Review: Persephone by Kaitlin Bevis

There are worse things than death, worse people too

The “talk” was bad enough, but how many teens get told that they’re a goddess? When her mom tells her, Persephone is sure her mother has lost her mind. It isn’t until Boreas, the god of winter, tries to abduct her that she realizes her mother was telling the truth. Hades rescues her, and in order to safely bring Persephone to the Underworld he marks her as his bride. But Boreas will stop at nothing to get Persephone. Despite her growing feelings for Hades, Persephone wants to return to the living realm. Persephone must find a way to defeat Boreas and reclaim her life.

Review: Greek mythology has survived despite the years and people are as fascinated by it now as they were then. (Minus the worship part)

One of the stories that intrigues people the most is the one of Hades and Persephone, which Kaitlin Bevis rewrites in her thrilling novel Persephone.

The book starts out strong, with strange happenings around Persephone's everyday life and her conviction that she was going insane. Frost appeared out of nowhere, people acted weirdly around her, and it felt like someone was watching her. I was hooked from then.

One aspect of the novel that I didn't like very much was Persephone herself. She was a little too naive for someone her age, although it makes sense in context. She's very sheltered, as the book demonstrates in the first few pages. Another part of Persephone's personality I didn't like was her shallowness. What I do like about the main character is her stubbornness. She refuses to be cowed by little things like the god of the Underworld, or dead people, or silly little reapers. That kind of tenacity is admirable in a person, fictional or not.

Hades was a difficult character to tackle simply because of all the history that comes with his name. Persephone is a Greek goddess as well, but by making her a reincarnation with no memories, Bevis had to opportunity to create her own character. Hades the god? She had to follow a few rules.

I like and dislike how she didn't portray Hades as the bad guy. He was very kind and considerate of his subjects. Sure he had darker parts of his personality, but overall he was a reasonable guy. And I'm glad he wasn't the "bad boy" Persephone reforms as they fall in love. I like the Hades from this book a lot. But Hades the Greek god was ruthless and had the kindest heart. I was excited to see the contradiction in his character and not finding that prevented me from loving the Hades from this book.

Hades was still amazing, though. Great character.

This tends to happen a lot to me, but I just adored the setting. It would've been so easy for Bevis to create a cliche dark and gloomy underworld but she really rocked her world building. The afterlife was like life, but the jobs people had were about making themselves happy, not rich. Even Persephone opened up a little garden shop because she likes flowers. It's a very thoughtful afterlife, and remains true to mythology with Tartarus, the rivers, and the Elysian Fields. 

The plot seems flimsy in retrospect, but while reading, I couldn't put this book down. There's a sense of suspense on every single page and so many things keep happening that I refused to do anything except read this delightful book. It's a great book for summer vacation and Persephone will keep you hanging until the very last word.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The End of an Era

Hey guys, Google Reader is dead tomorrow so please follow me via Bloglovin'. It's a simple sign up process and you have the option of importing the blogs you follow from Google Reader. Sounds perfect, yes?

Follow me here! I hope to see you there.

Love,
Julie

Fan Art Friday (1)

I see a lot of fan art on the internet, most commonly on tumblr and deviantart. Frankly, I love them! These artists are brilliant. If you guys would enjoy seeing posts like this, I could start posting a piece of fan art every Friday.

This week's is a digital drawing of Alina and Mal from the Grisha trilogy. I have a copy of Siege and Storm waiting for me at the end if this vacation and I can't wait to read it!

Art by Vindictev

What are your thoughts on fan art? Is this something you'd like to see?

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

A weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that showcases future releases we're looking forward to.

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead

Expected Publication Date: November 19, 2013

The blurb contains minor spoilers for the Bloodlines series so I haven't included it in this post.

What can I say about this book? It's from Adrian's point of view, which is super exciting because he's a character I've adored since the Vampire Academy series. We finally get to see inside his head! Plus, I really want to see how the romance between Sydney and Adrian pans out. It'll also be great to see Jill and Eddie again! I'm pretty much just excited for all of it. ALL OF IT. Gimme gimme.

