Mini Review: The Flame Never Dies

Wells of Souls: The Flame Never Dies | Rachel Vincent

Published by: Mira Ink, August 16th 2016

Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy, Demons

Pages: 368

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased (before release at YALC, heck yes!)

ONE SPARK WILL RISE

Nina Kane was born to be an exorcist. And since uncovering the horrifying truth―that the war against demons is far from over―seventeen-year-old Nina and her pregnant sister, Mellie, have been on the run, incinerating the remains of the demon horde as they go.

In the badlands, Nina, Mellie, and Finn, the fugitive and rogue exorcist who saved her life, find allies in a group of freedom fighters. They also face a new threat: Pandemonia, a city full of demons. But this fresh new hell is the least of Nina’s worries. The well of souls ran dry more than a century ago, drained by the demons secretly living among humans, and without a donor soul, Mellie’s child will die within hours of its birth.

Nina isn’t about to let that happen . . . even if it means she has to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Everything I've come to expect from a Rachel Vincent book - emotional, angsty and romantic, and dangerous. I just didn't enjoy it as much as The Stars Never Rise.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

ARC Review: Soldier

Talon: Soldier | Julie Kagawa

Published by: Mira Ink, May 5th 2016

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Dragons

Pages: 400

Format: Ebook

Source: Mira Ink, via Netgalley

The thrilling next story in the The Talon Saga, the incredible new YA fantasy series from New York Times bestselling author Julie Kagawa.

When forced to choose between the sinister Talon organisation and being hunted by her own kind, dragon-human hybrid Ember fled. Even if it meant losing Garret, the dragon-slaying soldier she shares a deep bond with.

Now Garret has uncovered secrets that will shake the foundations of dragons and dragon-slayers alike. Can the danger reunite them?

I honestly don't know how to review this book, because I love it so much and it so cruelly hurt me. Here are my thoughts:

-Ember is so kickass and I love her so much. She's tough and fights and yet cries. I love the complexities in her identity - as both dragon and human.

- Riley, what happened? I was super into you in Rogue but you reverted into the possessive ultra-dick. Come on, dude.

-Garret, YOU DESERVED BETTER. And, I'm assuming, will get better in the next book. He can't be permanently ... y'know. Say it aint so! I love Garret so much - he's noble, caring, and deadly with a gun. All the things I like.

- The plot is full of action and danger but still has enough quiet, emotional moments to satisfy the romantic in me

- Ember made up her mind!!!! She didn't keep floundering between Riley and Garret, even though each side of her is conflicted about who they want. She made a choice and stuck with it. I respect her so much after that.

- I do NOT like the lifemate thing. Seems a convenient way to undermine Ember's choice & keep the other guy an option

- Packed full of fun and drama and thrills.

- The ending is unacceptable. Just straight up cruel. I will never forgive this book.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Lies We Tell Ourselves (Review)

Lies We Tell Ourselves | Robin Talley

Published by: Mira Ink, October 3rd 2014

Genre: YA, Historical

Pages: 336

Format: Ebook

Source: Mira Ink, via Netgalley

It's 1959. The battle for civil rights is raging. And it's Sarah Dunbar's first day of school, as one of the first black students at the previously all-white Jefferson High. No one wants Sarah there. Not the Governor. Not the teachers. And certainly not the students – especially Linda Hairston, daughter of the town’s most ardent segregationist. Sarah and Linda have every reason to despise each other. But as a school project forces them to spend time together, the less their differences seem to matter. And Sarah and Linda start to feel something they've never felt before. Something they're both determined ignore. Because it's one thing to be frightened by the world around you - and another thing altogether when you're terrified of what you feel inside.

It's been around a month since I read this book, and while I remember how it impacted me, and will likely never forget the story, I've forgotten all the things I wanted to talk about. Luckily, I wrote down some points in my journal, which is the form my review is going to take this time.

So here's why you should read Lies We Tell Ourselves:

- The story is so important, and needs to be read. If you're hesitant like I was, about how you could connect to the characters and the situation (because as a white person you can never understand, only empathise with the victims of racism), read it anyway. I learned a lot while reading this book and it really made me think about my white privilege. 

-One of the main characters is a white girl on a path of learning about her own privilege and her racist actions and words, and it's amazing to see from two points of view the change occuring. It's pretty horrific sometimes, what she thinks is acceptable and true and never once questions.

- I was out of my comfort zone with this, pushing myself to read historical, and romance without fantasy (something I almost never read), but I'm so glad I took a chance on this. So glad I read it.

- It's brutal, hard hitting, and honest. This book doesn't mess about. It's not light and fluffy despite the romance - it's awful and emotional and I will never forget it. 

- It's not a book you enjoy reading, but one that must be read.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world-building ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

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The Stars Never Rise (ARC Review)

The Stars Never Rise: The Stars Never Rise | Rachel Vincent

Published by: Mira Ink, June 18th 2015

Genre: YA, Paranormal, Dystopia, Demons

Pages: 368

Format: Ebook

Source: Harlequin UK, via Netgalley

There’s no turning back…

In the town of New Temperance, souls are in short supply and Nina should be worrying about protecting hers. Yet she’s too busy trying to keep her sister Mellie safe.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their existence, she’ll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal church.
To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a mysterious fugitive who has already saved her life once. Wanted by the church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she needs Finn and his group of rogue friends.


But what do they need from her in return?

The Stars Never Rise was so not what I was expecting. It was a lot more terrifying dystopia than dark fantasy, and it was so tense. I was on edge for a good portion of this book, expecting things to go wrong. Usually, they did.

The Stars Never Rise starts off pretty heavy. We're in a new nightmare world where souls are sparse and have been consumed by demons during a war, and to save humanity the Church has risen and not controls literally every aspect of everyone's lives. Which would be scary enough without factoring in the women must be pure specimens and if you have the tiniest thing wrong with you (bad eyesight, for example) we're going to make it so you can never conceive thing. That's just one example of how this new world utterly sucks for women. But what's new with women getting the worse end when it comes to rules of religion?

There's a few plot twists in this book, and I saw literally none of them coming. One of them should have been obvious from the get-go. And THE OTHER. I don't wanna spoil anything but the love interest is ... weird. And that situation is only going to get weirder through the series. I kind of can't wait for the next book, because I love the world Rachel Vincent has built, and I like the characters, and I realllly do like the romance, but ... I'm a little nervous of where the love is going to go. Like how can you fix that? Spoiler: How is she not going to keep kissing strangers, and even worse people she knows. One minute you're joking with a friend and the next you're kissing your soul-bf in your friend's body. LIKE WTF??? It makes me want to shudder with every kiss.

I really, really liked this book. It wasn't what I expected but it was amazing and exciting and totally different. I'm dying to read the next book - this series is going to be awesome.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world-building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

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Before I Wake (Review)

Soul Screamers: Before I Wake | Rachel Vincent

Published by: Mira Ink, July 6th 2012

Genre: YA, Mythology, Paranormal

Pages: 339

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Covering up her own murder was one thing, but faking her life is much harder than ex-teen banshee Kaylee expected. Now she's fighting to stay visible to the human world and struggling to find time alone with her new reaper boyfriend Tod.

To stay in the mortal realm, Kaylee must reclaim stolen souls and, when her first assignment brings her face-to-face with an old foe, she knows the game has changed. Her immortal status won't keep her safe. And this time Kaylee isn't just gambling with her own life... 

Annnnd this series continues to get stronger and stronger with every book.

I adored basically every element of this book. Allow me to list and rant about them:

I loved the progression of Kaylee and Tod's relationship and the moments we got between them. I especially loved the various hurt/comfort scenes - that stuff is like CRACK to me.

I loved how Nash and Kaylee had a scrap of friendship in this book, and I hope we get more of that in the final book. I also hope Nash gets his ass into gear and admits he's in love with Sabine. Come on, man. It's obvious.

 I enjoyed how the stakes were ramped even higher than previous books, even if I didn't like the consequences (Alec, no!) and how Kaylee's new job was intrinsic to the plot. 

I loved the introduction of Luca, super cute necromancer that he is, and the reintroduction of the other hellions (Avari is getting tiresome and repetitive now, even if his methods have got fancier~~)

I loved experiencing Kaylee's struggle at saying human, corporeal, and how honest Rachel Vincent's portrayal of that was. Kaylee's afterlife feels very honest, in its flaws and hardships and even the added benefits (I wish I could blink!!). It doesn't feel like a cliche death, it feels very human, very real.

The only thing I didn't love, and the only reason it's not one of my absolute favourites, is that the ending confucked me for a good half an hour before I reread it. I still don't know what to make of it, though. I think there was just too many characters in one place and my head went 'nah, I'm out.' Still, eager and nervous to read the next, last, book. Does it all have to end? Can't this series just last for twenty books?

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★★

If I Die (Review)

Soul Screamers: If I Die | Rachel Vincent

Published by: Mira Ink, February 3rd 2012

Genre: YA, Mythology, Paranormal

Pages: 342

Format: Ebook

Source: Purchased

Scheduled to die within days, Kaylee knows her magic can't change her fate. Worse, on top of worrying about her own demise, she needs to save mortal best friend Emma from the clutches of a deadly Netherworld creature

Fair warning for spoilers. Tonnes of spoilers. All of which I will be raving about.

I completely forgive Rachel for the agony of the last book - If I Die more than satisfied my heart and left my emotions screaming in a good way. Tod and Kaylee are perfect for each other, in ways I never could have predicted from the previous books. Their relationship is such a lovely shock - it creeps up on you, but then you look back and realise you should have seen it coming from the start. I love them so goddamn much. And it explains why Tod was so cruel in that one scene in the last book - the one that left my heart with a physical ache. I can literally take any crap from any of these characters but not Tod. I never realised how important he was to me until I was hurt by him.

The rest of the characters were pretty frustrating. I started to warm to Sabine a little, got even more colder with Nash (I cannot stand him in this book; I know he's affected by Frost but he's starting to seem irredeemable), and got kinda bored of Emma (sorry, Emma.) But none of that mattered when we had Tod, perfect, unforgettable Tod. Sidenote: I fricking love Levi, he ships Tod/Kaylee so hard, don't tell me he doesn't.

My anticipation for the next book has gone through the roof. I am so goddamned excited to see where Kaylee's afterlife goes. This book, plot-wise, took Soul Screamers to a whole new level. I am so impressed and happy and kind of still in shock over Tod/Kaylee being a thing (IT'S CANON, BITCHES!)

The best book of this series by a long shot.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★★

My Soul To Steal (Review)

Soul Screamers: My Soul To Steal | Rachel Vincent

Published by: Mira Ink, July 17th 2011

Genre: YA, Mythology, Paranormal

Pages: 375

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.

See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

Alternatives to reading this book:

1. Stab yourself in the heart
2. Stab yourself in the heart again
3. Just keep stabbing yourself; it can't hurt you anymore than this book can

I liked My Soul To Steal a lot more than the last book. I found it a lot easier to get into the story, and the drawn out agony of Kaylee and Nash kept me turning every page. This book really, exceptionally, cuts you to the bone with the feelings. But it had the most unsatisfying ending of all time. I thought Nash and Kaylee would talk about their problems, maybe acknowledge their faults? I thought Tod might elaborate on why he was so brutally harsh to Kaylee. I thought there might be more. But instead we go from the crux of action to a fluffy, pointless ending with everything resolved and no working through issues. I really hated that.

Another thing I hated, and spoke about in my reading round up, is the God forsaken rivalry between Kaylee and Sabine. I'm just gonna paste what I said there, because I have nothing else to add:

Enough female rivalry in YA. Enough teaching impressionable teenage girls that it's right and expected of them to fight with their fellow girls over boys. We have to fight so damn hard for everything we do and have and say in life; we have to fight so hard to prove that we're as worthy and capable as any male; we don't need to be fighting each other too. We need to be supporting each other. (plus: have you seen teenage boys? they're gross. don't be fighting over those trashcans.)

Unfortunately this fighting takes up 75% of the plot, but there is a reason for it in the end. They're not entirely in control of the situation. So I forgave the book a little for that.

To sum: another great Soul Screamers book, packed with terrible drawn out heartache and yet another unique threat. In a word: devastating.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world building ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Poison Study (Review)

Yelena Zaltana: Poison Study | Maria V. Snyder

Published by: Mira Books, September 21st 2007

Genre: YA, High Fantasy

Pages: 409

Format: Paperback

Source: Purchased

Choose:
A quick death
Or slow poison...

Yelena has a choice – be executed for murder, or become food taster to the Commander of Ixia. She leaps at the chance for survival, but her relief may be short-lived.

Life in the palace is full of hazards and secrets. Wily and smart, Yelena must learn to identify poisons before they kill her, recognise whom she can trust and how to spy on those she can’t. And who is the mysterious Southern sorceress who can reach into her head?

When Yelena realises she has extraordinary powers of her own, she faces a whole new problem, for using magic in Ixia is punishable by death...

There are books that don't live up to your crazy high, three-years-in-waiting expectations, and there is Poison Study.

Whoa boy, this was good. Insanely good. Poison Study was everything I wanted Girl of Fire and Thorns to be - 3D, interesting characters that were both human and more than at the same time, a wonderfully imagined world, a plot that thrilled, and a romance that burned and taunted.

I fell in love with Posion Study pretty early on. Yelena isn't the sort of character you can ignore. She's brave, smart, and pretty funny in parts. And she's not completely hopeless, or helpless, or oblivious. One of my favourite HF protagonists for a long time. And don't even get me started on Valek, or the supporting characters. Or the chilling, vicious villain, or the surprisingly complex commander. Ugh, I just loved everything.

I need time to read Magic Study ASAP.

To sum: a crazy good high fantasy, with amazing characters, a unique story, and a romance that will steal into your thoughts at every opportunity.

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world building ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