Guest Review: We Are Still Tornadoes by Michael Kun

We Are Still Tornadoes

Co-Authors: Michael Kun and Susan Mullen

Release Date:11/1/16
Page Count: 304 Pages
Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Growing up across the street from each other, Scott and Cath have been best friends their entire lives. Cath would help Scott with his English homework, he would make her mix tapes (it's the 80's after all), and any fight they had would be forgotten over TV and cookies. But now they've graduated high school and Cath is off to college while Scott is at home pursuing his musical dreams.

Cover:4.5/5

I honestly feel the cover fit the book nicely.  Even though you will find the true meaning of tornadoes when you read the book I felt that the tornado on the cover more symbolizes the swirling of emotions between the two main characters.  Plus what I can only assume are the two main characters holding hands is a nice touch.

Characters: 5/5

Considering this entire book is Character focussed I would have to say the authors put a lot of time and thought into them.  They made the book exciting and kept me rushing back to read more.  Since there are really only two main characters their lives are essentially the entire plot of the book.

Scott seems to act just as any young adult male would under the circumstances of the story.  He seemed extremely realistic, funny and often would rush to judgement.  Overall a well rounded character.  There were moments I was yelling at the book trying to tell Scott what he should have said to Cath.  In some ways I think that was the point.

Cath felt just as deep of a character to me as Scott did if not more.  I could almost feel what she felt while reading some of her letters in the book.  She is highly intelligent and extremely caring.  It is very cute to realize how closely she cares for her friend Scott right from the start of the book.  I did feel as though some of her reactions were a little over-the-top but they are supposed to be eighteen at the beginning of the story.

Plot: 4/5

The plot was a very predictable yet satisfying one.  You know what will likely happen in the end but the journey of how it happens keeps you going.  I especially enjoyed the way plot would jump from one letter to the next.  This kept things fresh and constantly moving forward.  Unlike some books that can leave you feeling stuck trying to complete a chapter.

Overall Thoughts: 4.5/5

I really enjoyed the style this book was written in.  The entire book is of both Scott and Cath writing letters  back and forth to each other.  For some reason this made the story seem more real and I often had to remind myself I was reading a book.  Personally I would consider this to be a YA book despite the fact it is set in the 1980’s.  This isn’t really a book focussed on a nostalgia trip but on a relationship between two young adults.  Besides the fact that there aren’t any cell phones it felt extremely similar to most modern relationships.  Most likely I will pick up this book for a second read because I enjoyed it so much.  I can only hope that this book is given the chance it deserves.  While it may not be in my top ten favorite books it is definitely a great read.

Live Long and Prosper,

Josh

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Brian Review: As Old as Time by Liz Braswell

Title: As Old as Time

Author: Liz Brazwell

Published On: 9/6/2016

Page Count: 496

Synopsis:

What if Belle's mother cursed the Beast?

Belle is a lot of things: smart, resourceful, restless. She longs to escape her poor provincial town for good. She wants to explore the world, despite her father's reluctance to leave their little cottage in case Belle's mother returns--a mother she barely remembers. Belle also happens to be the captive of a terrifying, angry beast. And that is her primary concern.

But Belle touches the Beast's enchanted rose, intriguing images flood her mind--images of the mother she believed she would never see again. Stranger still, she sees that her mother is none other than the beautiful Enchantress who cursed the Beast, his castle, and all its inhabitants. Shocked and confused, Belle and the Beast must work together to unravel a dark mystery about their families that is twenty-one years in the making.

Overall Rating:  4.5/5

I haven't very many fairy tale re-tellings before, so I went into this story not really knowing what to expect aside from having seen the disney film several times. I was really blown away by how interesting the characters were and the depth that this book had to offer. I felt like I could see different parts of the story that I already knew, but was able to learn so much more about everyone and the world around them. I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the book, and am interested in the possibility of a sequel.

Cover: 3.5 / 5

I liked the color scheme used on this as well as the shadow of the beast not giving away all the details. I think that everyone reading this story will be superimposing all the disney characters on everyone in their minds as they're reading (or maybe its just me) but I do like the idea of trying to leave some things to the imagination. That said, I'm really not a big fan of quotations of any kind on the cover, and although the quote on this one is a major plot point and not an accolade, I still don't particularly like it.

Characters: 5/5

The characters were the best part of this story, hands down. I am a fan of disney already, and the idea of taking their characters and building off of them is interesting to me. The author was really able to add a lot of depth and intrigue to each of them, and you can really see the characters grow as the story progresses.

Belle: As the antagonist, I feel that Belle didn't have a whole lot of room to grow from where the original story had her. The author was able to fill in a few blanks, give her a strong back story, and a personality that wasn't as apparent in the film. A voracious reader who is somewhat misunderstood and enjoys the company of beasts and horses, I feel like I might know her parallel in the real world.

The Beast: I feel the Beast is opposite of Belle in that you don't really get to know him all that well in the film, but he goes through lots of changes in the story. You learn of his past and why he is the way he is, and get to see the world through his eyes occasionally. I found his character to be the most interesting.

Rosalind: Belle's mother, we mostly get to know her in the flashback parts of the story, dealing with the history of the family and the country they live in. Rosalind felt like the driving force behind the book's plot. If you remove Rosalind from the story entirely, you are left with the disney movie. She was a very interesting character that is able to show that not everything is black and white, and in dealing with people while protecting your own, there are always shades of gray.

Plot: 4/5

Not a whole lot to say, if you've seen the movie, you know the story. However the book shines in providing the details that you can't get in 2 hours in front of a screen. Getting to know everyone's past and their motivations was well worth the read. The book somewhat diminishes the light heartedness of the movie and shows you a reality where everyone really is suffering the effects of a decade long curse, which doesn't always provide a reason for singing and making jokes.

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Review: Metaltown by Kirsten Simmons

Metaltown

Author:Kirsten Simmons
Release Date:9/20/16
Page Count: 384
I picked up an ARC at Book Expo America in no way does this influence my review.
Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

The rules of Metaltown are simple: Work hard, keep your head down, and watch your back. You look out for number one, and no one knows that better than Ty. She’s been surviving on the factory line as long as she can remember. But now Ty has Colin. She’s no longer alone; it’s the two of them against the world. That’s something even a town this brutal can’t take away from her. Until it does.

Lena’s future depends on her family’s factory, a beast that demands a ruthless master, and Lena is prepared to be as ruthless as it takes if it means finally proving herself to her father. But when a chance encounter with Colin, a dreamer despite his circumstances, exposes Lena to the consequences of her actions, she’ll risk everything to do what’s right.

In Lena, Ty sees an heiress with a chip on her shoulder. Colin sees something more. In a world of disease and war, tragedy and betrayal, allies and enemies, all three of them must learn that challenging what they thought was true can change all the rules.

Cover: 4.5/5
I love the gears around the factory, everything is well placed and has meaning to the novel. I do wish there was a bit more color to it but other than that adore it.

Characters: 4.5/5
Ty is the badass girl you pick for an apocalyptic team. She loves Collin and her desire to protect him is tangible. She is quick to fight and judge people because of the world she has grown up in.

Each chapter brought more perspective to Ty`s life. Her drive to be independent is inspiring.

Collin never seemed attractive to me. I guess his leadership qualities were his best assets but even those weren't as strong as they could have been. He does rally everyone together for a common cause though. I think I would have liked Ty or Lena as the centre of the plot more than Collin.

Lena is the brainiac girl born in a mans world. She gets knocked down but is always able to pick herself up. She is lucky to have a little inside support but not enough that she can carry herself confidently. Lena doesn't rely on Collin as a crutch and for that I am so glad. I do wish Lena and Ty hit it off better.

Plot: 5/5
Mobster-type society with tons of political corruption....no this is modern day (hehehe). hold labor laws are a huge problem but finally the teens are fighting back. Each person has nothing left to lose except each other so Ty,Collin and Lena band together to fight against The Bossman.
I enjoyed all the rallying cries and fight scenes throughout the novel. The slum life seemed to be predominant throughout the life and I loved how it wasn't all sugar coated.

Overall Thoughts: 4.5/5
This was almost a five star for me but the ending threw me a little with how fast it came. The entire concept of fighting against society was well done and the characters were relatable in their fierceness. I would highly surest devouring this book as soon as you can.

TTFN,
Ashley

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Brian Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows

Author: Leigh Bardugo

Published On: 9/29/15

Page Count:465

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first

Overall Rating: 4.5 / 5

This was the first book I read in this world, though I knew going in that there were others in the same setting with some of the same cast. Now that I’ve finished it, I definitely feel the need to go find any other books that are tied in and read those as well. Six of Crows was excellent, after a somewhat slow start it kept me hooked all the way through. The characters were interesting and well developed, the story interesting and action packed. I can’t wait to continue the story in the next book.

Cover: 4/5

The cover fit the book pretty well. I liked the colors and the grittiness of the mixture, the pictures were good and I enjoyed the blending of buildings into the crow’s feathers. The font was a good choice as well, and fit the style.

Characters: 5/5

I loved the characters in this book. There are too many to do full descriptions on here, but here are some of my favorites.

Kaz: As close to a ‘main character’ as you can get, though this story revolves around several integral people. Kaz is a conflicted guy, in the same 5 minutes he can be a completely self serving, cold, manipulative jerk, and a fiercely loyal companion trying to help his friends. Often you can’t tell if one is just a mask for the other. I found myself re-reading lines and going back a page or two to make sure I read every piece of dialogue so I could get to know Kaz better. You do get to learn some things about his past, but he is always a bit of an enigma.

Wraith (Inej): Kaz’s trusted rogue / assassin / thief / eavesdropper / anything that requires being quiet and invisible. Wraith, like everyone in this book has a very interesting past that shaped her into who she is. Her skills are amazing but getting to know her character when she isn’t doing her job was just as interesting to read about. You can see her go through several changes throughout the story, and try to figure out just how she feels about Kaz as she watches his actions around their other companions.

Plot: 4/5

The story started off a little bit slow for me, but that didn’t last long. There were a lot of characters and even the city of Ketterdam itself to learn about, and very quickly the story picks up its pace and really starts to roll along as all of the planning turns into action. After the first few chapters I was hooked, and couldn’t put it down over the next day or two. It was interesting to see how a very intricate heist full of very real danger was managed in a fantasy setting with swords, sorcery, and an amazing cast.

Quotes:

“Kaz leaned back. "What's the easiest way to steal a man's wallet?"

"Knife to the throat?" asked Inej.

"Gun to the back?" said Jesper.

"Poison in his cup?" suggested Nina.

"You're all horrible," said Matthias.”

“Many boys will bring you flowers. But someday you'll meet a boy who will learn your favorite flower, your favorite song, your favorite sweet. And even if he is too poor to give you any of them, it won't matter because he will have taken the time to know you as no one else does. Only that boy earns your heart.”

― Leigh Bardugo, Six of Crows


~Brian

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Brian Review: The Beginning of Everything

Severed Heads, Broken Hearts

AKA Us Version of The Beginning of Everything

Author: Robyn Schneider

Published On: 9/1/13

Page Count: 288

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Golden boy Ezra Faulkner believes everyone has a tragedy waiting for them—a single encounter after which everything that really matters will happen. His particular tragedy waited until he was primed to lose it all: In one spectacular night, a reckless driver shatters Ezra's knee, his career as a jock, and his social life.

No longer a front-runner for homecoming king, Ezra finds himself at the table of misfits, where he encounters new girl Cassidy Thorpe. Cassidy is unlike anyone Ezra's ever met— achingly effortless, fiercely intelligent, and determined to bring Ezra along on her endless adventures.

Together, Ezra and Cassidy discover flash mobs, buried treasure, secret movie screenings, and a poodle that might just be the reincarnation of Jay Gatsby. But as Ezra dives into his new studies, new friendships, and new love, he learns that some people, like books, are easy to misread. And now he must consider: If one's singular tragedy has already hit and everything after it has mattered quite a bit, what happens when more misfortune strikes?

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and have to say that it really struck a chord with me on several different levels. So much so that I needed to take a few days to process it before I could sit down and write the review.

Cover: 3.5/5

The cover was serviceable, but nothing really extraordinary. I like the duality of the two faces, it has interesting symbolism, but I think there was probably room for some improvement here. I’m also not a big fan of review quotes on the cover.

Characters: 5/5

This book really hinges on the depth of its characters. In a world where you could lose interest in high school drama, you instead find yourself hanging on the end of every chapter wanting to continue.

Ezra: The antagonist of the book, we are told the story through his eyes. Ezra was an amazing tennis player before he was struck by a car and his knee was shattered. Now he has to find his footing again in school, where he feels like he doesn’t fit in with the athletes anymore. Luckily he is able to rekindle an old friendship and spend time with a new crowd in the debate team. I liked Ezra’s character, he could have been much more self pitying and dour about his accident, but makes a genuine effort to get back into the swing of things. He is definitely sad about his loss of mobility, but tries to move on.

Cassidy: An enigma, Cassidy is the new girl in school. She is definitely an oddball, with a style all her own. She joins the debate group after transferring from another school and they all seem to recognize her. Ezra becomes interested in Cassidy fairly quickly and they go on several amazing adventures together. Unfortunately she does have a difficult past, which rears it’s ugly head occasionally to make their wonderful world not as perfect. Cassidy was a fun character to read about, but frustrating sometimes when you couldn’t understand her motives. Like Ezra, she has a lot of depth, and isn’t easily summed up in a few sentences. I felt especially drawn to her character because she reminded me a lot of Ashley. Quiet confidence, refusing to conform, and the ability to effortlessly draw me (or in this case Ezra) into her world with the desire and confidence to try things you never thought you would be able to do. Ezra can’t help but fall head over heels for her, and I understood the feeling completely.

Toby: Ezra’s childhood friend, and the face of the debate team, Toby and Ezra are able to reconnect after several years of having drifted apart. I loved Toby, and I don’t know how anyone wouldn’t. He always seems to be the life of the (nerdy) party, quick witted, and always there when you need him. We should all have a best friend like Toby.

Plot: 4.5 / 5

This book’s plot relied heavily on its characters to move it along, and fortunately they were all up to the task. The setting doesn’t change a whole lot, but everyone in the story felt like they mattered and were integral. When I found myself wondering what was going to happen to some of the secondary characters in the debate group, or why Ezra’s ex-girlfriend seemed like such a terrible person, I knew the book was well written. I got about two thirds of the way through the book and I couldn’t put it down until it was finished. I honestly still don’t know how I feel about how the story ended, but the ride was entertaining, from start to finish.

Quotes:

“And I realized that there's a big difference between deciding to leave and knowing where to go.”

“You have this maddening little smile sometimes, like you've just thought of something incredibly witty but are afraid to say it in case no one gets the joke.”

― Robyn Schneider, Severed Heads, Broken Hearts

Until next time,

Brian

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Review: Underwater by Marisa Reichardt

Underwater

Author: Marisa Reichardt

Published On: 1/12/16

Publisher: Farrer Straus Giroux

Page Count: 288

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Morgan didn’t mean to do anything wrong that day. Actually, she meant to do something right. But her kind act inadvertently played a role in a deadly tragedy. In order to move on, Morgan must learn to forgive—first someone who did something that might be unforgivable, and then, herself.
But Morgan can’t move on. She can’t even move beyond the front door of the apartment she shares with her mother and little brother. Morgan feels like she’s underwater, unable to surface. Unable to see her friends. Unable to go to school. 
When it seems Morgan can’t hold her breath any longer, a new boy moves in next door.

Cover: 5/5

   I love it this cover. I think it represents Morgan`s struggle perfectly. The couch underwater is both lives of Morgan; the before and the after.

Characters:

   Morgan: She doesn't go to school and can't walk over the threshold of her own house. Evan brings out the                          Morgan that her mom and brother still see. I loved watching her grow. The fears she has draw you in and you start to root for her to make it to the door and down the front steps. Morgan is the girl you hope you never have to be but one you can learn from.

   Evan: He seems like a typical cliché surfer guy from Hawaii but then he starts to grow on the reader and Morgan.

Plot:

We spend a majority of the book trying to figure out what traumatic event causes Morgan to not leave her house. This book not only describes what it's like to be trapped in cage you put yourself in but also teaches acceptance. Evan helps Morgan and shows different struggles from the same event and how he handles it. 

Overall Rating: 4.5/5

   Overall I loved this book. The characters were a little rough but it made them relate-able. I was rooting for Morgan the whole time to forgive herself and walk out. I finished in roughly 3 days but most of my reading was on the drive and flight to Texas. 

Goodies: Hope you enjoyed my review. Below is an Interview with Author Marisa Reichardt. :)

Do you relate to your MC?

Absolutely. In many ways, the main character in Underwater, Morgan Grant, was borne out of my own personal struggles with anxiety. The other thing I have in common with Morgan is my love for the water, whether ocean or pool. It’s amazing what jumping in the water can do for me on a bad day. Most of all, I relate to Morgan’s desire to be better even when it feels like so much, internally and externally, is working against her.

What or who got you into writing?

Teachers got me into writing. I’ve always written and have found encouragement from teachers as far back as elementary school. I had English and journalism teachers in high school who were really supportive of my writing and told me I should pursue writing after high school. I majored in creative writing in college and found more supportive professors and then even more in grad school. So teachers. They’ve been super influential and important throughout my life.

Did you listen to a playlist while writing?

For Underwater, I really needed things to be silent while I was working. I would close the blinds, turn down the noise, and just try to get into this space I needed to be in for writing Morgan, a character who didn’t leave her small apartment. I did, however, have a playlist I would listen to while I was working out. That is usually my time to figure out plot points, character traits, and story resolutions so having the right music to go along with those moments was really helpful. One of the songs I listened to a lot, so much so that it’s become kind of a theme song for the book, was “Carry On” by Fun.

What book would you suggest to be on the lookout for besides yours?

The Girl Who Fell by Shannon M. Parker is fantastic. I’ve read it twice now and it’s so good. I can’t wait for it to be out in the world because not only is it an amazing and well-written story, it’s an important one.

Outside your book who would you “Ship” your MC with?

Ooh! What a fun question. I feel like Levi from Rainbow Rowell’s Fangirl would be good for Morgan in the same way he was good for Cath. He could gently coax Morgan out of her comfort zone while being totally supportive, loyal, funny, and swoony. Gotta have the swoony!

Thank you Marisa for the review copy and the chance to interview you. 

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

TTFN,

Ashley 

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Review: Firsts by Laurie Flynn

Author: Laurie Elzibeth Flynn

Published On: 1/5/16

Publisher: St. Martin`s Griffin

Page Count: 320

I received this ARC for free in return for my honest opinion

Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)

Seventeen-year-old Mercedes Ayres has an open-door policy when it comes to her bedroom, but only if the guy fulfills a specific criteria: he has to be a virgin. Mercedes lets the boys get their awkward, fumbling first times over with, and all she asks in return is that they give their girlfriends the perfect first time- the kind Mercedes never had herself.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Overall I enjoy this novel. I might not have liked the names of characters or some of the justifications but this seems to be the start of controversial or taboo topics so I love it. Plus it would be wrong to not admit that I understood Mercedes book keeping. It helps to write things down to get feelings out.

Cover: 3/5

I really love the simplicity of the cover. Head over to my IG and you can see my attempt at recreating it with a twist. 

Characters: 4/5

Mercedes aka Mercy: She never asks for anything but for the guy to treat his girlfriend right. How she explains it is in science terms. She works using formulas and thought it was all easier if love was a formula versus complicated and messy.
Her dad named her after his car. That was the part I hated most.

Zach: I don't like the name Zach. I literally changed in when I read cause it bugged me so much. Personal reasons. However the fact he wanted to date Mercedes and didn't just want to be "The Wednesday Guy" is important. All the attributes of the perfect guy were there for her yet she didn't want to admit Zach fit her mold.

Plot: 5/5

This is so hard because the topic of teenage sex is such a taboo thing in the US. Mercedes had a bad experience and her way of coping with that is to sleep with young men. Her reasoning is scientific hypothesis but it's her also justifying why it's alright that she sleeps with all these boys.

Goodies:

1) Did you base some characters on people you know?

I didn’t base any characters in FIRSTS on people I know. The characters all just kind of materialized in my head and I got to know them better the more I wrote. Since I’m a pantser, I didn’t even have any characters besides Mercedes planned before I started writing. They popped up as I went along and let me know who they wanted to be.

2) What books did you love to read as a kid/teen?

I was a voracious reader growing up… I was obsessed with the Anne of Green Gables books as a kid and I remember reading them out loud to my mom and dad. I was also a huge Sweet Valley High fan (I wanted to be Elizabeth Wakefield when I got to high school)! But a reading experience that changed my life was Gone With The Wind by Margaret Mitchell. There aren’t enough words to describe how much I loved Scarlett O’Hara right away. She’s unapologetically bold, owns her sexuality, and isn’t afraid to go after what she wants—even if that’s not what she thought she wanted in the first place.

3) Outside your book who would you “Ship” your MC with?

This is such a great question! I really had to think about who I could see Mercedes with, since she’s not the type to go falling in love. I think she would need someone with a sense of humor and a sharp wit. I’d love to see her stand her own with Chuck Bass from Gossip Girl… she’d probably put him in his place!

4) Describe your book using emoticons.

5) What book would you suggest to be on the lookout for besides yours?

There are so many amazing YA debuts in 2016… I feel honored to be in such great company! One that I recently read and adored was ARROWS by Melissa Gorzelanczyk. Elements of Greek mythology spun with the drama of MTV’s Teen Mom? Yes, please. It’s such a unique look into a toxic relationship. You’ll also want to be on the lookout for Marisa Reichardt’s debut, UNDERWATER, because it’s all kinds of gorgeous. I can’t wait to get my hands on ALL the debuts!

TTFN,

Ashley

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