A Book Review: Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross

Divine Rivals (Letters of Enchantment #1)
Author: Rebecca Ross
Format: Digital
Genre: YA, Romance, Magical Realism, Historical
Publication Date: April 4, 2023

Date Read: July 28, 2023

Synopsis:

When two young rival journalists find love through a magical connection, they must face the depths of hell, in a war among gods, to seal their fate forever.

After centuries of sleep, the gods are warring again. But eighteen-year-old Iris Winnow just wants to hold her family together. Her mother is suffering from addiction and her brother is missing from the front lines. Her best bet is to win the columnist promotion at the Oath Gazette.

To combat her worries, Iris writes letters to her brother and slips them beneath her wardrobe door, where they vanish—into the hands of Roman Kitt, her cold and handsome rival at the paper. When he anonymously writes Iris back, the two of them forge a connection that will follow Iris all the way to the front lines of battle: for her brother, the fate of mankind, and love.

This was a booktok recommendation that really piqued my interest. I tend to love enemies to lovers so I was already sold but it also had mythical gods at war which is right up my alley. To me though, this book really started off slow and I actually contemplated about putting it down. However, I'm glad I didn't because once the two main characters were surrounded by the war, it really hooked me in and I couldn't put it down. Rebecca Ross did a great job writing this wonderful enemies to lover story that just so happens to end with a huge cliffhanger that will make you immediately preorder the next book that drops in December.

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

My Rating:

A Book Review: Starsight by Brandon Sanderson

Starsight (Skyward #2)
Author: Brandon Sanderson
Format: Hardcover
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction
Publication Date: November 26, 2019

Synopsis:

All her life, Spensa's dreamed of becoming a pilot and proving herself a hero like her father. She made it to the sky, but the truths she learned there were crushing. The rumors of her father's cowardice are true--he deserted his Flight during battle against the Krell. Worse, though, he turned against his team and attacked them.

Spensa is sure that there's more to the story. And she's sure that whatever happened to her father that day could happen to her. When she made it outside the protective shell of her planet, she heard the stars--and what they revealed to her was terrifying. Everything Spensa has been taught about her world is a lie.

Humankind has always celebrated heros, but who defines what a hero is? Could humanity be the evil the galaxy needs to be protected from? Spensa is determined to find out, but each answer she discovers reveals a dozen new questions: about the war, about her enemies, and even, perhaps, about Spensa herself.

But Spensa also discovered a few other things about herself--and she'll travel to the end of the galaxy to save humankind if she needs to.

Sophomore books are so hard to read because you never know if it's going to meet your expectations. However, this book was a really great continuation of Skyward.

The whole first book we were wondering why Spensa's colony was not allowed off of their planet and this book finally answers the question, plus so many more. We get introduced to a new group of characters but still get the great camraderie between Spensa and M-Bot. I however really missed the Spensa - Jorgen relationship. I knew going into it that this book was probably going to be mainly Spensa but I really wish we could have seen more of what her friends were up to instead of little snippets.

With that aside, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's made me so excited to read book 3. I am reading along with my daughter and we both decided to spread the books out and not read Cytonic (Skyward #3) until August since Defiant (Skyward #4) won't be released until November.

My Rating:

A Book Review: Rule by Jay Crownover

Rule (Marked Men #1)
Author: Jay Crownover
Format: E-book
Genre: Young Adult, New Adult
Publication Date: December 30, 2012

Synopsis:

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight-A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want—and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

I received this book as a Random Act of Kindness in the oh-so-wonderful Llama Library group on Facebook. I had seen a couple of posts from the ladies there talking about this book and I was really excited when one day it popped up in my email as a gift.

Holy Hell-balls, the sexual tension in this book is to die for! I absolutely LOVED the characters that Jay Crownover has created. The plot. Shaw. Rule. ANGST.. it all makes for a wonderful story. Just the fact that Jay took the extra time to actually develop her story and her characters was a huge plus for me. It seems like the books I've been reading here lately, all fall flat when reading. Either they develop the story OR the characters, never both and that just makes a book boring, or unrealistic.

I kind of warred with what rating to give the book but I finally ended up with 3 1/2 marks which got bumped up to 4 Marks. Mainly, because it really kept me entertained. There was serious angst, some violence and, of course, some good loving. I can't tell you how much I love Shaw and Rule together. 

“It’s always been you even when I didn’t want it to be, even when it broke my heart over and over again. It’s just always been you.”

I have to admit though, that not long after starting it I had the thought that this story originally must have been a fan fiction piece. The editing in this book was pretty much non existent. There were quite a few typographical errors throughout the book, for instance, where whole words were missing. And grammatical errors that if this story would have been just put into a word editor, they would have red and green squiggly lines everywhere. 

Even with it's flaws though, I would say it didn't hinder the way I enjoyed the characters or the storyline, just hopefully she has learned from this book and has since hired an editor. 

“You have to promise not to bail on me when I get lost, Shaw. You have to promise to just wait it out until I can find my way back. I need to know you’re at the end of the tunnel when everything goes black.”

If you want a pretty quick read, definitely check this book out (the link is below). I'm really looking forward to reading the next book in the Marked Men series, Jet, which is already begging to be read on my kindle. 

My Rating:

Book Review: Hollowland

Hollowland (Hollows #1)
Author: Amanda Hocking
Format: Kindle
Genre: YA Dystopian, Paranormal
Publication Date: October 6, 2010

Synopsis:

Hollowland - the first book in the young adult dystopian series The Hollows...

"This is the way the world ends - not with a bang or a whimper, but with zombies breaking down the back door."

Nineteen-year-old Remy King is on a mission to get across the wasteland left of America, and nothing will stand in her way - not violent marauders, a spoiled rock star, or an army of flesh-eating zombies.

I read Amanda Hocking's Trylle Trilogy a few years ago and loved them. So when I saw the kindle version of Hollowland free on amazon, I decided to grab it.

The protagonist is Remy King, an emotionally cut off 19 year old, who is racing across the country in search of her kid brother, Max. After a zombie attack on the government quarantine the army moved Max, who was in the care of the medical ward, to another quarantine to the North.

With the help of friends, Harlow, Lazlo & Blue and her newly acquired lioness, Ripley, she treks across many states in search of Max. Along the way they run into hordes of zombies (of course), a crazy cult leader, deadly marauders and an underground refuge that seems too good to be true. The action in this book just kept coming at you. I felt tired after ready the book because of all these poor characters were put through.

I can't say that I enjoyed all the characters. For instance, Harlow was just flat out annoying to me. She was the little-sister type that was overly clingy and loved to whine over everything. I'm not sure about you but when the world is overrun by zombies and you're fighting for your life, the last thing I would want around is a whiny kid that didn't couldn't do anything. Blue was a small character but I think was very important to the story line with his medical background. They probably would have been killed off really early in the book without him around.

Lazlo and Remy would have to be my favorites, though. Remy because even though she is only 19, she is a total hard ass. She had one objective in mind, to get to her brother, and there was nothing that was going to stand in her way. Despite her being closed off and many (many) rejections, somehow Lazlo broke through her barrier and made Remy care. Sweet little love like that always makes me swoon.


I think Amanda Hocking did a good job at writing this book. As soon as I finished, I went directly to amazon and picked up the second book, Hollowmen. Be on the lookout for that review as well.

My Rating:

WWW Wednesday 7/16/2014

This weekly meme is hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…

• What are you currently reading? 
• What did you recently finish reading? 
• What do you think you’ll read next?


My answers:

What are you currently reading? I’m reading book 2 of the Paranormals series by JL Bryan, "Johnny Nightmare". Genre is Paranormal Young Adult and I'm really enjoying it. I've read alot of people didn't find JL Bryan's books realistic (duh it's paranormal) but I haven't really found anything I don't like yet.

What did you recently finish reading? Book 1 of the Paranormals series by JL Bryan, "Jenny Pox". Jenny Pox was an awesome start to a great series. Jenny can't touch anyone without spreading a plague. With no mother, an alcoholic father, and no friends, her life is pretty boring. I loved the twists and turns in this book. I can't wait to read the other books in the series.

What do you think you’ll read next? Torch Song by Shelley Singer. It's supposedly a kick-ass heroine in a post apocalyptic world. Who wouldn't love that?


PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog).

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Format: ebook (courtesy of the author)
Genre: Paranormal Romance, YA
Publication Date: Dec 14, 2012

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake. A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood. She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.

An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains. Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

Will she succeed? ...or is she destined to the same fate that all other girls have met at the hands of the Novaks?

The plot of the book hooked me in right away. A kidnapping, horribly terrifying coven of vampires and... love? Bella Forrest had some awesome ideas for this book that should invite in a lot of readers.

The island Sofia is abducted to is called "The Shade"and because of a powerful witch, is forever in the dark of night. Vampire Prince, Derek, tried to escape the life of a vampire by going under a spell and sleeping for hundreds of years. Unfortunately it has finally came to a time where he needs to awake, and his brother Lucas has to round up girls including Sofia, for Derek. It's just too Bad Lucas wants Sofia all to himself.

The further I got into the story, the more I wanted to know. Especially about Derek and his family. I was worried from the beginning that the book is on the small end, and I didn't think I would get enough entertainment out of it. But surprisingly Forrest did a really good job introducing you to many of the important characters and you go the feel of them right away. Never really any long introductions, just straight to the point. I think one of the only character that I wish were introduced too would be Derek's father. I'm assuming we will meet him in one of the next two books, but he seemed rather important and it felt disappointing that he was only mentioned. Also, there were some scenes that were very predictable and of course, when it comes to vampire stories, there are going to be some over-used ideas but I think it was wonderfully written. Definitely a quick read for a rainy day. I am looking forward to picking up the next two books in the series as well.

My Rating:

Screwed by Laurie Plissner

Publisher: Merit Press Publication Date: May 18, 2013 Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Grace was the girl who always did everything right, until the night she fell for a boy's sleazy line and became pregnant. Nick couldn't care less about pretty math-geek Grace or the baby he fathered. He's had a dozen girls like her, and he'll have a dozen more. When Grace confesses to her super-religious, strait-laced parents, they deliver a shocker: They've scheduled an abortion. All they want is to pretend this never happened.

When Grace balks, they literally throw her out in the street. A rich, elderly neighbor takes her in, and, with the help of the friendship she needs in Charlie, the old woman's great-nephew, she must make the toughest choice of her young life. The people she believed in were only playing a role, while others, in an unlikely way, are true heroes.

Grace can never have the life she planned, but she has one chance to be the person she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Her choice will cost her, big time, either way--and no one can make it except her.

Review: 
I have mixed feelings about this book. When I first saw it online, I thought it had a really good story line to it. How many girls do you hear about nowadays that are getting pregnant at 16...15.... even 14.. I like that Laurie Plissner had the courage to write about such a touchy subject.

Many times you hear about a one-time hook up that ends up in teen pregnancy. When uptight, goody-goody, Grace, finds out she is pregnant in high school, it isn't even her worst nightmare. She never even imagined this happening so how could it have even been a nightmare? It's more like a disaster. Quickly after finding out, her parent's demand an abortion and she refuses. She is then shunned from the family. Her neighbor who Grace really doesn't know anything about comes to her rescue. She gives her a place to live and support that her parents should have shown her.

While staying with Mrs. T, she meets her hostess's great-nephew, Charlie. Throughout the story Charlie and Grace's friend, Jennifer, are there for her through thick and thin. I think some girls would die for that type of support from their peers. 

I give the book 3 bookmarks because it seemed a little unrealistic to me. I mean, I know some girls do have a 'knight in shining armor' or a 'fairy grandmother' type person who can come in to rescue you at trying times in your life but 9 times out of 10, this doesn't happen. When I first read the synopsis, I figured her neighbor took her in just to get her back on her feet for a little while, not that the neighbor was loaded and that she pretty much had one of the easiest pregnancies out there while living in style. This is where my mixed feelings come in. I do see where she had troubles throughout the pregnancy. Her parent's having nothing to do with her, the poor excuse of a human being that knocked her up, and the bullying at school but something about the way it was written didn't really hit me as being 'that bad'. Usually when my emotions get tied into a book, I enjoy them more. Maybe that was what happened, I didn't feel all that bad for Grace. I can't explain why, I just didn't.

On the other side, I did really like the relationship between Grace and Charlie. He was her rock and was never judgmental  What happened happened and there was nothing he could do about it but love Grace like she needed to be. I wish we could have seen more of a relationship with the two of them but I completely understand why we didn't. She was a pregnant teenager. Who would really start  a relationship when they felt like they were as big as a boat and the guy was a hottie. That just doesn't happen unless you were already in the relationship before hand. They were pretty much strangers and were just starting to know each other and I accept that. 

I'm not going to say I don't recommend this book. Because I do. I urge you to. I want you to read it and tell me what you thought. Could you relate with the character or were you just as disconnected as I was? Do you disagree with my rating?

My rating:

Spellbinding by Maya Gold

Publisher: Point/Scholastic Publication Date: April 1, 2013 Genre: Young Adult

 Synopsis:

There's more than one way to be powerful . . .

It is during a routine school project that Abby Silva--sixteen and nearly friendless--makes a startling discovery: She is descended from women who were accused of witchcraft back in 1600s Salem. And when Abby visits nearby Salem, strange, inexplicable events start to unfold. Objects move when she wills them to. Candles burst into sudden flame. And an ancient spellbook somehow winds up in her possession.

Trying to harness her newfound power, Abby concocts a love potion to win over her longtime crush--and exact revenge upon his cruel, bullying girlfriend. But old magic is not to be trifled with. Soon, Abby is thrust headlong into a world of hexes, secrets, and danger. And then there's Rem Anders, the beautiful, mysterious Salem boy who seems to know more about Abby than he first lets on.

A reckoning is coming, and Abby will have to make sense of her history--and her heart--before she can face the powerful truth.

Review: 

I LOVE "witchy" stories. Something about how one can call on the elements to do their bidding has always interested me. What really drew me in when I saw this book was the cover. it is mysterious, and.. witchy. After the summary, I knew I just had to read it. 

Abby Silva, a 16 year old nobody, refers to herself as "background". And I got the feeling right away that that is pretty much true to everyone in the book, even her family. Her mom is gone and her dad doesn't really pay attention. Abby is written as a normal high school character. She has best friend Rachel whom is pretty much all she has in the world and has an oh-so-hot crush, Travis, that just so happens to have the meanest girl in school as his girlfriend. 

Because of an assignment that nobody in her history class did well on, she has to do research paper on her family tree. While her dad's side is fairly easy, her mom's side has many holes in it. There are generation gaps that just don't make sense. After talking to her dad and more research, she figures out that she had family in Salem during the witch trials. Freaky. 

During a trip to Salem with the best friend, explainable things happen. There is the burst of technicolor that happens when crossing the bridge into Salem, Rem, the guy at the cafe who couldn't take his eyes off of her (or hers off of him), and then the mysterious diary that 'magically' appears in her purse when she knew she put it back on the shelf in the library. From that day on more and more things start to unfold. She figures out that the diary isn't a diary at all, but a spell book. It teaches her different incantations like how to light candles with your mind and more importantly a love spell to put on Travis. 

What the book doesn't tell her though, is that magic can be tricky and doesn't always work out the way you expect it to.

