Know What You're Getting Into When You Make a Deal With the Devil

Title: Devil and the Bluebird
Author: Jennifer Mason-Black
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Amulet Books
Publication Date: May 17, 2016
Source: ARC received from publisher
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

“Devil-at-the-crossroads” folklore finds its way to YA via this moody, magical tale.

Blue Riley has wrestled with her own demons ever since the loss of her mother to cancer. But when she encounters a beautiful devil at her town crossroads, it’s her runaway sister’s soul she fights to save. The devil steals Blue’s voice—inherited from her musically gifted mother—in exchange for a single shot at finding Cass.

Armed with her mother’s guitar, a knapsack of cherished mementos, and a pair of magical boots, Blue journeys west in search of her sister. When the devil changes the terms of their deal, Blue must reevaluate her understanding of good and evil and open herself to finding family in unexpected places.

In Devil and the Bluebird, Jennifer Mason-Black delivers a heart-wrenching depiction of loss and hope.

Devil and the Bluebird was nothing like I was expecting and I may have liked it all the more because of it. You tell me there's a devil in the story, and I am so in. Plus, sister stories are always worth a read, having two sisters of my own and never really understanding either of them completely. And it should also be known that I can't say no to characters named Blue. ;0)

Much as Blue had been expecting someone different when she went to the crossroads, I was just as surprised at the identity of the would-be devil. Namely, that he was a her. Honestly, that shouldn't have really shocked me, not with all of the Supernatural I watch, but it did change all of my expectations for this book.

I guess I was hoping for some forbidden romance between the devil and Blue. Which would have been top-notch, but I think what the author does with this story is even more amazing. It's a coming-of-age story, about finding your voice (literally) and discovering your own path, and all of the ups and downs that come along with it. It's a story of loss and hope, of love and acceptance. That last one plays a BIG part in this story.

Blue makes friends and allies on her trek, but she also finds the meaning of true evil along the way. She discovers that things are not always what they seem but that she should trust her instincts when it comes to real danger. And she learns that family can come in many forms.

This story felt like a folk song, eclectic and rich. (It also made me want to rewatch Supernatural.) What a beautiful, poignant novel, full of heart and a hint of magic. A very lovely debut, to be sure.

GIF it to me straight:

NTS: Always get the terms of the contract IN FULL before offering up your soul to a beautiful, silver-tongued devil.

About the author:

Jennifer is a lifelong fan of most anything with words. She’s checked for portals in every closet she’s ever encountered, and has never sat beneath the stars without watching for UFOs. Her stories have appeared in The Sun, Strange Horizons, and Daily Science Fiction, among others. DEVIL AND THE BLUEBIRD is her first novel. She lives in Massachusetts.

Find Jennifer:

Website | Twitter | Tumblr | Goodreads

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Labels: 2016 debut, abrams, beautiful covers, devil and the bluebird, folk lore, jennifer mason-black, magical realism, music

Review: 26 Kisses by Anna Michels

Title: 26 Kisses
Author: Anna Michels
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication Date: May 24th, 2016
Source: Received for review from publisher via Edelwiess
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Breaking up with her boyfriend is not how Veda planned on starting her summer. When Mark makes it clear that it’s over between them, Veda is heartbroken and humiliated—but, more importantly, she’s inspired. And so she sets out on the love quest of a lifetime: use the summer to forget about Mark, move on, and move up. All she has to do is kiss twenty-six boys with twenty-six different names—one for each letter of the alphabet.

From the top of the Ferris wheel at her hometown carnival to the sandy dunes of Lake Michigan, Veda takes every opportunity she can to add kisses (and boys) to her list, and soon the breakup doesn’t sting quite as much. But just when Veda thinks she has the whole kissing thing figured out, she meets someone who turns her world upside down.

By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Anna Michels’s debut is the story of one girl who realizes that moving on from the supposed love of your life means taking a chance—and having the courage to love again.

Sometimes you just need a fun light read, and 26 Kisses fits the bill perfectly. I needed this book so bad. I had just read a pretty emotional story and this one had me smiling the whole time. 

The gist is, Veda gets dumped by her boyfriend right before summer. She's devastated. Her friend and her come up with a plan for Veda to kiss 26 boys, one for every letter in the alphabet. SO Fun! There were a few letters that had me laughing out loud. 

The romance was cute. Because there is a romance, and her kissing challenge gets in the way of that a bit. I also enjoyed her interactions with her best friends. Things get sticky for reasons I won't mention, but I liked the over all message there. Yay friendships! 

There really isn't a whole bunch to say about 26 Kisses, but that's not a negative thing to say. It's an adorable summer read. It's not going to make you cry or keep you mind reeling for days after. And that's okay. It's just not supposed to be that kind of book. It will make you laugh however. You get what is promised and I was very pleased. :)

About the author:

When I was writing 26 Kisses, I asked myself, "If you could be seventeen again and be
kissed anywhere by any guy, what would happen?" My favorite scenes in the book grew out of that question--scenes that are stuffed to the gills with the sights, sounds, and smells of summer, and the fluttery feeling you really only get with a first kiss. I loved writing 26 Kisses, and I hope you love reading it!

Find Anna:

Website | Goodreads 

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Labels: 2016 debut, 26 kisses, Anna Michels, fun, kissing, reviews, simon pulse, summer

Review: Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

Title: Burning Glass
Author: Kathryn Purdie
Series: Burning Glass #1
Publisher: Katherine Tegan Books
Publication Date: March 1st, 2016
Source: Received for review from publisher via Edelwiess
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer.

Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her.

But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself.

As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.

BURNING GLASS is debut author Kathryn Purdie’s stunning tale of dangerous magic, heart-rending romance, and the hard-won courage it takes to let go.

I know Burning Glass doesn't come out until March, but I couldn't resist picking it up early. I was really itching to read a fantasy. There are so many things I really liked about this one. I'll start with those. 

Sonya's gift. I felt that was the most fascinating part of this story. You read so many stories with characters having a "special gift" these days. This one can freeze stuff on contact or that one can poop lightening.. you get the idea. One of the most popular ones is mind reading. For whatever the reason, I was under the impression that's what would be in Burning Glass. But it's not. It's so much more than that and I would know that had read the blurb again before starting it. I purposely don't sometimes because I enjoy the surprise. 

I really like how all that was written. I felt confused at times too with her feelings.. because were they her own or someone elses. That added a fun element to the book. And the fact she's thrown into this position to protect the emperor by reading others feelings. Talk about a high stress job. That part reminded me of poison study a bit. 

And there is a little bit O romance.. I dare say. I really liked that. Her ability makes that whole situation tricky.

The one thing I didn't really like about this book, I of course can't really discuss it because it would be spoilery. And it's not horrible, it just cost it a star from me. I don't even know how to vaguely mention it. I guess I could say that it all seemed a little too "easy" and I'll leave it at that. 

However, there are more books, so what I thought might have been too easy, could be a world of shit in the sequel. We shall see. I will definitely continue the series. 

About the author:

Kathryn’s love of storytelling began as a young girl when her dad told her about
someone named Boo Radley while they listened to the film score of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. In high school and college, Kathryn focused on acting, poetry, guitar, and extensive journal writing. Years later, when she was in recovery from donating a kidney to her brother, inspiration for her first novel struck. She’s been writing darkly fantastical stories ever since. Her debut novel, BURNING GLASS, releases winter 2016 from HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books.

Find Kathryn:

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

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Labels: 2016 debut, Burning Glass, fantasy, Katherine Tegen books, Kathryn Purdie, reviews