YA in Europe

So right now, I'm on vacation. Guess what? I'm in Europe! A lot of YA novels have influenced which countries I chose to travel to so here's a list of YA books I've read that occur in Europe or where the characters travel to Europe. Even if you're stuck at home, you can travel in your mind with one of these lovely books.

Anna and the French Kiss 

by Stephanie Perkins

Just One Day

by Gayle Forman

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

by Jennifer E. Smith

The Fault in Our Stars

by John Green

Daughter of Smoke and Bone

by Laini Taylor

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys

The Book Thief

by Markus Zusak

Valkyrie Rising

by Ingrid Paulson

Vampire Academy

by Richelle Mead

Code Name Verity

by Elizabeth Wein

I know there are more titles that have Europe as a setting, but I can't remember the other ones I've read. I also haven't read all of them, surprise surprise. 

Review: Code Name Verity

Code Name Verity is an extremely raved about book in the publishing world. It's adored for good reason as well. Code Name Verity is amazing. It's a little unconventional, with a strong focus on friendship and a lack of romance, but I loved it. The book is split into two parts. Both are first person narration from the POV's of Julie and Kitty. If you start it and it seems iffy, the book does start off a bit slow. It's worth the read, though.

The story is set in Paris, France, World War II era. I can't say much about Julie because everything about her is laced with spoilers, but I can say that I love her to death. She speaks in a loose, stream of conscious way, which shows us insight on her prison. Honestly, at times she seems completely unhinged, but that only caused me to pity her more because of her circumstances. It's rare that I form such a strong connection with a character because the characters are usually the first I forget when it comes to novels. But here she is! It's been months and I still can't forget this woman.

So, Julie. Love her to death. She's eccentric and it's kind of fascinating and horrifying at the same time to watch imprisonment change her. Yet, at the same time some of her best qualities manage to stick with her through her struggle. Love. Her.

The second half of the book is from Kitty's point of view. She's less crazy and seems more cautious. Her personality differs from Julie's social magnetism, yet her strength in her desires and beliefs are admirable. Through Kitty, we learn more about her past with Julie and how Julie comes off to the rest of the world. It also shows Kitty's tenacity to cope with her worry for Julie and her adjustment to a completely different country. Kitty's such a hardworking character and so sweet at the same time. I liked her, but definitely not as much as Julie.

The second half of the book is shocking. I can't say anymore without spoiling the entire thing, but let's just say we get some new insight on the events told through Julie's point of view.

The side characters are very interesting, but take a back seat to our leading ladies. They serve their purpose in the story, but instead of seeing them as villains or heroes, the author crafts such realism and life into them that they seem like real people with faults.

The ending is tragic. So many tears have been shed over Code Name Verity. If you're looking for a happily ever after story, this isn't it. It's heartbreaking, mentally scarring, but so beautifully crafted.

Code Name Verity is a great book. Great, great, great, GREAT book. Despite the slow start, it's a must read. If you want a book with history, friendship, and slightly different, Code Name Verity is the book for you! 

Rating: 5/5 stars

(I apologize for the formatting errors. I wrote this review from my iPhone on vacation.)

Review: Unspoken

Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him?

Review: Sarah Rees Brennan is one of the most comedic authors I know. Yet, at the same time she also makes my heart hurt so much I want to rip it out while I read her books. Interesting combination, right?

I had a hard time relating to Kami because I'm neither brave nor funny, but I loved having her as the main character. She's a sassy, short, Asian, journalist who goes on crazy adventures to get the scoop. It's difficult to get bored when you're with her, because she dreams up these plans. Kami is a far cry from perfect and her flaws are a little annoying, but charming and keep her grounded as a real person. When things get difficult, I love how Kami manages to stay positive and continue pursuing the truth. Her thirst for knowledge is a refreshing change from the passive characters in other stories. Did I mention that she's short? A girl after my own heart.

