SING SWEET NIGHTINGALE by Erica Cameron

Rating: B-
Synopsis:
Seventeen-year-old Mariella hasn't said a word in four years, and it's not because she can't: it's because she won't. She has nothing to say because no one would believe there's a world she can only visit in her dreams. And no one would understand why Mariella promised her silence to Orane, the man who introduced her to this world.   Hudson is only eighteen, but he's survived a lot--including a run-in with creatures he calls the "dream demons", creatures he blames for the recent death of his four-year-old brother. Struggling to cope in the aftermath of this loss--and guided by signs even the practical Hudson can't ignore--he moves to a new town and comes face-to-face with the one thing he never thought he'd see: another victim of the demons.  Mariella and Hudson have both been chosen by demons from a world that exists within ours, a world where beauty and magic mask cruelty and greed. Hudson has seen the gruesome reality of these beings, but Mariella is still in their thrall. She's in love with her captor, Orane, and is convinced she doesn't need saving. It's up to Hudson to show her the truth about the demons before she's lost in their world forever.

My thoughts on the book:
I wasn't sure what to expect when I requested this book on NetGalley. I was hoping for something different, and I got it. This novel is definitely unique. The characters are fully-developed, and the author has a pretty good voice, especially for her first book. The pacing was spot on, and the relationships were believable and natural. The world-building, however, was lacking. Other than the lack of understanding about the world Cameron created, I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel.

This story was told from Hudson and Marielle's alternating first person perspectives, and they each had their own unique voice, for the most part. Hudson's voice was rougher, which suited him, considering all that his character had been through. He was really interesting and very complex and flawed. I loved that about him. Despite the rough (and a bit scary) exterior, he was a really good, sweet guy, though. He wasn't super angsty and whiny like a lot of male leads with bad pasts. Likewise, Mariella was a decently strong heroine. She annoyed me at first until I realized she was more or less under a spell of sorts. Her voice had a dream-like quality to it that really made her situation believable and made her a relatable character. The secondary characters were entertaining and well-developed, too. No filler characters in this book. I really liked Dawn. She was a lot of fun.

The writing itself was decent, but the descriptions and world-building were almost non-existent. I still don't understand why the dreamworld creatures/demons/whatever they were did what they did, and I don't know exactly what they are. The concept is brilliant and lovely and horrific, but the explanations were lacking. I hope that the next novel delves more into the world-building. This book had a lot of setting up the story and situation, and I get that, but I needed more information. You'd think with nearly 400 pages that there would be some serious world-building, but there wasn't. The action and suspense were pretty much nonstop, though, and the novel was unique enough that it kept me interested. The ending tied things up nicely, even though I didn't feel like I knew much more than I did about the dreamworld.

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who's looking for something different in the YA Paranormal genre. There's light romance, but the book focuses more on people and what makes them tick than anything else. This was definitely an interesting read.

Follow Friday #50

This is a meme hosted every Friday by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, where book bloggers answer a question each week and check out how others answered it. It's a cool way for bloggers and viewers to connect and learn more about each other!

This week's question:

3 FAVORITE BOOK BOYFRIENDS, BOOKS THEY’RE IN, AND WHY YOU’LL ALWAYS LOVE THEM.

1. Clayton Danvers from Kelley Armstrong's Otherworld Series - He was my first true literary love of my adult life, and I still adore him. He's a fantastically complex character: smart, strong, tortured, loyal, loving, devoted, and of course, hot. The changing into a werewolf thing when times get tough doesn't hurt things either. He'd always keep a girl safe. 

2. Bones from Jeaniene Frost's Night Huntress Series - Bones is hot, British, and a badass vampire. He has tons of... ahem... experience, so things would be interesting, and he's a master vampire with his own line of vampires. Also, he can fly, which could make for some really fun dates. Did I mention he's British?

3. Warner from the Shatter Me Series by Tahereh Mafi - Talk about misunderstood, poor Warner had a horrific childhood and had to act like a monster just to stay alive. However, when he loves, he loves hard, and he's not really a psychopath. He just needs someone who can accept him for who he really is, not who his terrible father made him out to be. He may not be the best at expressing interest in females, since he tends to come across more stalkerish and like a kidnapper, but he would do anything in the world for those he loves. He also is willing to do the awful, terrible, difficult things to protect others. This guy really tugged at my heartstrings, and while I think we'd need a lot of couple's therapy, he'd totally be worth the effort. 

Twitter Chat and Giveaway with 10 YA Authors!

Join 10 YA authors from AW Teen on Wednesday, April 6th at 8 pm CST for a Twitter chat and giveaway! You can tweet your questions and follow along using the hashtag #AWTeen.

Authors:

Susan Moger (@SusanMoger), Of Better Blood (2/1) 

Anne Greenwood Brown (@AnneGBrown), Girl Last Seen (3/1)

Heather Anastasiu (@h_anastasiu), Girl Last Seen (3/1)

Laura Hurwitz (@hurwitzlaura), Disappear Home (paperback 3/1) 

Amy Allgeyer (@amy7a), Dig Too Deep (4/1)

Elizabeth Briggs (@lizwrites), Future Shock (4/1)

Dana Elmendorf (@DanaElmendorf), South of Sunshine (4/1)

S.A. Harazin (@SAHarazin), Painless (paperback 5/1)

Derek E. Sullivan (@DerekESullivan), Biggi e (paperback 5/1)

Deborah Blumenthal (@deborahblu), Hurricane Kiss (5/1)

Prize: 5 participants will be randomly selected to receive an AW Teen book of their choice!

Hope to see you there!

Waiting on Wednesday #45

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

This week, I'm waiting on A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J. Maas

Release Date: 5/3/2016

Synopsis:

Feyre survived Amarantha's clutches to return to the Spring Court--but at a steep cost. Though she now has the powers of the High Fae, her heart remains human, and it can't forget the terrible deeds she performed to save Tamlin's people.

Nor has Feyre forgotten her bargain with Rhysand, High Lord of the feared Night Court. As Feyre navigates its dark web of politics, passion, and dazzling power, a greater evil looms--and she might be key to stopping it. But only if she can harness her harrowing gifts, heal her fractured soul, and decide how she wishes to shape her future--and the future of a world cleaved in two.

With more than a million copies sold of her beloved Throne of Glass series, Sarah J. Maas's masterful storytelling brings this second book in her seductive and action-packed series to new heights.

Why I'm Waiting?

I absolutely adored the first book in this series, and I can't wait to see what Maas has in store for us next. 

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

BOUND by Donnielle Tyler Book Blitz!

Bound

by Donnielle Tyner 

Release Date: 10/19/15

Summary from Goodreads:

Bound by Vengeance.

Sadie has found the resolve to fight the man who caused so much pain in her life. Her tentative alliance with the HCA underground gives her the resources to train both her body and Talent for when she comes face to face with her grandfather.

Bound by Loss.

Being separated from her friends at St Vincent’s is harder than she could have ever realized and it doesn’t help that Kian has withdrawn from her as well. With help from a new friend, Sadie uncovers more about her past and that someone close to her has been keeping secrets from Sadie her entire life.

Bound by Fear.

Tragedy strikes close to home, giving a longstanding enemy, one desperate and willing to do anything to have Sadie on their side, an opportunity to arise. Allies and friends come together to stand against evil, but at a terrible cost. Sadie’s history and future collide while the world is thrown into chaos.

Sadie must overcome or forever be Bound. 

Buy Links:

Amazon│Barnes & Noble

Book One:
(cover linked to Goodreads)

About the Author

Hello! Donnielle here. I’m a new indie young adult author. When I’m not writing, I spend my time reading, binge watching Netflix, homeschooling my two children, and hanging out with my husband.

Author Links:

   

Stacking the Shelves #29

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by  Tynga's Reviews! This meme showcases the books received, bought, or checked out from the library over the past week. 

I have been on a book hiatus for a long time due to health, job, life, and family issues. I am so glad to be back in the blogosphere and back to reading. I've missed books so much! Anyway, I went to B&N this week and bought myself a few treats. 

Truthwitch
By: Susan Dennard
Synopsis:
In a continent on the edge of war, two witches hold its fate in their hands.

Young witches Safiya and Iseult have a habit of finding trouble. After clashing with a powerful Guildmaster and his ruthless Bloodwitch bodyguard, the friends are forced to flee their home.

Safi must avoid capture at all costs as she's a rare Truthwitch, able to discern truth from lies. Many would kill for her magic, so Safi must keep it hidden - lest she be used in the struggle between empires. And Iseult's true powers are hidden even from herself.


In a chance encounter at Court, Safi meets Prince Merik and makes him a reluctant ally. However, his help may not slow down the Bloodwitch now hot on the girls' heels. All Safi and Iseult want is their freedom, but danger lies ahead. With war coming, treaties breaking and a magical contagion sweeping the land, the friends will have to fight emperors and mercenaries alike. For some will stop at nothing to get their hands on a Truthwitch.

The Keeper of the Mist
By: Rachel Neumeier:
Synopsis:
Keri has been struggling to run her family bakery since her mother passed away.  Now the father she barely knew—the Lord of Nimmira—has died, and ancient magic has decreed that she will take his place as the new Lady. The position has never been so dangerous: the mists that hide Nimmira from its vicious, land-hungry neighbors have failed, and Keri's people are visible to strangers for the first time since the mists were put in place generations ago. 


At the same time, three half-brothers with their own eyes on the crown make life within the House just as dangerous as the world outside. But Keri has three people to guide her: her mysterious Timekeeper, clever Bookkeeper, and steadfast Doorkeeper. Together they must find a way to repair the boundary before her neighbors realize just how vulnerable Nimmira is.

Firstlife
By: Gena Showalter
Synopsis:
ONE CHOICE.
TWO REALMS.
NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…

That's it for me. What'd you guys add to your shelf this week?

FIRE TOUCHED by Patricia Briggs

Rating: B+
Synopsis:
Mercy Thompson has been hailed as “a heroine who continues to grow and yet always remains true to herself.”* Now she’s back, and she’ll soon discover that when the fae stalk the human world, it’s the children who suffer...

Tensions between the fae and humans are coming to a head. And when coyote shapeshifter Mercy and her Alpha werewolf mate, Adam, are called upon to stop a rampaging troll, they find themselves with something that could be used to make the fae back down and forestall out-and-out war: a human child stolen long ago by the fae.

Defying the most powerful werewolf in the country, the humans, and the fae, Mercy, Adam, and their pack choose to protect the boy no matter what the cost. But who will protect them from a boy who is fire touched?

My thoughts on the book:
When I saw this novel on NetGalley, I was so excited. Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite authors, and this is one of my favorite series, even though a couple of the most recent efforts in Mercy's world have fallen flat for me. However, this novel was a refreshing change from the past few books. The action starts in the first couple of chapters and doesn't end until the very last page. Some of the new characters introduced were extremely interesting, and aside from Mercy randomly throwing in ridiculous words in an effort to prove she's intelligent, the writing was top notch. Fans of the series are going to devour this book.

Mercy is one of my favorite Fantasy heroines. She's tough, smart, and able to take care of herself. She has a man in her life because she loves him, not because she needs him to be fulfilled. She continues to grow throughout the series, but she doesn't change so much that the growth seems out of character for her. She has issues and PTSD and a bit of anxiety, but she overcomes that to help others. She's a great example of a flawed, but still wonderful and strong, heroine. Adam is a fantastic complement to her, and the way he's evolved over the series is also organic. I really like who he's becoming, and I love how Mercy has challenged him, and his whole pack, to open their minds and accept people for who they are instead of trying to change them. This novel illustrates more of that kind of pack growth, and I feel that it's much needed and really added to the tapestry of the pack and their bonds. 

The world-building and descriptions were beautifully done in this book, but Briggs seemed so hung up on showing that Mercy wasn't an idiot that she used some really random, what I like to call "GRE words" to prove it... words that no one uses because you can express things in a much simpler manner. This hasn't happened in the past, and I'm not sure why it happened now. Those words really broke up the flow of writing, though, because even though I knew what they meant, as many readers will, they just didn't come across naturally. That was my main pet peeve with this novel and why it got a B+ instead of an A. The pacing was super fast, but not rushed, the story itself was well-told and interesting, and the alternating of action scenes vs. emotional scenes kept me emotionally engaged. The ending tied things up nicely, and after this book, I can't help but think that Mercy's story is about to come to an end. I feel like she's about to get things squared away enough that she can have her happily ever after. We'll see if I'm right or not, but that's the feeling that I got. 

Overall, I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys this series. I'd also recommend this series to anyone  who loves Urban Fantasy with strong female characters. Briggs is an amazing author, and she will not disappoint.