Review: Only Everything by Kieran Scott

Title: Only Everything

Author: Kieran Scott

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: 5/6/2014

Pages: 326

Genre: Young Adult, Mythology, Retelling

Series: True Love #1

Source: Finished copy from publisher

Rating: 4 ½ Stars

Summary (from Goodreads):

Sometimes the gods can be so unreasonable.

Like Zeus, the king, who thinks the proper reaction to finding me kissing a mortal is to threaten my boyfriend Orion's life, banish me to Earth, and force me to inspire true love between three couples without my powers. I know! Elders! I'm Eros, a.k.a. Cupid. The Goddess of Love. Until this morning, anyway.

Now I'm stuck on Earth with no clue how to function as a human, and I can't even conjure up my magical bow and arrows to help me do my job. I've already met this amazing guy—Charlie, a new kid in school like me—but matching him up isn't as easy as I thought. Turns out opposites don't attract, nearly identicals don't attract, and giving a guy what he seems to want is just one big disaster. My sweet new friend Katrina might work, but she's got more complications than Medusa's hair, and a live-in boyfriend with a serious mean streak. Probably not the best idea to go there.

If I don't make a match, I may never see Orion again. I have so much to lose, and only everything to gain. 

Review:

When I was approached about reviewing this series since Valentine’s Day was around the corner (and the series is about Eros, Goddess of Love AKA Cupid), I figured why not? It sounded kinda fun and I like Greek Mythology. I never expected it to kickstart an obsession with all things Kieran Scott and one of the funnest, most original characters I’ve read in a long time.

ONLY EVERTHING is unique in the way it’s told. It has 3 points of view—the first is True (Eros) who has been banished to the Earth by Zeus after falling for a mortal. Her punishment says she has to make 3 human couples find true love … but without the use of her goddess abilities. Trust me when I say taking a thousands of years old goddess and thrusting her onto Earth in human form is a recipe for hilarity. From her awkward encounters with other students that had me laughing out loud to her trying to find a job to pay for things, True is one of the funnest characters I’ve read in a long time.

The other two points of view are Charlie and Katrina—the couple fated to fall in true love. But there’s isn’t a picturesque high school love story. Katrina is still reeling from the sudden death of her father the previous year compounded with an ass of a boyfriend. Charlie is struggling to live up to the expectations of his parents (who are all about sports while he is all about music) while fitting in at a new school.

It all combines in a witty but poignant romance that is sweet and sincere and totally True. As soon as I put this book down, I reached for the next one and you will, too. So this Valentine’s Day, spend it with Cupid and Kieran Scott.

Buy: Only Everything

Review: The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Inheritance

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: 2.25.2013

Pages: 384

Genre: Mythology

Series: Yes (The Goddess Test #3)

Source: eARC

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

Love or life.
Henry or their child.
The end of her family or the end of the world.
Kate must choose.

During nine months of captivity, Kate Winters has survived a jealous goddess, a vengeful Titan and a pregnancy she never asked for. Now the Queen of the Gods wants her unborn child, and Kate can't stop her--until Cronus offers a deal.

In exchange for her loyalty and devotion, the King of the Titans will spare humanity and let Kate keep her child. Yet even if Kate agrees, he'll destroy Henry, her mother and the rest of the council. And if she refuses, Cronus will tear the world apart until every last god and mortal is dead.

With the fate of everyone she loves resting on her shoulders, Kate must do the impossible: find a way to defeat the most powerful being in existence, even if it costs her everything.

Even if it costs her eternity.

Review:

2013 is going to be difficult a year because so many of my favorite series are ending, and The Goddess Inheritance by Aimee Carter marks the beginning of that end. This is the first final book in a series I’ve read thus far for this year and it saddens me to know my journey with Kate and Henry is over.

It’s hard to say much about the plot because so much has happened in the previous two books (The Goddess Test and Goddess Interrupted), but suffice to say it all culminates in this book. Carter does a fantastic job driving the plot and keeping up a quick, breathless pace to barrel you to the conclusion. All of Kate’s trials and tribulations have led to this book, and it’s been a crazy and fun ride.

My only gripe, and maybe it’s just me being greedy, is that I felt there wasn’t enough Henry and Kate as a couple in this book. Something always seemed to keep them apart the entire series which frustrated me as a reader. I was totally on board with their relationship and marriage, and I really expected The Goddess Inheritance to be pay off for the long waits suffered in previous books. Unfortunately that pay off came in the last three chapters of the last book. I could have gone for a lot more of Henry and Kate (and even their baby) bonding. I feel a little cheated out of that.

Fans of Greek mythology will definitely want to snap this series up. The books are quick reads and Carter’s writing is top notch. I’m sad to see this series end, but I’m excited to see what Carter has in store for us next. She most assuredly made a fan out of me with this series.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Review: Touch of Death by Kelly Hashway

Title: Touch of Death

Author: Kelly Hashway

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Publication Date: 1.15.2013

Pages: 235

Genre: Mythology; Fantasy

Series: Yes (Touch of Death #1)

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: B+

Summary (from Goodreads):

Jodi Marshall isn’t sure how she went from normal teenager to walking disaster. One minute she’s in her junior year of high school, spending time with her amazing boyfriend and her best friend. The next she’s being stalked by some guy no one seems to know.

After the stranger, Alex, reveals himself, Jodi learns he’s not a normal teenager and neither is she. With a kiss that kills and a touch that brings the dead back to life, Jodi discovers she’s part of a branch of necromancers born under the 13th sign of the zodiac, Ophiuchus. A branch of necromancers that are descendants of Medusa. A branch of necromancers with poisoned blood writhing in their veins.

Jodi’s deadly to the living and even more deadly to the deceased. She has to leave her old, normal life behind before she hurts the people she loves. As if that isn’t difficult enough, Jodi discovers she’s the chosen one who has to save the rest of her kind from perishing at the hands of Hades. If she can’t figure out how to control her power, history will repeat itself, and her race will become extinct.

Review:

Bravo to Kelly Hashway for writing a winner right out of the gate. Touch of Death is a romantic and thrilling spin on Greek mythology that left me pining for more. There are just too many months between me and the sequel!

Jodi is just a likeable character. She had her dramatic moments, her awesome moments, and even her “WTF is the thinking?” moments. She was a very real character in that she reacted to most situations the way I think a lot of people would. There was no overt posturing or eye roll inducing heroic/martyr moments.  I won’t say she’s a character I fell instantly in love with, but there’s this winning quality to her that will keep me coming back to read more about her. I’m excited to see how Hashway progresses and develops Jodi in the rest of the series.

The only small negative that still kind of grates on me is the insta-love between Jodi and Alex. It sort of made my head spin, but the romance is hot and written very well. Because I love these two, I was able to pretty much set aside my inner grumblings about how fast their relationship came to be for the most part.

While it may seem that Greek mythology has become a fast-rising trend in YA, I do enjoy the 13^th zodiac spin Hashway employs here and the zombie spin. I hadn’t encountered that yet in a novel, so  that part was refreshing. This is a great start to a new series.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Review: Valkyrie Rising by Ingrid Paulson

Title: Valkyrie Rising

Author: Ingrid Paulson

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Publication Date: 10.9.2012

Pages: 352

Genre: Mythology; Romance

Series: Yes?

Source: ARC from friend

Rating: A-

Summary (from Goodreads):

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there. 

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances and thwart the nefarious plan behind them.

Review:

I’ve always been a fan of mythology, but I will admit that I generally gravitated more towards Greek mythology. I knew little to nothing about Norse mythology before I read Valkyrie Rising, and now I am desperate to learn more. Ingrid Paulson knocks it out of the park with her debut.

I don’t think I’ve ever connected to a main character from the jump like I did with Ellie. There’s something (maybe her Valkyrie awesomeness?) that just grabbed me. She started out this mild, somewhat meek, girl with a wicked sarcastic streak who was trying to get out of her god-like older brother’s shadow, and then became this powerful woman who leads an army. And never once did I feel like her transformation was forced or cliché.

If I enjoyed Ellie, I loved Tuck. I feel like my praise of him will be eerily similar to what Jenny @ Supernatural Snark said, but it is so refreshing to read a male lead who isn’t sullen, brooding, and/or tortured. Tuck is fun. He has this energy that lights up a room and jumps off the page. He simultaneously torments and protects Ellie. I think the reason I was so fully on board with their romance was because it wasn’t this instant connection—this had been building for year before the story began since Tuck is her brother’s best friend.

Paulson deftly weaves in few of the bigger names in Nordic myths (and fans of the movie Thor will undoubtedly recognize these names) like Loki and Odin. I’m hoping future books will bring about more characters. Like, Thor, for example.

I haven’t seen whether or not this is a series. I really, really hope so. Paulson definitely leaves it open-ended enough to continue the story, but she wraps up the main plot nicely. This works great as a stand-alone or the launching pad for a new YA series. Regardless, this book is a must-read for anyone who loves mythology and general epic-ness.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

Blog Tour & Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Pure

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher:  Spencer Hill Press

Publication Date: 4.3.12

Pages: 329

Genre: Mythology, Romance

Series: Yes (Covenant #2)

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Review:

I know I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: Jennifer Armentrout is one of the best YA writers out there. Her ability to write compelling characters, intense scenes, and completely and utterly draw a reader into the pages of a novel is nothing short of genius.

Armentrout wastes no time pulling you back into Alex’s saga. Alex is just one of those characters you have to root for. She’s strong, feisty, and sure but still has enough vulnerability to keep her from seeming like a full-blown Amazon. She’s a fighter and everything I loved about her in Half-Blood continued here. Sometimes I worry about the sophomore slump—some authors just seem to forget those key ideals and moments that made a reader fall in love with their hero/heroine in book 1, but that definitely doesn’t happen here.

And Aiden, oh Aiden. I just need one of him for myself. I absolutely love this star cross’d lovers angle. I’m a hardcore Alex/Aiden fan. Their scenes sizzle off the pages. I seriously had to check my fingers for burns after I turned a few pages. Not that I don’t enjoy Seth … he just needs to find his own girl, OK?

I love that this book delves deeper into the mythology and explains more about the Pures and Half-Bloods. It’s this vital back story information that pulls this series together, and makes me all the more excited about book #3, Deity.

This series is phenomenal, and Jennifer Armentrout is a gem of a writer. A glowing endorsement isn’t enough for this series. It deserves a fireworks display, spelling out “READ ME NOW!” in exploding lights and colors. Yeah, it’s that awesome.

Buy: Amazon | The Book Depository

GIVEAWAY:  To gain an entry in either/both of the tour giveaways for Pure, leave a comment here and and then go to StuckInBooks and/or A Cupcake and a Latte with a link to this review! Good luck!

Review: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath

Author: Brodi Ashton

Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

Publication Date: 1.24.2012

Pages: 370

Genre: Paranormal Romance, Mythology

Series: Yes (Everneath #1)

Source: ARC from publisher

Rating: A-

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...

Review:

Here’s the thing: I read a synopsis and go into a book with a preconceived idea of what I’m getting myself in for. Most of the time I’m right on. Sometimes I’m disappointed, and other times I am completely surprised (in the good way). I started this book kind of disappointed but by the end was completely and totally enthralled.

I felt the beginning moved too slowly. Much like the way Nikki was slowly returning to her former life and waking up from a hundred year nightmare, the book sort of dragged and was confusing at times. Nikki seemed too wishy-washy. She came back for Jack, but she was drawn to Cole. I’m not gonna lie—I’m a girl who likes to know which couple she’s shipping early on, and this one kept me guessing. So few romantic triangles can do that anymore, and I found myself somewhat annoyed with Nikki and her inability to choose.

As the story progressed (say 1/3 of the way in), things really started to pick up. Nikki started to find who she was and stand up for herself again, and as soon as that shift happened I was hooked. Watching her come alive was exciting and thrilling. I loved the way she pined for Jack and bantered with Cole. When she decided to fight against going back to the Everneath, I fell in love with Nikki.

This is a book that is very much the first in a series. It has a rough start because Brodi Ashton is tasked with explaining a century in a few pages. Ashton had to create a new world (Everneath), beings that live in it (Everlivings), a heroine I could cheer for, and a guy I could fall for (and no, I’m not telling you which one). All in all? I’d say she succeeded with flying colors. I cannot wait for book #2! I have a feeling that one will be even better than the first.

Buy: Amazon

Review: Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Half-Blood

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Publication Date: 9.15.2011

Pages: 281

Genre: Mythology, Romance

Series: Yes (Covenant #1)

Rating: A

Summary (from Goodreads):

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi pure-bloods have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures.

Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:

Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden.

Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

Review:

It’s not very often a book piques my curiosity so much that I have a deep craving in my gut to read it. This book has been blowing up across the blogosphere, and I can assure every person reading this review: it’s that freaking good. It’s one of those books that you open to read and then set it down four hours later, head spinning like you’ve spent an afternoon on the tilt-a-whirl with the biggest grin on your face. It has everything you could want: action, romance, angst, and so much more.

I have the utmost respect for an author who can literally hurl you into the story. With Jennifer L. Armentrout, you hit the ground running with Alex as she tries to evade a group of daimons within the first few pages. She also throws several characters out in quick succession, but takes the time to explain them all with such clarity, that I was never confused. Alex starts off as a brash, abrasive girl but you soon come to realize that her smart mouth and sarcastic quips are a big defense mechanism. Alex is the leader of an all-star cast, though. I fell for everyone from Caleb to Seth, and even Marcus wormed his way into my heart.

While it seems there is a romantic triangle being set up in this book for the series, I am 100% Team Aiden. The chemistry between Alex and Aiden burns across the pages so hot it’s a wonder my fingers didn’t blister. And who doesn’t love a forbidden romance? Especially one where the stakes are as high as this one.

The worst part about reading a book so far in advance from its publishing date is that it makes the wait for the sequel that much longer. Thankfully I was not left with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger, but more of a hopeful looking to the future of Alex. I recommend everyone pre-order this book now. This is one read you won’t be sorry you indulged in.

** Special thanks to Kate @ Spencer Hill Press for providing me with an advance copy for review & the awesome swag! **

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Title: Starcrossed

Author: Josephine Angelini

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Publication Date: 5.31.2011

Pages: 496

Genre: Mythological Romance

Series: Yes, Book #1 (Starcrossed)

Rating: A+

Summary (from Goodreads):

How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.

Review:

Let me start off by saying I have been staring at this computer screen for nearly 10 minutes trying to formulate a review. But sometimes there just aren’t the words to convey that deep, gut-moving love you have for a book, and that is how I feel about Starcrossed.  Some writers will fumble through decades (or at least several years) before writing a book this good, and the fact that Josephine Angelini did it in her first publication is to commended and awed.

I spent five glorious hours completely enraptured with this book, and if the sequel were available, I would gladly give up another five hours of my life to climb back into the world Angelini has created. Not only does she put a creative spin on the Trojan War (something that will forever endear her to me because I have spent countless days immersing myself in the histories of Helen, Paris, Hector, Achilles, Briseis, and King Priam), but she blended it artfully with Greek mythology (another passion of mine).

The characters are well developed and have an amazing dynamic when thrown together. Some of my favorite scenes were those in Noel’s kitchen when the whole family milled about. Angelini masterfully juggled having multiple characters in the same scene, giving each of them an independent and different voice that carried the chapter. Watching Helen blossom from a gawky, awkward girl into a young woman beginning to own her powers was an absolute joy to watch.

If I had to pick my least favorite part? Probably that sneaky little curve ball that was thrown at Helen and Lucas, but I have my suspicions that that particular issue will be resolved by the end of the series (it better be, anyway). I’m a girl who loves her fairytale ending sooner rather than later, but I can be patient … for now.

Starcrossed is a smashing debut that will have readers and bloggers in the YA community buzzing for a while, probably until the sequel comes out. It really is that good. I cannot recommend this book enough, and if I wasn’t intending on rereading my copy in the near future (i.e. this week), I would be thrusting it into the hands of my family and friends to read.

Maybe I should just get another copy to loan out.

Review: The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Title: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Publication Date: 4.19.2011

Pages: 297

Genre: Mythology, Romance

Series: Yes, Goddess Test #1

Rating: A+

Summary (from Goodreads):

It's always been just Kate and her mom--and now her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld--and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he's crazy--until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Review:

Every now and then a book comes along that is an absolute joy to read. You get a wide, goody smile in the middle of a crowded waiting room while reading it and people around you start shooting you “What’s that girl on?” looks, and you simply don’t care. The Goddess Test is that book.

As if Aimee Carter combining my love of romance and mythology wasn’t enough, she wrote a stunning debut novel that I tore through in a day.  Her words flow effortlessly off the page, mesmerizing the reader. Her characters are well developed and weave together to construct this tapestry that when you stand back at the ending, you can see how each individual character moved the story along. I will say the plot is nothing that an educated reader can’t guess, but that didn’t make it any less delicious. This is a book that I will buy and read again and again because it’s just one of those books I will never tire of.

While this book will have at least one sequel which is slated to be released in January 2012 (Goddess Interrupted, Harlequin Teen), there is no “cliff hanger” ending that left me frustrated with wonder. I went into reading this not knowing whether or not it was part of a series, because I find I almost expect that abrupt end that makes me huff an annoyed sigh because I have another year to wait before my questions are resolved. When I got to the end of The Goddess Test I was absolutely giddy at the idea of a sequel. This novel can easily stand on its own as whole, but with a sequel it seems like I get to have my cake and eat it too. And a girl can never have too much cake.

**Don't forget to enter my first giveaway: an ARC of Wither by Lauren DeStefano! Enter HERE!**