the_ya_book_talk

     Beatrice Hartley is an outcast among her friends. A year since graduation, and she's nervous about rejoining them for the weekend. After spending a night out together, they are driving back to the mansion they are calling home for the weekend when they just barely avoid crashing into another car. Once back at the mansion, a strange man knocks on their door. This was made even more strange by the fact that a terrible storm was occurring at the time. The man says it is now their job to participate in the vote where they must make a unanimous decision on the one among them that will live. Naturally, they are creeped out, but they do not take him seriously. That is, until they wake up the next morning and find out they are living the same day over. They live this day over and over again, losing track of time. Each replay gets a little but worse- secrets are uncovered, fears are brought to life, and past events twist in odd ways. The friends are officially a part of the N...

     I want to start this off with an apology. This review was supposed to be uploaded here quite a while ago. Apparently, when I uploaded the post and the review on Goodreads, I forgot to do it here and just realized it was still in my drafts, so now the reviews are out of order :( I am so sorry about this! Just to clarify, this is the FIRST book in the Shadow and Bone trilogy.        Alina Starkov is a soldier doomed to be sent to the Shadow Fold- an area of land that is pitch black and contains monstrous creatures. While traveling through the Shadow Fold, her and her regiment are attacked, and Alina releases a power buried deep in her. Now she will train with other military who have powers- the Grisha. Their leader, the Darkling, thinks that if Alina can learn to control her magic, she can destroy the Shadow Fold and save their country. While learning about her past and her magic, the threat keeps growing and Alina discovers something that could des...

     This short story takes readers into the Darkling's past. You will learn about him before his reign and before he was the Darkling. He once was like any other little boy, with the exception of a very unique gift. What happened in his past that acted as a catalyst for him to become the Darkling we know now?        Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only  my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:     This review will be extremely short because there is not much to say on it. It was a very short story, so there is not a lot of material to work with for a review.     I really enjoyed reading this and getting a bit of information about who the Darkling was before he was the Darkling. Throughout the trilogy, he was very fascinating because of how morally gra...

      The Sun Summoner cannot Summon, the tracker is disgraced, and the Second Army is in tatters, all the while the Darkling reigns from his throne of shadows. Alina must recover from their latest battle, so she goes underground under the care of The Apparat and his followers who all believe she is a Saint. In order to finally win the war, she must find the final amplifier and hope that her prince ally is still alive. The war is coming to a climax, and only Alina can prevent the darkness from consuming Ravka. In order to do this, though, she may face her own ruin.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:     I kind of went back and forth for what rating I was going to give this book. I felt like it was not quite a four or fi...

       Kate Connelly is only seventeen, but she has the life experiences of someone much older. After her mom passes away, she practically gets put in charge of raising her two little brothers, maintaining the family ranch, bringing in an income, and going to school thanks to her mostly absent father. While working a shift at the town diner, two guys come in and make her night more difficult. She chooses to move past it and then runs into them in an alley, unsure of their intentions. There are many other things filling her mind such as the elite military academy that is after her eight year old brother, so she again puts the men out of her mind. However, one of those men who happens to be a cadet from the military academy enrolls in Kate's high school. He immediately causes numerous issues. She has to trust herself and protect her little brother, but how can she when she cannot think straight round Cadet Davenport?      Keep in mind that everyone has t...

       Alina is now the Sun Summoner, the cost of growing her powers. She and Mal have fled Ravka, trying to escape from the people hunting her. However, the Darkling is determined to take her back and use her powers for his own gain. Alina is forced to receive help from a privateer and, with his help, plans to take command of the Second Army. As more truths come out though, Alina gets sucked further into the Darkling's schemes, not out as she wishes to be. She will be forced to choose between love and power in order to save her country. She is the only one who can- and winning this war will be costly.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      My warning from the first book stands: in order to read this, you will hav...

