Book Review: Everbound (Everneath #2) by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everbound (Everneath #2)
Author: Brodi Ashton
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Publishing Date: January 22nd 2013
Length: 358 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, romance, underworld, labyrint, elemental
Source: Bought

Nikki Beckett could only watch as her boyfriend, Jack, sacrificed himself to save her, taking her place in the Tunnels of the Everneath for eternity — a debt that should’ve been hers. She’s living a borrowed life, and she doesn’t know what to do with the guilt. And every night Jack appears in her dreams, lost and confused and wasting away.

Desperate for answers, Nikki turns to Cole, the immortal bad boy who wants to make her his queen — and the one person least likely to help. But his heart has been touched by everything about Nikki, and he agrees to assist her in the only way he can: by taking her to the Everneath himself.

Nikki and Cole descend into the Everneath, only to discover that their journey will be more difficult than they’d anticipated — and more deadly. But Nikki vows to stop at nothing to save Jack — even if it means making an incredible sacrifice of her own.

Summary by Goodreads

Reading EVERBOUND over one year after I read EVERNEATH made me realize how much I missed Nikki and Jack and all the other characters. It was even good to see Cole again (only on a level where I appreciated his puns and comebacks, not in the romance category).

EVERNEATH ended with a major cliffhanger and I remember being so upset about Nikki and Jack being separated in the end. They are one of my YA dream couples, best friends who discovered their romantic feelings for each other and a couple with a meaningful and eventful past. It was an unavoidable urge to see Nikki and Jack be reunited again in EVERBOUND.

In order to save Jack we are going back to the Everneath, which was a very well thought-out place, holding many secrets and obstacles to make Nikki's quest so much harder and a treat for fans of puzzles and solving riddles like me. I adore marathon-like quests with many episodes and different levels to test our hero's strength and his willingness to reach his goal. These kind of quests provide YA stories with an action-feel that can't compete with any big blockbusters seen on the big screen.

Nikki, Cole and his friend Max have to pass through different rings of the Everneath, a maze-like structure with elemental obstacles. Nikki has to fight the powers water, wind and fire to reach her Jack. Brodi Ashton thought of so many thrilling twists and turns to the story that I couldn't put the book down for too long. She knows how to lure her readers in, make them trust her and then make the ending another cliffhanger. Well played!

Alternating with chapters set during the Everneath quest, Brodi Ashton gifted us with flashbacks to moments from Nikki and Jack's shared past. How they weren't sure if loving the other would be the best option for their friendship or how to test if the other felt the same. And we read about their first kiss, too. Reading about all those details and extra scenes that didn't make it into the first book was like an early Christmas present. So damn well-written and addictive.

Again Brodi Ashton included a few myths in the story. Nikki is obsessed with them and mainly concentrates on the famous Minotaur myth. EVERBOUND has less on the Daughters of Persephone than the first book and the myth retelling/story balance actually improved from the first book to this sequel.

5/5 ***** EVERBOUND - A hellishly exciting quest about saving your one true love, with exhilarating elemental goodness and the right balance between action, romance and humor.

Myths, old love stories and new romances, a quest, an elemental maze and an evil underworld queen to fight.  What else would an ambitious YA reader need for a perfectly alluring sequel. One of the best sequels that I've read!

"I see Jack every night. In my dreams. 

He's lying next to me. Parallel worlds ― the Surface for me, the tunnels of the Everneath for him ― that overlap at this one spot, and only for a moment. In my bedroom, while I dream." ― p.3 

EVERBOUND you might also enjoy THE ALCHEMY OF FOREVER by Avery Williams, DIE FOR ME by Amy Plum and SWEET EVIL by Wendy Higgins. They are all equally seductive and appealing and the first two are playing with different concepts of immortality and afterlife. 

* Can't get enough of the Everneath? Then you should read the NEVERFALL novella.

* Read an excerpt of EVERBOUND here.

* Click here for the EVERBOUND book trailer.

* For more information about Brodi and her books visit www.brodiashton.blogspot.com

Book Review: Teardrop (Teardrop #1) by Lauren Kate

Title: Teardrop (Teardrop #1)
Author: Lauren Kate
Publisher: Random House UK
Publishing Date: October 24th 2013
Length: 441 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, romance, legend, Atlantis, water
Source: Publisher

Never, ever cry...

Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.

And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense.

Can everything you love be washed away?

Summary by Goodreads

 
 

Never, ever cry...that's been Eureka's mantra since she's been a little kid. She's a descendant of a long line of women who may be powerful enough to drown the whole world with their tears. What an unique approach at an immense and very powerful character conflict! In addition the story Lauren Kate spins around the old Atlantis legend is imaginative, her writing is as diverse and her plot as gripping as I've known it from her FALLEN series.

Lauren Kate deliberately chose to set the focus on Eureka's complicated emotional world, how she's dealing with her mother's death and where she finds comfort now. Her best friend Brooks was one of my favourite characters... until their relationship morphed into some kind of an unhealthy and very strained romantic thing. There's not enough time for Eureka and Ander as it is and it took some time for me to see them working as a couple, so why introduce a possible second love interest? Eureka and Brooks' relationship isn't at all as it seems and a good portion of attentiveness will help the reader figure out what's behind it all. Nevertheless, I'm sure there will be just as many Team Brooks fans as Team Ander girls.

One of the things Eureka's mother left for her is a book. The book of love. And of course Eureka tries to translate it. The sequences of Eureka reading about this ancient tale were slowing the story down too much and I caught myself desperately waiting for the next encounter with Ander. He's perceptive and persistent. Also he is one of the few guys who knows his feelings are true and always follows his instinct to put Eureka's life before his own. YA readers will fall in love with him even before Eureka does! Eureka and Ander were just meant to be, their chemistry is great and the build-up of very strong emotions between them is one of the reasons why I'm so looking forward to see where their story is headed in the second TEARDROP book.

Eureka's enemies are numerous, people who don't want to see her gain power. TEARDROP has two strong fronts, one group is convinced that the world's end will mean a better future for everyone. The others are determined to prevent Eureka from crying, even if it has to happen by taking her life. The confrontations between these two formations could have been more offensive and dangerous for my like (because there is so much at stake). Still it was plausible that Lauren took her time to set the story and give us the chance to get to know Eureka very well, instead of giving us an action overdose.

Eureka's relationship to her mother, father, her step-mother and their twins is of high importance, too. Many childhood memories mixed with her current situation make the reader care about every character so much more. So I would characterise TEARDROP as a more character-focused first book in a series rather than one that would put the plot and its fast pace first.

 

4/5 **** TEARDROP – A mesmerizing new interpretation of the Atlantis myth, with a smooth and fluent writing and a spellbinding attraction between two lovers who are destined to be enemies.

From the picturesque and maritime setting, days spent at the beach or on the ocean sailing, to Eureka's restraint to shed any tears, this book is water-themed through and through. Lauren Kate's dreamy interpretation of the Atlantis myth leaves room for so many more ways for the story to go. I'm really curious to see what Lauren Kate's Atlantis looks like and how Eureka and Ander are going to survive the looming end of the world. So ready to dive into book two! 

"The question and her gaze paralyzed Ander. In that bewildered moment, the wave curled around them, and a crucial chance was lost: he would have time to save only one of them. He knew how cruel it was. But, selfishly, he could not let her go.
Just before the wave exploded over them, Ander grabbed her hand.
Eureka." ― p.10

TEARDROP by Lauren Kate you probably won't be finding another YA book with an Atlantis-inspired story background, at least I haven't heard of it. Please let me know if you do know one. I picked three mermaid or siren and water-themed books you could enjoy if you liked TEARDROP. They are OF POSEIDON by Anna Banks, SIREN by Tricia Rayburn and RIPPLE by Mandy Hubbard.

