Book Review: Everlife by Gena Showalter

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Everlife
Everlife #3

Author: Gena Showalter
Reading Level:Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy / Dystopia
Released: 27th February 2017
Review Source: Bought

STAND TOGETHER OR FALL ALONE.

THE FATE OF THE EVERLIFE HANGS IN THE BALANCE.

At seventeen years old, Tenley “Ten” Lockwood had to make the ultimate choice—where to live after she died. Loyalty to her selected realm has not wavered…until now. She is out of time. Sacrifices must be made, and a terrible price must be paid. But is she too late?

As the Everlife descends into darkness, a single truth becomes clear: Troika and Myriad must unite—or perish. In order to bring sworn enemies together, Ten must enter forbidden territory…and destroy the powerful Prince of Ravens. But there’s only one way inside—bonding with Killian Flynn, a deadly rival who sets her blood aflame.

When nothing goes as planned and betrayal leads to the edge of utter defeat, Ten and Killian will have to rebuild trust from the ashes of their hearts. Victory seems impossible, the odds stacked against them. In the end, how far will they be willing to go for the sake of their realms and the Everlife?

Everlife brings the conclusion--the end of this unique, fantastic trilogy.

The Everlife trilogy has truly been a breath of fresh air. Tenley Lockwood is such a unique character. Being a young adult with the weight of the world on her shoulders, she handled it as any other teenager would. With maturity (with flickers of immaturity) and indecisiveness. After all, who wants to make such a life changing decision without some deep thought? Especially when that decision could destroy a whole realm.

The evolution of Ten and Killian was...definitely a journey. After a rocky journey down a forbidden path, they do the one thing that seems right--bonding to each other. Not only because of the love they share but because if Tenley wants any chance at getting into Many Ends again, Ten needs to bond to Killian. For better or for worse. Things don't turn out quite as they planned and she finds herself with an extra enemy. Victory is not in sight and it feels like fighting a losing battle. But they cannot give up...the other path is not an option.

Very rarely am I happy with trilogy endings. I'm not a huge fan of cliffhangers, open endings or huge tragedies that bring the story to an end. I don't think I've been as happy or content after finishing a series before. Seriously. You cannot read Everlife if you have not read the first two installments but I will keep this review short and sweet to avoid any spoilers.

I'm sad that the series is over. I will miss each and every character and the world Showalter created but I can eagerly say I (im)patiently await the next Gena Showalter book (and I reccomend you all check out her other series' too!)

Book Review: Lifeblood by Gena Showalter

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Lifeblood #2
Everlife #2

Author: Gena Showalter
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Released: 28th February 2017
Review Source: Bought

‘My Firstlife is over, but my Everlife is only now beginning.’

With her last living breath, Tenley "Ten" Lockwood made her choice and picked her realm in the Everlife. Now, as the war between Troika and Myriad rages, she must face the consequences.

Because Ten possesses a rare supernatural ability to absorb and share light, the Powers That Be have the highest expectations for her future—and the enemy wants her neutralized. Fighting to save her Secondlife, she must learn about her realm from the ground up while launching her first mission: convincing a select group of humans to join her side before they die. No pressure, right?

But Ten's competition is Killian, the boy she can't forget—the one who gave up everything for her happiness. He has only one shot at redemption: beating Ten at a game she's never even played. As their throw-downs heat up, so do their undeniable feelings, and soon, Ten will have to make another choice. Love…or victory.

The end of Firstlife brought Tenley's Everlife. With dying breaths she announced her eternal loyalties to Troika, the realm of the light. Tenley is happy with her choice--she knows she's chosen the right side, even if made her enemies with a unforgettable young man. Killian is a Myriad, belonging the realm of darkness and Killian is out of reach. Their blossoming relationship ripped away from them both when Tenley chose the other side of the battle.

The pending romance between Ten and Killian is confusing but very intriguing. How can they possibly progress with any relationship on opposite sides of the war? Was their romantic connection authentic or was it all the role Killian played for his job? It's a love story that was doomed before it even started. Forbidden romance at its finest.

The energy and drama became more dominant in Lifeblood, the war bubbling at the surface. Not only does Tenley belong to the realm of the light but she harbours a rare ability to absorb and share light--something that could destroy Myriad and lead Troika to victory. For someone so young with the mental maturity of a typical teenager, she's got the fate of the world on her shoulders. Literally.

