Trial by Fire by Josephine Angelini

Title: Trial by Fire
Author: Josephine Angelini
Format I Read: ARC
Pages: 374
Genres: Fantasy, Romance
Release Date: September 2, 2014
Stars: 5
Goodreads Link

I quite literally read this book nonstop, with only a mild pause for much-needed sleep. Angelini completely sucked me in. My mind is boggled. Boggled. This book has to be one of the most interesting, most intricately created, most fascinating books I've read in a while. Angelini did a damn good job at building this mind-blowing world.

I've read many reviews of this book, and it seems that a lot are not favorable. I picked up an ARC of the sequel, Firewalker, at BEA, not even realizing that it was a sequel. Thus, in order to read Firewalker, I had to get my hands on Trial by Fire. I then stalked the #booksfortrade tag until I got a copy. Unfortunately, with all the reviews that I'd read, I was extremely nervous that I was going to hate Trial by Fire and be stuck with an ARC that I totally didn't want to read. So I went into Trial by Fire with lots of reservations. Fortunately, I ended up absolutely loving the book (and I will be starting the sequel as soon as I'm done with this review).

For those who are unfamiliar with Trial by Fire:

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.
To start: the world building, guys, the world building! Angelini created such a fascinating world (or worlds, I guess). I don't want to go too far into it, but I have to gush. Basically, this different Salem is a bizarre mish-mash of modern and medieval. In Lillian's Salem, the witch trials were more than 200 years ago. When the townspeople chose to burn witches instead of hanging them, they allowed the course of history, as Lily knows it, to be drastically altered. The highest level of witch is called a firewalker, someone who can literally burn on a pyre while absorbing the energy that the fire gives them. Burning witches at the stake ironically gave them enough power to create a whole new world--one where witches are in charge. It was so insanely cool to see exactly how Lillian's Salem branched off from Lily's Salem, or our world.

I also loved the world building with the science. Lillian is crusading against science--she went worldjumping, which is how she pulled Lily into her world. In her worldjumping, she saw the danger and destruction associated with science. Science falls second to the witch's magic and is seen as a more barbaric way of getting things done in Lillian's Salem. However, many people are forced to resort to science, because the witches refuse to give them the necessities they need to survive: energy, food, medicine, etc. These people are stuck as Outlanders, living in constant fear of the Woven, hybrid monsters with a thirst for blood, an experiment gone wrong. They need science to survive, but Lillian is hunting down the scientists one by one, leaving them to hang.

I loved how all of the science had a parallel in our world. A few scientists are dealing with elemental energy--to us, nuclear energy. Other scientists are feeding mold to sick children--to us, antibiotics. It was so fascinating to connect it all!

Honestly, Angelini had an explanation for everything. Even the food that Lily had to eat! Witches are taken care of and watched out for by mechanics, who can heal and protect their witch. Rowan, who used to be Lillian's most loyal mechanic until a falling out, is one of the best and strongest mechanics. He's constantly advising Lily about the biology of her body, as he knew Lillian's body better than anyone. Lily and Lillian have the same body, after all. Angelini carefully explains how salt is important to a witch for its electrical charge, how Lily's allergies have real foundation in her identity as a witch, how everything is meaningful. I loved the careful blend of biology, science, and magic. It was riveting!

I'll be honest, there were some things that were unexplained and slightly underdeveloped. Like I said earlier, Lillian's world was a mish-mash of modern and medieval. That threw me off because there was no clear explanation of that Salem's history and development. It all had to be pieced together as you read the story. That was a little disorienting, but also a bit exciting. You had to figure it out as you went, just like Lily!

Some people didn't like Lily. They say that she's lovestruck and weak. They say that it's unbelievable how all of this power is just thrown into her lap. I completely disagree. Lily didn't abandon her world because she felt betrayed by Tristan. She abandoned her world because she felt trapped by her life, felt useless in her body, felt ostracized by anyone and everyone. I think that's perfectly acceptable. She wasn't just a scorned little girl; her reasons were valid. And then there's the reminder that she didn't consciously abandon her world. In reality, she was tricked and kidnapped. If a little voice in your head says, "You can escape," why wouldn't you agree? It's not like the voice is real... It's just your little pity party. Unless there are witches involved, of course. I loved Lily. I thought she was spunky and strong; I was so excited that she finally got the chance to be her, the her who wasn't inhibited by her weak body. I didn't think that her character switch when she got to Lillian's Salem was bizarre. I think that Lily always had that sass and strength in her. She could just never express it because she was trapped by her sickened body. Lily's powerful magic also didn't feel unnatural. It made sense. She literally has the same body as Lillian--of course she has the same amount of power. It was logical. I didn't feel like it was forced at all! I honestly loved Lily; she was a fantastic main character.

I also loved all of the other characters: the Tristan in Lillian's world, the Juliet in Lillian's world, and (of course) Rowan. God, Rowan was swoonworthy. He's totally my new book boyfriend. I loved him so hard. And I loved the looks that we got into his head, too! It was cool how Angelini let us peek into his emotions and memories. Juliet was also so fantastic. I really enjoyed seeing her struggle between Lillian and Lily, both of which feel like her sister. She has to decide between what's right and what's wrong, no matter how loyal she wants to be to Lillian. She was a really strong minor character. I really hope we get to see more of her!

Beyond the characters and the world, the writing was absolutely amazing. Angelini sucked me in with her words. The descriptions, the thoughts of the characters, the style--it was all captivating. The dialogue was so well-written and I loved the characters' interactions. I also really liked the fact that she wrote in third person; it allowed the primary focus to be on Lily, but also let the reader sneak a peek into the other character's heads, like Gideon (the villain) and Juliet.

And here's where I have to stop before I give the entire book away. Already, I think this might be one of my longest reviews in months. I could talk about this book for days! Everything was just so... entrancing. I can't wait to read the sequel.

Overall, Trial by Fire was a fantastic book with exquisite world building. I loved the characters and the concept. The story was intricately woven and endlessly fascinating. Definitely a must-read!

Where the Road Takes Me by Jay McLean

Title: Where the Road Takes Me
Author: Jay McLean
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 315
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Because I was abroad when I read this book, I read it in a few disjointed sessions. This threw me off a bit because, honestly, Where the Road Takes Me could probably be three different books in and of itself. At the beginning of the novel, I was slightly turned off. The romance was too fast-paced and the characters weren’t doing much for me. However, as time went on, the book grew on me and ended up earning 4 stars.

For those who have never heard of Where the Road Takes Me:

Chloe has one plan for the future, and one plan only: the road. She’s made a promise to herself: don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone love her. She’s learned the hard way what happens if she breaks her rules. So she’s focused on being invisible and waiting until she can set out on the road—her dream of freedom, at least for a little while.

Blake Hunter is a basketball star who has it all—everything about him looks perfect to those on the other side of his protective walls. He can’t let anyone see the shattered pieces behind the flawless facade or else all his hopes and dreams will disappear.

One dark night throws Chloe and Blake together, changing everything for Blake. For Chloe, nothing changes: she has the road, and she’s focused on it. But when the so-called perfect boy starts to notice the invisible girl, they discover that sometimes with love, no one knows where the road may lead.

I actually ended up enjoying a lot of the characters! Mary, Chloe’s foster mom, and the rest of Chloe’s foster family were fantastic. I also loved the scenes with Blake’s mom. The cast was just so well done. I loved how each person could’ve had their own spinoff. Clayton, Chloe’s former foster brother, had so much depth and really moved me. I would love to read a novel dedicated to his story. Josh, Blake’s best friend, is a teen dad whose family and friends abandoned him. Yet he’s still a fantastic role model and person; I would really love a book just for him, too! The characters were just generally very likable.

All except for Chloe, that is. I’m not saying I hated her… I just hated a lot of her decisions. (This may be a mild spoiler, so tread carefully) I’m sorry, but does she not understand how cancer works? It’s not undefeatable. If you catch it early, you have a greater chance of treating it and conquering it. Especially breast cancer! If your mom and your aunt died from breast cancer and you know that there’s a 50% chance that you have the gene to develop it… then you’re at an advantage! You know to keep your eyes open and watch your body. Yes, you have a 50% chance of getting the cancer, but you have a much higher chance of surviving it, because you know what to look for and what to expect. Yet she just pushed people away and prepared herself for inevitable death. I felt that that was unnecessary and plain dumb, if I’m completely honest. It was selfish and idiotic. I disliked that part of the book.

Fortunately, like I said, the book had so many different elements that it could honestly be almost three different books! There was the road trip aspect toward the last third of the book, which was really cute. You didn’t get to see too much travel or development, but they did go to a few different stops along the way, which was fun. So though I wouldn’t call this a “road trip novel,” it definitely had a nice road trip element. There was the cancer element, which added another layer of seriousness and a level of passion to the book. It helped deliver the theme that life is too short to worry about pushing people away. You need to just embrace the world. There was also the foster family aspect and Chloe’s struggle with letting her mom go. That was really moving and a very subtle development and undertone. I really liked watching the relationships change!

Overall, I wouldn’t say this was a wow book, but it was thoroughly enjoyable! I liked the mish-mash and variety of the novel. It’s probably around 3.5 stars, though I think I'd have to round down to a 3. I definitely recommend this if you’re not quite sure what you want to read and want a little bit of everything! A good book to read if you’re on a long car ride or on the beach.

This Ordinary Life by Jennifer Walkup

Title: This Ordinary Life
Author: Jennifer Walkup
Format I Read: ARC
Pages: 240
Genres: Realistic Fiction, Contemporary
Release Date: October 1, 2015
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Though this book had an interesting concept, the characters and the plot fell a little flat for me. Honestly, if the book wasn't such a short and sweet read, I may have given up and DNF'd this. I ended up giving it 3 stars, but I was actually planning on 2 stars until the very end. However, it did have some solid points and redeeming qualities!

For those who don't know what This Ordinary Life is about:

High-school radio host Jasmine Torres's life is full of family dysfunction, but if she can score the internship of her dreams with a New York City radio station, she knows she can turn things around.

That is, until her brother Danny’s latest seizure forces her to miss the interview, and she’s back to the endless loop of missing school for his doctor appointments, picking up the pieces of her mother’s booze-soaked life, and stressing about Danny’s future.

Then she meets Wes. He’s the perfect combination of smart, cute, and funny. He also happens to have epilepsy like her brother. Wes is living a normal life despite his medical issues, which gives Jasmine hope for Danny. But memories of her cheating ex-boyfriend keep her from going on a real date with Wes, no matter how many times he asks her.

Jasmine can’t control everything. Not who wins the internship, not her mother’s addiction, not her brother’s health--not even where her heart will lead her. She wishes she could just have an ordinary life, but maybe what she already has is pretty extraordinary after all.

Right away, I loved the idea. Epilepsy is such a misunderstood and looked-over illness. Yes, mental illnesses are getting more attention in literature nowadays, but we've still got a long way to go before we diversify our literature enough to include representations of all the struggles teens may face. I had never read a book with characters who have epilepsy--I loved that Walkup was tackling this! Not to mention that I'm a sucker for older sisters who take on the mom role; the relationship between the siblings always pulls at my heartstrings. I adored Danny and Jasmine's relationship. They were completely adorable, and I loved how Jazz interacted with Danny. It was hilarious how she acted like an overprotective mom to the point that Danny kept whining, "I'm a big boy!"

Unfortunately, I didn't really see much character depth or development, which disappointed me a lot. I love a good character-driven story. This Ordinary Life just didn't have that. I felt like all of the characters were very forced. Jasmine was the radio girl. Wes was the witty boy. Frankie was the helpful best friend. It seemed that Walkup was just trying to fit the characters into the role and then failed to develop them any more than that. This meant that I just didn't find the characters or their interactions very believable. They weren't real. If I'm completely honest, Wes was the worst. Yes, of course I liked him. He was a fun, likable character. But, as a seventeen-year-old myself, I can tell you that people like him don't truly exist. The charming, witty, slightly off-center quirky, upfront guy: he isn't real. His conversations with Jasmine? They would never happen. No one would actually say that, no one would actually text like that. I just couldn't let myself go in this book because it didn't feel real to me.

I just felt like Walkup grazed the surface with everything. She just plopped stuff into the novel to check off some boxes. Cheating ex-boyfriend? Check. Quirky love interest? Check. Fun best friend? Check. Unique main character who think she's carrying the world on her shoulders? Check. This book just felt like it was trying too hard with everything. That made the novel drag on a bit. Luckily, the book wasn't long so I didn't start to resent it too much.

Again, there were some redeeming qualities. I loved the idea. I loved the topic that Walkup was tackling. I loved the relationships (especially the familial ones). I loved the end, which tied everything up nicely. So, though I was considering 2 stars, I bumped it up to 3. This book just didn't end up being my cup of tea.

I recommend this novel to someone interested in the epilepsy aspect; interested in a quirky romance as a quick, short and sweet read; interested in complex family dynamics; and interested in radio and chasing dreams. Like I said: well done and interesting, just not for me!

Stacking the Shelves #7

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! It is hosted every week (typically on Saturday) by Tynga's Reviews.

I'm doing a bit of a twist on this and talking about some books that I have added to my shelves in the past. I'm tentatively calling it "Signed Book" Saturday, because I'm going to focus on my collections of signed books!

Today's author that I'm featuring is Veronica Roth!

I've never actually met Veronica, though it's quite literally on my bucket list to meet her someday. Embarrassingly enough, I own 3 copies of Divergent, 2 copies of Insurgent, 2 copies of Allegiant, a copy of Four and a copy of Divergent in German. And that's not even counting my eBook copies of the series.

My favorite book in the series is definitely Divergent. I've read it just about a million times!

My dad was sweet enough to order me some signed copies of her books after I couldn't make it to see her at Yallfest (I think).

Which book is your favorite of the series?

Blood and Salt by Kim Liggett

Title: Blood and Salt
Author: Kim Liggett
Format I Read: eARC from Penguin's First to Read Program
Pages: 352
Genres: Horror, Paranormal, Romance
Release Date: September 22, 2015
Stars: 4
Goodreads Link

Wow, that was a wild ride. To be completely honest, I really wasn’t expecting to love Blood and Salt; I was expecting something more along the lines of some thorough enjoyment. Yet I found myself undeniably invested in the story, the thrill, and the twists. I ended up loving Blood and Salt. Quite a bit. I read it in one fell swoop, and it was wild.

For those who are unfamiliar with Blood and Salt:

Romeo and Juliet meets Children of the Corn in this one-of-a-kind romantic horror.

“When you fall in love, you will carve out your heart and throw it into the deepest ocean. You will be all in—blood and salt.”

These are the last words Ash Larkin hears before her mother returns to the spiritual commune she escaped long ago. But when Ash follows her to Quivira, Kansas, something sinister and ancient waits among the rustling cornstalks of this village lost to time.

Ash is plagued by memories of her ancestor, Katia, which harken back to the town’s history of unrequited love and murder, alchemy and immortality. Charming traditions soon give way to a string of gruesome deaths, and Ash feels drawn to Dane, a forbidden boy with secrets of his own.

As the community prepares for a ceremony five hundred years in the making, Ash must fight not only to save her mother, but herself—and discover the truth about Quivira before it’s too late. Before she’s all in—blood and salt.

The plot was so intensely unique. The mixture of mystery, cults, and magic: absolutely captivating. I loved the idea of vessels, conduits, and alchemy.

I especially loved the twists and turns. Blood and Salt was an alarmingly engaging novel. Though I saw a few of the “big reveals” from a mile away, I’m happy to report that I didn’t even come close to guessing 75% of the other twists. The last 50 pages of the book was honestly just a tangled web of twists and surprises. One after the other, the reveals left me a gasping mess with a permanently dropped jaw. It was truly the definition of a wild ride.

Though I didn’t really connect with too many of the characters, they were still well written. Ashlyn’s voice was fiercely strong and spectacularly developed. I really enjoyed her point of view (the only point of view). I also adored Beth, a zany and “broken” seer from Quivira. She was just the right balance of loyal yet quirky. She was perfect!

While I didn’t enjoy Ashlyn’s love-at-first-sight-swoon-I-don’t-even-know-Dane-but-I-loooove-him, it was slightly bearable. In a contemporary, I would’ve been miserable. However, with the blend of magic and the inclusion of the blood connections, I wasn’t as turned off by the insta-love! It actually added a lot to the story, especially toward the end (no spoilers).

I really enjoyed how Blood and Salt didn’t really fall in any single genre. It was horror but it was romance, it was thriller but it was humor. Liggett seamlessly combined these traits and created a masterpiece. One second I’d be biting my nails over one of Ash’s visions, the next second I’d be laughing as Beth sang the Backstreet Boys. It was perfectly constructed!

Liggett also wrote beautifully. I wanted to devour her words. Every sentence was like magic itself. I found myself completely sucked in by the writing. I really enjoyed the descriptions of scents. It added another layer to the story and was a really unique way of approaching the storytelling. It truly gave the book a little something extra. I don’t have any quotes to include about Liggett’s beautiful writing because if I quoted my favorite lines… I would have to quote the entire book. It was that good.

Overall, Blood and Salt was a fantastic surprise—an engaging horror layered with romance, humor, mystery, and suspense. Liggett’s fantastic writing talent was the cherry on top of a fantastically delicious and spine-tingling novel. I definitely recommend that you pick this book up. It’s got a little bit of everything and will surely keep you entranced until the very last page!

Abby Road by Ophelia London

Title: Abby Road
Author: Ophelia London
Format I Read: Kindle
Pages: 400
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, New Adult
Release Date: March 2013
Stars: 3
Goodreads Link

Let me start this off with a warning: Abby Road is not what you expect. It’s a whirlwind of topics, a hurricane of emotions, and a tornado of character development. It’s a wild rollercoaster, from start to finish. It offered a fantastic sense of catharsis that pulls you in.

For those who aren’t familiar with Abby Road:

Fame can't buy her love...

It’s been exactly one day since rock star Abigail Kelly fled her chaotic life in L.A. to her sister’s home in Florida. One day without her demanding manager, paparazzi, ridiculous tour schedules, and recording sessions. For the first time in five years, she has the summer off. To be anonymous. A summer to not think about losing her brother...or that her once-normal life has turned into a mess of panic and heartbreak.

But all it takes is one twist of fate—to enter a stranger's surf shop while trying to dodge some fans—for everything to change.

Because the shop owner happens to be a really cute guy with an amazing laugh. With Todd, an ex-Marine sniper turned surfer, she feels things she hasn’t felt for a long time. Possibly never. But when the real world comes crashing back in, Abby is caught between the superstar she’s become...and the painfully real human being she longs to be.

Honestly, I’m still a little confused about what I just read. Don’t get me wrong: Abby Road was a great read that sucked me in and trapped me in London’s world from start to finish. However, it was a mish-mash of just about a million different stories. When I first read the synopsis, I thought it would be a breezy summer romance. Abby would fall for Todd in this small beachside town and it’ll be a refreshing reprieve from her crazy celebrity life. Surprise! That was just the tip of the iceberg.

London weaves a tale that includes a handful of major plotlines and ideas. First, there’s the summer romance mentioned about. Second, there’s Abby’s struggle to accept her brother’s death and free herself from the haunting guilt of that night. Third, there’s the difficulty of Abby and Todd’s relationship surviving her L.A. rock star life. Fourth, there’s the battle for Abby to finally stand up to her manager and take control of her own life, to be a happy and healthy person.

Surprisingly, I didn’t hate this wild mix of plotlines. At first, if I’m completely honest, I didn’t like it. By the end of the book, it grew on me. This book was a really refreshing story of redemption and personal development. It explored a young woman’s ability to be her own savior. I found that to be an astoundingly redeeming quality.

I really enjoyed the characters. Todd was definitely swoon-worthy and I liked his backstory. His romance with Abby was lovely. It felt very real and heart-warming. They had so much chemistry. I wish we could’ve seen more of the development of their relationship! Unfortunately, London skipped the three months that they got together and skipped right to the move back to L.A. I also loved the minor characters: Hal, Molly, Lindsey, etc. They were fantastic additions and I loved the scenes with them. In particular, I ended up really loving Lindsey. She was such a fantastic sister and she really grew on me! Abby herself was a little frustrating. She wasn’t the most likable main character, though I didn’t hate her either. Fortunately, her character development made up for any complaints I had about her throughout the novel!

One complaint I did have was the chapter transitions. London would skip entire weeks and months without any real indication. Within the first few pages of the chapter, she would clarify, of course. But it was definitely disorienting and threw me off. I would’ve liked to see some smoother transitions.

The writing was also a mix of good and bad. Though I liked the tone and style that London used, the dialogue and transitions could fall a little flat. Sometimes I had to reread paragraphs to find out what just happened or if I missed something. The characters were often very obscure in how they spoke; I sometimes felt like London cut scenes out but didn’t compensate in later scenes. It was a little disorienting. Fortunately, it didn’t detract too much from the story; it was just a little off-putting.

Overall, I’d give Abby Road 3.5 stars. It was a cathartic story that really had me invested. For those who like summer beach romances (the first third), glitzy celebrity romances (the second third), and/or personal discovery and redemption stories (the last third), definitely try out Abby Road!

Stacking the Shelves #6

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! It is hosted every week (typically on Saturday) by Tynga's Reviews.

I'm doing a bit of a twist on this and talking about some books that I have added to my shelves in the past. I'm tentatively calling it "Signed Book" Saturday, because I'm going to focus on my collections of signed books!

Today's author that I'm featuring is Becca Fitzpatrick!

I've actually never met Becca, though I somehow have a pretty hefty collection of her books! The amazing Adele (@ Persnickety Snark) got me Black Ice from BEA 2014 last year, and my dad got me the Hush, Hush series as a gift (way back in 2010, wow). So my collection is completely because of the generosity of others--thanks, buds!

My favorite book by Becca Fitzpatrick would have to be Black Ice! I love the mystery, the romance, and the tension.

Without further ado:

Have you read Becca's books before? If so, what's your favorite book by her?