 

* Want to read more by Lauren Kate? How about starting her FALLEN series?

* Click here to read an excerpt of TEARDROP.

* You can watch the TEARDROP book trailer here.

*  For more information about Lauren Kate and her books visit www.laurenkatebooks.net.

* Many thanks to Rose and Random House UK for sending me a copy of TEARDROP for review!

Mini Reviews #18

I believe the 18th Mini Reviews edition should have something for every YA reader. Angels, demons and sinners, a cyborg mechanic from a futuristic China and mermaids. Today I'm reviewing SWEET PERIL by Wendy Higgins, CINDER by Marissa Meyer and OF TRITON by Anna Banks.

Sweet Peril (Sweet Evil #2) by Wendy Higgins

Anna is still the good girl at heart, no matter how many innocent humans the Dukes make her turn into sinners. Together with Kopano, the Son of Wrath she's travelling the world to find new allies in fellow Nephilim and ultimately fight for their freedom. Her feelings for Kaidan are true, they can help her win this war...or put her in great danger.

We meet new Nephilim, Zania and Flynn. Kopano, Blake and the twins are in for a fight against the Dukes as well.

With our jet set queen Anna travelling to meet the other Nephs we are seeing different cultures and exotic places. The change in scenery is well-done, taking us to places all over the world. It's a lovely collection of new impressions and the travelling makes SWEET PERIL so much more exciting. Whenever we were granted a scene with Kaidan all my senses were set on high alert, forbidding myself to miss even the tiniest details. This boy sure is the right to be the Son of Pharzup, the Duke of Lust. SWEET PERIL allows us to see many new facets of him, e.g. his emphatic and selfless character. Anna and Kaidan are exploring their domestic and cuddly side as a couple a bit. As much as they can be smoking hot, they can be cute as hell, too. 

5/5 ***** SWEET PERIL - The seven sins have never been sweeter and more tempting! 

After an amazing first book in the SWEET EVIL trilogy, I read SWEET PERIL in only one day. Engagingly written as it is, it was just as addicting as Wendy Higgins debut novel. Don't underestimate Kaidan Rowe's lust or better love spell!

Publisher: Harper Teen

Publishing Date: April 30^th 2013
Length: 371 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, romance, lust, sins, travelling

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary 

Sweet Peril Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles #1) by Marissa Meyer

Cinder is just a simple mechanic with a step-mother and two step-sisters. That's until she meets Prince Kai and gets on the bad side of Lunar Queen Levana by awakening Kai's interest. See the fairy-tale parallels? Of course, it's Cinderella!

CINDER is set in New Beijing, so there are apparent Chinese and Asian influences on characters and story. New Beijing has an original history which is currently determined by a plague that's spreading through the nation.

There are a bunch of fairy-tale retellings, but this one has an impressive magic of its own. Marissa Meyer took just one idea of an old story and made her very own story out of it. A very basic Cinderella retelling is pimped with a futuristic sci-fi interface. Who would think to make cinderella a cyborg? Sadly, I didn't click with the cyborg elements, even though they were inventive and a highlight for other readers. 

Kai and Cinder's dialogues are too funny, sometimes even sneaky and allusive, hinting at a more romantic interest on both sides. Their love story did help make CINDER a more interesting read, but wasn't a highlight either.

3,5/5 ***/* CINDER - A futuristic and cyborg-tastic fairy-tale world created by Marissa Meyer with much care and love for detail.

CINDER is not as explosive as I thought it could be, but unlike any other YA novel I've read. Marissa Meyer wrote a fairy-tale retelling of a whole new quality. She invented her own world, with the potential to not only be home to one fairy-tale character but a few more, like Rapunzel or Little Red Riding Hood. A versatile world I'm definitely coming back to!

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publishing Date: January 20^rd 2012
Length: 387 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, futuristic, cyborg, fairy-tale retelling, romance

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary 

Cinder Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Of Triton (Of Poseidon #2) by Anna Banks

Being the reason for starting a war between the two kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton isn't the worst there can be about your life, right? Finding out that your mother is the long-lost Princess of an underwater kingdom is worse. You are forbidden to be with your love, a true Prince. And what about learning that as a Half-Breed both kingdoms want to see you dead? 

OF TRITON might fill the spot next to OF POSEIDON on your book shelf, but barely adds progress to the actual story. What happened to Anna Banks' brilliant plot of the first book? Couldn't see it continuing in this sequel.

As Emma's mother's past is very important for the story in this second book, parts of her history are recapitulated and reconstructed and with that the story took a direction I couldn't enjoy that much anymore. Her mother's infuriating temper doesn't allow any discussions at all. And so she couldn't very well count on me to feel any kind of sympathy towards her. Then Emma and Galen's relationship isn't as fresh and as adventurous as in OF POSEIDON (which I loved). Can we please just abandon the adults in this story and let the teens have their sexy times?

3,5/5 ***/* OF TRITON - Not as much splashy underwater fun as the first book offered.

This is probably the shortest sequel ever. OF TRITON is weaker in story-building and romace-wise than the first book in the series.  Nevertheless it felt great to be back with our awesome sea crew, because Emma, Galen and their friends sure provide entertainment. I'm setting all my hopes on OF NEPTUNE to be the worthy and epic conclusion to OF POSEIDON.

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Publishing Date: May 28^th 2013
Length: 246 pages
Keywords: YA, fiction, underwater kingdom, mermaid, romance

Source: Bought

Goodreads Summary 

Of Triton Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Mini Reviews #17

Historical and fantastical kingdoms are inviting to be enjoyed in today's Mini Reviews post. TOUCH OF POWER by Maria V. Snyder pictures a world where healers are hunted and killed for their talents and a very strong heroine has to be willing to fight to win the war against evil. LEGACY and ALLEGIANCE are book one and two in Cayla Kluver's LEGACY series and should definitely be in the race if you are looking for your next historical fiction read.

Touch of Power (Healer #1) by Maria V. Snyder

Avry of Kazan is a healer, she's done only good with her gift, but if people find out what she's capable of, she will be hunted. In the fifteen realms healers are accused of spreading and originally causing the plague that's been bringing misery and death. Avry has been in hiding for quite some time now and her life changes radically when she's kidnapped by a band of men. That's when she starts questioning her sentiments and her loyalties. Can she become friends with strangers who are keeping her hostage, or heal her enemy?
We get to learn much about Avry's healing talent and she learns a different way of living. She falls in love with a man she never thought she could appreciate.

Maria V. Snyder sent Avry on a journey through many hardships. With a group of rogues who will soon feel like friends and one man among them who will mean everything to her. The camaraderie that binds them and their past, their fascinating stories and backgrounds, plus the dynamics of their group are a guarantee for liking them all and wanting to immediately return to the magical world Maria V. Snyder created with TOUCH OF POWER every time you had to leave it.
It was a long read and I enjoyed it so much, it was something entirely different from what I'd read so far. Really familiar characters, that fast became my friends, too.
All in all TOUCH OF POWER is a very satisfiable read with a great historical touch, a romance for Avry that you will come to enjoy naturally and an overall encompassing quest.

5/5 ***** A TOUCH OF POWER  - A fine fantasy read with an excellent historical touch and a fierce heroine.

