{Review} Crooked Kingdom (Six of Crows #2) by Leigh Bardugo

Page Count: 536

Published On: September 27, 2016

Published By: Orion Children's Books

Genre(s): Fantasy, YA

Source: hardback - personally purchased

Age Rating: 15+

Where To Find It: Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 5 stars 

Goodreads synopsis:

Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn't think they'd survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they're right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz's cunning and test the team's fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city's dark and twisting streets - a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

~~~

Hey, guys!

     It's been a hot minute since my last full review, but I'm ready to catch up on my reviews and bring you all of the hot goss on my favorite books. Stay tuned for more reviews soon!

     It's also been a hot minute since I read this book, but wow oh wow has it stayed with me during these past few months. This book was the perfect companion to Six of Crows. I absolutely love these characters and the plot is just so fantastically done. Leigh Bardugo really blew me away with this book. I cannot wait to get my hands on King of Scars on the 29th. 

    This gif has been my mood every time I think about Leigh Bardugo's 2019 releases. Ugh, I need them ...yesterday.

     I absolutely adored the focus that this book had on developing the characters and getting to see their cultures through their interactions. I loved learning about their families and their developing friendships. I need more more more! They are just so well fleshed out and developed characters. You don't usually see characters as wonderful as these and I just really need more about them in my life. I cannot wait to see which characters show up in King of Scars.

     This book was also beautifully executed. The amount of thought that went into the soul of this book is beautiful and mind-boggling. There is so much action throughout this book and I was constantly on the edge of my seat. The heist never ended and there was never a lull. I was not prepared for such a fast-paced and action-packed book. I should have been because DUH Six of Crows was just as action packed! You really cannot emotionally prepare yourself for this book. You will be surprised at every turn. 

    I can only gush about this book. It's dark, it's action-packed, it's heartbreaking, it's hopeful, it's funny, it's so freaking engaging! I cannot wait to read more from Leigh. She's such a masterful writer. I can only hope that I can meet her someday. I wish I could tell her how much I adore her books. She deserves every nugget of praise that she receives. She is a master wordsmith. 

I definitely recommend this book! Please read it! Let's talk about it!

My Other Reviews for Leigh's Books:

• The Demon in the Wood (Grisha #0.1) {review}
• Shadow & Bone (Grisha #1) {review}
• Siege and Storm (Grisha #2) {review}
• Ruin & Rising (Grisha #3) ~ review coming soon!
• The Tailor (Grisha #1.5) {review}
• Six of Crows (Six of Crows #1) {review}
• Language of Thorns (Grisha #0.5, #2.5, #2.6) {review}

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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{Review} Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas

Page Count: 693

Published on: September 6, 2016

Published by: Bloomsbury USA Childrens

Genre(s): Fantasy, High Fantasy, YA, Romance

Source: Hardback - personally purchased

Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon // Book Depository

My Rating: 5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

The long path to the throne has only just begun for Aelin Galathynius as war looms on the horizon. Loyalties have been broken and bought, friends have been lost and gained, and those who possess magic find themselves at odds with those who don't.

With her heart sworn to the warrior-prince by her side, and her fealty pledged to the people she is determined to save, Aelin will delve into the depths of her power to protect those she loves. But as monsters emerge from the horrors of the past, and dark forces become poised to claim her world, the only chance for salvation will lie in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear.

In this breathtaking fifth installment of the New York Timesbestselling Throne of Glass series, Aelin will have to choose what—and who—to sacrifice if she's to keep the world of Erilea from breaking apart.

~~~

     I'm not going to get too into detail when discussing this book because I'll just start rambling and fangirling and that doesn't help anyone figure out if they should read this book. Not only that, I have to refrain from spoiling the first 4 books of this series. 

    First of all, I'd just like to say that this book was a roller coaster of emotions all throughout. The relationships and continual world building were just absolutely fantastic. The characters are all just so wonderfully fleshed out and they naturally grow with the series which is so delightful to read. I really loved the dual perspective aspect of this book. It made the story so much more vibrant and well rounded. Each perspective of every character added a kind of depth that I usually don't read in fantasy novels. Maas's writing style and ability is just so wonderful. I adored every bit of this book.

    As I've continued on with this series, I've grown to love these characters like they are my own children. Each one's story is just so rich and different and their personalities are just so fascinating. They clash, they click, and some just cannot get along. That's what I love about these characters. They aren't the typical characters and they aren't perfect at all. Their actions never seem to be written specifically to move the plot along. The events that occur are just perfectly written and the story just flows so nicely. The constant twists and turns and additions to the overall plotline are just so cleverly done. I rarely guess what happens next. 