Lifeblood was an emotional rollercoaster. It brought out the ugly cry (I'm still not over it). With the raging war nobody is safe. Friends turn to enemies and Tenley doesn't know who's fighting the good cause and those who are plotting her downfall.

Lifeblood was an excellent edition to the series. Firstlife was the start--the introduction to the world and Tenley's crazy life but Lifeblood built up the drama and emotions and here we got to know the characters and begin to love them. Every plot twist, betrayal and unexpected moments was like a personal shot to the heart. I enjoyed every minute of reading.

Book Review: Firstlife by Gena Showalter

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Firstlife
Everlife #1

Author: Gena Showalter

Reading Level: Young Adult

Genre: Fantasy

Released: 23rd February 2016

Review Source: Bought

Step one...you die.

ONE CHOICE. TWO REALMS. NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley "Ten" Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live — after she dies. There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, long-time enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms that will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she's drawn to isn't where the boy she's falling for lives? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

Firstlife is another success from the wonderful Gena Showalter. It's unlike any of her other works--but that's the beauty of Showalter's novels. No two series are the same. She brought us demons, aliens, zombies, angels and now she brought us a dystopian, fantasy trilogy.  

It took me longer than normal to get into Firstlife but that isn't because it wasn't a good read but because the author has created a whole new world with an unfamiliar hierarchy system. It's brilliant to have such an imagination to build an entire world in your own mind.  

Firstlife follows the life of Ten Lockwood--the girl who has spent more than a year in an asylum, which was her price to pay for not letting her parents choose her life after death.  Both Troika and Myriad --the rivalling Everlife realms-- will stop at nothing to recruit Tenley onto their side of the war. There's a good side and a bad side but figuring out which one is which is the problem. Tenley has to stay alive long enough to make a decision because the other option, a Everlife filled with a nightmare reality isn't an option. But staying alive is a lot easier said than done when she's on the run with someone determined to make sure she dies.

Ten is a solid character and strongly stubborn (which was actually her saviour in the end). She had many admirable traits from being fiercely loyal to standing up for what she truly believes and that made it even more of an exciting read because throughout I really didn't know what was going to happen or which side she would choose. We were also introduced to Archer/Bow and Killian. Archer is a firm favourite-- I don't believe he will be a love interest but he is hilarious and I hope we get to know him more. 

If you're looking for a solid read, you've found it. A unique and gripping novel from an author we all know and love. 

I would also like to add that the audiobooks for the Everlife series are fantastic. Read by Emma Galvin (who is also happens to be my favourite narrator) and Zachary Webber. 

Book Review: The Flame Never Dies by Rachel Vincent

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The Flame Never Dies
The Stars Never Rise #2

Author: Rachel Vincent
Reading Level: Young adult
Genre: Paranormal | Demons | Dystopia
Released: 16th August 2016
Review Source: Publisher

For fans of Cassandra Clare and Richelle Mead comes the unputdownable sequel to The Stars Never Rise, a book Rachel Caine, author of the bestselling Morganville Vampires series, called “haunting, unsettling, and eerily beautiful.”

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 younger 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.

Rachel Vincent: the author who will end books, series and situations in a place of unexpected. It will shock you, leave you wanting more and consume your thoughts.

The Flame Never Dies is the second and final installment of the duology. It continues with Nina, her pregnant sister, and their group of exorcists who are still on the run. They managed to escape the clutches of the Church but with the rising threat of Pandemonia and it's evil ruler Kastor, the gang have aquired quite the list of enemies.

This installment felt a little less about Nina and her discovering a word she thought she knew, but more as the group as a whole. In this book, the need to keep Mellie and her unborn child safe is a main focal point.

"If I can't find a soul for my sister's baby, I will damn well give that kid my own."

 
I almost expected for that to happen. The world they live in is daunting, seems unbeatable. It's not a happy place or a nice place. For somebody to live another has to die. The urge to keep her family and friends safe is scary and despite her character growth it made her reckess. Fighting against time to find a soul for her neice or nephew she grows desperate, needing the danger away from them for the baby's sake. Instead, Finn is faced with some harsh truths of his history, Nina has a face-to-face with Kastor and Nina has to make one of the hardest decisions of her life.

