Wendy has watched too many of her friends and family fall prey to the Primate. Thousands have died at his hands, simply because he deemed them unworthy of life. With her newfound allies, who possess more information on the Primate's vicious plans for domination, Wendy urges her weakened people to strike.

Outnumbered and outgunned, Wendy leads a group into the heart of the Primate's city. When they find technology that could wipe out what is left of the world to make room for the Primate's believers, they each must decide what they are willing to sacrifice to keep their friends safe. Even if that sacrifice means losing each other.

First of all, I would like to thank Jo Schneider for sending me a copy of this book!

If you have not read the rest of the Jagged Scars series, I recommend reading my review of the first book, Fractured Memories. I will try not to include too many spoilers from the rest of the series in this review, though.

I waited so long to read this book! I am really glad that I read Spoiled Gambit  (book #4.5) before reading this book. It was a great refresher on what happened in Crippled Hope (book #4), and I loved that it gave Cal a chance to continue his story.

However, you do not need to read the Spoiled Gambit novella to understand what happens in this book. I recommend it, though, as it will give you quite a bit of insight into what happens when Cal and Dennis go on a mission at the end of Crippled Hope.

This is the last book in the Jagged Scars series. I have been dying to know how it ends!

This book, just like all the others in this series, didn't disappoint! This book was just as good as the rest of the series.

At 92%, I started getting a little worried about the ending.  I get showing how much Dennis has changed, but I didn't like the way the ending was done.

I loved everything about this book and this series, until I got to the end. I feel like it could have been written better. I think the author tried to wrap things up a little too neatly at the end. Jo Schneider is excellent at writing cliffhangers, as she demonstrated in the rest of the series. I think I would have been upset if the series ended with too much of a cliffhanger, I just feel like it was wrapped up too quickly at the end.

Although I was a little disappointed with the way this book ended, I still loved it!

I'm really sad that the series is over, though! I wish I could see what happen next!

I definitely plan to check out more of Jo Schneider's work!
Posted by Jess Creason at 3:09 PM Labels: Book Blog, Book Blogger, Book Review, Bookstagem, Broken Worlds, Cal, Dennis, Jagged Scars #5, Jeff, Jo Schneider, Kev, Wendy, YA fantasy, YA Lit, YA Literature

Spoiled Gambit (Jagged Scars #4.5) by Jo Schneider Cal screwed up. He trusted the wrong guy. Wendy almost died and Shelter fell. In an attempt to assuage his own guilt, Cal joined a dangerous mission to lead the Primate's people away from the survivors.

While laying a false trail for the Primate's Skinnies, Cal discovers some old friends, but he also finds an enemy even more dangerous than the Primate. Now the group must decide if their objective has changed. Cal will do anything to prove to the others, and maybe himself, that he is not a traitor. But will it be enough to keep his friends safe?

Before I say anything at all about this book, I just have to say - I did not expect Cal to be as attractive as he is depicted on the cover of this book. I was picturing someone way nerdier, but he is a total hottie on the cover.

If you haven't read the other books in the series, read my review of the first book, Fractured Memories.

This novella was a great way to get back into the series. It gave me a bit of a refresher on what happened in book # 4, Crippled Hope, since it had been a while since I read it. This short is just as good as the rest of the series, though.

I really like Cal! I Am so happy that he was given a whole novella to try to make up for his mistakes. I don't want to give anything away, but I hope that what happens in this novella helps give Cal a second chance in the next book.

This was a great intro to the last book in the series! I am super excited to read Broken World, now! I am just sad that the series is coming to an end.

Thank you, Jo Schneider, for sending me a copy of this book!

Posted by Jess Creason at 2:39 PM Labels: Book Review, Broken World, Cal, Christian, Crippled Hope, Den, Dennis, Dillon, Fractured Memories, Jagged Scars Series, Jeff, Jo Schneider, Novella, Primate, Shelter, Spoiled Gambit, Wendy, YA, YA fantasy

Threadwalkers by Joanna Volavka After her father's death in a plane crash, Miranda Woodard's life begins to unravel. On her sixteenth birthday, Miranda receives a mysterious gift: a small wooden box containing a needle and a spool of gossamer golden thread, left behind by her father, which begins a chain of events that soon leave her life in chaos. Her pet cat is replaced with another, her teachers don't have her on their roll call at school, even her closest friends forgot who she is. When her mother vanishes into thin air, Miranda becomes desperate for answers. She follows clues to meet a man known only as the Tailor. With his help, she must find a way to fix her life before it's too late.

First of all, I would like to thank the author, Joanna Volavka, for sending me a copy of this book!

This book started off a little bit slow, but it is definitely worth it to keep reading. Once the pace started picking up, I was completely sucked in.

I really like the way Miranda was written. Although the author wrote a realistic account of how a 16-year-old might react to such complex and scary situations, she didn't turn her into a whiner like some YA authors tend to do with teenagers in tough positions.

If you like, sci-fi, you'll love this book. If you don't like sci-fi, you should still totally read this book!

I loved this book! I hope the author writes more about Miranda's adventures! I really want to see what happens next!

Joanna currently lives in southern California with her husband, two cats, and extensive book collection. She is on staff with the International Geek Girls Pen Pals Club and spends her time writing or traveling as often as possible. She loves national parks, wildlife conservation, geeky conventions, and weird roadside attractions. She knows that Han shot first. Joanna still hasn't decided what she wants to be when she grows up, though she suspects it will probably be herself.

Website: joannavolavka.com
Twitter: @joannavolavka
IG: @joannavolavka
FB: facebook.com/joannavolavkaauthor

Posted by Jess Creason at 1:32 PM Labels: Book Blog, Book Blogger, Book Review, Bookish, Bookstagram, Joanna Volavka, Miranda Woodard, Perkins the cat, plane crash, Sci-Fi, Science Fiction, the Tailor, Threadwalkes, Time Travel, Walking, YA, YA fantasy

Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Ravencry (Raven's Mark #2) by Ed McDonald Four years have passed since Nall's Engine drove the Deep Kings back across the Misery, but as they hurl fire from the sky, darker forces plot against the republic.

A  new power is rising: a ghost in the light known only as the Bright Lady manifests in visions across the city, and in the cult that worship her grasp for power even as the city burns around them.

When Crowfoot's arcane vault is breached, an object of terrible power is stolen and Galharrow and his Blackwings must find out which of Valengrad's enemies is responsible before they have a chance to use it.

To save Valengrad, Galharrow, Nenn and Tnota must venture to darker, more twisted and more dangerous places than any they've walked before: the very heart of the Misery.

Ravencry is the second book in the Raven's Mark series, continuing the story that began with the award-winning epic fantasy Blackwing.

First of all, if you haven't read Blackwing yet, you should do that. NOW. You can check out my review of it HERE. I will try not too put too many spoilers from book 1 in this review.

Book 1 really could have been a standalone, but I am glad the author kept going with this story.

This book was awesome! It has a different storyline than the first, but with the same (and some new) characters, and of course, new magic and monsters.

I loved the ending, but hated it at the same time. It was a great, epic ending, but I wasn't happy with where it left some of the characters. I want to go into more detail and rant, but I don't want to give away any spoilers.

I was a little upset that there wasn't more Nenn and Tnota in this book. They were my favorites from the first book. I fell in love with Amaira and Maldon in this book, though.

Ed McDonald exceeded my expectations again! The only issue I have is that I have to wait until next June to read the 3rd book in the series, Crowfall!

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, in exchange for an honest review.

Posted by Jess Creason at 1:20 PM Labels: Amaira, Blackwing, Bright Lady, Dantry, Darling, Ed McDonald, Ezabeth Tanza, Maldon, Misery, Nall's Engine, Nenn, Ravencry, Ravens' Mark #2, Ryhalt Galharrow, Tnota, Valengrad, Valiya

The Gathering Blog Tour and Giveaway Labels: Basile Perrinault, Bernadette Giacomazzo, Cabal, Dystopian, Emperor, Evanora Cunningham, Jamie Ryan, Kanoa Shinomura, The Gathering, The Uprising, The Uprising Series

Monday, August 6, 2018

Nyxia Unleashed (The Nyxia Triad #2) by Scott Reintgen Getting to Eden brought Emmett and his crewmates one step closer to their promised fortune. But surviving Eden may be the biggest reward of all. Discover book two in the trilogy Marie Lu called, "a high-octane thriller."

But Emmett and the others quickly realize that they are caught between two powerful forces - Babel and the Adamites - with clashing desires. Will the Genesis team make it out alive before it's too late?

I have been waiting not so patiently for almost a whole year to read this book, so you can bet that as soon as it popped up on NetGalley, I requested it.

The first book more than exceeded my expectations, so I had much higher expectations when I started reading this book.

I almost forgot how much I ♥ ♥ ♥ these characters!!! Morning is EVERYTHING! She is a genius and a total badass, and I absolutely love Emmett!

The character development was great in the first book, and it just goes deeper and deeper with the characters we know (and some we love), as well as some new ones. The world building was amazing, yet again. In the first book, the author introduced us to Babel and their space travel capabilities and technology. In this book, he introduces us to a whole other world.

I promise I'm not going to gush over every character, but I also forgot how much I love Kitsu and how funny he is. I also gained a new appreciation for Anton in this book. I don't want to give away any spoilers, though.

My thoughts after finishing this book: HOLY CRAP!

Scott Reintgen certainly knows how to write a cliffhanger. I don't know why I was expecting anything different after the ending to book #1.

Again, I don't want to give away any spoilers, but I kept guessing at Babel's and the Adamites' true intentions for bringing a bunch of kids to the Eden. One of my guesses was pretty close, but there was a HUGE twist, actually several huge twists at the climax, that I never saw coming.

If you haven't read book # 1, I recommend do ing that now so that you can read this book ASAP!

I can't wait to see what happens in book # 3, Nyxia Uprising. I'm so sad that it's not scheduled to be released until April 2019! That is way too long!

I received a copy of this book from the publishers, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review.
Posted by Jess Creason at 3:36 PM Labels: Adamites, Aliens, Anton, Babel, Bilal, Eden, Emmett Atwater, Genesis, Imago, Jazzy, Katsu, Kaya, Longwei, Morning, Nyxia, Nyxia Unleashed, Roathy, Scott Reintgen, Speaker, The Nyxia Triad

Mirror Gate (Harbinger #2) by Jeff Wheeler Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jeff Wheeler continues his wondrous Harbinger series in which two young women unite as two worlds approach the brink of war...

Though relations between Princess Seraphin Fitzempress and her father have been strained, Sera's royal position has remained unchallenged. Filled with self-doubt, she struggles to grasp the Mysteries- her greatest trial yet.

An education in the enigmatic magic is a necessary one, should Sera plan to rise in her station and invoke her powers during war. But the emperor's death now leaves both Sera and her ambitios father eligible for the throne- a contest the prince regent intends to win. Even if it means an alliance with a rival empire.

Sera's hope lies in Cettie, a waif raised in the world below, whose life has intertwined with sera's in the most unexpected ways. The Mysteries come easily ot Cettie, and her studies have begun to yield new insight into her growing powers. But those same powers put Cettie in the path of those who would destroy her.

Now as the threat of war ignites and an insidious sickness spreads throughout the kingdom, Sera and Cettie will need to gather their courage and fight for each other's lives... and for the future of their endangered world.

This book picks up several years after the first book in the series, Storm Glass, left off.

WARNING: SPOILERS FROM THE FIRST BOOK AHEAD. If you have not read Storm Glass, it's review instead by clicking here: Review of Storm Glass

When the book begins, Cettie and Sera have been at Muirwood Abbey for the past 4 years, learning the Mysteries.

I would love for Jeff Wheeler to write a novella telling more about what happened in the 4 years between Storm Glass and Mirror Gate.

As we learned in Storm Glass, Cettie has an affinity for the Mysteries, and they come to her easily. Sera, on the other hand, sucks at it, and not mastering the Mysteries may put her destiny at risk.

One thing that frustrated me in this book is how everyone kept explaining that all Cettie's problems would be solved once she learns the Mysteries, even though some of those problems were life threatening, and no one ever recommended taking the test early or anything... Not even a couple of weeks earlier than planned... Smh

I read a retweet that said sometimes I want to hug Jeff Wheeler, and other times, I want to throw him off the edge of a ski manor. I had the same feelings several times while reading this series! I've been on a roller coaster of emotion throughout both books!

😄 😲 😮

OMG! That is all I have to say after reading this book! I don't want to give away any spoilers about this book or it's ending, so please just go read it!

This book was just as good, if not better than the first book! I am glad we finally learned a little more about the Mysteries, though! I was getting tired of everyone talking about them and not explaining anything.

The only thing I'm not happy about is having to wait to see what happens next! I looked on Jeff Wheeler's website, and it looks like book #3, Iron Garden, will be released in November, which is waaaaay too long.

This book was AH-MAY-ZING! Again, Jeff Wheeler blew my mind! I can't wait to read the next book in the series! If I can't find an ARC soon, I plan to read the Kingsfountain and the Legends of Muirwood series so that I understand more about Cettie's world.

Posted by Jess Creason at 9:14 AM Labels: Adam Creigh, Book Review, Cettie, Fitzempress, Fitzroy, Harbinger, Jeff Wheeler, Kingsfountain, Mirror Gate, Ms. Pullman, Muirwood, Prince Regent, Sera, Seraphin, Storm Glass, the Fells, the Mysteries, YA, YA fantasy

Storm Glass (Harbinger #1) by Jeff Wheeler Theirs is a world of opposites. The priviledged live in sky manors held aloft by a secretive magic known only as the Mysteries. Below, the earthbound poor are forced into factory work to maintain the engine of commerce. Only the wealthy can afford to learn the Mysteries, and they use their knowledget to further lock their hold on society.

Sera Firempress is a princess born into power. She yearns to meet the orphan girl she has heard so much about, but her father deems the girl unworthy of his daughter's curiosity.

Neither girl feels that she belongs. Each seeks to break free of imposed rules. Now, as Cettie dreams of living above and Sera is drawn to the world below, they will follow in the paths of their own choosing.

First, let me tell you something that I think is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING!!!

Even though this book was just released on June 19th, the sequel, Mirror Gate, is going to be released on August 28th! How awesome is that? One of the things I hate most about reading a good series is having to wait a year or more for the next book to be released. Thank you so much, Jeff Wheeler, for taking your readers into consideration and not making us wait on the edge our seats for who knows how long to see what happens next!

Something else that is ABSOLUTELY AMAZING: THIS BOOK!

I wasn't aware that the author of this series also wrote the Legends of Muirwood series. I actually won one of the Muirwood books in a giveaway on GoodReads, and I just never got around to reading them. I will now! This book is based on some aspects of the world in the Muirwood series, just very far into the future.

To understand this series, you don't need to read the other series first. However, now that I've become so interested in Cettie and her world, I definitely want to read the Muirwood series. The author's other series, Kingfountain, also looks really good!

Something that irked me a bit was that Cettie was so quick to leave the kids and Joses in the Fells. She was so concerned with their welfare but asked to leave She knew Joses was likely in jail and their guardian is a drunk who doesn't feed them, you would think that she would be more concerned about making sure that would be alright. This was just a little detail that made me scratch my head. It didn't detract from the story, though.

The author did an excellent job at world building and character development! I really like Cettie and Sera, and of course, Fitzroy! Sera's dad really pissed me off, though! He is a total assbutt! (Sorry, I've been watching way too much Supernatural.)

This book had so many twists and turns. I couldn't put it down, and I loved the ending! I am so happy that I have the sequel so that I can start reading it right now!

the author stated that this series will have 5 books. Since the first 2 are the only ones listed on GoodReads,  it might be a while before I get to see what happens next, so it's a great time to catch up on some of his other work.
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