How do I even begin to explain the cast of characters? If there's any complaint about them, it's that they're too charming and too witty. Every character has a funny little quibble to add to the conversation, which may be unrealistic, but has the same kind of feel as the amazing characters from The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. The love interest is more of a friend throughout the entire book, which works, because Jared's the closest friend Kami's ever had. Because, you know, he's in her head. It's also the first book in a trilogy, so there's plenty of time to get into the romance stuff. 

Did I mention how funny everyone is?

Despite how I make Unspoken sound, it's not all wit and giggles. The characters suffer and suffer bad because Sarah Rees Brennan is evil. There's more depth behind this story than word battles, I swear. Sarah Rees Brennan tackles a lot of difficult topics in a natural way that doesn't take away from the plot or become so focused that the book transforms into a life lesson.

Another aspect about the story that stuck with me was the setting. Unspoken is essentially a Gothic novel, so it includes its fair share of shady townies and old architecture. Sorry-in-the-Vale is almost a character itself, with the rich town history and creepy but unclear secrets the town holds. The author does such a great job of creating the town naturally, without spending paragraphs describing the town. She crafts it together so subtly, you don't notice until suddenly you can draw a map of the town at the end of the novel.

There's no lull in the story so make sure to read this when you have a sizable amount of time. You will not want to put this down once you've started. I promise you that you won't be able to put this book down once you've started.

Rating: 5/5 stars

Twelve Books for 12/12/12

Hello, lovely readers. I'm sorry that I haven't blogged for such a long time. It's 12/12/12, the last repetitive date for our lives (unless you're immortal) so I compiled a list of twelve great books that you all should read, in no particular order. If you think you should spend today doing something more special than reading, you're crazy! (Or it's finals week. Ugh) Without further rambling, here's the list.

12. Legend by Marie Lu

11. The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stievater

10. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

9. Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

8. The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

7. Code Name Verity by

6. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

5. Cinder by Marissa Meyer

4. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

3. Bloodlines by Richelle Mead

2. Seraphina by Rachel Hartman

1. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo

What are your twelve suggestions for today?

Weirdest Reader

So…I’m probably the worst person to be around if I’m reading. Normally, I’m either really bitchy sarcastic or just silent. But when I’m reading…when I’m reading I seem to forgot that I’m an actual human being. You want me to act civilized? You’re lucky if I’ll set down the book for a minute to listen to what your saying. 

What? A fire? A cute guy? Food? I’M SORRY, BUT CAN’T YOU SEE I’M IN THE MIDDLE OF IMPORTANT SOMETHING!?

The characters are running away from a bad guy/having a serious conversation/acting adorable/kissing. That’s what’s really important. Obviously.

While reading a book, I also have a habit to forget how to form actual words. I will make half laughing/screeching noises, whale noises, squees, extensive cusses, and many “I knew it”s. For the sake of this post, cusses and “I knew it” don’t count as actual words, even though they do. 

Thankfully, my sister’s learned to ignore me by now or else I’d be in a lot of trouble. If something awkward or awesome happens, I’ll jump, dance, run up and down the stairs, cackle like a maniac, or all of the above. My family probably thinks I’m insane, but whatever.

Because I’m talking about books, guys. BOOKS.

Yeah, so I probably shouldn’t read in a library. Ever.

Cover Reveal: Clockwork Princess

For those of you who don't have a twitter or who were absent from today's exciting hashtag fest, here's the cover of Cassandra Clare's Clockwork Princess, the last book of The Infernal Devices. To "fight the mist" that covered this image, we had to tweet #ClockworkPrincess. It was a lot of fun and we wound up making #ClockworkPrincess trend worldwide. Now that's dedication for you!

Isn't it beautiful? It's probably my favorite cover from this series. I mean, just look at Tessa. She's so pretty. And her book is glowing. The book is glowing. I wish my books glowed because then I'd always have a light with me.

YA Crush Tourney: Team Tod

Guess whose match begins at 12:00 pm Eastern time tonight. Magnus? Well, yes, but I wasn't really talking about him. I'm talking about Tod, you silly person. Tod, the lovely reaper from Soul Screamers. 

His first match is tonight and will be on for the next 24 hours. Keep watch of Ina's blog and twitter for updates because she's Tod's advocate.

Check out my twitter and my tumblr today and tomorrow for some of my favorite Tod Hudson quotes! 

Get the word out via twitter, blog, facebook, tumblr, a sign taped to your cat, ect. #TeamTod

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

A weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that showcases future releases we're looking forward to.

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi
Expected Publication Date: February 5th 2013

No blurb available.


Frankly, I want to see more of Warner. It must make me some kind of sick, twisted person, but I really enjoy his character. There's something so fundamentally wrong with him that just draws my attention to him every time he appears on the page. So yeah, maybe by loving his character, there's something wrong with me too.

Oh yeah, I want to see more of Juliet too. And Adam. And Kenji. Basically, I want to see everyone again!







Sorry for disappearing for a week with just another meme to show for it. I've been extremely sick recently and being on the computer for extended periods of time gives me a really bad headache. I'm such a bad book blogger.

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

A weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that showcases books we're looking forward to.

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
Publication Date: August 7th, 2012


After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.


OHMYGOD! Just read the blurb. Then you'll understand. Words cannot describe how excited I am for this book. I read all three of the e-novellas within a few hours and I WANT TO GET MY HANDS ON THAT BOOK SO SO SO MUCH. August, why are you a little more than a month away?

Review: This is Not a Test

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self.

To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live.

But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. 

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?


Review: I'm not quite sure what to say about this book. It's best for me to wait a while after reading so my thoughts and feelings settle, but after three days my mind's still a mess when it comes to this book.


Zombie books are fast-paced, action packed, however-many-pages of fun, right? Not in this case. While this book takes place in a zombie apocalypse, there's a startling lack of actual zombies present. It's not page after page of fighting for your life, gory massacres. It's a story about six teenagers trying to stay alive in the apocalypse--one of which that doesn't want to live at all. 


The main character Sloane doesn't want to be alive. Her father was abusive and her sister, the one person she loved most in the word, left her. She got swept up with five of her peers who fight so hard to live when all she wants to do is just die. The zombies are right there, just outside of her reach. Death is so close to her but she still can't get there. Sloane was an amazing character. She was just so broken and hopeless, but her misery was so real and justified that as a reader, I couldn't mock her for being melodramatic. I loved her so much and throughout the entire book I kept cheering for her to find a reason to live. 


Every single one of the teenagers in the school is a well-developed individual. No two people are alike and Courtney Summers created such multidimensional, different people that the conflicts that arose from their differences in thoughts and the stress of living in a constant life or death situation were so realistic and horrible. It's heartbreaking because they have to cooperate with each other to survive but their personalities constantly clash with each other. While the other characters thought they'd make it, the constant sense of doom from the zombies and from Sloane's own mind gave the entire book a note of hopelessness. 


As I've said, the there aren't a lot of actual zombies present in this book. This doesn't make this book any less terrifying. We don't read about the characters taking down horde after horde of zombies with matches and kitchen knives. While we didn't actually see the zombies, their prescience was undeniable. The zombies were just looming over the characters throughout the entire book. Every single scene was filled with so much fear and tension because a breech could happen any second. 


I love Courtney Summers' writing. She has this prose that somehow manages to be beautiful but natural at the same time. So while I'm admiring her pretty paragraphs, I'm not scoffing at the fluffiness of it all. The setting is very contained. After all, they are confined in a school. But even in the school, the characters tend to stick together and stay in a few select rooms rather than wander around.


