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Heartless by Marissa Meyer

11/3/2016

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Title: Heartless
Author: MarissaMeyer
Rating: 3 stars
Genre: YA Fantasy/Retelling
Publisher:  Feiwel and Friends
Publication: Date: November 8
How Did I Get This Book: ARC trading 
Format: Paperback ARC
Why Did I Read This Book: Marissa Meyer did an amazing job with the Lunar Chronicles, I was so interested to see what her new book was like. 

Review Written By: Lisa Golding | City of YA Books

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Bright Smoke, Cold Fire Review

9/11/2016

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​​Title: Bright Smoke, Cold Fire  
Author:  Rosamund Hodge
Rating: 4/5 stars
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray
Publication Date: September 27th 2016
How Did I Get This Book: ARC from a swap with another blogger
Format: ARC Paperback
Why Did I Read This Book: Romeo and Juliette retelling with a magical twist?
I became obsessed when I first heard of this book months ago!
Review Written By: Lisa Golding // City of YA Books

Synopsis 

When the mysterious fog of the Ruining crept over the world, the living died and the dead rose. Only the walled city of Viyara was left untouched.

The heirs of the city’s most powerful—and warring—families, Mahyanai Romeo and Juliet Catresou share a love deeper than duty, honor, even life itself. But the magic laid on Juliet at birth compels her to punish the enemies of her clan—and Romeo has just killed her cousin Tybalt. Which means he must die.

Paris Catresou has always wanted to serve his family by guarding Juliet. But when his ward tries to escape her fate, magic goes terribly wrong—killing her and leaving Paris bound to Romeo. If he wants to discover the truth of what happened, Paris must delve deep into the city, ally with his worst enemy . . . and perhaps turn against his own clan.

Mahyanai Runajo just wants to protect her city—but she’s the only one who believes it’s in peril. In her desperate hunt for information, she accidentally pulls Juliet from the mouth of death—and finds herself bound to the bitter, angry girl. Runajo quickly discovers Juliet might be the one person who can help her recover the secret to saving Viyara.

Both pairs will find friendship where they least expect it. Both will find that Viyara holds more secrets and dangers than anyone ever expected. And outside the walls, death is waiting.

Review

When I discovered this book was happing a few months ago, I may have become somewhat obsessed. Now being a UK book person, grabbing and ARC proved to be difficult. Some awesome ARCs just don’t come out in the UK, so I had to resort to extreme measures. Luckily I found a blogger across the pond who was willing to do some ARC trade! Safe to say I was a VERY happy human.
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Now onto the book! This is a Romeo and Juliette retelling so I’m not going to barrage you with plot details, I’m pretty sure the plot details are public knowledge at this point. What I will say is that this book is similar yet plot points happen in a jumbled kind of way via flashbacks ect, and it works super well!

This book is brilliant, the fantasy world is rich and well created. Juliette is an all-powerful being who sees criminals and deals justice (I really don’t think I’m justifying this). There is Necromancers, mystery, and the familiarity of a timeless love story. Yet, the plot doesn’t revolve entirely around the romance.

Overall this book is compelling and it drew me right in. If you like YA fantasy or Romeo and Juliette you will like this book! I was drawn right in and adored it. 

Final Thoughts

Romeo and Juliette in a magical setting with necromancers? Count me in!
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And I Darken Review

8/25/2016

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​Title: And I Darken
Author:  Kristen White
Rating: 4 stars
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher:  Delacorte Press
Publication Date: June 28th 2016
How Did I Get This Book: ARC from the publisher
Format: ARC Paperback
Why Did I Read This Book: it sounded badass, and the ARC cover was just to pretty and tempting for it's own good!
Review Written By
: Lisa Golding // City of YA Books

Synopsis 

No one expects a princess to be brutal. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets.

Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion.

But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.

Review

Can we just take a moment to appreciate this ARC cover? It's stunning and beautiful in all the right ways. Using the names of all the great female characters really resonated with me! There was even Rory Gilmore on there! 
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Our main character Lada is very much an anti princess, being vicious and unladylike while her brother is softer and more docile. Basically the stereotypes were reversed in a cliche we've seen a few times, but alas it was done well! This book comprises of politics, religion and self worth as just a few of the themes. The story line pulled me in and I devoured this book pretty darn quickly. I remember thinking at the time of reading that this book is so screwed up but in the best way possible.
Brutality is present throughout the whole book, and while trying to avoid spoilers I will say this book reminded me of Game of Thrones only it appealed even more to me, which I didn't really even know was possible. The book is written superbly - my only fault is that at times I got some characters names mixed up. Then again that may be due to me staying up until 4am reading this book, not the writing style... 

While kick ass female characters are not a particularly new trend in YA books, Lada is possibly the first I have really seen as a hard, gritty character. She leaves the likes of Celaena Sardothien and Tris Prior in the dust!
Over all I would highly recommend this book! Kick ass female characters with a dark and interesting plot line. 

Final Thoughts

If you have a thing for bad ass ladies, then you will love Lada.
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The Madman's Daughter

7/11/2015

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Title: The Madman's Daughter
Author: Megan Shepard 
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 420 
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Rating 3.5/5 Stars


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