Review: Haven (War of the Princes) by A.R Ivanovich

Title: Haven: War of the Princes (#1)

Author: A.R Ivanovich

Published: May 26, 2011

Pages: 392

Series: yes

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: From missing socks to missing people, nothing could remain hidden from seventeen year-old Katelyn Kestrel for long, but after locating a forbidden passage out of her isolated country, Haven, she discovers for the first time that there are some things that should never be found. Outside the safety of her homeland’s borders, Katelyn meets Rune, a young soldier who will die without her immediate aid. She never considered that helping him would lead to her capture. 

While being held prisoner by the handsome Lord Dylan Axton, she learns that the outside world is rife with war and controlled by people with extraordinary powers. It becomes clear that there was a very good reason the founders of Haven locked their people away from the rest of the world. The depth of her peril reaches a fever pitch when a ruthless Commander wants Katelyn dead. Her only hope is to return to Haven, but can she survive long enough to find her home?

**REVIEW**

'Haven' was a lovely surprise of a story - it had magnificent and imaginable world-building, memorable characters, and a great storyline.

I loved how the story started off with only a couple of chapters of an "intro" (where we get to see how Katelyn's life - a quite normal one - is like in school and with friends) before she sets off one night to look for a way out of the walls of Haven, something that hasn't been done in seven-hundred years.

I thought the atmosphere of Haven was going to be a dystopian one with the controlled society and strict rules, but it was the contrary of that which was pretty wonderful. Haven is a safe, happy, and peaceful place. I felt safe while reading about Haven Valley, I would totally live there! I also found Katelyn's dad to be hilarious with how he had no problem trusting Katelyn when she snuck out at night.

I enjoyed everything about Katelyn's journey to the Outside - how the secret passage was found at a graveyard, the threatening scribbles on the walls, the dry aquamarine water, the cave. It was exciting and confronting.

The Outside - also known as the town of Breakwater - was a world of its own, set in a different era. I was definitely intrigued by the Dragoons and their duty. I must admit I was a little bit lost in the mix of lords and commanders (and Margraves and Princes) there were a lot of people involved but I got the general idea of how they were ranked and how it worked.

I liked how Ivanovich placed Katelyn in the fairly royal hands of Dylan at the beginning and how Katelyn desperately tried to get away, not realizing this was the freest she'd be on the Outside and that it really was something she should've appreciated.

Dylan was, well, hard to figure out. Though he was full of himself and/or manipulative, he was never solely bad. I can't even say he was bad. Dylan was a wild card, you didn't really know with him. I read that Ivanovich had intended for 'Haven' to be a stand-alone novel but with the possibility of a sequel at the end, and I have to say, if 'Haven' had been left as a stand-alone I would've been left profusely conflicted about Dylan. He did not leave off in a good light and I'm glad there might be more to learn.

Even though the title states "War of the Princes" the reader isn't exposed to the war per se, the only knowledge and information about the war is that there is a war going on. 'Haven' followed Katelyn in her quest of going back to Haven Valley, truly a safe haven. Though Katelyn spends a good chunk of the story captured, there was never a dull moment.

I loved Katelyn's character - she was a great narrator with a sensible voice - strong-willed, compassionate, and even with a little wit thrown in to lighten up the mood.

The only time I found myself sighing at her was when she could not stop blaming Rune for something he clearly had had no choice over, other than that, there was not one choice or decision of hers that made me roll my eyes or wonder what the hell she'd been thinking. Katelyn seemed to always be at the top of her game.

I hadn't had any expectations romance-wise, and it was perfectly okay. Cave Rune had me wanting to know more and Dragoon Rune was mysterious. There was absolutely something about him, and that he wasn't allowed any connections to friends or family made it much more daring and I liked that because you knew, under the emotionless exterior, he's surely feeling. Although, honestly, the name Rune.. I needed some warming up to it.

Ironically enough, the minor (really minor) slow-going moment for me was the big fighting sequence towards the end - I don't know why I experienced that it was a bit scattered, it could very well have been my middle-of-the-night slow brain.

I was okay with the ending, though again, had 'Haven' been a stand-alone, I would've been left wondering too much about things - about Breakwater, about Dylan, about Rune. So I'm really glad there will be more.

Ivanovich's writing is excellent, very pleasant and expressive. I enjoyed every minute of it and I'm excitedly looking forward to the second installment.

(4.5/5)

Review: After Ever by Jillian Eaton

Title: After Ever (After #1)

Author: Jillian Eaton

Published: June 12, 2012

Pages: 196

Series: yes

Source: received

Goodreads Summary: For sixteen-year-old Winnie Coleman, dying is the least of her worries. Between coming to terms with her mother’s unexpected death, trying to think up new and inventive ways to break up her father and Girlfriend #3, and keeping her brother from chewing off his fingers, she has her hands full. Courtesy of a thin patch of ice and failed swimming lessons, all of that changes in the blink of an eye. 

In death Winnie will find the answers that eluded her in life, and a whole slew of other questions she never thought to ask. Like why is she stuck with Sam for a guide? Sure, he’s funny and cute in a geeky sort of way, but he wears sweater vests… and loafers. For a girl who has tattoos on her face and glue in her hair, it’s not exactly the best match up.
But when Sam is taken and his very existence threatened, Winnie must make the ultimate choice between cowardice and courage. Faithlessness and loyalty. Family... and love.

**REVIEW**
I was so astonished by how well-rounded 'After Ever' was considering it being under the average novel length. You're taken on a complete whirlwind of a journey in Winnie's afterlife or what we learn to be called just the "After" and you'll come out the other end.. intrigued.

Already from the beginning Eaton does a great job of keeping you on your toes. Even though you know Winnie will die, you're not sure when or if she's not already dead or what is going on. I was confused, in a good way, while reading.

I didn't particularly like Winnie at the very start of the book - she was rude and snide, even selfish. But as you get a little further into the story you'll learn the cause of everything, you'll learn that since Winnie's mom passed away no one has been the same, and Winnie is no exception. 

I found myself coming to an understanding as to why Winnie behaved the way she did and I got it. I also liked Winnie's internal conversations with herself - I felt like it was an extra window into showing who she really was and what she really felt.

The After was pretty fascinating. It's one of those things when you just cannot comprehend how the author, how a person, has thought of it all. It was complex yet totally something I could envision and was envisioning. 

Having a guide, the different levels, the Jump Doors, the Unknowns, going back to the past, getting lost in memories, the Solace Room, attending your own funeral?! I was really impressed. It was all so well constructed.

Part of me thought Winnie (or just anyone) should've been more frustrated or agitated when finding themselves in the freaky, overwhelming world of the After. 

However, somehow Eaton had me believe this was how even I would've reacted if finding myself in the After - asking tons of questions, trying to figure everything out. She had me convinced.

Sam Trent - lanky, kind of cute, sort of geeky boy. And then Eaton goes and gets me all confused when it's mentioned he has a six pack and that he's aware that he has one. 

Jokes (or not) aside, Winnie and Sam both grew in my eyes. They were less common main characters - rebellious dreadlocks girl/sweater-vest-wearing boy - which can either go really wrong or really right, in my opinion, and at the end of the day I did like them.

When the plot is revealed the questions I had about Winnie and why this, why that, were answered and simultaneously convincing me how good the following installments will be. You just know something big is planned to happen.

It wasn't until the end that I felt the book had been too short, or the ending just too abrupt. After putting down 'After Ever' I came to the conclusion that I could live with it, but I can see why more people would be bothered by it than not. Though a good cliffhanger is necessary for a first installment and as of right now I do think I'll read the second one.

'After Ever' was a new, original take on a story about afterlife. I've never read anything like it before and I believe many will find themselves engrossed in it. Thank you to Jillian Eaton for sending me a copy!

*UPDATE: since this review an additional final chapter has been added to the Kindle version of 'After Ever'!

(4.5/5)

Review: Out of Sight, Out of Time by Ally Carter

Title: Out of Sight, Out of Time (Gallagher Girls #5)

Author: Ally Carter

Published: March 13, 2012

Pages: 336

Series: Gallagher Girls

Source: purchased

Good to know: best series I've ever read

Amazon Summary: The last thing Cammie Morgan remembers is leaving the Gallagher Academy to protect her friends and family from the Circle of Cavan—an ancient terrorist organization that has been hunting her for over a year. But when Cammie wakes up in an alpine convent and discovers that months have passed, she must face the fact that her memory is now a black hole. The only traces left of Cammie’s summer vacation are the bruises on her body and the dirt under her nails, and all she wants is to go home.

Once she returns to school, however, Cammie realizes that even the Gallagher Academy now holds more questions than answers. Cammie, her friends, and mysterious spy-guy Zach must face their most difficult challenge yet as they travel to the other side of the world, hoping to piece together the clues that Cammie left behind. It’s a race against time. The Circle is hot on their trail and willing stop at nothing to prevent Cammie from remembering what she did last summer.

**REVIEW**

(First installment: ‘I’d Tell You I Love You But Then I’d Have to Kill You’)

 I’ve held off writing this review. I’ve been a loyal reader of the ‘Gallagher Girls’ series since the beginning, book one, five years ago. And for every installment Carter achieves a new level of awesomeness and quality. As I expressed in the collected review of the four previous installments: the books are crazy brilliant, Carter is a freaking genius.

 Words can barely describe how amazing I find the story-developing as well as storytelling of these books. Carter never ceases to impress me.

 ‘Out of Sight, Out of Time’ or GG5 did not disappoint, because that’s impossible. As always Carter knows her way around suspense and action. Only the first few chapters I couldn’t believe how much had happened - I found myself to be repeatedly surprised by occurrences, sometimes physically gaping.

Where GG4 left off, Cammie was to run away by herself to find answers and Carter had been clear about Cammie being alone on this journey which I hadn’t known what to make of. How would the story go with Cammie being on her own? But of course Carter knows what she’s doing and there’s no way she’ll exclude Liz, Bex, Macy, and Zach (that would be crazy).

The energy in GG5 is different, this time Cammie’s the one who’s the mystery. The focus is on her and the things she went through the months she was gone but forgotten about. The fact that Cammie suffered from amnesia bothered me but also served as the main reason why I so rapidly flipped the pages. Her journey will have you on the edge of your seat. I found myself with chills, a pounding heart, suspensful. But also sad.

Even though I know it didn’t and wouldn’t have suited at all in the story that was being told in GG5, I just generally missed Carter’s humor. Though, what really dissatisfied me was the Cammie-Zach situation. It was so absent and emotionless. Again, considering the circumstances in the book, yeah, I get it. But still! For most of the book I wasn’t even sure if they felt anything for each other anymore.

 One thing’s for sure, Carter will have you glued until the end. GG6, I’ll be waiting for you.

(4.5/5)

Review: Existence by Abbi Glines

Title: Existence (#1)

Author: Abbi Glines

Published: December 12, 2011

Pages: 170

Series: yes (second installment, 'Predestined' published March 29, 2012)

Source: purchased

Amazon Summary: What happens when you’re stalked by Death? You fall in love with him, of course.

Pagan Moore doesn’t cheat Death, but instead, falls in love with him.Seventeen year old Pagan Moore has seen souls her entire life. Once she realized the strangers she often saw walking through walls were not visible to anyone else, she started ignoring them. If she didn’t let them know she could see them, then they left her alone. Until she stepped out of her car the first day of school and saw an incredibly sexy guy lounging on a picnic table, watching her with an amused smirk on his face. Problem is, she knows he’s dead.

Not only does he not go away when she ignores him, but he does something none of the others have ever done. He speaks. Pagan is fascinated by the soul. What she doesn’t realize is that her appointed time to die is drawing near and the wickedly beautiful soul she is falling in love with is not a soul at all.

He is Death and he’s about to break all the rules.

**REVIEW**

I’ve been on a total drought when it comes to finding interesting books (and I’ve been hunting, believe me) worth purchasing, since my wallet will only allow a real worthy book as of right now.

So I finally gave in on a Heaven/Hell storyline! It’s a big step for me, alright. I’m still a good length away from giving in on vampires, though.

I read the sample of ‘Existence’ and was immediately drawn in. It’s a fast-paced book - the story spins right into action. It’s normal to hit a rough patch in a novel and needing to put it down to re-gain interest but I can straightly say that ‘Existence’ never had a dull or exhausting moment.

I read ‘Existence’ in one sitting, finding that time flew by in the world outside the book, which raraly occurs to me. The story is original and intriguing, and even though the plot was predictable as a whole, the story will definitely serve up well-worthy twists.

The fact that it was already revealed in the description that Dank is Death - maybe didn’t ruined the book per se but took away the suspense. I wouldn’t have guessed it that easily and probably would’ve gotten a good reaction of finding out. So knowing that Dank was Death had you know what was going on when Pagan was still going around trying to figure it out for over half the book.

Glines executed it all very well, keeping the story moving and the reader entertained and interested. I liked that even though we’re dealing with a girl who sees souls, a guy who’s Death, and the Heaven/Hell deal, Glines achieved to lighten the subject. It’s definitely more about the surprising and complicated relationship between Pagan and Dank than it was about Heaven and Hell.

It didn’t mind me too badly but I would’ve appreciated more explanation to certain things that I feel went unanswered. Why this, why that.

[Spoilers ahead!] Okay, so I settled for Pagan being able to see dead people because she’s “special”

- yes, fine, I don’t really need more of an elaborate answer but it was never explained why Pagan of ALL people Dank has ever seen/met/been assigned to collect the life of, starting caring for her. I mean, he’s Death. And I can already answer my own question that it has something to do with her “specialness” but here’s when I would’ve demanded a good, satisfying dump of reasons. When Dank, early on, decided to break the almighty rules and save her they’d barely even had somewhat of a decent conversation yet. Even from Pagan’s point-of-view, it was never clear why she fell for Dank, either. I never grasped why and how she went from wanting Dank to go away, just like any other soul, to trusting him, wanting him to protect her, and falling so hard for him. [Spoilers ended!]

Pagan was a great protagonist - friendly, nice, likable. I think the fact that Glines had her already been able to see souls her whole life was a benefit for the readers and you gladly get to skip the whole super-dramatic-confused-emotional stage where the character is trying to figure everything out and coming to terms with it. Pagan was calm and collected, and knew exactly how to handle herself

when first meeting this talking soul for the first time. It was very natural.

Dank was everything I’m sure Glines intended for him to be. There were moments I got chills from him as well as moments when I had butterflies. He was sexy, all right, but hard to read otherwise. I certainly have loads of questions about him being Death. Is his name really Dank? Does he really look like that? If yes, why is Death young? And sexy? And charming? And caring? How long has he been Death? If forever, why isn’t he rock-hard, stone-cold, completely hollow, lost of emotions, super-dark, or terrifying? Etc.

As for Leif, he was a fun character in the beginning - flirty, cute and nice throughout. There was never really an ultimatum between Leif and Dank - personally, I experienced them to be very much in parallel universes, not really competing with each other or going up against each other in any way.

Even if the book left off on a perfectly shocking, cliff-hanging note, I’m still to decide if the second installment sounds promising enough to keep my interest. To be continued..

(4.5/5)

Review: Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Title: Bittersweet

Author: Sarah Ockler

Published: January 3, 2012

Pages: 386

Source: purchased

Good to know: you'll get a major cupcake-crave

Amazon Summary: Once upon a time, Hudson knew exactly what her future looked like. Then a betrayal changed her life and knocked her dreams to the ground. Now she’s a girl who doesn’t believe in second chances, a girl who stays under the radar by baking cupcakes at her mom’s diner and obsessing over what might have been. So when things start looking up and she has another shot at her dreams, Hudson is equal parts hopeful and terrified. Of course, this is also the moment a cute, sweet guy walks into her life—and starts serving up some seriously mixed signals. She’s got a lot on her plate, and for a girl who’s been burned before, risking it all is easier said than done. It’s time for Hudson to ask herself what she really wants, and how much she’s willing to sacrifice to get it. Because in a place where opportunities are fleeting, she knows this chance may very well be her last…

**REVIEW**

I sort of fell in love with ‘Bittersweet’. It was exactly the kind of super-cozy novel I’d been looking for. I started reading it at night and the first thing I did in the morning was make myself a tall cup of hot chocolate which was the closest thing to hot chocolate and cupcakes that I could come. But, man, the cupcakes!

‘Bittersweet’ gave me the impression of a light and fluffy storyline but it contained the perfect amount of relatable conflicts; there were so many elements to the story - being let down and letting people down, pleasing family, being a good friend, following your dreams, and falling in love. It mainly focuses on telling the story of a girl carrying so much weight on her shoulders, trying to juggle more than she’s capable of, and learning what’s really important to her.

The storyline as well as the plot was well-developed and believable. From the first chapter, starting with the moment Hudson realizes her family has fallen apart, it was so simple for me to put myself in her shoes (or skates) and feel her pain and understand where she was coming from throughout.

I loved the skating, the diner, the cupcakes, just about every supporting character - they all had a personality or a trait of their own.Hudson is the kind of protagonist I’ve been looking to read about, she instantly shot up the list of my favorite heroines. Ockler has impressed me beyond by creating an extremely memorable character with such a poetic, fun, and lifelike voice. Her writing is detailed, clever, and entertaining. Hudson impressed me or made me giggle.

There is a love triangle in the book, but far from any typical one. This was very.. nice. Harmless. Respectful. I liked both Will and Josh very much, I might even say I rooted just the tiniest bit more on Will. They were both cute and charming. I love when both guys can be good and there isn’t one that necessarily has to be the “bad” one.

I was a little disappointed in how the skating turned out, and that even to the end Hudson’s mom still didn’t seem to have more of an understanding to Hudson. But overall, this was such an awesome read that I’d want a sequel to just so I can read more about Hudson and Josh and Will.. And the cupcakes. Can’t forget the cupcakes.

 (4.5/5)