The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

The Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Release Date: February 10, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages:

Summary:Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

My Thoughts:  Wow, what a book! I loved The Red Queen!!! What an interesting amazing novel!

We are introduced to Mare who comes from a semi big family. She has a mother, father, a few brothers, and a younger sister. They are classified as poor. She helps them get by by stealing. She also has a boy best friend! Awesome!

Mare lives in a world where you can have two different lifestyles. Those with red blood (Mare) live in terrible conditions, while silver bloods have special powers and live wealthy.

Well, one day Mare ends up in the wrong place at the wrong time, or shall I say the right place? I guess it depends on how you look at it.

Mare ends up working in the palace and she ends up getting betrothed to one of the brothers.

I want to go on and on about this one but I feel like even if I tell you a little bit I tell you spoilers and ruin it. I thought about not even reviewing this one because I want to give you none of the amazing parts.

I loved the characters. All of them. Even the ones I hated. I loved the romance. I loved the setting. I loved her brothers. I loved her best friend. I loved Cal. I just loved them all.

I’m not going to say much about this one, just that it is AMAZING!!!! I can’t wait to read more by this author. I can’t wait to read the next in the series.  I just loved the world building, and the character building. Oh my!

Overall:  A must read!! If you don’t read many debuts in 2015, you must read this one!!! PLEASE DO!!! Please let Mare and all the other characters come into your heart!  I highly recommend you get your hands on this as soon as you can!!!

Cover: Like it! It’s kind of plain but I’d still read it! How can I resist?

What I’d Give It:

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand

Release Date: February 10, 2015

Publisher: HarperTeen

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 400

Summary:There's death all around us.

We just don't pay attention.

Until we do.

The last time Lex was happy, it was before. When she had a family that was whole. A boyfriend she loved. Friends who didn't look at her like she might break down at any moment.

Now she's just the girl whose brother killed himself. And it feels like that's all she'll ever be.

As Lex starts to put her life back together, she tries to block out what happened the night Tyler died. But there's a secret she hasn't told anyone-a text Tyler sent, that could have changed everything.

Lex's brother is gone. But Lex is about to discover that a ghost doesn't have to be real to keep you from moving on.

From New York Times bestselling author Cynthia Hand, The Last Time We Say Goodbye is a gorgeous and heart-wrenching story of love, loss, and letting go.

My Thoughts:  Another great novel by Cynthia Hand! I loved her Unearthly series so I was very excited to read this one! This one is contemporary though unlike her other series; paranormal.

We are introduced to Lex. Lex’s brother is gone. He committed suicide. I knew going into this one, it would be heartbreaking and sad and make me have feels. And, I was right.

Lex is just trying to get by. Her days all blend into another. And she doesn’t understand how her brother could just want to die. Sometimes she thinks she saw the signs but she never thought he’d do what he did.

Things are just so hard for Lex. She pretty much dropped all of her friends and her boyfriend. She’s just the girl whose brother died now.  

I liked the little bit of romance sprinkled into this one. It wasn't such a huge topic but it was there. Just waiting to be called upon. Waiting for it to happen and reconnect. I liked how it wasn’t the main focus of the story.

I wanted to cry so many times during this one. I wanted things to be ok for Lex. I wanted to tell her it would be ok even if things were tough.

I loved Lex’s personality even when she was sad. I could tell she was a good person who would do the right thing even if it was difficult. I also liked the few side characters. They made things more interesting.

Overall: I really enjoyed this one even though it was such a hard heartbreaking topic. I’m glad I read it. It was a fast read for me but so damn emotional.

Cover: Love it! It totally fits! Cute!

What I’d Give It:

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I’ll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Publisher: Henry Holt And Co

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 400

Summary:If seventeen-year-old Skylar Evans were a typical Creek View girl, her future would involve a double-wide trailer, a baby on her hip, and the graveyard shift at Taco Bell. But after graduation, the only thing standing between straightedge Skylar and art school are three minimum-wage months of summer. Skylar can taste the freedom—that is, until her mother loses her job and everything starts coming apart. Torn between her dreams and the people she loves, Skylar realizes everything she’s ever worked for is on the line.

Nineteen-year-old Josh Mitchell had a different ticket out of Creek View: the Marines. But after his leg is blown off in Afghanistan, he returns home, a shell of the cocksure boy he used to be. What brings Skylar and Josh together is working at the Paradise—a quirky motel off California’s dusty Highway 99. Despite their differences, their shared isolation turns into an unexpected friendship and soon, something deeper.

My Thoughts:  I really was anxiously awaiting I’ll Meet You There. It sounded so good! And interesting, and it was! I really loved it a lot!

We are introduced to Skylar who lives  with her mother. She dreams of getting out of their small little town. She wants to go off to college and really start her life.  She’s motivated, she works to save up money, she’s got her head on pretty straight for a teenager.

We are also introduced to Josh. Skylar and Josh have known each other a long time but Josh just came home from the Marines. He’s changed quite a bit. His personality has matured and he also lost a leg. He’s learning to cope with his injury and what happened in battle. He lost one of his friends (well quite a few of them) but one in particular was like a best friend to him.

Josh and Skylar work at a little motel together. They spend a lot of nights just talking in passing and really getting to know one another again.  Josh and Skylar are so different, yet so much alike. I loved all their moments together from going to Subway to sitting by the pool.

I just loved the dynamic of this one. I loved getting to know Josh’s family and Skylars best friends. I loved their workplace environment. It was so laid back, I wish I could work there.

Things were so rough for both of them though. Skylar had to worry about feeding herself even. There were nights where she ate a bag of crackers for dinner. Things were so tough on her. And, then Josh’s problems. He had so many battle wounds and he sometimes took them out on the wrong people.

I just loved this one. I loved the plot, the setting, and the characters. I highly recommend it!

Overall:So much happens, I don’t want to give it all away but I really loved this! It just had this energy that made me want to keep reading into the night. It was a peaceful novel yet so powerful. Oh Josh, Swoon!

Cover: Love Love Love! I knew as soon as I saw this cover, I had to read the summary! This definitely catches the eyes!

What I’d Give It:

Soulprint by Megan Miranda

Soulprint by Megan Miranda

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 368

Summary:A new literary, sci-fi thriller from acclaimed author Megan Miranda.

With the science of soul-fingerprinting a reality, Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned for the crimes her past-self committed. In an attempt to clear her name, Alina unintentionally trades one prison for another when she escapes, aided by a group of teens whose intentions and motivations are a mystery to her. As she gets to know one of the boys, sparks fly, and Alina believes she may finally be able to trust someone. But when she uncovers clues left behind from her past life that only she can decipher, secrets begin to unravel. Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat the past.

This compelling story will leave readers wondering if this fictional world could become a reality.

My Thoughts:  Soulprint was an interesting read for me! It was different than I thought it would be!

We are introduced to Alina who has spent her life raised by a group of people who kept her pretty safe. Safe for whom exactly? Everyone thinks she is destined to have the same thoughts and feelings and actions as another who was reincarnated in her. Basically. Souls go from one person to another when they die. Weird, right?

Alina gets broken out of the place where’s she living and ends up meeting two boys and a girl. Each one has their own personality and their own backstories. Each one has their own reasons for helping Alina.  There are people after Alina, people who want to imprison her, and keep control of her life.

I really liked all the characters. I liked the way they helped her! There was one character I wasn't really fond of though.

This novel was fast paced and really quick. I read through it pretty fast because I was really interested in the plot!

Overall: I liked Alina! I thought the romance was a bit fast but I still liked it.

I think Soulprint had an interesting concept! I would love to see a sequel!

Cover:  Like it! I’d probably pick it up and see what is was about!

What I’d Give It:

Invaded (Alienated #2) by Melissa Landers

Invaded (Alienated #2) by Melissa Landers

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Publisher: Disney-Hyperion

Age Group: Young Adult

Pages: 368

Summary: The romantic sequel to Alienated takes long-distance relationships to a new level as Cara and Aelyx long for each other from opposite ends of the universe...until a threat to both their worlds reunites them.

Cara always knew life on planet L’eihr would be an adjustment. With Aelyx, her L’eihr boyfriend, back on Earth, working to mend the broken alliance between their two planets, Cara is left to fend for herself at a new school, surrounded by hostile alien clones. Even the weird dorm pet hates her.

Things look up when Cara is appointed as human representative to a panel preparing for a human colony on L’eihr. A society melding their two cultures is a place where Cara and Aelyx could one day make a life together. But with L’eihr leaders balking at granting even the most basic freedoms, Cara begins to wonder if she could ever be happy on this planet, even with Aelyx by her side.

Meanwhile, on Earth, Aelyx, finds himself thrown into a full-scale PR campaign to improve human-L’eihr relations. Humans don’t know that their very survival depends on this alliance: only Aelyx’s people have the technology to fix the deadly contamination in the global water supply that human governments are hiding. Yet despite their upper hand, the leaders of his world suddenly seem desperate to get humans on their side, and hardly bat an eye at extremists’ multiple attempts on Aelyx’s life.

The Way clearly needs humans’ help . . . but with what? And what will they ask for in return?

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed Alienated last year so I was pumped to read Invaded! And I’m glad I did!

We are back with Aelyx and Cara. This time, Aelyx is living on Earth and Cara is living on L’eihr. I also enjoyed all the side characters this time around! Aelyx is trying his best to stay sane but with people trying to kill him its hard! And Cara has a lot of troubles also. She’s trying to get more rights for the coming humans on L’eihr. She also has to deal with a few new people in her life who aren’t what they seem.

I really enjoyed the plot of this one, and the characters once again. I don’t want to say too much because I don’t want to give spoilers if you haven’t read Alienated yet. If I say too much, then I’ll tell you too much backstory! This is definitely a series you must read!!!

I also still like Cara’s family. And I liked the new guy whose protecting Aelyx! He was a sweetie! But I still like Aelyx more!

I think this series will continue and I’ll continue reading it!

Overall: I enjoyed it! I think I did like Alienated a bit more. Mostly because Cara and Aelyx were around each other more often. But I did enjoy the interactions in Invaded between them!

Cover: Love it! These covers are seriously so beautiful! And they are so bright and cheerful! Love it!

What I’d Give It: