Favorite Book Read in June

This is definitely a tough one since I read quite a few awesome books this month. However, this award goes to......

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is definitely one of the most exciting books I've read in a while. You can check out my review of this novel here. This book will be released on August 7th, 2012. You can also check out the author's website here.

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Shadowfell Review

416 pages
Release date: September 11th, 2012

Its name is spoken only in whispers, if the people of Alban dare to speak it at all: Shadowfell. The training ground for rebels seeking to free their land from the grip of the tyrannical king is so shrouded in mystery that most believe it to be a myth. But for Neryn, Shadowfell's existence is her only hope. She is penniless, orphaned, and utterly alone - and concealing a treacherous magical power that will warrant her immediate enslavement should it be revealed. She finds hope of allies in the Good Folk, fey beings whom she must pretend she cannot see and who taunt her with chatter of prophecies and tests, and in a striking, mysterious stranger, who saves her from certain death but whose motives remain unclear. She knows she should not trust anyone with her plans, but something within her longs to confide in him. Will Neryn be forced to make the dangerous journey alone? She must reach Shadowfell, not only to avenge her family and salvage her own life, but to rescue Alban itself.

Review (ARC):
I have to say I wasn't the biggest fan of this novel. Something about the writing and the overall storyline didn't keep me tied to the story. Most of it was a long journey that seemed to go on for a bit too long. I usually love fantasy novels but the world building here didn't catch my attention as much as it should have. Neryn is a weak character for most of the novel but she begins to grow as a character by the end. Neryn's love interest is a guy named Flint and he has a lot of secrets which makes the story more interesting. The fey in this novel are different from the typical "fairies" and they have different personalities which helps them to stand out as characters. This wasn't necessarily a bad story, it had a lot of interesting parts, but I am curious to see if it will improve as a whole in the next book in this series. If you like fantasy novels with magic and fey then you might want to check this novel out.

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Surrender Review

480 pages

Forbidden love, intoxicating power, and the terror of control… Raine has always been a good girl. She lives by the rules in Freedom. After all, they are her father’s rules: He’s the Director. It’s because of him that Raine is willing to use her talent—a power so dangerous, no one else is allowed to know about it. Not even her roommate, Vi. All of that changes when Raine falls for Gunner. Raine’s got every reason in the world to stay away from Gunn, but she just can’t. Especially when she discovers his connection to Vi’s boyfriend, Zenn. Raine has never known anyone as heavily brainwashed as Vi. Raine’s father expects her to spy on Vi and report back to him. But Raine is beginning to wonder what Vi knows that her father is so anxious to keep hidden, and what might happen if she helps Vi remember it. She’s even starting to suspect Vi’s secrets might involve Freedom’s newest prisoner, the rebel Jag Barque.

Review:
This series has improved since the first novel. I found this book to be much more interesting and understandable on a whole. There were still a few confusing parts where I couldn't grasp exactly what was going on. However, that didn't make this novel any less enjoyable. This book mostly focuses on Raine and Gunn's story as they try to figure out exactly what's going on in Freedom and with the Director. I like Raine as a character because she is strong and brave although not as much when it comes to her father, The Director. Gunn on the other hand is still a bit of a mystery to me. He seems to have strong powers yet it feels like every move they make in this book is more difficult than it should be. We see more of Zenn in this novel but his mindset is still a bit of a mystery throughout the story. Vi is back but she isn't quite herself and has a lot to go through to get back to who she once was. There are a few other familiar characters who make appearances that help add to the storyline. This book had quite a few parts that threw me for a loop and the ending was completely unexpected. All in all I enjoyed reading this novel and I can't wait to see what happens next in this story. I recommend reading this if you've read the first novel, Possession.

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Classic Monday: Aesop's Fables by Aesop

650 B.C.
306 pages

As legend has it, the storyteller Aesop was a slave who lived in ancient Greece during the sixth century B.C. His memorable, recountable fables have brought amusing characters to life and driven home thought-provoking morals for generations of listeners and modern-day readers. Translated into countless languages and familiar to people around the world, Aesop’s fables never tarnish despite being told again and again. Populated by a colorful array of animal characters who personify every imaginable human type from fiddling grasshoppers and diligent ants to sly foxes, wicked wolves, brave mice, and grateful lions;these timeless tales are as fresh and relevant today as when they were first created. Full of humor, insight, and wit, the tales in Aesop's Fables champion the value of hard work and perseverance, compassion for others, and honesty. They are age-old wisdom in a delicious form, for the consumption of adults and children alike.

I remember loving Aesop's fables as a child. They were funny and interesting but you also learned something at the end too. Most of us have heard an Aesop fable from time to time, whether it be a goose laying a golden egg or a tortoise beating a hare in a race. Regardless this collection holds a blend of tales that will entertain the imagination while leaving an important message behind as well.

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Upcoming Reviews

ARC:
Darkness Breaks by Jessica Sorensen
Shadowfell by Juliet Marillier
The Oracle by K.B. Hoyle


Bought:
Surrender by Elana Johnson
Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt
Dreamless by Josephine Angelini

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