ARC Review: Passenger

Passenger: Passenger | Alexandra Bracken

Published by: Quercus Children's Books, April 7th 2016

Genre: YA, Historical, Science Fiction

Pages: 496

Format: Ebook

Source: Quercus, via Netgalley

In one devastating night, Etta Spencer loses everything she knows and loves. Thrust into an unfamiliar world by a stranger with a dangerous agenda, Etta is certain of only one thing: she has travelled not just miles but years from home.

Nicholas Carter is content with his life at sea, free from the Ironwoods - a powerful family in the Colonies - and the servitude he's known at their hands. But with the arrival of an unusual passenger on his ship comes the insistent pull of the past that he can't escape and the family that won't let him go. Now the Ironwoods are searching for a stolen object of untold value, one they believe only Etta, his passenger, can find.

Together, Etta and Nicholas embark on a perilous journey across centuries and continents, piecing together clues left behind by the traveller who will do anything to keep the object out of the Ironwoods' grasp. But as they get closer to their target, treacherous forces threaten to separate Etta not only from Nicholas but from her path home forever. 

When I had a stalling first start with this after a bare 2 percent, I expected to not like it very much. Oh, how wrong I was. Because of my false start, it took me way longer to get around to reading this than it should have. And to think, I could have been falling in love with Etta and Nicholas months ago!

My issue with time travel is it doesn't feel natural in a lot of the books I've read, but that wasn't the case with this book. It was subtle and essential to the plot without overwhelming Etta's story and the emotional arc that flows through this whole book. Instead of getting hung up on specifics and practicality and science, I was able to root for Etta and admire her determination and love for her family, and fully appreciate her gradual feelings for Nicholas.

The world building in this is perfect, too. There's some magic in Alexandra Bracken's writing that made me feel as if I was in each of those setting and watching it happen myself, not just reading it. I loved the varied settings, how detailed they were, and how they were linked. I also loved the ship (obviously; this is me after all) and Nicholas's role on it. Nicholas's place in each era was carefully and honestly treated, with regards to his race, how people treated him, and how all that made him feel. I especially loved Etta punching a guy because of it. Exactly what I wanted to do.

To sum: emotional, driven, and packed with lush detail in every era and setting. I fell in love with everything (except the end.)

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★★

ARC Review: And I Darken

The Conquerors Saga: And I Darken | Kirsten White

Published by: Delacorte Press, June 28th 2016

Genre: YA, Historical (with a fantasy feel)

Pages: 475

Format: Ebook

Source: Delacorte, via Netgalley

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point. 

I'll start with the negative to get it out of the way. This book is much, much slower than I expected. I thought it'd be fast and action packed and brutal, and it kind of is all three but only in parts. The other issue is I did NOT like Radu, a POV character, in the least. He's whiny and just irritated me, though I did like seeing him grow as a person. Plus, I'm miffed because I thought Lada was the reason this book is LGBT but nope, another gay guy.

What I loved about this book, though, is Lada. She's fierce and merciless and she will never back down or compromise her ideals, even if it means killing someone or betraying someone she loves. I admired her so much for the lengths she was willing to go to to protect her family and friends. I didn't mind Mehmed, the other main character, though I much preferred Nicolae as a romantic interest. I particularly loved Lada's friendships with her men, and how she refused to be sexualised by them. This book is feminist as fuck, which is so up my street it's not even funny.

The book lagged in the middle, which made it feel like it went on FOREVER, but I was grateful for the extra time with the characters because their growth became more evident. I look forward to the next book to see where they go next.

Brutal but slow, with a lot of feeling for a girl renowned for being harsh and cruel. And I Darken has my favourite female character this year by a mile and a STUNNING setting. This is historical fiction for fantasy lovers.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★★★

Writing ★★★★☆

Review: Revenge And The Wild

Revenge And The Wild | Michelle Modesto

Published by: Balzer+Bray, February 2nd 2016

Genre: YA, Historical, Fantasy

Pages: 384

Format: Ebook

Source: Balzer+Bray, via Edelweiss

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.

This thrilling novel is a remarkable tale of danger and discovery, from debut author Michelle Modesto.

Fun, heartfelt, driven, and truly wild. 

I loved this book. From the get go it was fast paced and if a book can be upbeat, this was upbeat, but it still had heart and a softness about it. Revenge and The Wild is emotional and secretive and dangerous, and I loved every minute. Of the love interests (were there three? I feel like there were three) I loved two of them, and distrusted another (which turned out to be a good call - well done me!) and I liked Westie's interactions with literally everyone in this book. Her love for Alistair was so obvious in her every action and it hurt me a whole lot (until it didn't, and then it just made me happy.) There's so much awesome stuff in this book, from the writing, the pacing, the mechanical parts of Westie and Alistair, the supernatural creatures, the world, the feel of the book, and the found family, but Westie's drive and her need for vengeance is what I loved most. She's a force to be reckoned with and I love her. Although the mishmash of western and paranormal genres is the close second thing I loved (VAMPIRES! WILD WEST!)

If you're looking for a totally thrilling book, read this!

Characters ★★★★★

Setting/world ★★★★☆

Writing ★★★★☆

Review: Walk On Earth A Stranger

The Gold Seer Trilogy: Walk On Earth A Stranger | Rae Carson

Published by: Greenwillow Books, September 22nd 2015

Genre: YA, Historical

Pages: 432

Format: Ebook

Source: Greenwillow, via Edelweiss

Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

I liked this, but it was really slow and quiet. Instead of huge story events, they were smaller and the drama was more personal than world-altering. Which isn't a bad thing, but it's not really my thing. I liked Jefferson a lot and I freaking LOVE Lee (my gun-toting bae) but it was slow and I did get a little fed up of the wagon after a while.

Characters ★★★★☆

Setting/world ★★★☆☆

Writing ★★★☆☆

Monthly Round Up (8)

Monthly round up is a journal where I record my reading progress, reviews, and my favourite books/biggest disappointments of the month.

Reviews:

Ruined
This Savage Song
The Flame Never Dies
Moo

I'm super behind with actually posting reviews to this blog, hence it's pretty sparse at the moment. I'll try and schedule some soon!

ALSO:

Monthly Round Up
Book Blitz: Vial Things

What I've read this month:

As you can see I did not shift towards reading Post Apoc books. Oops. Let's see if I can squeeze one in next month!

Favourite book:

I loved most books I read this month, but this really struck my heart.

Biggest Disappointment:

Eh, the first sequel I ever DNF'd. This was so flat and I just didn't connect with anything.

What did you read this month? Leave a comment!

~Saruuh