Reading this book came very easy. It rolled right along and pretty much had no hiccups at all. Some might say that it was too predictable but I think it was just right. I would say that it is aimed at the younger end of the Young Adult spectrum but it is still enjoyable to someone a little older. It's a bit short, I think we could have had a little bit more of character growth, which is why I gave it 4 out of 5 bookmarks but I would definitely recommend it. 

My Rating:

Happy Reading,
Steph

Lichgates (Grimoire Saga, #1) by S.M. Boyce

Lichgates (Grimoire Saga #1)
Author: S.M. Boyce
Format: E-book
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date: October 15, 2011

Synopsis:

Kara, a college student still reeling from her mother’s recent death, has no idea the hidden world of Ourea even exists until a freak storm traps her in a sunken library. With no way out, she opens an ancient book of magic called the Grimoire and unwittingly becomes its master, which means Kara now wields the cursed book’s untamed power.

Discovered by Ourea's royalty, she becomes an unwilling pawn in a generations-old conflict—a war intensified by her arrival. In this world of chilling creatures and betrayal, Kara shouldn’t trust anyone… but she’s being hunted and can’t survive on her own. She drops her guard when Braeden, a native soldier with a dark secret, vows to keep her safe. And though she doesn’t know it, her growing attraction to him may just be her undoing.

For twelve years, Braeden Drakonin has lived a lie. The Grimoire is his one chance at redemption, and it lands in his lap when Kara Magari comes into his life. Though he begins to care for this human girl, there is something he wants more. He wants the Grimoire.

Welcome to Ourea, where only the cunning survive.

I could NOT put this book down. Within minutes of starting this book I was hooked.

We start off with Kara on a hike the gorgeous mountains of Colorado. She stumbles across Lichgate that turns her life upside down. This Lichgate transports her into the world of Ourea and evenutally into the Grimoire's locked library.  From first the first sighting of the Grimoire, I knew it was going to be an adventure. The note along with the book confirmed it.

"From the moment you read these words, you will be hunted."

Now if that doesn't confirm your fate, what does? From there the story moves pretty fast, she instantly captured and meets Braeden. Braeden is the Blood Prince of evil King Cardin. He has been on the run for 12 years, trying to find a way out of his father's control and make their land peaceful again.

Braeden becomes her companion, or guardian, in a way. He helps her throughout the story with her trials and teaches her all about her new home.  Even though Braeden helps Kara out, don't for a second think that she is a 'damsel in distress' character. Far from it actually. She isn't scared to fight back and to talk a little trash while she's at it. 

I'm finding myself babbling, and I know I'm not doing the book justice. Just know that if you are a Lord of the Rings/Eragon type of person, I really recommend Lichgates. There are so many characters to meet, so many stories to learn and they are all woven together with a big pretty bow. All nice an neat and ready to be unwrapped by you, the reader. 

Now, run. Go get it! 

My Rating:

Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt

Going Vintage
Author: Lindsey Leavitt
Format: E-Book
Genre: Young Adult
Publication Date: March 26, 2013

Synopsis:

When Mallory’s boyfriend, Jeremy, cheats on her with an online girlfriend, Mallory decides the best way to de-Jeremy her life is to de-modernize things too. Inspired by a list of goals her grandmother made in 1962, Mallory swears off technology and returns to a simpler time (when boyfriends couldn't cheat with computer avatars). 

The List:

1. Run for pep club secretary 

2. Host a fancy dinner party/soiree

3. Sew a dress for Homecoming

4. Find a steady

5. Do something dangerous

But simple proves to be crazy-complicated, and the details of the past begin to change Mallory’s present. Add in a too-busy grandmother, a sassy sister, and the cute pep-club president–who just happens to be her ex’s cousin–and soon Mallory begins to wonder if going vintage is going too far.

Oh my goodness, this book is so cute! I'm usually one that sticks with the dark, action filled books. I love a good dystopian or thriller but this one was an awesome change of pace. 

We've come to be a world that completely revolves around technology. If you go to a restaurant or even your own dinner table, you will usually see heads ducked and nobody talking. Lindsey Leavitt had a great idea when creating this book. Many teenagers (especially the ones I know) would never have the determination to do all the things that Mallory does in this book. 

