The Cruel Prince By: Holly Black

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Y'all ready for my next audio review? Because this has been the book that pulled me- from my slump.

And good news, Book 2 THE WICKED KING comes out today! (1-8-19)

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

As Jude becomes more deeply embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, she discovers her own capacity for trickery and bloodshed. But as betrayal threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

(Original Review Written Jan 3, 2019)

Oh! My! Goodness!!!

So I have had this book on my to-read list for a while now. My Audible wish list too (since I tend to like these fantasies on audio more most of the time)

And finally had a decent amount of credits built up and this book was on the 2-for-1 credit sale. So of course.... I finally downloaded it haha.

And I'm so glad I did. I'm just sad I have 5 more days until the next one comes out now still haha.

I started this one while on my way home to Florida for New Years. And played it the entire drive there and halfway back. Along with some headphone time between haha. I just didn't want to stop listening. The story itself was so good. And the narrator was amazing. I loved her portrayal of Jude. And her voice was just perfect for the character and story.

Also. The story itself was so detailed and fast paced. I kept just waiting to hear what was going to happen. And this book left me constantly guessing and trying to predict everything that was going to happen.

And then there is Jude and Cardan. And the whole cast of characters to be honest, that made this story so good in my eye.

All of them added so much to it. Offering little tidbits here and there. Showing how their individual personalities played so well together and helped to shape who they became or reacted with one another.

But specifically I want to talk Cardan and Jude. Duh haha.

I know it's become common knowledge I don't usually take well to female characters. And there were definitely things about Jude I disliked through the story. But I really did enjoy her character. She was feisty and strong willed, and just a plain ol' bada** haha.

I loved that even when she was at her most scared she used that to fuel her determination on.And then would comeback twice as strong to any of her adversaries, all the while being quick and cunning.

But the thing I liked the most about her I think,was her determination. She got knocked down so many times. And even when she was scared to death, she just revised her plan, and kept going. She admitted to her fears, and then learned from them.

While also showing that she could sometimes be vulnerable too. That sometimes even the strongest person has regular character flaws, or can be vulnerable to matters of the heart and family.

And I appreciated that in a character.

She didn't always make the right choices either. Sometimes she let her head or heart rule her actions (And these were the moments that just made me want to smack her haha) But I enjoyed that flaw in her, smacking aside.

So often these main characters in these fantasy stories are portrayed as these smart and instant-heroes. They just know what to do and how to do it with no training or guidance. And then there is Jude, who, while has had some of both, is still just a teenage girl. Trying to figure her way in the world. And making decisions that may be good or bad, even at times reckless and hasty. And I really really liked that. That she had flaws, was flawed.

And then we have Cardan... *Sigh*

He's such a complex thing. One that took me a bit to unravel as I listened to this audio actually. I'm usually pretty good at figuring out plot points and charter motives. It's typically my superpower of sorts haha. But this boy had me taking my time trying to fit each piece with the next. Every time I had him pegged down (Or what I thought was having him pegged) Something would change, and I'd be reevaluating my original guess.

And I liked that. I like the plot points or characters that can stump me. It happens so little for me sometimes with how overly-analytically I look at books most of the time.

But I think the thing that constantly tripped me up with Cardan was I could never figure out his motives. He could be cruel and vengeful one moment, and then completely docile and almost kind in others. And I couldn't decide which was the true prince, and which was an act he was putting on.

I liked that he was multidimensional. It added a lotto his part in the story. And why the ending is so gasp worthy I think (Even though I did have that part figured out haha)

I just wish we would have gotten more of him through the story. There would be times the story centered around the drama with him. And then we would get these huge breaks where he would maybe just be there in passing. And I think that caused the reader to lose some of the feelings they needed to build for him. To really be able to sympathize. It probably wasn't until about halfway through that you really start to see the pieces fit, and begin to really understand him and his motives, or lack there of at times too. And I just wish he played a bigger part through more of the book.

And I want to just touch really quick on a couple of the other characters. Like Vivi, Taryn, Locke, even Madoc and Dain.

They add so much to this story. I honestly couldn't believe how well Holly was able to write such complex characters as them in such a small amount of time. It takes so much development to give us characters like them. And each of them played such big parts in this story. And I didn't feel like any of them was underdeveloped or rushed. There was so much behind the scenes things happening with all of them. And none of the plot was ever lost. And I just really want to say how much I appreciated that in the story. It made all the betrayals and shocks that much more powerful when they happened.

And one last thing.... Locke... GAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

Ok, I think I'm done haha

This book was just perfect. And I cant wait for book 2 to be out!

I give THE CRUEL PRINCE

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐5 STARS⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The Problem With Forever By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Ya'll this book... Oh this book. I have so so much to say about it. So be ready ;)

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes a riveting new story about friendship, survival and finding your voice 

For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory "Mouse" Dodge, it's a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it's been four years since her nightmare ended, she's beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime. 

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she's imagined, there's one she never dreamed of—that she'd run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn't seen since childhood, on her very first day. 

It doesn't take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she's not the only one grappling with lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider's life spiral out of control, Mallory must make a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants and the truths that need to be heard.

I'm absolutely speechless after this one ya'll.

Only two other books that I can remember have ever affected me in a similar way as this one has. I knew it was going to be one of those books that I would just be pretty floored by from the description (which I only briefly read because, hey it’s a JLA book and do you really need a description to know it will be good?) and the early chatter about it. But never did I imagine exactly what this book was going to be like when I fully got into it.

Ya'll know me by now... I'm always going on about how unemotional I am, and that things don't really get to me easily blah blah blah.

But this book...

THREE times! I repeat THREE times! Had me in tears or on the brink of them. And the first time wasn't any more than three to four pages into the prologue.

I'm not going to pretend like I can relate to Mallory in all ways. I had a decent childhood; it had problems but nothing even close to what this character experienced in this book. I don't have problems speaking my thoughts or even just getting words out in general. Most of the time it's actually the complete opposite actually, and I say way more than my brain even has time to process.

My family may not be perfect, and maybe even a little broken, but I will never actually be able to fully relate to Mallory. And for that I'm grateful.

But does that mean I can't imagine everything her character goes through? Does it mean I can't be heart broken and empathize with her?

While my life story is much different from this one, it brought out a lot of emotions I tend to forget I have that make me a normal sympathetic human.

This whole story though, start to finish, had this heart-wrenchingly beautiful quality about it.

I was so broken hearted for Mallory and Rider, but also many other characters in the story along the way as well.

But I also feel like this so so important lesson was being etched on the pages as well. In the spaces between all that heart and heart break.

There was love... And acceptance... and this notion of how important second chances are... And how maybe... maybe realizing you’re the broken one too but can still be fixed is in all of us.

Tomorrow isn't guaranteed or even promised to any one of us. And I think that is one of the most important things to take away from this book.

It's what we make of the time we have, how we decide we want to that time to be, and who we choose to spend that time with.

I really think all of us have a little of Mallory inside us. The parts that are scared and just want to hide from all the bad. But also there are the parts that are strong and willing to fight to try, or just fight to be a better stronger version of ourselves. 

The parts that accept we will fail more than once and that it is perfectly of for that to happen. Because the fails mean we at least gave it a shot. That we tried.

I just... I feel like I'm not even giving this book the justice it deserves. There is just so much to say and I feel like its all just running through my brain so fast and into this big pile and I just can't sort it all out into the proper words.

So I hope I'm not rambling. Or at least that you don't mind the rambling.

I do have something though that has stuck with me though from this book. And I won't give anything away, so if I'm being super cryptic I'm sorry. Just go with me on this and when you read the book you will hopefully understand the part I'm talking about.

So something that just really rocked me to my core was realizing how much of her self I believe Jen put into this book. Like I said, I won't give anything away, but knowing what I do about her. I saw a person. An author open up in a way I don't think many people can.

I'm not going to even pretend I'm buddy buddy with Jen. I've met her a handful of times and just know what I see her post to social media. But based on those few things I think I saw a new side.

While she is still this beautiful, talented, amazing, strong author. I think I also saw a glimpse of a scared, vulnerable, and worried author too.

Because there is a part in this book that I just...

I know that what she's explaining in her writing is from firsthand knowledge of those feelings and emotions. That they are something she's experienced and has to deal with.

And knowing that while I read the beautiful words she typed on the pages just hit me.

Authors obviously give us a piece of themselves in one way or another in every book they write. But this? I felt like I got this raw unedited version of that piece of her, how she must have felt. And that? That was powerful.

Knowing she did that, it made me realize that not only was it inspiring to see how she was willing to put things out there. But that it showed so much bravery to do so. To bare yourself like that. Even if it is only known to people who just happen to see the pieces fit together in a particular way.

I've been saying for weeks that I would tell ya'll why I've been so MIA the past few months, and the time just hasn't been there for me to do it (ironic I know).

But there is a line in this book, and it's during that part I was just talking about where I think Jen sort of bares it all. But it says:

"How did you wake up one morning thinking everything was fine, that today would be like any other day, and then get told something like that? I didn't know what to think."

And while the situation and explanation is vastly different from the one this quote is referring to. But it hit all the same.

So at the end of February beginning of March after a series of hard events (a funeral of a family friend, having to put down my dog, a huge family fight that involved me moving, you get the gist) my mom found out she had a brain tumor.

She had been having some medical problems for about a year, problems walking some memory loss. Which we thought were being caused by a couple different things like a fall she had taken the previous February and possibly some depression from not being able to walk blah blah blah.

NEVER EVER did I think did it once cross my mind that it could be something like this.

And to just make it all worse I wasn't even with her when she found out. I was eight hours away in Florida attempting to move things up to the new house here in Georgia. I was eight hours away from the one person I care about the most in this world when she got some of the most terrible and frightening news of her life.

I had answered the phone call from my sister thinking she was going to tell me how her doctor’s appointment went with her being pregnant and when the words "Mom has a brain tumor" came through the phone I just had no idea what to do. At the time those were the absolute worst words to hear. We did find out that the tumor was noncancerous and that the surgery (at least this first one) was not as invasive as we thought it would be. But that moment will always stay with me I think. Burned into my brain. I went from a happy dinner with a friend and some of my family to being sick to my stomach with worry. Literally fine one moment and crushed the next.

And while my mom is now on the road to recovery with the first of two done, we still have a long road ahead.

But not everyone is as lucky as I think we wound up being in this situation, and this book...

It makes you realize not to take the little things for granted. Appreciate everything you have, no matter how small or common it may seem. You never know when it could be gone, or how quickly.

Something else I really liked about this book was that there is this theme of wanting to be able to change yourself, or being able to accept yourself ultimately leading to that change happening in one form or another.

No matter how much help others try to give you, or how much support they offer, you have to want that for yourself as well. You're the first step in making a change, or becoming the person you're destine to. No one can do that for you. And that applies to being able to forgive and accept yourself.

I guess I should also get a little into the characters themselves in this review too huh?

Usually that’s my favorite part of these things, but this story just offers so much that I almost don't even have to talk about them for you to get a feel for how they are or how they touched me. But I do want to just briefly talk about them.

I obviously loved Mallory and Rider. The two give this perfect image to that phrase "beautifully broken". Just the things they go through, the way they find their way back to each other, and the things they discover about themselves made them such extraordinary characters.

Mallory at first has this scared shy quality about her that you see slowly fade away as she grows and blooms into this confident amazingly strong person.

She still needs help sometimes though, and the best thing about that is... she knows it.

She has such a hard time accepting that at first too. But you see her begin to own her setbacks and quirks. To really understand how they can be both spectacular and terrible at the same time.

And Rider? Gosh!! You all know I tend to like the male characters better than the female ones. They are always hot, strong, and sure of themselves. And Rider is all of those... But he's also hard working, and talented (even if he doesn't see it), unsure of himself, and yes even broken (even if he refuses to believe he is). And I have to say I found that even more enduring in a way. And maybe because it's that I have this connection to his character. With everything going on with my mom and just the family drama that completely surrounds me on a daily basis I feel like I've got the whole world on my shoulders. I play daughter, sister, aunt, student, nanny, chauffeur, even the roll of guardian to my mom during the worst parts. I've had anxiety attacks that got so bad at one point I actually blacked out from the stress of it all. But I keep going. I keep helping. And I always do what I can no matter how it affects me. I can't not be there my family, and much like Rider I don't want to accept that I need to see that I can't always e the strong one. That it's ok to say it's too much sometimes, and that you need help.

YOU CAN'T ALWAYS BE THE STRONG ONE. AND THAT'S OK.

I liked getting to see that strong always caring for others character deal with some pretty heavy self-acceptance. Because it's something I've had to do myself.

And get to see him understand he truly needs all of that to become the person he wants to be for Mallory and even for himself. That the past won't go away and will shape you. but that you have to decide how you will put that shape into the puzzle that is he life you want.

And not just what you think you are only able to amount to or what everyone expects you to be based on the circumstances life has thrown your way.

To be honest, I also feel like some of the supporting characters impacted me the most in this book as well.

Ainsley, Hector, Jayden. Even Paige. Have special places in my heart than Mallory and Rider do. They experience and deal with things that are far different from the two main characters, but that are just as life altering and important.

And seeing how those things really had an effect on the whole cast of characters was what it really came down to.

They took all the parts the two main characters had going on, and tied them together. Made each Mallory and Rider realize things about themselves and each other that they needed to change. But also realize the things that made them be able to be impressed with themselves. These characters helped to show how much they grew and are even still growing by the time the last chapter finished.

Just everything really when it came to this book was detrimental in how I feel about it.

I'm not sure I can even pinpoint just one thing in particular that stood out. It's just how the whole thing wove together and the feeling I got when I finished the last word and closed the book.

It made me laugh, smile... cry, and nearly feel my heart breaking in my chest.

But the fact that a book can even evoke so many feelings from me shows me just how amazing and powerful it was.

This by far has to be my favorite JLA book to date *gasp! (Yes I know... What about Daemon. He holds a special place too don't worry)

I really truly hope i could convince you to go out and grab a copy of this book though. Just take some time out of your busy life to sit down, open it up, and let the words pour over you.

Let all of the emotions good and bad surround you, and embrace them.

This book practically speaks for itself... so let it.

Because it has so so much to tell you.

***** I give THE PROBLEM WITH FOREVER: 5 Stars *****

Oblivion (Lux Series #6) By: Jennifer L. Armentrout

I am so excited to get to share my review of Oblivion by Jen Armentrout with you today.

This is one of my absolute favorite series, and I am so unbelievably happy we get it all in Daemon POV

*SWOON!!!

Experience the epic love story of OBSIDIAN as told by its hero, Daemon Black…

I knew the moment Katy Swartz moved in next door, there was going to be trouble. Lots of it.

And trouble’s the last thing I need, since I’m not exactly from around here. My people arrived on Earth from Lux, a planet thirteen billion light years away. Plus, if there’s one thing I know, it’s that humans can’t be trusted. We scare them. We can do things they only dream about, and honestly, we make them look weak as hell. ‘Cuz they are.

But Kat is getting to me in ways no one else has, and I can’t stop myself from wanting her–or wanting to use my powers to protect her. She makes me weak, and I’m the strongest of our kind, tasked with protecting us all. So this one simple girl…she can mean the end for us. Because the Luxen have an even bigger enemy–the Arum, and I need to stay on my game.

Falling for Katy–a human–won’t just place her in danger. It could get us all killed, and that’s one thing I’ll never let happen…

So just so everyone knows. I am a huge Lux series fan. I found the books back right around the time Opal (Book 3) was coming out, and the series is still by far one of my absolute favorites. It actually tends to be one I compare all those other YA books out there to. Them and a couple other series (Sweet Evil, Hush Hush, etc...)

The Lux series also happens to be some of my favorite stand by books. I own them not only in paperback (Both editions) but have them on my Nook as well. When I get into a slump or just need a book to pass the time, something I can't invest a whole lot of time into. I pick up one of these books. I love reading them, and because I've read them several times now, I don't feel guilty putting them down in the middle of the story if I have something I need to do.

So when I found out that the first three books in the series were coming out in Daemon's POV I may have even shed a happy tear or two (Ok that's a lie, we all know I am heartless and don't shed tears haha) 

I mean Daemon is the most awesome book boyfriend ever (Can you tell I'm a bit obsessed yet? Hehe) and getting a whole book from his POV instead of just those few bonus scenes we've gotten in the past would make any book nerd happy.

Plus Daemon is just one of those extremely complex characters. He is not only the protector of his own family, but the one all the older Lux turn to for protection. He's by far the strongest of them, and because of these things he kinda comes off as the hard A... I mean Butt, to keep everyone he cares about safe. Putting his own feelings to the side because of this. Which makes him a huge huge JERK. Well in the beginning anyways.

So now getting a look inside his head, and finding out why he acted the way he did, and seeing his true feelings for Katy was good. Eye opening even hehe.

I liked seeing him a little vulnerable and unsure about things here and there.

He generally is a good guy who has just had to make some really grown up choices before anyone should have to at his age. So much rests on his shoulders, especially when it comes to keeping his sister Dee safe. Everything he does comes back to him dealing with the lose of his brother Dawson, who Daemon thinks he failed, and having to be the one to keep Dee safe now that it's only the two of them. Also there are the Thomson triplets that him and Dee are friends with, and Daemon feels like he must protect them as well. They are just like family and he will be the one to keep all of them safe from any threats. Even Kat. Because as harmless as she may be... well... at least in the beginning (I won't get into that though haha) she is a human a threat because of it.

And we all know that whole plan he has going on... yeah it epically fails, because this would be him about halfway into the book haha

So something I want to get into into a little more are Katy and Daemon themselves.

Like I said, we get so much more when it comes to Daemon's true feelings, and we get to see that lovably hot and jerkish side isn't all there is (Even if that side is unbelievably HOT)

He really considers so many angles to each situation, and thinks about everything so much, so he's making the best decision for everyone.

The way he feels about Katy is so much... MORE...in this book. To the point that you can practically feel his emotions yourself (Can you feel a fictional persons emotions?? I'm going to go with a plausible on this haha)

He experiences things so fully. Love, loss, kindness, jerkyness, etc...And while yes we saw a good amount of those sides in the previous books, it is magnified ten fold in this one.

Also we get to see a bit of a new side to Katy too. I think when you see it from her POV you are a lot more sympathetic to why she does things and makes the decisions she does.

But let me tell you. All that Blake crap????

It made me want to reach into the book and smack her till she found some common sense. You could just see all the dumb things she was doing so clearly, and really begin to understand why Daemon had such a problem with it all. I really think if I had seen Katy from this perspective to begin with I wouldn't have liked her nearly as much.

Now don't get me wrong, she is still one of my favorite book heroins. It's just that she comes off as a lot more naive and made so many choices based on the wrong reasons. And it made her so completely blind to what was going to happen. I mean, I know Jen throws a lot of twists into her books,but she also sets things up well enough that you have some sort of clue as to what's going to happen. But with all that sort of negative stuff we also got to see the side of Katy that drew Daemon and Dee to her.

She sees herself very differently from the way Daemon does. (Even if he didn't see her that way at first) He tries his hardest to make her seem plain, and as far from what he's actually attracted to so he will stay away. Even if she actually is perfect for him (Boys... yiesh!!) 

But it was interesting to see how she slowly changed in Daemon's eyes. How he really began to fall for her. She's so important to him, and she has no idea how much so until so much farther down the line.

That's probably my favorite thing about the book actually. Seeing so many of each of their feelings develop and change (Because I'm sure I haven't repeated myself enough for you to notice yet hehe)

Something else I really liked (most of the time) was learning that not everything is what it seemed in the original books.

Daemon is a LIAR!!!!!!!!

Like seriously, that boy made up so much stuff to get close to Kat. (Ok I will say there may have been once or twice I mentally was going shush! Shush! Don't ruin it for me Jen. I like living in my world where it stays the way Katy perceived it) but seriously, most of the time I found it incredibly hilarious that the things that were changed from his POV and given at  afresh angle.

Jen did such an amazing job getting into Daemon's mind set. And I can without a doubt say I am so happy that she decided to give us this book.

Daemon is just one of those characters you can't help but fall for, and finally... FINALLY!!!! We get to see what was going on in that pretty little head.

Also, Jen expands on things in this book. Which gives us some pretty awesome new material that wasn't in the previous books. There were scenes that I fell in love with for the first time, and others I had forgotten about and realized how much I truly loved and adored again.

While I would suggest you read the original 5 books in the series first, and then come back to this one.You can defiantly start with this one too if you are new to the Lux world.

Also...There is so much alien action and fun in this one. And oh gawd!!! So much teenage angst!!!!

But those little moments that Daemon goes through are the most important. They are what make this book and the whole series really so amazing. And I am so happy to be able to read such a fun and sweetly romantic action packed series.

Thanks so much for giving us Daemon fans this book Jen. You wrote it beautifully, and I can truly say it has been the greatest way to end a series. Even if it is the end after the end haha

I give OBLIVION: *****5 Stars***** 

Since I have made this post so full of fun gifyness I'll leave you some Winchester love to send you off *kisses

Also can we just take  long minute to appreciate the perfection that is Pepe...

I seriously have such a crush on this man. (He is going to be Daemon, even when someone different is playing him in the movie)

I'm not sure I should even be admitting this, but...I was even joking about trying to figure out a way to get to Oklahoma just to see him play soccer haha. (Not crushing hard or anything. Nope. No way hehe)

But luckily I won't have to go that far because I get to meet him in February in Savannah during Apollycon (Oh my GAWD I cannot wait!!!!!!)

*insert Fangirl scream here*

Everyone wish me luck that I don't make a total dork of myself when I do hahaha (I'm such an awkward person. It is bound to happen) I'll be sure to take lots of pics of my attempts at normalcy. Don't worry ;P 

*Sigh!!!!! Those eyes... That smile...