After All We've Been Through: My {Non-spoilery} 5 🌟 Review of THE BEAUTY OF DARKNESS by Mary E. Pearson

Title: The Beauty of Darkness
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Narrators: Emily Rankin, Ryan Gesell, Kirby Heyborne, Kim Mai Guest and a full cast
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, book #3
Length: 18 hrs 48 mins
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)/Listening Library
Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Source: purchased audiobook
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous - what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed.

Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens.

With previous books in this series, I had so many feels that I had to review them in GIF form. But since this is the final installment in The Remnant Chronicles, I'm going to try to be vague and non-spoilery. That doesn't mean that there weren't just as many feels where this book is concerned. Or that there won't be GIFs. But no one likes to have the final book ruined for them.

Which is likely why there are rarely early copies provided for finales. That isn't to say that there weren't some sent out. And that I wasn't at least a little concerned when some of those early reviewers were less than satisfied with this conclusion. But this is obviously a case of to each his own because I found this final book every bit as satisfying -- and thrilling and jaw-dropping and just utterly heartbreaking -- as the previous two books.

The Beauty of Darkness is long. Much longer than either of the other installments. But there is just so much left to resolve after the events in The Heart of Betrayal that it simply couldn't be any shorter. And honestly, I would have taken a few more chapters, just to get all my feels out there and savor them a little longer. This series has come so far, taken the characters to such great lengths, that to rush their story or compact it to any degree would have done them all a great disservice.

I'll admit. There were moments when I wanted to pull my hair out. When I wanted to smash characters' faces together and force them to work out their differences and quit being complete dunderheaded ninnies. But the sense of duty and loyalty in these characters is so firmly established, so deeply rooted, that no matter their past indiscretions, they must make things right for their people. And while it was frustrating to read at times, it felt right...even if it was completely at odds with my own desires for them.

My love for this series knows no bounds, so it wasn't necessary for me to re-read the previous books...even though I totally did. But if you're not quite as obsessed, I would heartily recommend doing so, just so that you get the full scope of what is at stake when you begin reading The Beauty of Darkness. And might I also recommend re-reading via audio? I've read the books and I've listened to the audiobooks and I couldn't tell you which I prefer, but for expediency's sake, I re-read via audio and it is superb, especially since it's narrated by a full cast. I wanted to experience this final book without fear of spoilers, though -- and without getting paper cuts in the process -- so I went the audio route this time, and the narration pulled me right back into the thick of things.

From the moment I read that first line in The Kiss of Deception -- "Today was the day a thousand dreams would die and a single dream would be born." -- I was enamored with this series. I can't believe it's already come to a close, that I won't be reading anymore of Lia, Rafe, and Kaden, but I can honestly say that I couldn't have asked for a better ending to their story. I already can't wait to re-read the series again!

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

Mary E. Pearson is the New York Times bestselling and award-winning author of ten novels. Her works include her latest trilogy, The Kiss of Deception, The Heart of Betrayal, and the forthcoming The Beauty of Darkness which will be published in August. The Adoration of Jenna Fox, and the other books in the series have been optioned for film, and A Room on Lorelei Street was a Golden Kite Award Winner. She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband.

Find Mary:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Facebook

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Labels: audiobooks, fantasy, favorite authors, favorites, finales, macmillan, mary e. pearson, reviews, the remnant chronicles

{WOW} The Beauty of Darkness by Mary E. Pearson

"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 selection is...








's Pick:



Title: The Beauty of Darkness
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, book #3
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Lia and Rafe have escaped Venda and the path before them is winding and dangerous - what will happen now? This third and final book in The Remnant Chronicles is not to be missed.

Bestselling author Mary E. Pearson's combination of intrigue, suspense, romance and action make this a riveting page turner for teens.

This is one of my favorite new series, and although I'm not sure I'm ready for it to be over, I am definitely ready to find out what's next for Lia and Rafe. Because I don't think Kaden and all of Venda are likely to just let them walk away now. o_O August is soooo far away. =(


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: beautiful covers, favorite authors, favorites, grabby hands, macmillan, mary e. pearson, must-read, the remnant chronicles, waiting on wednesday (wow)

{Review in a GIFfy} The Heart of Betrayal by Mary E. Pearson

So, I've seen a few others doing early reviews for books pre-release by doing a less formal review and sorta just fangirling over the title prior to publication, which may be months away, depending on when they read the book. Jamie from The Perpetual Page-turner has a Save the Date feature, and Heather over at The Flyleaf Review showcases her pre-release thoughts in a Mark Your Calendars post. I have the same problem. I want to tell the world about some of the awesome books I read pre-publication, but I can't wait until just a few weeks before the release date to shout it from the rooftops. And sometimes there just aren't words for a book, ya know?

My dilemma led me to an awesome idea: Reviews in a GIFfy. I already (sometimes) post my reactions to a book via GIFs on Goodreads. (The one I did for World After was very well received.) But I wanted to make it a thing for those titles that I just can't wait until they appear on the ole reading schedule -- or for the ones that it's really hard to adequately express my feelings -- and I wanted to share my reactions via GIF with all of you. Essentially, these are going to be GIF-only reviews to tide you -- and me! -- over until I can expand on my thoughts in a legitimate review closer to the book's release date...if ever!

This week, I'm using this method to review the second book in Mary E. Pearson's The Remnant Chronicles series. And it was a very thrilling sequel!




Title: The Heart of Betrayal
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles, book #2
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication Date: July 7, 2015
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Intrigue abounds in this hotly anticipated sequel to The Kiss of Deception!

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.

So, this is only my second book by Mary E. Pearson, but I must say, my experience both times left me like this:

And I have every intention of picking up the Jenna Fox Chronicles after such an awesome time with this series, but you know how it is...

Anyway, this book picks up right where we left off in The Kiss of Deception. There's some of this:

And some of this, as our girl puts two and two together:

Can't say I blame her really, after all she's been through. And how much trouble could have been avoided had everyone just been honest in the first place. But then we wouldn't have gotten to meet the Komizar...

Okay, so maybe that wasn't the best experience. He's a rather terrifying individual. Like a Damon Salvatore on steroids, only you just know that even love can't save him...or you.

In more ways than one.

Lia's still her fierce self, not particularly skilled at anything but cunning as all get out. She does, however, pull off an impressive feat with cards, thanks to her brothers.

There were moments when I wasn't sure if she was toying with someone, playing a game...or if she was really sincere. Reading to find out how her strategizing and manipulating fared left me on the edge of my seat for much of the book.

Just when things finally seemed to be going her way -- if that's ever really possible when you're a hostage in a foreign land -- someone gets a crazy idea in his head that just might seal her fate.

As I read on, I started getting inklings of another truth yet to be uncovered, especially from two particular points of view. (You remember how there were so many perspectives in the first book. Samesies in this one.) It all started to come together, the pieces fitting together just right, and I couldn't believe I hadn't guessed the truth of it before...or at least parts of it.

As far as the romance goes, I still maintain that it's not a love triangle, even though there are now three, yes three, men vying for Lia's affections...sort of. I can't say any more without worry of spoilers. But to me, it's clear with whom Lia's heart lies. It was the same for me in the first book, too, though.

There's loads more kissing than I expected, not that I'm complaining.

Some that made me do this:

And some that made me sad...

And some that just made me plain mad.

Then I started getting really angry as what was happening in Venda began to have repercussions outside of the kingdom walls.

But don't think that Lia is going to sit idly by and watch as things unfold. She's a woman of action, as we've already seen. And she may not have an entourage, but she has help.

The entire book was extremely intense, but that last quarter had me turning those pages so damn fast!

I didn't want it to be over yet. :( But that end...that end, yo!

I will do my best to write a full, coherent review closer to the book's release date, but that's the beauty of these posts. I can get those feelings out now, in hopes of doing just that.

The fact of the matter remains:  this book was an

And one hell of a thrill ride. I am already dying for the next book!

About the author:

Mary E. Pearson is the award-winning author of The Jenna Fox Chronicles, The Miles Between, A Room on Lorelei, and Scribbler of Dreams. She writes full-time from her home office in California where she lives with her husband and two golden retrievers.

Find Mary:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Facebook

Previous posts in this feature:

Of Metal and Wishes
The Kiss of Deception
Between the Spark and the Burn
Blue Lily, Lily Blue
This Shattered World
A Court of Thorns and Roses

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Labels: beautiful covers, fantasy, favorites, macmillan, mary e. pearson, must-read, review in a giffy, reviews, the remnant chronicles

Waiting on Wednesday: The Heart of Betrayal & Illuminae

"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: The Heart of Betrayal
Author: Mary E. Pearson
Series: The Remnant Chronicles #2
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.
Publication Date: July 7th, 2015

Intrigue abounds in this hotly anticipated sequel to The Kiss of Deception!

Held captive in the barbarian kingdom of Venda, Lia and Rafe have little chance of escape. Desperate to save her life, Lia's erstwhile assassin, Kaden, has told the Vendan Komizar that she has the gift, and the Komizar's interest in Lia is greater than anyone could have foreseen.

Meanwhile, nothing is straightforward: there's Rafe, who lied to Lia, but has sacrificed his freedom to protect her; Kaden, who meant to assassinate her but has now saved her life; and the Vendans, whom Lia always believed to be barbarians. Now that she lives amongst them, however, she realizes that may be far from the truth. Wrestling with her upbringing, her gift, and her sense of self, Lia must make powerful choices that will affect her country... and her own destiny.

I read The Kiss of Deception last year, and I absolutely loved it. I cannot wait to read this one. :)





's Pick:



Title: Illuminae
Author: Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff
Series: The Illuminae Files, book #1
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Publication Date: October 20, 2015

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do.

This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than an ice-covered speck at the edge of the universe. Too bad nobody thought to warn the people living on it. With enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to fight their way onto an evacuating fleet, with an enemy warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A deadly plague has broken out and is mutating, with terrifying results; the fleet's AI, which should be protecting them, may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a tangled web of data to find the truth, it's clear only one person can help her bring it all to light: the ex-boyfriend she swore she'd never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, schematics, military files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping, high-octane trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

I'm a huge fan of Amie's collaboration with Meagan Spooner on the Starbound series, but I've read nothing of Jay Kristoff's yet. Hoping to remedy that before this book releases, but that's neither here nor there, since I've heard amazing things about his own series.

I kind of love epistolary novels, and I think the use of so much other media to tell this story will make the whole thing doubly intriguing. Also...the fact that the couple in this novel is recently broken up. Talk about awkward! :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: amie kaufman, beautiful covers, epistolary, jay kristoff, macmillan, mary e. pearson, random house, sci-fi, the illuminae files, the remnant chronicles, waiting on wednesday (wow)