Book Review: Counting Down With You by Tashie Bhuiyan

Counting Down with You by Tashie Bhuiyan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So this book made me cry. Not because it's a sad book but because it resonated with me.

As an Indian with slightly strict and conservative parents, it reminded me of a time when I used to be shit scared of my parents and did not keep communication lines with them open. Karina Ahmed was ME at one point of time and that's what made me cry.

WITH THAT OUT OF THE WAY

I was originally drawn towards this book because FAKE DATING and the fact that it featured an asian protagonist was a BONUS



While it wasn't as light as I expected because Karina suffers from anxiety and being inside her mind can either make you anxious or irritated (depending on how much you relate to her), I enjoyed reading this book.

It portrayed a healthy relationship between Karina and her friends. For once, parents were in the picture and the "bad boy" wasn't a jerk. He was just different from Karina and was going through his own issues.

I'd recommend this book to anyone that feels they are alone, especially if they're suffering from anxiety or have strict parents.

View all my reviews

The Blurb That Did Not Disappoint (A review of Prison Healer by Lynette Noni)

 

The Prison Healer by Lynette Noni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

You know a book is good when you remember to write a review close to the release date!

Prison Healer was a book that intrigued me because of its blurb. I mean how GREAT is the blurb!

For once, the blurb did not disappoint.

Kiva is in a real prison. She doesn't expect to get out and as readers we feel her hopelessness and we don't expect a prison heist or a knight in shining armour to rescue her. That's what really made me love this book. It focuses on setting the scene and builds all the characters very well.Before you know it, you're invested!



I'm invested in Kiva's journey and I want to know what happens next. I also enjoyed the elemental challenges.

Reminded me of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.



Basically, this book ticked all the boxes:

* Strong Characters
*Great World Building
* Prison/Dystopian Setting
* Fantasy+ Magic+ Romance
* Right amount of mystique and mystery
* An ending I did not see coming
* A romance that did not make me cringe

One thing that really impressed me about this book is how it managed to surprise me at the end. I don't want to spoil anyone but a lot of stuff happens that really took me by surprise.



Overall, I cannot wait for the sequel.

The only reason this is not getting a 5 is because I don't see myself re-reading the book, but I came very close to giving it a 5. Definitely worth a read!

My Rating: 4.25 stars

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Manga Review: School Judgement Vol 1

School Judgement Volume 1

by Takeshi Obata (Illustrator), Nobuaki Enoki

 As problems continue to plague the elementary school system, a new solution is enacted in the form of the School Judgment System! Now the young students themselves will be responsible for solving the issues that befall them! But are they up to the task?

Source: Publisher (Thanks Viz Media and Edelweiss!)

My Thoughts:

I've been meaning to write this review for a while. I'm well versed in anime and manga (very close to becoming an otaku, dear readers!) . I usually post anime reviews on my website, Writer and Tales.Generally,I try to watch the anime of manga's that are action packed (a.k.a Shōnen) but I prefer reading the source material of other genres. 

School Judgement is the first manga I have received for review which is mostly aimed at middle grade readers. I for one loved it, even though I don't belong to the intended audience so I think it's safe to say that it has universal appeal.

School Judgement is very much like a procedural drama(think Good Wife but with younger lawyers) and is very episodic in nature. Each story starts off as a case following which the protagonist is hired. Despite being a lawyer, he's more of an investigator. I was reminded a little of Case Closed. What really drew me in was the overarching storyline which focuses on the past of the protagonist, Abaku Inugami. It's clear that he had a very traumatic past and was somehow involved with and was the sole survivor of a genocide. I can't wait to find out more about his past and his prowess as a lawyer makes for an interesting read.

Some cases are outlandish and stretch the readers imagination while others deal with discrimination and bullying. They're interesting and the characters are appealing. The art is slightly cluttered but clear and easy to understand. I would love to see it adapted into an anime.I eagerly await the following volumes!

My Rating:

4/5

Review: The Young Elites

The Young Elites (The Young Elites #1)

by Marie Lu

Blurb:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all. 

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen. 

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

Source: Borrowed

My Thoughts:

I really struggled with this book. The writing was great and so was the plot but I just couldn't get invested in the characters. I've had this book for ages and the only reason I went beyond 50 pages is because I knew I had to return the book to my friend. I'm very glad that I forced myself to go on because this book was surprisingly good.

It's hard to get invested because the protagonist is not likeable but this also gives the protagonist a lot of depth. This layered character development really comes together in the end of the novel. You may not like the characters but you do start feeling a lot for them towards the end.

