{Mini Reviews} MAP OF FATES, THE HEIR AND THE SPARE and GLASS SWORD

Title: Map of Fates
Author(s): Maggie Hall
Narrator(s): Julia Whelan
Series: The Conspiracy of Us, book #2
Length: 9 hrs 37 mins
Publisher: Listening Library
Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Source: audiobook from library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

Two weeks. 



That’s how long it took for Avery West’s ordinary life to change forever: In two weeks, she discovered she was heiress to a powerful secret society known as the Circle, learned her mother was taken hostage by the Circle’s enemies, and fell for a boy she’s not allowed to love, just as she found out another was her unwelcome destiny. 



Now, Avery crosses oceans in private jets to hunt for clues that will uncover the truth about the Circle, setting her mom and herself free before it’s too late. By her side are both the boys: Jack—steady, loyal, and determined to help her even at the expense of his own duty—and Stellan, whose connection to Avery grows stronger by the day despite her best intentions, making her question what she believes at every turn.



But at the end of a desperate hunt from the islands of Greece to the red carpet at Cannes comes a discovery that not only changes everything, but could bring the whole world to its knees. And now Avery is forced to face the truth: in the world of the Circle, no one is what they seem.

This is one of those series where I feel like I shouldn't like it as much as I do, but I can't help it cause it's just so fun and fast-paced and swoony. And the thing is, I think I liked this sequel even better than the first, and that's with the dreaded love triangle of doom.

The jet-setting in these books, the dresses, the galas...just the finery in general...are definitely a perk. And then there's the matter of that prophecy and what the Circle intends to do with Avery and all of that intrigue. It also helps that Avery is a little less one-dimensional in this book. What's weird, though, is that Jack has easily become my least favorite character.

Until the very end of Conspiracy, I didn't really think a triangle was inevitable. Sure, Stellan is an incorrigible flirt, but I honestly didn't think he had eyes for Avery. And maybe he didn't, not until the full realization that they were the prophesied ones hit him. I've preferred Stellan from the beginning because he never gave Avery reason to believe he was trustworthy. Jack, on the other hand, has always been hiding something and yet he expects Avery to put all of her trust in him from the get-go.

What happened between Avery and Jack in the first book was straight-up insta-love and though it was swoonworthy and they were in danger and fleeing for their lives half the time, it just felt like an adrenaline thing and not a real connection. That's why I prefer what develops between Avery and Stellan in this book. They talk and become more to each other than just a simple means of escape, literally and figuratively.

And then there's that ending! I'll freely admit that I had my doubts about this series -- and that maybe I enjoy it a little more than I care to admit -- but it's definitely entertaining.

About the author: 

Maggie Hall is a traveling, decorating, champagne-drinking, USC-football-watching YA author. She is currently traveling the world for an indefinite amount of time with her husband, which means right at this moment, she might be on a beach in Thailand, drinking wine in Paris, or anywhere in between.

Her debut novel, a YA international thriller, released from Putnam/Penguin in 2015.

She is represented by Claudia Ballard at William Morris Endeavor.

Find Maggie:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram | Tumblr

Title: The Heir and the Spare
Author(s): Emily Albright
Series: untitled, book #1
Publisher: Merit Press
Publication Date: January 18, 2016
Source: borrowed from library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Family can be complicated. Especially when skeletons from the past pop up unexpectedly. For American Evie Gray, finding out her deceased mother had a secret identity, and not one of the caped crusader variety, was quite the surprise. Evie’s mom had a secret life before she was even born, one that involved tiaras.

In this modern day fairytale, Evie is on a path to figure out who her mom really was, while discovering for herself what the future will hold. Charged with her late mother’s letters, Evie embarks on a quest into her past. The first item on the list is to attend Oxford, her mom’s alma mater. There, Evie stumbles upon a real life prince charming, Edmund Stuart the second Prince of England, who is all too happy to be the counterpart to her damsel in distress.

Evie can’t resist her growing attraction to Edmund as they spend more time together trying to unravel the clues her mother left behind. But, when doubts arise as to whether or not Edmund could ever be with an untitled American, what really ends up unraveling is Evie’s heart. When Evie uncovers all the facts about her mom’s former life, she realizes her mom’s past can open doors she never dreamed possible, doors that can help her be with Edmund. But, with everything now unveiled, Evie starts to crack under the pressure of new family responsibilities and the realization that her perfect prince may want her for all the wrong reasons.

Doesn't that premise sound adorable? It does, right? And so far as that aspect goes, it was. It was just the execution that I found almost unbearable.

For starters, I don't think the author did very much research, if any. I've never been to England, but I've read many books set there and watched many a travel show featuring England, and I think I could have done a better job with the slang and the attractions and the overall experience of an American in England for the first time. The lack of research also lends itself to an air of unbelievability, especially where the royals and culture are concerned.

The romance was sweet, but it's also what made this book so messy, since Evie just couldn't get a handle on the fact that Prince Edmund might feel about her the way she did about him. 'Course, if they'd ever deigned to have a real conversation about their feelings, a lot of those painfully awkward situations could have been avoided. Also, if Evie could control her temper and maybe see beyond herself for a second, she'd have realized that a lot of the misunderstandings were her fault.

And as if romancing a prince weren't enough to keep her busy, she's trying to discover what secrets her mother kept that could only be revealed by coming to London. It was pretty easy to guess her lineage, but Evie was in deep, deep denial. Which was pretty annoying considering that uncovering those secrets was obviously going to be the key to unlocking her future happiness.

I don't know...it was cute, in a cringe-worthy sort of way, but the writing was atrocious and the characters themselves left me annoyed more often than not. And now I find out there's supposed to be a sequel? Sorry, but I think I'll leave well enough alone.

About the author:

Emily Albright's debut novel, THE HEIR AND THE SPARE, is available now from Merit Press. The sequel, EVERYDAY MAGIC, releases this November.

She's a writer, a major bookworm, a lover of romantic movies, a wife, a mother, an owner of one adorable (yet slightly insane) cockapoo, and uses way too many :).

Find Emily:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

Title: Glass Sword
Author(s): Victoria Aveyard
Narrator(s): Amanda Dolan
Series: Red Queen, book #2
Length: 14 hrs 39 mins
Publisher: HarperAudio
Publication Date: February 9, 2016
Source: audiobook from library
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Audible

If there’s one thing Mare Barrow knows, it’s that she’s different.

Mare Barrow’s blood is red—the color of common folk—but her Silver ability, the power to control lightning, has turned her into a weapon that the royal court tries to control.

The crown calls her an impossibility, a fake, but as she makes her escape from Maven, the prince—the friend—who betrayed her, Mare uncovers something startling: she is not the only one of her kind.

Pursued by Maven, now a vindictive king, Mare sets out to find and recruit other Red-and-Silver fighters to join in the struggle against her oppressors.

But Mare finds herself on a deadly path, at risk of becoming exactly the kind of monster she is trying to defeat.

Will she shatter under the weight of the lives that are the cost of rebellion? Or have treachery and betrayal hardened her forever?

The electrifying next installment in the Red Queen series escalates the struggle between the growing rebel army and the blood-segregated world they’ve always known—and pits Mare against the darkness that has grown in her soul.

Gawd, why? Why did I read this? Or more accurately, listen to this? I didn't like the first book all that much, and yet when I saw the sequel on the library website, I couldn't resist grabbing it. And yet again, I was massively disappointed by a book that for all intents and purposes, was really well-hyped.

I think what bothers me most is that this book was so boring boring boring, spot of action, boring boring boring, and repeat ad nauseam till the very end when things finally get really good. Much like the first book. Almost feels like to have any chance of enjoying these books, I just need to read the very end of each one and just have someone fill me in on the rest. Because those endings are just enough to pull me back in. Which is, I guess, the reason I ended up picking this one up, though I had no intentions of continuing the series after Red Queen.

The one thing that could really make me like the next book, I think, is if Mare develops some serious Stockholm syndrome. (I know: I'm sick.) The potential is already there, what with her carrying around those notes and hiding them from Cal. But also, this scenario feels strangely reminiscent of Shadow and Bone, but where I loved that series and found the second to be my favorite, I'm having trouble finding anything to like about this one, and we're only on book two of four.

Basically, I'm disgusted with myself for caving, but I can't promise I won't be back for more torture with book three because explosive ending was explosive. #dammit

About the author:

After growing up in small town Massachusetts, Victoria attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She graduated with a BFA in Screenwriting, which is exactly the degree being sought after in a recession.

She tries her best to combine her love of history, explosions, and butt-kicking heroines in her writing. Her hobbies include the impossible task of predicting what happens next in A Song of Ice and Fire, road trips, and burning through Netflix.

Find Victoria:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr

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Labels: audiobooks, emily albright, harper-collins, maggie hall, merit press, mini reviews, penguin, red queen, reviews, the conspiracy of us, the heir and the spare, victoria aveyard

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Series: Red Queen
Publisher: Orion
Publication Date: February 10th, 2015
Source: Purchased
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?

I was a little nervous about picking this one up, because it only earned 3 stars from Jen. You can read her review here. Red Queen is compared to Graceling and The Selection. I read Graceling a long time ago and I liked it. I can't really vouch for it's comparison to The Selection though, because I've only just started that one. 

I try not to read to much into the... "This book is such and such book meets such and such book". Because half the time.. it's all bull shit. And it's nothing like either. Red Queen reminded me of a lot of different books, but it worked for me. It was a nice blend. 

I'll be honest in saying that one of the things that made reading this so enjoyable was the fact I buddy read it with Jess. Reading with a friend is so freaking fun, especially when you read a book like this that has so many twists and turns. There were many WTF texts flying between our phones. 

Red Queen wasn't quite what I expected it to be, but I did go in somewhat blind and that added to the experience. I read the blurb months and months ago back when I added it to my 'to read' list, but I did not read it before we started. 

I loved the whole Silver/Red blood thing. It kind of reminded me of the Red Rising world, with the color classes.. but less complicated. I wish I had silver blood. How cool would that be. And not to be gross, but I kept wondering if these silver bitches had silver periods!! They would almost have to, right? I really want to know! And if a red and a silver were to procreate, would their blood then look pinkish? Like a metallic pink? 

Anyway, I thought Red Queen was super fun and interesting. It leaves you hanging a bit.. but what series book doesn't? I'm really looking forward to reading the next one. 

About the author:

After growing up in small town Massachusetts, Victoria attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She graduated with a BFA in Screenwriting, which is exactly the degree being sought after in a recession.

She tries her best to combine her love of history, explosions, and butt-kicking heroines in her writing. Her hobbies include the impossible task of predicting what happens next in A Song of Ice and Fire, road trips, and burning through Netflix.

Find Victoria:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr

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Labels: buddy reads, fantasy, fun, harper-collins, red queen, reviews, silver period, victoria aveyard

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Series: Red Queen Trilogy, book #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 10, 2014
Source: received from publisher via Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with common, Red blood serve the Silver- blooded elite, who are gifted with superhuman abilities. Mare is a Red, scraping by as a thief in a poor, rural village, until a twist of fate throws her in front of the Silver court. Before the king, princes, and all the nobles, she discovers she has an ability of her own.

To cover up this impossibility, the king forces her to play the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks everything and uses her new position to help the Scarlet Guard--a growing Red rebellion--even as her heart tugs her in an impossible direction. One wrong move can lead to her death, but in the dangerous game she plays, the only certainty is betrayal.

Red Queen had the potential to be epic. And for some early readers, it seems to have been just that. But I think I let my excitement for this book get the better of me because the story I read just doesn't match up to other reader reactions...or my expectations.

I tried to ignore the comparisons to Graceling and The Selection before reading the book. I loved Graceling but I barely tolerated The Selection...though I did find it a compulsively readable series -- even if the story was banal and uninspired. And that's the same reason, I think, that I just didn't enjoy this novel as much as I'd hoped to. It's a mash-up of a lot of other stories I've enjoyed...and some that I haven't. It was slowslowslow to start. And the romance seems to be the focal point, despite the fact that the magical system and brewing revolution would have been much more captivating had they been more central to the story. Instead, they were background issues and were left mostly unexplored.