     Hey there book dragons! It's time for my second post in my new review tips series! I put a poll up on my Bookstagram, and you guys voted for me to make my original post a whole series... so here we go. In this second installment I will go over the way that I format my reviews to give potential readers a lot of information about the book.     I start off with a brief synopsis of the book. I do this in my own words . Potential readers have more likely than not already read the synopsis on the back of the book. This same synopsis is also the one found on Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Goodreads, and all other book platforms. Writing a summary in your own words allows them to get to know some stuff that they may not have or to get interested if they did not think they would like the novel before.     Next, I put a disclaimer that everything said is my own opinion and that my review should not be what makes their decision about whether or not to read the ...

      This story follows Chief, otherwise known as Chris Brent, as he works in New York's wealthiest building. While Chief completes his janitorial duties, he helps his coworkers by giving them advice. When a scandal occurs in the building, many secrets come out. Follow along in the daily lives of Chief and his coworkers in this story to get some great advice applicable to everyone.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this e-book as a free review copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:      To start, Chief is a very quick read. It is perfect if you do not have much time to read, but still want a    great little story. I finished it w...

      Hey book dragons! 🐉 I am going to be writing something a bit different today, so no book review right now... the next one will be out on Wednesday though! Instead, I want to talk about a major thing  I always consider when I write my reviews: respect .     If you go and look back at all of my past reviews, you will notice there is one thing I never say no matter my opinion on the book. I never say that a book is bad or any synonym of the word. I may say that it was not for me or that I personally did not like something about it, but I never make the generalization that it is bad. The reason for this is quite simple- not everyone will think it is bad. Who am I to say that a book is bad just because I personally did not care for it? You may not think the same as I do. A book I would rate with 2 stars, you may think was so good it broke the rating system. In all relationships, regardless of how well the people may know each other, there is one trut...

    The original Twilight story sparked a loyal fandom. This book brings us back to that original story, but this time from Edward's perspective instead of Bella's. Meeting Bella forced Edward to go to war with himself. Midnight Sun exposes readers to his inner thoughts and some of his past experiences. Edward must ask himself whether he should do as his heart commands or keep Bella safe.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      Just in case anyone does not understand, this book is not a new story- it is the original story just from Edward's perspective instead of Bella's. Therefore, the majority of the book is filled with scenes that we already know. However, do not let this scare you off from reading this. There is ple...

     After her country being enslaved for the past decade, Theo is determined to use the fire in her veins to fight the new Kaiserin and liberate her people. The Kaiserin will not be easily beat by a group of ragtag rebels, though. She will use her new power to keep control. After all, what better weapon is there than one your enemy doesn't understand? The Kaiserin's power is only increasing, and with Soren her hostage, there is even more at stake. Theo only has one option: embrace her birthright and power.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      I am sad to see Theo's story come to an end. I really enjoyed her story and watching her grow from the Ash Princess to the Ember Queen. However, if it had to end, I could not h...

Finally free after 10 torturous years under the Kaiser's thumb, Theodosia is finally free. She is no longer the Ash Princess- she is a queen. However, she is a queen without a true country. Her people remain slaves to the Kalovaxians. She has no army to liberate Astrea and no land where she holds all the power to work towards this goal. In order to free her people, she will have to sacrifice, but how much is she willing to give up? She will fight for her country, but she will fight to not lose herself completely in the process as well. Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      Everything I said in my review for the first book is not only true this time around, it is amplified. This book definitely had a lot of the political mind games that I adored in the ...

     Theodosia lost her mother and kingdom after the Kaiser invaded when she was six. He crowned her the Ash Princess so that everyone would know she is shamed and a prisoner. Ten years later, Theo is still a prisoner of her own home. Then things change. The Kaiser makes her do something unthinkable. She comes to the realization that she must do more than simply survive, and she can do just that with her mind. After ten torturous years watching  her kingdom and people fall apart, Theo is determined to win her war with the Kaiser- just not on the battlefield.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      Perhaps my favorite part of this book is Theo herself (note how I say Theo, not one of her other names- you will unders...

      Feyre and the rest of the inner circle are rebuilding from the war, a constant task with no easy parts. Winter Solstice is approaching, though, and will give all of them a much deserved break. Sadly, even the festive atmosphere is still not enough to keep darkness fully away. While figuring out her first Winter Solstice as High Lady of the Night Court, Feyre discovers all of the wounds her friends and family have and exactly how deep they go.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      I enjoyed this book for a somewhat different reason than the other ACOTAR books. While I of course love all of the action and uncertainty of the other books, I adored how this one wholeheartedly focused on the characters instead. I feel...

