REVIEW: Brooke (Under the Never Sky #2.5) by Veronica Rossi

Brooke (Under the Never Sky #2.5)  by Veronica Rossi

Publication Date: November 26, 2013

Publisher: HarperCollins

Source: eBook Purchased by Reviewer

Buy it at: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

The only fight she can’t win is the one for Perry’s heart. Following the stunning climax in Through the Ever Night, the Tides have been forced to see shelter from the Aether storms in a dismal, secluded cave. But Brooke’s memories of the cave go back much further, to when she and Perry used to come here together. That was before Perry fell in love with Aria and before Vale’s dealings with the Dwellers altered the course of the Tides forever.

Now, with her sister back from the haunting year in captivity and Aria lying unconscious in the sick bay, Brooke struggles to put the pieces of her life back together. Without Perry, who is she? And what is her role in this frightening new world? As these questions swirl about her, an old threat to the Tides resurfaces, and Brooke is forced to put the lives of her people before her own. But in taking this step outside herself, Brooke may finally discover what she truly wants.

When I first heard that Veronica Rossi was doing a novella in Brooke’s POV, I was less than happy. I never considered her more than a secondary character and definitely not to the point of needing her own story, but it was actually better than I thought it would be. Seeing her struggle with everything happening around her struck a chord with me. I will say, however, that I wasn’t in love with it.

Though, Brooke does seem to change a lot in this novella and I hope that Veronica Rossi shows a little bit more of this new side of Brooke in Into the Still Blue, I just feel like it was kind of forced. It all happened so quickly and slightly unnaturally. I hate to give spoilers, so the only other thing I will say that bothered me is that on her journey to move on from Perry, she takes a turn into scandalous waters. Not her best move, at all!

BUT…seeing her mature and grow up a bit was a nice change to her usually nasty demeanor, and it was pretty nasty in the novella. I enjoyed seeing her soften up a bit and learn to be a better person. I’m pretty sure that her sister, Clara, being back had a huge influence on that but I can also see that it was also her wanting to be a better person for her sister and her people. She’s a natural protector and I absolutely LOVE that about her because that’s how I am in my life. It’s my natural instinct to protect people and that’s something that me and Brooke share, which of course makes me relate to her more.

So overall, though there were some thing’s I disliked about this novella, I think it was a great read and great insight into Brooke.  Let’s see what Veronica does with this in Into the Still Blue!

COVER REVEAL: Sisters' Fate by Jessica Spotswood

OMG! OMG! OMG! It's here swooners, it's finally HERE!!!!!!

Take a look at the cover of Sisters' Fate (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #3)



Perfect timing since I JUST did my review of Born Wicked (The Cahill Witch Chronicles #1)

This is an AWESOME series and I cant wait for the release of this book (the last book in the series) which was also "released" to us as AUGUST 14, 2014 

I know this will be a bitter sweet ending and i'll be sad to say goodbye to my favorite witchy sisters :o) but it will also be a great conclusion to a GREAT series!!!

Let the countdown begin!!!!

REVIEW: Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me (Shatter Me #2)  by Tahereh Mafi
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Book Purchased by Reviewer
Buy it at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, IndieBound

My rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Tick

Tick

Tick

Tick

Tick

It’s almost over

Time for war.

Juliette has escaped to Omega Point. It is a place for people like her- people with gifts- and it is also the headquarters of the rebel resistance.

She’s finally free from The Reestablishment, free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam. But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.

Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.

In this exhilarating sequel to Shatter Me, Juliette has to make life-changing decisions between what she wants and what she thinks is right. decisions that might involve choosing between her heart- and Adam’s life. 

Soooooo....OMG! OMG! OMG!!! This book..THIS BOOK!!!!!! I mean there really aren't any words to describe how I feel about this book. To say it left me hanging is an understatement...it left me dead. Dead on the floor. Maybe i'm still breathing, maybe i'm not...I can't even tell right now. Like Juliette, I constantly had to remind myself to just breathe.

Unravel Me picks up where Shatter Me left off, with Juliette and Adam as the new-comers to Omega Point. Omega Point being the "safe haven" for special people like Juliette, people with powers. There are some great strides made with our main characters in this book and there are some not so great strides made. Lets get started!

Juliette: I totally loved that she regressed back to her claustrophobic, paranoid, and self-conscience ways in the beginning (and middle) of this book...ok not the nicest thing to say, but it's for good reason. I would've highly doubted that she could miraculously become a super hero over night. This poor girl has been emotionally abused her whole life! She was locked away and left alone for the world to forget about her. I would be more surprised if she didn't have a meltdown at Omega Point. When we last left off in Shatter Me, Juliette seemed powerful, strong, even understanding and full of confidence about her powers and new life when she arrived at Omega Point, but it seems completely natural for her to lose all of that when she finally settles down and realizes that Omega Point is just a cell. It's underground, full of rules and restrictions. Just like at the asylum. Plus she isn't used to getting so much attention [read: Castle can be a little overbearing at times lol] I did not, however, approve of the fact that she was constantly whining about something. She seemed so completely immature and i'm sure she was just as immature in Shatter Me, but it didn't bother me then...it bothers me now. Maybe that's because I expected her to grow up a little bit and mature somewhat but............I guess I was wrong. Stop whining Juliette and get your $h!t together, girlfriend! We're at War!!!

Kenji: I absolutely LOVED Kenji in this book. In Shatter Me, he was such an insensitive jerk, but he totally transformed in Unravel Me. Getting to know the real Kenji was so awesome. It’s like he went from being a forgettable character in Shatter Me to being a beloved childhood friend.Turns out he's strong, brave, smart, and everything else in between. Which naturally that also makes him super schmexy too!!! (hehe)

Adaaaaaam! I know, I know, I'm biased, but I swear I love my guy!!!! It breaks my heart that him and Juliette are having the “issues” they are having. It’s like, after everything they have been through, they deserve at least a sliver of a happy ending and it just never comes for them…it’s always one thing after the other. He’s such a kind, sensitive, and protective hunk of perfection, that it breaks my heart to see him so sad and beaten down about the situation. Ms. Mafi, you're killing me with this!! I can’t take the emotional distress of it all. Please, please, PLEASE help a sister out and give me the ending I want!!

Warner: OH.MY.GAW. I mean seriously Warner, why did you have to become so darn irresistible?!? I get that you’re all in love with Juliette, but becoming this sweet, charismatic, charming and honest guy is not what I was prepared for. Not that I could EVER take my heart back from Adam (because Adam literally stole my heart <3) but I have to admit that there were a few moments that I may have swayed just a tad and was just as smitten with Warner as Juliette was. Come on, talk about transformations?!?! Plus, HE HAS DIMPLES! So yea, total swoon factor going on Warner!

So here are my emotions, use what little life is left in them and be prepared to hyperventilate at least once while reading this book!!!