The Wonderland Effect ARC Review: Alice

Book: The Wonderland Effect
Author: Robert Arrington
POV: 3rd person by Alice, past tense
Genre: YA fantasy, paranormal

Source: ARC, author (thank you, Robert!)
Pages: 406
Rating: 4 Stars

Blurb: (Goodreads)

Alice Littleton, gifted with the powers of Wonderland, draws a catastrophe down on herself when she tries to use them in aid of a kidnapped child. Now, she and her father are being pursued by a relentless paranormal intent on recruiting other supers- or eliminating potential competition. She finds her way to Prometheus Academy, a new school with a truly empowered student body. When the school comes under attack, Alice must decide whether to run again, or take a stand against the forces threatening her and her new friends. 

                          ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

Wow. I couldn't put this book down! It was captivating!

This book tells the story of Alice Littleton, who, after her 8th birthday, gains the powers of Wonderland. She keeps her powers secret, and uses them to help others. However, when a rescue attempts results in her discovery by a madman, she finds herself on the run. Turns out Alice isn't the only one with powers, and she ends up at Prometheus Academy, a secret school for empowered people like her. It's the perfect place for her, hidden from both the madman and from the general public. But then the school comes under attack, and things get complicated...

Alice, our main character, has an entire arsenal of awesome powers. She can shrink, she can grow, she can fly/glide, she can talk to animals and insects. Not to mention that she can also summon up any character from Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland story for physical company. The Mad Hatter, March Hare, Cheshire Cat, card soldiers, you name it. Not only are these characters their own people, but they too have their own powers, which Alice can use. For example, the Mad Hatter has time manipulation powers. If Alice wants to change the speed of something, all she needs to is summon the Mad Hatter and ask him nicely for a dose of hyper-speed or slow-speed, and bam, it's done. So in a way, though time manipulation is not directly Alice's power, it's still her power in the sense that she's the one who can summon the Hatter in order to gain access to his powers. Pretty cool, huh?

My absolute favorite power that Alice has is her looking-glass. Her looking-glass, which is a large mirror she can summon whenever she wants, enables her to actually travel to Wonderland. It's like her own private world she can retreat to. And to be honest, who wouldn't want a Wonderland all to their selves? Me, being a huge Wonderland fan, would probably spend days in there, scourging the fantastical world. It's literally paradise to me.

Alice isn't the only empowered person we get to see. We get to see bits and pieces of the other students, and how their powers work. May I be the first to say that these powers are also pretty awesome. Robert Arrington has clearly outdone himself, coming up with fantastic powers I'd kill to have for myself!

The main antagonist himself has a pretty wicked power: he can copy other people's powers. I won't go into detail what he does with that, as it'll spoil the story, but just think of all the evil possibilities he can do if he's able to copy numerous powers...

Prometheus Academy itself isn't really your normal school, either. The assignments that are given out are ones that require the students to actually use their powers to solve, and it all involves discreet interactions with the public. We get to see tons of cool powers and solutions at hand!

I'm one of those people who likes to obsess over the idea that there are superheros living among us. This book is a little like X-Men in the sense that everyone has different powers. But at the same time, the plot is completely different than X-Men. It has a fantasy spin to it, which is really refreshing to read. It was no short on action, which pleased me greatly, and the pace was perfect. I would definitely give this a read if you're fans of superheros, a bit of law breaking (both physical laws and government laws), and, of course, if you're a fan of Wonderland. 

This is definitely a new and unique take to Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland story, and I highly recommend it! I really hope there's a sequel, because I would love to read more about this fantastic world!

The Moth in the Mirror Review

Book: The Moth in the Mirror
Author: A. G. Howard
Series: Splintered
Standing: Book 1.5
POV: 3rd person by Morpheus and Jeb, past tense
Genre: YA fantasy

Source: ebook novella
Pages: 40 pages
Rating: 4 stars

Blurb: (Goodreads)
An original ebook-only novella in the Splintered series, told from the points of view of both Jeb and Morpheus. Morpheus wants to know more about his rival for Alyssa's affections, so he digs into Jeb's memories of his time in Wonderland. But he may be surprised by what he finds.

This brand-new story and perspective from A.G. Howard's dark, magical world stands alone, but also provides a tantalizing glimpse of what's to come in Unhinged, the sequel to Splintered. 

                          ✭ ✭ ✭ ✭

One person I can never get enough of is Morpheus. Just the thought of him puts a silly smile on my face.

This ebook tells of Morpheus after Splintered, but it's how Morpheus chooses to experience Jeb's memories during Splintered. We get a look at Morpheus' initial reaction and frustration to Alyssa's love for Jeb, as well as Jeb's dying love for Alyssa.

There are 3 distinct memories that Morpheus visits. We get to see what Jeb goes through between the scenes in Splintered, when he disappears and Alyssa is left alone to be strong and awesome. Some scenes are devastating, but if you've already read the series, then you probably know exactly which event in particular I'm talking about.

I was expecting this to be a bit longer, but I suppose 40 is fair for an ebook novella. The chapters weren't as rich as I wanted them to be, but that's mainly due to the length. I was also hoping there would be more of Morpheus in it, since the title practically screams Morpheus, but oh well. Either way, still a good read, but the actual books are much better in the sense that there's more content, and of course, more Morpheus!

Summer Reader Book Tag

The lovely Caro at Just Another Bookish Blog tagged me to do the Summer Reader Book Tag! Thank you so much, Caro! :)

1. Lemonade: A book that started out bitter but got better.
I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore. It took a while for the exciting stuff to happen, but once it did, I whipped through the book at record speed!

2. Golden Sun: A book that made you smile beyond compare.
Paranormalcy by Kiersten White. Evie's snark and wit had me grinning the entire book!

3. Tropical Flowers: A book set in a foreign country.
Daughter of Smoke & Bone, by Laini Taylor. It's set in Prague, Czech Republic. How's that for foreign?

4. Tree Shade: A book in which a mysterious or shady character is introduced.
In terms of "mysterious," that's practically every paranormal book with a male interest. But I'm going to go with Morpheus, from A. G. Howard's Splintered series. Dark, mysterious, maybe a little shady, as his intents aren't quite clear throughout the book.  But that doesn't make me love him any less.

5. Beach Sand: A book in which the plot was grainy, and just barely developed.
Hmm...there are a few books out there that I did not like, but that doesn't necessarily  mean that the plot wasn't developed. It just wasn't developed to my own personal liking...

6. Green Grass: Pick a character full of life, that made you smile.
Robin Goodfellow (aka Puck) from Julie Kagawa's Iron Fey series. He is lively, full of mischief, and had me laughing out loud with every line he said.

7. Watermelon: A book with juicy secrets.
Gates of Thread and Stone by Lori L. Lee. Because it turns out that everyone has an earth-shattering secret.

8. Sun Hat: Pick a book with a wide universe/setting.
City of Glass by Cassandra Clare. Because we finally get to see Shadowhunters from all over the world converging together! Proof that Institutes are, in fact, everywhere.

9. BBQ: A character that was portrayed as a hunk.
SO MANY CHOICES. I'm going to have to go with Daemon Black, from Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux series. Because right off the bat, everyone knows that he is HOT.

As there are no official tagging rules, I'm tagging anyone who wants to do it! :)

Happy reading, guys!

Crash Review: Miki

5 STARS. 5 STARS. 5 STARS.

This is not a game.
But it is.
To the Committee.

My father and best friend are in the hospital.
Was the accident bad luck?
Or the Committee trying to teach me a lesson?

The Game, glitching and more frequent.
Lizzie, who's supposed to be dead.
The feeling I'm being watched.

More questions than answers.
Nothing is adding up.
I need answers.

My name is Miki Jones.

Book: Crash (Goodreads)
Author: Eve Silver
Series: The Game
Standing: Book 3 (final)
Setting: Rochester, New York (present day)
POV: first person by Miki, present tense
Genre: YA sci-fi, action

Source: Physical copy
Pages: 368
Favourite line: "It's time for me to be the one to choose, to determine time and place, to determine my own outcomes."

Rating: 5 STARS.





Words cannot--will not--describe my feelings for this book. I'm currently suffering from a book hangover, which includes a lot of wailing about the fact that my favourite series is over. The devastation. Is. Real.

This will be a long post. Which shouldn't come as that big of a surprise, seeing that I've ranted about this series over 8 times within the past few months alone. (Seriously. Go search up "Eve Silver," "Jackson Tate," "Rush," and "Push" in the search engine on the left. I'm not lying. It's EVERYWHERE. Even on the "About Me" page!) I also will not promise you that I won't get carried away. I have too many feelings right now, and I need to get them all out. So fair warning.


Where to start? Crash picks right up where we left off with in Push (review is here) and everything is a mess. Heck, I was in a mess just thinking about it. I was armed with sweaty palms and an over-reactive imagination from start to finish. The number of times I paused to simply scream or flail for a moment before reading again is probably somewhere around 500. And the number of times I physically put the book down, because my mind couldn't come to terms with what just happened? 5 times. 5 times I paced around my house, wailing, flopping on a couch or bed or just the floor, because I was so overcome with emotions. 

Yeah. I might have an issue. But if you've read the book, you'd understand why.

What is this book? It is butt-kicking action. It is swoon-worthy romance. It is very real issues, some which might hit close to home. It is mind-boggling revelations that will leave you breathless and scared for the characters. It is also Jackson Tate. Jackson. Tate. More on him later.

Miki Jones, our fantastic and amazing and downright pure awesome protagonist, faces a lot of adversary in this book. More so than any. It's not just the Game that's making her life difficult, it's herself. Grief, anxiety, depression: they're aspects, consequences, of the Game. And we get to see her battle each and every one of them, and I am truly happy that these battles were included. It makes her character more complex, the entire story more complex, and I loved it. It's not like unhappiness is only when she's in the Game; it's in real life, too. Miki shows fortitude time and time again, pulling through every hardship thrown against her. She's smart, both emotionally and physically strong, strategic, wise, and she has Jackson. (In my opinion, having Jackson is more than enough, but I am merely a love-struck and extremely biased person.)

I did not think that the action in this book could get be better than the books before, but I was proved wrong. It is exemplary. So many missions, so many risks, so many heart-stopping (and heart-breaking) moments. Everyone is fierce, because everyone wants to live. Everyone is determined, because again, everyone wants to live. So it should go without saying that everyone kicks butt.

***And this is where it gets spoilery. So don't read it unless you're read this book!***

Cover Reveal: THE SHADOW QUEEN

I was over the moon seeing the cover to C. J. Redwine's The Shadow Queen, which is the first book to her new Ravenspire series!

DAAAAANG.

1. I particularly like the black drips at the bottom and side of the apple. It gives it that sinister feel, don't you agree?
2. The green leaf is very striking against the overall black pallet of the cover. Again, it speaks poison. 
3. The title itself is carved into the apple. That's pretty cool.
4. Am I the only one who notices the precipitation on the apple? It actually looks like water, and is very different from the black liquid dripping at the bottom...
5. The simplicity of the cover makes it seem innocent, but I'm pretty sure we all know that given the apple dripping in black, the story will be far from it.
5. Snow White retelling? With dragons, magic, and a kick-ass heroine? Yes, please!

C. J. Redwine's Defiance series is one of my all time favourite series. Her writing style is like none other, and all her characters are beautifully developed. I'm super stoked that I'll be able to read more of her work, and a fantasy, nonetheless! Lucky me :D

Unfortunately, this book doesn't come out until February 23rd, 2016. I'm not sure I can wait that long, so please excuse me while I go wail about it. And while I'm wailing, you can add it to your Goodreads here :)

Well? Have you read C. J. Redwine's work before? Are you super excited to read her newest story?

Blurb:
Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.

In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.

But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

Days of Throbbing Gristle Review: Sam

Hi guys! Today, I had the pleasure of journeying through a book as Sam Hay :)

Book: Days of Throbbing Gristle
Author: Kevin Cole
Series: Standalone
Setting: Texas, America, 1987
POV: first person by Sam, past tense
Genre: YA historical, contemporary, fiction

Source: author (thank you very much, Kevin!)
Pages: 805 pages

Favorite line: "Don't play merry hell with me, darling. 

I'll eat you alive."

Rating: 4 stars





Blurb: (Goodreads)
Does Heaven know you're miserable now?

It’s 1987. Sam Henry Hay, a 17-year-old exchange student from Sheffield, hops into Texas, USA, with one burning ambition: Manipulate his gullible host parents into funding his university, and leave his dead-end life in Yorkshire behind.

But is Sam manipulating America or America manipulating Sam? The clever lad schmoozes his way into many a bed and purse, yet can’t get rid of anyone. He executes careful plans, only to watch them disastrously fall apart. Worst of all, this once proud nihilist watches in horror as he reveals a conscience, in a world growing ever darker around him.

Days of Throbbing Gristle is not your typical teenage tale. It’s a razor-slashing journey through a time and place that really was as bad as you’ve heard. For some, high school is the best time in their lives. For others, it’s a miracle they make it to the other side.

May I be the first to say what an dark and gritty adventure this book as been. I had no idea what I was walking into when I read the first page, and now that I know, my thoughts are just whoa. This is not your typical teenager story; it's far from it. It is a smart, cunning, throat-cutting story with pockets of the reality dangers and risks during 1987.

Days of Throbbing Gristle tells the story of 17 year old Sam, who escapes from his dreadful life in England to Texas, America. His plan? Get an American high school diploma and all while manipulating his host family into paying his future university tuition. Shouldn't be too hard, right? And Sam is exactly the kind of person to do that: he's smart, charming like people expect Englishmen to be, good at school, and he knows how to get on people's good side.

But not everything goes the way he planned it to. American culture slowly starts gnawing away at him, and Sam slowly finds himself on the other side of the fence. Sex, drugs, attitude: we get to see how each and every one of them affect him. Slowly, everything starts spiralling downhill, and the bigger question becomes this: does Sam still have the same goal he did at the beginning, with everything falling apart?

The Heir Review: Eadlyn

Everyone knows the story of my parents.
How the Selection brought them together.
How they fell in love.

It's time for me to hold my selection.
A new Selection.
One with boys.

I am Princess Eadlyn Schreave.

Hi guys! Finally, after a long time, I read The Heir!

Book: The Heir
Author: Kiera Cass
Series: The Selection
Standing: Book 4
POV: first person by Eadlyn, past tense
Genre: YA romance, dystopian-ish (as in there's a monarchy, but nothing extreme)

Source: physical copy
Pages: 342
Favorite part: "What are you up to today?" I asked.
                      "I don't know."

               "Go find the Selected guys and ask them  awkward questions. Report back."

Rating: 4 stars



From the very start of the book, we get an immediate sense of the difference between America (the protagonist of the original trilogy) and Eadlyn (the new protagonist). One of my first thoughts about her was that she was a little bit on the high-and-mighty-and-I-know-it side, but when you think about how she's been raised, knowing that she'll be queen one day, it's not that big of a surprise. She's the daughter of America and Maxon, so of course she's going to be spoiled by them. Her character is really realistic to her upbringing, and I really liked it.

Eadlyn is stubborn, determined, strong, and a bit scary . Her struggle with trying to be independent really got to me, and I admire how she strives to not fail. Yes, Eadlyn is going through with a Selection, but right from the start we find out that she's perfectly capable (and a little too willing) to rule Illéa by herself. She makes a few drastic calls, and though she sometimes doesn't immediately see what she did wrong, she does eventually learn from them. Her character arc was very big, in the sense that it isn't hard to see the differences between Eadlyn in the beginning and Eadlyn at the end. I think it was done really well, as we really get to see her change and grow.

35 suitors. Which means of course there's going to be more than one love interest. To be honest, it's working brilliantly by pulling my heart apart in different directions. I don't know who I really ship her with, because each guy has their own set of charms.

Like in the first 3 Selection books, we got a taste of all the different kinds of girls that existed out there. In The Heir, it was no different. There are extremely different types of guys in the pool, ranging from being super nice to super jerks. Sound familiar? Like a super nice girl (cough, America/Marlee) and a super mean girl (cough, Celeste/Bariel) in a competition? Yeah. But it was nice to see multiple personalities, even if they can't be that well developed.

The romance aspect was a little frustrating at first, because Eadlyn's attitude towards it was completely...hmm, what's the word...ambitious? She's a plotter, that's for sure. Not ambitious in the sense she was dead set on finding true love. More like the completely opposite...if that doesn't make sense, then you'll probably have to read to book to get what I mean. But by the end of the book, the romance aspect is much better, exactly what I was expecting from Kiera Cass.

All in all, I enjoyed the book. Eadlyn, however bratty or spoiled people will say she is, is actually very true to herself and her upbringing. If I were in her shoes and had that much courage, I probably would do the same thing. Independence is a huge aspect of it, and you really get to see both how tough and vulnerable Eadlyn is. I'm not sure I'd be able to handle all that media coverage, though!

Have you read this book yet? (If no, you can add it to your Goodreads here) Were you for or against Eadlyn?

Annnnd I think I'm going to discuss some of the suitors in a little more detail now, so the rest after the blurb is going to be spoilery :)

Blurb:
Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

Spoilers after the cut :)

Summer Solstice Book Haul

Whoo hoo! What better way to kick off summer than new books? :D

Eeeek, I'm so excited!!!

Defiance by C. J. Redwine: As if I haven't preached enough about this author's writing! I borrowed the first book from the library, then loved it so much that I bought the second (review) and third book (review) to read. I was missing the first book in my collection, but now, I have the complete trilogy to one of my absolutely favourite series!

The Heir by Kiera Cass: I actually went to the bookstore the day this book came out, but only the softcover version of this book was on sale. I'm normally not picky about my books, but as I have the previous three Selection books in hardcover, I wanted to keep the series covers consistent. Thus I had to wait a bit before I got the hardcover. But oh well. It's super pretty, and I can't wait to read it! (You can read my review on The Selection here)

Crash by Eve Silver: This book. It's the very final book to The Game series, which is hands down one of my favourite series. I'm a little scared to read it, because I really don't want it to end, but at the same time, I'm dying to find out what happens. Tons of action, a kick-butt heroine, and, of course, Jackson Tate. Jackson. Tate. Enough said. My heart has just been thrown out window, so I must go collect it now. (Review on Push is here)

Any of them you want to read, or have already read?

Shatter Me TV Show!!!

OH MY GOODNESS. Have you heard the NEWS???

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi has been opted to be a TV SHOW. That's these books here:

(Just for clarification, this is a trilogy series. The bottom two are e-novellas.)

*flailing in circles*

ABC Signature Studios just snagged up the rights! And to add, Tahereh Mafi will be a consulting producer! GUYS THIS IS AWESOME.

Ignoring my biased hyperventilation, what do you guys think about this? Nervous? Excited? Not sure? Don't think it'll be any good? Or maybe you didn't like the series? (that's fine! I'm not going to hate you! There are a few series that I didn't like, but everyone loved, so I understand!) Or maybe you think YA adaptations are doomed? (I hope they aren't...)

No idea when it'll be coming out, but fingers crossed it will be both soon. I loved this series, so I'm hoping that the show will do it justice and be fantastic, but only time will tell...

(For those who haven't heard of Shatter Me, here's the blurb :) And if it sounds interesting, you can check it out on Goodreads here)

I have a curse
I have a gift

I am a monster
I'm more than human

My touch is lethal
My touch is power

I am their weapon
I will fight back

Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war – and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

Beautiful Bloggers Award!

I am beyond thrilled to have been nominated for the Beautiful Bloggers Award by Ana, from Book Addict!

Rules:
1. Link to the blogger who nominated you.
2. List seven random facts about you.
3. Nominate seven creative, beautiful bloggers, and notify them.

Random Facts about Me:

1. I don't write people birthday cards. I write them letters/stories.
2. As my fantastic blogger friend Cody puts it, I have Bad-Boy Syndrome. And I never want to be cured. There are too many fictional guys to give up.
3. My favourite season is autumn.
4. I live in Ottawa.
5. Bookstores and libraries are my sanctuaries. Yes, I might be a bit antisocial because of it.
6. I don't like going outside without a long sleeve of some sort, regardless of the weather and temperature.
7. In terms of sports: I swim, fence, snowboard, and ski.

(More random facts about me can be found on the "About Me" page, as well as on my Liebster Award post.)

My Nominees:

1. Cody, from Literary-ly Obsessed
2. Tasha, from BookKitty
3. Anna, from Enchanted by YA
4. Kitty and Fari, from My Litter Corner for Books
5. HannahCassie and Laura, from P.S. I love that Book!
6. Haley, from Paperback Heaven
7. Cynthia, from On Pens and Needles

I'm looking forward to seeing your random facts!

Cover Reveal: THE POWER

I'm a HUGE Jennifer L. Armentrout fan. I love her books, I love her characters, I love everything.

It pleases me greatly to give you the cover of The Power, which is the second book to her Titan series! (By the way, Titan is a follow-up series of her Covenant series, based around Seth. It's NA, not YA, but let's be honest, it's about SETH, so who cares?)

SETH. I mean, the first cover already had my heart going in a frenzy, but with this beautiful close up?

Gone. Is. My. Heart.

Anyone notice the GOLD of his eyes? Also, the blue crackle of ELECTRICITY on the "w" of the word "power"?

This book hits shelves February 23rd, 2016 (siiigh). So far, the blurb is the exact same as the first book, The Return. Well, the same blurb minus one sentence: 

"You have no idea what I'm capable of."

If only I could count the number of times I've thrown my heart out the window for these guys... Anyways, I am thus now wait patiently for a blurb update.

In the meantime, add it to your Goodreads here, and if you haven't read The Return yet, here's the blurb:

Blurb:

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off...

It's been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they've given him have been violent and bloody--which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He's got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy's deal might be, but it's a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat. 

Rise Review

Blurb:
A long, long time ago, before the world was as we know it, Izanami and Izanagi came into being. Two of the first of the ancient gods of Japan, they crafted the world from ink and their own imaginations. Izanagi wants, more than anything, to be with Izanami—but one moment of pride could tear them apart forever.

Yuki and Tanaka have been friends for as long as they can remember, but lately deeper feelings have been bubbling beneath the surface. How do they navigate the transition from friendship to true love without destroying the powerful bond between them?

Set a millennia apart, can these two couples, living parallel love stories, find their happily-ever-afters?

Hi guys! It's been a while since I've done a review, hasn't it?

Book: Rise
Author: Amanda Sun
Series: Paper Gods Series
Standing: Book 2.5
POV: third person (by Izanami, Izanagi, Yuki, and Tanaka), past tense
Genre: YA paranormal, fantasy, history

Source: purchased (free ebook)
Reading: first time
Favorite line: "Where are you going?" 
                     "Where we all must. Forward."
Rating: 4 Stars





This is a short novella containing both a historical/mythological story, as well as one that takes place during the same time period as the book.

The historical/mythological part of this novella is about the very first kamis of the world, and seeing as kamis are really important in the series itself, it's a nice backdrop. You get to see from that from the beginning of time, love existed, as did pride and envy. It goes to say that pride and envy is ultimately the downfall of the story, and the ending is a little sad. But it probably does foreshadow the events to come in the next book...

With the modern story, the one about Yuki and Tanaka, we get to see exactly how Katie's choices in the last book are beginning to have an influence on the world. Bad things are happening, and to the ignorant person (such as Yuki and Tanaka), it's a simple matter of a new gang leaving its mark. But for the readers that actually know what's going on, it's actually a whole lot more complex and intriguing. Needless to say, I am in suspense as to what exactly is going on from Katie's side!

The romance aspect was nice, if what a little fluffy. I would have liked to see a bit more action in this, but as it's short, I guess I'll have to settle for small amounts. I also would have preferred it to have been two distinctly separate stories, one story after the other, rather than flipping back between stories every chapter. It got a little confusing and annoying, but that could be just me.

Storm, which is the final book to Amanda Sun's Paper Gods series, comes out June 30th, 2015. Take advantage of this free ebook and get your hands on the series!

Add it to your Goodreads here.