Mallory is a spunky, quick witted, and not quite in with the "in crowd" type of girl. She's cute, smart and finds herself in a girls worst nightmare. Boyfriend cheating, rumors flying and nobody understanding type of scenario. Throw in a over protective younger sister that has the best intentions, clueless parents and her ex's cousin, you have lots of fun and drama!  

The only thing that I didn't agree with and I would never see happening is the way Grandma's secret was brought to light. Yeah, it would probably be introduced the way it was, but I couldn't believe that a family would be that understanding that fast. To go with the theme of the book, I could see yelling, crying and lots of stubbornness. Besides that though, I recommend this book for a quick, light read. 

I am definitely passing this one on to the teen reader in the family, I know she will like it as much as I do.

My Rating:

Fever by Lauren DeStefano

Fever (The Chemical Garden #2)
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Format: E-Book
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Publication Date: February 21, 2012

Synopsis:

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.

Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.

The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.

In the sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price - now that she has more to lose than ever.

All I can say is Wow. I am behind on the Chemical Garden trilogy. I read Wither two years ago and forgot to go back to Fever when I received the release notice. I have finally found some time to read the book and I wasn't disappointed. 

If you are familiar with this trilogy, you know how tragic these books can be. A perfect dystopian feel. Fever is definitely not as grave as it's predecessor, Wither, but it still has it's dark, dreary feel to it. I remember at times while reading Wither, I had to put the book away and go read something else. Anything else, actually. Just to get away from the depressing tone.

Fever wasn't as heartbreaking to me but I didn't zip through this book like I normally would. Even though, I loved the book and the way Lauren DeStefano paints the perfect imagery in her writing, this book just seemed to drag. The bad luck for the couple just kept coming and got worse at each turn of the page. At some points, I just wanted it to end because I didn't think I could take anymore. 

Fever picked right up where Wither left off with our couple running for their lives.  They have finally escaped the horrible mansion and are on their way to New York to find Rhine's brother, Rowan. On their way they are side swept into another part of their changed-for-the-worse world; a carnival of girls. From there, we are introduced to some new characters. A mad-woman, Madame, who has many plans for Rhine. Lilac and her malformed daughter, Maddie and a few other thorny characters. 

Rhine and Gabriel out in the real world and away from the mansion brings a whole new light and questions to their relationship. Does Rhine really love Gabriel or was he a way to escape? Are they finally going to be together before the disease catches up to them or are things just so different that they get ripped apart? 

I went into the book with tons of questions and ended the book with even more. I can't wait to pick up the next book, Sever, to find  the answers. If dystopians are your thing and you haven't picked up these books yet, I really recommend that you do. You definitely won't be disappointed. 

My Rating:

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Shatter Me (#1)
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Format: E-Book
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian
Publication Date: November 15, 2011

Synopsis:
I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Many authors try to their hearts content to get the feelings of their characters across the page and to reach the readers. I've read some books that fail completely but then there are some authors like Taherah Mafi who really has the gift for it. From the very first page I could feel the pain that the protagonist, Juliette, felt. The coldness of her surrounding, her family, her life. When she was scared or ready to give up, I felt that way as well. It really leapt off the pages like a 3D movie. 

We join Juliette while she is locked away in a mental institution. She hasn't seen her family in years and hasn't spoken a word in 264 days. She is all alone. Then Adam, her new cellmate, crashes into her world and completely flips it upside down. Adam is the dreamy guy that any girl who would want. He protects you, he loves you, he is your everything. The only problem is Adam has a few secrets. Would you trust him? 

People are trying to make Juliette into a weapon. They see her as a tool, as a means to and end. Is she to the point in her life where she wants to give up and just be what they want? Or can she overcome herself and become a warrior. Fight the wrong and make it right? 

I absolutely could not put this book down. It sucked me in from the beginning and I found myself wanting, no needing, the next book to already be here.

My Rating: