The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

For some extremely odd reason, I didn't think there would be a ring involved in The Faerie Ring. Honestly, I have no idea how I could not see the ring on the cover or notice how the summary talked about a ring....
Well, 4 out of 5 stars to the book that I finally realize is about a ring.

The Fairie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
4 out of 5 stars
Published in 2011
Summary from Goodreads: Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.

The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood--Tiki's blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched--and protected--by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen's son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.

Prince, pauper, and thief--all must work together to secure the treaty...

Maybe it's because the unbelievable amount of sugar I've just had recently, but I am unbelievably obsessed with Rieker. Even though he's a major STALKER, I can't keep him out of my mind. I honestly think the stalking is just a phase and that it's actually kind of cute. I don't know what my thing with Rieker is, but I like him. A lot. Maybe it's the smoky eyes...
or the way that Tiki thinks about him has spread to me...
Oh, and did I mention that I love how much he loves Tiki? Or the fact that he is extremely loyal and isn't who he seems to be?

Tiki was an exceptional character. She blew me away. Honestly, I don't know how Kiki Hamilton did it. She made Tiki strong and stubborn but also extremely caring and kind. While that seems impossible, let me just say that it isn't. Somehow the author made it work. Tiki turned out to be smart, clever, nice, well-meaning and strong, but she still did not seem like a goody-two-shoes. She also was not annoying at all. In other words, she was not a damsel in distress. She could hold her own ground and have bread fights... well, not really.

Of course I thought the plot was interesting... I didn't even know a ring was involved! Even if you are aware of that, let me assure you that it's not expected. Usually faeries and rings put together in a book result in a really unpredictable plot. Such was the case for The Faerie Ring. Add in Rieker's secret, some more odd characters and the magic of the author's imagination to get one totally unique plot. Of course, even if you've already read the book, the plot will always be filled with twists and surprises and action, no matter how many times you reread it!

I have never been to London, but somehow I could visualize it perfectly. The setting was simply marvelous. I loved the talk of the buildings and the castles and the carriages. The whole era fit perfectly for the story. I loved how Tiki could just hop onto the back of a carriage, climb up a tree and not get in trouble, meet an actual prince and care for fellow orphans. Of course, that could only happen in 1871. As for London, I thought it was perfect. I thought the setting was marvelous, completely marvelous! There's something about London that is just magical, and it makes everyone happy.

I loved the writing style. I admit that I was a little reluctant at first because it was in first-person, but I have to say now that it was a perfect choice. It totally went along the setting and all. The author totally pulled it off. She managed to make me connect with Tiki and relate to her, which is extremely hard when talking third-person. Not only that, but I felt as if I was Tiki. As for the writing itself, I was completely surprised that it was not to flowery. Elegant, yes, but there were no flowers! However, there was a bit of dark humor, a great style and a totally awesome third-person story!

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

I was really intrigued by the cover- there's something about the petal throwing that's just not normal. In this case, there turns out to be a devastating reason. Anyways, I was then drawn by the title. Turns out my instincts were right: I LOVED it! 4 out of 5 stars.

Saving June by Hannah Harrington
4 out of 5 stars
Published in 2011
Summary from Goodreads: Everyone's sorry. But no one can explain why.
Harper Scott's older sister, June, took her own life a week before high school graduation, leaving Harper devastated. So when her divorcing parents decide to split up June's ashes, Harper steals the urn and takes off cross-country with her best friend, Laney, to the one place June always dreamed of going--California.
Enter Jake Tolan, a boy with a bad attitude, a classic-rock obsession...and an unknown connection to June. When he insists on joining them, Harper's just desperate enough to let him. With his alternately charming and infuriating demeanor and his belief that music can see you through anything, he might be exactly what Harper needs. Except...Jake's keeping a secret that has the power to turn her life upside down--again.


Before I started reading Saving June, I was already ready to declare this one of my favorites. But once I started reading, I realized it was that and also so much more. I could not believe how utterly realistic it was. Harper's bitterness was perfectly done, she actually played her part quite well. Fortunately, Saving June wasn't some sappy death story where it actually seems quite cliche and cheesy. It was real. You could tell that the author really put time into creating a plausible (mostly) and believable story. For that we must commend her.

I loved the musical references throughout the story. I loved how much Jake relied on music! I loved how he truly believed in it! So yes, I am swooning over Jake and gushing about the music at the same time. As for Jake, I just wish he were a real guy. He was definitely a developed character that really fit well into the story. I loved his attitude; let's just say he's a total bad boy...
In other words, I thought he was pretty awesome!
Back to the music. Even though most the songs were a lot older, I still appreciated all the playlists. I loved how big of a part music played in it all! Finally some book that understands music!

Harper really was a realistic character. I loved how unforgettable she was. While sometimes it was really easy to be annoyed by her, she had reasons for her choices and actions. She was incredibly stubborn and bad-tempered. I don't think most readers would immediately like her, but she definitely grows on you. She was full of anger, at the least. However, even though she was all of these things, she was also strong and a survivor.
Who can hate a survivor?

I have to admit, I was really impressed by the romance. It wasn't sappy or fake. There was no insta-love. Now that's what I call romance! Plus, Jake and Harper had great conversations that were really deep. Their relationship was meaningful and real. It wasn't some perfect relationship with a perfect ending. It also had a few problems, including the secret Jake has. I loved that even more.

There were quite a few supporting characters that popped up throughout the novel, but I have to say I got them a little mixed up. During one part of the story, the author introduced quite a few all at once. I couldn't get all of them straight, but at least they were just little characters. Even so, all the characters had a unique personality. That's what I really loved. I could not believe how they were all so palpable and how right they felt.

The only other problem I had was that there were some innappropriate scenes and topics. I think Saving June is for mature teens, not younger teens. I'm thinking around 14 and up...
Also, don't go into this book if you're a very easily offended Christian either. There were some parts that would offend you.

However, overall I LOVED Saving June.

Waiting on Wednesday: Where it Began

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted Jill over at Breaking the Spine that features upcoming releases we are eagerly anticipating.

This week's not-yet-published "need-to-read-now" selection is:

Where it Began by Ann Redisch Stampler
Publishing 3.6.12

Summary of Goodreads: Sometimes the end is just the beginning.

Gabby lived under the radar until her makeover. Way under. but when she started her senior year as a blonder, better-dressed version of herself, she struck gold: Billy Nash believed she was a the flawless girl she was pretending to be. The next eight months with Billy were bliss...Until the night Gabby woke up on the ground next to the remains of his BMW without a single memory of how she got there.
And Billy's nowhere to be found.
All Gabby wants is to make everything perfect again. But getting her life back isn't difficult, it's impossible. Because nothing is the same, and Gabby's beginning to realize she's missed more than a few danger signs along the way.
It's time for Gabby to face the truth, even if it means everything changes.
Especially if it means everything changes.

What interested me the most was the title, Where it Began. The title's really thought provoking and epic! I really can't wait to read a book about getting over regret and past decisions. I can't wait to read about Gabby facing the truth! Where it Began seems like a really deep novel that I absolutely can't wait to read!

Shug by Jenny Han

Shug is exactly the book to read on a Sunday afternoon when you're too lazy to do anything but read. That's exactly what I did, and I can't believe how much I love it! 5 out of 5 stars!

Shug by Jenny Han
5 out of 5 stars
Published in 2006
Summary from Goodreads:
SHUG

is clever and brave and true (on the inside, anyway). And she's about to become your new best friend.

Annemarie Wilcox, or Shug as her family calls her, is beginning to think there's nothing worse than being twelve. She's too tall, too freckled, and way too flat-chested. Shug is sure that there's not one good or amazing thing about her. And now she has to start junior high, where the friends she counts most dear aren't acting so dear anymore -- especially Mark, the boy she's known her whole life through. Life is growing up all around her, and all Shug wants is for things to be like they used to be. How is a person supposed to prepare for what happens tomorrow when there's just no figuring out today?


Throughout Shug, I felt like crying and smiling and cheering Shug on. I felt like screaming my heart out for Shug and her life. I felt like ripping through the book just to finish it and praise it and shower it with compliments. And that's basically what I did. I seriously did cry and squeeze out some tears, but that's only because Jenny Han did a great job writing this book.

Shug has this amazing writing style that's slow and fast at the same time. It's full of the perfect combinations of words that make it perfect for people of all ages. Jenny Han's words can bring you to tears and make you smile. Her words, or rather Shug's words, are easy to devour and remember. They're perfect for people who absorb every detail and people who just skim when reading. Basically, this book was perfect.

Shug, or Annemarie, is super relatable. She doesn't realize how amazing she truly is, she's dealing with lots of family problems and she's going through her first crush. She reminds me of a lot of people I know, and I have to say, she was definitely portrayed realistically. I loved how much she develops throughout the story. However, I loved how she isn't perfect even more! I like characters with a few flaws; that just makes them seem even more real and relatable.

I LOVED THE ENDING!!!!!! It was sweet and cute and memorable and perfect! I thought it summed up the book perfectly! It was just as awesome as the rest of the book, possibly even more! The ending isn't vague; it definitely gives you a great, positive future of Shug and her life. AND I STILL LOVE THE ENDING!!!!!!!!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

I'm astonished. Shatter Me has rendered me speechless. It has broken the boundaries of what I thought a book could do to the reader. It has driven me crazy for more of Tahereh Mafi's writing. 5 HUNDRED MILLION STARS!

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Published 11.15.11
5 HUNDRED MILLION STARS!
Summary from Goodreads: 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.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

Juliette is a heroine. There's no better way to say it. She's the perfect example of a character worth talking about. She can be feisty, brave and stubborn. But most of the time she's nice. She's always thinking about others and trying to help out. She takes their insults with grace, even though she's hurting inside. In the beginning, Juliette feels like she's a monster. She hates herself. Though throughout the story, she develops. She starts respecting herself.

I think Adam redefines the meaning of broken bad boy. Not only does he meet my expectations, he surpasses them! He is so loyal and caring. I was literally swooning throughout Shatter Me. He really loves Juliette and his brother. Plus he's broken. Adam has gone through so much throughout his life. It's not even funny how many deaths he's witnessed and how many bad memories he's had. Adam Kent is so on my crush list....

I really can't stop thinking about the villain, Warner. I am so horrified at his behavior and him in general. He's the type of guy everyone wants to know more about simply because he's the bad guy. He's a really sick, messed up, smart, shrewd type of guy. I am so flabbergasted (yes!) at how much he thinks he love Juliette. It is so sad....

This plot is more character-driven than action-driven, but it makes the book even better. I was so caught up in the story that I stayed up very late reading it. It has the perfect pace and layout. I would have never guessed that it was a debut! What a perfect plot!

Juliette has perfect prose. It's half poetic, half not and altogether a beautiful style of writing. It emotional, lush and totally addicting. It's definitely mind blowing and astounding. I'm half ready to reread it.

So in conclusion, Tahereh Mafi owns writing. There's no better way to state it.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

I really, really liked this book. I loved this book. That's more like it. When I was starting Twenty Boy Summer, I really did not expect how moving and good it would be. I was expecting a light quick-ish read, but it wasn't. Twenty Boy Summer was definitely more: more intense, more sorrowful, more amazing. 5 out of 5 stars.

Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler
5 out of 5 stars
Published 6.1.09
Summary from Goodreads: "Don’t worry, Anna. I’ll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it."
"Okay."
"Promise me? Promise you won’t say anything?"
"Don’t worry.” I laughed. “It’s our secret, right?"

According to Anna’s best friend, Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy every day, there’s a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there’s something she hasn’t told Frankie–she’s already had her romance, and it was with Frankie’s older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.

TWENTY BOY SUMMER explores what it truly means to love someone, what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every beautiful moment life has to offer.

Wow... let's just say I wasn't expecting this. Anna and Frankie, are on their ABSE (Absolute Best Summer Ever), after Matt's death. Anna kind of falls in love, but she doesn't want to, because that means forgetting Matt. Forgetting Matt means getting over his death. Anna doesn't want to.

Throughout this book, Anna makes choices that she sometimes regrets. And sometimes she makes choices that she believes in. But no matter what, you always feel this connection to Anna. That's how relatable she is. You understand all her decisions and heartbreak and love. You understand why she can't let go- or rather, why she doesn't want to. She reminds me a lot of the main characters in Sarah Dessen's books, and that's a compliment.

Another thing I really loved was Sarah Ockler's writing style. (Whoa, she and Sarah Dessen have the same first name!) It was soft yet intense, beautiful yet harsh, and perfect! I absolutely loved how amazing it was! This book was a definite page-turner that had me staying up way late just to reach the last page. And I'm telling you, that takes skill... and some major writing style.

However: warning there was some innappropriateness going on, but not in the beginning of the book. You definitely probably need to judge whether or not you still want to read this book. You have been warned, and I leave you with three words:

Read this book!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

I am currently in shock. This book has made me completely and utterly speechless. I can not believe what just happened and just the amazing book Everneath turned out to be. I can't believe that I can't believe it, if that makes any sense at all. So 5 out of 5 stars!

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Recieved from Netgalley
Publishing 1.24.12
5 out of 5 stars!
Summary from Goodreads: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

There's something epically awesome about this cover that makes you want to read it. I felt that epically awesome feeling when I first discovered this book, and let me just say one thing: the writing is as amazing as the cover!!! That's saying a lot.

The first thing that captured me was Nikki herself. What I admired about her was that she wasn't afraid to remember or admit that she made a huge mistake. Another thing I liked about her was that she actually thought about others, putting Jack's needs before hers. Well, most of the time. I thought she was really amazing for doing that. She's the true YA heroine for being such an amazing person after she returned to the Surface!

The second thing was actually two certain guys, Jack and Cole. You're first introduced to Cole, so I'll start with him. I'm still a little suspicious of him, but other than that, I'd say he's actually pretty charming. He's just your average bad boy, with a huge twist. And I loved him! Well, other than the whole I-don't-really-know-you-that-well part...
It's true. Even after the first book, you still don't really know his motives.

Then there was Jack. At first I wasn't really a fan of Jack. I didn't see what was the big deal about him. But then, towards the middle of the book, I understood. Jack is amazing! That's an understatement. Jack is totally crush-worthy and my favorite YA guy ever and the awesomest character in Everneath other than Nikki!!!!!!
Now that's more like it. But most of all, I love him for what he did for Nikki at the end of the book. It was so bittersweet and surprising. I was literally crying tears because I was so moved. I love you, Jack. Don't be surprised if I put you on my crush list.

This plot was amazing. It was a new take on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice, and it was absolutely praise-worthy! I loved how it was kind of like the original tale with a ton of twists. And let me just use one word to describe what I felt for it: love! So love, love, loved this lifestopping plot!

And one more reason I loved this book: It wasn't cliche! May this be the one thing you think about for today! :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Article 5

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:
Article 5 by Kristen Simmons!

Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
Publishing 2.14.12
Publisher: Tor Teen
Summary from Goodreads: New York, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., have been abandoned.

The Bill of Rights has been revoked, and replaced with the Moral Statutes.

There are no more police—instead, there are soldiers. There are no more fines for bad behavior—instead, there are arrests, trials, and maybe worse. People who get arrested usually don't come back.

Seventeen-year-old Ember Miller is old enough to remember that things weren’t always this way. Living with her rebellious single mother, it’s hard for her to forget that people weren’t always arrested for reading the wrong books or staying out after dark. It’s hard to forget that life in the United States used to be different.

Ember has perfected the art of keeping a low profile. She knows how to get the things she needs, like food stamps and hand-me-down clothes, and how to pass the random home inspections by the military. Her life is as close to peaceful as circumstances allow.

That is, until her mother is arrested for noncompliance with Article 5 of the Moral Statutes. And one of the arresting officers is none other than Chase Jennings…the only boy Ember has ever loved.

Did I mention that I love dystopian? I did? Oh well, I say it again. I love dystopian! Especially when it involves romance, a hopefully strong heroine, a rebellious mother, and a guy! And daring to challenge what is fact and daring to be. Yup, just be.

I have this book on pre-order, and I absolutely can not wait! Why can't February come along already?