Review: Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters

Title: Tears of Tess
Author: Pepper Winters
Series: Tears of Tess #1
Publication:  August 28th 2013
Genre: New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance
Format: e-book
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed. I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

~My Thoughts:

I haven't started to write this review three days after I finished the book. And everyday I didn't write it, it seemed harder and harder for me to start but how can I begin to describe my emotions for this complex, dark but totally compelling book?
I kind of knew I was going to love this book right from the moment I heard about it. The description alone had me hooked already and after seeing a few really possitive reviews of it, I bought it. And, oh my god, I loved it so much!

When she's on a vacation in Mexico together with Brax, her boyfriend of two years, Tess Snow gets kidnapped to be sold as a slave. She fights the human traffickers for all she's worth but things just gets worse and worse until eventuelly she's sold to Q Mercer... 

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed. I was sold.”

How can I express my feelings my feelings for Tears of Tess? It was dark, it was delicious. I was enarmored, I was absorbed. 
I ended up reading it in only two days because right from the moment Tess gets taken, I wasn't able to pull away from my Kindle. I just had to know what was going to happen to her. I loved how she fought the human traffickers and at least made a stand instead of just giving up. And then she arrives in France in the possession of Q. 
Tess was a great character to read about. Stubborn, strong, trying to never let anything break her no matter what happened to her and trust me, a lot of awful, disturbing things do happen to her. I loved how in the end she knew exactly what she wanted and who she wanted to be, compared to how her own issues and sexuality frightened her in the beginning.
And then we have Q...
Right from the start it's obvious Q has a lot of issues and dark cravings. But, damn it, I was so intrigued by him. I mean, he was almost everything you expect someone to be who buys or accepts slaves as bribes. Dark, twisted, struggling with demons of his own. And he was all that + downright hot!
I love the take their relationship took. I loved how Tess tried to fight him in every turn and how it disturbed yet  arroused Q terribly.

I wanted a new label. One that said: girlfriend who will do anything to be tied, spanked, and fucked all over rather than adored.

This book wasn't perfect, not at all, but even so I can't give it any less than five stars or should I say five sparrows? Birds have great meaning in Tears of Tess. First of all, all the chapter titles were types of birds. That was just pure brilliance on Pepper Winters part in my opinion. Second, Q has a thing with sparrows that Tess really wanted to find out about (and she did). The symbolism for it, the metaphor, god... it was beautiful. It really was. 
At times I was a little bit annoyed with Tess when one moment she'd feel a lot for Q (in a possitive way) when in the other moment went back to hating him. Drove me a little nuts but I suppose with a man as Q it's no wonder she felt that way. Also some of her actions were a little questionable which led to terrible things for her. But it's just something minor compared to the the whole amazingess of the book.
I must say though that I wouldn't count this book as a normal new adult. It isn't. This book is so taboo, dark and twisted, erotic and I couldn't get enough of it!

Q was deeper than I gave him credit for. Something lurked, dark and vile, but there was a human, as well as a monster, inside.

The writing in this book was just so enthralling, fascinating and simply addicting. I loved the way Pepper Winters formed sentences and wrote the story. Definitely one of the best written new adult books I have read. Genres like this either grip me or not and this gripped me so freaking much I'm sure I scared my friend with freaking out about it so badly while I was reading it. All I can say is, watch out for Pepper Winters. I absolutely see great books happening in her future and I can't wait to read them!

Two things I wanted most in the world: for Q to die a miserable death, and for him to fuck me.

The prologue was in Q's point of view and it was amazing. He told us about what happened to him to make him be who and what he is and I felt like it was a perfect ending to such an amazing book. 
Also I have to say this. I had a little reading fuck where I didn't read for over two weeks and Tears of Tess really pulled me out of it. That's why I read. For books like this that capture and grip my heart and never let me go.

"You may not be mine, but I'm fast becoming yours."

All in all, Tears of Tess was a exquisite, totally different from other books, incredibly stunning read! This debute by Pepper Winters had a huge impac on me. The characters were all interesting and captivating to read about as was the story and the glorious writing just made me keep reading on and on. I can't wait for the sequel, Quintessentially Q, to read more about both Tess and Q! I have definitely found a new favorite series and author. Bravo, Ms. Winters, bravo! 

I put away my fear of being reprimanded, and embraced ferocity. I conjured anger like magic, nursing it deep within, building on it like an impenetrable cape.

