Aurora Cycle_01: Aurora Rising by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Aurora Cycle_01

From the internationally bestselling authors of THE ILLUMINAE FILES comes an epic new science fiction adventure.

The year is 2380, and the graduating cadets of Aurora Academy are being assigned their first missions. Star pupil Tyler Jones is ready to recruit the squad of his dreams, but his own boneheaded heroism sees him stuck with the dregs nobody else in the Academy would touch…

A cocky diplomat with a black belt in sarcasm

A sociopath scientist with a fondness for shooting her bunkmates

A smart-ass techwiz with the galaxy’s biggest chip on his shoulder

An alien warrior with anger management issues

A tomboy pilot who’s totally not into him, in case you were wondering

And Ty’s squad isn’t even his biggest problem—that’d be Aurora Jie-Lin O’Malley, the girl he’s just rescued from interdimensional space. Trapped in cryo-sleep for two centuries, Auri is a girl out of time and out of her depth. But she could be the catalyst that starts a war millions of years in the making, and Tyler’s squad of losers, discipline-cases and misfits might just be the last hope for the entire galaxy.

They're not the heroes we deserve. They're just the ones we could find. Nobody panic. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30075662-aurora-rising

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars

OH MY STARS THIS BOOK WAS SO FREAKING GOOD!!! I did not expect to love this book as much as I did, but damn was it good! Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff are quite the dynamic duo when it comes to young adult science fiction books. I loved their Illuminae Files trilogy, but Aurora Rising may have just knocked those out of the park and it was only book one!! There is so much more left, thank god, because this really has great potential to be something amazing. 

It's like Star Trek meets teens, but at the same time is it's own thing that is so much better. Our main characters, Squad 312, are just a bunch of misfits that learn that together they are a family. This cast of characters are quirky, unique, hilarious, and just so freaking interesting. When star pupil Tyler Jones, ventures out hours before an important event at Aurora Academy, he finds more than he bargained for. Aurora, or Auri, is the girl out of time. Tyler finds her in trapped in cryo-sleep and when he wakes her up, she is in for a big surprise when she finds out she has been asleep for over 200 years. Finding Auri, changes his plans for recruiting a top squad, but at least he has his twin sister, Scarlett, and their best friend, Cat, to stay by his side. Then there are the other 3 misfits of the Academy, Kal, Fin, and Zila. Each bringing a uniqueness to their group. Like I said, a band of misfits, but ones that learn that together they are all quite a team. They each have a specialty they studied at the academy, along with the natural talents they bring from each of their race. I can't even decide which character I liked best because they were all so different and intriguing. What starts as a simple mission to deliver supplies to refugees turns upside down when they find Auri on their ship, who was sent in secret by some of the leaders of the Aurora Academy. Turns out someone is after Auri because she is the key to something much bigger that is occurring in the galaxy. 

Adventure, space, aliens, action, love, this book has it all. If you liked Kaufman and Kristoff's previous team up then you will love this story. Can't wait for the next one!

There's Something About Sweetie by Sandhya Menon

Companion novel to When Dimple Met Rishi

The irresistible companion novel to the New York Timesbestseller When Dimple Met Rishi, which follows Rishi’s brother, Ashish, and a confident fat athlete named Sweetie as they both discover what love means to them.

Ashish Patel didn’t know love could be so…sucky. After being dumped by his ex-girlfriend, his mojo goes AWOL. Even worse, his parents are annoyingly, smugly confident they could find him a better match. So, in a moment of weakness, Ash challenges them to set him up.

The Patels insist that Ashish date an Indian-American girl—under contract. Per subclause 1(a), he’ll be taking his date on “fun” excursions like visiting the Hindu temple and his eccentric Gita Auntie. Kill him now. How is this ever going to work?

Sweetie Nair is many things: a formidable track athlete who can outrun most people in California, a loyal friend, a shower-singing champion. Oh, and she’s also fat. To Sweetie’s traditional parents, this last detail is the kiss of death.