     As a second daughter, Alessandra has been overlooked her whole life. All she craves is power and attention. Her plan: woo the Shadow King, marry him, and kill him. Then she will have an entire kingdom in her grasp. The Shadow King has mysterious powers that no one is quite sure the function or extent of. Alessandra does not care about this, though. She is owed power, and she is determined to get it. However, she will be competing with others as many people want the Shadow King dead. With numerous attempts to kill him taking place, Alessandra must protect him long enough for her plan to fall into place. All the while, she struggles not to let him steal her heart.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      This book was...

     Kyle's goal in life is to eradicate narcissism and teach people about the more important things in life. His friends Becca and Jordan decide to join him in this mission. During their task, the three kids come across a mirror. When Kyle touches the mirror, his hand goes through it. They soon realize that they stumbled across a portal to another world. Now they have a slew of questions: what is this strange place? Are the people there as vain as the ones in the real world? The major question, though, is is there an evil at work?      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Additionally, the author sent me this e-book as a free review copy; however, this did not influence my review. This is 100% my honest opinion. Let's begin:      Unfortu...

     Back at the Spring Court, Feyre works to gain knoledge about Tamlin and the King of Hybern. If she makes a mistake, she will doom herself, her friends, and all of Prythian. With a war looming, the Night Court will need allies. Feyre must also sort through all of the High Lords to figure out who she can truly trust. Even still, this may not be enough, and she will need allies who she would never have thought to trust before.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      Sarah J. Maas has once again amazed me so much with her writing that I cannot find the right words to express how much I loved it. It is starting to become a streak, one that I hope will never stop. Just like with the first two books in this series, my emo...

     Amarantha is dead, and Feyre has the same powers as High Fae. Still with a human heart, the cost of Feyre's victory torments her. Her bargain with Rhysand has also now begun. Her path turns towards one of passion, political games, and something even more wicked than Amarantha. Feyre is once more the answer to stopping the evil from consuming the world. In order for her to triumph, though, she will have to learn to control her new powers, fix her broken parts, and decide who to trust. Her future has two paths- she has to decide which she will take.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      Sometimes there are warnings about violence or sex before the start of a movie or T.V. show. There are also warnings for rides at ...

     Feyre lives a normal, poor life. At least, until she is hunting for food for her family and kills a wolf. After this, a creature comes to her home demanding that she pays for what she did. The creature brings her to the place that all humans have been taught to fear- the magical land of the faeries. The monster turns out to be one of them, Tamlin. At first, she is scared of and hostile towards him, but as her time with him goes on, her feelings grow until all she feels is passion. She is forced to remember, though, that the world of the Fae can be both beautiful and dangerous. A darkness is spreading over the land, and the human Feyre is left to stop it from consuming Tamlin and his world.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin: ...

      Two months after the Fates are freed, Legend has claimed the throne, and Tella feels as if Dante does not exist. Tella is left having to decide if she should trust Legend or someone who she used to fight against. Once a secret is revealed, Scarlett faces an impossible task, and Legend himself has to decide something that will change his life forever. This last "game" will determine everything.       Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      So, this book was a bit different from the first two books in that there is no actual Caraval game. For that reason, I was somewhat nervous about this book, but I was also excited to see where the author would take the story. I am please to say that I was not disappointed. Apparently,...

     Even after all she accomplished in the last Caraval, Tella is not completely free. In exchange for his help, Tella promised a mysterious stranger the impossible: Caraval Master Legend's real name. Unfortunately, the only way for her to get this information is to not only participate in Caraval again, but win. This becomes more complicated when she gets swept up in an ill-fated love story, the path of an heir with a nasty history, secrets, and the past. If Tella fails to figure out the name, she will lose everything and possibly die in the process. If she succeeds, this game will be the last, and Legend will be destroyed forever.      Keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. This review is only my opinion , and you may have your own, different one. I would take into consideration what I say, but do not make a decision about the book solely based off of this review. Let's begin:      Initially, I was a bit thrown off by the point...