The ending seemed to sneak up on me. I wasn't sure what happened at first and had to reread it a second time to confirm that it was in fact the end of the book. Even now, I'm not sure if I want to cry or smile or just drop it. This is Not a Test is still fresh in my mind and I've read two other books since then. (And not just in the form of nightmares)


Overall, I thought that this was a fantastic read. It's different from your average zombie book, but it's so so so good that even die hard zombie slayer fans should read this. Courtney Summers really seems to be able to understand how people think and how to tackle depression realistically in a non-realistic environment.


Rating: 4/5 stars

Stacking the Shelves (3)

A weekly meme hosted by Tyna's Reviews showcasing the books we received this week and what happened on the blog.

From the library:
Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross
The Rivals by Daisy Whitney

Won from Goodreads:
Drain You by M. Beth Bloom

Bought:
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake (kindle book)

Review: Gilt

When Kitty Tylney’s best friend, Catherine Howard, worms her way into King Henry VIII’s heart and brings Kitty to court, she’s thrust into a world filled with fabulous gowns, sparkling jewels, and elegant parties. No longer stuck in Cat’s shadow, Kitty’s now caught between two men—the object of her affection and the object of her desire. But court is also full of secrets, lies, and sordid affairs, and as Kitty witnesses Cat’s meteoric rise and fall as queen, she must figure out how to keep being a good friend when the price of telling the truth could literally be her head.


Review: I was lucky enough to live near a bookstore where the Gilt launch party was held. Katherine Longshore was a charming author and she had the cutest gold nail polish ever. I wasn't able to snap any pictures because I forgot my camera, but she told us about her book, did a reading for us, and then answered questions. Katherine Longshore told us that she lived in the UK for a few years, and during her reading she had a slight British accent. Afterward, while answering questions, she had this cute little accent that was a mix between American and British. 


She admitted that she wrote in a more contemporary voice in Gilt than other historical and that people have called her out on it. Later, while reading, I found this to be true, but it didn't take away from the story. If you're new to historical fiction, Gilt might be a good transition book for you. 


Cat and Kitty's friendship sort of sickened me and fascinated me at the same time. Throughout this entire book, I really couldn't figure out why Kitty stayed with Cat and was so loyal. From the first time we meet Cat, we find out she's essentially the "queen bee" of the girls, even when she was as unwanted and poor as everyone else. Cat is spelled out to be so shallow and manipulative, using Kitty to help her practice different emotions to draw out responses from other people. Kitty followed Cat's every whim, and even when she was angry with Cat in her head, it didn't take Kitty very long to get over it and forgive Cat. Kitty was a meek main character, which was a little bit annoying because I didn't like seeing Cat toss her around. Later in the story, and by later I mean near the end, Kitty's character development is really something to watch. It's wonderfully written and a very realistic change. 


Cat on the other was a horrible person, but she was so much fun to read about. Her risky behavior sometimes made me wonder if she had a death wish or if she really was that stupid. Cat didn't have many redeeming qualities, to be perfectly honest, but her manipulations and temper tantrums kept me entertained while she was there. The inevitable end is common knowledge, but it was a very emotionally charged scene.


Which will lead me onto my next point, Katherine Longshore is a brilliant writer. While the plot in the book is slow, it isn't so boring that you'll be tempted to put the book down. There are so many other interesting events occurring that you don't really miss the lack of action. Life at court is like tightrope walking. There are so many foreboding things just off the page. Threats to Cat, threats to Kitty. Kitty's life is interesting to read about because she lurks so close to Catherine Howard and is so close to her. Katherine Longshore really knows how to draw emotion out of readers with her words as well as keep them hooked in her world.


I really applaud the author's extensive research because Katherine Tylney was a real courtier at Henry VIII's court who did grow up in the same place as Catherine Howard. She obviously knows her information well and it shows with the ease in her books. She doesn't just toss everything onto us in a huge info dump. I just sort of settled into her story, like wrapping a blanket around my head.


Overall, while Kitty wasn't my favorite main character, Gilt was an great read that kept me entertained from cover to cover.


Rating: 4/5 stars

Stacking the Shelves (2)

A weekly recap on the blog that features books you've gotten this week hosted by Tynga's Reviews.


Did I mention how much I love my local library? Well, if not, I do. I love my library very much. We have a wonderful YA section with new releases coming in every month. Ever since Borders closed, I haven't really been buying many books. We have a great indie bookstore, but their YA section is small enough to fit on one bookshelf. Oh, the horror!


From the Library:

From left to right, top to bottom:
Bunheads by Sophie Flack
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Dark Eyes by William Richter
The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
If I Die by Rachel Vincent
The Shamer's Daughter by Lene Kaaberbol
The Nine Lives of Chloe King by Celia Thomson


On the blog
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Review: Timepiece

Review: Timepiece

A threat from the past could destroy the future. And the clock is ticking...

Kaleb Ballard's relentless flirting is interrupted when Jack Landers, the man who tried to murder his father, timeslips in and attacks before disappearing just as quickly. But Kaleb has never before been able to see time travelers, unlike many of his friends associated with the mysterious Hourglass organization. Are Kaleb's powers expanding, or is something very wrong?

Then the Hourglass is issued an ultimatum. Either they find Jack and the research he's stolen on the time gene, or time will be altered with devastating results. 

Now Kaleb, Emerson, Michael, and the other Hourglass recruits have no choice but to use their unusual powers to find Jack. But where do they even start? And when? And even if they succeed, it may not be enough...

The follow-up to Hourglass, Timepiece blends the paranormal, science fiction, mystery, and suspense genres into a nonstop thrill ride where every second counts.


Summary from (Goodreads)


Review: Timepiece picks up a little after Hourglass stops. But wait! There's more. Instead of having the lovely sarcastic Emerson Cole narrating this book, you've got Kaleb instead. One of the main things I really loved about Hourglass, other than the time-traveling, was Emerson herself. She was a fabulous narrator, with so much voice and personality that she became a real person in my head. She wasn't there just to tell a story. Emerson made the story. Without her voice...things were weird at first. Before this turns into a gushing review about Hourglass, I'll bring Kaleb back into the picture.


I love Kaleb. I really do. It's harder to be inside of his mind because it was so much fun to observe him from afar in Hourglass. Kaleb is seriously the king of banter. The dialogue in this book is so hilarious. The first line of this book had me in a fit of giggles and it took me forever to just calm down and keep reading. Inside Kaleb's head, you don't have to guess what other people are feeling. He just tells you. With the way it's written, it's very direct and natural, which is good, because Kaleb's used to being an empath. Myra McEntire is a fabulous author. She really understands people and in Kaleb's point of view, while I could tell it was a guy main character, she remembered to make him a person instead of a cardboard cutout of GUY. Oh, what else do I have to say? While I missed Emerson a lot, Kaleb's point of view was fantastic. He was a very interesting (wink wink) character in Hourglass, but with Timepiece he really came to life. Suddenly, you understand him. And it really is sad. Kaleb carries an unimaginable amount of guilt and hurt. He's so real in Timepiece.


Oh, and his love interest. What do I have to say about her? Oh yes, I so called it as soon as I heard Timepiece was from Kaleb's point of view. I. called. it. Honestly, it took me a while to accept Kaleb's blossoming romance with his love interest. It was downright hilarious and fun to watch unravel, but a small part of me had been hoping that Emerson would ditch Michael and marry date Kaleb. What's that I hear? Am I crushing hopes? Sorry, but the sooner you accept this, the more you'll enjoy reading this book. I still ship Kemerson, though. (Sorry, I thought up the couple name in less than a second. I'm not good at these things) Sexy Pirate, meet Tiny Ninja. Y'all should get married. (Not happening.) I really was heartbroken when they didn't get together.


The cast of characters introduced in Hourglass carry on into Timepiece with a flawless transition. Some minor characters became more important and some of the main characters stepped down to let others shine. Myra McEntire has a knack for creating people.


The plot is as confusing as the plot in the first book, maybe even more. Part of the reason it seemed so confusing may be because I skim a little when reading on a ebook reader. The time rips get  more frequent and now everyone with a time related ability gets sucked in. The stakes are upped, which is insane because throughout the entire first book, there's this intense feeling that something is going to happen. That's the same feeling you'll get from Timepiece except for the fact that it's much more foreboding because you have no idea what'll happen next. The characters were running around in a panic and it's so painful to watch because I also had no clue what was going on. The pacing was amazing. The intensity of the story kept me addicted, but at the same time she gave her characters enough rest time for them to be human and grow. The characters weren't there for the sole sake of filling out a role--they made the story.


You get a little more insight on the evil Jack  but even then, you're not sure if it's the truth or if he's lying. He's a fabulously constructed antagonist because while you know his plans, you don't quite understand his motives. The edge of mystery that surrounds him made me wish to see him more often and wish he'd never show up at all at the same time.


If you haven't read the first book yet, then I don't suggest you pick this one up until you've read Hourglass. Some second books in series can be read without the first, but Timepiece is not that kind of book. Most of the quirks and science to time travel, as well as some important character-building events from the first book are needed to fully understand the story Myra's constructed for us.


Overall, I think this was a great sequel to a gripping series. I just can't wait for what happens next in Infinityglass. 


Rating: 4/5 stars

Like a Caveman

Pardon the dust and cobwebs settling on my blog. Life's been a bit hectic for me lately and some personal real life things have gotten in the way of my internet life. Tomorrow's my last day of school before summer break, so expect to see me more often. ;D I'll have a lot of free time to read and write reviews.


I don't really have that much time right now, but I thought I'd like to share with you a few of the books I've read recently. Because I'm lazy and in a writerly burnout, I'll only use three words to describe each book. The words may be emotions the book made me feel, (non-spoiler) events in the book, or some kind of summary or theme I felt was there. The words probably won't have anything to do with each other so don't try to piece together anything from putting them all together. I'm not clever enough to do something like that. Basically, I'll revert into Caveman Julie. Three words. Three books. This'll be fun! You can quit out of this window now, because I'm sure it'll make no sense to anyone but me. But hey, it's okay to have inside jokes with yourself, right?


Keep in mind that I may or may not write actual reviews about these books in the future.

Timepiece by Myra McEntire









Kaleb. Birds. WHY!?












Gilt by Katherine Longshore











Bitch, please. Tears.












The Story of Us by Deb Caletti

Lola. Latin Roots.

So after reading over this post, I've decided to explain my caveman musings. Mostly because I make a way too ADD a caveman.

TIMEPIECE: This isn't a spoiler because it's already been leaked a long time ago. Kaleb's the narrator in this book. Birds...well...technically this is spoiler information, even if it's unimportant. So I'll put it in white and just highlight it if you really want to see it. It doesn't really matter either way but I don't want to ruin your day. The town they're is obsessed with birds. Yeah, I went there. The last one is spoiler info, so I can't tell you about it until you've read the book. If you've read the book, email me. We need to talk.

GILT: Cat is so mean to the main character. I never really understood why they were friends. This is about King Henry VIII's 5th wife, Catherine Howard. We all know how the story ends, right? That's what the tears are for.

THE STORY OF US: This is where the ADD comes in. The main character's name is Cricket (she's a girl), which reminds me of another Cricket from another story. The sweet, shy guy Cricket from Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins. That Cricket's my future husband. This one character in this book smokes a lot of weed, which reminded me of the Latin Roots we learned earlier in the spring. Pot = Power. 

Finals have messed with my mind, thank you very much. I'll spend the summer recharging. Love me? Please don't judge me.