Overall: 4/5 Stars Characters: 3.5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4/5 Review in a Nutshell: My Favorite Half-Night SOverall: 4/5 Stars Characters: 3.5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4/5 Review in a Nutshell: My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a quirky, fun contemporary that will distract you from the real world for a few hours.
“How many mistakes does it take before you’re bad? Does it start with a little white lie, and slowly progress to fraud . . . and worse? Does it matter if you do the wrong thing for the right reason?”
- Premise - Millie and her four guy friends make a pact to each try an online dating site in hopes of getting dates to a black tie event, but that night, she and her best friend, Ried, spent an amazing half-night together. They decide to just remain friends, but when Millie's fake persona on the dating site matches with Ried, she has to decide if she's willing to be vulnerable in real life.
- Setting - The setting of this book is basic yet fun. This book really revolves around modern online dating, so the setting takes a back seat to that aspect.
- Writing - Christina Lauren's writing style is always fun, light, and straightforward. There's plenty of humor and adorableness, plus actual heart and depth. It's the perfect balance that makes this book fly by while you read.
- Plot- So, this book involves catfishing and lying, and I'm not a huge fan of that. Usually, I don't mind that kind of stuff in romance novels, or I'm able to ignore it, but in this case, it was definitely less cutesy and funny, and more oh-god-someone-stop-her. However, the suspense over how it all will end does add to the fast pace of the novel. Also, getting slightly spoilery here (but it isn't something major, don't worry)(view spoiler)[it isn't brushed aside as just a quirk of the main character. This was a violation of trust and just an awful thing to do to someone you claim to care about, and the characters address that. (hide spoiler)]
- Characters - There are a lot of good things about these characters. They're realistic, they have compelling arcs (Millie especially), and I really enjoyed that reversing of the stereotypical main couple. Millie was the one who was closed off emotionally, and Ried was trying to get her to open up. I'm so used to seeing emotionally stunted male love interests that this took me by surprise. The downside of these characters was that their decisions occasionally frustrated me. Millie especially. I won't go into details about this, but she made some really stupid choices. The only reason I didn't hate her was because Christina Lauren developed her character so well that they made sense. They annoyed me, but they felt organic.
- Conclusion - Pros- Cute, funny, and quick to read Cons- Characters made some pretty annoying decisions Overall- 4/5 stars. My Favorite Half-Night Stand is a cute romance if you're looking for something fluffy and fun with a bit of heart, (but it doesn't stand up to Christina Lauren's earlier release this year)(please read Josh and Hazel's Guide to Not Dating)....more
Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Overall: 5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is an amazing novel with countless laugh out loud moments and a relationship that is the cutest thing in this world.
"I realize that finding the perfect person isn't going to be easy for me because I'm a lot to take," she says, "but I'm not going to change just so that I'm more datable. At the end of the day, being myself is enough. I'm enough."
- Premise - Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating follows two main characters, Josh & Hazel. Hazel is an eccentric third-grade teacher who is used to being thought of as weird or strange, and Josh is her idea of the perfect guy. He's put together, responsible, and she is totally not right for him. It doesn't help that when they first met in college, she threw up on his shoes. When they reconnect years later, they build an amazing friendship, spending all their time together and setting each other up on blind double dates. But when feelings grow, they have to choose whether or not to acknowledge them and potentially could ruin everything.
"I've never really had a love that could consume me. I want to know that kind of fire."
- Writing - Christina Lauren's books are always so fun. I fell in love with their witty and entertaining writing style when I read Autoboyography, and have read every other book of theirs since. They blend humor with depth so perfectly, making their books the perfect light-hearted reads to marathon through. I read this one in one sitting (from 10:30pm to 1:30am because I have no self-control).
- Plot- This book is such a fast read. Once you start, you won't want to put it down. From the banter, drama, and entertaining blind dates, this book will consume you. Every scene in this book is delightful and just so incredibly fun.
“The world seems full of men who are initially infatuated by our eccentricities, but who ultimately expect them to be temporary.”
