A Nearer Moon by Melanie Crowder

                       Arc provided by Atheneum Books For Young Readers Through Edelweiss

                                                     Release Date: September 8 th


First of all: cover love!
This cover is so beautiful and so accurate to the story, that it is impossible for me not to love it.

As for the story, I actually found it good: This is mostly a story about bonds.
Family and friendship bonds. Did I like the way it was done?
I did.
The relationship between the sisters _ both of them _ was lovely to read.
The reaction to the events that end up happening, and the way family and friends react to it, all felt very real to me.
However I can not ignore the fact that the story didn't touch me, as I thought it would.
(The fact that I have read about two thousand books so far in my life, may have something to do with it, but things are the way they are.)

As such, part of the blame can be placed on me : I may have not been in the proper state of mind to read it... although I do tend to read many middle grade books...and love them.

I wasn't crazy about the writing. Also I can't help feeling that the intended audience will probably have a hard time with it.
Basically I thought this would be much more adventure oriented that it turned out to be.
As for the middle grade label, I don't know but there moments in which the writing style rubbed me the wrong way: there were times in which I felt that it sounded more "juvenile" than actually "middle grade".
Middle grade for me, most of the times tends to have more complex stories than ninety percent of so called YA/NA/Adult books out there.

Basically for the first time in my life, I wish I had a kid of my own so I could ask him/her, his/her thoughts regarding this book. -_-
Like I said, it may be a case of me being too old for this book, so give it a try, and I would love if you could share your thoughts of it with me!

Author's Official Site

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The Chocolate Rose ( La Vie En Rose prequel 0.5 / Amour et Chocolat #3) by Laura Florand

Recipe for an almost perfect contemporary romance:
_Prepare the setting: Provence
_Add roses and jasmine to taste

 

_Get ready to get lost in a small quirky village

(I also live in a small town but unfortunately the thing has no quirkiness at all to it. Also I would be crazy to walk amongst its tiny dark streets in the centre of the old part of the city at night...

 Fortunately I have my own Garden, so not all is lost! :D)

_Finally, get ready to meet the love of your life: He's really tall... and big... and sees himself as a Beast, but in truth he's just this big teddy bear who just wants to be loved, forever and ever.

Now we know, you have some trust issues, because parents *emotional vampires that they are* have sucked the life out of you (oh, wait, that's me -_-)... but remember that he'll always be waiting for you.

He'll give you everything you want... like... soft, creamy deserts in the shape of a rose:

 

Not this! Non! An amazing rose made of chocolate with beautiful petals hiding this creamy pastry of.... -_- something! :D 

The only thing he asks is that you'll be by his side forever and ever... and can you please stop mentioning other pretty handsome man? Jolie, you know he has the self confidence of a meringue!

 Poor guy :/

As you can see this was a sweet with bits of insane to it romance with likeable characters and laughing out loud dialogues as only the author knows out to do.
There were some points that threatened to become a little problematic _ the first time they look at one another  or even the way Gabriel asks her on a date _ but the author _ for me _ was able to avoid a disaster. That is not to say, that I wasn't a little concerned about what I was reading...
Luckilly the author knows how to balance the more serious aspects with some heavy doses of silliness so I just let it pass.

Also the fact that not one, but the two of them are constantly thinking about sex _ although Jolie might beat Gabriel at it _ was a funny change.

p.s. In case there's any doubt _ I think it's unlikely, but strange things happen _ you know the stuff in the dialogue balloons?

I made them up. Please do not bother the author about my atrocious writing skills.

Also, for those who aren't aware of it, this story can be read as part of two different series: As the prequel for the Vie en Rose series, or as the third volume in the "Amour et Chocolat" series.

Author's Official Site

Kobo (get it while it's still free!)

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

It's Amy and Nick Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary

As always, Amy has a treasure hunt prepared for Nick: scattered clues leading him to places where they shared special moments in their relationship, ending in a lovely present. 

Nick has nothing prepared, not reservations at a restaurant, not even a gift, not even flowers. 

While Nick is at the bar shittalking his wife with his twin sister and then spending some time where no one knows where he's been, his wife goes missing. 

There are signs of a struggle in the living room and clumsily mopped blood in the kitchen, blood which turns out to be Amy's. 

Nick swears he didn't do it, but the clock is ticking for Amy, the longer she's missing the harder it'll be to get her back alive.

Sorry, the whole review after this is a huge SPOILER, so click at your own risk!

