My Beautiful Enemy (The Heart of Blade #2) by Sherry Thomas

Even taking into consideration the fact that I am more used to an occidental pov, than an oriental one, it still doesn't explain the fact that I found this story somewhat lukewarm.

I can't even give the explanation that I "fell " into this story without having read the previous story, because I did read it, and I pretty much loved it.

I think that for me, Ying Ying's and Leighton's story would have worked better, if instead of two books, we were to have had three: The second book following where the narrative stopped in the first book, allowing us to accompany their relationship, and all that happens next. I can't help feeling that, that would have given more strength to their story by allowing the readers to feel more empathy towards their story.

As it is, we are given flashbacks to see what happened between those two in the past, _for me the more interesting parts of the book _ and then we are thrown into the present, with just too many "balls up in the air":

We have Leighton who is engaged...

Catherine Blade, who is trying to find the Jade tablets..

A maniacal foe who sounds as if he's been having too much fun with catnip... o_O

The issue of both characters having met Herb Gordon..I don't know...it felt a little too much for nothing.

Also, I really didn't appreciate the way the engagement  between Leighton and his fiancée was resolved.

It was too convoluted and convenient, designed  it seemed, so that Leighton wouldn't come out as a cad.

The writing as always is flawless.

In the end, I can only say that this wasn't exactly my cup of tea, but this is not to say that this is a bad book.

It isn't. Only that as an adventure book, or a romantic tale, it needed more on both fronts.

Author Official Site

Buy " My Beautiful Enemy"

@Bookdepository.com

The Hidden Blade (The Heart of Blade Duology #1) by Sherry Thomas

You know how some book's synopsis sometimes seem to have been "changed at birth", when you compare them with the actual book?
Well, not this one! ;)
This story really is a mix of "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" with "Downton Abbey", or some other Regency inspired series.
I loved "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon"!
Downton Abbey? Well I have seen some episodes, but I am not crazy about it.

In this tale the author gives us the background of  the main character's lives who will "star" in "My beautiful enemy" novel.
Through different cultures, and settings, we accompany Leighton's and Ying Ying growth from children to young adults.
How they were raised, what they had to fight against, and especially which social constraints that period threw at them...Ying Ying more than Leighton, although the boy doesn't end up having an easy life.

This has some action scenes _more towards the end _ but the story really has its worth, on its ability to make that time period come alive on each and every page, from the traditions to social practices. Eastern and western.

 Also, the author managed to create a strong female character capable of taking care of herself in a very difficult time period for women, and that isn't a small achievement!
Thank you for that.
Despite all the situations that Ying Ying ends up facing, she never comes out as a victim.

The descriptions are beautifully done, the characters felt original, and the setting is just haunting.
Suffice to say that a "Beautiful Enemy" read is coming next.
______
p.s . I have however to mention this, because I got really upset by it's non existence...
That's what happens with expectations, you know?

 

Where is my chopped villain??? o_O

 Author's Official Site

Buy " The Hidden Blade" (Yes, the BD has it!!)
@Bookdepository.com

In The Mail...

I have been very good _ in a very boring bookish way o_O _ in the sense that only after reading some amazing arcs, do I order my own very paperback copy!
If I can get it :/
Amazon is not really an option for me, so if Bookdepository doesn't sell it, most likely I won't be able to buy it.
But not in this case.
I had searched for this book on the BD data base, I didn't find it, and unexpectedly a Portuguese online book-store _ Wook_ apparently had it ...and voila, they were really able to get it _ no, I don't have any publicity contract with the guys! :) _ and here it is, today in my hands...in all it's beautiful cover design..glory!

My review of this anthology Wishes and Sorrows.

Currently Reading...

It's no secret that I love Sherry Thomas novels ( well, I do!), so it was only a matter of time until I started reading this story :)
So far, it is a solid 4 Star rating. The only reason why I still haven't finished it, is because I have been sick these last couple of days, and my concentration has been MIA...
This is the prequel to another 2014 released novel, My Beautiful Enemy, but don't expect this to be a novella.
This is a full length book!
The nerd in me is content ;)

p.s- The Evil Dude?
Is one of the sickest bastards I have ever read about!
Good job Miss Thomas.
I want to kill him myself. :/

Ditched by Amity Hope

 

This was a really sweet story, with likeable, well characterized characters, that left me with a smile on my face.

This is truly a YA contemporary romance, and I could see that the author really tried to stay focused on the "YA" aspect of it...because this could have turned into the "new adult scene" really quickly; and for once I wouldn't have minded. * I know! I even surprised myself*

Maybe because of the characters maturity, I think that a new adult approach would have had a stable groundwork to establish its foundations.

So yes, this was probably the first time in my life, in which I wished that a story would turn out into the new adult territory. 

The characters may be nineteen, but since one had been on the edge of getting married _in fact, she was even being pushed into it by her mother!   _ I really had no problem with how things worked out...namely the run away from home aspect of the thing, and the: yeah, I am just going to spend the holidays with my best friend, who is a guy, and whom has had a big crush on me for a couple of years now...not that I am aware of that...thing!

* despite my clumsy presentation, this was actually well developed on paper....so ignore me!*

In fact, I think that regarding that aspect, I have the feeling that this story will be better appreciated by the somewhat older crowd _thirtish maybe _ who has moved on from stories with alpha males characters, and soap operas hot messes, and who just want something sweet without being overburden by the characters idiocy and giant doses of uncontrolled teen angst. 

______________

Yes, I am describing myself.

This is not a book full of drama, with emotions and hormones going rampant all over the place.

This is a quiet story, that for me became believable, exactly because of the fact that the author gave the characters time to move on...

I found this story extremely engaging because of the romance between Max and Holly, who behaved _mostly_ as sensible people, _probably older than their actual age _ giving us a sweet and cute story of friends turned into "lovers".

Not exactly "lovers"...more like sweethearts.

 In fact this is the type of story that could easily be adapted to the movies, as that type of story that you watch on a Sunday matinée. Something that you already know how it is going to end, but that despite that _ or maybe because of that _ you just let yourself go with the story.

So yes, apparently this was my cup of tea,which means that I am looking forward in the reading the following novella, "Always", that also features Max and Holly, and which apparently is only available through Amazon.

Lovely... o_O

Now off to find a paperback edition of this...

*hum, "whom" to annoy? Bookdepository, or Wook bookstore....probably both!*

Author's Official Site

Buy " Ditched"

@Amazon 

A Long, Long Sleep (Unicorp #1) by Anna Sheehan

A heartbreaking psychological drama with traces of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, that goes way beyond the normally used and abused clichés, focusing instead on one girl's psychological path to recovery.

In a way this reminds me of  another novel, _ This Is Not A Test_ in the sense that you're expecting something, but in the end, you end up with a completely different tale.

In fact, both these two stories have a somewhat dystopic post-apocalyptic setting, but in the end, what really matters are the character's psyches. What has made them turn out the way they are? Can they change?

Can they overpass what has been done to them?

Do they want to?

This means that in this novel, the character of Rose may share some resemblances with Sleeping Beauty's "fairy tale" character,_ namely her sleeping patterns o_O _ but do not expect a fairy tale out of this story. That is not what the story is about.

What this is,  is one girl's struggle to find her place in a world, that has moved on while she has been kept asleep.

This had a very strong beginning. The characters and the story were believable enough.

The writing is concise, and to the point, with occasional traces of lyricism, but never entering the purple prose domain.

Another point that I especially liked was how the author was able to keep us in the dark _for so long! _ regarding what had actually happened with Rose, making her spent sixty two years asleep.

And even when we finally find out what actually happened, we're still not ready for the full truth of it.

*Keep some tissues at hand*

The story however has a phase in which I felt my attention wavering for a bit.

You see, for awhile, we are left to think that this is going to turn into the typical YA book in which the character gets obsessed over a boy...but in reality, the truth is much more complex than that.

I will not give any more spoilers regarding this _ in fact the only reason I am mentioning this to begin with, is in the hope that this may avoid some "misguided" DNF's _, I will just say that the author really knew what she was doing, and that everything is explained in the end.

The last part of the story is actually brutal, because the reality is so much worse than what Rose could have expected.

I did intend to write a short review, but as you can see, in the end I wasn't able to.

But, if someone were to ask me to define this book in one word, heartbreaking, would definitely be my first choice.

In the end, I will just say that I am really glad I read this book _ even if it broke my heart _ and that I am anxiously waiting for the moment in which I will have the sequel, No Life But This in my hands.

I can't wait to read more about these characters.

Author's Official Site

Buy " A Long, Long Sleep"

@Bookdepository.com

Pre-order " No Life But This"

@Bookdepository.com

Did You Know...

...that the brilliant, heart-breaking, and outstanding novel "This Is Not a Test" written by author Courtney Summers, is going to have an e-book novella sequel?
:)
And that it is going to be released on January, 20th?
*Gasp*
*Shock*
*Happiness*
:)

Yes, that's right!!

Rejoice, there is going to be more zombies!! o_O

I mean, there is going to be more Sloan and Rhys!! ( I really ain't that crazy about the Zombies...)

 

And in case you have no idea what I am talking about...what are you waiting for to finally read "This Is not a Test"?

Paperback's Wonderland's review 

Author's Official Site 

Currently Reading...

I am currently reading, Anna Sheehan's book A Long, Long Sleep, who is going to have a sequel published in December, called " No Life But This", so I decided this was about time of me reading the first one.

So far, I've only read 59 out of 342 pages, but the story is looking promising.
What about you guys? What are you currently reading?

                                                              

Splintered (Splintered #1) by A. G. Howard

DNF at 50%....because I just couldn't find another "duck to give" (1).

With this one star rating, I am not trying to say that this is an horrible book.

It isn't...it just ends up being the typical YA book, in which the plot ends up acting as an ornament for an inane romance.

The characters are pretty cardboard like. With fifty percent read, the only thing that has been thoroughly discussed is their "emo", "Gothic", "I couldn't care less about" wardrobe.

The writing style is dispassionate at best, with a predominance for short clipped sentences.

The relationship between the main characters, Alyssa and Jeb has this power discrepancy _ the guy is always telling her what to do _ that really gets on my nerves.

She doesn't think by herself. She has Jeb to do that for her...

The plot moves by ...some sort of serendipity logic, maybe ?

For instance: Alyssa needs to be in a certain place, so without further explanations, or just with a few sketchy ones, there's our character...in a somewhat time travel move. :/..in a different part of the globe.

There.

It's done.

For someone who always thought her mother was insane, and with her growing fears that she too might be following the same path, it was a big leap of faith.

There wasn't enough explanations, and a decent world building....I mean besides the emo clothing and the make-up, for which I really couldn't care less.

"Props" (as in items on a stage) are all fine...but they should be _ I don't know! _ "embellishing", characterizing a proper plot!

What do I care if the best friend Jeb has a piercing? And that he's a very art oriented guy?

Is that all there is to the guy?

 That, and taking advantage of his rich girlfriend?

 (For some reason, looks maybe, he reminds me of another character, one who lives on a train with his pet snakes _ I almost wrote snacks....o_O _, you know, the guy from "Wicked Lovely"?)

Well in this story there isn't any snakes _ so far_ but Alyssa does have pet Eels....because...of stuff....

I am sorry, but this just isn't for me.

It had potential _that's the worst _ but the stupid romance just sidetracked it.

Author Official Site

And if you must..

@Bookdepository.com

(1) From Sarah Rees Brennan's book "Unmade"

“Lucky for you, I have another scheme. First I need a hundred ducks, but after that it will be pretty simple."
"What do you need the ducks for?"
"I´m going to put a whole bunch of them in a giant catapult and launch them over Aurimere," Kami said. "This will create a distraction. My message will be: Look at all the ducks I give.”

How I failed My Reading Challenge :/

These are the books of my 2014 reading challenge. The ones that I would "supposedly" be reading this year...if I hadn't requested all those arcs....
The ones with the crosses on it, are the ones I've read...
________
22 books ( and three of them, I just removed them from my TBR list)
This is a bloody book catastrophe!
I still have sixty books to read!! In less than two months! :/ I am completely freaking out!
AHHHHHHHHHH!

What about you guys?
Were you able to stick to your reading plans?

Edit Reads:
November 15: Splintered