    This book blew my mind. I finished this book and I was absolutely crushed. Sarah J. Maas always seems to tear me apart with her books...I should just accept it and anticipate it, but I'm always hoping for some semblance of a happy ending...nope! We get a cliffhanger! Every time! I need TOG #7! I need to know what happens to Aelin and Rowan and the gang next! Give me Aelin or give me death! (No. Just kidding...but seriously...I need her back.)

     I'd like to gush about the character and relationship development...just for a bit. Feel free to skip these if you'd like, but Julia hasn't gotten to Empire of Storms, so I'm dying to gush. Each relationship has progressed so naturally and so beautifully. I cannot wait to see where these relationships go. I cannot imagine how everything will be wrapped up in October. 

     Rowan and Aelin grow so much in this book. I just adore how their relationship has blossomed. Their emotional and physical bond is just so inspiring and their vulnerability with one another is magical. I cannot believe how much I love them. I only want what's best for them. I just want them to live happily ever after. If SJM kills them off or kills one of them off in the next book I will break. I'm sure of it. 

     Although Dorian was my least favorite character in this book, I feel like he's growing back into his sassy and strong character. He seemed to kind of fly under the radar in EoS, but I think that is because of his experiences in the previous books. A lot of people have been discussing his rapid character change, but I actually understand how his character has been changing. He's gone through some emotional and physical trauma. He's trying to move past it the best he can. I support him and I hope that he and Manon get together in the end. I think she's good for him. I think they are thoroughly adorable!

On that note...Manon. My queen. The light of the Witch clans. The most badass witch that will ever be (probably). This chick is just so fantastically written. The amount of development that she goes through is so wonderfully done. I cannot wait to see how her character grows in TOG7. I love her developing relationship with the gang, I love her bond with Elide, I love her with Dorian. I love her whole character. I'd definitely read a prequel series about Manon...in fact, I'm sort of demanding it. I need more backstory on Manon!

    Elide. What a strong little cinnamon roll. I love her so much. I cannot wait to see how her character grows. After the trauma that she's gone through, she's shown such immense strength in the face of danger. I love her. I love her. I love her. She is a strong independent and healing woman. She deserves every happiness and all of the answers to her questions. I hope that she and Lorcan get together and are happy. I need that in my life. They are precious. 

    Lorcan. Oh my goodness, his development was probably one of my favorite parts of this book. I love him, I love his character development, I love his loyalty, I love his flaws, I love his bond with Elide, I love how he's questioning his past decisions, and I just want him to be happy. Oh my goodness, the events that went down in the last chunk of the book literally broke me. LORCAN JUST DESERVES ALL OF THE HAPPINESS! 

     Aedion. Oh this man just goes through so much in this book. Mainly emotional, but wow oh wow...He deserves all of the happiness...

      I know I've basically said that they all deserve all of the happiness, but they do! These characters are just so near and dear to my heart. They deserve all of the happiness!

    This book was just absolutely fantastic. I highly recommend this series. If you didn't enjoy the first couple of books and didn't feel the sparks like you anticipated, push through to Heir of Fire and the rest because the amount of depth and dimension in these sequels are just out of this world. 10/10 would recommend forever. 

My Other Maas Reviews:

• The A Court Of Thorns & Roses series
• A Court of Thorns & Roses
• A Court of Mist & Fury
• A Court of Wings and Ruin
• The Throne of Glass Series
• Throne of Glass
• Crown of Midnight
• Heir of Fire
• Queen of Shadows
• The Assasin's Blade {coming soon!}
• Tower of Dawn {to read}

Happy reading!

Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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A Brightness Out Of the Blue by Jill Atkins

Page Count: 200

Published on: 2016

Published by: Raven Books (Ransom UK)

Genre(s): Realistic Fiction, Retelling, Fantasy?
Source: Sent from publisher

Age Rating: MG/YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Book Depository: {click here}

My Rating: 2 stars

Overall Opinion: Entertaining, but not that great

Goodreads synopsis: 

When you're at rock bottom ... life can't get any worse ... you don't see the point of carrying on ... someone walks into your world and makes all the difference. 

Ella is mourning her dead mother and suffering the cruelty of a new step-mother. But when Martha, an old lady, falls in the street and Ella helps her get home, she feels Martha's strange magical power. Soon her life begins to change for the better. 

