Cruel Beauty By Rosamund Hodge

"Betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, Nyx has always known that her fate was to marry him, kill him, and free her people from his tyranny. But on her seventeenth birthday when she moves into his castle high on the kingdom's mountaintop, nothing is what she expected—particularly her charming and beguiling new husband. Nyx knows she must save her homeland at all costs, yet she can't resist the pull of her sworn enemy—who's gotten in her way by stealing her heart."

I had not planned on reading this book, I am in a middle of finishing another book, but had forgot it at home and all I had was my Tablet with me so I started reading on my Kindle App. And I must say and I am so glad that I did. Now I must say that I am always a little partial to books that are based on fairy tales, especially when it is my favorite, (Beauty and the Beast! <3) With saying that though I am also more apt to be more critical on how the author stayed to the original story while making it their own. 
I must say that Hodge did an exceptional job at it. This was the same story that I know and love, but also something knew that I have not seen before. Hodge was able to successfully blend an age old french fairy tale with Greek mythology as if they where always meant to be blended! I honestly have not complaints about the book other than I had two sleepless nights because I couldn't but it down! 
Great if you are looking for adventure, sacrifices, unwanted love, curses, and much more.
I am giving it a five out of five stars! 

Grim edited by Christine Johnson

"Johnson’s anthology of retold fairy tales, most based on Grimm, should be wildly popular as the 17 authors include such well-known names as Ellen Hopkins, Julie Kagawa, Amanda Hocking, and Malinda Lo. Many authors bring the tone and focus back to the original Grimm tales, and graphic gore abounds. Sometimes the violence feels gratuitous, but often it’s completely appropriate. Rachel Hawkins’ opening story sets Bluebeard in a trailer park, with truly creepy foreshadowing from the heroine’s alcoholic mother. Jon Skovron’s “Raven Princess” has delightful contemporary touches, such as a same-sex giant couple rearing an infant, and a Shrek-like ending. Readers are bound to like some stories more than others, but the diversity of tone and treatment should please most fans of the genre. For many of the authors, the retold fairy tale is something new to their body of work. Hopefully, readers drawn by Ellen Hopkins’ novels on contemporary issues will discover the appeal and relevance of “tales as old as time,” such as Sarah Rees Brennan’s charming treatment of Beauty and the Beast."

If you may have noticed I love fairy tales, and the retelling of them. So as you may guess I really enjoyed this anthology. I have not read many books containing short stories, but after Grim I am going to be keeping my eye out for more of them. The authors that she chose to write did a great job retelling the Grimm fairy tales, so that you could still know which one you were reading. There was only one that was retold, that also happened to not be a fairy tale that the Grimm brothers wrote, Beauty and the beast. I did not mind this though, because it also happens to be my all time favorite fairy tale. 

Now to the stories themselves. While I enjoyed them all there were some that I liked more than others. Each had their own 'darkness' to them, but some did a better retelling them then others. While one story may be very similar to the original, even in the language they used to write it, others changed them so much that it was almost like reading a different story. I am not saying it was a bad thing, but I did need to look up which story they were trying to portray. There were even some stories that the author could easily take and turn it into a full novel if they wanted to , and I would defiantly go out and buy it.

So if you like reading a variety of different writing styles, and romances that are dark and a little twisted in some cases, then defiantly give this a read. I give this a four out of five stars. 

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce

"As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past-- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone-- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen it's next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry."

I was so excited to get my hands on this book! I have read Pearce's other book Sister's Red and loved it, and when I saw this one at the local bookstore and I had the money to by it I was so pumped! Pearce has done it again, another retelling of the fairy tale, and does a great job at it. If you did not guess the story she chose to retell was Hansel and Gretel. While the original fairy tale is not one of my favorites, Sweetly has now become one of the books that I will not mind picking up again in the future. 

Again she writes about strong female leads, who have not choice but to save the day. With some help from the brooding town "rebel". She does a great job, not only having the characters fall in love, but also the reader falling in love with the characters. She also shows the love that is among siblings, and the ways that that love is tested. With saying that, it is not all mushy lovey, dovey and is open for many readers.

If you are looking for a read that has mystery, love, monsters, suspense, and action this is a great book for you. I give it a five out of five stars!

Thornyhold by Mary Stewart

"During Gilly Ramsey’s lonely childhood, the occasional brief visits of her mother’s cousin were a delight, seeming like visits of a fairy godmother. Years later, when Gilly inherits Thornyhold, her house, she discovers that her cousin, with her still room and herbalist practices—and her undoubted powers—had long been known to the locals as a witch. She is approached by neighbors, some innocent, some not so innocent, but all assuming that she, too, is a witch, and a possible addition to the local coven. Gilly finds there is some truth in this, for she discovers that she can call on a kind of power in difficult moments. This wonderful novel from bestselling author Mary Stewart is delicate in its perception of a young woman’s falling in love, delightful in its portrayal of the English countryside, and skilled in its creation of a world full of magic."

