the halls of the palace, and deception lurks in every corner. But Serina is running out of time, imprisoned on an island where she must fight to the death to survive and one wrong move could cost her everything.

My Thoughts...

This book was utterly profound, and is unlike anything I have read before. In an Italian-inspired fantasy world where women have no rights, Banghart has created a masterpiece that has rocked me to my core. I haven’t read a book this good since Delirium and The Jewel. Trough raw and dynamic characters, Banghart shows readers how cruel this corrupt world can be. The characters Banghart has created are so raw and unique. Seen through both sister’s perceptive, Banghart has written an eye-opening tale of two sisters fighting never-ending battles of oppression, while also maintaining the unbreakable bond of siblings. Readers strap yourselves in for this one, because I still can't wrap my head around all the bone-chilling plot twists in this one. Just when I thought I knew where this was going, Banghart turned everything completely on its head. Truly unforgettable! Through love and loss, Banghart challenges readers to find their limits, and find how far they would go for the ones they love. With an unforgettable plot and unique world, Banghart has captured my attention. Grace and Fury has easily become a favorite for me, and a read I will not be forgetting anytime soon.

About the Author...

Tracy Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her first story. 

She grew up in rural Maryland, with a cornfield in her backyard and flying squirrels in her bedroom walls, and spent her summers on a remote island in northern Ontario. All that isolation and pretty scenery led to a reading addiction, writing obsession, and several serious book boyfriends.

After high school, Tracy escaped to North Carolina, where she got her BA in English from Davidson College. After college, she sampled city life in Canada and D.C. before jetting off to England, to pursue a master’s degree in Publishing at Oxford Brookes University. When she returned stateside, Tracy dabbled in various publishing jobs but didn’t give up on her dream of being a published author. Her husband convinced her that writing full time made perfect sense given the unpredictability of his job, thus affirming her conviction that he was better than any book boyfriend.

Tracy now lives with her husband, young son, and sundry pets in Hawaii, but it won’t be long until the Army sends them off on new adventures. She is represented by Linda Epstein of Emerald City Literary Agency.

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Book Review: Atlas Fallen by Jessica Pierce

Title: Atlas Fallen (Cyber Crown #1)
Author: Jessica Pierce
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publishing: April 24, 2018 (Lost City Publishers)
Source: Hardback
Rating: ★★★★★

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One space station. One throne. And the girl who holds the key.

The fate of the crown lies with the daughter of a traitor. 

Tesla Petrov, daughter of an infamous traitor, no longer lives a life of promise in the Atlas space station's elite flight training program. Stripped of her military rank and banished to the slums, she now scrapes out a brutal existence competing in illegal robot fights for Minko, ruthless leader of the Red Ashes crime syndicate. But when a wrong move costs her a fight—and a fortune—for the crime lord, Tesla knows her days aboard the Atlas are numbered.

Daxton LaRose isn't just visiting the station to celebrate the Centennial of the Crown—he's hunting a terrorist threatening to end a century of peace on Earth. To do so, he’ll need someone who knows the station. Someone willing to strike a deal at any cost.

Someone like Tesla.

But as the hunt for the terrorist uncovers dangerous secrets from both their pasts, Tesla and Daxton realize that nothing, and no one, is what it seems.

"Tesla tuned out the roar of the arena crowd calling for her blood. The bioNexus hummed, uploading data directly to her brain as she paced the fightBot back and forth like a feral creature. Despite the din coming from the stands, she shifted her focus within--to a place of relax and instinct, brutality and survival.

The digitron above the cage revealed most of the station had bet against her. Tesla ignored the odds, instead blurring the line between where her body ended and the mechanical suit began. Though Daxton stood just beyond the cage, he could do nothing to help her now; if she lost, Minko would slaughter them all. 

Her lungs shuddered as she inhaled deeply, her fingers pulsing, itching to dance against the controls. With a curve of her metal spine, Tesla bowed ceremoniously to Radek.

A bell chimed... and the fight began." 

My Thoughts...

Just when I though I've read my favorite book of the year, another one sweeps me off my feet! I have absolutely fallen head over heels for this one. Pierce has taken YA Sci-fi adventure to a whole new level. I can't stop thinking about and recommending this one to everyone I know, it's truly breath-taking. I loved so many different things about Atlas Fallen, it's hard for me to choose just one thing I loved the most. This one is based uniquely on one space station that orbits Earth. Our main character is Tesla, a girl who dreams of new heights and is trying to make her way in a world she has always known blow the deimrk line. Until under unlikely circumstances she finds herself flung into a world of richies, and a mysterious boy that can give her all she has every wanted; a home. Though the action, suspense, and betrayal Tesla finds herself fighting to discover a family secret and finding her place among the stars. Atlas Fallen has some of the best the characters, the plot, and oh my; writing style I have ever read before. Can you blame me for not being able to choose just one thing I liked? Atlas Fallen is the best sci-fi adventure romance I have read so far this year. With an amazing character base and impeccable plot, I found it hard to put this one down. I couldn't get enough!

Time to fangirl over these characters. Tesla was a very raw and real character to see grow though this plot. She has a background the isn't perfect, but she also very curious and adventurous. It was very refreshing to see her outlook and thought base thought the story. Tesla is my girl, I can’t wait to see where she will go in the next installment. And speaking of characters I want to see more of, we must talk about Daxton LaRose. Oh, that boy, my shining star that broke my heart and then saved me all at once. Um, Pierce... like what? WHAT? How can you leave me hanging like that? My star better not... DON'T YOU DARE... please, I don't think I can handle it... I need the next book right now! Another favorite character were my three Musketeers Sav, Blitz, and Jasmeen. Sav was my favorite. He's aura and personality are amazing, and with a French accent; it's hard to not love him. Blitz was awesome! He was like a younger version of Bill Nye meets Doc Brown from Back to the Future. My hero, my technician, and my baby star. And then we have Jasmeen, it took me a lot longer to like her. But out of these three, she had the best character build-up and growth. Once you read more about her, she becomes a star sensation all on her own and her back story is one I really enjoyed reading about.

Now onto the thing that made me fall head over heels for this one; the plot and writing style. I'd say the most unique element to this book was that it took place on one space station. The dynamic of the station and the complexity of this world is one I'll find myself diving back into time and time again. I loved it. It was the perfect backdrop for the action and complemented the plot seemingly. The plot was insane! So much build up, so many twists and turns, and no top of it all; a betrayal the rattled the stars. I had to remind myself time and time again that nothing is as it seems in this one. It's very impressive that Pierce is self-published, because this story deserves to get picked up and put on selves everywhere. I want everyone alive to read this book, I'm still speechless from it. Pierce has one of the best writing styles I have seen in a while, it was refreshing. She packed the perfect amount of detail into this story, but never lost sight of the story-line. Also, her creative use of imagery adds depth and dynamic and bring her voice through the writing. Truly breathtaking. 

  

Atlas Fallen has some of the best the characters, the plot, and writing style I have ever read before. I highly recommend that you pick this one up. With amazing characters, and unforgettable plot, and an out-of-this-word story; I promise, you won't regret picking this one up. Atlas Fallen has easily become the best sci-fi read I have read this year, and one that I will be returning to for years to come. And I can't wait to see what Pierce has in-store for me next! 

About the Author...

The daughter of a Navy Corpsman and a librarian, Jessica Pierce has traveled the entire span of the United States – from the lush, tropical volcanos of Hawai’i to the eerie romance of the Smoky Mountains. She is an alumna of Middle Tennessee State University where she studied English Literature with a focus in Adolescent Fiction. Currently, she can be found in Arizona with her Air Force husband, murderous devil cat, and three not-so-murderous goldfish.

Jessica Pierce is currently unrepresented by any agency. Her Cyber Crown series is independently published. Both her C.O.N. series and NIGHTBLADE series are as-now unpublished and available for consideration.

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Book Review: Everless by Sara Holland

Title: Everless
Author: Sara Holland
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Orchard Books

Rating: 5 Stars!

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TIME IS A PRISON. SHE IS THE KEY.

In the kingdom of Sempera, time is currency—extracted from blood, bound to iron, and consumed to add time to one’s own lifespan. The rich aristocracy, like the Gerlings, tax the poor to the hilt, extending their own lives by centuries.

No one resents the Gerlings more than Jules Ember. A decade ago, she and her father were servants at Everless, the Gerlings’ palatial estate, until a fateful accident forced them to flee in the dead of night. When Jules discovers that her father is dying, she knows that she must return to Everless to earn more time for him before she loses him forever.

But going back to Everless brings more danger—and temptation—than Jules could have ever imagined. Soon she’s caught in a tangle of violent secrets and finds her heart torn between two people she thought she’d never see again. Her decisions have the power to change her fate—and the fate of time itself.

My Thoughts...

This book was the best way to start off this new year! I absolutely love this one, and am already looking forward to the next installment. Sara takes readers though an inky mystical world full of secrets, magic, betrayal, and love. There are so many elements that I loved about this one; the world, the plot, the characters, and Holland's writing style. Can you blame me for not being able to choose just one thing I liked? With this one being Holland's debut novel, she has made way with vivid character development and word choice that has rocked me to my core. I just want to shove this book in the faces of those who ask my for recommendations. I can't get enough! Everless must be one of the best books I have read to date, and this story is one that I won't be forgetting any time.

Have you ever heard of a world where the inhabitants use time as currency? Time is drawn from blood and forged into the currency of blood-iron coins, which the wealthy drink to live forever and unfortunately the poor are more than willing to give up. A book has never made me stop and think of how precocious time can be and how valuable of a concept to is, until now. It was really fascinating to see how beep this concept ran in the story's plot, almost bitter-sweet in a scene; time don't grow on trees, it's in people. And seeing how this interesting concept effected the events and characters in this story really made me love-hate the concept even more. I also really loved the mythical tail behind how time became so valued and how, in a shocking twist of fate, didn't turn out to be that mythical at all. 

But what really tied everything together with a little bow for me, was Holland's writing style. This is what pulled me out of my almost 5 month reading slump, and restored my faith in reading once more. I have never read a book that had suspense paired perfectly with the pacing. Usually I find authors either don't up in enough suspense to keep me reading, or run though their story way too fast for my liking. But Everless was different, it kept me hooked from the first chapter to the very last page, all well-balanced and very thoroughly thought out. Holland has easily become one of my favorite authors, and I know I will be reading from her for a long time to come!

Everless will gabble you up and shake you to your core.  With the unforgettable world, plot, and characters; Holland has created a tail full of secrets, magic, betrayal, and love. I have never read anything like this before. Holland has masterful crafted a story that readers will return to again and again, and one that I will never forget.

About the Author...

Sara Holland grew up in small-town Minnesota among hundreds of books. She graduated from Wesleyan University and worked in a tea shop, a dentist’s office, and a state capitol building before heading to New York to work in publishing. These days, she can be found exploring the city’s bookstores or finding new ways to put caffeine in her bloodstream. EVERLESS is her debut novel.

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