I found the special abilities that the Silvers were in possession of to be quite intriguing. Though they felt less like the graces the characters in Graceling had and more like powers developed through some genetic mutation, a la The X-Men, they gave the user an element (air, water, fire, etc.) to wield and use at their disposal...in fighting arenas where they were put on display before the lesser Reds to show how much mightier they were. The characters did practice with and demonstrate their gifts on occasion, including Mare, but not nearly enough for my liking. I wanted this to be an epic fantasy and the element that would have made it such was just lacking in development. Why do only Silvers have these abilities? Why does Mare, a Red, have them now? It's only the first book, but I still have so many questions, especially when it comes to the world-building.

I expect that the coming revolution between Reds and Silvers may be featured more prominently in future installments, if that ending is anything to go by, but I wanted to see more of it in this first book. It's been a bit since I read this novel, but I don't actually remember having the segregation of the Reds and Silvers explained, how the difference in blood and the magic, or lack thereof, came to pass. It's obvious that the Reds are unhappy and preparing to retaliate for their mistreatment all these years, but besides a few minor incidents, the only sign of a rebellion was the existence of the Scarlet Guard, and it seemed very, very small in comparison to the legions of soldiers under Silver control.

I think the aspect that killed this book for me was the romance, though. I like romance in the stories I read. In fact, I prefer there be at least a hint of it in most stories. But then there are those novels where the romance just overpowers the rest of the story, choking out anything good and interesting in order to heighten the drama. This is one of those books. And it wasn't just the fact that there's a love triangle involved -- though it's the kind I actually can't ignore, and I'm pretty tolerant when it comes to LTs -- or that it pitted two brothers against each other. It was the fact that if the MC had been smarter, had seen through the guise at the Silver court, there wouldn't have been a love triangle to begin with. Also, there's yet a third guy who's interested in Mare, and he would have been the guy I'd shipped her with in the beginning -- probably...maybe -- but now I just want his character arc to fizzle out and go away.

This story was just so full of drama for so much of the book. I was never in danger of not finishing it, though, because like The Selection, it was hard to look away from it. I mean, what is that? It's like hearing a song you hate but that's catchy regardless and ends up stuck in your head all day. Annoying, right? Honestly, Red Queen does get kind of exciting toward the end, even with an obvious reveal that I saw coming from a mile away, and ensured that I will have to pick up the next book, even if this one didn't blow me away. It wasn't horrible, but it also wasn't nearly as good as I expected.

GIF it to me straight:

About the author:

After growing up in small town Massachusetts, Victoria attended the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. She graduated with a BFA in Screenwriting, which is exactly the degree being sought after in a recession.

She tries her best to combine her love of history, explosions, and butt-kicking heroines in her writing. Her hobbies include the impossible task of predicting what happens next in A Song of Ice and Fire, road trips, and burning through Netflix.

Find Victoria:

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Tumblr

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Labels: beautiful covers, fantasy, harper-collins, red queen, reviews, superpowers, victoria aveyard

Waiting on Wednesday: Ugly Love & Red Queen

"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: Ugly Love
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: n/a
Publisher: Atria Books
Publication Date: August 5th, 2014

When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

I have read and loved just about every book put out by Colleen Hoover. I'll admit, this one worries me a tiny bit, but so did her last one, Maybe Someday and I enjoyed it. So I should't worry, right? I'm really looking forward to this messy romance. One more month!! Can't wait! Might end up going audio with this one.

's Pick:

Title: Red Queen
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Series: n/a at this time
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication Date: February 10, 2015

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood--those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but when her best friend is conscripted into the army she gambles everything to win his freedom. A twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself, where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers a power of her own--an ability she didn't know she had. Except . . . her blood is Red.

To hide this impossibility, the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, she risks her new position to aid the Scarlet Guard--the leaders of a Red rebellion. Her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince--and Mare against her own heart.

From debut author Victoria Aveyard comes a lush, vivid fantasy series where loyalty and desire can tear you apart and the only certainty is betrayal.

I just discovered this book late last week on Goodreads, but I'm already so excited for it! That cover is amazing, and that tagline: Power is a dangerous game. Gah! One thing, though...the first time I saw the premise, I read the MC's name as Bone Marrow, I guess because the book is about blood and the name is similar. Whatever. I don't care if her name is Seymour Butts, I'd still read the hell out of this, lol.


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

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Labels: beautiful covers, colleen hoover, contemporary, fantasy, harper-collins, red queen, simon schuster, ugly love, victoria aveyard, waiting on wednesday (wow)