A read right up my alley when I at least expected it. It's been over a year since I read TOUCH OF POWER, so it's definitely time to pick up the sequel soon. Equipped with a map of the fifteen realms, navigating this new fantasy world full of possibilities is even more fun.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: December 20^th 2011
Length: 390 pages
Keywords: YA, historical, fiction, romance, healer, quest

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Touch of Power Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Legacy (Legacy #1) by Cayla Kluver

Seventeen-year-old Alera will soon be queen of Hytanica. The kingdom is in desperate need of a strong souvereign and so the young princess has to face her fate of marrying the suitor whom her father feels most capable of inheriting his legacy. And while her father is still trying to decide who to name new king of Hytanica, Alera clandestinely falls in love with another man, a Corkyrian, a traitor.

LEGACY is a debut novel with a slow start, overflowing with many redundant and way too many decorative phrases and scenes, and could have well been cut by some pages. Instead of all the irrelevant extra info I could've used more details about Hytanica's history and Alera and Narian's romance, more scenes concentrating on their emotional development and the very fatal war their relationship might be causing.

What always filled me with excitement and girly anticipation, left me cold in LEGACY. The search for an heir to the throne, a husband for Alera, daughter of the actual king. I know that it's a different time and that the story is set in a country with its very own complicated history, but no actual right to a say and ignorance of Alera's feelings made me so angry. The development of her character didn't live up to my expectations either, but other characters like palace guard London fast found a place in my heart.

3,5/5 ***/* LEGACY -  A potent YA debut, improvable in writing pace and editing that convinces with its strong world-building and Hytanica's history.

To be honest, it took me quite some time to finish LEGACY. With nearly five hundred pages it's not on the short side of YA books. It was the pacing, the excessive mass of details and additions here and there that hindered me to read LEGACY as fast as I would've liked. Now I'm hoping for a more consistent sequel to the first book.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: June 28^th 2011
Length: 496 pages
Keywords: YA, historical, fiction, war, romance, marriage, kingdom

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Legacy Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Allegiance (Legacy #2) by Cayla Kluver

"An eighteen-year-old queen in love with the enemy as their countries pass the point of no return...", that's how ALLEGIANT continues the story of Alera and her Hytanican kingdom. The beginning was kind of sluggish and slow, comparable to the first half of LEGACY. Even though I couldn't get a head-start into ALLEGIANCE the world grew on me a lot in this sequel to LEGACY and I felt more at home than in the first instalment.

Her friendship with London was of such a strong presence, I couldn't help to be drawn into their story, his fate and his unbelievable will to survive. London is probably my favourite character in this series including Alera and Narian.

Alera's marriage to Steldor was a bummer. So much bickering (with negative energy), quarrels and coups wouldn't have been necessary to see that these two are not destined to be husband and wife. So Alera's heart is very much torn between her duty and her required respect for her husband and her passionate and undeniable feelings for Narian. You won't get to see too much of him, since this novel seemed to be intended to focus on Alera's relationship with Steldor and the changing bonds and loyalties between her and her family.

The war against Corkyri that has been dormant until now is raging again, turning the second half of ALLEGIANCE into a fast-paced and easily entertaining read. There are many twists and turns to the story, intrigues,  much is at stake and our Hytanicans have to think up a good plan to beat the evil Overlord.

4/5 **** ALLEGIANCE -  A historical YA read with a slow start, but a very strong outcome. Now give me the next book!

If the first book in this series wasn't your favourite, don't give up on the LEGACY series yet. Alera's story promises to become better with each new book in the trilogy.  I'm planning on reading the third book in the series soon, because I want to read it while the events of ALLEGIANCE are still fresh and present in my mind. The three books in the LEGACY series would make good material for a book binge.

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publishing Date: February 28^th 2012
Length: 494 pages
Keywords: YA, historical, fiction, war, romance, marriage, kingdom

Source: Netgalley

Goodreads Summary 

Allegiance Excerpt 

Author's Homepage

Book Review: Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

Title: Racing Savannah
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Publishing Date: December 3rd 2013
Length: 304 pages
Keywords: YA, contemporary, romance, horse racing, family
Source: Publisher

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

Summary by Goodreads

 

Do you sometimes feel like you are attending Hundred Oaks High, too? I wouldn't blame you. That's because Miranda Kenneally's books always feel like home, and her characters like your best friends. When I read a RACING SAVANNAH excerpt months ago I was so desperate to get my hands on a copy as soon as possible (Miranda had me with the promise of spending some quality time with a bunch of puppies) and was lucky enough to snatch an ARC at Frankfurt Book Fair.

Miranda's fourth book in the HUNDRED OAKS series has everything for animal lovers. I'm just like Savannah, whenever I see a cute animal I can't resist to cuddle it and immediately want us to be friends. The horse racing was a different kind of sport than the other HUNDRED OAKS books featured. It was interesting in the aspect of exploring the bond between animal and human. You need to be professional and disciplined, but you have to be friends, too to win the race. Some parts of the story solely concentrate on Savannah's training with Star and her friendship with the horses. I'm not the biggest fan of horses and was surprised that Miranda picked this sport for her fourth book (glad she did). I learned a lot about horse racing, what it takes to be a respected jockey and had so much fun following Savannah's training. I would love to go see a real horse race some time.

RACING SAVANNAH is as much about the big race with Star as it is about family and romance. Savannah and Jack are just like Miranda's other couples. You have to love and root for them from the very beginning to the ending and beyond. 

From the first scene they had together, I knew they would make for an adorable couple. Savannah and Jack's romance is influenced by their difference in money and class and the worries about their parents not approving of their feelings for each other. The romantic scenes are as hot as usual, steamy and equally gentle and swoon-worthy. They both have strong tempers and some of their quarrels and misunderstandings didn't feel like they were leading anywhere. I wished they would have found to each other much sooner, but I'm sure Miranda will consider the needs of her readers for more of them in her future stories.

Savannah and Jack are a good team and I definitely want to see them again, in bed, on the racetrack and mucking out the the boxes, doesn't matter. 

The stories of Miranda's other characters from her three previous books are continued in RACING SAVANNAH as well. This is always my favourite part about Miranda's books. We don't have to part with our beloved book friends. Rory, Will's brother from STEALING PARKER makes occasional appearances, too. So Will and Parker fans are definitely in for a great treat here. 

I'm always anticipating Miranda's next book while reading her current release. Her HUNDRED OAKS companions are absolute feel-good novels!

 


 

4/5 **** RACING SAVANNAH – A naturally funny and sportive read lightening this cold December with country flair, the smell of fresh hay and sunny days spent on the racetrack.

RACING SAVANNAH is your lucky horse shoe in YA, meaning it won't disappoint and will get you out of every reading slump. It's every YA readers' sugar. This book will make you whinny. Ok, enough with the horse references. Seriously, this book is my December highlight! Who could say no to an entire farm of horses, puppies and a cute boy?

 

"No, no," I say, starting to explain, but then he unleashes his megawatt smile. It makes my throat close up and my heart pounds even harder. This guy is hot, but I don’t like boys who get whatever they want without trying. I worked damned hard to get my part-time exercise rider job back in Charles Town. Just like I’ll work damned hard to get a position here.

"Soo…" Jack says, stroking the bay stallion’s mane. "Do you want a private tour? You know, to say thanks for catching my horse?" ― p.5

RACING SAVANNAH you might also enjoy THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Kasie West and SUCH A RUSH by Jennifer Echols. They are about two couples who struggle with their differences in status and income. WILD CARDS by Simone Elkeles is a sporty read as well, we are playing football. 

* If you haven't read Miranda's previous books here's exactly what you need, the MIRANANDA KENNEALLY BUNDLE for your Kindle with Catching Jordan, Stealing Parker and Things I Can't Forget.

* Read an excerpt of RACING SAVANNAH by Miranda Kenneally here.

* For more information about Miranda and her books visit www.mirandakenneally.com.

* Thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for providing me with an ARC of RACING SAVANNAH at Frankfurt Book Fair!