Review: Luminaire (Florence Waverly #2) by Ciye Cho

Luminaire

(Florence Waverly #2)

Ciye Cho

12/1/12

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Being the only human in a world of merfolk... isn't easy. Florence Waverley chose to stay in Niemela, but things have gone awry. Secrets have risen and the prince she cares about has pulled away. All the while, dark dreams warn her of a tragedy that only she can stop. But in order to save the merman she loves, Florence will have to enter the Life Path tournament: a brutal test of fear and madness.The tournament is a rite of passage--a maze where young mermaids and mermen battle to find their purpose. It is also a place where Florence will face grave danger: mermaids with evil magic, tunnels filled with sea fire, and guardians who wish to use her as a pawn in their secret plans. But will Florence be strong enough to survive the tournament... or will she perish inside it?Everything hangs in the balance: her life, her world, and her love.

*slight spoilers for book one* 

THREE WORDS: Dazzling, Vivid, Enthralling

MY REVIEW: Ciye Cho's Florence, the first book in the Florence Waverly series, left me simply enchanted and mesmerized, so I was very excited to learn that there would be a sequel and I dove right into Luminaire as soon as I got it. And the second volume in this charming mermaid series is, in my opinion, even better than the first (and that's saying something).

After the events in book one, Florence Waverly chooses to remain in the mer world of Niemela, but the mer king she loves, Rolan, begins to pull away from her and many of the other mers continue to resent her presence. Florence starts to have dark dreams warning her of a threat only she can defeat, a threat she must defeat to save the people and world she's come to love. To support Yolee, Florence, too, begins life path training and finds herself participating in the dangerous and potentially deadly Life Path tournament where she and her new found friends must use all their training and then some to get out alive.

There's nothing more exhilarating and comforting than losing yourself in a fictional world that you've come to love and diving into Luminaire and back into Florence's underwater world was such a fun and fantastic rush. Cho continues to dazzle with his imaginative, vivid, and superbly developed world-building, his endearing characters, enticing romance, and endlessly entertaining story.

Like its predecessor, Luminaire is so lushly imagined and crafted. Cho brings his underwater world of Niemela to life in a way that simply sparkles with bursts of palpable colors, sounds, textures, and tastes. There's such a lovely beauty to this underwater world, but also a fascinating and eerie darkness. This already layered world is expanded and explored even more in this volume, as we learn more about its history, customs, and political hierarchy.

I really love the whole storyline in this book, with Florence and Yolee entering their respective life path training then participating in the harsh Life Path tournament. The Life Path tournament, with its brutal tests of courage, strength, intelligence, and mere survival, is reminiscent of the Triwizard Tournament in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but entirely original and captivating in its own right. This action packed tournament, full of thrills and chills around every corner, under every rock, and through every portal, had me furiously turning pages and left me breathless.

But Luminaire isn't all action and mayhem, there's definitely some romance going on between Florence and Rolan. This romance is both incredibly sweet and deliciously frustrating, and completely addicting. I love Florence and Rolan as a pair; they really complement one another. But I definitely love them as individuals as well. Florence continues to be such a relatable and likable heroine. She's special and different, with unique abilities, but she never feels out of reach or unattainable; there's a wonderful genuineness and authenticity to her. Yolee is still a ball of lovable mermaid adorableness and I want to be her BFF. We meet two new mers in this book, the adorkably sweet Wynn and the badgirl Mara, both of which I adore!

The books concludes with a highly satisfying ending, but the twists and turns continue to the very last page and the ending definitely left me wanting more (so much more!)

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Luminaire is one of those rare sequels that not only matches its predecessor in awesomeness, but surpasses it. This mer series, with its superbly developed world and stellar storytelling, is quickly becoming one of my favorites. Readers, from tweens looking for a fun, exciting new mer tale to adults simply looking for a fresh, fantastical story to fall into, will love this series. I highly recommend picking up the very affordable Florence then snatching up Luminaire when it releases.

MY RATING

Read my review of Florence

Find the author: Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Ciye Cho lives in Australia and works as a graphic designer. He writes YA novels in his free time--and his head is often lost in the clouds or some place far from reality...

Discover the first book in this series, Florence...

Seventeen-year-old Florence Waverley is out of her depth. Literally. Kidnapped and taken below the waves to the mer world of Niemela, she is the ultimate gift for merman Prince Kiren: a human familiar tied to his side. But nothing is what it seems amid the beauty and danger of a dark ocean.
Every Niemelan has a role to play, from the mermaids who weave towers out of kelp to the warriors who fight sea monsters. But in trying to survive, Florence will end up in the middle of a war between the mer and the Darkness. A conflict that will push her between two brothers: Kiren, the charmer inexplicably drawn to both her and the monsters; and Rolan, the loner who has been pushing her away since the day they met. But in order to take a stand--and find out where she belongs--Florence will have to risk it all: her life, her heart... and her very soul.

Watch the gorgeous Florence trailer...

Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

TITLE: Days of Blood & Starlight SERIES: Daughter of Smoke & Daughter AUTHOR: Laini Taylor PUB DATE: 11/6/12 PUB: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers FORMAT: eARC SOURCE: from pub for review

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke and Bone, Karou must come to terms with who and what she is, and how far she’ll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, mysteries and secrets, new characters and old favorites, Days of Blood and Starlight brings the richness, color and intensity of the first book to a brand new canvas.

THREE WORDS: Stellar, Stunning Sequel

MY REVIEW: Laini Taylor's Daughter of Smoke & Bone was one of my absolute favorite reads of last year, it was one of those books that moved me and never really left me, and I've been eagerly awaiting the sequel all year. And Days of Blood & Starlight is as equally stunning and stellar as its predecessor and enthralled me completely.

In Days of Blood & Starlight we find old characters facing the consequences of the climactic events at the end of book one, and are introduced to new characters, new places, and new revelations. Our heroine, blue-haired Karou, and her once angel-lover, Akiva, both find themselves in different worlds and entangled in a bloody war. Faced with mysteries, heartache, betrayals, death, and pain, these two characters must come to terms with who they are and what they must do for their people, for themselves, and for love.

I devoured all 500+ pages of Days of Blood & Starlight in one sitting, staying up into the wee hours of the morning, unable to put it down for even a second. From page one, Laini Taylor instantly swept me away into her fiercly beautiful world and carried me away with her breathtaking and captivating storytelling. Days of Blood & Starlight has a different, yet equally enrapturing, feel to it. Like the brief synopsis says above, the same “richness, color and intensity of the first book” is present in this sequel, but it is a different canvas upon which they've been painted.

Taylor's immensely gorgeous and lyrical writing and storytelling continues to enchant and impress. There are so many lovely passages and sentences in this sequel that I found myself re-reading, unable to look away. The intricate, layered and rich world-building of book one is deftly continued in book two. Karou finds herself in a very different place than her beloved Prague; a harsh, relentless place that Taylor somehow brings an eloquence to. And the world of Eretz is greatly expanded upon in this book, as both the worlds of the angels and chimaera are explored. This world and all its inhabitants is crafted with an exquisiteness that is both beautiful and bleak, enchanting and terrifying, irresistible and repulsive, and utterly spellbinding.

The story laid out in Days of Blood & Starlight is a stellar mix of fire and fierceness, love and heartache, humor and pain, intensity and softness, acceptance and new paths. As the middle book in a trilogy, it continues to connect the threads woven in the first book, while setting the scene for the climactic finale in book three. Taylor paces this sequel perfectly, balancing the suspenseful ferocity of the war the characters find themselves in with the unexpected truths and revelations as well as the rich character development and growth. Like in book one, this sequel has stories within stories, and all the important subplots are woven together seamlessly, creating a colorful and captivating tapestry full of action, love, and palpable emotion.

Taylor's characters continue to be some of my very favorites! The Karou we meet in Days of Blood & Starlight is a more mature, stronger, and maybe even darker Karou than the girl we met in book one. But this change is necessary and realistic; Karou has seen and discovered truths that she can't walk away from unscathed, and she has to either stand still and fall apart or go forth and grow. She chooses to bravely go forth and on. Akiva feels like a more complete and developed character in this sequel; his layers are exposed and explored greatly. There's a large cast of characters, some old, some new, some likable, some fun to hate. I think the character that really shines in this book is Zuzana. Her laugh-out-loud humor is infectious and endearing and perfectly placed. I think I'm a little bit in love with this feisty little fairy of a girl ;)

While the romance, or lack of, between Karou and Akiva, is not the dominating force in this sequel, it is intensely felt. The relationship between these two, not just the romantic one, but the simple, undeniable connection between them, is, in my opinion, still one of the absolute best written and explored relationships in YA fiction. Everything about this relationship- the electric connection, the heartache, the betrayal, the longing, the lust, the desperation, the need, the simple love- feels so intimately real and burns palpably.

