ARC Review: The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

Goodreads summary:

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

My review:

There are really no words to express how much I love Kagawa's Iron Fey/Call of the Forgotten series.  I've read many books about faeries, and these books still remain my absolute favorites.  The Iron Traitor is a wonderful, spellbinding sequel that swept me away on a magical adventure.

I really love Ethan.  In The Iron Traitor, he's so protective of Kenzie and it was sweet to see how much he cares about her.  His care for Keirran is touching, also.  Even though Kierran makes some bad choices, Ethan still tries to understand him and be a friend to him.  I love the relationship between them.

Oh, Kierran...I'm going to be honest, he totally reminded me of Anakin in the Revenge of the Sith, the third Star Wars movie.  Watching him transform from a good person into someone full of darkness was so, so heartbreaking, and Kagawa writes his character arc very well.  And Kierran becomes so dark because he's in love with a Summer Fey who's fading.  *sniffle*

Oh, and I'm also really in love with all the minor characters that pop up.  I mean...Grimalkin!  What Iron Fey book would be complete without an appearance from everyone's favorite grumpy cat?  (And I am the only one who always thinks of Grim when I see the grumpy cat meme?)  And Razor.  Oh goodness, I love Razor, he's so hilarious and cute.  Also, Puck and Ash play a small part near the end of the book.  Let's just say I was fangirling and squealing pretty hard.

But one of the best things about this book is Kagawa's writing.  She just makes the world of the Fey come to life with her gorgeous descriptions.  It's so haunting and magical, and it really makes me feel like I'm in a fantasy world.  It has a whimsical and enchanting feel that reminds me of Alice in Wonderland.  Oh, and I have to mention...that cliffhanger at the end?  Brutal.  Truly brutal.  I stared at it for a full minute in disbelief because WHY would you end a book like that?!  I need the third book so badly!

While I loved this book, the only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because the beginning is rather slow.  It took a while for Ethan and Kierran's adventure to get started, but once it did, I couldn't put the book down!  This sequel is absolutely amazing and if you've read The Lost Prince, then make sure you get your hands on The Iron Traitor as soon as possible!

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.  Thank you!

My rating:  4 out of 5 stars

~ The Bookworm

Cover Reveal: The One by Kiera Cass

My thoughts:

Oh.  My.  Word.  I can't.  I literally just can't.  This cover is sooo absolutely perfect.  I'm thinking the same thing as y'all are: wedding dress.  It's totally America's wedding dress.  It has to be.



YES.  This book is going to be awesome.

What do you think of the cover?  Is it her wedding dress?

~ Kaitlyn

Book Review: A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron

Goodreads summary:

Other editions

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Clear rating

 

The thrilling sequel to Sharon Cameron's blockbuster gothic steampunk romance, THE DARK UNWINDING, will captivate readers anew with mystery and intrigue aplenty.

When Katharine Tulman wakes in the middle of the night and accidentally foils a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, she realizes Stranwyne Keep is no longer safe for Uncle Tully and his genius inventions. She The thrilling sequel to Sharon Cameron's blockbuster gothic steampunk romance, THE DARK UNWINDING, will captivate readers anew with mystery and intrigue aplenty.

When Katharine Tulman wakes in the middle of the night and accidentally foils a kidnapping attempt on her uncle, she realizes Stranwyne Keep is no longer safe for Uncle Tully and his genius inventions. She flees to Paris, where she hopes to remain undetected and also find the mysterious and handsome Lane, who is suspected to be dead.

But the search for Lane is not easy, and Katharine soon finds herself embroiled in a labyrinth of political intrigue. And with unexpected enemies and allies at every turn, Katharine will have to figure out whom she can trust--if anyone--to protect her uncle from danger once and for all.

Filled with deadly twists, whispering romance, and heart-stopping suspense, this sequel to THE DARK UNWINDING whisks readers off on another thrilling adventure.

 

My review:

 

The Dark Unwinding was one of my favorite historical reads last year, with its wonderfully gothic and mysterious mood.  I thought it was a standalone, so I was thrilled when it was announced that there would be a sequel.  And while I very much enjoyed A Spark Unseen, I had one big problem with it.

 

The slow pacing.  I certainly didn't have this problem with the first book - I believe I blew through it in a day.  However, A Spark Unseen took me several days to read.  It just seemed to drag on and on, even though it's not a particularly long book.  It's not like there wasn't anything happening, since the plot is pretty well-developed.  But sometimes it seemed the writing was loaded with too many long paragraphs and not enough action.  Perhaps that's why the pacing felt off to me.

 

As for the plot, it was well-developed, as I said above.  But I didn't completely love it.  There was really a political layer to the storyline in this book, and it made it harder to keep my attention.  I felt like the first book had a much more simpler and fascinating plot.  So while the plot is well-written, it just wasn't entirely for me.

 

The characters are brilliant, as usual.  Katharine, Uncle Tully, Lane - I loved them all!  I really liked the support of Katharine's maid, Mary.  And I liked the surprising depth of Mrs. Hardcastle; she was a character who really surprised me.  I just wish there was more focus on the characters instead of the plot.  I definitely feel like this sequel is more plot-driven than character-driven.

 

But all in all, I definitely liked A Spark Unseen.  It's a good, strong sequel, and I'm amazed at the attention paid to historical details.  If you're a fan of historical steampunk books, then you need to read these books!  I'll be keeping an eye out for more of this author's work for sure.

 

* I received a free copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

 

* I also received a free copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads

 

My rating:  3 out of 5 stars

 

~ Kaitlyn

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Best Sequels Ever

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by Broke and Bookish.  Each week, a new list topic is posted, and book bloggers fill in their choices.  This week's topic is "Top Ten Best Sequels Ever."

My Top Ten:

1. Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

3. Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

4. Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

5. Through the Ever Night by Veronica Rossi

6. Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

7. Deception by C. J. Redwine

8. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

9. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo

10. Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

What books are on your TTT?  Comment with a link to your blog so I can stop by! :)

~ Kaitlyn

Book Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

Goodreads summary:

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

My review:

My word, I love Kasie West's books.  After falling in love with Pivot Point earlier this year, I knew I'd have to read The Distance Between Us.  Luckily, West is every bit as good as writing contemporary as she is writing paranormal.

Oh, the sarcasm in this book.  It's so wonderfully witty.  This book has the some of the absolute best dialogue ever.  I can't even count the number of times I laughed hysterically at Caymen's lines, both her dialogue and her inner thoughts.  The Distance Between Us is one of those books that makes you flail and fangirl and go, "I can't even" at the utter adorkableness of it all.  There is just so much sass and clever sarcasm.  It really makes this book stick out.



The romance...oh goodness.  I loved the romance in this book so much that it inspired me to create a new Goodreads shelf for my favorite love stories. :) Xander and Caymen are so perfect together, and their love story was one that had me grinning and swooning nonstop.  I love how, as the story progresses, Caymen slowly realizes she completely misjudged Xander and that he's not at all like she thought he'd be.  It reminded me just a bit of Lizzie and Darcy in Pride & Prejudice.

I was giggling so much while reading this book that there's really nothing to complain about.  It was a perfect summer read in every way.  There wasn't anything I didn't like - if anything, I thought it was a little weird how Caymen's mom is so set against rich people and Caymen so easily agrees with her mother.  It seems strange that Caymen doesn't try to decide for herself and just goes with it without knowing the backstory.

However, that's the only thing that struck me as off, and I am totally in love with everything else about this book.  I can't recommend West's books enough - they're so very original, witty, and hilarious.  If you're looking for a heartwarming romance, this is definitely a book to check out.

My rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn

ARC Review: Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone

Goodreads summary:

Calling Anna and Bennett’s romance long distance is an understatement: she’s from 1995 Chicago and he’s a time traveler from 2012 San Francisco. The two of them never should have met, but they did. They fell in love, even though they knew they shouldn't. And they found a way to stay together, against all odds.

It’s not a perfect arrangement, though, with Bennett unable to stay in the past for more than brief visits, skipping out on big chunks of his present in order to be with Anna in hers. They each are confident that they’ll find a way to make things work...until Bennett witnesses a single event he never should have seen (and certainly never expected to). Will the decisions he makes from that point on cement a future he doesn't want?

Told from Bennett’s point of view, Time After Time will satisfy readers looking for a fresh, exciting, and beautifully-written love story, both those who are eager to find out what’s next for Time Between Us's Anna and Bennett and those discovering their story for the first time.

My review:

What a well-written sequel.  If you read and enjoyed Time Between Us, then Time After Time is a must-read for sure.  It's a great continuation, and yet wraps up the story nicely.  I do think I like Time Between Us a little more, but I'm still blown away by what a wonderful sequel this was.

The plot and characters are what really make me love this book.  Both Bennett and Anna are fantastic characters, both on their own and as a couple.  It's hard for an author to pull this off, but Stone does it perfectly.  There's a good mixture of both romance and character development, which made me very happy. :)  However, I do have to say that, while I loved reading from Bennett's POV, it did seem a little unrealistic at times.  He's always such a nice guy, which I LOVED, but at the same time it didn't seem exactly realistic.

Oh, boy.  The plot pretty much left me incoherent.  How does Stone write stories that are so heartbreaking?  Seriously, they just hit you right in the heart and leave you in a sad emotional state.  Bennett is trying to use his ability to travel in time to help save others in this story, and...well...there are consequences, let's just leave it at that.  The storyline definitely kept me turning the pages.

And the romance.  *swoons*  The love story between Bennett and Anna is one of my favorites!  I love how there's no desperate, dramatic, "If I can't be with you I'm going to die!" moments.  Instead, their romance is refreshingly real.  They both do everything in their power to be together, but they also realize they have a life aside from each other.  Even though they're very much in love, they're still sensible.  So yay for a sweet, realistic romance!

And the ending.  Remember how I said Stone's stories make me totally emotional?  Yeah.  Time After Time definitely did.  I'm so glad I read this!  This is a must read for fans of beautifully written, poignant romance and time travel.  (P.S. I just saw that the author has a new book coming out in 2015 called Every Last Word.  Go look it up on Goodreads.  I can't wait!)

* Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

My rating:  4.5 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn

Waiting on Wednesday (29)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is Altered by Gennifer Albin!

Goodreads summary:

Life. Possibility. Choice.
All taken from Adelice by the Guild—until she took them back.

But amid the splendid ruins of Earth, Adelice discovers how dangerous freedom can be. Hunted by soulless Remnants sent by Cormac Patton and the Guild, Adelice finds a world that’s far from deserted. Although allies are easy to find on Earth, knowing who to trust isn’t. Because everyone has secrets, especially those Adelice loves most. Secrets they would kill to protect. Secrets that will redefine each of them. Torn between two brothers and two worlds, Adelice must choose what to fight for.

In this thrilling sequel to Crewel, Adelice is about to learn how tangled up her past and future really are. Her parents ran to protect her, but nothing can save her from her destiny, and once she uncovers the truth, it will change everything.

My thoughts:

Why oh why did have to change the covers??  I LOVED the old cover for Crewel, the first book in this series.  It was so brilliant and unique, and I don't think the new covers are all that exciting.  I'm sad that they had to change the cover mid-series too - now my copies won't match!  *sigh* Cover issues aside, I am beyond excited for this book.  Crewel was one of the most creative books I read in 2012, and I'm eager to dive into Altered when it comes out next month and find out what's in store next for Adelice.

What's your WOW pick?  Comment with a link to your blog so I can stop by!

~ Kaitlyn

Book Review: Deception by C. J. Redwine

Goodreads summary:

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive.


In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight.

My review:

Wow, you guys.  Just wow.  This is how you write a sequel.  Okay, now I have to admit, I was a little hesitant starting Deception.  I read the first book Defiance a year ago and gave it five stars, and in the past year my ratings/reviews have gotten a little more critical.  So I wasn't sure if I'd love Deception as much as I'd loved Defiance a year ago.  But, I'm happy to say, Deception absolutely deserves five stars.  I was completely blown away by how much I loved it.

Deception gave me a serious book hangover.  I blew through the nearly 500-page book in two days.  It's literally unputdownable, and it ends with one of the worst cliffhangers ever.  I.  Am.  Dying.  I need the third book!  There were so many amazing twists and turns.  I was constantly second-guessing everything that happened.  The plot is mindblowing, and the action never seems to cease.  I can't praise the plot enough - it drew me in so much!

Some have complained about the world-building, but it does improve in Deception.  I'd say this series is dystopian, with a fantasy feel and some sci-fi elements thrown in.  Whatever you want to call this genre, I love it!  It's really inventive compared to your average fantasy or dystopian.  And it was nice to hear a little backstory mentioned here and there in Deception.

Oh man...I love these characters so much.  Rachel and Logan are both such fantastically developed characters, both on their own and as a couple.  I love how, while the romance between them is present, there's always much more action than romance happening.  My heart broke for both of them: Logan and the weight he carries as he becomes the leader, and Rachel and her inner struggles and desires for revenge.  Seriously great character development.  Oh, and lots of minor characters die.  Just a warning.  Be prepared for bucket loads of tears.

Any criticisms I have are minor: the alternating POVs in each chapter occasionally threw me, and I'd read a couple paragraphs before realizing it was a different character's POV.  (But, it should be said, that was likely because I was reading it so quickly I didn't pay close enough attention. ;)  The betrayal of a certain character is one you kind of see coming, but there are many suspects and there are still so many other twists, it's not a big deal if you guess it.  And sometimes the Commander seems evil simply for the sake of being evil, but I still have to say he's one of the cruelest and scariest villains I've ever read about.  Something about him just totally creeps me out, haha.

Would I recommend Deception?  Absolutely!  It's a very riveting and unique read.  If you haven't started this series yet, you're missing out on some great YA fiction!  I'm crossing my fingers that we don't have a long wait for book three!

My rating:  5 out 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn

Quick Update!

I wanted to give ya'll a heads-up - no more blog posts from me for this upcoming week, as I'm probably not going to have Internet access.  So I'll be gone Sept. 8-15, and I'll be back with lots of new posts soon! :)

What you can look for when I get back:
- book review of Deception by C. J. Redwine
- ARC review of Time After Time by Tamara Ireland Stone
- book review of The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

~ Kaitlyn

Stacking the Shelves (6)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga's Reviews.

Books I bought/received:
- Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout
- Deception by C. J. Redwine
- A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron

Books I got from the library:
- Ten by Gretchen McNeil
- You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle
- Starstruck by Rachel Shukert
- Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan

I've already read Origin and Deception, but other than that I can't wait to start these new books!  I'm especially excited about A Spark Unseen!

What new books have you gotten?  Leave a link to your blog in the comments!

*Please note: I may not have Internet access for the next week, so I might not be able to reply to comments right away.  But I will visit your blog as soon as I'm able to! :)*

~ Kaitlyn

Waiting on Wednesday (28)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases we can't wait to read.

My pick is The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa!

Goodreads summary:

In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfrIn the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten.  As Ethan and Kierran's fates entwine and Kierran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all.

 

My thoughts:

 

I'm a huge Julie Kagawa fangirl, ya'll.  I'm in love with all of her Iron Fey books.  They were some of the first YA books I read and are still, several years later, the best series about faeries I've ever read.  I'm so excited about this one!  I love both Ethan and Kierran and I can't wait for more of their adventures.

 

What are you waiting on this week?

 

~ Kaitlyn

Book Review: Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Goodreads summary:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

My review:

Origin led me on a rollercoaster of emotions.  The nervous anticipation when I started it - could it still be as good as the previous books in the Lux series?  Then the pain and suffering Katy goes through had me biting my nails in desperation.  The adorable romance had me smiling nonstop and squealing over Daemon.  And that cliffhanger ending nearly had me in tears.



Basically, it was all kinds of awesome.

Well...what else is there to say about this series that hasn't already been said?  If you somehow have been living under a rock in the blogosphere and have not yet read this series, DO IT NOW.  It's so unbelievably good, and definitely the best YA book about aliens.  Also one of the best books of all time, period.  And if you're already a fan, then you're in luck, because Origin is every bit as good as the other books - if not better.

What I loved about Origin is how it brings everything to a whole new level.  Opal, the third book, was absolutely fantastic, but there weren't as many jaw-dropping moments and revelations as in Origin.  In this book, we get so much more insight into the bad guys and their questionable motives, Daemon and Katy's relationship is pushed to the test, and there's a seriously emotional ending that will probably make you cry.  It's just nonstop action.  This is how you do plot development, folks.

Of course I love Katy and Daemon as much as ever.  Katy's character changes after the events of her capture in Opal, but oh I loved her and just wanted to hug the poor girl.  And can I say, I certainly love that the book is also from Daemon's POV.  His viewpoint is always hilarious thanks to his ironic sense of humor. 

So if you haven't read Origin yet, do so.  The stakes are raised in a terrifyingly good way that has set things up perfectly for the showdown in the final book.  I can't believe this series is almost over. *sob* Go read this, but be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions!



My rating:  5 out of 5 stars

~ Kaitlyn

My Top 5 Books of August 2013

Here's my round-up of the books I read last month, then a short list of my favorites!

- Soulless by Gail Carriger
- Posion by Bridget Zinn
- The Rules by Stacey Kade
- Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson
- Where She Went by Gayle Forman
- Falling in Love With English Boys by Melissa Jensen
- Just Listen by Sarah Dessen
- Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst
- The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan
- The Innocents by Lili Peloquin
- Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway
- Frostbite by Richelle Mead
- Enshadowed by Kelly Creagh
- Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo
- Sweet Legacy by Tera Lynn Childs
- This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
- These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner
- Shadowlands by Kate Brian
- Gravity by Melissa West
- Belle Epoque by Elizabeth Ross
- Insignia by S. J. Kincaid
- Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead
- In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
- Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

It's a miracle I managed to read so many books with school starting up.  Let's just hope it stays that way!  Here's my favorites of the month:

1. These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman and Meagan Spooner.  Utterly brilliant.  This is going on my all-time favorites list.  I read the e-arc, but I am so buying a hardcover copy when it comes out in December.  Simply fantastic writing, a brilliantly plotted storyline, and a wonderful relationship between the two main characters.  I can't recommend this one enough.

2. Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout.  JLA still remains one of my favorite YA authors of all time.  This fourth installment in the Lux series does not disappoint.  There are so many shocking revelations and twists.  I stayed up late to finish it, and it was SO worth it.

3. Siege and Storm by Leigh Bardugo.  This is what I call fantasy. I am blown away by this creative world that the author has invented.  So magical and fascinating.  I'm in love with this series.  And of course I must mention Sturmhond, who is, I daresay, the new Finnick Odair.  Very swoon-worthy. :)

4. Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead.  I'm not a vampire fan - like, at all - so I'm still a little surprised that I'm addicted to this series.  And while I really liked the first two books, I just loved this one.  The plot is fast-paced, the characters are amazing, and...gah.  I so was not prepared for that emotional ending.

5. Insignia by S. J. Kincaid.  I was also surprised by how much I enjoyed Insignia.  It's a little on the long side, and it's sci-fi, which sometimes makes books seem confusing and slow-paced.  But I couldn't stop reading this, and I laughed out loud so many times.  You know a book is good when you can't stop highlighting quotes on your Kindle.  A must-read for sure!

I had a hard time picking favorites, so *very* honorable mentions go to Just Listen, Belle Epoque, and In the Shadow of Blackbirds! ;)

What were some of your favorite reads from last month?  I'd love some book recommendations!

P.S. My review of Origin will be up tomorrow!  Keep an eye out for it. :)

~ Kaitlyn