February Wrap-Up & March TBR

I am so effing happy to be out of February(well pretty much). This month has been brutally cold. Set a whole bunch of records for being the coldest month. Not one single day above 0. That's just mean. March better pick it up and bring spring like weather as soon as it arrives. Otherwise I didn't leave my house unless I had to. So pretty much only for work. Still busy there. But definitely died down towards the end of the month. Had some doctor appointments and health stuff to figure out. So that's never fun. Pretty much I just want to forget about February.
I ended up reading a total of 24 things this month. *high-five's self* I had strong ambitions to knock a bunch of review books out. But what ended up happening is that I feel into a major NA/romance/contemporary kick(which I'm still very much in). So fail on the reviews. Which side note; I've noticed I don't review even half the books I read in a month. I really need to stop being so lazy and review more of the books I read.-end side note. Yea, so, devoured a lot of NA's this month. And I'm really not sorry about it. 

After(After #1) by Anna Todd 1*
The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand 5*
Hero by Samantha Young 5*
Take Me On(Pushing the Limits #4) by Katie McGarry 5*
Salt & Stone(Fire & Flood #2) by Victoria Scott 4.5*
Rebound(Boomerang #2) by Noelle August 4*
Tangled(Tangled #1) by Emma Chase 4*
Rat Queens Vol 1:Sass & Sorcery by Kurtis J Wiebe & Roc Upchurch 5*
The Wicked + The Divine Vol 1:The Faust Act by Kieron Gillen & Matt Wilson 3*
Ms.Marvel Vol 1:No Normal by G.Willow Wilson & Adrian Alphona 4*
Alex + Ada Vol 1 by Jonathan Luna & Sarah Vaughan 4*
Bad Romeo(Starcrossed #1) by Leisa Rayven 5*
The Art of Lainey by Paula Stokes 4*
Invaded(Alienated #2) by Melissa Landers 3*
Beautiful Beloved(Beautiful #3.6) by Christina Lauren 4*
Dirty Rowdy Thing(Wild Seasons #2) by Christina Lauren 4*
More Than Comics(Chasing the Dream #2) by Elizabeth Briggs 3.5*
Holy Frigging Matrimony(Tangled #1.5) by Emma Chase 4*
Twisted(Tangled #2) by Emma Chase 4*
Tamed(Tangled #3) by Emma Chase 4*
Tied(Tangled #4) by Emma Chase 4*
Lost & Found(Lost & Found #1) by Nicole Williams 4*
Near & Far(Lost & Found #2) by Nicole Williams 4*
Finders Keepers(Lost & Found #3) by Nicole Williams 4*

I read soooo many good books this month. Just so many 4* and 5*. With one joke(cough*After*cough) and two disappoints I was really hope. Quality wise one of my best reading months. Picking a favourite is hard. The 5*'s were really 5*'s. But Rat Queens and The Last Time We Say Goodbye definitely stand out a little bit more. For two totally different reasons. Let's hope March continues on with a bunch of awesome reads.

Alright, I think this might be the last time I try and outline some sort of TBR. It seems I really and truly can't stick with a schedule. Even review books will take a back seat when my mood takes a turn. But with some new releases(ish) and some review books I have to read(especially the ones I failed to read this month), there are books that are for sure's. Review wise; The Winner's Crime, Shadow Scale, Dead to Me, The Nightingale, The Boy Next Door and Black Dove, White Raven. (I think those are all the musts). New releases include; The Return, Confess, Fall With Me, Deep, The Wicked Will Rise and Half Wild. I know that seems like a lot of books, but some will take me two seconds to devour and others might get pushed back(like The Wicked Will Rise, I'm super excited for it but I feel like I need to re-read Dorothy Must Die first). Anyhow, like always we'll see where my mood takes me. Oh, I forgot about book club. There's another book.

What was your favourite read of February?

Happy reading!

Brittany

20 Questions TAG

Katherine over at I Wish I Lived in a Library TAG'd me to answer these questions.

1. How tall are you? I'm super tall. So tall that I'm barely pushing 5'1.

2. Do you have a hidden talent? If so what? Unless I can include rolling or making my tongue into a clover shape. Than I don't think my talents are very well hideen.

3. What is your biggest blog related pet peeve? Nothing really bugs me. If I'm not interested in what your blog is about I won't read it. I guess it would be when the font colour blends into the back ground. Don't want to have to squint to read your post.

4. What is your biggest non-blog related pet peeve? Well this is a long list. I generally do not like people. Lol. My favourite thing is when people stop walking right in front of you. Yo, walk off to the side and stop away from other walking people. Common sense.

5. What's your favourite song? That's not a hard question. Of course it's Bon Jovi because = life. I guess it's Something for the Pain. For the past few years I've been pressing repeat a few times whenever it plays.

6. What's your favourite Etsy shop? Not a huge Etsy shopper. But I do love Craft'ed. Bought some Harry Potter book marks from them and they're fantastic. I want to get the Sherlock Holmes ones soon.

7. What's your favourite way to spend your free time when you're alone? Reading(obviously) or sleeping. I love sleeping almost as much as reading.

8. What's your favourite junk food? What isn't? Ice cream in the non-winter months. Especially mint chocolate or peanut butter cup.

9. Do you have pets? Puppies! 

                          Cranberry                                                        Graham & Darby                            

10. What's your favourite fiction and non-fiction books? What? One book? Nope. Some of my favourite authors are, Jennifer L Armentrout, Sarah J Maas, Diana Gabaldon, Colleen Hoover, Sarah Dessen, Emery Lord, Brigid Kemmerer, Jay Crownover. Okay I'll stop.
My favourite non-fiction book(since I really haven't read many) is The Lost Girls.

11. What's your favourite beauty product? I guess mascara. But I do have quite the collection of nail polish and lip sticks. I honestly don't wear a ton of make-up. My nails are usually done. And if I'm working I'll wear a bit of eye shadow and eye liner. But for the most part this is what I wear if I'm leaving the house.

12. When were you last embarrassed? At the car wash a few weeks ago. No, I will not be going into details.

13. If you could drink one beverage for the rest of your life, what would it be? I'm kind of boring and do mostly drink water. But I also love my tea and coffee. Especially Starbucks. So let's a White Choclate Mocha from Starbucks.

14. What's your favourite movie? The Little Mermaid, Mean Girls, The Lord of the Rings, Up, Beauty and the Beast. 

15. What were you in high school? Prom queen, nerd, cheerleader, jock, valedictorian, band geek, loner, artist, etc...? Ummm...I really wasn't one thing. My high school class was pretty good. There was the normal teenager crap, but for the most part we all got a long and didn't ostracize kids. I guess I was a nerdy jock. Mostly because I was all for the sports. Especially soccer. Not to get into it, but I was pretty damn good and it took up a lot of my free time until I got to college.

16. If you could live anywhere in the world where would you live? Disney World. Even after having worked there it did not spoil the magic for me. One day you will find me living in Beast's Castle in Magic Kingdom.

17. PC or Mac? PC. Never been an Apple person.

18. Last romantic gesture from a crush/date/boyfriend/girlfriend? Let's just pass over this one...

19. Favourite celebrity? Right now I am absolutely obsessed and in love with Benedict Cumberbatch. What does that make me? I think it's a Cumberbitch?

20. Which blogger do you secretly want to be BFF's with? Well seeing as I'm quite friendly with some of you lovelies already. And if we didn't live so far apart, I'm sure there'd be some meet ups at a book store happening. Besides, Samantha, because you guys already know she's my girl. <3 I would love to one day meet Katherine, Missie, Charnell, Ula, so many more. Ever in the Toronto area let me know. 

Happy reading!

Brittany

Review: Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven

Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven

Publisher: St.Martin's Griffin
Publication Date: December 23rd, 2014
Pages: 416
Series: Starcrossed #1
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5/5
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When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time.

Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks


Now that is what I'm talking about. Just so so so good. How had I not heard about Bad Romeo before last week? That's like blasphemy. But don't worry. I am now doing my job as a book pusher and well pushing and shoving this book in peoples faces. Watch out I'm coming for you next.

Bad Romeo is about Cassie's and Ethan's relationship. Which being a romance book makes sense. But it's also about second(third) chances, forgiveness, and learning to be yourself. It's really hard to find a unique or different romance novel these days. I mean everything has been done. So for me it's all about the story telling. Rayven does a fantastic job of pulling me into this addictive story. Of believing this strong and instant connection between Cassie and Ethan.

Starting off we know that Ethan broke Cassie's heart three years ago. To say Cassie is still trying to recover from that is a bit of an understatement. Now she's not only going to see him and have to talk to him for the first time since then, but Cassie is going to be starring beside him in what should be a pretty intense stage show. Which means Cassie is going to have to confront Ethan and her feelings.

Bad Romeo follows two different time lines. The present and also six years ago when Cassie started at acting school and met Ethan. So we know that Ethan is going to break Cassie's heart, but we don't know what happens or why he leaves. The six years earlier portions are the start of their love affair, which of course is also the lead up to the eventual heartbreak.

So let's break this down in past and present day Cassie and Ethan.
Past: Cassie is 18 and getting away from her over bearing parents for the first time. But being a little naive in some areas makes her a people pleaser. She just wants to fit in and to get along with everyone, especially when her opinion is different. Cassie doesn't want to be different. Except around Ethan. She has no problem being sassy and opinionated. Actually Cassie has no problem being herself. Cassie is also quite secure with her sexuality. Which is surprising seeing as she's a virgin. I would think she'd be a bit shy. But nope. She's actually quite obsessed with sex. Which makes for a lot of hilarious and embarrassing moments. Cassie also feels insecure with her acting abilities. She literally has no experience. But it doesn't matter because Cassie just has a natural talent. Cassie is just learning to come out of her shell.
Ethan is one of those guys that right away plays the asshole. But Cassie doesn't believe he is one. She's pretty sure it's all for show. He is an actor after all. But Cassie see's through it when hurt will quickly pass over Ethan's face when Cassie plays into his asshole moments. Or the fact that it's really easy to see through the facade to a broken guy with trust issues. I never for a moment believed Ethan's act. He may be a fantastic actor when on stage, but when trying to hide his feelings from Cassie he's about as good as me. Ethan tries to play the "you don't want to be friends with me card" and the "I'm really bad and don't want to hurt you card", but Cassie's having known of that. She pushes her way into his life. She can't not. The connection between the two of them makes it impossible for her to stay away.
Which brings me to their relationship. Even though Ethan tries to stay away from Cassie, he just can't. Their chemistry is to strong. I could feel the sparks jumping off the pages. It's hot. But it's also the friendship they offer each other. Cassie can pull secrets and feelings out of Ethan. And Ethan pulls the real Cassie out. It's really unfortunate that as the reader you know they're going to be apart for 3 years.

Present: I actually don't want to say too much about the present day. It's clear that Ethan being back in Cassie's life is really messing with her. The fact that they have to play the romantic leads is not helping. Cassie finds it hard to think straight when they're kissing. But I'm pretty sure that's part of Ethan's plan. The thing is he left Cassie broken. And she's still not whole again. Even after 3 years. I love that we see Ethan now as the guy that can say, "I'm sorry" or just want to talk about his feelings. It's a great bit of growth to know that Ethan got help to get himself better. Now he feels like he deserves Cassie because he can give himself fully to her. Now it just comes down to if Cassie is willing to forgive and give Ethan another chance. It's very clear that they could be a power couple. But I think Cassie has a lot to work through first. It's 6 years since they first meet, so yes the spark is still there but that length of time can certainly change a person. I think they'll also have to come to know the present day Ethan and Cassie and not dwell so much on the past.

Which leads me needing the sequel, Broken Juliet like yesterday. I need to know that Cassie and Ethan are going to come through together. I want another round of fantastic banter and tension. Bad Romeo was just such a lovely surprise. The theatre and acting school is a fun background to the romance. Just superb all around. I really don't know what else to tell you guys except to gush gush gush and that it's a few days later and I'm still addicted. Talk about a book hangover. Haven't had one of those in a while. Hat tip to you Bad Romeo you did your job and you did it very well.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Showcase Sunday #74

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week.

Can't type. Fingers are so cold. Can't get warm.
Seriously, it has been like -30C all week. It's effing ridiculous. And even when we got a break yesterday, Mother Nature decided to spew white shit all day. I am beyond over winter.
I'm pretty sure it should be illegal for me to walk into a Chapter. I didn't mean to go twice this week. It kind of just happened. Naturally. I was sick on Monday and had to leave work after a hour. So of course I stopped and picked up a bunch of graphic novels on my way home. Than because I have a problem I went to Chapters, again, later in the week because I was bored. You guys get me though. Unfortunately my bank account does not. Anyhow, bunch of fantastic books this week. C'ya on the other side.

Purchased

Beautifully Damaged(Beautifully Damaged #1) by L.A. Fiore: Just hunting through the romance section at Chapters and this one drew me in.
Bad Romeo(Starcrossed #1) by Leisa Rayven: Same as above, except I've already devoured this. It even has me in a book hangover.
Perfect Kind of Trouble(Finding Fate #2) by Chelsea Fine: Same trip as the above two. Synopsis sounded like my kind of NA. So it came home with me.

Save Me by Jenny Elliott: I enjoyed the first book from Swoon Reads. I was surprised to see this in store, So naturally I had to buy it.
Blackfin Sky by Kate Ellis: Also surprised to see this indy book in store. I've heard pretty good things, so on home it comes.

Ms. Marvel Vol 1: No Normal: Really, really good. Excited to see where the story goes.
Alex + Ada Vol 1: Really awesome sci-fi about androids and what happens when you give them free will.
Rat Queens Vol 1: Sass & Sorcery: PERFECTION! MY new favourite. Even if you don't love graphic novels, you'll love this.

Deadly Class Vol 1: Reagan Youth: I started it but wasn't really feeling it. I'll pick it back up next month.
The Wicked + The Divine Vol 1: The Faust Act: It was alright. Kind of a disappointing story wise. But the art work is on point.

E-Books Purchased

Twisted, Tamed & Tied(Click on books for GR links): If you remember I purchased the first book, Tangled last week. Well I read it and than couldn't do anything else until I read the rest of the series. So that's what I did last Sunday. Read 4 romance books. Don't judge.
Best Kind of Broken: Having bought second(see above) without realizing it was the second book. I saw the first book for $0.99 on Kindle and was not saying no to that.

Review

Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman: Thank you so much to HCC Frenzy for sending this out. I love Shusterman's Unwind series and this new book seems like it's going to be pretty powerful.

Netgalley

More Than Comics(Chasing the Dream #2) by Elizabeth Briggs: Already read and reviewed. Go me!

What did you guys get this week?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Release Week Tour + Giveaway: The Return by Jennifer L Armentrout

The Return by Jennifer L Armentrout

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Publication Date: February 16th, 2015
Pages: 335
Series: Titan #1
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The Fates are cackling their bony asses off...

It's been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they've given him have been violent and bloody--which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He's got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy's deal might be, but it's a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

You guys know that Jennifer is my queen. And when she announced that she was doing a spin-off series from The Covenant Series starring Seth I may have kicked a few things out of excitement(it was hard to contain, okay). I loved Seth. He's sassy, snarky, swoony and hot. Poor guy didn't really get his HEA the first time around. But there's a chance for him now. Plus we're getting his POV. I really cannot express to you have many LOLZ this will provide. My pre-order is still on its way. But as soon as it shows up I will devour The Return. 
Even if you guys haven't read The Covenant Series you can still pick-up The Return and experience Seth in all his shirtless glory. I really suggest you do. It'll be a good time. 

Excerpt:

“Is it so hard to say her name?” Apollo asked. “I think a few minutes ago was the first time you've said her name since after you two fought Ares.”

My jaw ached from how hard I was grinding my molars.

“Whatever,” Apollo said, his attention returning to the godsforsaken ceiling fan chain. “Don’t talk about it. Be the best issues-boy you can be.”

I took a deep breath. It didn't help. “I don’t have issues.”

He tipped his head back and roared with laughter. Paintings of the nearby Blue Ridge Mountains rattled. “You have more baggage than United Airlines. Cross that out. You have more issues than Medusa, and that woman makes the inside of a cat lady’s thoughts seem like a calming place.”

“I hate you.”


“You wound me straight to the heart, bud.”


My patience was just about the same as that of Cerberus after someone tried to take a squeaky toy away from him. “What about the girl, Apollo?”

He dropped down into the leather chair, his large form nearly swallowing it. “It’s a long story.”

“Go figure.”

That comment went largely ignored. “It all started with your birth, so there’s something else you can add to your mountain of suck.”

I wondered if there was an anti-god repellent and where I could find it.

“We knew the moment you were born that there would be the possibility of a God Killer, since Alexandria was on schedule to make an appearance a few years later. We didn’t know who among us was responsible for your birth, but we knew they’d want to use you for their own gain.”

“This walk down history lane is boring me.” I crossed my arms.

Unaffected, he eased himself closer to the bed, kicked his booted feet up on it, and stretched out leather-clad legs. “The risk of you two joining forced us to come up with a contingency plan in case the proverbial poo hit the fan.”

My brows knitted. There was something wrong with hearing Apollo use the word “poo” in a sentence.

amazon.com| amazon.ca| Barnes & Noble| book depository| books a million| ibooks| 

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West

Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.

She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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Happy reading!

Brittany

Miniviews #21: Hero & More Than Comics

Hero by Samantha Young
Publisher: NAL
Publication Date: February 3rd, 2015
Pages: 416
Source: Purchased
Rating: 5/5
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No secret that Young is one of my favourite NA authors. She knows how to produce the brain candy with fantastic banter and sexual tension. And Hero is easily my favourite of her books to date. Not my favourite of her couples, because let's face it, no one can beat Liv and Nate. But the book as a whole is the best. Hero starts as one of those hate to love relationships. Alexa's asshole of a father ruined Caine's life. Although Alexa and Caine have never meet before the start of Hero. Alexa knows what happened. Once Caine learns Alexa's last name his face just shuts down. This wouldn't be a romance novel if the story was just left there. Alexa is a pretty strong women. She doesn't let Caine shut down their conversation there. She marches into his office and tells him what's what. Which leads to him offering her a job out of pity. Their interactions provide so many LOLZ. Caine is a bit of an alpha male complex. He's a very successful, rich business man. Bit of a player. Who just gets his way and doesn't let anyone in. That is until Alexa shows up. She's feisty and sassy. He may be boss man but that doesn't stop her being snarky and pushing herself into his life. Like I mentioned, the sexual tension is hot. They both think that wanting each other shouldn't really be possible. But there you have it, the heart wants what the heart wants. Plus their both pretty much on their own. No family. It's easy for them to provide that family feel for each other. Well when Caine is in the mood to open up. Alexa and Caine are fantastic, but so are their friends. Just great supporting cast. Which isn't surprising as all Young's previous books show how great she is at keeping MC's friends in the picture. I'm not sure if Hero is going to be another companion series. But I really hope so. Love to get more of Alexa and Caine and see some of their friends find love too.

More Than Comics by Elizabeth Briggs
Publisher: Self Published
Publication Date: February 23rd, 2015
Pages: 163
Series: Chasing the Dream #2
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 3.5/5
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I was quite excited to see More Than Comics pop up on Netgalley. More Than Music may not have been my absolute favourite, but it was enjoyable. Plus after reading it and getting to know a bit about Hector I wanted to see him fall in love and learn more about his past. So that's what More Than Comics is about Hector and his co-author, Tara. Tara and Hector may have been pretty good friends for the past three years, but they've never actually meet in person. Until now. At Comic Con. Their first graphic novel has just been published and they're at Comic Con to market it. Upon finally meeting there is instant sparks. But that doesn't really surprise Hector as he's loved Tara for most of their friendship. Of course he's never told her that. Tara is a girl that is always in a relationship, plus they live on opposite coasts. Anyhow, More Than Comics spans the 4 days of Comic Con. Which makes it quite nerdy. Which sits well with me being the super nerd I am. More Than Comics started off pretty strong. Tara is trying to deal with meeting Hector, a person she knows so well, and the instant sparks and attraction she felt for him. Hector's past makes it really hard for him to want to trust love again as well as how are him and Tara supposed to sustain a long distance relationship. So obviously he's very conflicted. Which makes him come off as quite a bit of a jerk. Especially after they have sex and he tells her it's just sex for him. Should really re-think those words, Hector. When Tara is offered the chance to move to LA, her first thought is that that means her and Hector could be together. That's a no no. Girl, never base a decision on a boy. It's good that Hector shuts her down and says it's her decision to make. And I liked that Tara realized that it really should be and that she needs to learn to be an independent women. Some time outside of a relationship is a good thing.
Unfortunately the last bit of the book fell flat. I think one problem being that this was a short book, just over novella size. A few more chapters to get to know Tara and Hector a bit more would have been helpful. Also the dialogue went towards the cheesy and simple side. Overall though I really enjoyed seeing Hector and Tara make their way through Comic Con and their feelings.

Happy reading!

Brittany

Top 5 Wednesday: Friend Groups

Top 5 Wednesday is a meme started by Lainey at Ginger Reads Lainey. Find the list of all the #T5WFamily here.

This weeks topic is:

Top 5 Friend Groups I Want to be Apart of!

5. The Marked Men group

Do you understand how hot these guys are? Hanging with them might help me snag one. They're also a super tight bunch of guys and girls. They have a good time, are so close and there for each other at a snap of the finger.

4. The Raven Boys

Between the guys, Blue and her household you'd never been looking at a dull moment. I'll admit that a lot of conversation would go over my head. But I wouldn't be complaining.

3. Percy, Annabeth and the gang

If I want adventure, danger and LOLZ I'd be showing up at Camp Half-Blood.

2. The Lux crew

Besides me and Katy being kindred spirits that would make us insta-BFF's. There's hot aliens. I would not mind hanging out with Daemon and his family. 

1. The Trio

Obviously.

What friend group would you love to hang out with?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Review: Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott

Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott

Publisher: Scholastic Press(US)/Chicken House(UK)
Publication Date: February 24th, 2015
Pages: 410
Series: Fire & Flood #2
Source: Purchased(UK edition)
Rating: 4.5/5
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In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.


Well the stakes were certainly raised in this sequel. Fire & Flood really was packed full of action and edge of your seat moments. And I have no qualms saying Salt & Stone upped those ten fold. It was a totally thrilling and heart pumping read. Fire & Flood brought together some really cool elements. Like it's really hard to give the book a classification. I'd say YA sci-fi. But it's also contemporary feeling with maybe a tad bit of fantasy elements. I love when authors blur the genre lines well taking inspiration from popular pop culture. Okay, I'm not sure where Scott got her inspiration from for this series. But it has got a Survivor, Pokemon and Hunger Games-esq feel to it. I'm not saying it's a copy of them. I'm saying Fire & Flood is an awesome mix of them which it takes in a totally new and intriguing direction.

So at the end of Fire & Flood we were told why the Brimstone Bleed exists. To keep this as spoiler free as possible, I'll just say that I was totally thrown. I really wasn't sure what the point of the games were, besides winning and getting the cure, but it seems like an epic pot of revenge is lurking behind them. Tella survived the first two legs. Which definitely surprised her. Tella really proved to herself how strong she could be. So coming into the last two legs of the Bleed definitely promised to be 1000 times more dangerous. The other problem Tella faces is that she's made friends along the way. Might even be falling in love. It's not that she's loosing sight of why she's racing to be the winner; Cody is forefront in her mind. It's that she does want her friends to be there with her, at the end. Especially Guy. So not only is the games testing everything Tella has in her, but so is her heart.

Let's break this down and start with Tella. Fire & Flood showed us that she was a bit of a princess. But when she didn't even give jumping into the unknown in the hopes of saving her brother, I knew that appearance wouldn't be everything. Tella was unsure, and thought clinging to Guy would help her survive the games. Which is totally logical thinking in my head as well. But Tella quickly realized that to hell with that, she could do this. She could survive. Epic character growth. Salt & Stone brought us Tella the leader. Her little gang of friends were still looking at Guy but they were also trusting Tella. Finally Tella knew that her opinion mattered and could be right. She was right in there telling Guy that she has plans as well. At first Tella following Guy's lead and instructions made sense. He was trained all his life for the Bleed. He's smart and strong. But now that Tella's survived this far she knows that it wasn't all because of Guy. She's intelligent, strong and cunning as well. I loved that she was standing up for herself. Constantly calling Guy out. Letting him know that she's not weak and can handle anything thrown her way. To be fair I don't think Guy's actions were malicious. I believe he was pushing back against Tella taking the lead because he cares for her. But in the end Tella wants to be the winner because she got herself there. Not because of some guy. Feminism for the win.

Like in Fire & Flood the romance isn't front and center. Which is perfect as this isn't a romance book. It's all about the survival and adventure. Anyhow, Tella's a smart girl. She's infatuated with Guy. But she knows once the race is done how could they really be together. That doesn't stop a girl dreaming. Or stop the heart from feeling. Guy is a complicated guy. He's not really forthcoming with his feelings. But I'd say his actions speak for him there. Tella might not agree. She's feeling let down by him. She thinks he wants her. But she's second guessing him. Like I said, the romance and their relationship isn't really what's being focused on. Tella's thoughts include Guy a lot; what he's doing, what he would do in the given situation, etc... But it doesn't stop Tella making her own decision based on what she thinks is the right way. Salt & Stone shows them disagreeing. A lot. It's not annoying though. It shows that "couples" have separate brains. It shows that both bring something different to the relationship. And it shows that you can't be selfish and communication is key. Tella did a really good job of making Guy see that she's not weak and that he can trust someone besides himself.

Salt & Stone upped the danger and action. In Fire & Flood the desert and jungle seemed impossible to survive. Well they were nothing compared to the ocean and snow covered mountains. It was totally scary and thrilling reading along with Tella. The ocean can seem so safe, but as soon as your stuck in a little raft in the middle of this vast, open water only worry plagues your thoughts. Than the Contenders are thrown into below freezing temperatures of some mountains. Food is scarce. Making a fire is harder. And hypothermia is probably a sure thing. Scott did an excellent job of making me feel what Tella was feeling. The cold. The wet. Scared. Unsure. Happy. All the feelings. And so much action.
Pandoras are as awesome as ever! I love when animals are so important and fully developed characters in a book. These Pandoras are my favourite bit of these books. I love that Scott made Tella so caring towards them. I figured there was a point and I wasn't wrong. Tella doesn't think twice about scratching the ear of any Pandora. Doesn't have to be hers. I was disgusted with some Contenders and their behavior towards their Pandora. Tella shows them all the love they deserve. These creatures are amazing. I would give a finger for my own Madox. I love that the Pandoras are so intelligent and attuned to their Contenders needs. And so loyal. Their certainly integral to the Bleed and the story. It's cruel how they came to be. But I'm really hoping Tella will save them all.

The supporting cast is important to Tella's story as well. Every character that Scott created and introduces the reader to isn't some background underdeveloped moron. Tella makes some really important friends in the first leg. And if they survived thus far than Tella still cares and depends on them. The motives of Harper, Jaxon, Guy, etc... They're all laid out. It was really great to see that Tella had some awesome friends to depend on. Even though it's a race, they all realized that survival by themselves is plausible. But surviving and getting to the end together is preferable. Especially when Tella and Guy finally divulge their ultimate plan.

Scott brought her A game with this series. Not only is Salt & Stone thrilling and full of adventure. But Scott wasn't afraid to cut ties with certain loved characters. It's a game, people die. Pandoras die. It's brutal but as realistic as this kind of book could be. Add in Scott's signature style of writing and snappy dialogue and it's impossible not to read this book in one sitting. I sure found it quite hard to get up off my ass for any reason. Total page turner. Which better have a third book to it. I'm serious. That ending made me believe that this is not the duology it was supposed to be. Soooo announcement for the third book is forthcoming, yea?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Showcase Sunday #73

Showcase Sunday is a weekly meme held by Books, Biscuits and Tea. It allows fellow bloggers to show off any books or bookish things they've compiled over the week.

Home skillets, what's up? This week has seemed ridiculously long. Possibly because it's been super freezing. Like -30, my fingers are literally falling off freezing. Thankfully it's the Family Day long weekend. I also finally got in to see my doctor. And he set me up with specialist appointments and I also had to get blood work done. So I went to get it done right away and they're like there's a problem with your health card. And I'm like ummm...WTF?(Canada friends, I was still holding on to my red and white one). And than there was problems getting a new one. And so I just spent my day off driving around and getting nowhere. So I did the natural thing and bought books. If I hadn't of gone to Chapters people would have been getting throat punched. I just saved some strangers a lot of pain by buying books. #legitreasoning
Good haul this week. Besides my unexpected book purchase, pre-orders came in. Fantastic review books. And I finally caved and bought Dirty Rowdy Thing. I was trying to wait for it to go one sale. But I couldn't hold off any longer.

Purchased

Rebound(Boomerang #2) Noelle August: Read it. Really enjoyed. A lot more than the first book.
Salt & Stone(Fire & Flood #2) by Victoria Scott: THERE BETTER BE A THIRD BOOK! Obviously I read this one this week as well.
Tangled(Tangled #1) by Emma Chase: A friend recommended this one because I like Alice Clayton's book. So many LOLZ. Just finishing it up.

Station Eleven by Emily St.John Mandel: Heard soooo many amazing things. Plus it takes place in Toronto. So on my Canadian reads list it is.
My Heart and Other Black Holes by Jasmine Warga: Another hard hitting YA that tackles mental illness and suicide. Been wanting this one since the cover was revealed. I will have tissues ready.

E-Books Purchased

Dirty Rowdy Things(Wild Seasons #2) by Christina Lauren: I caved and spent too much money on it. But I couldn't wait for it to go on sale. Loved it. Even more so than the first one.

Review

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah: Thank you so much Raincoast for sending out this beautiful finished copy. I've read a handful of Hannah's books and have loved them all. So I'm sure this will be no exception.

Netgalley

The Trouble with Destiny by Lauren Morrill: This one isn't out until December. So although I love the premise, I'll be a good girl and hold off reading it for quite a few months.

What did you guys get this week?

Happy reading!

Brittany

Top 5 Wednesday: Where Am I?

Top 5 Wednesday is a meme started by Lainey at Ginger Reads Lainey. Find the list of all the #T5WFamily here.

This weeks topic is:

Top 5 Books That Take Place Where I Live(city, province, country)!

This one is so hard. I've barely read any books that take place in Toronto(biggest city closest to me). I don't even know if there are a lot of them. On top of that, I'm a terrible Canadian because I really haven't read many books that take place somewhere in Canada. I should really make a list and start reading more off of it. I do want to read more books that take place where I reside. I love when I'm reading along and can picture a street or landmark that is mentioned. Makes it a much more visceral experience.

5. Wild Awake

Vancouver, British Columbia

4. Dark Inside

Vancouver, British Columbia & Winnipeg, Manitoba
I might be a little wrong on the Winnipeg part. I know there's another province in there, which I'm pretty sure is Manitoba.

3. Anne of Green Gables

Avonlea, Prince Edward Island

2. Ultraviolet

Sudbury, Ontario

1. Anna Dressed in Blood

Thunder Bay, Ontario

Any suggestions on books I should be adding to my Canadian reading list?

Happy reading!

Brittany