Another thing working against this book is how we as readers are so used to superhero novels that are fast paced and heavy with action. The Young Elites is a slow build up, it's not action packed throughout but it's pacing is good. It is also very unpredictable. It's been a while since I've been so surprised by the twists and turns in a YA novel. 

In my opinion, the biggest flaw of the book is it's focus on romance in parts. I realize the importance of the romance but I just didn't feel much for the relationship. The depth of Adelina's character and it's darkness used to be sidelined in the scenes that focused on the romance and the best part of the novel is not the romance but it's dark and gritty protagonist.

I feel if I had read more chapters from Enzo's point of view or even Teren's point of view, the romantic relationship would have made more sense. The motivation that drives the male characters was incomplete without their perspectives being showcased in the novel.Teren especially his motivations definitely needed more depth in the novel.

Overall, I am immensely fond of the layered and psychological depth of this novel with especial focus on Adelina. The unpredictable nature of the story makes it definitely worth a read and the way the novel ends makes you curious about the sequels. The book has it's faults but is definitely worth a read.

My Rating:

Toss up between 3.5 and 4

3.75 stars.

Review: Paper Princess

Paper Princess (The Royals #1)

by Erin Watt 

Blurb: From strip clubs and truck stops to southern coast mansions and prep schools, one girl tries to stay true to herself.

These Royals will ruin you…

Ella Harper is a survivor—a pragmatic optimist. She’s spent her whole life moving from town to town with her flighty mother, struggling to make ends meet and believing that someday she’ll climb out of the gutter. After her mother’s death, Ella is truly alone. 

Until Callum Royal appears, plucking Ella out of poverty and tossing her into his posh mansion among his five sons who all hate her. Each Royal boy is more magnetic than the last, but none as captivating as Reed Royal, the boy who is determined to send her back to the slums she came from.

Reed doesn’t want her. He says she doesn’t belong with the Royals.

He might be right.

Wealth. Excess. Deception. It’s like nothing Ella has ever experienced, and if she’s going to survive her time in the Royal palace, she’ll need to learn to issue her own Royal decrees. 

Content Warning: Not suitable for younger readers. This is classified as New Adult.it discusses sex and prostitution. It is also a pretty steamy book by Young Adult standards.

Source: Publicist. (Thanks Nina!)

Links: Goodreads, Amazon.com (Only $4.99),Amazon.in

My Thoughts:

I had been reading some pretty great reviews of this book on Goodreads and was planning to check it out. Fortunately I saw an email from the publicist of this book right after my interest was piqued otherwise it would have taken ages for me to pick up this book (my reviewing pile is crazy and I'm trying to buy less till it's slightly under control).

Paper Princess was a surprise. It's not a path breaking story but the way it is written just manages to keep you engaged. I'm a sucker for those stories in which people go from rags to riches. I'm also a sucker for books with a lot of male leads (Especially if there is no love triangle or square or octagonal ...etc.). This book combines both to form the best popcorn- churning- blockbuster- romance- movie like goodness ever.

Paper Princess follows Ella Harper as she comes to terms with the fact that she has a new family now and that new family is not very welcoming.What I liked about Ella is how tenacious she is. She has that never-back-down attitude that I love in my heroines. I'd suggest people read this book for it's strong and independent heroine.

The male characters in this story are jerks. Especially Reed, He is super jerk. The fact that I'm willing to overlook his jerkiness just shows how much I enjoyed this novel. I liked the other brothers so much more than Reed though none of them are your golden boys.

I liked the complex adult relationships this novel explored. The adults are very much a part of this story. Callum and Brooke are not minor characters. They are very much present and important to the story.They are also complex and well built. Much more complex than at times the male protagonists. 

I really enjoyed the novel. I know it has a lot of faults and it's not a new story but it just clicked with me. Looking at some of the Goodreads reviews, I see it clicked with a lot of others. I'm dying to get my hands on the sequel (Cliffhanger ending alert!).

Overall, Fans of The Selection and people who expected more from Introductions by C.L. Stone should definitely check out this novel. Others, I begged to read a portion of the sequel, I'm that invested in the story. Do check it out if you love angsty romances.

My Rating:

4/5

Sequel where art thou?

Review: The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater 

Blurb: 

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Source: Free audiobook from SYNCYA and Borrowed book from library.

My Thoughts:

Note: I listened to more than half of this on audiobook and read the rest. The audiobook was really good. Almost didn't enjoy the book as much after I switched.

The Raven Boys is a beautiful book. The prose is beautifully spoken in the audiobook .This is one of the few audiobooks I would highly recommend as the tone of the narrator matches the setting beautifully. 

I was very reluctant to pick up this book. Maggie's Shiver series was slow, dull and had a lackluster plot. The only reason I picked up this book is because of the beautiful way she wrote in that series and because of the  positive reviews this book received.

The Raven Boys does not have a singular narrator. The perspective keeps shifting from one character to another but the shift is not jarring, it's a thing of beauty.It's hard to believe that the writer is female as the male's voices are authentic and  beautifully spun.

To cut a long story short: Read it for the writing.

The pace of the story is slow and if you don't enjoy the writing, you will not enjoy the book.  The world building is also brilliant.In my opinion the weakest point of this book is it's story and pacing. The characterization is great and you get invested in all the characters but the climax is unmemorable. There is a great build up but the way it is wrapped up is slightly disappointing.

I want to read more about Gansey and Ronan and Adam and Blue. I fell in love with all of them. I would read a story in which they all went on a picnic if Maggie wrote it. The world of mysticism and spirituality that she introduces in this novel is incredible. But, I do realize the weakness of the overall story and the fact that this book is not for everyone.

I would recommend that you read or better yet, listen to some sample chapters (especially if you're fond of audiobooks). See if you enjoy the world building and writing style and then buy or borrow the book.Personally, I really enjoyed it.

My Rating:

4/5

Loved the writing style, though not for everyone.

Review: The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Red Queen (Red Queen #1)

by Victoria Aveyard 

Blurb:

This is a world divided by blood – red or silver.

The Reds are commoners, ruled by a Silver elite in possession of god-like superpowers. And to Mare Barrow, a seventeen-year-old Red girl from the poverty-stricken Stilts, it seems like nothing will ever change.

That is, until she finds herself working in the Silver Palace. Here, surrounded by the people she hates the most, Mare discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy the balance of power.

Fearful of Mare’s potential, the Silvers hide her in plain view, declaring her a long-lost Silver princess, now engaged to a Silver prince. Despite knowing that one misstep would mean her death, Mare works silently to help the Red Guard, a militant resistance group, and bring down the Silver regime.

But this is a world of betrayal and lies, and Mare has entered a dangerous dance – Reds against Silvers, prince against prince, and Mare against her own heart ...

Source: Edelweiss (Thank you HarperTeen for the review copy!)

Links: Flipkart, Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Setting and Tone: Red Queen follows Mare Barrow as she progresses from being the lowest of the low to becoming one of people that belongs to the higher echelons of society. The setting is very dystopic but the story is classified as fantasy.

Mare is a red blood having silver abilities which is why like President Snow in 'The Hunger Games' ,the king decides that as he cannot kill her (because of reasons) he will keep her close to him and disguise her as a silver blood. Following the age old philosophy of  'keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.'

Why is the king so worried about a red blood superpower? Because, the red bloods are mistreated by the supernaturally gifted silver bloods and they might decide to revolt against such discrimination. Sounds like a dystopic novel, doesn't it? But, because of the presence of the supernatural it fits more into the category of fantasy. I thought the tone of the novel was similar to that found in YA dystopia which is why I am stressing on this point.

Mixed feelings: The story focuses on revolution, class discrimination, aristocratic politics, political subterfuge and romance. I have mixed feelings regarding how this keeps shifting from one to the other and due to this the story lacks the depth found in 'The Hunger Games'. 

Negatives: The romance. Oh god the romance! It was not even a triangle , it was a love square. Mare is just so irresistible that every guy around her just goes gaga!

The relationship that is built up between Cal and Mare borders on insta-love.It's not quite insta-love but it feels like it. This is one thing I thought hindered Cal's character development.

Another negative was how boring some of the narratives were. This is directly related to the romance. The scenes that focused on the royal palace were incredibly interesting. The Red Army scenes were incredibly interesting in the beginning but started dragging towards the end. But, every time there was a romantic scene I was not interested.I think I just did not buy the lurve because how many people could she be lurve with? Three is too many,in my opinion.

My favorite part: The fantastical elements and the relationship between Mare and Maven (younger prince).

I know a lot of people are going to go gaga over Mare and Cal's relationship but I love the relationship that is built up between Mare and Maven .

I loved the non-romantic relationships that are spread out throughout the novel. The relationship between Mare and her family is gold. As well as the relationship between the Queen and her sons and that between Cal and his father. 

The best part of this book is the twist. Generally I can predict the twists but not in this one.It's unpredictable and I loved it. Before the twist this book was a solid 3 stars but due to the twist I am definitely intrigued about what happens next!

Overall, I'll be reading the sequel and the story was very interesting. I think if it had focused more on the fantastical elements it would have been an excellent read instead of a good one. I'm giving it a higher rating than I was planning to because of the unexpected twist. If you can't hang in till the end then this book won't be worth it for you.

My Rating:

4/5

Only because of the twist! 

Guest Review+ GIVEAWAY: The Girl In The Spider's Web

This book is for ADULTS. Which is why this post will be published at my website Writer and Tales as well.Don't forget to check out my website!

I'm participating in the Hachette India blog tour for the Millennium series newest installment.

The Girl in the Spider's Web (Millennium Trilogy #4)

by David Lagercrantz

The girl with the dragon tattoo is back: Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist return in a continuation of Stieg Larsson's Millennium series.


Written by Swedish novelist and journalist David Lagercrantz, this much anticipated continuation to one of the best-loved crime series of the last decade will be published in Sweden as Det som inte dödar oss (What Doesn't Kill You).

Shayantani's Thoughts:

Lisbeth Salander is back, and with a new creator!

Steig Larsson’s death had many fans including me grieving the great loss it was. Not only was he a fabulous writer, with his sharp journalistic authoritative tone of writing and his crisp plot, but there was also the added loss of not encountering Lisbeth again. Salander is probably one of the most iconic literary heroines of our time. Her sharp tongue, photographic memory, hacking skills, piercings and tattoos along with her uncompromisingly vengeful nature is very much a part of the public imagination. Probably this is why she rises from the grave, much like she did towards the end of “The Girl Who Played with Fire” and this time with a new creator,crime journalistDavid Lagercrantz.

It was with great anticipation mingled with trepidation that I looked forward to the publication of this book. Any book which is a part of a series already leads to comparison with former novels. Lagercrantz’s job is made doubly hard as he carries forward the legacy of Larsson and has to recreate a character like Lisbeth, but he rises to the challenge. Multiple narratives intertwine to tell a complicated plot which manages to successfully bring together all the complex elements it introduces while delving into character development as well. Hacking the NSA, the Russian mafia, the possibility of artificial intelligence capable of replacing humans are just some of the elements it incorporates.

The novel introduces two prominent new characters - Franz Balder, a genius scientist working with complicated Artificial Intelligence technology and his son August, an autistic child who possesses savant skills. There is also Gabriela Grane, genius analyst, member of the Sapo, working in an overwhelmingly male dominated work environment and Ed Needham, the irate NSA official who has a beef with Lisbeth.

Among the old characters we meet Bloomkvist and it is interesting to watch him compete and struggle to maintain his superstar status in the twitter age. His “mary sue” like traits which I previously had a problem with in the earlier novels are significantly toned down. Girls no longer throw themselves at him which is a welcome relief. We also get renew our acquaintance with Erica Berger, inspector Bublanski (bubble as Lisbeth calls him) and the by now familiar landscape of Sweden.

For me the most interesting element in the story was the interactions between Lisbeth and August. Lisbeth’s character is most endearing when she is in her uncompromising fight against personal wrongs mode. But in August, there is a protective touch as well as a self-identification with this genius autistic boy who has been through childhood trauma. Perhaps it is the closest Lisbeth ever comes to finding somebody like herself. More aspects of her history are also revealed which add to her character depth. She is undoubtedly one of the most badass women in literature and continues to kick misogynist butts.

Lagercrantz’s work lacks some of the gritty complexities of Larsson but he does a brilliant job at taking the story forward. It also leaves certain issues unresolved which makes me hopeful for a sequel. With the cult status that Lisbeth has attained, I hope she is around for a long time and outlasts the author again.

Thanks so much Shayantani for taking the time to review this book for me. Shayantani's reviews are brilliant.Which is why it's awesome that she agreed to do a guest review.

You can check out her Goodreads profile here.

GIVEAWAY

 The giveaway guidelines are a part of the Rafflecopter widget .Giveaway is INDIA only and the fact that there are 7 winners of the giveaway and each will win a copy of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo , The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest , The Girl Who Played With Fire, The Girl in the Spider's Web and one book from the titles listed below:

1.       Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

2.       Dark Places by Gillian Flynn

3.       Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

4.       Cuckoo’s Calling by Robert Galbraith

5.       The Folded Earth by Anuradha Roy

6.       An Atlas of Impossible Longing by Anuradha Roy

7.       Rescue by Nicolas Sparks

8.       Under the Dome by Stephen King

9.       Sex and the City by Candace Bushnell

10.   The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

11.   The Elephant Catchers: Key Lessons for Breakthrough Growth by Subroto Bagchi

12.   In Spite of the Gods by Edward Luce

13.   Living History by Hillary Clinton

14.   To The Moon and Back by Jill Mansell

15.   Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell

16.   Theodore Boone,Kid Lawyer by John Grisham

17.   One Day by David Nicholls

18.   The Devotion Of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino

19.   Between The Lines by Jodi Picoult, Samantha van Leer and Yvonne Gilbert

20.   The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R.Carey

A total of five books for each winner.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: The Swap

The Swap

by Megan Shull 

“YOU BE ME...AND I'LL BE YOU.”

ELLIE spent the summer before seventh grade getting dropped by her best friend since forever. JACK spent it training in “The Cage” with his tough-as-nails brothers and hard-to-please dad. By the time middle school starts, they’re both ready for a change. And just as Jack’s thinking girls have it so easy, Ellie’s wishing she could be anyone but herself.

Then, BAM! They swap lives—and bodies!

Now Jack’s fending off mean girls at sleepover parties while Ellie’s reigning as the Prince of Thatcher Middle School. As their crazy weekend races on—and their feelings for each other grow—Ellie and Jack begin to realize that maybe the best way to learn how to be yourself is to spend a little time being someone else.

Source: Edelweiss (Thanks HarperCollins!)

My Thoughts:

It's been a long time since I've read middle school fiction. I was afraid that I had outgrown it and it wouldn't hold my attention.This book proved me wrong. This is such a nice and sweet novel that I wouldn't mind re-reading it.

When I first read the synopsis it reminded me of the movie Freaky Friday . I really enjoyed that movie and if you did as well, I think you might like this book. Ellie and Jack are different, not just their gender but their personalities as well. It was such fun reading about how each of them dealt with the other's life. The issues of the characters might seem petty at times but I was having too much fun reading about the circumstances each managed to land themselves in.

I loved the fact that family doesn't suddenly disappear in the novel. Family is very important in this novel and it was nice to finally read a novel in which the parents didn't conveniently disappear.

The ending was unexpected but I liked it. I liked it a lot. 

Overall, this was a feel good novel that was really funny in parts and I love these kinds of novels.

My Rating:

Toss up between 3.5 and 4!

Review: Cracked

Cracked (Soul Eaters #1)

by Eliza Crewe 

Meet Meda. She eats people.

Well, technically, she eats their soul. But she totally promises to only go for people who deserve it. She’s special. It’s not her fault she enjoys it. She can’t help being a bad guy. Besides, what else can she do? Her mother was killed and it’s not like there are any other “soul-eaters” around to show her how to be different. That is, until the three men in suits show up.

They can do what she can do. They’re like her. Meda might finally have a chance to figure out what she is. The problem? They kind of want to kill her. Before they get the chance Meda is rescued by crusaders, members of an elite group dedicated to wiping out Meda’s kind. This is her chance! Play along with the “good guys” and she’ll finally figure out what, exactly, her ‘kind’ is.

Be careful what you wish for. Playing capture the flag with her mortal enemies, babysitting a teenage boy with a hero complex, and trying to keep one step ahead of a too-clever girl are bad enough. But the Hunger is gaining on her.

The more she learns, the worse it gets. And when Meda uncovers a shocking secret about her mother, her past, and her destiny… she may finally give into it.

Source: Borrowed 

My Thoughts:

I've been meaning to write this review for a long time, my only excuse is I was busy but I hear the sequel is already out so I thought I might as well write it now.

I would like to start off with the fact that the cover is a LITTLE misleading. It gives off depressing vibes and is dark but the book is actually quite funny (the main character is very sarcastic).So don't judge the book by it's cover , this is not a creepy and scary book.

I loved the main character,Meda . She's so snarky and sarcastic that I wish she was a real person and I could be friends with her.She keeps making such amazing pop culture references and I would read the sequel just to get inside her mind again.

The secondary characters are fleshed out very well. Chi,Uri and Jo are characters that balance out Meda in a very nice way. Chi is like an adorable idiot that grows on you and the dynamic between Jo and Meda is something I loved.

One of the things I loved about this novel is that there is no love triangle or even an annoying forced love angle. The focus is on Meda's inner turmoil and the story is not cluttered with romantic cliches.

The story is interesting but nothing too out of the ordinary.The thing that makes this story stand out from other paranormal YA is the interesting and different main character. I think the hero of the story is the heroine and I would reread this book just for her. If the main character doesn't fascinate you, you might find the story to be a bit slow.

My Rating:

4/5

Read it for the Meda!