Title: Path of Pins
Author: Hannah Kollief
Pages: 283
Format: ebook
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Summary: "Everything we thought—everything they told us, every secret our supposed guardians shared—was a lie. They told me to find the Rose Queen, that stopping her would halt the catastrophe. They told me that she was trying to kill us all. They were wrong. They lied. And the truth?
The Fey are still dead. My father is still missing. And no one can be trusted.
Now it’s up to me & my best friend Jim to save the world, find my dad, and discover what happened to Roger. First, we have to run from those trying to control us. And then?
There’s only one thing left for me to do:
Kill the demon Koschei.
Make it hurt.
My name is Kat Finnegan, and this is the part where everything burns."
Review: I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.
This is the second book in the Paths series by Hannah Kollief that I have been able to read. I didn't like this one quite as much as the first one. I found it harder to get into this story but once I did I really enjoyed it. My only other complaint was I did find it to be a bit jumpy between the different POV's and the flashbacks. When there were action scenesI really got interested and despite the author killing off some of the characters I couldn't help but to lose myself in the story.
I liked getting more information on these characters. There were a lot to keep track of so by learning even more about them I could relate and remember who was who easier. I do look forward to carry on with this series because I haven't had my fill of the characters yet.
I would recommend this book and series to fantasy lovers. I am really excited to see where it will go from here after that plot twist.
About this author
Hannah Kollef was born on the anniversary of Genghis Khan's death. She believes this is responsible for her poor table manners and love of pillaging.
Hannah earned her BA in Japanese and Political Science at Washington and Lee University. Upon graduating, she decided to pursue writing and published her first novel, "To Wake the Shadows." In October 2012 she published the first in her new Paths series, titled "Path of Needles." She also launched her new website, hannahkollef.com, a multimedia collaboration with input from a variety of talented musicians and artists.
In addition to her novels, Hannah has been published in various magazines including In General magazine and Hometown Quarterly. She has also worked as a freelance copywriter, editor, and social media consultant. She currently lives in Prague, where she works as a Trinity Certified English Teacher.
Title: The Island
Author: Jen Minkman
Pages: 138
Format: ebook
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Summary: I walk toward the sea. The endless surface of the water extends to the horizon, whichever way I look.
Our world is small. We are on our own, and we only have ourselves to depend on. We rely on the Force deep within us, as taught to us by our forefathers.
If I were to walk westward from here, I would come across a barrier – the Wall. Behind it, there are Fools. At least, that’s what everyone says.
I have never seen one.
Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.
But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?
Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?
(Please note: this novella contains a few references to the famous sci-fi movie Star Wars which are pivotal to the plot. None of the characters in The Island are in any way related to the characters in the movie. Leia is named after one of the ancient heroes of her culture/religion.)
Review: I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I am in love with the cover! The story, not so much. It just didn't do it for me, which is sad because I love dystopian. This book blurb tricked me into reading a book about something I could careless about: Star Wars. Bits and pieces of Star Wars was sprinkled throughout the novel which made me want to scream about how cheesy it was. There was no story or character development. So needless to say I didn't like it and I won't be reading another book by this author unless I know for sure that it isn't about Star Wars.
About this author
Jen Minkman (1978) was born in Holland, in the town of Alphen aan den Rijn. When she was 19, she moved between The Hague, Salzburg (Austria), Brussels (Belgium) and Cambridge (UK) to complete her studies in intercultural communication. She is currently a teacher of English and Dutch at a secondary school in The Hague, Holland. She tries to read at least 100 books a year (and write a few, too!). She is a published author in her own country, and translates her own books from Dutch into English for self-publication.
In her spare time, she plays the piano, the guitar and the violin. For every novel she writes, she creates a soundtrack.
'I have always been drawn to writing. My first book was a sci-fi novel at the age of eight, which I painstakingly typed out on my dad's typewriter and illustrated myself. Nowadays, I stick to poetry, paranormal romance, chicklit and/or fantasy. In my home country, I am the first-ever published writer of paranormal romance, and I will gradually make my books also available in English (seeing I have to re-write and translate the books myself, this will take some time!).'
Title: Double Crossed
Author: Ally Carter
Pages: 60
Format: ebook
Rating: 4/5 Stars
Summary: Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?
W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?
There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.
Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they’ve never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.
When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they’re at the center of a hostage situation, and it’s up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey’s spy skills and Hale’s con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?
The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter’s fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.
Review: I received this book free from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I saw this short story on Netgalley I knew I needed it because I love The Heist Society novels. I haven't read The Gallagher Girls novels but this makes me want to get them ASAP! This was a very interesting mingling of characters who at first you may believe may become an item but the opposite happens. It's nice to see some of the characters I know already and getting a bit more of their lives now. I can't wait to continue on with this series. I also I hope there are more of these short stories.
About this author
Ally Carter is a writer living and working in the Midwest. She loved school so much she kept going...and going...and going...until finally she had to graduate. Now she has degrees from Oklahoma State University and Cornell University and a house and a job and other very grown-up things.
Her life is either very ordinary or the best deep-cover legend ever. She'd tell you more, but...well...you know...
Title: The Here and Now
Author: Ann Brashares
Pages: 288
Format: e-ARC
Rating: 3/5 Stars
Summary: An unforgettable epic romantic thriller about a girl from the future who might be able to save the world . . . if she lets go of the one thing she’s found to hold on to.
Follow the rules. Remember what happened. Never fall in love.
This is the story of seventeen-year-old Prenna James, who immigrated to New York when she was twelve. Except Prenna didn’t come from a different country. She came from a different time—a future where a mosquito-borne illness has mutated into a pandemic, killing millions and leaving the world in ruins.
Prenna and the others who escaped to the present day must follow a strict set of rules: never reveal where they’re from, never interfere with history, and never, ever be intimate with anyone outside their community. Prenna does as she’s told, believing she can help prevent the plague that will one day ravage the earth.
But everything changes when Prenna falls for Ethan Jarves.
From Ann Brashares, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series, The Here and Now is thrilling, exhilarating, haunting, and heartbreaking—and a must-read novel of the year.
Review: I received this book free from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
The cover was what made me look more into this novel, then knowing that that Ann Brashares wrote it made me want to desperately. Sadly, this book fell way short for me. I just found it to be a really slow and sometimes confusing read. I feel like there was so much potential for this novel and I keep thinking/ hoping it would pick up, but alas, it never did. I really couldn't connect with these characters and I wasn't a fan of the insta- love.
I really wanted to love this book because it sounded so amazing, but I couldn't. I just wish it had lived up to my expectations.
About this author
Ann Brashares grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with three brothers and attended a Quaker school in the D.C. area called Sidwell Friends. She studied Philosophy at Barnard College, part of Columbia University in New York City. Expecting to continue studying philosophy in graduate school, Ann took a year off after college to work as an editor, hoping to save money for school. Loving her job, she never went to graduate school, and instead, remained in New York City and worked as an editor for many years. Ann made the transition from editor to full-time writer with her first novel, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Ann and her husband live with their three children in New York.