The Shadow Behind The Stars by Rebecca Hahn

Arc provided by Atheneum Books For Young Readers through Edelweiss

 Release Date: September 1st

Do you like Greek tragedies?
Like, I don't know, Antigone perhaps? *It's the only one I remember reading during college, okay?*
Because if you do like that more classical style, in which characters are just a means to tell a tale, you're going to love this! Really.
If not, well, though it up.

Look at this cover!
It's stunning: I absolutely love it.
As for the theme behind the story, great choice. As soon as I read "Fates", I knew I had to get my hands on it!

The Shadow Behind The Stars tries to be the equivalent of literary YA, and I only use the YA definition because the story is told through Chloe's voice _ who is the youngest (The Maiden) of the Three Fates.
Of course the "girl" is as old as time, but who is counting?

Truth is, and not downplaying the YA audience (on the contrary!), I think that this story would probably be better received by a different type of audience... the one who loves the literary works  and who prefers a more "dry" type of story?

In case it isn't noticeable by now, I am really uncomfortable with writing this review:
I loved the author's first work (fantasy), and I would love nothing more than to praise this one to anyone who would listen.
But there are some things one hopes for certain in a YA book. Especially one labelled as fantasy as this one:
_ World building: nothing. There's absolutely nothing related to world building in this book, which ends up being explained by the fact of this trying to be an Allegory...

_ Adventure: no adventure in this book. No action. There's nothing in this book besides drama and people crafting and fishing.
Oh, and dying.

_ Romance: *snort*

You know how Greek tragedies start?
Yes, there's drama involved...
You know how they end?
Pretty much all in the same way, but with some bits of wisdom thrown our way -_-
(Everything and everyone is connected? Even when we don't want to admit that to ourselves?)
Well, there you have it: that's what happens in this story in a very metaphysical and philosophic kind of way.

The writing...
Well it has some good moments, but it tries too hard, and there's quite a few repetitions, so it ends up feeling a "little" forced.

I'm sure many readers will enjoy this book, it just wasn't my cup of tea, unlike what happened with the author's first book " A Creature of Moonlight", which ended up being one of my favourite books of 2014.

Author's Official Site

Bookdepository.com

Uprooted by Naomi Novik

This has been one of the most talked books lately, and it seems _ or at least it feels so _ that almost everyone who reads it, loves it.
And as far as I'm concerned _ and as you can see by the rating I gave it _ I agree with that feeling:
I may not have fallen in love with this story at its beginning, but towards the end I was turning the pages as fast as I could.
The reason why it took me awhile to start enjoying this tale, lays in the fact that I wasn't crazy about the writing style.

 There's nothing particularly wrong about it _ except for some odd discrepancies (1) _, but I was expecting something with a little more... enchantment/ charm to it?

Sure, when we were getting images of the spells that Agnyeszka creates, and how suddenly there's this lush garden in the Dragon's library to give an example, everything is beautifully done. But then that moment passes, and everything gets back to being described in a more "drab" way.

The characters
This is a story that I see myself re-reading, and maybe in that re-read already knowing the characters peculiarities, I'll be more complacent with the things I wasn't crazy about in this first read.

I honestly don't know how to say what really bothered me about the characters...maybe I'm just being picky _ the usual _ but, it was as if I couldn't actually see them?
 At least, in a detailed way. They were so busy with their adventure, that sometimes they read as blurs. Or people who occupy their roles in a very rigid way?

I wanted them to feel more alive! But by this, I can't "go" in the opposite direction and say that they were "complete" stereotypes _ okay, maybe the Dragon... and okay, Agnyeszka has a bit of special snowflake in her...
________
Okay, yes, they have a bit of stereotypes to them -_-

The romance
Bear in mind, that this is actually an adult story, so more than romance, there's this attraction between the characters _ one of them a very grumpy old guy _ part explained by the magic they use, the other... because he's bored?
Alone?
She's really young and naive?
This part was actually kind of weird to read, because Sarkan _ The Dragon, who FYI  doesn't turn into a dragon _ is a really old wizard _ around hundred and fifty years old but who looks like a twenty year guy _ and he's a rude douche to the girl _ seventeen _ and he never actually says anything nice to her.
At least I don't remember any complementary remark.
And then all of a sudden they're ripping each others clothes! o_O

But Agnyeszka is okay with it, and by the end of the story he's a bit like Grumpy Cat to the girl: he's always scowling but we  she loves him the way he is...
Blah, Blah, love is blind and stupid

The Story
Freaking amazing! What an imagination. What a dark, twisted tale this is.
I loved it.
It was gory _  extremely so! _ dark, and full of twists.
In the end, I may not have been a fan of some elements, but the story inside Uprooted was amazing.


