Gilded Cage by Vic James

Not all are free. Not all are equal. Not all will be saved.

Our world belongs to the Equals — aristocrats with magical gifts — and all commoners must serve them for ten years. But behind the gates of England's grandest estate lies a power that could break the world. 

A girl thirsts for love and knowledge.

Abi is a servant to England's most powerful family, but her spirit is free. So when she falls for one of the noble-born sons, Abi faces a terrible choice. Uncovering the family's secrets might win her liberty, but will her heart pay the price? 

A boy dreams of revolution.

Abi's brother, Luke, is enslaved in a brutal factory town. Far from his family and cruelly oppressed, he makes friends whose ideals could cost him everything. Now Luke has discovered there may be a power even greater than magic: revolution. 

And an aristocrat will remake the world with his dark gifts.

He is a shadow in the glittering world of the Equals, with mysterious powers no one else understands. But will he liberate—or destroy?

~

★★★★☆

~

I recieve a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

Gilded Cage is a dark dystopian with seven alternating POVs and a solid ending that leaves you wanting mORE NOW LIKE RIGHT NOW. As someone who doesn't really like dystopians, I did have some trouble getting through the beginning and middle parts of this. That was really when the author was establishing the world and explaining the awful life these people lived.

Also in the beginning and throughout a majority of the book, really is Luke. Luke is the younger brother of Abi, and you can tell from the very beginning that his path is going to be dark and he is going to be a fairly intense character.

Wdajsdkw I don't know man. Pretty much, this whole book had the very dark and dystopian feel around it. Though I did find it slow in some parts, there were also other parts of the book where I felt like I couldn't put it down.

Youtube | Blog | Tumblr | Goodreads

Any Time, Any Place by Jennifer Probst

HGTV’s Property Brothers meets The Marriage Bargain in this second volume in the Billionaire Builders series, an all-new heart-wrenching and sexy contemporary romance from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst.

When she was a teen, Raven Bella Stratton’s father was killed in a horrible car crash. The bigger shock was the discovery of a woman with him—Diana Pierce—and their two fully packed suitcases with airline tickets to Paris. Devastated by her father’s betrayal, Raven went to live with her aunt, never truly overcoming the traumatic event. When she discovers that the mysterious woman had a family with a husband and three boys, Raven vows to leave the memory of her father behind.

Until Dalton Pierce visits one night and suddenly her past challenges her future...

Leaving his life in California behind to run Pierce Construction with his two older brothers, Dalton Pierce has enjoyed returning home and studying his passion of woodworking. But when he visits the local bar with his brothers one evening, he’s immediately drawn to the smart-mouthed, badass, sexy bartender who sets his body on fire. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem as intrigued by him, and his multiple advances are met with rejection. When he offers to restore the bar back to its original glory, he begins to work with her on a daily basis, and falls harder. His plan of seduction slowly weaves a web around them both, until they are caught up in the spell. But Dalton doesn’t know the secret that can either destroy them both...or finally mend two broken hearts.

~

★★★☆☆

~

*Arc given by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

Any Time, Any Place starts off differently than other New Adult novels in the way that these characters already have a background together. That being said, this novel doesn't really have the insta-love that the New Adult genre is so notorious for. Raven keeps Dalton away due to their history, and is pretty much filled with resentment.

Though the lack of insta-love was super refreshing, I did find the pacing of everything to be slow and I would skim parts. I know those two things i said seem super contradictory, like "You like the lack of insta-love but it was too slow for you?!" but I stand by my statement. I'm totally okay with slow relationship building and watching as it all grows, but it just felt to me that barely anything was happening. It was constantly Raven battling her contradictory feelings for Dalton.

So, the fact that I was really bored a majority of the book did make it very difficult for me to get through it. Other than that, I really enjoyed the characters. Dalton was such a nice guy throughout everything even when Raven was showing rude distaste for him. And, I do understand Raven's side of the story and though I wouldn't have handled it in the same way, I acknowledge the fact that everyone deals with their problems differently.

Youtube | Blog | Tumblr | Goodreads

Arena by Holly Jennings

A fast-paced and gripping near-future science fiction debut about the gritty world of competitive gaming...
 
Every week, Kali Ling fights to the death on national TV. 
She’s died hundreds of times. And it never gets easier...
 
The RAGE tournaments—the Virtual Gaming League’s elite competition where the best gamers in the world compete in a no-holds-barred fight to the digital death. Every bloody kill is broadcast to millions. Every player is a modern gladiator—leading a life of ultimate fame, responsible only for entertaining the masses.
 
And though their weapons and armor are digital, the pain is real.
 
Chosen to be the first female captain in RAGE tournament history, Kali Ling is at the top of the world—until one of her teammates overdoses. Now, she must confront the truth about the tournament. Because it is much more than a game—and even in the real world, not everything is as it seems.
 
The VGL hides dark secrets. And the only way to change the rules is to fight from the inside...

~

★★★1/2☆

~

"People are stupid. But not being yourself because of their ignorance is worse."

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I would rate this about 3.8 stars but GOODREADS DON'T LIKE THAT SO :))))) Arena by Holly Jennings doesn't really focus on the video game competitions, but more the struggles the main group of characters face. Meaning, the action of the bloody games isn't as focused on as the behind the scenes. That being said, this book focuses on a lot of issues and themes such as addiction, teamwork, and society's views.

The main character, Kali, is a strong female lead who is a genuine role model. She's thrown into this leadership position, not quite sure knowing what to do, but tries her best with what she has. Kali works hard, is an amazing gamer, and has a strategic mind that won't conform to what society wants. I admired her because her strength was shown in a unique way, one that I actually haven't read in any other young adult main character.

Jennings really created a great outline for interesting and three-dimensional characters, but she didn't follow through. The other characters were definitely there to help, but they all fell flat (including Kali). While they did have different personalities and looks, none of this was really elaborated upon. The story really just focused on Kali so you never got to learn more about the others. I really wish we had been able to get backgrounds and internal demons of the other characters also. 

Though the plot didn't focus on the action of the games, the great fighting scenes were still there. If you were looking for a really action-packed book though, I don't think this would be it. Most of the plot was focusing on inner demons of the characters, and how these problems were dealt with. Nonetheless though, I found the mixture of intense gaming and universal themes to be very interesting.

The world of virtual gaming and 2053 is expanded on very little. The main focus of the novel was the characters' hardships, so the reader sees very little of the outside world. The society does play a large role, and is very similar to the real world's. Nothing matters except money and looks, and I am excited to see how Kali deals with this is the second novel. Honestly, there's just so many life lessons mixed into this that I think could help a lot of people.

"If you hate, you become exactly like them. When you face your enemies with compassion, you realize there's still a person behind that hate."

I sped through this novel. I don't know if I would say the pacing is fast because if you're expecting tons of action and kick-buttery then... it's not. But, if you just want a quick and interesting sci-fi read, then I'd suggest this novel. There's just enough super cool fighting that I think you'll be satisfied.

Youtube | Blog | Tumblr | Goodreads

A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

~

★★★☆☆

~

"You're rash, willful, and hostile. You have no self-control. Do you even think before you act?

Warning: A Promise of Fire is a New Adult (not YA lol oops) so it does include some mature scenes that may not be suited for some readers.

If you enjoyed A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas, then you'd probably also like this novel. Both have alpha-male characters with a strong and stubborn female leader. The worlds in both series are unique in the way that while Maas's revolves around fairies, Bouchet's mentions the Olympic gods, leading to very interesting magic systems. Both have the New Adult vibe with a very prevalent romance, but both do have growing plots.

I had been fairly excited to read A Promise of Fire, but was sadly disappointed over the fact that I found several problems that irked me throughout the entire novel. I think I still overall enjoyed this book because I wasn't pulling my hair out in frustration over these minor problems I had. I still had an overall okay time with after completing everything. There was still a very interesting fantasy-esque feel about the entire novel that made me want to keep reading. Surprisingly though, I don't really think it was the world itself that pushed me on.

This magic system and world follows the Olympian Gods. Pretty much, there are people called Magois who are given magic and live in the north. The South is filled with Hoi Polloi, who are non-magical people. And for the first time in forever, a Hoi Polloi takes control of the Southern crown. I thought this sounded really interesting, but I feel like Amanda Bouchet just didn't really delve into the magic system and world as much as she could have. Readers didn't learn as much about everything and it's obvious this is only the tip of the iceberg. Though this can lead to readers wanting to continue reading the series because of their curiosity, I just thought of it as incomplete.

The characters really didn't have a lot of depth, and as the book continues, the side characters are lsot in the crowd. The story really starts revolving around Griffin and Cat, making everyone else pale in comparison. Then, with the two mains. You're not given a lot of information about Cat other than the fact that she's very powerful and comes from a very bad background. Besides that, nothing is truly revealed and you kind of infer everything. Then Griffin... he followed such an alpha male stereotype that I couldn't take it.

The alpha male stereotype was so prevalent in this novel that it genuinely irked me. Usually, I'm fine with a this cliche in New Adult novels because there's still a strong bout of feminism in the novels. But, I just didn't like what Griffin and the Southern men stood for with their 

"Intelligent brow. Strong jaw. Wide mouth. Hawkish nose. Black hair brushes a corded neck atop broad shoulders that have no doubt been swinging a sword since before he could walk. Body toned to perfection, skin darkened by a lifetime in the sun, he's battle-chiseled and hard, the type of man who can cleave an enemy in two with little effort and even less consequences to his conscience."

That was a direct quote from the book. Okay, so usually descriptions like that don't seriously bug me (I only slightly shake my head a little) but then it was the actions of Griffin that made me JASODAJSJAD.

1. He never listened to Cat when it was a matter of her life. She was always just supposed to listen and obey.
2. He apparently knew everything, including the fact that she was in love with him. In fact, he knew this before she knew it. That made it okay for him to solicitously kiss her. Yeah. That makes sense.
3. He was always telling Cat what to do, like his word was law. Sure, she fought back, but he still always ended up getting what he wanted EVEN WHEN CAT WAS UNSURE IF SHE WANTED IT TOO.

The romance between the two seriously was just a lot of sexual tension. It was insta-love on one end and not truly the other so... was it truly instalove? I think, the two seriously were opposites and were the only ones who were able to challenge eachother. Each character is just so strong that it makes others near insignificant. The problem is with their personalities, they would constantly have different opinions. In real relationships, I don't know how well that'd work. But hey it's Ficiton.

The pacing and plot were pretty slow for me. I was still interested in what was happening, but looking back at it, not much was truly occurring. The plot was fairly weak and never had me on the edge of my seat. I think this first book truly was just to establish the world and situation of everything, and then the second book will delve deeper into it all.

Will I be picking up the next book? Probably not. I enjoyed reading this novel enough, but I just don't find myself really invested in seeing what will happen next because I feel like even though a lot of information was withheld from the reader, I can still guess what's coming next. (The foreshadowing was about as discreet as a brick) 

Youtube | Blog | Tumblr

The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy

16-year-old Aurora Darlington is an orphan. Mistreated by her adopted family and bullied at school, she dreams of running away and being free. But when she is kidnapped and dragged through a portal into a magical world, suddenly her old life doesn’t seem so bad.

Avalonia is a dangerous land ruled by powerful mages and a cruel, selfish queen who will do anything to control all seven kingdoms—including killing anyone who stands in her way.

Thrust headlong into this new, magical world, Aurora’s arrival sets plans in motion that threaten to destroy all she holds dear.

With the help of a young fae, a magical pegasus, and a handsome mage, Aurora journeys across Avalonia to learn the truth about her past and unleash the power within herself. Kingdoms collide as a complicated web of political intrigue and ancient magic lead Aurora to unravel a shocking secret that will change her life forever. 

~

3 stars

~

"How will you ever know the magnitude of courage you are capable of if you have never experienced the hopelessness of fear?"

I received this book from LovingDemBooks Booktube Tours in exchange for an honest review.

The Last of the Firedrakes was a fun, fantasy read with many quirky fantasy aspects people who love this genre would enjoy. But, I did have a lot problems with individual aspects of this novel, even though I thought it was okay all together.

First, the main character. I didn't really like the main character that much. Aurora played the role of a naive, selfish teenage girl who didn't think at all before acting. I was constantly getting frustrated with her because not only did she get herself in situations she wouldn't be in if she had listened to others, but she also constantly dragged other people with her. She would never fullt accept the blame of her actions, instead forcing others to go along with her in these idiotic quests. Also, I felt like she was constantly havign to be saved by someone/something else. YOU WOULDN'T NEED TO BE SAVED IF YOU HAD JUST LISTENED GAH. But, I did love her work ethic and though she was a very overpowered MC, I appreciated the fact that she did have to somewhat learn. 

There were also a bunch of cliches mixed throughout the novel. We had the abused orphan, insta-love, lost royalty, and almost every steretypical story device ever. This aspect caused the book to be very unsurprising when it came to "big plot twists." Nothing was truly "foreshadowed," but more "thrown at you with a brick."

The other characters and the world were very fun and likeable. I think a big reason why I read parts of this book so fast were because I was just so interested in learning about the world. Though it wasn't the most original of kingdoms, there were still super cool magic systems and unique aspects. The other characters did follow a few stereotypes, but it wasn't nearly as bad at the MC. I enjoyed reading about all of the others' different personalities and their specialties.

The romance was the strongest dose of insta-love I've experienced in a long time and that's saying something since I've been reading a lot of contemporaries recently. I was fairly aggrivated with it because it was like all over insta-loves, I felt that these characters didn't truly know each other before they were falling for the other. And the problem was, this romance played a huge part in the novel. Aurora's decisions and thoughts were constantly based on this insta-love, which made it even more prevalent and irritating.

The writing felt fairly juvenile which I feel weird talking about, but it was a big part of reading for me. I felt that some of the words characters would say would feel unnatural (imagine Star Wars) and awkward. I am aware that the author was attempting a medieval/olden-times vibe, but it just still felt very weird to me. It wasn't only the dialogue, but also the fact that there were tons of cliches in the writing that I just... ARGHH

"He's the most popular boy in school!"

I rest my case.

I wanted to address this more specifically, but the many cliches that this book had irked me. First, we had the fact that they were always eavesdropping? Is there no other way to get information? Really? Then, we have the fact that Aurora would literally butt her head into everyone else's business and get herself into a bunch of unnecessary trouble. Honestly, I just wanted to yell, "STAY IN YOUR LANE!!" throughout the entire novel. Also, even when in the midst of a super serious and important situation, the MC would STILL be thinking about the person she "loves" which made me want to legitimately shake her shoulders and yell at her to listen.

Okay but honestly, I feel like I would've enjoyed this book a lot more if tHE MAIN CHARACTER DIDN'T IRK ME SO

Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn

Imagine a world where your destiny has already been decided…by your future self.

It’s Callie’s seventeenth birthday and, like everyone else, she’s eagerly awaiting her vision―a memory sent back in time to sculpt each citizen into the person they’re meant to be. A world-class swimmer. A renowned scientist.

Or in Callie’s case, a criminal.

In her vision, she sees herself murdering her gifted younger sister. Before she can process what it means, Callie is arrested and placed in Limbo―a prison for those destined to break the law. With the help of her childhood crush, Logan, a boy she hasn’t spoken to in five years, she escapes the hellish prison.

But on the run from her future, as well as the government, Callie sets in motion a chain of events that she hopes will change her fate. If not, she must figure out how to protect her sister from the biggest threat of all.

Callie herself.

~

4 stars

~

I was given a free copy of this book from LovingDemBooks Booktube Tours in exchange for an honest review In all honesty, I haven't read a Dystopian book is sooo long because they all seemed very generic and followed the same outline of a story line. Though this novel did show some Dystopian cliches, it also brought its own creative twists and differences "They're so paralyzed by a future that hasn't happened, that they can't even allow love into their lives." Let's talk about the general gist of this novel. People are given a memory of the future, and that defines their entire life. I really enjoyed the overlying theme of "you are in charge of your own fate." These citizens in this novel are confined to this box that they're put in once their 17th birthday arrives, and I think that stands true to real life also. People confine themselves into a box of what they can or can't do, or what they are and what they're not. People in the real world think they're confined to these labels of "artist" or "loner," when in all reality, other people can't label them. We're the only ones in charge of our lives, and no one should be able to take that away. The characters aren't super radical like all other Dystopian MCs. Callie and Logan are literally everyday students, and that's really refreshing Of course, there are things that set them apart from others. But, it really does feel like these two students were thrust into this world and they didn't really ask for it like Tris from Divergent (who was literally always looking for trouble). Callie and Logan have a goal they want to achieve, and it's a reasonable goal. Of course, events do spiral into madness, but I think seeing these average teens thrown into this situation and not freaking revolutionaries was great. The characters aren't that deep, but there's a reasoning for that. I'm going to quickly talk about some of my spoiler-y thoughts about that. I LOVED HOW YOU COULD TELL THIS SERIES DOES NOT REVOLVE AROUND CALLIE. Not only is she not the "chosen one," but even when she walks into the Underground, she finds that she is literally nothing special. I loved the normal-ness of Callie and Logan, but the amount of uniquity that was still in the both of them. AHHHH THE NEXT BOOK IS FOLLOWING THE ACTUAL SISTER WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?!?!?JKASJD But anyways, I truly think these characters had just about 60% average teenager and 30% dystopian main character. I'm really excited to see where she goes with the series after the events in this novel and the character development! The romance wasn't really a main plot point in the book. Literally, it happened... And it was very prevalent that it was happening... But that's it. If you don't like romance though, be aware that that being said, THERE IS STILL A SOLID ROMANCE RELATIONSHIP GOOEY THING HERE. And honestly, I don't even know if it was truly insta-love because they were childhood best friends, but it was like 40% insta-love. Though the romance between the two causes them to help each other when they wouldn't have before wards, I just can't see this romance as a huge plot device like it was in ACOMF. (ACOMF ACOMF ACOMF ACOMFASJDOAJDI) I thought the beginning was kind of slow. Callie was of course acting the way a sheltered teenager does in her society, brainwashed by the government. But, her character does quickly change and develop. I really enjoyed the first part of the middle (where I can't say what happens because spoilers) and I reallllly enjoyed the last 10-20 pages. Like, those last pages have me wanting the second book RIGHT NOW. I'm still kind of mind-boggled by the events that occurred. Do I recommend this book? If you're one to like Dystopian, THEN YES! If you hate Dystopian, then you probably shouldn't read this book. Though it is different from other books in the genre, there are some cliches that might irk you. Am I picking up the second book? When I have time, yes!

The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson

Andie had it all planned out. When you are a politician’s daughter who’s pretty much raised yourself, you learn everything can be planned or spun, or both. Especially your future. Important internship? Check. Amazing friends? Check. Guys? Check (as long as we’re talking no more than three weeks).

But that was before the scandal. Before having to be in the same house with her dad. Before walking an insane number of dogs. That was before Clark and those few months that might change her whole life. Because here’s the thing—if everything’s planned out, you can never find the unexpected. And where’s the fun in that?

~

4 STARS

~

I don't really understand why this is people's least favorite Morgan Matson book. I liked this one a lot better than Since You've Been Gone. The Unexpected Everything by Morgan Matson was such a feel-good contemporary (which I really needed after this awful week) with adorable characters, antics, and relationships. Of course though, I did have problems with aspects such as the pacing and some obvious character/plot decisions. But, nonetheless, I enjoyed the underlying meanings of the importance of family and friendship.

This group of best friends truly was honestly just so much fun to read about. All of them were just so hilarious and quirky together. Their summer activities were so much fun to read about whether it be a super cool scavenger hunt or chilling by the pool. All of these friends were just so tight-knit and it was a blast because it felt like you as the reader were also included in these events.

The main character was someone who wasn't really that dimensional of a character. But, I wouldn't go as far as to say that she's boring. I liked the fact that she genuinely tried to fix her problems instead of just complaining about everything. She took initiative of her life and got a job and made sure she was happy with how her summer was going. I feel like the only decision of hers that I didn't like was one that was in the end when consulting a friend. It was just such an obvious bad contemporary novel cliche. But, I still do support a lot of her decisions and truly admire her for being sensible and looking at the silver linings rather than moping around all day.

Andi's relationship with Clark was honestly so freaking cute.First of all, Clark is a nerdy author so that is 29380 levels of awesome. Then, these two characters really do talk a lot and learn about each other before really starting their relationship. Like, wow that first date was something else. >.> And, they both just compliment each other so well. When Andi needs support, Clark is for sure to be there. Their little story they make in their freetime, dog walking, stealing of keys, and everything aRE JUST SO GOSH DARN CUTE. 

The beginning was really slow for me, to a point where I was skimming pages. I really started getting interested in the book at around pages 80 - 100. From there on out, I was devouring all of the fun summer-y vibes and scenes. Then, near the end, I did have some more problems. It wasn't that it was slow, but the writing took a pretty obvious and cliched turn. I was just not interested in reading about some aspects of what was going on because I knew how they were going to end. I did end up skimming those parts too.

In conclusion, I'd recommend this book to anyone who wants a cute summer-y read. Everything from the characters to the events of the novel were just super cute. Though I did have some issues with pacing and cliches, I feel like those are minor problems. If you enjoyed Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell then I feel like you would also enjoy this novel. I know I related to Andi in some of her traits like how I related to Cath. Also, nerdy characters that write? Heck yeah.

Youtube || Tumblr ||

The Chronicle of Three: Bloodline by Tabitha Caplinger

Zoe thought the loss of her parents would be the most difficult thing she’d ever have to endure. When she began seeing things she couldn’t explain in her new home of Torchcreek, Virginia, she was sure the grief was driving her mad. Instead Zoe discovers she is part of an ancient bloodline, one destined to defeat the powers of darkness from condemning the world. But Zoe, the daughter of the three, isn’t just another descendant–she’s the key to humanity’s salvation.

In this first installment of the Christian fantasy trilogy The Chronicle of the Three, Zoe Andrews learns that not all shadows are harmless interceptions of light. Some are a more sinister darkness that wants to torment the soul. 

~

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

This book lacked depth in a lot of its aspects such as the multiple cliches, bland characters, and underdeveloped plot. The plot really didn't go into much background of anything causing the focal point of this book to be "she's special because she's the chosen one and that's it." I cringed every time the words, "THE CHOSEN ONE" showed up. (and it was a lot) Throughout the book they were pretty much training to fight demons (who seemed pretty weak) without giving the readers a proper reason to hate and truly know the villains. Then when it came to the end, it was fairly anticlimactic. Yes, we finally get to see what makes Zoe so special. But, the way it was delivered felt cheesy and overpowering to the max.

A good villain can make an entire book. In this novel, we were given no information about the demons. So the fact that Zoe was able to kill several of them so quickly really erased all respect I had for them. They felt like disposable puppets. There was a very straight-forward "good and evil" side going on. Yes, I enjoyed the different point of views from Lucas, but we never really got to know the evil forces that were behind him. They were just known as pure evil and we got nothing much more than that.

The characters all seemed very one dimensional to me. They all spoke and acted as though they were the same person. There were moments where the actions of the characters felt forced and didn't flow naturally because these actions were there only to tell the reader "I have a unique personality!" It was when the focus wasn't on certain characters where their facades dropped and it felt like all of these characters were the same. We weren't given background of almost anyone and when we were, it felt weak.

In the summary of the book it's not told that we follow two main characters, Claire and Zoe, instead of just one. Claire seemed like a strong lead with an interesting past, but we're told nothing about it. It's always hinted at but then nothing comes of it. Then Zoe plays the naive new girl who suddenly has a knack for demon-hunting because she's the chosen one. We were given so little information about Zoe that it was as if she didn't even have a life before moving to this new place. At times she didn't even feel like the main character because she blended in with Daniel and Maggie so much. If these novels just revolved around Aunt Claire after this book I wouldn't be surprised. 

There were many underlying messages I enjoyed such as those feelings of worthlessness people have and how God is always there. I give props to Caplinger for including religion in this book because it can sometimes be difficult to bring your faith into writing. Faith really was the core of what Caplinger was trying to say but she tried throwing in some supernatural demons to make the story seem cooler. 

I am well aware that this is only the first book. But,questions appeared that were never answered. The world of shadows and demons felt poorly explained. Readers were only given information about relevant demons but nothing else. It felt like the prophecy and background of everythingwas barely touched upon. (Aunt Claire's past, why there are two daughters, what is the desert?, etc.)

3 stars

Red by Jennifer Anne Davis (2nd book of True Reign Series)

Sentenced to be executed.
Betrayed. Alone. 
Hung on the gallows. 
Rema thought her life was over, but she was wrong.

Saved by a rebel force she’d only ever heard rumors about, Rema finds herself in a forbidden place. She is finally safe—free from the king and Prince Lennek. But not everything is as it seems at the rebel fortress. Secrets are whispered, and loyalties are tested. Once Rema uncovers the truth of her heritage, will she flee? Or will she ascend to the throne, taking on the responsibility of an entire kingdom?

Now that Darmik knows Rema’s true identity, he’s on a quest to save her. But when an Emperion assassin arrives on Greenwood Island, Darmik knows he doesn’t have very long to find her. In a deadly game with high stakes, will Darmik remain loyal to his family? Or will he break away and join the rebels?

Kingdoms rise and fall. 
Heroes are born and made. 
But one thing remains the same—love conquers all.

This novel thoroughly irked me. Sure, it was enjoyable enough (though I can't tell exactly why) but there were so many problems I had with it.

In my personal opinion, Rema does not show the necessary skills to become queen. She is kind and beautiful, but has nothing else going for her. A main character should have the right mix of uniqueness to set them apart from the other characters while also making sure they're not overpowered and made to be wayyy better than everyone else. Rema is placed on a pedestal compared to all the other characters with no valuable traits to back it up. She should have earned the people's respect, but it was just handed to her.

The plot fairly dull and can be described as "everything revolves around Rema." Really, this series has been all about protecting Rema but it has given me no reason to want Rema to be protected. The pacing was all over the place randomly skipping weeks/days. There were also parts in the novel that just made me cringe that I had to put the book down.

We did get to see more of the side characters. But, I didn't really enjoy them that much. Savenek had the potential to be an interesting character, which he was, but that was quickly ruined. His personality did a complete flip for the worsebecause of sudden love for Rema. WHAT WAS UP WITH THAT SUDDEN HAREM?! 

The love triangle was not necessary AT ALL. It added nothing but extra drama. All the romance in this book seemed to be handled poorly. Not only was there an unnecessary love triangle, but in the midst of a freaking WAR, characters decide to get all up close and personal with each other. WHAT. I THOUGHT WE WERE PAST THIS.

I have very mixed feelings about the ending of this book. I liked the last 10% but in the last 2% I was just really irritated.