- Characters - The characters in this book. I love them so much. Hazel is very much a manic pixie dream girl type, something I was a little apprehensive of going in (until I remembered that this was Christina Lauren and they haven't let me down so far), but her character is handled so well! She is completely aware of how weird she can be, but she is never apologetic for it. And she is very aware of how some people can't handle her personality and outgrow it, but she still loves herself. I absolutely adored her. Josh was another completely lovable protagonist. He was just so precious and I loved his and Hazel's relationship (both friendship and more). They were just too perfect to be true.
“I have chaos around me, but it’s like he doesn’t even care. He doesn’t need me to change or pretend to be someone else. He’s my person. He’s my best friend.”
- Conclusion - Pros- Really fast-paced, adorable, funny Cons- The ending wasn't as amazing as the rest (but even then, it was still pretty great) Overall- 5/5 stars. Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating is an adorable contemporary romance that will brighten your day.
----- Original Review ----- I started this book at 10:30pm and didn’t stop until I finished it at 1:30am. It was impossible to put down and perfect in every way! This is making on my list of all time favorite contemporary romances. Its about equal to The Hating Game for me (maybe I just love male protagonists named Josh?)
Full Review To Come (because I need an excuse to talk about this book more)...more
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars Characters: 4.5/5 Setting: 4.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4.5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Love Scene, TakeOverall: 4.5/5 Stars Characters: 4.5/5 Setting: 4.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 4.5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4.5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Love Scene, Take Two is an absolutely adorable, fluffy contemporary romance that you will fall head over heels for.
“There are few things in life of which Teddy Sharpe is absolutely certain, and he’s absolutely certain this audition is going to be a train wreck. ” Blog || Tumblr|| Bookstagram || Twitter
- Premise - Love Scene, Take Two is told from two different points of view, the first being that of actor Teddy Sharpe. Getting the lead in the movie adaptation of the bestselling Parachutes book series could be his Hunger Games and skyrocket his career, except he is convinced he blew his audition. Bennet Caldwell is the young author of the Parachutes series, and when Teddy is stranded at the airport due to weather, she invites him to stay at her family's house for the weekend. As the two start to fall for each other, Bennet has to figure out if she can handle the internet gossip and tabloids that a relationship with Teddy brings.
- Setting - The majority of this book takes place at Bennet's family's lakehouse and on the movie set, and while I liked the quaint lakehouse setting, it was the movie set that I found the most fascinating. This book gives a great glimpse into more than just the drama behind the scenes, but also the technology, the people needed, the stress, and the work that goes into creating a blockbuster. Every scene on the set was absolutely captivating. While the "Hollywood contemporary romance" concept isn't new, this is definitely one of my favorite depictions of life in the spotlight.
- Writing - The writing in this novel has a humorous feel, with plenty of sarcasm and quips, making this a light and fun read. The prose is straightforward and simple, while the dialogue is entertaining and fun.
- Plot- One important thing to expect in this book is some hard to believe scenarios. It's unavoidable. You definitely have to suspend your disbelief over certain characters and events that occur. That said- the plot is fast paced and super fun. I could barely put this book down while reading.
- Characters - The two main characters are one of my favorite things in this book. Bennet is a sarcastic but kind, and slightly nervous girl who definitely has some flaws she needs to work through in this book, but is far from unlikeable. Teddy is just fantastic. He is the Hufflepuff love interest we all need. Bennet's family also feature a large role in this book. I really loved all of their scenes together. Her cousin Will is amazing and I wouldn't mind a book all about him (also, he's gay! Yay LGBT rep!). The only character I didn't like was Liz, Will's sister and the cause for most of the drama in this book. I found her a little too unbelievable at certain points, and almost too cruel.
- Conclusion - Pros- Quick, funny, so freaking adorable, plus an interesting look into Hollywood and movies Cons- Can be a little hard to suspend you disbelief at certain moments Overall- 4.5/5 stars. Love Scene, Take Two is a must read if you're looking for a quick, cute contemporary that will leave you happy and hoping for more....more
Overall: 3.8/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Setting: 3/5 Writing: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4/5 Review in a Nutshell: The Impossibility of Us iOverall: 3.8/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Setting: 3/5 Writing: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4/5 Review in a Nutshell: The Impossibility of Us is a beautifully written novel with very important themes, yet suffers from a bad case of insta-love.
- Premise - The Impossibility of Us follows Elise and Mati, during the summer they fall in love. Elise has just moved to a small town to help out her sister-in-law and niece after her brother was killed in Afganistan. Mati has moved from Afganistan to America temporarily so that his father can get the best treatment for his cancer. When the two fall for each other, they are forced to face their differences and see how cruel society can be.
- Setting - The small coastal town this book takes place in is nice and quaint. It serves as the perfect setting to blend the beauty and softness of the main romance with the harsh realities of discrimination and Islamaphobia.
- Writing - This author's writing style is very unique. Elise's chapters are written in prose that is flowery and elegant, while Mati's chapters are written in verse. This was a surprise for me while reading, and not exactly a welcome one. I typically avoid verse, it's just not for me, but by the end of the book, I actually came to enjoy his chapters. This writing style definitely grows on you. At first, I was not a fan but eventually appreciated it. However, there were definitely a few times that the flowery prose came across a bit pompous to me, and some parts of the character dialogues felt like it came straight out of your typical Lifetime movie (Sorry Mom for insulting Lifetime movies. I enjoy them too but I also know they aren't always well-written).
- Plot- The majority of this plot is great. It hooks you in and never feels dull. Except there is one aspect that nearly ruined the book for me. The Insta-love. Mati and Elise have one of the worst cases of insta-love. Especially in Mati's case. Literally the first time he sees her he's in love with her. Elise has some prejudices that hold her back, but she gets over the SO QUICKLY. It was a little unbelievable. And by a little, I mean a lot.
- Characters - Speaking of the characters! I just didn't really like Elise. She felt very cliche and dramatic at the beginning of the book. She does develop and get better, but I still didn't like her that much by the end. Mati was definitely an interesting character. He was a lot different from your typical YA love interest. He is such a soft and caring guy! I really appreciated that. Also, there are two gay characters! I absolutely adored the both of them and their little subplots. I do wish we got to know them a little more. Elise's friendships with them didn't feel earned. It was similar to her insta-love with Mati. They met and suddenly they're ride or die best friends who will do anything for each other, while not knowing anything about the other.
- Themes - The themes in this novel are really what makes it worthwhile for me. As you can probably guess, this book touches on the topics of racism and Islamaphobia, and I feel it handles them really well. I am loving the rise in novels with Muslim protagonists, and it makes my day to see more diverse books on the shelves.
- Conclusion - Pros- Great themes, interesting writing style Cons- Insta-love, relationships lack depth Overall- 4/5 stars. The Impossibility of Us is a great read with an important message, that is worth the while if you can look past the dreaded insta-love....more
Overall: 2/5 Stars Characters: 2/5 Setting: 2/5 Writing: 2/5 Plot and Themes: 2.5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 2/5 Review in a Nutshell: The Supervillain and Me iOverall: 2/5 Stars Characters: 2/5 Setting: 2/5 Writing: 2/5 Plot and Themes: 2.5/5 Awesomeness Factor: 2/5 Review in a Nutshell: The Supervillain and Me is cute, but reads more as a younger-YA contemporary rather than a superhero novel.
"He saw me in a way I hadn’t realized I wanted to be seen until I met him. Not a hero, not someone with powers, but just a girl." Blog || Tumblr|| Bookstagram || Twitter
- Premise - The Supervillain and Me follows Abby Hamilton, who lives in a world where superheroes are common, and one of them just so happens to be her brother. When she is saved from an attempted mugging by the town's new supervillain, the Iron Phantom, he reveals that he isn't committing the crimes attributed to him. As the two grow closer, they must unravel a mystery that threatens their town.
- Setting - The worldbuilding was pretty... blah. There is very little explained about the superheroes and their origins, so if you are looking for a marvel-esque origin story you won't find one here. Also, this one town seems to have never heard of the concept of a supervillain? They were so surprised that a super could do bad things, and I just find that so hard to believe. How could a world where it seems that most major cities and towns have superheroes, but none of them have ever turned remotely evil?
- Plot - The Supervillain and Me is basically what would happen if you took a Disney Channel Original Movie and turned it into a book. Except there are quite a few Disney Channel Movies I would rather read... This book really does read like your average contemporary. While there are superheroes, there really isn't any action until the last fifty pages or so, so don't go into this book expecting a crazy wild adventure. The first part of the book really revolves around Abby and the Iron Phantom bonding, and her trying to guess who he is (which really just means a lot of scenes of her at school saying "hmmm this guy has the same eye color and vague shape, he must be him!"). If you are used to reading YA, or are paying any attention at all, then you probably know who the Iron Phantom is from the moment his Clark Kent side is introduced. There really are no surprises in this plot, at all. I found myself predicting all twists.
- Writing - There's not much to say about the writing style here. It's very basic and bland. The humor fell flat most of the time, most likely because it relied on the main character being clumsy or making a fool of herself. Some of the banter and character dialogue was enjoyable, but there was nothing really memorable.
- Characters - This book has a decent sized cast of characters. Abby is an okay protagonist, but very basic. She can be a bit cliche at times (clumsy, 1 dead parent, you know the type) but it is nice that she does have actual hobbies and skills outside of the what the plot requires. Her best friend is extremely forgettable (to be honest I read this book two days ago and I forgot her name). The Iron Phantom is an interesting character and makes a good love interest, but there honestly wasn't anything about him that made me care. I did love Abby's brother Connor. I know the author is writing a spin-off, and I really hope it's about him. His character and journey were probably some of the more interesting aspects of this book.
- Conclusion - Pros- Quick read, fun enough, cute romance Cons- The setting, characters, and writing were all lacking Overall- 2/5 stars. The Supervillain and Me disappointed in all the areas that would have made it memorable. However, it still is fun and would probably be more enjoyable for those looking for a lighter YA read....more
Overall: 3/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Setting: 3/5 Writing: 3/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 Awesomeness Factor: 3/5 Review in a Nutshell: Stay Sweet is a nice summer Overall: 3/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Setting: 3/5 Writing: 3/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 Awesomeness Factor: 3/5 Review in a Nutshell: Stay Sweet is a nice summer read, but nothing too mind blowing or memorable.
“How can any girl expect a high school boy to give her the moon and the stars when he’s basically an overgrown testosterone gland with legs?” Blog || Tumblr|| Bookstagram || Twitter
Stay Sweet follows Amelia as she gets ready for her last summer with her friend Cate working as Meade Creamery girls, where this year Amelia is in charge as Head Girl. Except Molly Meade has passed away and her grandnephew, Grant is now in charge. Now their decades-old traditions (including only female employees) are at risk and the Creamery itself may not even make it through the summer.
This book was solidly... okay. I loved the small town setting with the deep sense of traditions, something I've grown up with myself, and I loved seeing Molly's story unfold as Amelia learns more about her, but the rest of the book was just... meh. The plot is interesting enough, the writing is good enough, and the characters are relatable enough.
There's an interesting aspect of this book that deals with running a small business, that I found really interesting, and the emphasis on female friendships made me smile. But the writing didn't really have anything special to it to help suck me in. Because of that, I had trouble relating to the characters beyond surface level. I really hated Cate and was often frustrated with how forgiving Amelia was (and how quick she was to blame herself for Cate's issues). Also, the romance aspect of the book felt a little forced. It was hard to believe in their relationship when you couldn't connect to them as individuals.
Pros- Female friendships! Cute setting! Cons- The writing was plain, and the characters felt distant. Overall- 3/5 stars. Stay Sweet is a decent summer read, but it wouldn't be high on my list to recommend. ...more
* I received an ARC at BookExpo 2018, all quotes included here may not reflect the finished edition * Overall: 4.5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 4/5 Wr* I received an ARC at BookExpo 2018, all quotes included here may not reflect the finished edition * Overall: 4.5/5 Stars Characters: 5/5 Setting: 4/5 Writing: 5/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4.5/5 Review in a Nutshell: Seafire is a thrilling, epic adventure with badass female pirates set on revenge.
“Take your ship, take your crew, and prove to that man that he has not quelled all of us. Prove that there is a fire on these seas that he cannot contain.” Blog || Tumblr|| Bookstagram || Twitter
- Premise - Seafire follows Caledonia Styx, the captain of Mors Navis. After making a mistake that led to the deaths of her family at the hands of the ruthless warlord Aric Athair and his army of Bullets, she is set on getting her revenge. When a Bullet saves her best friends life and offers them information that can give Cala the edge she needs, she must decide if she can trust him.
“Never underestimate the girls of this world.”
- Setting - The setting of Seafire is really interesting, yet very vague. Set in a dystopian world where a warlord rules the seas and drugs children so they can serve his army, this book has a lot of compelling factors. While not entirely a fantasy setting, this book does have the fantasy/pirate feel despite the scifi-esque technology sometimes used. My only complaint is how little we're told about the world. There are plenty of new words used in this book that are never really explained well enough, and despite inferring the meaning, several of them still aren't clear.
“'I am not made for just surviving.' 'What are you made for then?' 'Fighting back.'”
- Writing - The writing style is amazing. Natalie C. Parker's prose perfectly fits this genre-bending novel with great descriptions and intriguing internal dialogue. Plus some great banter too (Oran and Redtooth bring me so much joy, you have no idea).
"Just because there are bad things behind someone doesn't mean they only have bad things inside them."
- Plot- The beginning of the book can feel a little slow because, despite the many action scenes, the world can be a little hard to jump into. While the exposition is balanced well, what hasn't been explained in exposition slows down the plot. Not to mention, a large part of the first half of the book focuses more on the characters than the overall arc of the plot. However, by the 50% mark, the book really does pick up and is almost impossible to put down!
"Caledonia Styx, I suspect your regrets are few and legendary."
- Characters - The crew of the Mors Navis is one of my absolute favorite parts of the book. A fierce, all-female group of over fifty pirates hell-bent on getting revenge? It's awesome. I will say, this book is definitely not as gay as it sounds (there is a side romance between some crew members, but it isn't really explicitly stated in this book, but hopefully the next book will be gayer!). The main romance isn't gay, and honestly isn't at all a focus of this book (it is very much a slow-burn). The main character, Caledonia, is such a complex and fascinating protagonist. I absolutely loved her journey throughout this book. The Bullet (Oran) doesn't really get to shine until the last quarter of the novel, but he absolutely stole every scene for me. I can't wait to learn more about him in the sequel! The majority of the crew doesn't get much focus, with the exception of Pisces, Lace, Lovely Hime, Amina, Tin, and Redtooth. They each have very distinct personalities and really do stand out in this book.
“There's a storm on our tail, ladies. Not a small one. But we're fire on water.”
- Conclusion - Pros- Great writing, fascinating characters Cons- A little slow at the start, the setting can be too vague at times Overall- 4.5/5 stars. Seafire is an epic adventurous novel that will blow you out of the water....more
*I recieved an ARC at BEA* Overall: 3.5/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Setting: 3.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 Awesomeness Factor: 3/5 Review in a Nutshe*I recieved an ARC at BEA* Overall: 3.5/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Setting: 3.5/5 Writing: 4.5/5 Plot and Themes: 3/5 Awesomeness Factor: 3/5 Review in a Nutshell: A Touch of Gold puts an adventurous twist on a well-known myth, and overall is an entertaining read.
- Premise - A Touch of Gold follows Kora, the daughter of King Midas, who is still suffering from the side effects of his curse. After her father accidentally turned her into a golden statue, her skin still glimmers gold. When the rest of her father's cursed gold is stolen, Kora must use one of the unique abilities she has gained from the curse to hunt it down and save his life.
- Setting - This book is based off the Greek myth and uses the names of the Greek god Dionysus, but the rest of the world is fairly murky. While there are some unique aspects to the setting and certain areas are well developed, everything else just falls into the background, making it hard to get a full picture of this world.
- Plot- While the initial premise of the book is promising, the rest of the plot is neither good nor bad. There are a couple surprising twists, but most of the other twists are predictable. The first half of the book feels a little slow, mostly because if you read the description on the back of the book you pretty much know what will happen, and the "how" aspect of it is fairly straightforward. However, there are plenty of action scenes and interesting plotlines that pull you into the book.
- Characters - The cast of characters in this book felt very one dimensional. Kora suffers the most from this- as the protagonist, she can be bland and uninteresting, with her few personality traits sometimes bordering into annoying. Royce and Aris are definitely the two most compelling characters, their stories and personalities both felt well developed and led to some of the most intriguing aspects of the book. Hettie also had an interesting character arc, and I would have loved to see some of this from her perspective. Meanwhile, the others characters just existed. They had a couple of traits each- enough to include some fun banter and serve as cannon fodder.
- Writing - The writing is where this book really shines. Annie Sullivan's writing style is a great balance between eloquent and straight-forward, giving the prose a fantasy-feel while also being accessible and easy to jump into. I loved her writing style (especially in the prologue!!), and I feel it is definitely the best aspect of this book. I'm really looking forward to seeing what she might write next!
- Conclusion - Pros- Beautiful writing, interesting premise, yay greek myths! Cons- Predictable, some weak characters Overall- 3.5/5 stars. A Touch of Gold is an interesting take on the Midas myth, and while I did enjoy it, it isn't my favorite fantasy/pirate tale. ...more
Before I get into the review there are 2 things I want to mention: 1. Thank you sooo much to L.R.W. Lee for letting me Beta read this book! It was so fBefore I get into the review there are 2 things I want to mention: 1. Thank you sooo much to L.R.W. Lee for letting me Beta read this book! It was so fun seeing this book become what it is now! 2. I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall: 4/5 Stars Characters: 3/5 Setting: 5/5 Writing: 4/5 Plot and Themes: 4/5 Awesomeness Factor: 4/5 If you don’t feel like reading this long review, here is my review in a nutshell: Rock-A-Bye Baby gives great insight into the unique and fascinating fantasy world only slightly dealt with in the first book, Lullaby.
Rock-A-Bye Baby is a prequel novella that takes place during the events leading up to Lullaby, the first book in the Sand Maiden Series. It follows Ali in the Dream Realm, as she learns of her Father's dark side and must figure out how to save the people of Wake from his plans.
I loved the Dream Realm. During the first book, I was really curious about how the sand people worked and what their world was like, and this novella answered all my questions. The setting was amazing. I felt immersed in this realm and fascinated by so many aspects of it. I especially LOVED Ali's aunts' home and their role in this world.
The writing style is very accessible for people who aren't used to fantasy novels. It adds a lightness to the book that makes it quick to go through. The plot itself can feel kinda slow, but that's mostly because you know how it will end if you've read Lullaby. However there are plenty of interesting scenes to keep the pace moving. I've found that most novella's lack in the plot department, and while this one does too, but the world-building and short length make up for it.
Now to talk about the characters. If you've read my Lullaby review (link here) you will know that I'm not a big fan of Ali at the start. And since this is a prequel, that Ali is the Ali we follow. We know she develops and grows as a character later on, but unfortunately for this book, our main character is the undeveloped-Ali. However, I will say that there are a few things that redeemed her for me. Mostly her siblings. I loved reading about the siblings' and seeing them interact. Their dynamic was so fun. I especially loved when they called Ali out for being so optimistic and naive. Which is another reason I can forgive Ali's optimism here. She gets blatantly called out for it, and there are references to why she's so unapologetically naive. The other characters in this book were also interesting, and I hope they come back in later books. I loved the insight this book gives into the relationship between Ali and her father. I feel like the abuse is handled very well. A lot of the history between the two characters is revealed in this book, really fleshing out the relationships and adding another level of understanding that you didn't quite reach in Lullaby. I really can't wait to see how this battle between Wake and Ali's Father will end.
Pros- Great world-building, love the family dynamics and how the darker topics are handled Cons- Can feel a little slow at times Overall- 4/5 stars. If you enjoyed Lullaby, this book is a must-read. It adds so much to the world and makes me excited to see where the rest of the series will go....more