(1) I remember two moments that were a little strange to read. In one Agnyeska and her friend, Kasia, walk in different directions , an a moment later they're holding hands. It read as if the author had forgotten what she had written before.
In the other, Agnyeska is thinking about something _not out loud, but in her head _ and the Dragon answers her as if she were talking with him.
WTH, dude? You cannot read minds!
Like I said, some strange discrepancies.

As for the covers _ yes, there is more than this one _ I have to say that I am partial to this one... in fact, I freaking love it! :)

Author's Official Site

Buy "Uprooted"
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Deep Dark Fears by Fran Krause

ARC provided by Ten Speed Press through Netgalley

I had seen a few of Fran Krause's comics around tumblr, so when I saw this book on Netgalley I simply had to read it!

Thankfully I was approved because it was a delightful read!

Krause accepts submissions of tumblr users' darkest fears and draws them in a charming art style, bringing them to life and giving them the humour needed to soften the horror they represent. 

One thing I experienced, when I saw his comics on tumblr, was that I not only shared quite a few of the deep dark fears drawn, but that I would also end up with new fears I didn't have before...

For instance, a fear I have:

A new fear these comics have given me:

If you like funny comics and scary things please give this a try, I recommend it!

Fran Krause's official site, and the Deep Dark Fears tumblr

Buy Deep Dark Fears 

@ The Book Depository (with free worldwide delivery!)

A Sorceress of His Own (The Gifted Ones #1) by Dianne Duvall

DNF @ 35%

This has to be one of the most clichéd and boring books I've ever read.

The story starts with Alyssa, the Wisewoman's granddaughter who, at sixteen, believes herself madly in love with Lord Dillon, whom her grandmother serves.

I know we're all familiar with love at first sight, but this is actually love at NO SIGHT.

This girl has literally NEVER met this guy. 

But she fell in love with what she knows of him from the things her grandmother tells her, despite him being known as a bloodthirsty cruel man.

So off she sets to take her grandmother's place, disguising herself as an old woman, painting age spots on her hands, and faking a feeble voice, all at the age of sixteen even if her entire family tells her she's being stupid. 

Mary Sue that she is, she single-handedly defeats Dillon's enemies even though they'd been laying siege to the fortress forever. Apparently, during a siege, people just walk right in and out of a fortress, and go around poisoning the ENTIRETY of the fortress' inhabitants. 

Seven years pass and we're told, not shown, that Dillon and Alyssa become bff, playing games, unburdening their hearts to each other, etcetera.

This girl has zero personality. Her entire existence revolves around her precious Dillon. Not that I can say much about Dillon either, since his entire existence revolves around... nothing at all. 

Thankfully, Dillon dreams of his future bride, who is, of course, Alyssa, so when he is brutally wounded and Alyssa selflessly takes his wounds for herself while healing him her true guise is discovered. 

Desperate confessions of love are professed because OMG SHE'S HOT NOW and he can't lose her!

"“Nay,” he denied, his heartbeat thundering in his ears. “Nay! Nay!” he repeated, his voice rising to a shout. “Do not leave me, Seer! You cannot!" 

Yes, I know it's the nae nae, not nay nay.

Quite honestly, I couldn't keep going after this. 

The plot is barely existent, the pacing is fast and boring at the same time, the characters are a Mary Sue and a Gary Stu, their romance is implausible, and the entire story reeks of immaturity - if it weren't for the sexual content I'd say the book would be suitable for very young teens. 

I'm giving it one star instead of zero stars for the language used, which was period appropriate, but that's literally the only good thing about this book.

Dianne Duvall's official site

Buy A Sorceress of His Own

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Brown Eyed Girl ( Travis Family # 4) by Lisa Kleypas

                                  Arc provided by St. Martin's Press through Netgalley

                                                      Release Date: August 11 th

The first two books in this series are absolute favourites of mine, unfortunately things started going downhill ( for me) with the third book... and now this one.

I absolutely loved the way this story started: the humour, the character's sass. All the things I like in a romance, they were all there...
But things got strange and more than that, they became downright uncomfortable, after the two main characters _ this is not a spoiler, since it appears on the synopsis _ have a one night stand.

Avery is not someone who is looking for a romance. She has reasons to behave in a cautious way, and all of a sudden she has Joe texting and calling her after their one night stand...
Thing is, the guy gets his feelings hurt because she doesn't act as interested as he is.
I thought this was problematic, because he had no claim on the girl to suddenly act all hurt and shit.
Also, Lisa Kleypas had to give me more in terms of what made the two of them suddenly so interested in one another: As a result I found their romance really week and merely serendipity like.

Yes, it's great that the author choose a girl who doesn't wear a small size _ although as a woman who wears 34 I have to say that we are women as well, and no that doesn't automatically turn us into bitches _ and that Joe loves her body the way it is. But besides that, what has made them fall in love?

More interesting that the main characters romance was Avery's sister, Sofia and Stephen's troublesome relationship.
Sofia is Avery's partner and Stephen works for them. They have this "I hate you" vibe going on between them which made things very interesting to read, but then all of a sudden the guy started making comments _depreciative ones _about the way the girl was dressed, and what she liked to watch on tv, and that just made me want to smack his obnoxious head against a rock.

Also, just because the girl likes to watch Spanish soap operas the author didn't had to turn her life into one!
The ridiculousness of the whole thing reached high levels when Sophia's ex-boyfriend makes an appearence claiming that he needs someone to take care of his children, and that he'll take her back.
Despite the fact that she doesn't want anything with him. -_-
(That made me throw a little in my mouth)
I hate soap operas, okay people?

Then this being a Lisa Kleypas, Travis book there's the usual trip to the ER made by one of the characters.
-_- Hello? Again???

Sorry, but Joe was too cardboard like for me to fan over : One of the famous Travis. He's a handsome devil (aren't they all), and he takes photos.
And that is all there is to know about the guy.

Avery was much more developed, which once again made the whole romance between the two of them really hard to buy into it.
At the fifty percent mark she was still claiming not wanting to have a relationship with Joe. When you hear over and over how a character doesn't want a relationship... you believe her.

Sorry but I needed way more for their relationship to convince me... well, theirs alongside Sophia's and Stephen's who all of the sudden found themselves together.
As with all things Lisa Kleypas, this is a well written story, but the romance _ romances, plural _ were disappointments to read.

Author's Official Site

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From Wallflower to Countess by Janice Preston

This is one of those cases where the rating is quite literal: 2 stars means it's okay, 3 stars means it's good, and this book was in the middle of these two.

From Wallflower to Countess is very readable. I read it all in one go!

It doesn't have any excessive drama, and it's entertaining. 

We're skilfully shown (not told! so that's good!) what makes these characters who they are, from the main characters to the secondary ones. 

You didn't get villains who did things just to be evil, they had their reasons and these reasons made sense. 

Of the "good" characters there was none I didn't like. 

While the crux of the story kept me reading and it made sense, it also kept me feeling as if these people needed to wake up and realise that it was irrelevant what they chose to do or not to do, because the situation was already happening and they were turning into a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts. Mind you, this is addressed in the book! 

The thing is, I never felt strongly about any of it, save for Felicity's sister, her mother's fate, Charles, and little Millie. 

And while Felicity's sister's story was concluded, the others were just left dangling.

What happened to her mother and her odious new husband?

What happened with the annoying Charles?

Who did that despicable thing to poor Millie?

It just felt unfinished, even if the main plot was resolved.

Still, it's an entertaining read, especially for a cosy afternoon :)

Janice Preston's official site

Buy From Wallflower to Countess

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A History of Glitter and Blood by Hannah Moskowitz

                     Arc provided by Chronicle Books through Netgalley

                                  Release Date: August 18 th

Trigger Warnings

Two very strange, painful and boring stars, because despite my wish to dnf this e-galley at the very beginning, there was just something about this story, something strangely compelling that kept me from doing it!

Turns out it was not that much to begin with, :/ because this ended up being a new adult story with lots of feelings and people sleeping around with each other.
In a supposed fantasy setting.

A very drab _ where is my world-building? _ fantasy setting, with no rules and explanations for anything.
Things are the way they are, and that's the end of it:
 
A cannibalistic race? Who cares?

People being sexually assaulted because they're prostitutes? Normal.

A race _represented by four people _ prostituting themselves...because who cares about alternatives?
Normal.

Another race that spills ropes out of their mouths and who live up in the air... and I don't know why, apparently come to the fairies help?! wth...

Soap opera for teens (old ones because of all the sex work talks), with some gorgeous prose thrown around once in awhile to grab idiots such as myself.

There's this big mystery around the narrator which was actually well done... some sort of journal inside a story, and I am going to leave it as it is, so I don't spoil anything...

Positives: the occasional beautiful phrasing and the whole "bang" surrounding the narrator's identity.
Look, maybe some people will read this book and will appreciate it as the work of a genius: It definitely has some twisted qualities to it.
As for me, I like my stories with a little more of mental health...*cough*... in them.

Myself after reading the whole thing:
That was it? o_O
Can someone please give me back the hours I wasted with this?
Because I am not getting younger :/

                                
 Author's Official Site

Bookdepository.com