The truth hurts less than fibs and fakers.

"I'm offering you my pain. My blood. My pleasure. I'm offering you the right to whip and fuck. To debase and harm. I'm offering to fight your needs with my own. I'm willing to join you in the darkness and find pleasure in excruciating pain. I'm willing to be your monster, Q."

"I promise to protect you, ravage you, hunt those who hurt you, and give you the life you deserve. My fortune is yours. My secrets are yours. And I will give you the corpses of the men who hurt you."

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.
She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. Her debut book Tears of Tess will be followed with Quintessentially Q. You didn’t think Q could stop so soon, did you? Her other two titles, Last Shadow and Broken Chance will be coming soon.

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Review: The Maze Runner by James Dashner

 About the Book 

The Maze Runner (Maze Runner, #1)

When Thomas wakes up in the lift, the only thing he can remember is his first name. His memory is blank. But he’s not alone. When the lift’s doors open, Thomas finds himself surrounded by kids who welcome him to the Glade—a large, open expanse surrounded by stone walls.Just like Thomas, the Gladers don’t know why or how they got to the Glade. All they know is that every morning the stone doors to the maze that surrounds them have opened. Every night they’ve closed tight. And every thirty days a new boy has been delivered in the lift.

Thomas was expected. But the next day, a girl is sent up—the first girl to ever arrive in the Glade. And more surprising yet is the message she delivers. 

Thomas might be more important than he could ever guess. If only he could unlock the dark secrets buried within his mind.

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 My Thoughts 

The Maze Runner begins with our main character Thomas, waking up in the dark and making his way up-top in a moving box (later known as the Box, obviously) and finding himself at a loss as to who he is. The only thing he can remember about himself is his name.

"Nice to meet ya, shank," the boy said. "Welcome to the Glade."

When Thomas makes it to the surface, he's met by The Gladers, boys ranging in age from around eleven years old up to seventeen. He learns some of them have been there for two years and that the Glade is in the center of a maze that no one has been able to solve because the walls around the Glade close at night and the rest in the maze change.

Adjusting to his new life in the Glade comes naturally to Thomas and he soon feels the pull to become a Runner (Gladers who run the maze daily and map it out). Besides their daily life and trying to make it out of the Maze, the Gladers have to deal with the Grievers, large, slug-like creatures that are the size of a cow with claws, saw blades and other instruments for arms.

The Maze Runner has no shortage of likeable characters but my favorites were Newt and Thomas. Newt could be a smart-ass (which I enjoyed) but he was a smart and strong leader when he needed to be and Thomas was brave and he actually cried! I love male characters that can breakdown and not make a show of being in control all of the time.

The Maze Runner is one of the best books I've read this year and I love the male POV. The story is fast paced and keeps you guessing about what's really going on and who put these kids in the Maze and it's adventurous and a bit creepy in spots.

to

The Maze Runner

 Quotes 

“Shouldn't someone give a pep talk or something?" Minho asked, pulling Thomas' attention away from Alby.

"Go ahead," Newt replied.

Minho nodded and faced the crowd. "Be careful," he said dryly. "Don't die.”

“You get lazy, you get sad. Start givin' up. Plain and simple.”

 About the Author 

James was born and raised in Georgia but now lives in the Rocky Mountains with his family. He has four kids, which some might think is too many but he thinks is just right. Once upon a time, James studied accounting and worked in the field of finance, but has been writing full time for several years. (He doesn't miss numbers. At all.)

In his free time, James loves to read, watch movies and (good) TV shows, snow ski, and read. (Reading was mentioned twice on purpose.) Most of all, he's thankful that he gets to make a living writing stories and considers himself pretty much the luckiest guy on the planet.

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Review: Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Title: Cruel Beauty

Author: Rosamund Hodge

Publication: January 28th 2014 by Balzer & Bray

Genre: Young Adult ~ Fantasy

Format: e-arc from Edelweiss

Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

e-arc provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

  

Graceling meets Beauty and the Beast in this sweeping fantasy about one girl's journey to fulfill her destiny and the monster who gets in her way-by stealing her heart.

Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny.

Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him.

With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people.

But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.

As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love.

~My Thoughts:

A mix of fairytale retelling and greek mythology, Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge is a fantastically, imaginative story that blew me away!

The reason I started this book was actually sort of random. I wanted to read a book that I had received from Edelweiss because I've gotten quite some great books and I said to myself I should make work of them. Cruel Beauty was the one that spoke to me the most because of the amazing description and gorgeous cover. I just want to jump in the air and yell thank you for whichever other reason I decided to read it. 

Cruel Beauty features a seventeen year-old girl named Nyx. She's been betrothed to a monster, a demon lord, all her life thanks to a bargain that her father made with the Gentle Lord who rules the kingdom. But until the day of her wedding which is on her 17th birthday she's been taught by her father how to try and destroy the Gentle Lord (a.k.a. Ignifex), avenge her mother and break the curse, with which the kingdom has suffered for over 900 years. When the day finally comes and Nyx marries Ignifex he seems different from what she has expected all her life, which was a cruel monster. Instead she finds herself drawn to him. As she struggles to find a way to free her people of the curse and uncover the Gentle Lord's secrets, she finds it hard to keep going on the right track and her heart protected from him.



"A virgin knife in a virgin's hand can kill the beast that rules the land."

This book... My favorite one of the year so far. By far. It left such a huge impression on me, especially because it's the author's debut! I can hardly believe it. The story itself was so fascinating. I couldn't stop reading at all and finished in two days time. At one point I was even walking and reading (don't try this at home, kids!) because I didn't want to stop. Yes, it was THAT good. The writing was unbelievable gorgeous. I all but inhaled word for word and loved it beyond believe. I was very engrossed by the enchanting world Rosamind Hodge has created with this book. The allure! 

I knew that soon I would realize what I had done, that the acid of my self-loathing would eat through my walls and burn me down to the bone.

Nyx has got to be one of my favorite young adult characters EVER. I might say this with every good book I read but this book wasn't just good or great or awesome it was the most enticing book I have read lately and I've read a lot of compelling books this year already. Unlike so many other young adult books, Nyx was actually not a damsel in distress or got caught up in a insta-love spell, no, she knew who she was and what she had to do. Kill her husband to save the kingdom. It was only slowly, but surely that she fell for Ignifex. And even then, when she had fallen in love she knew that at some point she might have to hurt him. If she's done it, I will let you guess because I'm sure as hell not giving that away. 
Ignifex's (or the Gentle Lord) character was very interesting to say the least. I'm not sure what I expected from him. I had also expected a monster just like Nyx but I found myself liking him right away. He was so charming but more than that he was a different character on his own. The way the author wrote him was very nicely done. I loved how he also had his vulnerabilities. But, gods, him and Nyx were perfect together.


Demons are made of shadow. Don't look at the shadows too long or a demon might look back.

So Cruel Beauty is based on the fairytale of Beauty and the Beast (which is one of my favorite fairytales every) but it also has Greek mythology (also one of my favorite things ever!) intregrated in it. I must say that makes an interesting mix and I can only bow down to Rosamund Hodge's brilliance for she has written this book with so much ingenuity and freshness that I was rocked off my socks by it and this doesn't often happen. 
The world in Cruel Beauty was wonderful to read about. Stunningly beautiful but yet mysteriously dark also. Gotta love that! 

In my family, nobody's love had given anything but cruelty and sorrow, and nobody's love had ever stopped giving.


Overall Cruel Beauty is pure perfection. It's as simple as that. There were no negatives for me at all. The story, the writing, the characters, the world. Amazing! I'm sure it's going to be a huge hit with almost everyone. I'm absolutely looking forward when this book actually comes out and I will definitely get a physical copy of my own. Also doesn't often happen when I read an e-arc that I want to get the actually printed version too. I just need it. I also feel like I will reread this in the near future. I almost started it right away again after finishing. And I can't wait to read more books by this author in the future. I am more than sure we will see great things from her. 5 stars more than deserved for Cruel Beauty!

Every half-educated child knew about the Sibyl's Rhyme. In the ancient days, Apollo would sometimes touch a woman with his power, granting her wisdom and driving her mad at once, and she would live in his sacred grotto and prophesy on his behalf.

The ancient poems, written before the Sundering, said that the sun—the true sun, chariot of Helios—was so bright it blinded all who looked upon it. They spoke of rose-fingered Dawn, who painted the east in shades of pink and gold. They praised the boundless blue dome of the sky.

They said that love was terrifying and tender, wild and sweet, and none of it made any sense. But now I knew what every mad word was true.

When I was much younger, I sometimes imagined that the sky was in illustration in a book, that we were all nestled safely between the covers, and that if I could only find the book and open it, we would all escape without having to fight the Gentle Lord.