The Flame Never Dies ended with a very open ending and it was completely painful. But you know what? It still kicked ass. It was kind of perfect. The author leads her readers to plans of what they want to happen but there's still a lot of room for imagination, and with the ending--anything can happen. We don't know what happened after Adam was dropped off at the children's home. We don't know if Nina and friends survive. Did they manage to conquer? We dont know any of it. That's the hardest part.

Book Review: The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engel

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The Revolution of Ivy
The Book of Ivy #2

Author: Amy Engel
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia | Romance
Released: November 3rd 2015
Review Source: Entangled Teen | Netgalley

Easton doesn’t believe in love. He believes in Death. Darkness. Sin. As a reaper for Hell, it’s all he’s known for over four hundred years. When he gets slapped with the job of training the boss’s daughter, an angel who knows nothing but joy, he knows he’s in for a world of trouble.

Though he’s made it clear he wants nothing to do with her outside of work, Gwen would do anything to get closer to the dark and wounded reaper—even taint her angelic image and join the ranks of her father’s team of reapers. But in all her planning, she forgot to factor in one thing—how far the demons Easton doomed to hell would go to get revenge.

When the dangers of the Hell threaten Gwen, Easton will do whatever it takes to save her. But as the darkness closes in on them both, will he be able to save himself?

I'm finding it hard to sum up how I felt about The Revolution of Ivy. I had very high expectations after The Book of Ivy and I'm undecided if my expectations were met. It's been a while since a book has left me this indecisive. Let me explain...

The novel was fantastic in the sense of fulfilment. After Ivy was banished beyond the fence, life became a lot more interesting for her. Life as she knew it was a distant memory and survival was about to become life or death, and she wasn't going to be able to survive alone.

“No one survives beyond the fence. At least that's what my father always told me when I was a child. But I'm not a little girl anymore, and I no longer believe in the words of my father. He told me the Lattimers were cruel and deserved to die. He told me my only choice was to kill the boy I loved. He has been wrong about so many things. And I'm determined that he's going to be wrong about my survival as well.”

Ivy's survival in the wild was interesting. Over the past months she's had a few drastic changes in her life, this one dominating by far. From houses to shacks, Ivy tags along with a group of survivors who not only keep her alive, but show her the way of living without any civilization. She meets a whole new bunch of people. It was interesting and a part I liked very much.

Now, the character development was great for a few and bad for the others, it all felt very one dimensional. And that was a problem for me. Undeveloped characters is one of the only things which really make it hard for me to like the story/characters. As did the slow pace and lack of major events. Because of the nature of the story, I expected some story of explosion. Not literally, but some conflict of events which would give an extra kick which didn't happen.

Regardless of the things which made The Revolution of Ivy have a lower rating, I'll always remember the duology and will probably re-read it sometime in the future, because despite the bad points, I really enjoyed book one.

Book Review: The Leveller by Julia Durango

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The Leveller
Author: Julie Durango
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia | Sciene Fiction
Release Date: June 23rd 2015
Review Source: HarperCollins

Nixy Bauer is a self-made Leveller. Her job? Dragging kids out of virtual reality and back to their parents in the real world. It’s normally easy cash, but Nixy’s latest mission is fraught with real danger, intrigue, and romance.

Nixy Bauer is used to her classmates being very, very unhappy to see her. After all, she’s a bounty hunter in a virtual reality gaming world. Kids in the MEEP, as they call it, play entirely with their minds, while their bodies languish in a sleeplike state on the couch. Irritated parents, looking to wrench their kids back to reality, hire Nixy to jump into the game and retrieve them.

But when the game’s billionaire developer loses track of his own son in the MEEP, Nixy is in for the biggest challenge of her bounty-hunting career. Wyn Salvador isn’t some lazy kid looking to escape his homework: Wyn does not want to be found. And he’s left behind a suicide note. Nixy takes the job but quickly discovers that Wyn’s not hiding—he’s being held inside the game against his will. But who is holding him captive, and why?

Nixy and Wyn attempt to fight their way out of a mind game unlike any they’ve encountered, and the battle brings them closer than either could have imagined. But when the whole world is virtual, how can Nixy possibly know if her feelings are real?

Gamers and action fans of all types will dive straight into the MEEP, thanks to Julia Durango’s cinematic storytelling. A touch of romance adds some heart to Nixy’s vivid, multidimensional journey through Wyn’s tricked-out virtual city, and constant twists keep readers flying through to the breathtaking end.

It took me about 5 attempts to read the first few chapters. I don't know why but I couldn't get into the plot. Maybe it was because it was so different from what I usually read, sci-fi books are far from what I usually read, in fact, this may be the first I've read in nearly 2 years. But once the ball got rolling it didn't stop. Once The Leveller had my attention there was an iron grip on it. I was sucked into the world of gaming and MEEP.

I was so entertained by The Leveller. It was something so different from what I read that it was like a whole new experience with books. I need more sci-fi in my life, seriously. Nixy, the lead character, was who made the story. Her parents work on new creations for the MEEP gaming world, but Nixy, she earns her cash by going into the MEEP and retrieving people. Maybe it's a mother wanting her rogue child back in the real life, or a wandering husband needing taming, you name it, Nixy does it. And she's really good at it, too.

It's when Nixy takes a job she knows she can't refuse that situations become sticky. The MEEP creator himself finds his son lost in the word of gaming...because that's how he planned his suicide, and Nixy's the one who's been hired to drag him back to his family. The problem: she's not the only one to have tried. Many professionals have tried and failed to bring Wyn back to the real world, but instead of returning with him, their mental states have shattered---the game literally broke them. It seems Wyn is making it a living nightmare for people to reach him.

The journey of Nixy entering Wyn's world is a tough one, but, eventually she does it. And she does what nobody has managed to do; find Wyn. But when she finds him and gets to know him, things start becoming clear and the puzzle pieces aren't fitting together. There's more to the story than a boy trying to die through virtual reality. And Nixy's going to find out what.

The Leveller was an exciting read. Something new for me with lots of action and mystery. There's much to be revealed and a lot of unknown that I'm so hyped up for book 2. Nixy was an awesome go-getter kind of character. She fed off the challenge and she was willing to give anything a go. I loved her personality and how great she was at her profession despite being young. Suppose practice does make perfect. And I have a feeling Wny is really going to shine the more we get to know him. His father is a dominant man and I have no doubt we're going to see some rebellion. Cannot. Wait!

Book Review: The One by Kiera Cass

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The One
The Selection #3
Author: Keira Cass
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia
Release Date: May 6th 2014
Review Source: HarperCollins UK| Netgalley

The time has come for one winner to be crowned.

When she was chosen to compete in the Selection, America never dreamed she would find herself anywhere close to the crown—or to Prince Maxon's heart. But as the end of the competition approaches, and the threats outside the palace walls grow more vicious, America realizes just how much she stands to lose—and how hard she'll have to fight for the future she wants.

This is the book guys. The epic conclusion. The one with the fabulous cover. The one I've been dying to read since I started the series. The one I LOVED.

This book made me cry about 3 times. Some were happy tears and some weren't. Let's just say some every good things happened (AKA Maxon and America) and some sad things. Some really sad things which came at the most unexpected times. I'm telling myself that everything happened for a reason and they contributed to the great ending, but darn, I really wish they hadn't really happened.

One of my favourite parts of this book was the character growths of the remaining Selected. Especially Celeste. Throughout the whole series the only emotion I've had towards her was distaste and The One completely changed my opinion of her. She would definitely win the award for "Most Improved". So much evolved in this book that it was refreshing-- after two books of constant steps back--and it was a well needed change.

Despite how much trouble (or maybe it was stubborness) the characters had when it coming to admitting their feelings with the words "I love you", the romance was still cute. The words Maxon spoke to America made me swoon and goofy grin.

"I'm going to love you more than any man has ever loved a woman, more than you ever dreamed you could be loved. I promise you that."

"I want everything with you, America. I want the holidays and the birthdays, the busy seasons and the lazy weekends. I want peanut butter fingerprints on my desk. I want inside jokes and fights and everything. I want a life with you."

See? Doesn't Maxon just completely just melt your heart? Because he melts mine. It did feel like there was a bit of an open end, like there was still a little bit more to be explored, but overall this book made me swoon, gasp, cry and laugh and I wouldn't have it any other way. It was the perfect conclusion to Maxon and America's story. 

Book Review: The Elite by Kiera Cass

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The Elite
The Selection #2
Author: Kiera Cass
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia | Contemporary Romance
Release Date: April 23rd 2013
Review Source: HarperCollins UK | Netgalley

The Selection began with thirty-five girls. Now with the group narrowed down to the six Elite, the competition to win Prince Maxon's heart is fiercer than ever—and America is still struggling to decide where her heart truly lies. Is it with Maxon, who could make her life a fairy tale? Or with her first love, Aspen?

America is desperate for more time. But the rest of the Elite know exactly what they want—and America's chance to choose is about to slip away.

The Elite continues and things can only get better. Thirty-five girls were chosen as potential princesses and now there's only six. The competition is getting tough and feelings are running high and decisions need to be made. The competition is within touching distance of being over and life changing decisions are about to be made. Who will Maxon choose? Better yet, who will America choose?

This book should have been a breeze. I mean, Maxon has already expressed his feelings for America. That's pretty much a confession that she's his first choice, right? But let me tell you, this book was far from a breeze. It was a mixture of being highly frustrating but wonderful all at the same time. In The Elite I developed love for some characters and hatred for others. I grew frustrated and slightly angry, but I also smiled and the frustration melted into love. This book made me feel so many conflicting emotions.

And you know what this book didn't lack? Drama. Seriously, it was so jam packed with it that I could barely keep up (in a good way, of course). There was always something going on, whether it have been America impulsively acting without thinking, the love triangle or the rebels attacking, there was always something to latch onto and savour. I enjoyed every second and after finishing I didn't wait a second before opening The One, book 3.

The only reason this novel wasn't rated a solid 5 was because of the love triangle. They're my least favourite things to be in books and the indecisive feelings of who she loved more was slightly exhausting. I was so Team Maxon that I was like "America, stop having feelings for Carter. Maxon is clearly the better option!" lol. To be honest, I knew the only reason she clung to Carter was because he was safe and familiar, not because she truly wanted him as a partner for life.

The Elite fueled my love for the series, and as always, the cover was absolutely stunning. This is a book which shouldn't be missed out on and I'd recommend this book to everyone.

Audiobook Review: Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole

Dead of Winter
Arcana Chronicles #3
Author: Kresley Cole
Narrator: Emma Galvin
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Dystopia | Fantasy
Listening Length: 9 hours and 58 minutes
Released: January 6th 2015
Review Source: Simon & Schuster Audio

Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.

Heartbreaking decisions. Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, The Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.  

Uncertain victory. Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a frozen and perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on The Lovers and the vast army they command. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them once and for all may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

Two heroes returned. There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first?

I re-listened to Poison Princess and Endless Knight before shoving my ear buds in and losing myself in Dead of Winter’s audio book for the first time. I've read and listened to this series so many time as it’s one of my all-time favourites, and the audio versions never get old.

Dead of Winter was a great audio addition to the series. Emma Galvin, the narrator, has been come a familiar voice to me through this series and she suits this series perfectly. How she portrays everyone, specifically Evie, Jackson, Matthew and Aric is on point and I find myself connecting to the series all the more because of Emma’s narration.

Listening to the audio was just as exciting as the first time I read the book. Jack makes me fall more in-love with him every time I revisit this series, and in the audio books, he melts my heart. I may just be madly in-love with him. I'm a sucker for Jack's accent, and also Aric's because they're so well done. So it's understandable for me to be partial to the audio books where I can actually listen to the hotness rather than just read it. It adds more dimension. *sighs happily*

The progression in Dead of Winter is almost shocking. In a good way. Jack's character really shines here, we see him blossom into the person he was always meant to be, and a better side of him is shown. However, he still has his issues. Jack wouldn't be Jack if he didn't, but I don't hold them against him. He's still learning, and I understand why he does what he does. The majority of the time it's to protect Evie.

As for everyone else: Evie's still the same girl at heart but I wouldn't mess with her. She's seriously kick ass with her arcana powers. In book 4, we're definitely going to see her with her full powers unleashed, something she's been holding back to avoid hurting people. And Aric, I'm still undecided with him. I love that we get to see him more in Dead of Winter, and I can't fault his presence. After lifetimes of loneliness, the company he has is treasured and he's blossoming into a better version of himself.

And as I write this review, I'm listening to Dead of Winter for the second time because I can't get enough of it.

You can read my book review for Dead of Winter here.

Listen to an excerpt from Dead of Winter audio below: