Me on Waiting on Wednesday (364)

Waiting on Wednesday is a bunch of weekly fun hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Title: LIFEL1K3
Author: Jay Kristoff
Release Date: May 29, 2018
Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House imprint)

From Goodreads:

On an island junkyard beneath a sky that glows with radiation, a deadly secret lies buried in the scrap.

Seventeen-year-old Eve isn't looking for trouble--she's too busy looking over her shoulder. The robot gladiator she spent months building has been reduced to a smoking wreck, she's on the local gangster's wanted list, and the only thing keeping her grandpa alive is the money she just lost to the bookies. Worst of all, she's discovered she can somehow destroy machines with the power of her mind, and a bunch of puritanical fanatics are building a coffin her size because of it. 

If she's ever had a worse day, Eve can't remember it. The problem is, Eve has had a worse day--one that lingers in her nightmares and the cybernetic implant where her memories used to be. Her discovery of a handsome android named Ezekiel--called a "Lifelike" because they resemble humans--will bring her world crashing down and make her question whether her entire life is a lie. 

With her best friend Lemon Fresh and her robotic sidekick Cricket in tow, Eve will trek across deserts of glass, battle unkillable bots, and infiltrate towering megacities to save the ones she loves... and learn the truth about the bloody secrets of her past.

This sounds so weird and sci-fi-y and like something I'd absolutely be interested in. :)

Me on Your One & Only

Title: Your One & Only
Author: Adrianne Finlay
Release Date: February 6 2018
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt imprint)

Jack is a walking fossil. The only human among a sea of clones. It’s been hundreds of years since humanity died off in the slow plague, leaving the clones behind to carry on human existence. Over time they've perfected their genes, moving further away from the imperfections of humanity. But if they really are perfect, why did they create Jack? While Jack longs for acceptance, Althea-310 struggles with the feeling that she's different from her sisters. Her fascination with Jack doesn't help. As Althea and Jack's connection grows stronger, so does the threat to their lives. What will happen if they do the unthinkable and fall in love?

Your One & Only is slightly haunting. It's a future of order and perfection built on the need to survive and the sacrifices of humanity. But there will always be consequences in the search for perfection.

Jack is alone, the only human being in a city of clones. The only one without a pre-destined role. The only one who knows music. The only one with asthma. Compared to the others, he is as flawed as possible. Unpredictable. Then why did they create him? What is the reason behind his existence, when they despise him so much?

Althea-310 is like all the other Gen-310 Althea clones, like all the Althea clones before her. Apart from the scar around her wrist, the sign that she wasn't grown perfectly and needed a replacement hand, she's indistinguishable from her sisters. But she still feels out of place. A little distant from the others. Jack intrigues her, he isn't like any of the other clones. Because he's human. There's only one of him. And so many of the other clones hate him. But when strange things start to happen around them, Althea-310 doesn't understand why the Council is quick to blame Jack. Why they're so eager to name him as the cause of their problems. Why they're keeping so many things secret from the others.

This book takes the human condition and strips it out of the clones, leaving behind genetically-altered beings who function without impulse, creativity, or affection. They fill roles destined for them, designed for them. And then they bring in Jack, with all his human emotions and imperfections and perceptions, and the clones don't know what to do beyond ridicule him and shun him. Anything that isn't them they hate. But they're crumbling at their cores, not knowing or caring that what they need is to return to those human flaws. There were a few parts that I wasn't so sure about, like why there was such cruelty aimed towards Jack. Why have clones with their genes altered in order to eliminate disease but still have them know hatred and violence? I don't think this really became the story I was expecting, but I imagine others might enjoy it, those intrigued by futures and questions about humanity raised in Cloud Atlas or Never Let Me Go.

(I received an advance copy of this title to review from Raincoast Books.)

Me on This Week's Book Week (293)

This Week's Book Week is rather similar to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews only with far more rambling and a less witty title. ;)

Hi! Another dreary, rainy week goes by, which means I don't have much to talk about. I've been trying to read more, though, I don't think I'm going through review books at a good pace these days. But I'm trying to pick up the pace.

Reviews going up this week will feature Your One & Only by Adrianne Finley (Tuesday) and Shadowsong by S. Jae-Jones (Friday). :)

Bought/borrowed/received:
Chainbreaker by Tara Sim (hardcover copy from Thomas Allen & Co.)
Horimiya Vols 5 & 6 by Hero & Daisuke Hagiwara (purchased)

Me on Let's Talk About Love

Title: Let's Talk About Love
Author: Claire Kann
Release Date: January 23, 2018
Publisher: Swoon Reads (Macmillan imprint)

Alice is secretly asexual, and that's the least important thing about her. She's a college student, has a great job, amazing friends, and is fine being single—nope, that's a lie. Alice wants romcom-grade romance: feels, cuddling, kissing, and swoons galore—as long as it doesn't lead to having sex. After her last relationship ends with soul-crushing parting words from her ex, Alice swears off relationships for good. Stick a fork in her, she's done. Everyone Alice tries to date is so sure love and sex have to go together, and there doesn't seem to be any way to convince them otherwise. But when Alice experiences instant attraction for the first time with her coworker Takumi, she doesn't know what to do. If Alice tells him the truth, it can only end in heartache. But there's something about Takumi that makes him worth the risk…

Let's Talk About Love is sweet, open, and honest. This is the story of a young woman wanting her life to work out, and it is, mostly, except for the fact that her romantic partners haven't been open to understanding her sexuality.

Alice is kind, supportive, and creative. She's happy living with her best friends, she's just picked up a great summer job, and things are going great. Apart from the constant pressure from her family to go to law school when she's not so sure about it. Apart from the cold goodbye from her recent ex-girlfriend who didn't understand why Alice was never interested when they had sex. Because Alice is asexual. She's perfectly happy to have that emotional connection with a partner, the support and the cuddling on the couch in the evenings. But not sex, because Alice doesn't feel sexually attracted to anyone. And she'd hoped to find someone who understood that. Now that she's single, Alice has sworn off relationships. If no one will understand what she needs, then she won't bother with dating. Until she meets her new co-worker and Alice actually feels something. Feels attracted to him. And now everything Alice thought she knew is completely out of whack.

There's something so wonderful in this book that needs to happen far more, both in fiction and in real life, and that's a willingness to see things from a perspective that isn't your own. The book starts with Margot dumping Alice because she doesn't understand Alice's asexuality, she doesn't understand that Alice cares so much about her and doesn't feel the need to express that through sex the way that Margot does. And so Margot leaves, taking it personally, not wanting to or not prepared to see their relationship through Alice's eyes and mind. But Takumi does. He takes the time to think about things from Alice's perspective, to try and understand what her asexuality means. Which is what Alice needs in order to be happy.

I can't speak as to the accuracy of Alice's experiences as a young black woman or as someone who identifies as asexual, but I certainly hope they're as honest and as realistic as possible. I certainly felt for Alice, I certainly wanted her to be happy without having to compromise on such an important part of her identity. I would definitely recommend this to those looking for more romance in LGBTQIA YA, to those looking for an asexual main character, and to those looking for a moving story.

(I received an advance copy of this title from Raincoast Books.)

Me on Waiting on Wednesday (363)

Waiting on Wednesday is a bunch of weekly fun hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Title: Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom
Author: Gigi D.G.
Release Date: February 28, 2018
Publisher: First Second (Macmillan imprint)

From Goodreads:

The quest to save Dreamside continues! After a surprise attack at sea, Cucumber finds himself in the Ripple Kingdom, home to white sand, blue waves . . . oh yeah, and the giant, terrible squid monster holding Almond and Sir Carrot captive. Can our so-called "legendary hero" rescue his companions from the nefarious Splashmaster?

Nah, probably not.

Good thing Princess Nautilus is here! With her wit, charm, and positive attitude, there's no way they can lose. But saving the day won't be as simple as it seems once a 500,000-year-old secret comes to light . . .

Adapted from the popular webcomic series of the same name, Cucumber Quest: The Ripple Kingdom is the second book of a clever, adorable, and hilarious four-volume heroic adventure that is sure to make you hungry for sweets and action.

If you're looking for more kid-friendly comics, and by kid-friendly I'm talking all-ages, then check out Cucumber Quest. It's bright and fun and all about mysteries and puzzles and being who you want to be instead of what others want you to be.

Blog Tour: The Hazel Wood

Hi there! Welcome to one of today's stops for the blog tour of Melissa Albert's The Hazel Wood!

This is like no other fairy tale retelling you've read before. It's haunting and creepy. In no way did I expect that it would go the places it went, reveal the characters it did. As part of the blog tour, here's my review of The Hazel Wood, followed by a question answers by the author!

Me on This Week's Book Week (292)

This Week's Book Week is rather similar to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews only with far more rambling and a less witty title. ;)

Hello there! Sorry about the missing of posts over the last couple of weeks. It's been a weird mixture of the weather getting me down and the news getting me down and not being interested in reading anything while also wanting to read something new that puts a halt on everything. But hopefully things are back on schedule now. And I got a new tablet over the holiday break, so hopefully I'll be going through e-galleys and comics a little faster now that I've got a bigger screen to read them on.

Reviews going up this week will feature The Hazel Wood by Melissa Albert (Tuesday, plus a special blog tour post!) and Let's Talk About Love by Claire Kann (Friday). :)

Bought/borrowed/received:
All Summer Long by Hope Larson (e-galley from First Second Books through NetGalley)
The Witch Boy by Molly Knox Ostertag (borrowed from the library)
Unearthed by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (borrowed from the library)

Me on The True Queen

Title: The True Queen
Author: Sarah Fine
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers)

Now that Ansa knows she is the destined queen of Kupari, she is desperate to find a permanent home for her people, the Kriegere, in the Kupari lands. But as the small band of warriors crosses into the foreign territory, Ansa loses her fragile grip on her newly-acquired—and violent—fire and ice magic and puts everyone, including her love Thyra, in danger. Inside the walls of Kupari, Elli maintains the facade that she is the magical queen, with her secret—that she has no magic at all—on the brink of exposure every day. But as she tries to prepare the citizens to protect themselves from another invasion, unrest spreads as wielders like her beloved Oskar begin to lose control of their powers. As Kupari grows increasingly unstable, with the land literally crumbling beneath their feet, and a common enemy once again threatening everything, these two young women on a collision course with destiny must find a way to save the realm and their people from total destruction.

The True Queen is a conclusion, an ending for multiple journeys. It's a coming together of magic, of different people, and of danger. It's Elli and Ansa finally coming together, magic and balance reunited, but with the land tearing itself apart, they may not have long.

Ansa is on her way back to Kupari. The land of her birth, the land she was taken from. The land that's desperate for her to return as the Valtia, but she worries. Worries about her magic, about how to control it in order to keep her people and Thyra safe. Thyra has faith in her, but Ansa isn't so sure. Elli is struggling to keep things calm in Kupari, in a city that believes her to be their magical saviour when she isn't. When the ground starts moving, when fire and ice wielders begin to lose control, she's at a loss. She can only hope that the Valtia will come to them, will help restore the magic. But danger is always waiting for its time to strike.

What happens in this book are multiple struggles, for survival, for power, and for control. Both Ansa and Elli will do whatever it takes to keep the land whole, to keep everyone alive, to keep everyone they care about alive. But the land is making its demands. This was certainly a conclusion that didn't pull its punches, that made impossible demands of the characters. I don't know if it made me happy, but I do think it made sense in terms of the overall story. Hard choices have to be made.

(I borrowed a copy of this title from the library.)

Me on Waiting on Wednesday (362)

Waiting on Wednesday is a bunch of weekly fun hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Title: The Reckless Rescue
Author: Adrienne Kress
Release Date: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (Random House imprint)

From Goodreads:

More mystery, more bravery, more danger, and one amazingly reckless rescue await in the second book in the Explorers series! The perfect read for fans of The Name of This Book Is a Secret and The Mysterious Benedict Society!

Reader! Your attention is greatly needed. We have left things unresolved! What began as your average story of a boy stumbling upon a pig in a teeny hat and a secret international explorers society has turned into an adventure of epic proportions.

* The bad news: The boy (Sebastian) has been kidnapped by a trio of troublesome thugs.
* The good news: His new friend Evie has promised to rescue him!
* The bad news: Sebastian has been taken halfway around the world.
* The good news: Evie has famous explorer and former Filipendulous Five member Catherine Lind at her side!
* The bad news: There's still the whole matter of Evie's grandfather (and the leader of the Filipendulous Five) somewhere out there in grave danger.
* The good news: Pursuing Sebastian will lead Evie and Catherine to another member of the Filipendulous Five, who might be able to help!

This missive is a call to action and an invitation to join in mystery, bravery, and danger. There will be new people to meet, new places to see, and some dancing along the way. And one amazingly reckless rescue.

I recently read the first book and was instantly hooked. I love middle grade series full of adventures and puzzles, they don't talk down to their young readers. So if you have middle grade readers looking for something new to read because they just finished books like The Mysterious Benedict Society or Chasing Vermeer, then give them these books.

Me on This Week's Book Week (291)

This Week's Book Week is rather similar to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews only with far more rambling and a less witty title. ;)

Reviews going up this week will feature  The True Queen by Sarah Fine (Friday). Sorry about the lack of Tuesday's review, everyone. Feeling sick then feeling weird means not a lot of reading done. :)

Bought/borrowed/received:
Lumberjanes: The Moon is Up by Mariko Tamaki & Brooklyn Allen (e-galley from Amulet Books through NetGalley)
The True Queen by Sarah Fine (borrowed from the library)
This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada (borrowed from the library)

Me on The Door in the Alley

Title: The Door in the Alley
Author: Adrienne Kress
Release Date: April 25, 2017
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers (Random House imprint)

Knock once if you can find it but only members are allowed inside. This is one of those stories that start with a pig in a teeny hat. It's not the one you're thinking about. (This story is way better than that one.) This pig-in-a-teeny-hat story starts when a very uninquisitive boy stumbles upon a very mysterious society. After that, there is danger and adventure; there are missing persons, hired thugs, a hidden box, a lost map, and famous explorers; and there is a girl looking for help that only uninquisitive boys can offer.

The Door in the Alley is humourous and exciting, a journey It's a curious mystery surrounding a secret society and their mission to explore, and a small group that was once cast out.

Sebastian is a very smart young man. He's studious, logical, and loves to have everything planned out. Because logic is the way to go. But then a little pig in a teeny hat wanders into his life and he discovers The Explorers Society. And it unnerves him in a way. It makes him want to know more, know what they explore and what lies beyond their front door. Even though it doesn't quite make sense to him. Logically. Evie is a lonely young girl. Orphaned because of a terrible accident, she's left without anyone to care about her, to love her and support her. She just wants somewhere to belong. One night, after a sudden attack and narrow escape, she's given a letter and sent to a place that might be able to help her. A place called The Explorers Society. It's there she's ignored, there she meets Sebastian, and there she learns she might still have family somewhere. And so the two of them join together to uncover their whereabouts, but they're not the only ones looking.

This was part adventure, part puzzle-solving, and part kids figuring out the world around them. I found myself laughing so much, at the introduction of the pig in the teeny hat, at so many things Sebastian discovers while tidying the inside of the Society building. It reminded me of books like Chasing Vermeer and The Shadow Cipher but faster paced and a little more light-hearted. I would definitely recommend this to those looking for adventurous middle grade books like the ones previously mentioned.

(I borrowed an e-book copy of this title from the library.)

Me on Waiting on Wednesday (361)

Waiting on Wednesday is a bunch of weekly fun hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Title: Defy the Worlds
Author: Claudia Gray
Release Date: April 3, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette Book Group imprint)

From Goodreads:

Noemi Vidal has returned to her planet, Genesis, as an outsider. Ostracized for refusing to sacrifice Abel, the galaxy's most advanced mechanical man, she dreams of traveling through the stars one more time. And when a deadly plague arrives on Genesis, Noemi gets her chance. As the only soldier to have ever left the planet, it will be up to her to save its people...if only she wasn't flying right into a trap.

Abel, now fully aware of his soul and captaining his own ship, never thought he'd get to see Noemi again, not when the entire universe stands between them. But when his creator, Burton Mansfield, delivers news of Noemi's capture, Abel must go to her, no matter the cost.

In a race against time, Abel and Noemi band together to stop Mansfield once and for all. The depraved scientist has engineered a way to achieve immortality, but that technology comes with perils of its own. Abel and Noemi are about to discover a secret that could save Genesis and Earth...or destroy them all.

I read Defy the Stars last year and love it. It was the right kind of deep space race against time sci-fi I was looking for. It was tense and complicated in the right places.

Me on Shadow Weaver

Title: Shadow Weaver
Author: MarcyKate Connolly
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Jabberwocky

Emmeline has grown up with a gift. Since the time she was a baby she has been able to control shadows. And her only friend and companion is her own shadow, Dar. Disaster strikes when a noble family visits their home and offers to take Emmeline away and cure her of magic. Desperate not to lose her shadows, she turns to Dar who proposes a deal: Dar will change the noble's mind, if Emmeline will help her become flesh as she once was. Emmeline agrees but the next morning the man in charge is in a coma and all that the witness saw was a long shadow with no one nearby to cast it. Scared to face punishment, Emmeline and Dar run away. With the noble's guards on her trail, Emmeline's only hope of clearing her name is to escape capture and perform the ritual that will set Dar free. But Emmeline's not sure she can trust Dar anymore, and it's hard to keep secrets from someone who can never leave your side.

Shadow Weaver is a twisty tale of friendship, of truths and lies, of magic and secrets.

Emmeline is a lonely girl. Because of her shadow magic, her ability to control and shape the shadows around her, there are a lot of people who avoid her. Fear her. As she wants to be liked by them, she's told she doesn't need them by her own shadow named Dar. Dar has always been with Emmeline, she'll protect Emmeline and keep them together. They need each other. But then someone comes to Emmeline's house talking about a cure, about separating her from her magic, and Dar pushes her to leave. Then comes a journey away from home and towards possibly learning the truth about Dar, about why she's not exactly like the other shadows. About why she speaks of freeing herself from Emmeline.

It's slightly similar to the author's previous middle grade books, mysterious and magical but set in a wholly new fantasy land. This felt slightly eerier, though. A little more darker and dangerous, a little more duplicitous. There was a time or two when I found Emmeline rather naive when it came to Dar's insistence and bizarre requests, but that was on me. Looking at Emmeline, at a lonely girl who's only ever had one consistent person in her life that cared about her and played with her, when that person was Dar, why wouldn't Emmeline trust her more than other people? I would recommend this to middle grade readers who are looking for more fantasy stories.

(I received an advance copy of this title from Raincoast Books.)

Me on This Week's Book Week (290)

This Week's Book Week is rather similar to Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga's Reviews only with far more rambling and a less witty title. ;)

Hello! One good thing about this winter is that it hasn't been as snowy or depressing as it was last year.

I keep thinking I'm missing out on a bunch of books coming out this year, so everyone comment with what you're looking forward to. I think my reading's gone down over the past few years and I'm not sure why, if it's because I've missed out on books or because there aren't as many coming out that interests me anymore.

It's middle grade week next week! Reviews going up will feature Shadow Weaver by MarcyKate Connolly (Tuesday) and Warrior Genius by Michael Dante DiMartino (Friday). :)

Bought/borrowed/received:
Before the Devil Breaks You by Libba Bray (e-book borrowed from the library)

Me on Before I Let Go

Title: Before I Let Go
Author: Marieke Nijkamp
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Best friends Corey and Kyra were inseparable in their snow-covered town of Lost Creek, Alaska. When Corey moves away, she makes Kyra promise to stay strong during the long, dark winter, and wait for her return. Just days before Corey is to return home to visit, Kyra dies. Corey is devastated―and confused. The entire Lost community speaks in hushed tones about the town's lost daughter, saying her death was meant to be. And they push Corey away like she's a stranger. Corey knows something is wrong. With every hour, her suspicion grows. Lost is keeping secrets―chilling secrets. But piecing together the truth about what happened to her best friend may prove as difficult as lighting the sky in an Alaskan winter...

Before I Let Go is haunting and eerie. It's a complicated story about life and loss, about hidden truths in small towns, and about coming and going. Leaving and returning. What's left behind and what's lost.

After the sudden news of her best friend's death, Corey is left confused and alone. Worried. Something must have happened. She knows Kyra, she knows that Kyra would've wanted to see her when Corey returned. And so she continues her trip back to Lost Creek, Alaska, to find out what happened to Kyra and to say good-bye. But the town feels different than she remembers. Everyone's a bit more closed off than she remembers. And everyone is mourning Kyra. Nothing is what Corey expected to find and she's determined to discover the cause of Kyra's death and the town's change of heart.

There's a lot said in this book about the different ways we're seen by the people around us, those close and those not so close. To Corey, Kyra is so much. She's creative, bold, open, troubled. In need of support, looking for a way out of Lost Creek so she can get the help she needs. They're best friends. Corey will always care about Kyra, she'll want what Kyra wants. To the town, at first she's a bother. She's unhinged. They don't know how to deal with first her bipolar diagnosis and later her moods, her swings from being manic to being depressed. She isn't like everyone else, and they don't know what to do. Later on, Kyra becomes something more. Something used to serve their needs instead of her own. More of a thing than a person that needs help and support.

This is definitely a serious book told in different parts, through Corey's return to Lost, Kyra's unsent letters, and the town's own view of itself. I would recommend this to fans of mysteries and and thrillers, small towns with potentially dangerous secrets.

(I received an e-galley of this title to review from Sourcebooks through NetGalley.)

Me on Waiting on Wednesday (360)

Waiting on Wednesday is a bunch of weekly fun hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. :)

Title: The Queens of Innis Lear
Author: Tessa Gratton
Release Date: March 27, 2018
Publisher: Tor Books

From Goodreads:

A kingdom at risk, a crown divided, a family drenched in blood.

The erratic decisions of a prophecy-obsessed king have drained Innis Lear of its wild magic, leaving behind a trail of barren crops and despondent subjects. Enemy nations circle the once-bountiful isle, sensing its growing vulnerability, hungry to control the ideal port for all trade routes.

The king's three daughters—battle-hungry Gaela, master manipulator Reagan, and restrained, starblessed Elia—know the realm's only chance of resurrection is to crown a new sovereign, proving a strong hand can resurrect magic and defend itself. But their father will not choose an heir until the longest night of the year, when prophecies align and a poison ritual can be enacted.

Refusing to leave their future in the hands of blind faith, the daughters of Innis Lear prepare for war—but regardless of who wins the crown, the shores of Innis will weep the blood of a house divided.

Not strictly YA but AHHHH MORE TESSA GRATTON BOOKS!!!!

Me on The Cruel Prince

Title: The Cruel Prince
Author: Holly Black
Release Date: January 2, 2018
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers (Hachette Book Group imprint)

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King. To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences. In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.

The Cruel Prince is dark and cruel, set in a dangerous world of secrets and plots, but one human girl is willing to risk everything in order to carve out a place of her own. Because even though she hates them, she wants so desperately to fit in.

Jude, once a stolen child, is now a young woman of certain strengths and angers. Anger at the teasing and humiliation she is subjected to day after day. Being a human in Faerie, she's vulnerable to their magic, the suggestive and possibly deadly effects of their food and drink. Their unearthly beauty and their manipulative charm. Growing up there made her hard, made her suspicious of their teasing and tricks and fickle natures. But even after ten years of teasing, of resenting their strengths and her human weaknesses, of their disgust of her, Jude still wants a place there. She still wants to belong there.

I do think this book says a lot about strengths and weaknesses, fragility, cunning and manipulation. About the desire for not only power but respect, and the lengths some go to in order to be king of the mountain. The skeletons hidden in the back of the closet. Looking at what Jude goes through, the discrimination and the assaults, the different ways she has to protect herself from faerie magic, the number of times she lies and gets away with it, her rise to status and power must be far different from theirs. Knowing how this book ends, I'm definitely curious as to where the next one will go, what will happen next to Jude.

(I received an e-galley of this title from Hachette Book Group Canada.)