Review: Love Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

Love Hate & Other Filters by Samira Ahmed

• Pub. Date: January 16, 2018
• Publisher: Soho Teen
• Pages: 281
• Rating:4.5/5
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A searing #OwnVoices coming-of-age debut in which an Indian-American Muslim teen confronts Islamophobia and a reality she can neither explain nor escape--perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Jacqueline Woodson, and Adam Silvera.

American-born seventeen-year-old Maya Aziz is torn between worlds. There’s the proper one her parents expect for their good Indian daughter: attending a college close to their suburban Chicago home, and being paired off with an older Muslim boy her mom deems “suitable.” And then there is the world of her dreams: going to film school and living in New York City—and maybe (just maybe) pursuing a boy she’s known from afar since grade school, a boy who’s finally falling into her orbit at school.

There’s also the real world, beyond Maya’s control. In the aftermath of a horrific crime perpetrated hundreds of miles away, her life is turned upside down. The community she’s known since birth becomes unrecognizable; neighbors and classmates alike are consumed with fear, bigotry, and hatred. Ultimately, Maya must find the strength within to determine where she truly belongs. 

Review: I knew the moment I saw Love Hate & Other Filters I had to have it. Even though I am not Muslim I was an Indian-American teenager growing up during the time when 9/11 happened and I had quite a few  Muslim Indian-American friends as well whom I saw having to deal with the backlash that came after the terrorist act along with people who weren't Muslim but looked a certain way. All I have to say is that Samira Ahmed did this book justice with the powerful and bold story she told about Maya Aziz and  Love Hate & Other Filters is a very important read especially with all that is going on in our society.

I adored Maya she is stuck between wanting to live her life and the life her parents want for her. It was surreal how well I could relate to her. Maya was a very strong character that you can't help but love and respect, she knows what she wants out of life and wasn't about to compromise on her dreams. In the midst of trying to figure her future out Maya, being the only Indian-American Muslim girl in her school also had to deal with a lot of racism and stereotypes and damn it if my heart did not feel for her. It was so gut-wrenching to see everything that she went through while also bringing up personal memories for me as well.

One thing I wasn't a fan of was the romance and in this case the unnecessary love triangle, I really wasn't feeling it at all. I liked the guy she ended up with but felt the book focused too much time on the romance.

Samira Ahmed has written a riveting coming of age tale about a girl growing up in a world where she has to fight for her right to live her dreams and it is a must-read. I also feel Love Hate & Other Filters will be a great conversation starter as well.

Review: Beyond A Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake

Beyond A Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake

• Pub. Date: April 10, 2018
• Publisher: Harper Teen
• Pages: 384
• Rating:4.5/5
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The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, Princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn’s kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores.

The people of Mide have thankfully always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately, a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn, but the entire world.

Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle the two might have a chance to save their world.

With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love…even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.

Review: Beyond A Darkened Shore surprised me, maybe it's because I didn't have any expectations going in for the novel, I just knew it had a breathtaking cover and I wanted to read it. This book is not just a pretty cover, inside the pages is an epic fantasy filled with magic, Norse and Irish mythology, undead armies, monsters, love and loss along with characters you will come to love or love to hate. I'd say it's pretty damn amazing. 

Any epic fantasy read needs to have phenomenal world building and Jessica Leake nailed it. She knows how to create a world that pulls its readers in, as I was reading the final page it was bittersweet because I didn't want to leave Ciara and Leif and the magical world of Beyond a Darkened Shore.

I don't think there was a dull moment in the book, not even a few pages in and we are thrust into a raid on Ciara's village and that is where she meets Leif, kind of. More like they are enemies and she kicks his ass and takes him prisoner. The two of them realize rather quickly there is something bigger than any threat the two of them could be to each other and so the two put their differences aside and go on a journey to save the world. I loved everything about Ciara and Leif, the slow burn romance, their loyalty and fierceness and most of all what was admirable was their love for their siblings. It was impossible not to root for them.

The reason I gave this 4.5 stars and not the full 5 is because I wish we got to know more about the villains. There were some hints that there was more to them than just these evil creatures but it was never really explored and I love complex villains, so they were a little one-sided for me.

I was thrilled that this was a standalone but at the same time I'm not too happy about it because I feel there is so much more left to explore in this world, so I'm crossing my fingers that maybe there will be other books if not revolved around Ciara and Leif, maybe other characters in the same world.

