You Are Mine (Mine #1) by Janeal Falor

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Serena knows a few simple things. She will always be owned by a warlock. She will never have freedom. She will always do what her warlock wishes, regardless of how inane, frivolous, or cruel it is. And if she doesn’t follow the rules, she will be tarnished. Spelled to be bald, inked, and barren for the rest of her life—worth less than the shadow she casts.
Then her ownership is won by a barbarian from another country. With the uncertainty that comes from belonging to a new warlock, Serena questions if being tarnished is really worse than being owned by a barbarian, and tempts fate by breaking the rules. When he looks the other way instead of punishing her, she discovers a new world. The more she ventures into the forbidden, the more she learns of love and a freedom just out of reach. Serena longs for both. But in a society where women are only ever property, hoping for more could be deadly.

Book Review:
Gosh, where do I start? I'll be honest. The premise of You Are Mine sounds interesting, but it also sounds quite similar to other YA fantasies. When I reached for this title, I was expecting a lukewarm read. What I got was a fast-paced, action-packed story that I couldn't put down, despite the late hour. You Are Mine is a cross between The Handmaid's Tale and Poison Study, with its distinct own twist.

First and foremost, women are treated lower than cattle. They are considered to be possessions and are treated like such, most often abused and embarrassed for fun and sport. Along comes Serena, who understands how things are but chooses her own path. Just when you think things can't get any worse she becomes the possession of a barbarian. I can't tell you what happens from there without spoiling it.

What I can tell you is that I absolutely adored this book. ADORED it. It's part dystopian, part action, part fantasy, part romance. This reads more like an adult fantasy, rather than YA, which I rather enjoyed. Falor makes the characters relatable and original. I could feel Serena's fear, anger, and courage. The world building is incredible, author Falor paints very descriptive pictures. Overall, I just can't recommend You Are Mine enough. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series, Mine to Spell.

Thanks to Chardonian Press for this copy.
Published in May 6th 2013
This is my honest review.

Cover Art Commentary:
I'll be honest. I'm not a huge fan of this cover. The model is pretty and I appreciate the light and dark contrast. It's very similar to other YA books, and the context is NOTHING like other YA books. I would love to see them change this up a bit!

Rating:

Life of A Blogger: Favorite Quotes

This week's topic on Life of a Blogger is favorite quotes.

Hosted by Jessi from Novel Heartbeat

All of these quotes are from one of my favorite websites EVAR. CurlyGirlDesign.com. These are some of my favorites!

What are some of your favorite quotes?

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Eight Books For Readers Who Like YA Fantasy Series'

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Eight Books For Readers Who Like YA Fantasy Series'

Hosted by The Broke and The Bookish

The Across the Universe series by Beth Revis

The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer

The Falling Kingdoms series by Morgan Rhodes

The Fire and Thorns series by Rae Carson

The Harry Potter series by J. K. Rowling

The Poison Study series by Maria V. Snyder

The Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas

The Curse Workers series by Holly Black

What are some of your favorite series'?

 

Hold Me Like a Breath (Once Upon a Crime Family #1) by Tiffany Schmidt

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): Penelope Landlow has grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime families that control the black market for organ transplants.
Penelope’s surrounded by all the suffocating privilege and protection her family can provide, but they can't protect her from the autoimmune disorder that causes her to bruise so easily.
And in her family's line of work no one can be safe forever.
All Penelope has ever wanted is freedom and independence. But when she’s caught in the crossfire as rival families scramble for prominence, she learns that her wishes come with casualties, that betrayal hurts worse than bruises, that love is a risk worth taking . . . and maybe she’s not as fragile as everyone thinks.

Book Review:
What was I expecting when I first picked up Hold Me Like A Breath? A little action, and a little romance. What I got was a whole lot more. This fast-paced thriller kept me up during the night, trying to figure out what exactly was happening and trying to anticipate what would happen next. Let me start with the setting. You have a dangerous mob family that doles out human organs in the black market. On the other hand, you have Penelope, who is treated daintily, like fragile glass. Right off the bat, the reader can tell things aren't what they seem, but any attempt to strip back the layers leads to more questions and bigger puzzles. Things fall apart, and it's up to Penelope to put back the pieces...but can she while maintaining all of the lovable qualities that make her her? If you're looking for book that is action-packed, fast-paced, and mysterious, look no further. I definitely plan to read more of Schmidt's work. I seriously can't believe I didn't know of her sooner!

Thanks to Bloomsbury USA Children's Books for this copy.
Published in May 19, 2015
This is my honest review.

Cover Art Commentary:
Well HELLO GORGEOUS!!! I love LOVE this cover! The colors are stunning and the symbolism leaves me breathless!

Rating:

Ruin and Rising (The Grisha #3) by Leigh Bardugo

Book Summery (Via Goodreads): The capital has fallen.
The Darkling rules Ravka from his shadow throne.
Now the nation's fate rests with a broken Sun Summoner, a disgraced tracker, and the shattered remnants of a once-great magical army.
Deep in an ancient network of tunnels and caverns, a weakened Alina must submit to the dubious protection of the Apparat and the zealots who worship her as a Saint. Yet her plans lie elsewhere, with the hunt for the elusive firebird and the hope that an outlaw prince still survives.
Alina will have to forge new alliances and put aside old rivalries as she and Mal race to find the last of Morozova's amplifiers. But as she begins to unravel the Darkling's secrets, she reveals a past that will forever alter her understanding of the bond they share and the power she wields. The firebird is the one thing that stands between Ravka and destruction—and claiming it could cost Alina the very future she’s fighting for. 

Book Review:
*Le sigh* I wanted to enjoy this more than I did. Really, truly.
What I was expecting: A fast-paced final journey in the Russian-like setting I've grown accustomed to. A solid connection to the characters, particularly, the two main characters Alina and Mal.
What I got: A whirlwind, action-packed story. However, the pace was so fast, I had a difficult time keeping up with what was actually happening. Also, I had a hard time understanding some of the language. I think it was because it had been so long since I read the previous book (which I remember loving). The biggest misgiving was the disconnection between the reader (me) and the characters, particularly Alina and Mal. The constant "we need to put our own desires aside for the greater good" grated on my nerves for some reason. I felt like Alina wanted her cake and the ability to eat it too. I felt like for such an epic ending to this story, more sacrifices should have been made. But that is just my humble opinion.

Cover Art Commentary:
I love the colors of this cover. I also really enjoy the design, especially the fire bird.

Rating: