Tag Archive for: YA

Our Infinite Fates

Our Infinite FatesTitle: Our Infinite Fates
Author(s): Laura Steven
Genre(s): Romantasy
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 343
Length: 11h 12m
Narrator(s): Sofia Oxenham
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Book of the Month
Rating:
Spice: 2 Flames

My Thoughts

OUR INFINITE FATES is a star-crossed lovers romance about love, loss, betrayal, and forgiveness. The concept is such a unique idea and different from anything I’ve read before. I loved the concept and I loved Evelyn and Arden and all their personas. I loved Evelyn and Arden, their connection, chemistry, and love. I loved each of their iterations. I thought it was interesting that they could reincarnate as a different gender. 

It was such an enjoyable story to read. I absolutely adored it until the last chapter. I was fine with them reincarnating as a different gender AND I really disliked Evelyn’s last iteration. I wanted her to be a woman like she was in her first life.

There’s Someone Inside Your House

There’s Someone Inside Your HouseTitle: There's Someone Inside Your House
Author(s): Stephanie Perkins
Genre(s): Horror
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 304
Length: 9h 26m
Narrator(s): Bahni Turpin
Source: Owned
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice: 1.5 Flames

My Thoughts

While I thought THERE’S SOMEONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE was a fun slasher story, I’ve decided that I like this genre better in movie form. The story definitely felt reminiscent of some of my favorite slasher movies (Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer, etc.), but I feel like the written aspect of the story slowed the slasher aspect down. Also, since I watched the Netflix adaptation last year, I thought the reason for the killing spree was more interesting that what happened in the book.

Tress of the Emerald Sea

Tress of the Emerald SeaTitle: Tress of the Emerald Sea
Author(s): Brandon Sanderson
Genre(s): Fantasy
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 369
Length: 12h 27m
Narrator(s): Michael Kramer
Source: Owned
Reason(s): Recommended
Rating:
Spice: 0 Flames

My Thoughts

I’m glad I had a chance to read TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA. It wasn’t what I was expecting, though. I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it. Part of the issue for me was Hoid, the narrator (not audio). I didn’t like his way of telling the story. I’m not a huge fan of 4th-wall-breaking, unless it’s in movies or TV shows, because it usually takes me out of the story and I want to be immersed.

I did like Tress and most of the other characters. I also liked the overall story of her defying the king’s order of leaving her little island in search of her lost love while traveling through dangerous spore oceans. I also liked the ending and the fact that Sanderson left it open so he can write more stories in this universe.

After doing some research, I’ve now realized that this book is part of Sanderson’s Cosmere universe. While TRESS OF THE EMERALD SEA is a standalone novel, it has connections and some shared characters to other series and books.

Sunrise on the Reaping

Sunrise on the ReapingTitle: Sunrise on the Reaping
Author(s): Suzanne Collins
Series: The Hungers Games #5
Genre(s): Dystopian
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 382
Length: 12h 48m
Narrator(s): Jefferson White
Source: Owned
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice: 1 Flames

My Thoughts

I knew Haymitch had to have had a rough life, especially in and after the games. I just had no idea how awful it really was. Poor, Haymitch! Despite how gruesome his story was, it was a fantastic edition to the series. I really loved learning more about him. I also loved how Collins interspersed “The Rave” by Edgar Allan Poe throughout the book and especially during the last chapter. It added a lot of feeling and atmosphere to what happened to Haymitch and the other characters.

It was really fun to see all the character cameos from the original trilogy as well as a few from THE BALLAD OF SONGBIRDS AND SNAKES. The characters endeared the book to me more than anything else.

As of the end SUNRISE ON THE REAPING, I still want to know how Snow became president of Panem and what led to that happening between the tenth and 50th Hunger Games. I also still want to know why he and Tigris had a falling out. I also want to know how both Lucy Gray and Maude Ivory died because of something Clerk Carmine or Tam Amber said near the end of this story. I’d love to read Finnick’s story or what happened during the first quarter quell next. And, I think it would be fun to get Mags’, Beatty’s, and Johanna’s stories at some point as well.

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Not If I Save You First

Not If I Save You FirstTitle: Not If I Save You First
Author(s): Ally Carter
Genre(s): Romance, Thriller
Format(s): Audio
Pages: 304
Length: 6h 55m
Narrator(s): Brittany Pressley
Source: Library
Reason(s): None
Rating:
Spice: 0.5 Flames

My Thoughts

As long as you don’t think too hard about the hows and whys, NOT IF I SAVE YOU FIRST is a fun, light-hearted, action-packed romantic thriller. Despite its unbelievability, the story and Carter’s writing style did exactly what I needed them to do—kept me reading so I could knock out one more book before the end of the year. I really liked the characters, Maddie and Logan. I loved watching them become friends again after a long time away from each other. I also loved watching their friendship turn to love.