Sweetie loves her parents, but she’s so tired of being told she’s lacking because she’s fat. She decides it’s time to kick off the Sassy Sweetie Project, where she’ll show the world (and herself) what she’s really made of.

Ashish and Sweetie both have something to prove. But with each date they realize there’s an unexpected magic growing between them. Can they find their true selves without losing each other?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42201316-there-s-something-about-sweetie

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars

Sandyha Menon is amazing. Her books are fantastic and There's Something About Sweetie is just another one to add to her collection. Companion novel to When Dimple Met Rishi, this book follows Rishi's younger brother, Ashish, and our leading lady, Sweetie. Their love story is adorable and so much fun to read. But what brought this book over the top was the fact that Menon teaches us and reassures all young women that you are beautiful on not just the inside, but the outside, no matter what shape you are. I loved reading about Sweetie who took the word "fat" and never let it hold her back. She may be shaped differently than what her mother wants her to look like, but that doesn't mean she is lacking in any way. She is a strong, smart, healthy, athletic, and beautiful woman. And she is happy and accepts her body as is. She knows others may judge, but their opinion doesn't matter. Hers is the only one that does. It was truly moving to read. And it showed that not everyone thinks the same. Ashish saw Sweetie exactly for who she is and loved everything about her. He saw her, all of her, and thought she was a beautiful young woman. I really loved this book and could not put it down! 

The Lovely and the Lost by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Kira Bennett’s earliest memories are of living alone and wild in the woods. She has no idea how long she was on her own or what she had to do to survive, but she remembers the moment that Cady Bennett and one of her search-and-rescue dogs found her perfectly. Adopted into the Bennett family, Kira still struggles with human interaction years later, but she excels at the family business: search-and-rescue. Along with Cady’s son, Jude, and their neighbor, Free, Kira works alongside Cady to train the world’s most elite search-and-rescue dogs. Someday, all three teenagers hope to put their skills to use, finding the lost and bringing them home.

But when Cady’s estranged father, the enigmatic Bales Bennett, tracks his daughter down and asks for her help in locating a missing child—one of several visitors who has disappeared in the Sierra Glades National Park in the past twelve months—the teens find themselves on the frontlines sooner than they could have ever expected. As the search through 750,000 acres of unbridled wilderness intensifies, Kira becomes obsessed with finding the missing child. She knows all too well what it’s like to be lost in the wilderness, fighting for survival, alone.

But this case isn’t simple. There is more afoot than a single, missing girl, and Kira’s memories threaten to overwhelm her at every turn. As the danger mounts and long-held family secrets come to light, Kira is forced to question everything she thought she knew about her adopted family, her true nature, and her past.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38136879-the-lovely-and-the-lost

********

My Review: 4/5 Stars

Jennifer Lynn Barnes is amazing when it comes to young adult mysteries. They are always super intriguing, the characters are fantastic, and the mystery is always one that you don't send the end result coming. That's what makes a mystery for me. If you can solve it too early in the book, then that ruins the fun. I enjoy trying to figure it out and figuring it out just as our main character does. And Barnes does an excellent job of her mysteries. They aren't easy to solve and in the end they make sense. You don't sit there saying really? How is that possible? You get there saying no way!! And it has always been like that when I read her books. In Lovely and the Lost, Kira and her adopted family run a search-and-rescue dog team. Kira was found by her later adoptive mother, Cady, and her dog when she was child. Kira had survived living in the woods alone for weeks. To say it left some scars would be an understatement. But thanks to her adoptive mother, brother, neighbor, and trusted dogs, Kira found a way to survive each day as she overcomes the trauma she endured. When Cady is visited by her estranged father to help find a missing child, Kira and her little family find themselves in the center. But there is a whole lot more happening than finding a lost girl. Kira's flashbacks of her time in the woods are stirred up and truths about Cady's home and family are revealed. Loved reading this story. Like I said, it had a lot of good mysteries in it and I was hooked. Plus Barnes likes to throw in a last minute twist that has me yelling about cruel cliffhangers seeing as it is a standalone, but it just makes the book that much better. 

Pandava Quartet Book 2: Aru Shah and the Song of Death by Roshani Chokshi

Pandava Quartet Book 2

Aru is only just getting the hang of this whole Pandava thing when the Otherworld goes into full panic mode. The god of love's bow and arrow have gone missing, and the thief isn't playing Cupid. Instead, they're turning people into heartless fighting-machine zombies. If that weren't bad enough, somehow Aru gets framed as the thief. If she doesn't find the arrow by the next full moon, she'll be kicked out of the Otherworld. For good. 

But, for better or worse, she won't be going it alone. 

Along with her soul-sister, Mini, Aru will team up with Brynne, an ultra-strong girl who knows more than she lets on, and Aiden, the boy who lives across the street and is also hiding plenty of secrets. Together they'll battle demons, travel through a glittering and dangerous serpent realm, and discover that their enemy isn't at all who they expected.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41067826-aru-shah-and-the-song-of-death

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars

Loved this one! I remember reading the first book and being like this is good but I don't think it is as good as it can be. And that's okay because book 2 stepped up and blew it away. Aru and Mini are back and now they found their new Pandava sister, Brynne. And the boy that moved across the street from Aru at the end of the first book, knows more about the Otherworld than Aru would have guessed. Turns out Aiden is best friends with Brynne and his mom is famous in the Otherworld. Together the four team up to find the god of love's bow and arrow. Where their adventure teaches them that there is more than one side to every story and you need to open your eyes to really see the truth. A wonderful fun story filled with more myths and adventure. I loved mythology and it's nice to learn about Hindu mythology through Aru's stories. Great, great follow up story. And I am super excited for book 3! 

Caraval Series Book 3: Finale by Stephanie Garber

Caraval Series Book 3

Welcome, welcome to Finale, the third and final book in Stephanie Garber’s #1 New York Times bestselling Caraval series! 

A love worth fighting for. A dream worth dying for. An ending worth waiting for.

It’s been two months since the Fates were freed from a deck of cards, two months since Legend claimed the throne for his own, and two months since Tella discovered the boy she fell in love with doesn’t really exist.

With lives, empires, and hearts hanging in the balance, Tella must decide if she’s going to trust Legend or a former enemy. After uncovering a secret that upends her life, Scarlett will need to do the impossible. And Legend has a choice to make that will forever change and define him.

Caraval is over, but perhaps the greatest game of all has begun. There are no spectators this time: only those who will win, and those who will lose everything.

Welcome, welcome to Finale. All games must come to an end…

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40381392-finale

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars

The magic of Caraval has come to an end and wow I wasn't expecting it to be as good as it was. Don't get me wrong. The last two books in the series were fantastic. But there was something about Finale that blew me away and made me love the story, the characters, and the magic all over again. The twists and turns that always took me by surprise in Caraval and Legendary did not disappoint me in Finale. There was so much more happening this time and more dangerous games and players were on the board. Who is good? Who is bad? The story takes place two months after the events in Legendary and this time the story is told between Scarlett and Tella. There are always surprises when it comes to these books and let me tell you, this one was no different. I did not see a ton of what was coming and it made the story that much more special. The Fates were loose and unpredictable because those who are immortal and magic always are. And one of the biggest surprises in this story was Legend himself. His and Tella's love story was only just beginning in Legendary. Meanwhile, Scarlett and Julian are finally realizing the depth of their love for one another. But like I said, the Fates are loose and that means there is plenty of trouble and danger waiting for them. The conclusion to this trilogy is everything I hoped for in an ending to a series, especially one filled with so much magic, hope, and love. I'm sad it's over, but it was quite a story to read!

A Mercy Thompson Novel Book 11: Storm Cursed by Patricia Briggs

A Mercy Thompson Novel Book 11

In this powerful entry in the #1 New York Times bestselling series, Mercy Thompson must face a deadly enemy to defend all she loves...

My name is Mercedes Athena Thompson Hauptman, and I am a car mechanic.

And a coyote shapeshifter.

And the mate of the Alpha of the Columbia Basin werewolf pack.

Even so, none of that would have gotten me into trouble if, a few months ago, I hadn't stood upon a bridge and taken responsibility for the safety of the citizens who lived in our territory. It seemed like the thing to do at the time. It should have only involved hunting down killer goblins, zombie goats, and an occasional troll. Instead, our home was viewed as neutral ground, a place where humans would feel safe to come and treat with the fae.

The reality is that nothing and no one is safe. As generals and politicians face off with the Gray Lords of the fae, a storm is coming and her name is Death.

But we are pack, and we have given our word.

We will die to keep it. 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40524748-storm-cursed

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars

Can't believe this is the eleventh book in the Mercy Thompson series. And we still have more to look forward to. Another great addition to the series. I do have to say I wish I re-read the books before going into this one. I've only read each book once and I forgot that it has been 2 years since the last one. The spin-off Alpha and Omega series had a release last year which is probably why this one came this year. Anyway, it was a while for me, so it took a little bit to remember some people and what was going on in their world. But for the most part I remembered everyone and got right back in to the story. There is always danger when it comes to Mercy and Adam's lives. And this time the source of the danger is witches. And they are bringing some new things to the table such as: zombies. Yes, zombies. Specifically animal zombies. Such as goats and werewolves. It's never a dull moment in this series. With some new reveals and plot twists galore, this was definitely a great add to the series! I look forward to the next one. 

Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 6: The Dragon's Discovery by Jessie Donovan

Lochguard Highland Dragons Book 6

The Department of Dragon Affairs sends Dr. Kiyana Barnes to Lochguard with a group of human women open to having dragon mates. She's supposed to help them adjust to being around dragon-shifters while also observing how the clan works on a day-to-day basis. She most definitely isn't supposed to notice how one look from a certain dragonman teacher sets her skin on fire, let alone ask him to kiss her in a weak moment, given her past.

Alistair Boyd spends most of his time in the clan's archives, searching for a solution to fulfill the vow he made to himself three years ago. However, when his clan leader orders him to educate the latest group of humans to come to Lochguard, he has no choice but to cut back and do his clan duty. One of the females in particular catches his eye, but he tries to resist her. After all, he made an important vow. One that includes staying away from females until it's complete.

One weak moment results in a kiss that changes both Kiyana and Alistair's lives forever. Unfortunately, a clan emergency means keeping Alistair's dragon silent, for more days than he'd like. Will Alistair's duty to clan end up harming his dragon and pushing away the woman who is his second chance? Or, will he beat the clock to have everything he didn't know he wanted?

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40134442-the-dragon-s-discovery

********

My Review: 5/5 Stars

Back at Lochguard and loving it! This story follows dragonman Alistair Boyd and DDA's Dr. Kiyana Barnes. Kiyana is assigned to watch over the group of human women who are open to having dragon shifter mates while Alistair is asked to be their guide. Neither are prepared for the sparks that fly between them, especially Alistair who is most certainly not looking for a mate. Alistair has been keeping a secret from his family and clan for the last few years. He is on a mission to fulfill his promise and isn't looking for help, though he may learn that with some help he could be closer to completing his mission. Kiyana doesn't want to jeopardize her job. She was given a second chance and she doesn't want to blow it. But when a solution comes to light that may let Alisatir and Kiyana have a chance to explore the connection between them they can't help but take a leap of faith. I loved Alistair's and Kiyana's story. Their happily ever after had way more challenges than previous couples. In the moments they finally decide to take a chance, something occurs that leads to a complication no one saw coming. But Alistair and Kiyana prove that when the going gets tough, you don't give up. And when it looks like everything is against you, you fight for your chance at happiness with the person you know is meant for you. One of my favorite couples for sure in the dragon shifters world. We also get a lot of cameos from previous characters we've come to love. And it lays the foundation of where the future is headed for this world. I'm always excited for the next book that comes out in this universe Donovan created. Can't wait for the next one!

I received an ARC for an honest review.