This book ends a bit more quietly than the first book, but left me excited and desperate for book three nonetheless.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I was scared that no sequel could live up to the beauty and superb storytelling of Daughter of Smoke & Bone, but this sequel has done just that. Days of Blood & Starlight is a captivatingly and darkly gorgeous story with a riveting plot, dazzling writing, excellent world-building and unforgettable characters. A MUST read book in a MUST read series!

MY RATING

Connect with the author: Website / Goodreads / Twitter 

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Book Depository

Hi there! I'm a writer of fantasy books for young people, but my books can be enjoyed by adults as well. My 'Dreamdark' books, Blackbringer (2007) and Silksinger (2009) are about faeries -- not dainty little flowery things, but warrior-faeries who battle devils. My first young adult book, Lips Touch, is a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award! It's creepy, sensual supernatural romance. . . about kissing. I am also an artist with a licensed gift product line called "Laini's Ladies."

Review: Crewel by Gennifer Albin

TITLE: Crewel                                             SERIES: Crewel World #1 AUTHOR: Gennifer Albin                        PUB DATE: 10/16/12                 PUB: Farrar, Straus and Giroux FORMAT: eARC                                        SOURCE: Netgalley

Incapable. Awkward. Artless. That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail. Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested. Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight. Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape. Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

THREE WORDS: Innovative & Lovely World-Building (yes it is one word!)

MY REVIEW: Gennifer Albin's Crewel really surpassed any expectations I had when I started reading it and surprised me with its rich and lovely complexity and world-building.

In the world of Arras, time is weaved and manipulated by the Spinsters, and being a Spinster is a coveted role because it comes with beauty, privilege, and power. Young girls dream of being a Spinster, but Adelice Lewys is trained by her parents to fail the weaving test. Adelice isn't interested in the isolation or strict rules that come with Spinster life. But her Spinster abilities are strong and she accidentally weaves a moment during testing and when they come from her the results are deadly. Adelice quickly finds herself under the strict rule and watch of the Guild and living amongst other Spinsters, and her powerful abilities don't go unnoticed by those in charge. Secrets, revolutions, loyalties, and romances begin to unravel around Adelice and she must learn to harness and use her abilities or risk those she loves.

On the surface, Crewel is a familiar and basic dystopian story with fantasy elements (a young, but powerful heroine, must rise to the occasion to overthrow a corrupt government and save the world), but what sets Crewel apart is Albin's innovation and imagination. The world of Spinsters who literally weave time and manipulate matter, controlling the weather, reproduction, and even life itself, is captivating in its originality and quite lovely in its rich, complexity and layers. I fell into this world easily and I think a part of me is still in there. Albin weaves (see what I did there?!) a smart, riveting story full of the unexpected and intriguing.

For the most part, the world-building is fantastic, with lush vividness and complete, realistic layers. But, despite Albin's impressive writing and storytelling, this isn't always an easy world to comprehend or follow. I did find myself a bit overwhelmed and confused at times by the sheer amount of complexity and intricacy of this world. This isn't a story that can be merely skimmed, it demands keen attention and thought, but is well worth it.

The characters in Crewel were mostly either hits or misses with me, Adelice being the exception. I have a love/hate relationship with Adelice. She isn't what I would call a remarkable heroine, but she is relatable. I like her feisty snarkiness and adventurous curiosity, but at times her characterization seems awkward or inappropriate for the situation she is in. There are several characters that could be called the “villain”, and while these characters are certainly ruthless; cruel; creeptastic, and diabolical, I hope they up the vile villainy in the next book.

There is a bit of a love triangle *sigh*, which I could have done without, but Adelice clearly has stronger, more real feelings for one male love interest, and the romantic elements don't dominate the whole story. And I liked each love interest, but for different reasons. Erik is a charmer with plenty of secrets up his sleeve, and I like that I wasn't sure of his loyalties or motivations; a wild card can be fun. And Jost *fangirl squee*, I couldn't help but fall for this witty, sweet guy...GO TEAM JOST!

Albin threw some twists at me that had me all WHAT THA WHAT NOW?! And the ending certainly left me reeling and excited (and desperate) for book two. It also left me with so many thinks and feels! (I haz theories y'all)

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Crewel has its flaws and weak spots, but overall it really won me over. The innovative, thought-provoking world-building and Albin's ability to weave a lovely and captivating story wowed me greatly and kept me enamored from beginning to beyond the end. This is a fantastic debut and I will be eagerly awaiting the sequel!

MY RATING

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Gennifer Albin holds a Masters degree in English Literature from the University of Missouri. During her student years she served as an editor for Pleaides and The Missouri Review, and since then she’s founded the tremendously popular blog theconnectedmom.com.  She lives in Kansas with her ridiculously supportive husband, two small children, and a Tuesday cat.

CREWEL TRAILER

Review: False Memory by Dan Krokos

TITLE: False Memory                         SERIES: False Memory #1 AUTHOR: Dan Krokos                       PUB: Disney-Hyperion PUB DATE: 8/14/12                           FORMAT: eARC SOURCE: Netgalley

Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn't at all surprised by Miranda's shocking ability.Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn't easy--especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving. Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn't seem to matter...when there may not be a future.Dan Krokos' debut is a tour-de-force of non-stop action that will leave readers begging for the next book in this bold and powerful new series.

THREE WORDS: Left. Me. Breathless.

MY REVIEW: I was hesitant to read Dan Krokos' False Memory because I'm not a huge fan of the whole "MC with amnesia must put the pieces of their life puzzle back together" thang. BUT, I'm so glad I didn't let that premise stop me from reading this book because as it turns out, Krokos does this premise well...in fact, Krokos does this premise very, very well.

Miranda North wakes up with no memory of where she came from or where she belongs. She knows her name and she knows what a mall cop is, but everything else is just missing. In her confused state, she panics, releasing an energy with her brain that causes those around her to experience a heightened sense of pure terror. Everyone except a boy named Peter, who claims he and Miranda are friends and come from the same place- a mysterious underground facility where Miranda, Peter and two others, Noah (Miranda's boyfriend who she, of course, can't remember loving) and Olive, have been trained to be deadly weapons. And when this group discovers the dark truth of their existence and purpose, they flee, but encounter equally deadly enemies. Suddenly, Miranda and her friends are fighting for their lives and the lives of countless innocents.

False Memory is a refreshing non-stop thrill ride full of intrigue, exhilarating twists and action, smart writing, compelling characters and suspense...oh! the suspense is addicting. Krokos is a captivating and effective storyteller who weaves together a very complex and well-developed story.

The story begins with Miranda in a mall with no memories of where she comes from or who she is, beyond knowing her name, and Miranda's narration is a bit jarring in the first couple of chapters, but the story quickly finds its flow and consistent tone. The sci-fi elements that Krokos includes in this book are by no means new or original, but the way he presents them is highly refreshing and excellently imagined and I was completely fascinated by them. I like that, since Miranda has no memory of being what she is, we, the reader, and she, the MC and narrator, discover everything together. Because of this, I really felt like I was experiencing the story or like I was truly immersed in it, rather than simply just reading about it.

And Miranda is a great heroine! Even without her memories, she's still a very strong, capable and likable character. I really like that not a great deal of time was spent on lamenting who she used to be in the eyes of her friends, and instead readers are given the chance to simply get to know who she is in the present. And who she is in the present, and in the face of impossible situations and truths, is one badass chick. When your characters are introduced as highly trained and potentionally deadly individuals then you BETTER follow through with this characterization, and Krokos definitely does...think action-packed and bloody fight scenes with swords, guns, staves and things that go KABOOM.

There is a bit of a love triangle between Miranda, Noah and Peter that I could have done without (Go Team Peter!), but the romantic aspects are not the main focus of the overall story (thank goodness), so it honestly didn't bother me too much. The main focus is on the origins and purpose of Miranda and her friends and the mind-boggling unexpected revelations and truths she uncovers.

A lot happens and is revealed in the last quarter of the book and things can be a bit overwhelming at times, but, for the most part, the story is breathlessly suspensful and thought-provokingly smart. Krokos concludes book one with the kind of ending I love- an ending that wraps up one mystery and storyline, then introduces something on the last page that leaves me all "OMG! dafuq! Book two now, please!".

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: Dan Krokos has crafted a superbly and smartly executed sci-fi story that left me breathless, thoughtful and so ready for more. False Memory is a wonderful and worthwhile read!

MY RATING

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After pumping gas for nine years to put himself through college, Dan Krokos, now twenty-six, dropped out to write full-time. He enjoys watching TV, playing MMORPGs, and drinking coffee. Currently, he’s hard at work on the next book in Miranda’s journey. Follow his antics on twitter (@DanKrokos)

Review: The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy by Nikki Loftin

TITLE: The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy AUTHOR: Nikki Loftin PUB: Razorbill                                    PUB DATE: 8/21/12 FORMAT: eARC SOURCE: Netgalley

When Lorelei's old school mysteriously burns down, a new one appears practically overnight: Splendid Academy. Rock-climbing walls on the playground and golden bowls of candy on every desk? Gourmet meals in the cafeteria, served by waiters? Optional homework and two recess periods a day? It's every kids's dream.But Lorelei and her new friend Andrew are pretty sure it's too good to be true. Together they uncover a sinister mystery, one with their teacher, the beautiful Ms. Morrigan, at the very center.Then Andrew disappears. Lorelei has to save him, even if that means facing a past she'd like to forget – and taking on a teacher who's a real witch.What Lorelei and Andrew discover chills their bones – and might even pick them clean!

THREE WORDS: Delicously Dark & Enchanting


MY REVIEW: I love an MG story that isn't afraid to be a bit dark, twisted or chilling, and Nikki Loftin's The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is all of these things...plus, incredibly enchanting and original...AND it has one of the BEST titles and covers ever!


Splendid Academy literally appears overnight, with it's jaw dropping playground and mesmerizing staff, and after Lorelei's old school mysteriously burns down she and her brother enroll at this new school. At first, Splendid Academy seems like a dream come true with its high tech equipment, gourmet food, candy bowls in the desks, endless snacks and no rules. But when Lorelei and her new friend Andrew uncover a sinister secret things stop being sweet and go sour. Lorelei must face her own dark secrets, stop a group of picky eater witches and save the students of Splendid Academy.


Nikki Loftin has taken elements of different fairytales and infused them with a lot of imagination to concoct a captivating MG read full of dark whimsy, a mystery that will excite readers and give them the best kind of goosebumps, and a charming heroine.


This is a smartly written tale and, while appropriate for its intended MG audience, it has a fantastic spine-tingly-ness to it. This story isn't all sprinkles and cotton candy fluff, it has a real bite that I think younger readers will love and just eat up. Loftin does a great job of balancing the dark and the light, the sweet and bitter.


I love the setting of Splendid Academy; it has all the irresistible charms and spectacular-ness of Wonka's Chocolate Factory and the wonderment of Wonderland. Readers of all ages will be enchanted by the over the top playground, lackadaisical environment and the delectable goodies served nearly constantly. If it weren't for the threat of witches and dark magic, I'd gladly enroll myself at this school!


Lorelei's adventures at Splendid Academy are anything but sweet, but lucky for readers, Lorelei is a smart, resourceful and brave heroine capable of handling any sticky situation. Loftin has crafted a wonderfully complex and layered heroine with Lorelei, who's flaws, insecurties and accesability makes her so relatable and easy to like. And Lorelei's new BFF, Andrew is such a lovable and likable guy. He makes the perfect sidekick and confidant for the heroine.


Loftin has also given readers antagonists that are easy to hate and scary enough to be exciting, but not terrifying. I think younger readers will appreciate that it's the young characters who save the day in this story and do so without the help of adult characters.
Lorelei and Andrew's  escapades at Splendid Academy are full of thrills, chills and twists. There are plenty of moments that had my heart racing or had me laughing or had me "OMGing!" and "Woo-whooing!".


My only small complaint is that at times the story seems to be conveying some kind of message regarding healthy eating, indulgence, etc., but that message doesn't really come through clearly. In regards to this message, the story goes from sounding slightly preachy in the beginning to just dropping the issue altogether by the end of the book. But this issue didn't keep me from enjoying the story as a whole.


MY FINAL THOUGHTS: The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy is a fun, exciting MG book with an awesome and addicting dark, whimsical filled center. A great read for all ages!

MY RATING

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Nikki Loftin is a writer and native Texan who lives just outside Austin, Texas, with her two boys, two dogs, nine chickens, and one very patient husband. She writes Middle Grade novel-length fiction as well as personal essays, puppet plays, articles, poems, and short stories. Nikki is represented by Suzie Townsend of Nancy Coffey Literary Agency. Her debut novel, The Sinister Sweetness of Splendid Academy, will be published by Razorbill (Penguin) in Summer 2012.

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

TITLE: Beautiful Disaster                       SERIES: Beautiful #1 AUTHOR: Jamie McGuire                     PUB DATE: 8/14/12 PUB: Simon & Schuster                     FORMAT: eARC SOURCE: Netgalley

The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate percentage of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance between her and the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand. Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match

This is a long one, Cupcakes. I had A LOT to say...

THREE WORDS: No Me Gusta -__-


MY REVIEW: So, yet again it seems I was late to the drama-llama party surrounding a book (how lame am I?!). I didn't realize there was any drama or such strong feelings surrounding this book until after I got it from Netgalley and started reading it. After I finished reading this book I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to even post my review, knowing it would be a negative one. I suppose I was hesitant to get mixed up in any of the drama. But then I said to my self "Hey self, you sexy smart beast you, you took the time out of your busy schedule to read this book so you totes deserve to put your two cents out into the world. So what if your review offends someone?" Well how could I argue with me being all smarticle like that, right?!


Abby Abernathy, running from her dark and mysterious past, ends up at Eastern University with her BFF. At EU, Abby reinvents herself as the cardigan wearing good girl who avoids trouble. But uh-oh! trouble finds her in the form of super hot Travis Maddox. Travis "Mad Dog" Maddox earns money as a fighter in the underground fight club at EU and spends the rest of his time being the big man-slut on campus. The two meet and frustrating sparks fly and when Abby loses a bet against Travis and must live with him for a month, things get cray-cray (like seriously buckets of crazy!).


Ok, so you can already obviously tell that I did not like this book (and for good reason). But why? For so, so many reasons. But before I get to those, I will say that the actual writing isn't horrible, nothing mind-blowing or tattoo worthy, but not bad and the author isn't an ineffective storyteller either. I just really didn't like the story being told. The book is 361ish pages, but felt much l o n g e r. The last quarter dragged on in a way that had me asking "Isn't it over yet?!"...yeah, that's never a good thing *sigh*.


My biggest issue, and not necessarily for the reasons you may think, with Beautiful Disaster is unfortunately the most important aspect of the whole book: the relationship between Abby and Travis. Where do I start? Well, first the the actual event that brings these two together, the "bet", is incredibly contrived and unrealistically convenient. Then there's the fact that several times in the story Abby considers leaving but doesn't because she never backs out of a bet...again, this is too convenient. And Travis is oh, so conveniently in one of Abby's classes, which she just one day suddenly realizes O_o


Then there's the actual relationship these two have, from being friends to becoming lovers and more. Seperately, these two characters are each unlikable enough, but together they are a hot mess. Before dating Travis, Abby is a contradicting jumble of sweet one moment and completely bitchy the next. Her sarcastic-I don't care-I'm so tough-I can take care of myself attitude is laughable and fails to make her relatable or worth rooting for. And of course after Hurricane Travis blows into her life she transforms into One Of Those girls who makes unbelievably stupid descsions because of her BF and turns into a mere puddle of lovesick goo. 


Travis is just an absolute unbearable, eye-roll inducing, not swoon-worthy in anyway character. He treats girls like crap, has a huge ego, is terribly violent and any vulnerability or softness the author tries to give him failed to make me care about him one bit. I honestly do not understand his appeal at all. And Oh. My. Gerwd. the way EVERY single female within a ten foot radius of this guy turns into a eye-lash batting, hair flipping, flirting puppet is just absurd! I kept imagining either cats rubbing against his leg or very eager puppies humping his leg...that's seriously how absurd it got. And of course, once he fell for Abby he became scary obsessvie and abusive...


 I want to briefly discuss that word: abusive. I've seen other people argue that Travis isn't abusive because he never hits Abby, and he doesn't. But he does tell her what she can wear, who she can see, where she can go and he's manipulative and dangerously obsessive and possesive (he gets her name tattooed on him, as well as admiting that he wants other guys to know that she "belongs" to him)...that's emotional/psychological abuse. Whether he was created that way intentionally or not, doesn't make it any less true. And worse, after being with Travis for a while, Abby actually encourages his violence, prompting him to beat up another student in the cafeteria...and after just one (there are a few) brawl in the caf, you'd think Travis would be expelled, but no he never is.


Now, to avoid being accused of just not "getting" this story, let me say that I do "get" it: this is a story about two dysfunctional, emotionally scarred, kinda effed up people who fall in love and fall into an equally dysfunctional, hard, totally effed up relationship. I have no problems with effed up characters or relationships; there are plenty of screwed up, scary, broken, violent, dangerous and complex characters that I've loved and been absolutely captivated by.


My main issue is not their effed-upness; I don't dislike them as characters because of this, I dislike them because they are flat unlikable characters who have no real layers, dimension and who aren't particularly well developed. And my issue isn't even with their violtile, violent, effed-up relationship...No, my main issue is with what this relationship and these characters lack: depth, meaning, growth, poignancy or anything profound.


(I'm almost done, I swear)


A few other things I want to briefly mention are the supporting characters and all the girl-on-girl hate.


Abby's BFF, America, is another unlikable character. She's over the top dramatic, whiny and really kind of all over the place in terms of personality; one minute she's telling Abby to dump Travis, the next she's telling Abby she's a bitch for breaking his heart.


One of the supporting characters I actually liked (and who was the one sane, rational beacon of light) is Kara, Abby's dormmate. Kara has one of the only insightful and rational lines in the book: "Do you know what codependency is, Abby? Your boyfriend is a prime example, which is creepy considering he went from having no respect for women at all to thinking he needs you to breath." Yes, yes! A thousand times yes! Unfortunately, this one sane character was created to come across as an unlikable bitch, something America is always willing to point out.


Which leads me to all the girl-on-girl hate in this book, particularly done by America and Abby. These two are constantly calling soriety girls or ANY girl who flirts with or sleeps with Travis a whore, slut, stupid, vapid, bimbo, STD-infested, bitch, etc. Basically any girl other then the two of them who ever has sex, flirts or dresses sexy is obviously trash...PUH-lease! Can you say jealousy and insecurity? And of course these are issues never explored or mentioned.


I won't spoil any of the main plotpoints, but let's just say there's an unnecessary trip to Vegas, an out of nowhere fire, another trip to Vegas and a cheesy, disappointing end.


MY FINAL THOUGHTS: I don't think there's anything more I can say that I haven't already covered. Beautiful Disaster is certainly a disaster but far from beautiful. This is obvioulsy a book that will evoke strong feelings in readers, unfortunatley all my feelings are negative. (Oh, and I should mention that this book isn't technically considered YA)

MY RATING

Author: Site / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

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Jamie McGuire was born in Tulsa, OK. She was raised by her mother Brenda in Blackwell, OK, where she graduated high school in 1997. Jamie attended the Northern Oklahoma College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Autry Technology Center where she graduated with a degree in Radiography.
Jamie now lives in Enid, OK with her three children and husband Jeff, who is a real, live cowboy. They share their 10 acres with four horses, four dogs, and Rooster the cat.
Books published by Jamie include the Providence trilogy, and The New York Times best seller Beautiful Disaster, a contemporary romance. When she’s not writing, Jamie spends her days letting her four dogs in and out.