I was skeptical about this book when I first picked it up. I usually do not read older novels, but I liked the premise of this book and was ready to tackle it. It did start off sort of slowly, setting the scene for which make life for Gilly at Thornyhold so different than what she previously knew. As I reached half way through the book I still did not know which way the story was heading. Was it a mystery, a witch hunt, or something else. Mart Stewart did make me feel connected to the characters and I was able to sympathize with them. As for the romance of the book, it took awhile before you realize who was going to become an item. When you do finally figure it out, the book ends fairly quickly. And I do not mean in a good. Stewart took such a long time to lead up to this point and then ended it to short. There were many ways to end, but it felt rushed as though she had run out of time to write and just ended it. With saying this I did enjoy it, but wish I had more. 

I rate this book a three out of five stars.

Fated by S.G. Browne

"Over the past few thousand years, Fabio has come to hate his job. As Fate, he's in charge of assigning the fortunes and misfortunes that befall most of the human race-the 83% who keep screwing things up.

Frustrated with his endless parade of drug addicts and career politicians, Fate has to watch Destiny guide her people to Nobel Peace Prizes and Super Bowl MVPs. To make matters worse, he has a five- hundred-year-old feud with Death, and his best friends are Sloth and Gluttony. And worst of all? He's fallen in love with a human.

Getting involved with a human breaks Rule #1, and about ten others, setting off some cosmic-sized repercussions that could strip him of his immortality-or lead to a fate worse than death."

I was excited to read this book. I thought it was going to be funny and have a lovey dovey ending. I was, of course, wrong. While it did have humor in it, it was at the expense of religious doctrines. (Now I know some people reading this may not be religious and find it humorous, but I am and did not.) But overlooking this, it was an alright, book. What really ruined it for me was the ending. I was hoping for a more stereotypical ending, but did not receive one. So props to S.G. Browne on writing a “creative” ending, but I was so out there for me that it really ruined the story for me. But if you are looking for a humorous book with a surprise ending than you may like it. 

I on the other hand am giving this book a two out of five stars.

Crooked by Laura and Tom McNeal

"

Clara Wilson and Amos MacKenzie are finding their lives turned upside down: by each other, by fickle friendships, by failing families, and by the two meanest brothers in town. As the pressures of high school and home life collide, Clara and Amos struggle to maintain their identities amid the chaos. Honesty may be the answer...but it can be awfully hard to find."

I have not read many, what I call, "Teen" novels. By "Teen" I mean fiction books about life as an average teenager when something out of the norm happens, and I am not talking about meeting vampires and falling in love with the supernatural world. Just regular people that completely possible, although sometimes bad, things happen to them. This is one of those books, and I was impressed by it. I really could not put the book down. I mean I was reading it while waiting for the Super Bowl Commercials to come on. (Yes, that means I was reading it while the game was in play.) I connected with the characters, and wanted the best out come for them. Even though at some points I did not know what the outcome would be. Because in all honesty I cannot remember the last book that I read that the ending was not what I wanted it to be. 


I will always applaud authors who collaborate to write a novel. Especially husband and wife (ditto to him for letting his wife's name be first!! :} ) I have tried writing with others and it is not the easiest thing in the world, or the next easiest, or the next easiest after that! I would probably read this book again, but maybe in a few years or so.

So after all of that I am giving this book a 4 out of five stars.

Singer of All Songs by Kate Constable

"Calwyn has never been beyond the high ice-wall that guards the sisters of Antaris from the world of Tremaris. She knows only the rounds of her life as a novice ice priestess, tending her bees, singing her ice chantments, and dreaming. 

But then Calwyn befriends Darrow, a mysterious Outlander who appears inside the Wall and warns of an approaching danger. To help Darrow, to see the world, and perhaps to save it, Calwyn will leave the safety of the Wall for a journey with a man she barely knows--and an adventure as beautiful and dangerous as the music of chantment itself."

I really enjoyed this book. It kind of suprised me. It was not a hard read, and I was 

ingrossed  in the story line very quickly. It has a good adventure and not much lovey dovey 

stuff in it. (So it would make it a good read for boys too!) It is a trilogy, but this book really 

can stand on its own. This is the authors first book and you really cannot tell it is. I have 

read first novels before and it would be painfully obvious that it is. But this one you could 

not, which I really liked.

I give this book a three out of five stars.

The Accomplice by Kathryn Heyman

"This is the story of one of the most shocking events of the seventeenth century: the wreck of a Dutch ship, the Batavia, off the west coast of Australia, and the extraordinary events that befell its stranded survivors. It is also the story of Judith Bastiaansz, sailing with her family to a new life, who is caught up in something well beyond her experience: first infatuation and then, perhaps, something far more dangerous. Combining a gripping narrative with vivid historical detail, this is a beautiful, terrifying, deeply moving novel of love and anarchy. "

 I bought this book a while ago, and at the time I was really into reading Historical Fictions. So after reading the back of the book I thought that this was going to be great. But again I judged the book by the cover, and was wrong. Firstly, it took forever for the story to start. I was pushing ,myself to read and become engaged in it for the first hundred pages or so. Now this a, what I call average, average size book. So I was close to half way through it before I really started to be interested in what was happening.  The second thing was that, in the beginning, she keeps jumping from the past to the present without any explanation. So you are left floundering to figure out at what time the story is taken place in. This just contributed to the hardship it was to get into the book. I wanted the main character to have a stronger presence, but did not get what I wanted. I felt she was a meek character, and although she did survive the hardships in the story, she did not become a stronger person or really grow. She stayed the same. I was disappointed in this book, and did have to force myself to read to the end.

I give this book a one out of five.