Thoughts and Theories as THE LAST STAR Approaches

Penguin hosted a readalong for The Infinite Sea back in March, but I like for the previous books to be as fresh on my mind as possible before a series finale, so I decided to re-listen to The 5th Wave and The Infinite Sea the other day, even though I just did that back in November. What can I say, I'm a glutton for punishment.

I've also had the preview Penguin sent out with some other goodies for a few weeks and have managed not to sneak a peek so far. But my willpower is quickly diminishing the closer we get to the release...and especially now that I've re-read both prior books in the series.

I mean, c'mon! Yancey gives us just enough at the end of each book so that we aren't completely wracked with despair but that we also know things are going to get a lot worse before they get better...assuming that they ever do. And I'm more than a little curious to pick up where things left off in The Infinite Sea.

If you're curious, too, you can check out the preview below or at this link:

Less than two weeks till we get the answers we seek, but I'm starting to wonder if I want to know. I mean, what is the deal with the freaking rats, right? Is it like was explained before...how we send rats packing -- i.e. annihilate their sorry butts -- when we want to make a home where they're currently living? If the aliens really don't want to share Earth with us, why didn't they just do that? Why toy with us, taking out more of us with each wave, only to leave the toughest to survive and endure? Are the aliens even aliens?!? There were ships...

Can we really believe anything that happened between Ringer and Vosch there at the end? Were they really never here? At this point, I find it hard to trust anyone, but I want to. Evan keeps finding his way back to Cassie. And Ringer, of all people, found love.

So many have died already, and for what? We still know next to nothing about these supposed alien beings who want our planet so badly they're willing to kill for it. I think Ringer is the closest to the truth: they aren't here. They never were. Why would they download their conscious into us and then try to annihilate us, when they could've peacefully coexisted with none of us the wiser?

Honestly, I have more questions than I have theories. Seriously, if aliens were to invade, I'd be one of the first ones dead, right out of the gate. No way would I be able to keep my wits about me like these kids have. But the fact that they've made it this far must mean something, right? The aliens killed the adults. Used the really young children as bombs. And now we know that they've essentially been turning the teenagers into Silencers. So, what's next?

Evan's holding on to his own humanity, though he doesn't know that's what he's doing. Will Ringer be able to do the same? I think she may do as Vosch wants and track Evan down, but after everything she's seen and done, I don't think she can turn on her friends. And I know she's the last person to think of Evan as a friend, but he's helped her companions more than anyone would have expected, for someone who's from the wrong side of this war.

And what will become of Razor? I'm afraid if he goes with her, he'll only aide her in what she's supposed to do. He knows it's not right, but he's also scared of the truth.

Is it weird that this feels like it's gone from being Cassie's story of survival to Ringer's search for answers? At first, I didn't really want to care about Ringer or her backstory or any of it beyond how it affected Cassie, but after several re-reads and so much time spent in her head, I can't help but be drawn to her character now.

I'm very aware that this is unlikely to end with a happily ever after, at least in the truest sense of the word. Things aren't suddenly going to go back to normal once it's all over, assuming we get the answers we need and the alien presence is eradicated. I know who I hope makes it to the end and who I hope doesn't.

I'm ready for this finale. I am. But I'm also scared of it.

Since I've already re-read the books in preparation for the final book's released, I think I'll watch the movie adaptation of the first book this weekend. Can't be too prepared, can you?

You can check out more about the final book below. And you can check out my reviews of The 5th Wave and The Infinite Star for more analysis of the story thus far. Also, if you need a refresher and don't have time to re-read, I highly recommend the audiobooks. The narrators are fantastic and they get my heart going every time. This series just does. Not. Quit.


Title: The Last Star
Author: Rick Yancey
Series: The 5th Wave, book #3
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: May 24, 2016
Preorder: Penguin

We’re here, then we’re gone, and that was true before they came. That’s always been true. The Others didn’t invent death; they just perfected it. Gave death a face to put back in our face, because they knew that was the only way to crush us. It won’t end on any continent or ocean, no mountain or plain, jungle or desert. It will end where it began, where it had been from the beginning, on the battlefield of the last beating human heart.

Master storyteller Rick Yancey invokes triumph, loss, and unrelenting action as the fate of the planet is decided in the conclusion to this epic series.

Have you already re-read the series in anticipation of The Last Star in a couple of weeks? Discovered anything new? Formed any new theories? I'd love to hear them!

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Labels: aliens, favorites, finales, must-read, penguin, post-apocalyptic, promotions, rick yancey, sci-fi, the 5th wave

Review: End of Days by Susan Ee

Title: End of Days
Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn & the End of Days, book #3
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: May 12, 2015
Source: ARC and FC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Penryn and the End of Days is by far one of my favorite series, and I am so glad that it ended on such a spectacular note. My expectations for this series finale were high, and not only were they met, but the author far exceeded what I had hoped for in this final installment. I loved this book -- and series! -- so much that I already pre-ordered the audio of End of Days so that I can listen to all three books back-to-back.

Everything that I loved about the previous books is still intact, but Susan Ee has done us a solid and kicked it all up a notch. Penryn is still her fabulous, angel-killer self, still coming to terms with her sister's situation and her mother's delusions and everything else the angels have unleashed upon the world. But she never turns her back on humanity, even though she's fallen for an angel of the highest order. Even though some humans are responsible for her sister's plight. Penryn has always made the hard choices, and they don't get any easier for her when the end of days arrives.

Truths about the angels' plans here on Earth finally come to light, and Raffe finds himself with some difficult decisions, as well. Don't expect him to take it easy on Penryn, though. The banter and tough love are still very much a part of this story. Both characters have shown tremendous growth, over the course of the series but most especially in this book: Penryn as a leader of her people and Raffe as a more forgiving hero.

There is so much working against them in this story that I was concerned I might not get the ending I was hoping for, at least where these two are concerned. But there are more tender scenes than I expected. Stolen kisses. Moments fraught with sexual tension. Steaminess that's unrivaled up to this point in the series, even if it left one or more parties feeling guilty, unsure, and completely angst-ridden. Not only do Penryn and Raffe have to come to terms with their feelings for each other, but they have to do it in a world where nothing is certain and there is little to no chance that their pairing will be accepted...by humans or by angels.

Getting the romance right, and having it come to fruition in just the right way, was key for this final book...at least for me. But I had faith that the author would do it justice, and she so did. She always manages to surprise me with her unusual plot lines, like that near-sentient sword and the humans-turned-locusts. So, it really shouldn't have caught me off guard that she coerced me into actually feeling sympathy toward one of the more vile characters in this series. More than sympathy, actually, but you'll see. And the method in which she makes this happens..it was incredibly unique, even for a fantasy novel.

Humans and angels battle it out in this finale -- and that is one epic last stand, let me tell you -- and I couldn't be more ecstatic about the outcome if I were to discover that Susan Ee still planned to write more in the series. I would be over the moon with that announcement, but alas, it is not to be. So I guess it's a good thing that End of Days was more than a satisfying conclusion to the series. If you haven't started this series yet, you absolutely must. And if you're already a fan, I don't think you'll be disappointed by this final book...it's everything we've been waiting for and more.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Susan Ee has eaten mezze in the old city of Jerusalem, surfed the warm waters of Costa Rica, and played her short film at a major festival. She has a life-long love of science fiction, fantasy and horror, especially if there's a touch of romance. She used to be a lawyer but loves being a writer because it allows her souped-up imagination to bust out and go feral.

Find Susan:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

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Labels: all the feels, all the swoons, amazon children's publishing, angels, demons, favorites, must-read, penryn and the end of days, post-apocalyptic, reviews, susan ee

{Audiobook} Review: Dead of Winter by Kresley Cole

Title: Dead of Winter
Author: Kresley Cole
Narrator(s): Emma Galvin
Series: The Arcana Chronicles, book #3
Length: 9 hrs 58 min
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Publication Date: January 6, 2015
Source: audio received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Can Evie convince her rival loves to work together? Their survival depends on it in this third book of #1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole’s Arcana Chronicles, a nonstop action tale of rescue, redemption, and a revenge most wicked.

Heartbreaking decisions
Evie was almost seduced by the life of comfort that Death offered her—until Jack was threatened by two of the most horrific Arcana, the Lovers. She will do anything to save him, even escape Death’s uncanny prison, full of beautiful objects, material comforts…and stolen glances from a former love.

Uncertain victory
Despite leaving a part of her heart behind with Death, Evie sets out into a perilous post-apocalyptic wasteland to meet up with her allies and launch an attack on the Lovers. Such formidable enemies require a battle plan, and the only way to kill them may mean Evie, Jack, and Death allying. Evie doesn’t know what will prove more impossible: surviving slavers, plague, Bagmen and other Arcana—or convincing Jack and Death to work together.

Two heroes returned
There’s a thin line between love and hate, and Evie just doesn’t know where she stands with either Jack or Death. Will this unlikely trio be able to defeat The Lovers without killing one another first...?

Up to this point, I wasn't all that sure that I liked this series. I don't think I rated either of the two previous books higher than two stars. And I just read my review of Endless Knight, and in it I indicated that I had zero intention of spending any more money on this series. But I was offered a copy of the audiobook for review, and my curiosity got the better of me because though I've had a ton of issues up to this book, the tarot aspect still really fascinates me, and I have no idea where it's all headed.

That's the best way for a series to hold my attention: to remain unpredictable. And though there are parts of the story that are easy to guess -- like that love triangle that emerged in book two -- this series definitely leaves me with a lot of questions. And speculation. I've developed so many off-the-wall theories about those Major Arcana -- which ones are left to discover, who might be an Arcana, and what roles they'll all play in the end -- that it's hard to keep track of them all.

Another aspect that continues to intrigue me is that love triangle. Love triangles don't usually deter me from a story, but they are rarely what draws me to one. Except in this case, where one of the love interests is Death personified. Obviously, I'm pulling for him because if this were real life, I'd be drawn to him, too, especially once his sad, sad story comes out. Also, I've never, ever liked Jackson Deveaux. He is crass and over-bearing and a hot-head. Yet I can't help but watch this train wreck of a romance unfold.

I'm trying to give the narrator of these audiobooks another chance because I know this is not the only series she narrates. And I actually enjoyed her narration of other books prior to listening to this series. And I know that it probably has more to do with my dislike of the main character earlier in the books than Emma Galvin's style of narrating. Also, maybe a little bit of my distaste for the audiobooks has to do with the accent Galvin gives Evie. She makes Evie sound like she's from the South, that's for sure, but maybe it's a little too pronounced, not to mention a bit off-putting, and that's why it bothers me so much.

However, I should say that I didn't mind the narration much at all while listening to this third book. The story reeled me in pretty quickly, and I found that I barely noticed the things that annoyed me so much in the previous two audiobooks. Also, I've listened to a few audiobooks narrated by Emma Galvin since the last Arcana book, and I found them much more tolerable than I expected. I guess I've finally gotten past my dislike…which is great because she narrates a lot of YA novels that I'd hate to miss just because I couldn't stand the narrator.

This third novel in the Arcana Chronicles has reignited my interest in the series, and it's the first in the series that I've truly enjoyed. Cole has really upped the ante in this installment, providing just enough clues and more than enough excitement. And as always, she leaves the reader with an agonizing cliffhanger, which is admittedly what always has me coming back to this series.

GIF it to me straight:

I know! I'm as shocked as Moriarty that I actually liked this one, too!

About the author:

Kresley Cole is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Immortals After Dark paranormal series and the young adult Arcana Chronicles. Her books have been translated into many foreign languages, garnered three RITA awards, and consistently appear on the bestseller lists in the U.S. and abroad.

Before becoming a writer, Cole was a world-ranked athlete, coach, and graduate student. She has traveled over much of the world and draws from those experiences to create her memorable characters and settings. Two of her favorite places to visit include the rain forests of Central America and the Far North Queensland area of Australia (where, by the way, she would not recommend swimming outside of the stinger nets–at night).

Cole lives in Florida with her family and “far too many animals.” She spends any free time traveling and enjoys all things related to boats and water.

Find Kresley:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads

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Labels: audiobooks, cover redesigns, kresley cole, paranormal, post-apocalyptic, reviews, simon schuster, tarot, the arcana chronicles

Waiting on Wednesday: Immaculate & End of Days

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:

Title: Immaculate
Author: Katelyn Detweirler
Series: n/a
Publisher: Viking Childrens
Publication Date: May 26th, 2015

Mina is seventeen. A virgin. And pregnant.

Mina is top of her class, girlfriend to the most ambitious guy in school, able to reason and study her way through anything. But when she suddenly finds herself pregnant—despite having never had sex—her orderly world collapses. Almost nobody believes Mina’s claims of virginity. Her father assumes that her boyfriend is responsible; her boyfriend believes she must have cheated on him. As news of Mina’s story spreads, there are those who brand her a liar. There are those who brand her a heretic. And there are those who believe that miracles are possible—and that Mina’s unborn child could be the greatest miracle of all.

I am fascinated by the description of this book, and I'm not sure why. Everything about that last sentence screams that it will be preachy. I don't do preachy. Religion is not a part of my life. I do not believe in God. However, I do not believe in Vampires either, butI like books about them! From what I've seen through goodread status's, readers believe Immaculate will be a retelling of The Virgin Mary. I'm completely cool with that, as long as it doesn't turn into a sermon. Crossing my fingers, because otherwise, this one sounds pretty good. :)




's Pick:



Title: End of Days
Author: Susan Ee
Series: Penryn and the End of Days, book #3
Publisher: Skyscape
Publication Date: May 12, 2015

End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy.

After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.

When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

Aaaaaaaaahhhhhhh! I can't believe it's almost here! And that it's the end! What will I do with myself when this series is over?!? It's the best, most kickass angel series EVAR!!!! BUT, I heard that she's working on something new! Eeeek!!! I can only imagine how kickass it will be after this series! =D


What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: amazon children's publishing, angels, demons, favorites, immaculate, Katelyn Detweirler, penryn and the end of days, post-apocalyptic, pregnancy, susan ee, viking childrens, virgin, waiting on wednesday (wow)

Waiting on Wednesday: Written in the Stars & Rook

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's WoW selections are...








's Pick:

Title: Written in the Stars
Author: Aisha Saeed
Series: n/a
Publisher: Nancy Paulsen Books
Publication Date: May 24th, 2015

This heart-wrenching novel explores what it is like to be thrust into an unwanted marriage. Has Naila’s fate been written in the stars? Or can she still make her own destiny?

Naila’s conservative immigrant parents have always said the same thing: She may choose what to study, how to wear her hair, and what to be when she grows up—but they will choose her husband. Following their cultural tradition, they will plan an arranged marriage for her. And until then, dating—even friendship with a boy—is forbidden. When Naila breaks their rule by falling in love with Saif, her parents are livid. Convinced she has forgotten who she truly is, they travel to Pakistan to visit relatives and explore their roots. But Naila’s vacation turns into a nightmare when she learns that plans have changed—her parents have found her a husband and they want her to marry him, now! Despite her greatest efforts, Naila is aghast to find herself cut off from everything and everyone she once knew. Her only hope of escape is Saif . . . if he can find her before it’s too late.

I'll be honest. The cover reminds me of Aladdin, so that's the number one thing that drew me to this book. lol. It does sound great though. I love books that take place in other countries. :)






's Pick:



Title: Rook
Author: Sharon Cameron
Series: n/a
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication Date: April 28, 2015

History has a way of repeating itself. In the Sunken City that was once Paris, all who oppose the new revolution are being put to the blade. Except for those who disappear from their prison cells, a red-tipped rook feather left in their place. Is the mysterious Red Rook a savior of the innocent or a criminal?

Meanwhile, across the sea in the Commonwealth, Sophia Bellamy’s arranged marriage to the wealthy René Hasard is the last chance to save her family from ruin. But when the search for the Red Rook comes straight to her doorstep, Sophia discovers that her fiancé is not all he seems. Which is only fair, because neither is she.

As the Red Rook grows bolder and the stakes grow higher, Sophia and René find themselves locked in a tantalizing game of cat and mouse.

Ahhh! This sounds awesome! There are sure to be daring prison escapes, harrowing ordeals, and a bit of a romance, if I'm reading that summary correctly. I didn't read Cameron's other series, but I heard relatively good things. Maybe if I like this one, I'll make time for the other. :)

What are you desperately waiting for this Wednesday? Let us know in the comments or share a link to your own WoW post!

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Labels: Aisha Saeed, beautiful covers, contemporary, fantasy, post-apocalyptic, rook, scholastic, sharon cameron, waiting on wednesday (wow), Written in the Stars

{Audiobook} Review: In a Handful of Dust by Mindy McGinnis

Title: In a Handful of Dust
Author: Mindy McGinnis
Narrator(s): Allyson Ryan
Series:  Not a Drop to Drink, book #2
Length: 9 hrs 10 mins
Publisher: Harper Audio
Publication Date: September 23, 2014
Source: ARC received from publisher, audiobook received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

The only thing bigger than the world is fear.

Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.

In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.

Not a Drop to Drink was a surprising favorite for me last year, despite its bleak tone and gut-wrenching ending. I thrive on books that take a hypothetical situation and make it seem all too real...and possible. That's what the first book in this series did for me. And In a Handful of Dust was no less genuine or realistic, but it was even more depressing than its predecessor.

I listened to the audio for the first book as a refresher about a month before I received this audiobook for review, and I thought that narrator did a fine job of bringing the characters to life. However, I think Allyson Ryan really captured the tone and presence of the characters in this second book. Lynn sounds like the hardened, world-weary woman that she is on the page, and Lucy is the young woman who's still cautiously optimistic, despite all of her pseudo-mother's reservations about what lies ahead of them. As I said, this story is every bit as depressing as the first book, if not more so, and the narrator did a great job of culminating that sense of despair and loss in the listener.

Let's see...I don't want to spoil anything for Not a Drop to Drink -- though these are technically companion novels, you'll understand the characters a lot better if you read them in order -- but there was quite a bit of death. That's to be expected in a world where water is scarce and disease runs rampant. There's a lot of death in this novel, as well, but it's of a different nature, and it's what eventually leads Lynn and Lucy to leave the relative safety of their home in Ohio to head to California.

This book is one big journey across the country, complete with bumps and scrapes along the way. Plenty of them, in fact. Because of this, the book had a very Wild West vibe to it, despite the fact that the women come across cell towers and power lines and even a car along the way. Sometimes, it was easy to forget that this story takes place after the fall of technology, not before it. For a lot of the book, though, the plot just plods along, much like the riders on their horses, but there were some intense moments and big reveals that made the story otherwise enjoyable. For what it's worth, I just didn't have the same emotional connection to the story that I did with Not a Drop to Drink.

Oh, and if you were expecting any kind of romance in this book, let me just stop you right now. There are zero swoons in this book. Zilch. Nada. Nothing. Oh, there was the possibility of it, sure, but nothing ever came to fruition. I wasn't expecting much considering how little there was in the first book, but even I was a little bit disappointed. BUT, if you like heartbreak, this book's got it in spades. From the mother/daughter-like relationship between Lynn and Lucy to their interactions with strangers, this book brings the feels.

I enjoyed the time I spent listening to this novel for the most part, but it just didn't hit me quite like the first book. It's hard for me to put my finger on just why that is, though. I think the biggest difference for me was that Lynn and Lucy's characters were so dissimilar, and I much preferred Lynn's narrative because I thought her overall arc really showed her character growth and ability to finally open her heart, whereas Lucy was always more open and her main growth was in overcoming her fear of her place in the world.

Overall, In a Handful of Dust is a truly heartfelt story. It's beautifully told and the author depicts such a vivid landscape. Unfortunately, it just lacked that certain something to maintain the connection I had from the first book.

GIF it to me straight:

Gah, this book made me so damn thirsty!

About the author:

I'm a YA librarian and author, represented by Adriann Ranta of Wolf Literary. My YA debut, NOT A DROP TO DRINK, is a survival tale set in a world with limited fresh water. It will be available from Katherine Tegen / Harper Collins, September 24, 2013.

I'm an avid blogger, posting six days a week to my personal blog, Writer, Writer Pants on Fire, which features interviews with agents, established authors, and debut authors. Learn how they landed their agents, what the submission process is really like, and how it feels when you see your cover for the first time. I also do query critiques every Saturday on the Saturday Slash for those who are brave enough to volunteer.

I also contribute to the group blogs From the Write Angle, Book Pregnant, Friday the Thirteeners, The Lucky 13s, The League of Extraordinary Writers and am a member of the Class of 2k13.

Find Mindy:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | YouTube | Tumblr | Pinterest

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Labels: audiobooks, beautiful covers, harper-collins, mindy mcginnis, not a drop to drink, post-apocalyptic, reviews