Book Review: The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Crime 

by Marie Rutkoski

Series: The Winner's Curse #2

Genre: YA, fantasy, historical

Published March 3rd 2015 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)

Source: Publisher

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local order/purchase: Fully Booked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

Book two of the dazzling Winner's Trilogy is a fight to the death as Kestrel risks betrayal of country for love.

The engagement of Lady Kestrel to Valoria’s crown prince means one celebration after another. But to Kestrel it means living in a cage of her own making. As the wedding approaches, she aches to tell Arin the truth about her engagement…if she could only trust him. Yet can she even trust herself? For—unknown to Arin—Kestrel is becoming a skilled practitioner of deceit: an anonymous spy passing information to Herran, and close to uncovering a shocking secret.

As Arin enlists dangerous allies in the struggle to keep his country’s freedom, he can’t fight the suspicion that Kestrel knows more than she shows. In the end, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth. And when that happens, Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them.

My Thoughts:

The much-awaited (well, not really for me, since I already have the book with me) sequel of the elegant The Winner's Curse is here. Though I didn't have to wait long for the sequel because it already has been published, I just read the first book since it was published a year ago, and I already have my copy, I can still feel the buzz of excitement in reading it, especially with the ending the first book gave me. The feeling and anticipation is quite the same when you are waiting for another year for the next book (though it's more torture in that situation). 

As usual, the book was told in Marie Rutkoski signature: beautiful and graceful writing and story-telling. I love that the vibe the author let me experience in the first book was kept in the sequel. It was even more beautiful and breathtaking. Though also like in The Winner's Curse, the first half in The Winner's Crime was like in a slow pace. But the mystery and the characters' tiptoeing around each other's real intentions kept me alive. When the second half came, tiptoeing around was gone and explosives were being thrown into different ways, which made it more crazy exciting in a I'm-pulling-my-hair-out-because-IT'S-happening way. Too much emotions and Oh no's happened there. I'm not even talking about the ending yet. Oh gosh, THE ENDING. If I thought The Winner's Curse's ending was frustrating, then The Winner's Crime's ending killed me. Now I'm on the situation wherein I can feel the torture of waiting for THE next book. Please let's get there already, March 2016! I am hoping that The Winner's Kiss' (ooh what a sweet name) ending would be worth the two frustrating endings the first two books gave me.

However "frustrating" endings, though, I have to give the series and Marie a slow clap and a standing ovation. *dramatic pause* I really love what everything this series and the author (of course) has to give to the readers. Like I said in my review in The Winner's Curse, it has everything. And let me say this again: the romance wasn't satiating or too much. But dramatic, in a Romeo and Juliet way with a twist of well-thought story and characters. This book is fabulous and grand without even trying to. Simply elegant. I love it.

Read my review for the first book, The Winner's Curse here.

*Thank you so much Macmillan International for the review copy in exchange of an honest review!

Rating:

What's Cool? Four Hardbacks and a Paperback!

It has been raining for three days now--at least not non-stop--and I know I should be reading but no. *Gasp!* I confess that I've been obsessed with playing Candy Crush (again) and Candy Crush Soda that I have not been reading for the past THREE FREE DAYS. (So not a Cool story, I know.)

Cool stories, anyone?

Anyway, because there hasn't been any progress with my reading and to-be-reviewed pile, I'm stuck and hasn't been requesting for books (print or ebook--especially ebook!) for a while. What I'm sharing you today was my additional haul from last month. You would probably have an idea with my post title (I decided to title it in a different weird way--"Book haul" blah blah is too overused for me).

• Four Hardbacks and a Paperback

Illuminae by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman - ARC

Off The Page by Jodi Picoult and Samantha Van Leer

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella (review)

Denton Little's Deathdate by Lance Rubin

Of Dreams and Rust by Sarah Fine - ARC (with bookmark)

Thank you so much Penguin Random House and Simon and Schuster!

• Swag

Thank you so much Katie McGarry and Simon and Schuster!

• Archive book reviews

Here are my previous book reviews in case you missed it. 

May
In A World Just Right by Jen Brooks
City Love by Susane Colasanti
Halfway Perfect by Julie Cross and Mark Perini
Dream A Little Dream by Kerstin Gier (Silber Trilogy #1)
Never Never by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher (Never Never #1)
Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry (Thunder Road #1)

June
The Secrets We Keep by Trisha Leaver
Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer
Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella
I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios
We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach
World After by Susan Ee (Penryn and the End of Days #2)

Hopefully I'd be back on my reading appetite and post more reviews (and features). 

***

How is it going with your reading progress? Any exciting titles you got/bought?

Share them (or any random stuff) on the comments below!

Book Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

The Winner's Curse 

by Marie Rutkoski

Series: The Winner's Curse #1

Genre: YA, fantasy, historical

Published March 3rd 2015 by Square Fish 

Source: Bought

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local order/purchase: Fully Booked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

They were never meant to be together. As a general's daughter, seventeen-year-old Kestrel enjoys an extravagant and privileged life. Arin has nothing but the clothes on his back. Then Kestrel makes an impulsive decision that binds Arin to her. Though they try to fight it, they can't help but fall in love. In order to be together, they must betray their people . . . but to be loyal to their country, they must betray each other.Set in a new world, The Winner's Curse is a story of rebellion, duels, ballroom dances, wicked rumors, dirty secrets, and games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

My Thoughts:

I've been waiting for this time to happen. To finally read The Winner's Curse and NOT be disappointed. (Yep, I will it.) And it did happen. The Winner's Curse is one of my top anticipated reads for 2014 and it's one scary moment when I *finally* started reading it. When you have high hopes, you'll either be perfectly satisfied or disappointed. I'm glad it didn't fall to the latter this time.

The first chapter transported me to a different world instantly. Like when Casey Newton (Britt Robertson) makes contact with the pin and instantly shows her a view of Tomorrowland (2015 film). Because of this, it was easy for me to be in Kestrel's world and story. That instant connection, Marie's beautiful writing and story-telling, and epic story (and the bookish smell too!) makes this book so overwhelming good. Like, you're having a grand tour to a majestic castle and each part you are in awe. You know what a particular part is/about but still, you're not prepared on the better things it offers. This is how it feels like when I read this book. You'd have an idea on some things/scenes, but you'll never be prepared on its beauty. I was caught off guard.

Its beauty comes from the perfect amount of different things it offered: mystery, espionage, flawed yet clever and strong characters, and the complicated romance. Especially the romance. It has everything most YA romances don't have. Or rather, it doesn't have what most YA titles/romances have like insta-love, physical love, and just too much of it. Every thing was done gracefully, except maybe on the pacing and some political talks (not much a fan. My fault.) Either way, the overall turned out really good.

From the cover, to the simple classy packaging, to the overall content, The Winner's Curse is totally a winner and elegant. The book was exciting and would make you curious enough, yet the ending promised so much more for the sequel. 

*I bought this book using the Amazon GC I won. Thanks again Carmel at RabidReads!

Rating:

Book Review: End of Days by Susan Ee

End of Days 

by Susan Ee

Series: Penryn and the End of Days #3

Genre: YA, fantasy/paranormal

Published May 12th 2015 by Skyscape

Source: Publisher

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local order/purchase: Fully Booked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

My Thoughts:

I broke down all the expectations I built on End of Days after reading World After, as I mentioned on my previous review. I'm glad I did because it lessened some disappointments and there wasn't much high mark to reach. However, Angelfall had already raised a standard.

End of Days is both what I assumed is and not to be a last installment of a series. It had a happily ever after (though not like your typical fairytale thing) and each character gave his/her best and had even improved on many aspects, including their roles on the book. From a typical-Me character in Angelfall, I'm happy to witness the evolution of each character into something new, meaningful, and edgy, but not missing their personalities. 

The romance/relationship (or the lack thereof) of Raffe and Penryn is more present here than the previous book. Though I noticed Raffe being hot and cold, which is confusing. In the end, I'm not sure I'm completely convinced on his final decision.

I was glad that in End of Days the pace picked up again the way it's supposed to be. I also like it better than World After, but not the way I loved Angelfall. This was probably the first series I had mixed emotions and thoughts about each installment. I guess what I found lacking is the Bomb. Yes, the book/series is all about the [made up] apocalypse and there are actions in it, but not in a way that my heart pounded, my breath caught, or left me wanting for more. There were no added mystery or ground-breaking plot twist that I'd lost my mind into. I lost those and missed them greatly. It was what I experienced in reading Angelfall. Though I'm also happy with what this book gave.

This series can be best enjoyed by readers who loves angels, star-crossed lovers, apocalypse, and the such. End of Days is a warming conclusion to the epic angels-and-apocalypse fantasy series, Penryn and the End of Days.

Check out my review for Angelfall (book one) and World After (book two).

*Thank you so much Skyscape/Amazon Publishing for the review copy in exchange of an honest review!

Rating:

Book Review: World After by Susan Ee

World After 

by Susan Ee

Series: Penryn and the End of Days #2

Genre: YA, fantasy/paranormal

Published November 19th 2013 by Skyscape

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local purchase/order: Fully Booked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

In this sequel to the bestselling fantasy thriller, Angelfall, the survivors of the angel apocalypse begin to scrape back together what's left of the modern world.

When a group of people capture Penryn's sister Paige, thinking she's a monster, the situation ends in a massacre. Paige disappears. Humans are terrified. Mom is heartbroken.

Penryn drives through the streets of San Francisco looking for Paige. Why are the streets so empty? Where is everybody? Her search leads her into the heart of the angels' secret plans where she catches a glimpse of their motivations, and learns the horrifying extent to which the angels are willing to go.

Meanwhile, Raffe hunts for his wings. Without them, he can't rejoin the angels, can't take his rightful place as one of their leaders. When faced with recapturing his wings or helping Penryn survive, which will he choose?

My Thoughts:

When I found out that Angelfall will have a follow-up sequel and will *gasp!* become a trilogy, I was greatly ecstatic. I am deeply in love with Angelfall and I'm one of those people who begged for a sequel. After years of waiting, Susan Ee gave us World After! I didn't had a chance to have my own copy and read it ASAP but it's one of the books where I put an imaginary red sign, meaning: Never die until you read this. And then another two years had passed and the third book, End of Days has arrived but I haven't read it yet. Then I received (rejoice!!!) a copy of End of Days on the mail and also got lucky when shimmy World After was up on Netgalley and I got accepted against all odds. I never expected ANY of this to happen. High-pitched squees and crazy dancing are involved.

I am determined to re-read Angelfall before devouring World After. (It's been years!) But because I had so many things to do, I just skimmed it. World After picked up days after what has happened to Penryn on the end of Angelfall. If Penryn thought everything will be fine once she found her sister--and additionally her mother--she was wrong. Paige was the same sweet girl, but not as innocent after all she have been through and presently look like. Once again, I'm reminded of how I adored Penryn because of her love and care for her sister. Even if Paige scares her now, she's doing all her best to provide the things she need, especially her care.

However, something I cannot exactly pinpoint has happened. Because the moment I started reading World After, my excitement gradually died down. The pace and the events aren't as exciting as Angelfall. It could turn on the curiosity but not the excitement of reading more. I can very much relate to Steph Sinclair, a Goodreads reviewer, when she said she struggled to stay interested on the first half of the book. You know that thing when you're reading a book but it doesn't interest you enough that you had to put it down for a while and pick another book? It shockingly happened to me. And then I dragged myself to read it again. I can't believe I'd say that. I mean, I loved Angelfall. I'm pretty sure I'd love World After as well. But that's what happened. And I guess it also had to do with Raffe.

Thankfully, the story and pace picked up on the last quarter. I was brought to life. This time, I didn't have to drag myself to read. I'm turning the pages as fast as I have turned the pages of Angelfall before. Oh, I forgot to mention that there are rare times that I enjoy the first three quarters of the book because of a certain thing. Let's call it Pooky Bear. I'm not kidding. Don't worry, you'll meet her when you read this book. I'm not here to spill the beans. Only to tease you. ;D

From the last quarter, the story flew higher until the ending. It was a painful part because I have to end it but then I remember I already have End of Days. One of the reasons I'm sad because I enjoyed only a part of this book, not entirely as I expected. It always sucks to have your high expectations and not meet it. I hope it won't happen in the last book. I won't expect too much but I'm hoping I'll like it better than this one. 

More creepy-looking characters, same mission, stronger Penryn--World After isn't what I expected as a whole but I'm very pleased that Penryn has more improvements. I thought she's already great in Angelfall but she became even better. Fans of the first book, angels, and apocalypse stories will enjoy this.

Check out my review for Angelfall (book one).

*Thank you so much Skyscape for the review ecopy in exchange of an honest review!

Rating:

Blog Tour (Review): We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

We All Looked Up 

by Tommy Wallach

Genre: YA, contemporary
Published March 26th 2015 by Simon & Schuster UK
Source: Tour host
Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository
Local order/purchase: Fully Booked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

Before the asteroid we let ourselves be defined by labels:

The athlete, the outcast, the slacker, the overachiever. 

But then we all looked up and everything changed. 

They said it would be here in two months. That gave us two months to leave our labels behind. Two months to become something bigger than what we'd been, something that would last even after the end. 

Two months to really live.

My Thoughts:

We All Looked Up was a story of four teenagers whose lives was changed by an asteroid called Ardor that will hit the Earth in two months, which will cause "end of the world". From that simple yet fresh premise I can already see myself engaged in this book. And I was right.

There's Peter, the athlete. I like that Peter isn't afraid of what a higher person says. On some novels, it bothered me how negatively [teen] characters react towards "shrinks", counseling, or the truth. I like Peter's open-mindedness, and the book. Eliza, the outcast, was a distant girl before but after history with Peter, became the S-word. Andy, the slacker, who cares about nothing--except getting laid (at last) before Ardor would either make or break the world. He had the most character improvement and I liked it very much. Anita, is an overachiever and talented singer. She's different from the rest--like, good girl and all--but I'm glad she didn't turned out a bore. There were a lot of different wisdom, sayings, realizations on every character. It gave the book more depth and edge but not in an overly dramatic way.

This book plainly shows how people would act/what would happen if the end of the world is coming and how judging people by mere appearances/labels isn't fair and untrue. This book is wild and reckless and liberated and quite heartbreaking in the end. It's about self-discovery, forgiveness, love, chances, hope, romantic and family relationships, and finding the real friend. One of the most real thing I've read this year. Readers of any genre would appreciate this as well.

Here's also a quote I got from the book that left a mark:

The best books, they don't talk about things you never thought about before. They talk about things you'd always thought about, but that you didn't think anyone else had thought about. You read them, and suddenly you're a little bit less alone in the world. - page 11

*Thank you so much Pinoy Book Tours for lending a review copy in exchange of an honest review!

Rating:

Book Review: I'll Meet You There by Heather Demetrios

I'll Meet You There 

by Heather Demetrios

Genre: YA, contemporary, romance

Published February 3rd 2015 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

Source: Publisher

Purchase: Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Book Depository

Local order/purchase: Fully Booked * National Bookstore

Blurb (Goodreads):

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:

Sometimes I hate it when I start a book but because of the odds and my crazy schedule, I have no choice but to read only bits of it on a little time. Most books I read this way were most likely would be an 'okay book' or 'not-for-me book'. That's why I found myself scrolling again on the Goodread page of I'll Meet You There (been there done that, even before I receive my review copy. That's how excited I am) and determined to find out what did I miss. Why most of my GR friends and reviewers loved it. I want to  know. Because I can't accept the fact that I'll Meet You There, a Heather Demetrios novel and one of my highly anticipated books, turned out to be an okay book. Usually I'd know if it's the book or my fault. But not this time.

Heather Demetrios crafted her characters like a pro. Skylar Evans, apart from not being a typical Creek View girl, is also different the way she cared about her mother. Despite always being drunk, associating with a no-good man, and as good as throwaway life, she deeply cared about her mom, to the point she'd forget the college dreams and stay with her. I like her passion towards her mom and the people around her. While Josh Mitchell is a womanizer before-one leg soldier after man. He's probably the most ruined and imperfect male character I've read, whether it's about his past or former life and reputation. They were both different in many ways--not  star-crossed type--but fit perfectly. They're like mismatched socks but can be worn at the same time. That's the thing I like the most about this book. The author's ability to make something ruined to fixed, and different to the same. The chemistry is great and their story is touching. I was thinking about why it was titled as I'll Meet You There, but after knowing Skylar and Josh's story--personal and romantically--I understood the deeper meaning. Like two different ends meeting in the middle. Perfectly matches them.

I also liked that the author had love and knowledge about the marines. It was clearly shown in the book. I get to have a closer look at the marines' life in the field and post-war. It was touching and heartbreaking. I guess what I didn't like was the pace and probably I just had higher expectations. If I didn't, I think I'd appreciate this book more. I'm not saying that this book is bad, though. It's really good and will touch the hearts of many. I guess there were just many things that was thrown to me before reading this book: the hype, expectations, mood, and time. Try it and you might love it more than I did.

*Thank you so much Macmillan International for the review copy in exchange of an honest review!

Rating: