Daughter of Deep Silence Review

Daughter of Deep Silence
by Carrie Ryan

Spoilers

Synopsis:

In the wake of the deadly devastation of luxury yacht Persephone, just three souls remain to tell its story—and two of them are lying. Only Frances Mace, rescued from the ocean after torturous days adrift with her dying friend Libby, knows that the Persephone wasn’t sunk by a rogue wave as survivors Senator Wells and his son are claiming—it was attacked.

To ensure her safety from the obviously dangerous and very powerful Wells family, Libby’s father helps newly orphaned Frances assume Libby’s identity. Frances has spent years in hiding, transforming herself into Libby, and she can no longer allow the people who murdered her entire family and Libby to get away with it. After years of careful plotting, she’s ready to set her revenge plans into motion—even if it means taking down the boy she’d once been in love with: the senator’s son.

The game has just begun, and Frances is not only playing dirty, she’s playing to win.

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 5 stars. This book was an unexpected gem. It was everything that I didn't expect from it. I didn't even mean to start reading it, but I just turned to the first page, you know, just to see what it was like and the next thing I knew I was 100 pages in and there was no stopping me. This story was incredibly addicting and I don't say that lightly, I honestly could not put it down.

This was one of those books that I was just vaguely interested enough in to want to read and when I found it at the bookstore for 6 dollars I thought "Why not?" and bought it. I wasn't even planning on reading it any time soon, I was just going to stick it with my other TBR books and read it when the mood finally struck, little did I know that the mood would strike when I turned to that first page.

The story was more of a narrative, it did have dialogue, but most of the story was what the protagonist told us and it worked for this book. I like it when I get a good sense of the emotions that the character had while she was dealing with the aftermath of this disaster. And her reliving the terror that was that night on the yacht. 

For some reason I just expected Grey to be completely evil, but good looking. He was sort of played out to be the bad guy in the synopsis since he lied about something so important, but when reading the book a villain is the exact opposite of what e got. Grey was sweet and compassionate and cute and loving and was just the perfect guy, albeit, harbouring a lot of damaging secrets. I couldn't help but root for him.

I felt a deep connection to Frances, or Libby I guess, she had been though so much and it was taking over her life, she couldn't seem too get passed any of her traumatic experience. She was dedicated to bringing down the people who ruined her life and ended the lives of her family. 

The ending was epic and really everything I could have wanted. Thom, the man who shot up the boat, died, the Senator got jail time which he most definitely deserved, Frances got peace of mind and hopefully a new life with Grey. I still have a lot of questions, but I feel like the best books always leave us with an abundance of questions at the end. 

There is almost nothing I love more than a good revenge plot. The author completely did the premise justice. All I could think about after finishing this book was "That's it? What happens next? I need more!" I honestly can't believe the story ended like that I need to know what happens after the story ends. It's considered a thriller, but I didn't really see it as one. It had some thrilling parts, but I tend to not really enjoy thrillers all that much, I feel like they lack compassion in their most basic rights and I just don't care about them. This book had lots of emotions that drove the book and I would highly recommend it.

Quotes:

“If anything, revenge is the absence of emotion. It's pure, calculated thought stripped bare of entangling emotions. It's cold, deliberate action.” 

“It's funny, most people think that revenge is a passionate affair, driven by rage and pain. But it can't be. Feelings such as those make you weak. They overwrite thought and cause reckless impulses that lead to poor decisions.” 

“Could I really let her die? I ask myself. The most alarming realization is the sudden and sure answer: yes. I could absolutely let her die.” 

“So, to very unsubtly change the subject, what kind of books do you like to read? And so help me if you say Greek mythology, I'll turn this car around myself." It takes him a minute to get my joke, and then he starts laughing and I join in. And there's something about it all - the expanse of the summer sky arcing overhead and my hand still on Grey's warm thigh - that makes me wonder if I could just pause life here and wrap a bubble around this moment, if it would be enough to keep me happy.” 

“As I pass by him, I feel a crackle of tension between us. A slow heat begins its way into my cheeks, mirroring the flush in Grey's, and I realize that I hadn't been the only one acutely aware of his nakedness in the shower.” 

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts Spoiler Free Review

The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts
by K. C. Tansley

Synopsis:

Kat Preston doesn’t believe in ghosts. Not because she’s never seen one, but because she saw one too many. Refusing to believe is the only way to protect herself from the ghost that tried to steal her life. Kat’s disbelief keeps her safe until her junior year at McTernan Academy, when a research project for an eccentric teacher takes her to a tiny, private island off the coast of Connecticut. 

The site of a grisly mystery, the Isle of Acacia is no place for a girl who ignores ghosts, but the ghosts leave Kat little choice. Accompanied by her research partner, Evan Kingsley, she investigates the disappearance of Cassie Mallory and Sebastian Radcliffe on their wedding night in 1886. Evan’s scientific approach to everything leaves Kat on her own to confront a host of unbelievables: ancestral curses, powerful spells, and her strange connection to the ghosts that haunt Castle Creighton. 

But that’s all before Kat’s yanked through a magic portal and Evan follows her. When the two of them awaken 129 years in the past with their souls trapped inside the bodies of two wedding guests, everything changes. Together, Kat and Evan race to stop the wedding-night murders and find a way back to their own time—and their own bodies—before their souls slip away forever.

My Thoughts:

*** I Received a copy through Netgalley in Exchange for an Honest Review***

I gave this book 3.5 stars. It was fun and interesting. Not very surprising, but it still brings you on a great adventure with likeable characters.

The story was a bit slow in the beginning, there was nothing that really screamed out to me. I put this off for a few days, but I really wanted to get to the ARC of the second book soon so I decided to put it on my priority reads list. It mostly started out with me reading it for about 5 minutes every day when I would bring my dog to the park, but I did get very captivated by the story about 36% in.

The writing wasn't overly complicated to read. This novel didn't have anything complex that I really needed to have my full attention on the whole time I was reading, so I had no problems following along. 

I wish the author was a bit more clear on the protagonist's age. I can't tell if she's in college or if she's a senior in a private school or something about to go to university. I know at the very beginning she was very worried about her GPA being lowered by Evan, her TA, but are there even TA's in high school? I never had any that's for sure. I'm really not sure about her age.

As for Evan, he completely grew on me. He started out as the hot yet Satan-esque TA in Kat's class who seemed to be out to ruin her life, but then when we spent more time with him he really wasn't bad at all. I honestly don't know how he went from being so awful to being actually sweet at times. He made a complete one eighty during the book and I really want to see more of him in the next book.

As for the plot itself, it was exciting and managed to capture my attention seamlessly. There is something about the mix of mystery and anything that's paranormal that just brings certain books to life. Now, I love real life mysteries and mysteries in TV shows and movies, but the mystery genre is one that I have a lot of problems with in books. I usually have a hard time getting into them if they aren't Agatha Christie or Stephen King, so the added magical element adds something to the plot that you can't find in a normal mystery novel. 

This book also tugs at the heartstrings at times and that just gave more life to the story. I feel like when a book can make you feel those things then it is doing a good job. Books with sad scenes that can bring out your own emotions can't be bad books. Unless they are feelings of hatred towards the book, then it can be bad, but this wasn't one of those books.

Overall, I'm excited to read the next book and see what improvements that the author has made. I'm sure there will be a lot more world building and action to come.

The Struggle Review

The Struggle
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Spoilers

Synopsis:

A bloody path has been chosen… 

The war against the Titans continues, and they remain determined to wreak havoc on the world, but Seth has become something all gods fear. Now the most dangerous, most absolute power no longer resides in those who have been freed from their tombs. 

The Great War fought by the few is coming… 

All may doubt and fear what Seth has become. All except the one woman who might be his final chance at redemption. Josie will do anything to prove that Seth is on their side, but fate has a nasty way of changing lives, of changing people. 

In the end, the sun will fall… 

The only way they can save the future and save themselves is by facing the unknown together. It will take more than trust and faith. It will take love and the kind of strength not easily broken. No matter what, their lives will never be the same. 

For what the gods have feared has come to pass. The end of the old is here and the beginning of the new has been ushered in…

My Thoughts:

I gave this book 4.5 stars. I can never seem to dislike a book that Jennifer L. Armentrout writes. I have loved every single one without fail. They just cater so well to my own personality that I can't help but love them. 

I ordered this one off Amazon a couple of weeks ago and it actually came fairly quickly. I didn't even have a rush order on it or anything, it wasn't supposed to come for several more weeks so I was surprised to receive it in the mail. I for some reason deluded myself into thinking I could wait to read this book, but I ended up caving and I read it pretty quickly. A day, give or take two.

Leaving off at the end of the book I really don't know how they're going to resolve this. There aren't six demi gods left, Seth doesn't have any self control, and Josie has a tiny person growing inside of her. There are really so many directions this series can go in and it makes me a bit nervous considering Josie leaves off with the fact that she had a vision she would die. 

Josie's magical power that was attributed to her being the daughter of Apollo didn't really come as a surprise. When Cora revealed to have really cool powers and Josie thought about how she herself didn't have any cool powers I knew she had to have some ability she didn't know about yet. Then when Apollo was offhandedly talking about how he was the god of prophecies, it just sort of clicked and was confirmed when she too made that discovery. I think being able to see the future is a pretty awesome, if not daunting gift.

The fact that Seth has no self control really bothers me. Everyone keeps telling him, "I don't think that's a good idea", but he's just so caught up in himself that he doesn't care that it isn't a good idea. He's justified his reckless behaviour by saying he's doing it for Josie. It's a nice sentiment and all, but it's just burying him deeper and deeper.

I can't say that I was surprised by Josie's pregnancy. There were hints pretty early on in the story, plus it was a known fact that they had unprotected sex at the end of the second book. No surprises there. I feel like I should be annoyed by the amount of "surprise pregnancy" books out there, but I'm not. I find it so entertaining, usually the reader can figure these things out before the actual pregnant lady, so it becomes this game of "when will (blank) figure out that they're pregnant". It's something I don't think I'll ever get tired of. I also think Seth would be a pretty hot dad. I mean, he'd probably give his child anything it wants and spoil the shit out of it, but I don't think he would be that bad of a dad.

A personal favourite of this book is whenever they talk about Supernatural, because that is one of my favourite tv shows. It might not be as fun for people who don't watch Supernatural because they may not understand certain references, but when you do watch the show, there are some A+ references in that novel. I like how the author integrates pop culture into her characters lives. I know some author will pretend pop culture doesn't even exist when they write their books, that's okay, but I like feeling like I'm in the know. It makes me feel a lot more comfortable with the world if I know the pop culture references.

The only complaint that I have about this book is that it felt a lot like a filler book. Sure it had a whole lotta entertaining shenanigans, but when you think about it, all the events that took place in this book was just a set up for the next book. I wish it had more of it's own story arc that didn't revolve around the next book completing it.

I question I have for the next book is, what is going on with Apollo? he's being more secretive than normal and it's driving me crazy. He's also being a pretty shitty father which seems weird because he claims to really love Josie. I feel like I'm on the outside of an inside joke.

Overall, really good book. I devoured it and I don't regret a thing. If you've loved Jennifer L. Armentrout's past novels, then I would highly suggest reading this one.

Quotes:

“Zombies are all fun and games until they’re standing right in front of you.” 

“I’m not leaving you We’re in this together, Josie … If there is anything in this world, there is us.” 

“What destiny crap are you talking about?”A secretive smile curved the corners of his lips. “There is so much you do not know.”Why I hadn’t blasted the glittery fuck-face out the window yet was anyone’s guess.” 

“Just because you’re a god doesn’t mean I won’t punch you.”“Just because you’re a guest in my house doesn’t mean I won’t drown you in the ocean.” 

“But then I’d miss that look on your face.”“What look?” “Like you want to kick me and kiss me at the same time,” he answered.” 

Waiting on Wednesday

Rules of Magic 
By Alice Hoffman

Release Date: October 10th, 2017

Synopsis:

Find your magic

For the Owens family, love is a curse that began in 1620, when Maria Owens was charged with witchery for loving the wrong man.

Hundreds of years later, in New York City at the cusp of the sixties, when the whole world is about to change, Susanna Owens knows that her three children are dangerously unique. Difficult Franny, with skin as pale as milk and blood red hair, shy and beautiful Jet, who can read other people’s thoughts, and charismatic Vincent, who began looking for trouble on the day he could walk.

From the start Susanna sets down rules for her children: No walking in the moonlight, no red shoes, no wearing black, no cats, no crows, no candles, no books about magic. And most importantly, never, ever, fall in love. But when her children visit their Aunt Isabelle, in the small Massachusetts town where the Owens family has been blamed for everything that has ever gone wrong, they uncover family secrets and begin to understand the truth of who they are. Back in New York City each begins a risky journey as they try to escape the family curse.

The Owens children cannot escape love even if they try, just as they cannot escape the pains of the human heart. The two beautiful sisters will grow up to be the revered, and sometimes feared, aunts in Practical Magic, while Vincent, their beloved brother, will leave an unexpected legacy.

My Thoughts:

This is the prequel to one of my favourite books of all time, Practical Magic. The moment I found out about this book I wanted to click the Want to Read button on Goodreads ten thousand times. I never knew that I wanted this book until I read the synopsis and now it's all I want. This is definitely one of my most anticipated books of the year.

Top 10 Books I Want to Reread

This list is in no particular order, it's just a whole bunch of books that I haven't read in years that I want to read again.

1. Reboot

I feel like I was the only one who actually liked this book. It was a five star, but whenever I would go on Goodreads it just did not have very good ratings. I just remember this book so fondly and I want to read it again.

2. The Coincidence of Callie and Kayden

This was the second book by Jessica Sorensen that I ever read and I loved it so much. It had so much life in it and real struggle and I loved it so much. I want to refresh everything about this book in my memory.

3. Savor You

I only remember bits and pieces of this book. The premise was really interesting and I didn't hate it the first time I read it, and I want to continue on with the other books in the series, but I have to refresh this book.

4. Hopeless

This is my favourite Colleen Hoover book. That is quite a feat but I love it so much and I want to read it because it has been a few years since I've done so.

5. I’ll Give You the Sun

This is one of my favourite books of all time, as you will know if you've been following my blog for a while. I've only read this book once. Enough said.

6. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

I've reread this series a million times, but it's been years since my last reread and with the upcoming releases of the The Becoming of Noah Shaw, I want to be immersed in the story once again. 

7. The Hunger Games

I love this series and I haven't read it in years, I just want to read them again and feel the full weight of them. The first few times I read them it was all fun and games, but now I want to read it more seriously.

8. Harry Potter

It's been too long since I've read Harry Potter. I'm thinking of doing a read along next summer because I I feel like I'm too busy to do it during the year.

9. Fangirl

I've only ever read this book once, and I read it before Carry On. I feel like I would have a new appreciation of the story now that I've read Carry On.

10. Throne of Glass

Another book series that I've only ever read once. I just don't like having read things only once. Unless it's a book I didn't like, but I loved this series and want to read it again.

What book(s) do you want to reread?