ARC Review: Between You & Me by Marisa Calin

TITLE: Between You & Me                 AUTHOR: Marisa Calin PUB: Bloomsbury                                    PUB DATE: 8/7/12 FORMAT: eARC                                      SOURCE: Netgalley

Phyre knows there is something life-changing about her new drama teacher, Mia, from the moment they meet. As Phyre rehearses for the school play, she comes to realize that the unrequited feelings she has for Mia go deeper than she’s ever experienced. Especially with a teacher. Or a woman. All the while, Phyre’s best friend—addressed throughout the story in the second person, as "you"—stands by, ready to help Phyre make sense of her feelings. But just as Mia doesn’t understand what Phyre feels, Phyre can’t fathom the depth of her best friend’s feelings . . . until it’s almost too late for a happy ending. Characters come to life through the innovative screenplay format of this dazzling debut, and unanswered questions—is "you" male or female?—will have readers talking.

THREE WORDS: Honest & Thought-Provoking

MY REVIEW: Marisa Calin’s Between You & Me employs an unusual format to portray a relatable and contemporary glimpse into the complicated, confusing and often heartbreaking world of falling in love and growing up.

Written in screenplay format, Between You & Me follows sixteen year old Phyre as she grapples with her confusing and burgeoning romantic feelings for Mia, the new and young theater and film teacher. Phyre has never felt attracted to another girl before and her strong feelings for Mia have her questioning everything. Phyre eventually confides in her BFF, who is only referred to as YOU and whose gender is never specified, but he/she is dealing with their own secret romantic feelings; feelings for Phyre. Phyre hopes to get closer to Mia by starring in the school play, but only further complicates things. Life changing and heart-breaking realizations hit hard, but maybe Phyre and YOU can still have a happily ever after.

Calin has crafted an authentic, hip and relatable look at sexuality, love and growing up. Full of palpable emotions, engaging characters and a thought-provoking story, Between You & Me is a captivating contemporary read.

The screenplay format is innovative and creates a very cinematic experience. Unfortunately, the narration often switches from this screenplay format to longer prose and I found this switch jarring and confusing. There’s also no use of quotation marks to signify dialogue, so I was often confused as to just who was talking and when the dialogue stopped and Phyre was merely narrating her own thoughts and observations. I think if a distinction between dialogue and narration and who’s talking were made clearer then the screenplay format would work better.

The story itself however is enthralling and easily pulled me in. Phyre’s complicated and often painful exploration of her confusing feelings for Mia and YOU’s own feelings for Phyre are well-crafted and presented in a very unassuming, honest and relatable way. This isn’t a “coming out” novel and, even though Calin does a great job of exploring the notion of one questioning their sexuality in a thoughtful way, at its core this is a story simply about love and all the heartache, wonderment, excitement and confusion that comes with it. The real focus and important aspect of this novel isn’t that Phyre falls for a girl, it’s the simple and relatable notion that she falls hard for someone who intrigues, captivates, challenges and attracts her, someone who will never return those intense feelings.

I love that Phyre’s best friend and admirer’s gender is never revealed and YOU can easily be read as either a boy or girl. When I first began the novel I actually wanted YOU to be a girl, and there were many times when I was sure YOU was a girl, but then something would happen or something was said I was sure YOU was a guy. But as the story progressed I realized it didn’t matter and stopped focusing on YOU’s gender and just focused on his/her feelings and friendship with Phyre, which I think is the whole point. Calin has created something very profound and exquisite with her un-gendered YOU.

The story wraps up in a way that is kind of predictable and expected, but not unsatisfying. I think this is one instance where the journey the characters take is far more important than the destination they reach…and the journey is a tantalizing and tangible one.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS: While the unusual, yet refreshing screenplay format used does cause a few glitches and distractions, the candid, emotionally palpable and smartly crafted story of two teens discovering the complexities of falling in love certainly make up for them. Between You & Me is a fresh, relatable and worthwhile read.

MY RATING

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Marisa is an actress and novelist. She grew up in Bath, England and moved to New York City to train at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She tried her hand at plays and screenplays before her love of a good book inspired her to take charge of every facet of the creative picture and tackle a novel. The only thing better than being absorbed in the world of a film for two hours is being absorbed in the lives of characters for the duration of a book. She lives in Greenwich Village and writes from what she knows - memories of her not so distant teenhood. Her debut novel 'Between You and Me' comes out in August, 2012

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