The Book I'm Most Grateful For

Beth Revis is having an awesome contest, and all you have to do is tell her what book you're most grateful for.




I'm most grateful for the Harry Potter books, because without them all of the other awesome books that are out now probably wouldn't be here.

Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

There are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life. But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Part fairy tale, part love story, Victoria Schwab’s debut novel is entirely original yet achingly familiar: a song you heard long ago, a whisper carried by the wind, and a dream you won’t soon forget.

The Near Witch is one of those books that completely envelopes you from the beginning. The prose is perfect and the story is fantastic. I absolutely loved every aspect of this novel. The setting feels real, but at the same time it has a fairy tale vibe going on which suited the story perfectly. This is an outstanding debut novel and I'll definitely be reading anything else Victoria puts out!

5/5

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

This thrilling sequel to the much-talked-about Nightshade begins just where it ended.Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered. 

But then the Searchers make her an offer,one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

Short review: If you liked Nightshade, you'll LOVE the sequel.

I read this book in one sitting. It was so engrossing and action packed, even more so than the first book. It kind of reminded me of an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, in a good way. It's filled with loads of magic and fighting and plotting. I know everyone's always focused on "teams" and when it comes to Ren and Shay, I'm still Team Shay. Especially after this book. This one ends with another cliffhanger, but it's not quite as extreme as the ending of Nightshade. Overall I liked it better than Nightshade, and can't wait for book three!

Book Trailer: Small Town Sinners by Melissa Walker

I love Melissa, and I can't wait to read this one!

Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

I was expecting this book to be creepy. It's not. Some of the pictures are, but when you take them in context with the book, they become less creepy. The idea of taking real pictures and writing a story around them is awesomely unique, and it adds a lot to the story. The story does drag in a few places, and the pictures are a nice diversion . The story is solid, but I felt that the main character talked and acted like he was a lot older than he should have considering his actual age in the book. The issues I had don't outweigh the positives, though. I would definitely recommend this if you're looking for a different, unique read. 

4/5

Review: Inside Out by Maria V. Snyder

I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? The only neck at risk is my own…until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution.

This book is complex. It's a little confusing to start (especially due to the fact that there isn't a map of Inside in the book) but as you read it gets easier to understand. The story follows the typical Dystopian formula, but that doesn't detract from the amazing setting and world building. The thing I liked about this book over a lot of the other Dystopians I've read is the fact that the main character isn't the only person getting things done. As the book progresses, you can sense the growing tension in all of the characters and the payoff is very satisfying. There's a tiny cliffhanger, but the sequel is already out, so no waiting!

Recommended if you like The Hunger Games, Divergent, Across the Universe

4/5

Book Trailer: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

I've got this book in my TBR pile, so whenever I get to it I'll have the review up. I just had to share the trailer with you guys because it's one of the best I've seen. What do you think?