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Review: The Wish List by Eoin Colfer

Title: The Wish List
Author: Eoin Colfer
Publication: July 1st 2004 by Scholastic Inc.
Genre: Young Adult ~ Paranormal
Format: Paperback, 256 pages
Cover Rating: 4/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

   

Eoin Colfer has made millions of fans around the world with his much-loved character, Artemis Fowl, the star of his hugely best-selling series. Now, in a beautifully written novel that is already breaking records in his native Ireland, Colfer introduces readers to a lovable but troubled heroine, who has been given the opportunity for a special kind of redemption.

Meg Finn is in trouble-unearthly trouble. Cast out of her home by her stepfather after her mother's death, Meg is a wanderer, a troublemaker. But after her latest stunt, finding a place to sleep is the least of her worries. Belch, her partner in crime, has gotten her involved in the attempted robbery of an elderly man, Lowrie McCall. And things go horribly wrong. After an accidental explosion, Meg's spirit is flung into limbo, and a race begins between the demonic and the divine to win her soul. Irreverent, hilarious, and touchingly hopeful, The Wish List takes readers on a journey of second chances, where joy is found in the most unexpected places.

~My Thoughts:

The Wish List is no Artemis Fowl but, damn it, if I didn't love it!
For a long time now I've had a dislike to heaven/hell - angel/demon books. I can't quite explain why but from all paranormal books I dislike books about that certain topic the least. However, Eoin Colfer shows with The Wish List how you write a truly great book in this topic. It was fun, very humoristic. I laughed a lot. But it was also very heart warming.

Eoin Colfer always creates amazing characters that I love. Meg Finn was one of them. Though I tend to read more books where the main characters are 16+, I really like Eoin's characters who tend to be more of the age of 12+. Meg was 14 in this book and I loved her. She had a lot to deal with in her life, like her mother dying, which left her all alone with her awful stepfather. When she gets involved in a attempted robbery of the elderly Lowrie McCall together with Belch things go wrong when an explosion occurs which causes for both Meg and Belch to die. As a spirit, Meg ends up in limbo, right in the middle between hell and heaven. To go to heaven she'll have to help Lowrie McCall to do all the things on his Wish List. But Belch is on her heels to stop her from doing the good deed she'll do if she helps Lowrie.


The Wish List is a very fast, light book but nevertheless amazing as I always expect from a Colfer book. Is it the best book of him? No, of course not. That honor (in my opinion) goes to Artemis Fowl but if you want to read something different by him, you should definitely try it. I'm sure no one will be able to put it down once they start this adventure!

"What you must do is foil their plans. Whatever McCall asks Finn to do, you must see to it that she fails."
Belch nodded. Made sense. In a Spockish sort of a way.

Eoin Colfer (pronounced Owen) was born in Wexford on the South-East coast of Ireland in 1965, where he and his four brothers were brought up by his father and mother, who were both educators.

He received his degree from Dublin University and began teaching primary school in Wexford. He has lived and worked all over the world, including Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Italy. After the publication of the Artemis Fowl novels, Eoin retired from teaching and now writes full time. He lives in Ireland with his wife and two children.

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Review: Mind Games by Kiersten White

Title: Mind Games
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Mind Games #1
Publication: February 19th 2013 by HarperTeen
Genre: Young Adult ~ Paranormal
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5

    

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

~My Thoughts:

So far I've read only one book by Kiersten White which was The Chaos of Stars, a book with Egyptian mythology in it. I loved it so I wanted to try another book by this author to see if I was going to like it as much also. I really wanted to try Mind Games because it seemed really great and how could I resist that gorgeous cover? Anyways... I've seen a lot of mixed reviews of it — the usual extremes of only one, two stars or four, five stars. Because of that it's always hard to tell what you will think of it, personally. And I must admit, starting it the first fifty pages or so were kind of slow and I didn't know what to think of it. It doesn't mean it was bad or anything... I just needed something to pigue my interest. (That's why it didn't get a full five stars.)

Mind Games introduces us to two girls, sisters. Fia is the younger one who has flawless instinct. She acts first, never thinking always knowing what is right and what is wrong. Her older sister, Annie, is blind except when she has her future visions, where she can see clearly as you and me can. Together they are trapped in a school that's run by the Keane foundation where they use both Fia and Annie plus other girls who also have special abilities for their own gain. Fia and Annie have to keep using their gifts or risk each others lives and that's just not something they are willing to risk.

This book was fast-paced and shocking but very enjoyable for me. Its characters were brilliant and yet messed up in their own ways. Kiersten White has created a very intense world with the school Fia and Annie are trapped. I could practually smell, taste and feel Fia and Annie's desperation to protect each other. Especially Fia was very harsh and fierce to read about because she's so broken by everything she had to do to protect her sister. 

Mind Games felt right from the beginning very different from other books. I've never read anything like it. The overall story makes it very interesting as did the characters. It has both the sister's point of view, but also flashbacks about what happened before, taking place so far back as ten years ago to six months back, also in both Fia and Annie's perspective.

Aside from the two main characters we had a bunch of others. Some you will like, some you will hate. But really, all these people from the Keane foundation are awful. I can't understand why someone would be willing to work there. Anywho... we also have James Keane. Yes, Keane as in the Keane foundation. He's the son of the Mr. Keane who calls the shot. He's one of the love interests for Fia. Though it's not like there's a lot of romance in it, just the potential for romance, especially with Adam. Fia has a lot of history with James but things actually feel right with Adam. But before I give too much away I must say personally I like James more. People will probably call me crazy but what can I say, I like the bad ones.

The ending of this book was freaking shocking. I was freaked out by everything that was happening suddenly. Shit really did hit the fan. It only made me crave the sequel even more. I'm really glad I was able to score it already! I can tell you I will be reading it soon because I can't wait to read about what's going to happen next. I'm sure it's going to be really exciting as well.

Mind Games by Kiersten White was really as author Holly Black says on the cover of my copy, "A brutal, exciting gem of a book." It's the perfect description of it. It was all that and more. I was surprised by how captivated I was by it. A definite must-read for fans of psychological thrillers with paranormal twists.

Kiersten White is the NYT bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy and Mind Games, the start of a new dark thriller series. She has one tall husband and three small children and lives near the ocean, where her life is perfectly normal. Visit her at www.kierstenwhite.com.

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Review: The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine

 About the Book 

The Two Princesses of Bamarre (Enchanted, #2)

Princess Meryl dreams of one day protecting the kingdom of Bamarre, while timid Princess Addie is content to stay always within the safety of the castle walls. The one trait they share is their devotion to each other. Their world is turned upside down, though, when Meryl is stricken by the incurable Gray Death. To save her sister, Addie must set out on a dangerous quest filled with dragons, unknown magic, and death itself. Time is running out, and the sisters' lives--and the future of Bamarre--hang in the balance.

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 My Thoughts 

I had no idea that this was actually book two of a series, so my reviews are going to be backwards (at least I've read Ella Enchanted before). xD

So this was my second time reading The Two Princesses of Bamarre and I enjoyed it as much as I did the first time. Levine writes characters that you can't help but love. Meek and timid Addie is relatable and Meryl wants to fight monsters and kick butt.

Every book I have read by Levine has had a sweet little love story too and we have Rhys the sorcerer in The Two Princess of Bamarre. He's seventy-eight in sorcerer years! Which is seventeen in human years and he's sweet and funny, a perfect little crush for all the younger readers and the older ones (like me).

There's adventure, love and true family ties in this book along with all the cool creatures.

to
The Two Princesses of Bamarre

 Quotes 
“I was no hero. The dearest wishes of my heart were for safety and tranquility. The world was a perilous place, wrong for the likes of me.” 

“Step follows step,
Hope follows Courage,
Set your face towards danger,
Set your heart on victory.”

 About the Author 

Gail Carson Levine grew up in New York City and began writing seriously in 1987. Her first book for children, Ella Enchanted, was a 1998 Newbery Honor Book. Levine's other books include Fairest; Dave at Night, an ALA Notable Book and Best Book for Young Adults; The Wish; The Two Princesses of Bamarre; and the six Princess Tales books. She is also the author of the nonfiction book Writing Magic: Creating Stories That Fly and the picture book Betsy Who Cried Wolf, illustrated by Scott Nash. Gail, her husband, David, and their Airedale, Baxter, live in a 1790 farmhouse in the Hudson River Valley of New York State.

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Review: Scarlet by Marissa Meyer

Title: Scarlet
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: Lunar Chronicles #2
Publication: February 5th 2013 by Feiwel and Friends
Genre: Young Adult ~ Sci-Fi/Dystopian
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

    

The fates of Cinder and Scarlet collide as a Lunar threat spreads across the Earth...

Cinder, the cyborg mechanic, returns in the second thrilling installment of the bestselling Lunar Chronicles. She's trying to break out of prison—even though if she succeeds, she'll be the Commonwealth's most wanted fugitive.

Halfway around the world, Scarlet Benoit's grandmother is missing. It turns out there are many things Scarlet doesn't know about her grandmother or the grave danger she has lived in her whole life. When Scarlet encounters Wolf, a street fighter who may have information as to her grandmother's whereabouts, she is loath to trust this stranger, but is inexplicably drawn to him, and he to her. As Scarlet and Wolf unravel one mystery, they encounter another when they meet Cinder. Now, all of them must stay one step ahead of the vicious Lunar Queen Levana, who will do anything for the handsome Prince Kai to become her husband, her king, her prisoner.

~My Thoughts:

Okay, wow! I was blown away by this fabulous sequel to Cinder. It ended up being even more amazing and fantastic than I hoped it would be. Just like in Cinder, I devoured this book in record time even though it's a pretty big book of 450+ pages. 

This book follows 18-year-old Scarlet who lives in a small town in France. When we meet her her grandmother has been missing for two weeks but the police have stopped searching for her already. When Scarlet meets street fighter Wolf she finds out he might know a whole lot about her missing grandmother and is determined to find out what exactly it is he knows and where her grandmother is.
Meanwhile Cinder is trying to break out of jail in order to escape the clutches of Lunar Queen Levana who will stop at nothing to get Cinder and control of Earth. 

This second book in the Lunar Chronicles is even more awesome than the first one. Not only Cinder's story continues but we also meet Scarlet, who's in search of her missing grandmother. There were also other great new characters like Wolf who travels to Paris with Scarlet and "captain" Thorne who assists Cinder in her escape. A lot of the other characters we're used to seeing like Kai, Queen Levana (she still scares the crap out of me) and Iko (yes, she's back!).
The story definitely picks up a notch. There's more action, more gasp-moments, more unexpected friendships formed and more sadness than ever. There were quite a few different points of views; Cinder, Scarlet, Kai, also Thorne also if I remember correctly and one for Levana too (brrr). I loved all the POVs but I must say Kai's made me a little sad. 

Scarlet is definitely different girl than Cinder. But does it make her less awesome? No it does not. I like her just as much as Cinder. Scarlet and Wolf are just too adorable together when they were traveling to Paris. I loved their spark so much. And, gosh, is he hot! But swooning aside, I just admire him for changing his ways and trying to warn Scarlet not to go searching for her grandmother because he knew what was waiting them. I just want to hug that guy!

I just love the way Marissa Meyer tells this story. Her writing is seriously awesome and had me flipping page after page, hour after hour. No wonder I finished it in only a few days time. One word to describe this book is: "Addicting". So very addicting. One thing's for sure, I can't wait for the next book, Cress. The wait will be torture but so worth it. Is it 2014 already? Le sigh.

Also, if you haven't read Scarlet I would definitely recommend to read The Queen's Army (Lunar Chronicles, #1.5) before it because it'll give you more information on what's happening. You can read it for free here: http://www.tor.com/stories/2012/11/the-queens-army


Overall Scarlet was a kick-ass and absolutely worthy sequel to Cinder. I can't remember any book that's been as fascination, exciting and just stunning as Cinder and Scarlet were, especially the latter. Is Scarlet an even better book than Cinder? Most definitely so! I can't wait to see where the next book will go and what is going to happen in it. 

Amusement touched the corner of his lips. "Animals love me."
"Oh, I'm sure they do," Scarlet said, beaming with fake encouragement. She shut the door before muttering, "What farm animals don't love a wolf?”

He was still dazed, and though she hated to admit it, he was actually rather attractive. If a girl happened to like that square-jaw, bright-blue-eyes, devilish-dimples kind of thing. Although he was in desperate need of a haircut and a good shave.

A sickening howl stopped her, sucking the air out of her lungs.
The night's chatter silenced, even the loitering city rats pausing to listen.
Scarlet had heard wild wolves before, prowling the countryside in search of easy prey on the farms. But never had a wolf's howl send a chill down her spine like that.

Marissa Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf . . .), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was given a small book of them when she was a child. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is her first novel.

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This review has also been posted on Bookfever.