Overall, I highly recommend Beyond A Darkened Shore especially to all my Fantasy lovers, it is a must-read, and I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for us because she is definitely someone to be excited about.

Review: The Empress by S.J. Kincaid

The Empress by S.J. Kincaid 

• Pub. Date: October 31, 2017
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
• Pages: 378
• Series: The Diabolic #2
• Rating:4.5/5
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It’s a new day in the Empire. Tyrus has ascended to the throne with Nemesis by his side and now they can find a new way forward—one where they don’t have to hide or scheme or kill. One where creatures like Nemesis will be given worth and recognition, where science and information can be shared with everyone and not just the elite.

But having power isn’t the same thing as keeping it, and change isn’t always welcome. The ruling class, the Grandiloquy, has held control over planets and systems for centuries—and they are plotting to stop this teenage Emperor and Nemesis, who is considered nothing more than a creature and certainly not worthy of being Empress.

Nemesis will protect Tyrus at any cost. He is the love of her life, and they are partners in this new beginning. But she cannot protect him by being the killing machine she once was. She will have to prove the humanity that she’s found inside herself to the whole Empire—or she and Tyrus may lose more than just the throne. But if proving her humanity means that she and Tyrus must do inhuman things, is the fight worth the cost of winning it?

Review:  I'm a ball of emotions right now and I don't know what to do with any of it except for the fact I know I need the next book in my hands like yesterday. I am happy to announce The Empress did not in any way suffer the second book syndrome, nope none at all. S.J. Kincaid made sure of that as she ripped my heart in two and damn near gave me a heart attack a few times.

The book picks up a while after the last one ended. Tyrus is now emperor and Nemesis is the new empress to be. Of course, if you read The Diabolic you know many will have issues with a diabolic being their new empress and if you remember the chaos and betrayals and back-stabbing from the first book oh you can bet your last dollar this book does not fall short, in actuality, there was much more scheming and what the f*** moments in The Empress then there ever was in The Diabolic, and The Diabolic had plenty.

Funny thing is The Diabolic was originally a standalone and I was happy with that, I loved how it ended and when I saw The Empress was released and it was the second book in the series I was on the fence of whether I was going to pick it up, honestly I was leaning more towards not, because I was satisfied with The Diabolic and how it was wrapped up and I was afraid that this was just a money grab by the publishers so I was going to stay away, well the book gods had other plans evidently because The Empress showed up at my doorstep and I took it as a sign that I am meant to read it and so I did and I loved the hell out of it and I can't believe I almost passed up on this. Shame on me. So if you are like me and you read the first book but not sure about The Empress, just go now and grab yourself a copy it was pretty effin' epic. Although reader beware the ending will kill you and wanting more. Luckily there is another book which now I will desperately be waiting for, with nervous anticipation.

Review: Pawn by Aimee Carter

Pawn by Aimee Carter

• Pub. Date: November 26, 2013
• Publisher: Harlequin Teen
• Pages:352
• Series:The Blackcoat Rebellion #1
• Goodreads/Amazon/Book Depository

YOU CAN BE A VII IF YOU GIVE EVERYTHING.

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked - surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed, and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

First Line: Risking my life to steal an orange was a stupid thing to do, but today of all days, I didn't care about the consequences.

Review:  Just when I was getting a little tired of reading Dystopian for the lack of originality I've been noticing in the genre ... here comes Pawn by Aimee Carter. I'm almost finished with her Goddess Test series (I have to get my hands on the final book) and really like it so far so of  course I was going to check out Pawn especially with all the glowing must read reviews I kept coming across. Anyways needless to say Pawn did not disappoint it was just full of awesomeness.

Pawn was an electrifying read which was very fast paced full of so many insane twists and moments I just didn't see coming. What I loved the most was the world building and the society that Carter built. It was harsh and so cruel and the fact that Kitty even lived in a world such as that it made it very easy to sympathize with our main character

Kitty Doe is a second child and in her world that means she will never get the chance to know who her parents are since they are only allowed to have one child and the rest have to be given up. At seventeen the teens take a test and based on how high or how low they score that is the quality of life they will have. So when Kitty scores a three she is devastated and decides to take measures into her own hands but one thing she never expected was to wake up masked as Lila Hart one of the most powerful members of their society.

I really liked Kitty, I found her to be very believable. Her reactions to everything that was going on around her was very realistic. What I was so grateful for was there was no love triangle at least for now and hopefully in the future books. Kitty before becoming Lila had a boyfriend whom she loved very much named Benjy and throughout the book she didn't really stray from him ALTHOUGH I was a little worried since Lila is engaged to Knox and there were a couple of moments between the two that made me questions Kitty's feelings a little bit. As for all the secondary characters well lets just say majority of them were manipulative horrible people all with their own personal agendas.

Once Kitty learns about the rebellion that is stirring amongst the people she needs to decide which side of the chess board she will be on. There is a ton of betrayal amongst the powerful family members and so much politics and corruption going on that Kitty eventually figures out the only way to survive is to be strong and not let anyone push her around, which it did take her a minute to get to that point since she was trying to figure out how to go about things while still keeping Benjy safe.

Overall Pawn was an excellent read and I can't wait to see what the second book brings I'm very eager to find out what's going to happen next.

Memorable Quotes:~" I would know something was missing. I would know my life was pointless, even if I never understood why. Even if we'd never met, even if you never existed, I would still love you beyond all reason for the rest of my life."

~ Because above all, I was one person, and all I had was my life. I wasn't going to do anything to give that up again.

Review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

• Pub. Date: May 28, 2013
• Publisher:Harlequin Teen
• Pages:462
• Series: Pushing The Limits #2
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Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

First Line: I'm not interested in second place.

Review: If you have already read Pushing  The Limits you already know about all the hype surrounding Dare You To and the hype is very well deserved. Thanks to a sneak peak first chapter that I read a while back of Dare You To I already knew that this book wasn't going to be a Beth and Isaiah love story but Beth and a new character named Ryan, even then I was still holding out hope that maybe she will end up with Isaiah until about midway through the book when Ryan started to really grow on me and I realized that he is what Beth needs, someone to take a hold on her and wrench her out of the downward spiral that is her life.

I knew I was going to like Beth from the very beginning even though there were moments when I just wished I could knock some sense into her because of her stupid decisions such as taking the blame for her drug addicted mom and trying to help her when clearly she didn't care for any help. The girl is broken badly, she comes from a messed up situation and the worst of it is she has lost all hope herself for anything better. There were so many times when she just broke my heart and when it comes down to it I found myself really rooting for her and wanting better for her.

Now Ryan took some getting used to. One because well he wasn't Isaiah and two because in the beginning he just seemed immature especially with the whole dare that started it all. Well needless to say I misjudged Ryan, he comes from a dysfunctional family, his family gives off the image of the perfect family but it's far from it. Not to mention I did feel his character grew a lot and I found myself thinking how awesome he is about midway. All I know is by the end of the book I got why Ryan was what Beth needed.

Overall this was an excellent read. Katie McGarry did it again creating an emotional roller coaster of a book with characters that were very realistic. 

Memorable Quotes: ~ "A muscle near my eye ticks. On rare occasions, bunnies can develop rabies, and Scott did warn me she was rough around the edges. He failed to mention that razor blades are her softest layer."

"A silver of hope sneaks past my walls and I slam every opening shut. Emotion is evil. People who make me feel are worse. I take comfort in the stone inside of me. If I don't feel, I don't hurt."

"...I'd love to kiss her right now. Not the type of kiss that makes her body come alive. The type of kiss that shows her how much I care - the type that involves my soul."

Review: Renegade by J.A. Souders

Renegade by J.A. Souders

• Pub. Date: November 13, 2012
• Publisher:Tor Teen
• Pages:364
• Series: The Elysium Chronicles #1
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Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.

But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. 

Her memories have been altered. 

Her mind and body aren’t under her own control. 

And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.

Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

First Line: My life is just about perfect.

Review: This gorgeous  cover is so deceptive, I don't know what I was expecting but it definitely wasn't the terrifying world which was created inside the pages of this book.

So we have Elysium which is this underwater utopia ruled by one called Mother, if that isn't twisted enough there is Evie who is considered the daughter of the people and is being trained to take over after Mother, only thing is the Evie we first meet is the conditioned, brainwashed Evie one who doesn't have any recollection of her past and who she really is. Then there are all the brainwashed people who reside in Elysium and let someone not fit the mold of what Mother expects ...they end up "disappearing".

What I loved the most about Renegade was that it wasn't predictable. I thought I knew what was going to happen but when you have a character such as Mother who is one of the most manipulative characters I've read about in a while things are not always what you expect.

As for Evie at first I didn't really care much for her but once she started snapping out of her conditioning I grew to like her a lot. Lets just say she goes from being kind of boring to a complete bad-ass.  As for Gavin he was a loyal decent guy but I don't know he just didn't take my breath away or anything like that.

Overall if you love dystopian reads or just have the sudden curiosity to read about a underwater world which involves mind control and other horrific ways of controlling the mass population then check out Renegade.

Memorable Quotes: ~ "They're erasing your past! How can you even know who you are, if you can't remember who you've been?"

~ "So many memories. So much lost. So much to regain...again."

Mini Review: Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

• Pub. Date: May 10, 2011
• Publisher:Henry Holt
• Pages:322
• Series: Ruby Red #1
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Gwyneth Shepherd's sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyneth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon--the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time, less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

First Line: As she fell to her knees and burst into tears, he looked all around the park.

Review: I liked Gwyneth's character she just wanted to be a normal teenager and wasn't the least bit excited about learning she was the Ruby. Gideon at times was arrogant and it took me some time to warm up to his character. As far as the romance between the two I liked there was no instant love but the romance just happened too fast.

My favorite part of the book was the actual time traveling.  I really enjoyed reading about the time periods they traveled to and how well the author described it. It was especially fun learning about the clothes they wore in each of their travels.

Overall the book was unputdownable. The pacing was great the plot was interesting at times a little predictable but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. And what I liked the most was we learned a lot of things right along with the characters.

Mini Review: The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

• Pub. Date: February 22, 2011
• Publisher: Random House Children's Books
• Pages:512
• Series: Iron Codex #1
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      In the city of Lovecraft, the Proctors rule and a great Engine turns below the streets, grinding any resistance to their order to dust. The necrovirus is blamed for Lovecraft's epidemic of madness, for the strange and eldritch creatures that roam the streets after dark, and for everything that the city leaders deem Heretical—born of the belief in magic and witchcraft. And for Aoife Grayson, her time is growing shorter by the day.

     Aoife Grayson's family is unique, in the worst way—every one of them, including her mother and her elder brother Conrad, has gone mad on their 16th birthday. And now, a ward of the state, and one of the only female students at the School of Engines, she is trying to pretend that her fate can be different.

First Line: There are seventeen madhouses in the city of Lovecraft.

Review: I really need to read more steampunk because I really enjoyed The Iron Thorn. Now it did take me a few chapters to get fully sucked into the story since I felt it started off a little slow but once things took off and all these crazy twists kept being thrown in and people not being who you think they are ... well I was totally invested in the book.

The romance scenes could have been done more better they were a little lackluster but the characters Aoife ( I still am not sure how to pronounce that), Dean and Cal were all very intriguing. I loved Dean because of how strong of a character he was and then there was Cal who is Aoife's best friend and was a total surprise in many ways. And then Aoife who was just as strong of a character as her male counterpart Dean. The girl had balls and was not afraid of a little adventure.

Overall the world building was done very well and quite unique. I found this to be an enjoyable read and will be picking up the next book soon.

Review: And For Your Information by Denise Deegan

And For Your Information by Denise Deegan

• Pub. Date: August 25, 2011
• Publisher: Hatchette Books Ireland
• Pages:416
• Series: Butterfly #2
• Goodreads/Amazon/Book Depository

Everyone thinks they know who I am - ditzy Sarah, who cares more about appearances than she does about anything real. And yeah, I do care about what people think of me. 

Take my friends Alex and Rachel. We all go to Strandbrook College, Dublin. We're supposed to be best friends. But Alex and Rachel - they're really close. They tell each other things that they would never tell me. I try not to mind.

And then there's Simon. He's my sort-of boyfriend but we hardly see each other. And when we do, I feel like he doesn't really 'see' me, you know?

Everything's such a mess right now. My dad left us to be with Her; my mum is really angry all the time; and my brother Louis, he just doesn't care. 

I guess that's why the shoplifting started. It makes me feel good. In control.

I just want everything to change. And it does. The day I got caught . . .

First Line: We're sitting at the sushi counter in Dundrum.

Review: When I saw the second in Deegan's Butterfly series was going to be about Sarah I wasn't the most excited to read it because I had her pegged out to be air headed and annoying so when I found myself loving her character in And For Your Information I was pleasantly surprised. I wasn't expecting such a heart rendering novel but Deegan is an amazing writer so shame on me for pre-judging this novel.

I wasn't expecting a novel that would practically bring tears to my eyes, I mean in no way would you think this was anything like a Nicholas Sparks novel by the cover or the blurb but it is and that is saying something. Shane was unexpected, the blurb has no mention of him so he was a total surprise. He really helps Sarah grow as a person and plays such a powerful role in her life I can definitely say he is an unforgettable character.

If you have read the first book you know it was about Alex, and even though the book is mainly centered  around Sarah we still get to find out how things are turning out with Alex via Sarah's point of view and I am just going to say things are not what I imagined it would be for Alex, it seems she still has to find her happily ever after.

I thought Alex was my favorite but after getting inside Sarah's head and seeing who she really is she has become my favorite so far...since I know for a fact Rachel's story is next and she is still a bit of mystery to me so I can't wait to dive into the next book in the series and then I guess I can make up my mind officially on who is my favorite out of the three friends.

Overall I can't express how much I loved this book and if you haven't started the series I highly recommend you do so.

Memorable Quote:

I start in the kitchen, cleaning up Louis' usual trail of destruction. Then I hoover and mop, feeling like Cinderella. I wonder if that's how Mum feels. No. She's way too angry to ever feel like a Disney character.

Review: Slumber by Samantha Young

Slumber by Samantha Young

• Pub. Date: May 17, 2011
• Publisher: Self Published
• Pages: 350
• Series: The Fade #1
• Amazon/Goodreads

Molded by a tragic childhood, nineteen-year-old Rogan finds it extremely difficult to trust people. Now Haydyn, her best friend and the one person she does trust, is dying and only Rogan can save her.

Setting off on a journey to retrieve the plant that will cure Haydyn and subsequently the ills that will befall them all if she dies, Rogan is stuck in close quarters with a protector she distrusts above all others.

Wolfe Stovia.

The son of the man who destroyed Rogan’s family.

At a constant battle of wills with the handsome Captain of the Guard, Rogan just knows this adventure together will be fraught with tension. She never imagined, however, that the quest would be so dangerous… not least of all when she finds herself falling for a man she could have sworn was her no.1 enemy…

Mature YA fantasy romance (for older readers).

First Line: When I was a child the world smelled of summer.


Review: Have I been under a rock, how is it this is the first time I have come across a Samantha Young book. I was sucked in to the world Young created, and her writing was done so well. Needless to say I'll be adding some more of her books to my kindle.

Rogan witnessed her entire family get violently killed when she was young because of her power, now years later she is the handmaiden and very close friend of Haydyn the princess, but when Haydyn falls ill to a sleeping disease the world in which they live in starts to become pretty chaotic and Rogan is the only being who has the powers to track the one thing that will wake their princess up. So Rogan along with the royal guards and of course the Captain of the Royal Guard Wolfe who also happens to be the son of the man who killed her entire family set out on a journey to find the plant that will save their princess and their world.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for Rogan the beginning of the book which started off so brutally violent sucked me in and then as the story progressed to see how she dealt with being around the son of the man who killed her parents and her little brother was only making me feel for her character even more. Of course Rogan has Wolfe all wrong and he does not take after his father in any way but you can't tell Rogan that for the first half or so of the book. She thinks he is just like him and is plotting his revenge to kill her since because of her, his father eventually was found guilty for his crimes and killed. But boy is she wrong about Wolfe in every way imaginable.

There was some serious tension between the two characters, obviously. But I lived for the moments in which they interacted, things were so heated I couldn't get enough of the two. The relationship was so very complicated between the two especially since Rogan truly does hate Wolfe but it was interesting to see that hate slowly very slowly turn into love throughout their journey.

I also loved the world building. Young created a whole new world called Phaedra and the cities and the people within it with all their magical powers were quite entertaining to read about. And I liked that there was a lot of action in the book also, there was always something going on besides just the development of Rogan and Wolfe's relationship. Overall this is a fast paced read and I highly recommend it.

Memorable Quote

He was the last man in Phaedra I should ever trust, should ever feel anything toward. But those shades of grey just kept creeping in.