An emotional rollercoaster that felt like home | Lady Midnight

Lady Midnight (The Dark Artifices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Published: March 8th 2016 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Genre: young adult, urban fantasy

Goodreads: The Shadowhunters of Los Angeles star in the first novel in Cassandra Clare’s newest series, The Dark Artifices, a sequel to the internationally bestselling Mortal Instruments series. Lady Midnight is a Shadowhunters novel.

It’s been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire that brought the Shadowhunters to the brink of oblivion. Emma Carstairs is no longer a child in mourning, but a young woman bent on discovering what killed her parents and avenging her losses.

Together with her parabatai Julian Blackthorn, Emma must learn to trust her head and her heart as she investigates a demonic plot that stretches across Los Angeles, from the Sunset Strip to the enchanted sea that pounds the beaches of Santa Monica. If only her heart didn’t lead her in treacherous directions…

Making things even more complicated, Julian’s brother Mark—who was captured by the faeries five years ago—has been returned as a bargaining chip. The faeries are desperate to find out who is murdering their kind—and they need the Shadowhunters’ help to do it. But time works differently in faerie, so Mark has barely aged and doesn’t recognize his family. Can he ever truly return to them? Will the faeries really allow it?

Glitz, glamours, and Shadowhunters abound in this heartrending opening to Cassandra Clare’s Dark Artifices series.

REVIEW

I'm feeling very emotional about this book, and I'm typing this three days later. I wasn't completely sure I would love it as much as I did, because it's been three years since we got a Shadowhunter novel. I was thinking that maybe I had grew out of it, but fortunately, I didn't, which made me so happy, since it's because of those books I started reading in English.

First off, Cassandra Clare grew so much as a writer since City of Bones. I'm planning on re-reading it this year, but from what I remember, I don't think I'll enjoy it as much as I did this one. I remember that it took me a whole month to get through City of Lost Souls, because it was painfully slow... I was so done with that series because it was really long, but City of Heavenly Fire was truly amazing, so it made up for it! Anyways, I've been excited for this book for years and I just checked... I added it to my 'tbr' on Goodreads the day I joined the website. So yeah, I was dying for it and it was really worth it. It made me laugh, it made me cry and more importantly, it felt like home. 

Because I already read nine books in this world, it was really easy to get into it. Nevertheless, Cassandra Clare still managed to add new elements into her world, like the Scholomance or the Shadow Market. I also really enjoyed that there was this "kind of a secret society", it was really mysterious and made me eager. I also really enjoyed that we saw a little more faeries than in the other books, but I still crave more of them.

The strongest part of this novel were its characters. I remember that in The Mortal Instruments, the characters were annoying and made to be perfect... But here, it wasn't the case at all! If Clary and Jace were made to be amazing Shadowhunters in TMI, Emma and Julian worked so hard to be great Shadowhunters... Emma was actually so careless... It's a good thing she had Julian to watch her back! Emma was sassy and tough, I really enjoyed reading about her and she's blonde, it's the plus size for me, lmao. I thought that Julian changed a lot from usual male leads Clare wrote, he was so much more gentle and had a strong sense of family... But at the same time he could be ruthless. And he paints so yay! I had totally figured it out about his studio though, but it was still really cute.

I really enjoyed reading about the Blackthorn's siblings, because since I got all excited three years ago, I knew their main characteristics and they felt so realistic. Especially Ty. I'm really emotional about him because... My little brother is a lot like him, so I could relate so much and I just wanted to cry. It was so funny that they all loved crime mystery and just wanted to solve it. And their dynamics were great! Cristina was a mystery I was trying to solve and I really liked her, she was another character to balance Emma's fire. I feel like Clare took a lot of time to craft realistic and important secondary characters, which I really appreciated.

Moreover, we got some cameos into this book, which made my little fangirl heart happy (because Jem <3). At the beginning, someone mentioned Simon's ex-band, TMI which of course stood for the Mortal Instruments and oh the feels. We didn't see every main character of the previous series, but we still learnt what was going on in their lives, that's all I wanted, I don't really want them to take too much screen time.

I found the plot to be very strong, I was hooked from cover to cover (even if technically I read it as an e-book... I'm waiting for my copy to arrive) and I didn't find that it dragged a lot, which had scared me because of the length of this novel. This plot was about solving murders and I liked that the Shadowhunters actually used mundane technology, it felt so much more realistic! I also really appreciated all the subplots, because I was interested in all of them. It was full of twists and turns and some of them left me gasping, because I wasn't expecting it. At all.

The romance was amazingly written, like usual and I was rooting for the characters so much. Of course, we're only in the first book so it can't actually last right now but it was painful, because Clare makes us hope. *sobs* These characters are so made for each other and I'm not buying this b******t. Nope. But I'm excited to understand more about it. Nevertheless: why Emma? why??

It also contained a LGBT romance and I wasn't expecting it for this character because I thought it would be between Helen and Aline, but obviously they're not here. Please I need Helen and a happy Blackthorn reunion *cries*

Basically, the ending was really painful to read about and now I just want the second book. I found the epilogue a little predictable, but that's just my opinion. It was just enough to make me eager for the rest of the story, even though I totally wanted to read the next book just because of the romance, because I need these characters together. At least there won't be a love triangle, right?

Overall, I think Cassandra Clare grew a lot as a writer and if you weren't a big fan of the Mortal Instruments, you could actually really enjoy this one. Did I love it as much as the Infernal Devices? I cannot say until I've read the whole trilogy sadly. Still, it balanced suspense, romance and action perfectly and it was so gripping! I just need the next book NOW.

Have you read my whole review (if you did, you deserve a cookie!)? Have you read this book yet? Your thoughts? Do you love the Shadow world? Do you want to read this series?

Strange and Ever After | Book review

Title: Strange and Ever After (Something Strange and Deadly #3)

Author: Susan Dennard

Published: July 22nd 2014 by HarperTeen

Goodreads summary: In the conclusion to the trilogy that Publishers Weekly called “a roaring—and addictive—gothic world,” Eleanor Fitt must control her growing power, face her feelings for Daniel, and confront the evil necromancer Marcus...all before it’s too late.

He took her brother, he took her mother, and now, Marcus has taken her good friend Jie. With more determination than ever to bring this sinister man to justice, Eleanor heads to the hot desert streets of nineteenth-century Egypt in hopes of ending this nightmare. But in addition to her increasingly tense relationships with Daniel, Joseph, and her demon, Oliver, Eleanor must also deal with her former friend, Allison, who has curiously entangled herself in Eleanor’s mission.

With the rising dead chomping at her every move and Jie’s life hanging in the balance, Eleanor is convinced that her black magic will see her through to the bitter end. But there will be a price. Though she and the Spirit Hunters have weathered every battle thus far, there will be consequences to suffer this time—the effects of which will be irreversible. And when it’s over, only some will be able to live a strange and ever after.

Susan Dennard will leave readers breathless and forever changed in the concluding pages of this riveting ride.

REVIEW

One of my favourite aspects of these books was the traveling parts. With Something Strange and Deadly, we started the story in Philadelphia, then went to Le Havre and Paris in A Darkness Strange and Lovely, finally went to Marseille and Egypt in this book. There was no way I could have been bored because there was this perpetual change of scenery, we went to so many places.

I felt like we didn’t see the Dead that much because this book focused more on necromancy and Eleanor trying to control it. We also got a really interesting take on Egyptian mythology, which was linked to necromancy, a change from the demi-gods trope. The artefacts were a little creepy tbh. Moreover, choosing to kink everything with Egypt was a great idea because at that time, people were so fascinated with Egypt, which you can see with the party in Cairo.

I really enjoyed the characters; they grew a lot since the first book, especially El, of course. Her relationship with Oliver improved a lot in this book; he became a lot more like a brother to her than just a tool. The romance we all waited since the first book finally happened and the characters looked so right together!

This book was action-packed; the situation started at the end of Something Strange and Deadly was resolved, with some betrayals. The ending made me feel so emotional, I was like: WHY SUSAN WHY? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT TO US THE CHARACTERS? Sadly, I expected it; I hoped I was wrong but nooooo. It still hurts so much…

The last chapter was full of hope for the characters so I’m making my peace with event. The characters will be able to complete part of their dream, hopefully.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

A Darkness Strange and Lovely | Book review

Title: A Darkness Strange and Lovely (Something Strange and Deadly #2)

Author: Susan Dennard

Published: July 23rd 2013 by HarperTeen

Goodreads summary: With her brother dead and her mother on the verge of insanity, Eleanor Fitt is utterly alone. Even the Spirit-Hunters - Joseph, Jie and the handsome, enigmatic Daniel - have fled to Paris. So when Eleanor begins to hear the vicious barking of hounds and see images of haunting yellow eyes, she fears the worst - that the Dead, and the necromancer Marcus, are coming for her.

To escape and search out the Spirit-Hunters, Eleanor boards a steamer bound for France. There she meets Oliver, a young man who claims to have known her brother. Though friendly, Oliver entices Eleanor with necromancy and black magic, yet as long as she can resist his powerful temptation, she'll be fine. But when she arrives in Paris, she finds that the Dead have taken over the city...and there's a whole new evil lurking. With the body count rising, Eleanor is forced to make a deadly decision that will go against everything the Spirit-Hunters stand for.

In Paris, there's a price for this darkness strange and lovely...and it may have Eleanor paying with her life.

REVIEW

This book had the same tropes that usual second books in trilogy, but it was done beautifully. I wasn’t bored a single moment, because the author took us to other parts of the world, we didn’t stay in Philadelphia. At the beginning of the book, Eleanor is truly a misfit (lol), she’s all alone because her mother is an asylum, her friends turned on her, the Spirit-Hunters have left and of course, there is the matter of her hand.

Eleanor is forced to leave town when Marcus comes after her and sail on a boat to France, because the Spirit Hunters are now in Paris. There, she meets new friends like Laure and form new alliances with the mysterious Oliver, who knows a lot more about her brother than he let on. Moreover, Eleanor is hunted down by creatures of the underworld, the Hell Hounds. I loved that Eleanor was on the ship, because it’s one of my favourite tropes in books. There was a scene of dream on the boat that was such like in Anastasia.

France was an amazing setting, because for once, I actually felt that the author did her research right. I live in Paris, so I get mad easily about French settings, haha. There was only one grammatical error in Susan Dennard’s French: it’s not “Le Cupidon Belle” but “Le Beau Cupidon”. Anyways, the French was correct for the rest of the book, and there was a lot of research about Paris, because the author mentioned Haussmann. Moreover, other cities were mentioned, like Le Havre where Americans sailed, or Marseille, from where Laure came from.

This book was a moment of deceptions for Eleanor, because a lot of people she considered friends turned their back to her. The author explained a lot more of the necromancy, because of the plot. Demons were also introduced, I really enjoyed that aspect. However, I had figured out who the bad guy was really early in the book. I noticed that the author doesn’t flinch when she has to wound a beloved character.

I enjoyed this book slightly less than the first one, but it was already SO GOOD. The next one seems full of promises; I’m really looking forward to it.

Have you read this book? What did you think of it?

Creatures of the Night | Book Tag

This tag was created last year by the Booktuber Katytastic, I thought it would be a great time to do it, because you know, Halloween is coming and everything. I must resist the urge to post Nightmare before Christmas' gifs but it's HAAAAARD. This tag is really easy to do, because you just have to pick a book for a paranormal creature. 

VAMPIRES

When I think about it, that's all I was reading back in the day, but now, vampire books aren't working for me anymore (like The Coldest Girl in Coldtown). But, two years ago, I read Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead and this is the best vampire series I've ever read! Even if it took a lot of dedication (it is six books long and Bloodlines also has six books), it was totally worth it! I love the turn took on the vampire, it's inspired by folklore and it was SO GOOD. The main character is totally kick-ass, you will swoon over her love interest, aaaaand... There is Adrian Ivashkov so you should be sold!

WEREWOLVES

IDK why but I don't really remember werewolves books I read (yes one but it's spoilery^^) except for Twilight obviously. I'm gonna cheat a little and choose the Need series by Carrie Jones because there are shapeshifters and a werewolf among them! There are a were-tiger, a were-bear, so that's pretty cool! In fact, there are all sorts of paranormal creatures because there are pixies and even Norse mythology! I never read the last book because I spoiled myself BUT this book was cool because it had a list of phobias.

ZOMBIES

I've read one zombie book in my life and I finished it about... Yesterday (I'm not kidding guys). Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard is set in 19th century Philadelphia and it was amazing!!! I still haven't gathered my thoughts about it so I can't tell you more except that I was soooo stupid for not reading this sooner! Also, I tweeted to Susan Dennard after I finished the book and she thanked me for reading it, she's so adorable! I'm becoming a Hungry and will eat this series 'til the end of times. Also, the next book is set in Paris, so there's that! :D

GHOSTS

I read Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake two years ago and it's a must-read for Halloween! The atmosphere is totally creepy, I looooooved the way it was an urban fantasy and the main character was a ghost hunter! The cover is stunning, I have the UK edition so it's part of the Books with Bite collection, which makes me laugh so much.

WITCH/WARLOCK/SPELLCASTER

HARRY POTTER! MAGNUS BANE!

It's so obvious I had to mention it, of course... More seriously, the magic system of Cinda Williams Chima's Seven Realms is on point, they have a magic academy near the military academy, there are amulets and everything... And of course there's Han who is a great main character who also happens to be... A thief. So yes, the spellcasters in these books are GREAT.

FAIRY/FAE

I was brainstorming when I remembered... *suspens* A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (how did I forget?). This book had such a great world-building with the Courts (Winter, Fall, Summer, Spring, Day and Night), I loved it. It was a really good book anyway, the last part of it took me by surprise because it was less "Beauty and the Beast" than the beginning, but it was as amazing. I can't wait to see the characters when A Court of Mist and Fury is released.

DEMONS

The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent is a dystopia with demons. Oh God, this book was so great and took me by surprise. People that are believed to be demons are burnt in front of the all town so that's quite gruesome and scary and awful. 

ANGELS

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand has a special place in my heart because it was such a cute series. I was such a Clara/Tucker shipper (because Carrots ♥), I cried sooooo much (I cry for every single book she wrote anyways). No but honestly it was such a beautiful book with hope within it... *sighs dreamily*

ALIENS

I haven't read a lot of books with aliens in it, like there is The 5th Wave (mixed feelings for the second book), Alienated (ugh) and the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. I adored the Lux, I know it was cheesy and everything but I loved it about these books! Compared to JLA's other paranormal books I didn't like (White Hot Kiss), the plot was important and so was the world-building. Of course, it was also a lot about Daemon and Kathy's relationship but I was rooting for them! And she was a book blogger so it excuses everything! 

SUPERPOWERED HUMANS

I thought about The Flash and then X-Men and then Heroes, but that's not books! Anyways The Darkest Minds features kids that have superpowers. The adults are actually scared of them and send them to camps, apparently to cure them, but in reality they never come back because no one knows what's happening. The part about the camps was absolutely dreadful, but in the second book, an organization works with the characters as a team and it was soooo X-Men I loved it!

Tell me your list for this tag, I'm always looking for more recommendations :)

Queen of Shadows | Book Review

Title: Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4)

Author: Sarah J. Maas

Published: September 1st 2015 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Goodreads summary: Everyone Celaena Sardothien loves has been taken from her. But she's at last returned to the empire—for vengeance, to rescue her once-glorious kingdom, and to confront the shadows of her past . . .

She will fight for her cousin, a warrior prepared to die just to see her again. She will fight for her friend, a young man trapped in an unspeakable prison. And she will fight for her people, enslaved to a brutal king and awaiting their lost queen's triumphant return.

Celaena’s epic journey has captured the hearts and imaginations of millions across the globe. This fourth volume will hold readers rapt as Celaena’s story builds to a passionate, agonizing crescendo that might just shatter her world.

REVIEW

I won't tell you that this book was perfect, to be honest, because it wasn't. However, it was fantastic, just like the other instalments in this series, and the plot took a big turn with the end of Queen of Shadows. At the end, a lot of things were resolved, it almost felt like a end... Even if it wasn't. I feel like Sarah J. Maas wanted to give a little rest to her characters, before things get bigger.

Dorian said, "So here we are."

"The end of the road," Aelin said with a half smile.

"No," Chaol said, his own smile faint, tentative. "The beginning of the next."

The plot was fantastic, I don't have anything to say about it, I was just hooked from cover to cover. The characters irritated me at some point in the first chapters (Aelin was acting a little out of character because she was missing someone, like whaaaat?) and I had a feeling Chaol was a little underdeveloped, because there was so many other characters to talk about, but it got better throughout the book. 

There was so much character development in this one, with a lot of secondary characters, I loved them all! I'm so happy how strong and kick-ass the female characters are in these books: Aelin, Manon, Lysandra, Nesryn, Asterin, Elide, you all won me over. I like how everyone has his part to play in this story, even characters that were new in this book but will have a bigger role in the fifth book. 

At first, I wasn't too happy about the romance, that's true. I don't like who Aelin is with right now, I'm totally against it. However, it is just my feelings, it will be up to you to judge. Still, I understand why the author made this choice and I respect it, because it is clever, just not what I wanted. 

"You make me want to live, too, Aelin Galathynius," he said. "Not exist-but live."

The ending was everything a reader could have wanted. So many things are resolved, it just seems like new beginnings. I can't wait to see how the characters will deal with all of that, but it will be really interesting. I won't tell you more, because I don't want to spoil you accidentally. Still, I'm a little disappointed because I expected too much.

What did you think about this book? Are you excited for the next one?

Tell me in the comments, I want to talk about this book so much!

Review : White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements #1)

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release date: February 25th 2014

Summary: One kiss could be the last. Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses. 

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever. 

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. 

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

REVIEW

This book is a quick and light read, but I didn't like it very much. I loved the Lux series very much, mostly because contrary to a lot of YA urban fantasy, there wasn't any love triangle, because the books had other things to focus on. Here, I don't know where the plot was going, because there wasn't much that happened. I was curious to read the second book, Stone Cold Touch, but it was even worst (Layla was just wondering Roth or Zayne? All the time) and I ended up not finishing  it because of this.

I couldn't connect with Layla, the main character. She was supposed to be the perfect girl and everything, but guess what, perfection doesn't exist. If you try to do perfection, it's boring. The two love interest were total clichés: the bad boy new in town and the perfect I've-always-been-there-for-you guy. Roth was alright and I think Armentrout did a great job at writing it, but I couldn't stand him for the part of Stone Cold Touch I read. I hated literally EVERYTHING about this love triangle. It seemed like this one was Roth's book, the next one will be Zayne's and in the last she will FINALLY choose.

It was original to choose gargoyles as the paranormal creatures, it really intrigued me from the beginning. But in the end… They are just other nephilims. Nevertheless, it was really unrealistic that the Wardens went public and no one seems to care. Really? Apart for the Children of God church, everyone is okay with it. Moreover, if the Wardens came out of the closet (haha), the demons could to, humans wouldn't be that shocked.

The end was quite unexpected (oh, look, something good), but not enough that I want to finish this trilogy...

For me, this book was mostly a compilation of clichés in YA. I'm starting to see a pattern in Armentrout's books (like these guys who are ALL so hot because… reasons) and I have a love/hate relationship with them. I loved the Lux series but Half-Blood was a retelling of Vampire Academy. I also really liked Don't Look Back. I'm really sad about this because I want so much to love her books. 

Rating: 2.5/5

What do you think of JLA's books? Did you like this one?

Review : Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Cruel Beauty

Author: Rosamund Hodge

Publisher: Balzer + Bray

Release Date: January 28th 2014

Goodreads Summary: Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle—a shifting maze of magical rooms—enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

REVIEW

"If you start wondering how this house works, you'll likely go mad. That could be amusing, I suppose. Especially if it's the kind of madness that causes you to run naked through the hallways. Do feel free to indulge in that anytime."

This book was quite entertaining, and I look forward to read another book by this author. But, this didn't blow me away or anything, and I have quite a few issues with this book.

At first, I found the world to be really interesting, and I was eager to learn more about it. But as it turns out, it was really complicated and sometimes, it didn't make much sense, mostly for the magic system. Anyway, it was hard to wrap my mind around it, and I know some people had similar issues. I loved the castle though, it was a good setting.

For the retelling part of the book  I think it was well done, how Ignifex was more a beast because of his actions. He was really flirty and made me laugh quite a few times.   Moreover, this book was like Beauty and the Beast meets Hades and Persephone meets Bluebeard. Yes, yes, yes. It's not a secret, I loooove retellings.

Nyx's character was really interesting, how she wasn't powerless and everything. She has darkness in her heart, because she resents her father for her fate, and she's right to. Still, I didn't like that she was the One just like that. I won't start on the ending because it was too easy: she just remembers and finds him again, when it has never happened and everything, but well, I think it's the saying "Love is the most powerful thing of them all" or something.

The romance was enjoyable, yes. Still, it was a little insta-love and the love triangle was unnecessary because come on, it's already a Beauty and the Beast retelling. We already knew who she would end up with, so I didn't really  like it. However, I liked how no matter how much Nyx loved Ignifex, she chose to save her world, even if she regrets it after because the lords of bargain (I don't remember how they're called) tricked her, like everyone.

The atmosphere of this book was deliciously creepy and I really liked that aspect, just like my experience of this book, because I enjoyed it for most parts. I knew there were mix reviews about this one, I didn't know if I wanted to pick it up, but even if I had issues with it, it is worth the read, and I want to remind everyone that it was a debut novel, so of course it wasn't perfect. I'll read Crimson Bound soon to see how Rosamund Hodge evolves as an author.

Rating: 3/5 

Review : Dream a little dream by Kerstin Gier

Title: Dream a Little Dream

Author: Kerstin Gier

Translator (from German): Anthea Bell

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Release Date: April 14th 2015 (originally published March 8th 2013)

Goodreads Summary: Mysterious doors with lizard-head knobs. Talking stone statues. A crazy girl with a hatchet. Yes, Liv's dreams have been pretty weird lately. Especially the one where she's in a graveyard at night, watching four boys conduct dark magic rituals.

The strangest part is that Liv recognizes the boys in her dream. They're classmates from her new school in London, the school where she's starting over because her mom has moved them to a new country (again). But what's really scaring Liv is that the dream boys seem to know things about her in real life, things they couldn't possibly know--unless they actually are in her dreams? Luckily, Liv never could resist a good mystery, and all four of those boys are pretty cute...

REVIEW

I'm not surprised by how much I've loved this book, considered how the Ruby Red trilogy was amazing. Gier's writing is fantastic (I've read her books both in French and English, so I don't know if I can really say that). The plot was unique, if I could compare it to another book it would be The Raven Boys, because there are four guys and dreams are involved, but let's stop here for that. 

I can't say much about the plot, because spoiler. It's kind of slow-paced, because Liv has a new life, so the world-building is necessary, and she couldn't be thrown away with the boys like that. The paranormal stuffs were unique, but I wish to know more about it, but I'm not worried about that.

He smiled sympathetically. "It's over, Anabel." Anabel's lips twitched, and for a moment it looked as if she would burst into tears. But then she threw back her head and laughed. "Oh, you're so wrong, Henry," she said. "In fact, it's only just begun." 

I hadn't seen the plot twist coming at first, but it makes a lot of sense. I like how Kerstin Gier always takes her readers to unexpected adventures, she's one of my favourite authors I think. 

The main character was amazing. Liv Silver has travelled all around the world, takes kung fu lessons, loves puzzles and mystery and doesn't want boy trouble.

"Liv, stop it!" hissed Mia. "You look like a lovelorn sheep!" I gave a start. "As bad as that? Oh, that's terrible." I added-and was to regret it in the course of the day-"If you see me looking like that again, give me a nudge or throw something at me. Promise?"

I loved her, because of course she doesn't want to be like anyone else, and she's thrown into the problems of the four popular guys in her new school. I liked that she was thrown into it because Grayson, on of them, was supposed to be her new "brother". Her little sister, Mia, was one of my favourite too, like the scene with the "I'm seventy percent sure the bus is heading in the right direction", but obviously noooot. Both of them are so into Sherlock Holmes, it's so cool. And now they're in London so that's amazing. I hope they will do a Sherlock Holmes tour or something!

I really liked the romance, Henry is so cute, but I'm scared because in the acknowledgments, Gier wondered if he would stay with Liv or they would split up because of secrets. Sadly, it happened in Sapphire Blue because Gideon didn't trust Gwen anymore, so I'm scared for book 2. 

"Do you know why I began believing in that demon?" he asked quietly. I shook my head. "Because my wish came true the moment I met you." "You'd wished to meet someone with a stinking cheese in her bag?" 

He didn't laugh at my joke, which admittedly wasn't very funny, but ran his forefinger around my lips. "You're like me," he said seriously. "You love puzzles. You like to play. You're happy to take risks. It's when things look like they're getting dangerous that you feel really excited." He leaned a little closer to me, and I could feel the warmth of his breath. "That's what I wished for. To meet someone I could fall in love with. You're my heart's desire, Liv Silver."

Anyway, I can't say much besides I loved it and it's definitely one of my favourite books of the year so far and I'm looking forward to the next one! 

Rating: 5/5

Review : The Stars Never Rise by Rachel Vincent

Title: The Stars Never Rise

Author: Rachel Vincent

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Release Date: June 9th, 2015

Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Nina Kane should be worrying about her immortal soul, but she's too busy trying to actually survive. Her town's population has been decimated by soul-consuming demons, and souls are in short supply. Watching over her younger sister, Mellie, and scraping together food and money are all that matters. The two of them are a family. They gave up on their deadbeat mom a long time ago.

When Nina discovers that Mellie is keeping a secret that threatens their very existence, she'll do anything to protect her. Because in New Temperance, sins are prosecuted as crimes by the brutal Church and its army of black-robed exorcists. And Mellie's sin has put her in serious trouble.

To keep them both alive, Nina will need to trust Finn, a fugitive with deep green eyes who has already saved her life once and who might just be an exorcist. But what kind of exorcist wears a hoodie?

Wanted by the Church and hunted by dark forces, Nina knows she can't survive on her own. She needs Finn and his group of rogue friends just as much as they need her.

REVIEW

Really, I didn't see this book coming at all. I've been sick of dystopia for a while, but my interest sparked again with this book. The human world discovers that there are souls and demons along the way. There is a war between humans and demons, which permits the Church to rise : a government that controls everyone's life through religion. For example, big sinners are burnt. In public. And it's broadcasted in the whole country. Our main character, Nina, is almost seventeen years old, she has to take care of her sister, because her mother is a drug addict, and she can't let the Church discovers it. Nina plans to become a teacher and so dedicate her life to the Church, until her sister, Melanie, reveals something that changes their whole lives. Then, Nina kills a demon, discovers she has powers on her own and is hunted by the Church, demons - well, everyone. On top of that, she has to trust rogue exorcists, because whether she wants it or not, she's part of them.

This book was really fast-paced and addictive, I read it in one setting or so. I saw some plot twists coming, but not all of them, and I was so happy about it. To sum up, nothing is as it seems, in this book. I liked some of the author's ideas, like introducing the world through classes : first when Nina interrogates Mellie for her history test, then when she is helping with the five years old class. The world is a dystopian one, but humanity regressed, because the Church is the establishment that controls everything, like in the Middle Ages. The whole book is set in New Temperance, Nina's hometown, which isn't a bad thing, because a lot happened in a few days. I can't wait to see more of this world though.

The main character is a strong one, who does what she has to in order to have something to eat, she even sells herself. She protects her sister and is very mature, I really liked her. My favourite character in this book was Grayson, she's discreet, sweet, and helpless for now, but I'm sure she'll do great things in the next books. The romance caught me off guard, it was really interesting, to see how finally, Nina overcomes the difficulties she had. Still, the romance wasn't overwhelming if you compare to other YA books. 

Rating : 4.5/5