A Brightness out of the Blue is a beautiful modern-day fairytale with a twist in the tale.

~~~

Hey, guys!

I was sent a copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

      I was actually looking forward to this book. It was one of the books that Raven Books had offered to send me, along with a batch of their upcoming releases.I'm always intrigued by a good retelling, and the fact that it was a Cinderella retelling made me even more interested. Unfortunately, this book fell short and I wasn't too impressed.

      After the death of her beloved mother, Ella's father begins anew with a new and cruel woman. Ella runs away and tries to begin her life again, independently. When Martha, an older and mysterious lady, falls into Ella's life she knows it will never be the same. Her life begins to turn around and Ella's life becomes much more interesting. 

      This book was unfortunately really disappointingly predictable. It followed the Cinderella template religiously and there weren't any moments that really screamed to me "THIS BOOK" or wow'd me. It was just very cliche and boring for the majority. The characters were very two-dimensional and lacked substance or personality. The relationships between the various characters were lacking any kind of real feelings towards each other. Overall, the characters and the relationships between them needed to be fleshed out much more to make me feel for any of them. The main character Ella, especially, was very whine-y and I could not feel any kind of sympathy for her. She need a good whack with the strong protagonist stick. 

     This book read like a contemporary or realistic fiction book, but when the author added the touch of ambiguous magic without any kind of explanation, I got pretty annoyed. Magic is magic for a reason, but in this book it was just there without a reason. I'm not sure if the character is a witch or what, but I wanted answers at the end of the book. I'm still not sure if the book was supposed to be a modern day fantasy, a paranormal fantasy, or just an awkward take on magical realism. Either way, I'm not a fan of the execution of the book. 

     Overall, this book was fairly entertaining, but lacked the qualities that make a great retelling. When writing a retelling it is important (to me) to stick to the original story but totally make it your own through original characters, settings, and new plot points that are totally off the wall. There was a decent plot but it needed to be fleshed out and consistently written throughout. This would be a good novel for younger readers (ages 11-15) to start out with when being introduced to fairy tale retellings. It wouldn't be the best but it would be a good introduction to what can be done with the genre. I think that I would have enjoyed it much more when I was age 11 to 13. 

Other Retellings You Would Love:

• A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas (ONE OF MY ALL TIME FAVORITE SERIES)
• Beauty & the Beast + Fae
• My Rating: ALL OF THE STARS
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas
• Cinderella + assassins and political intrigue (loosely based)
• My Rating 4.75 stars
• Dorothy Must Die by Danielle Paige
• dystopian after Oz - Dorothy is evil
• My Rating: 5 stars
• East by Edith Pattou
• Norwegian Beauty & the Beast retelling
• My Rating: 5 stars 
• The Fairy Tale Detectives (The Sisters Grimm #1) by Michael Buckley
• Descendants of the Brothers Grimm. Solving mysteries in a town full of fairy tale characters 
• My Rating: 5 stars
• Cinder by Marissa Meyer
• Dystopian fantasy retelling with moon people, cyborgs, political intrigue, and a fantastic cast of characters.
• My Rating: 5 stars

Happy reading!
Olivia 

~LivTheBookNerd~

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If I Fix You by Abigail Johnson

Page Count: 304

Published on: October 25, 2016

Published by: Harlequin Teen

Genre(s): YA, Contemporary, Romance, Coming of Age, Realistic Fiction
Source: Paperback - sent from the author and publisher

Age Rating: YA

TRIGGER WARNING. MAY CONTAIN HEAVY TOPICS PERTAINING TO ABUSE, DOMESTIC ISSUES, AND FEELS

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Book Depository: {click here}

Twitter: @AbigailsWriting

My Rating: 4.25 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Readers of Sarah Dessen, Cammie McGovern and Morgan Matson will adore this thought-provoking, complex and romantic contemporary novel from debut author Abigail Johnson, about finding the strength to put yourself back together when everything you know has fallen apart.

When sixteen-year-old Jill Whitaker’s mom walks out—with a sticky note as a goodbye—only Jill knows the real reason she’s gone. But how can she tell her father? Jill can hardly believe the truth herself.

Suddenly, the girl who likes to fix things—cars, relationships, romances, people—is all broken up. Used to be, her best friend, tall, blond and hot flirt Sean Addison, could make her smile in seconds. But not anymore. They don’t even talk.

With nothing making sense, Jill tries to pick up the pieces of her life. But when a new guy moves in next door, intense, seriously cute, but with scars—on the inside and out—that he thinks don’t show, Jill finds herself trying to make things better for Daniel. But over one long, hot Arizona summer, she realizes she can’t fix anyone’s life until she fixes her own. And she knows just where to start . . . 

~~~

Hey, guys!

     I was contacted by the publisher and author to read and write an honest review. This book will become a quick favorite of those who enjoy Rainbow Rowell, Morgan Matson, Sarah Dessen, and Jenny Han's books. If I Fix You follows sixteen-year-old Jill. Jill's life has taken a turn for the worse when her mother just up and leaves her father after a major scandal. Suddenly, Jill's life is broken and a mess and she doesn't know what to do. As she tries to move past her mother's rejection, a new family moves in next door. The neighbor boy, Daniel is intense and really great looking. As Jill and Daniel become friends, she tries to fix his tragic situation the best she can. But she has to realize that in order to help others, she must heal herself before she can do anything.

     I really enjoyed the characters in this book. The main character, Jill, was fantastically fleshed out and I really enjoyed getting to know her as the book progressed. Her growth as a character was really wonderful to read about. She never caught a break in this book and she always tried to make her situation better and to move past it and grow. Jill's character is really natural and relate-able. She's so fun and snarky and I adored her conversations and hilarious antics with her friends and dad. She is so passionate about cars and being a mechanic and I just loved it. Her emotions were so valid and were written really well. It was so natural and I never felt like Abigail Johnson was over doing it or writing about it badly. 

      The main two guy characters were also really interesting and well written. The character, Daniel, was such a deep and fascinating character. His whole situation was so tragic and heartbreaking. I really felt for him. As I continued to get to know Daniel, and as Daniel and Jill became closer friends, I started to really love their friendship. I never really shipped Jill and Daniel, however, I thought they were better off as friends. This isn't a spoiler, I promise. This is just an opinion. You'll have to read the book to find out what happens. The other guy character, Sean, wasn't as developed as Daniel, but he was still very dreamy. I loved seeing his character progression as the book went on. I think that because the book was always in Jill's point-of-view, it really emphasized the changes that she experienced and she really was quite observant when it came to how their friendship fluctuated. Their friendship was quite rocky for the majority of the book, but I loved reading the flashbacks and moments where Jill looked back on the time before her mother left. 

     The whole drama that took place throughout the book was written so seamlessly. The combination of the problematic friendships, the family drama, the domestic issues, and boy-issues were such heavy topics by themselves, but Johnson wrote them all in the story so wonderfully. It never felt like there were too many issues to handle or that any of them were too much in one story. The twist that happened towards the end wasn't a complete surprise in my opinion. I speculated that it had happened, but it was still quite tragic when it was confirmed. I feel like the topics that this book emphasized was done very well. It was very realistic, and I'm kind of in love with Johnson's writing style. I can't wait to read her new book! 

     Overall, this book was really fantastic and I was thoroughly impressed. It really exceeded my expectations. The writing was flawless and the characters were so fantastically fleshed out.  I adored the setting and the couldn't put this book down. Johnson's debut, in my opinion, was a complete success. I can't wait to read her second book which comes out later than this year. and I can't wait to see how her writing career pans out from here. 

Other Contemporary/Realistic Fiction Books You'd Love:

• Textrovert by Lindsey Summers
• Zenn Diagram by Wendy Brant
• Anna & the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
• P.S. I Like You by Kasie West
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell
• Girl Online by Zoe Sugg
• Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Happy reading!
Olivia 

~LivTheBookNerd~

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@LivTheBookNerd on Books Amino

[Guest Review: Review by Cheryl] Striking Terror by Denis Lipman

Page Count: 320 Published on: October 15, 2016 Published by: Piscataqua Press Genre(s): Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Thriller Source: Print: Paperback -via author Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon
Book Depository: {click here}

Cheryl Rating: 4 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Micah, a teen with a talent for magic, befriends a Palestinian girl preparing for a terror attack but her change of heart changes everything. Now Micah must use every trick up his sleeve to stay ahead of a vengeful brother and his murderous gang-not only to save his friend's life but to thwart a deadly plot to engulf the West in the explosive cauldron that is today's Middle East.

~~~

      Well, Olivia's Mamaw is back. I volunteered to do a review for her since school keeps her pretty busy. And Mamaw actually enjoyed it. 

      The book, Striking Terror, by Denis Lipman, is a YA novel that speaks to young and old. The story could be taken right from the pages of the news stories, but the characters are what I found interesting

      The main two characters, Micah and Shireen, are young teens who find themselves embroiled in the danger and cultural whirlpool of life in modern day Jerusalem. At first, I was a bit skeptical of the situations in which they found themselves. In retrospect, however, knowing the teen penchant for reacting on emotional impulses, I see them as plausible responses. 

      The writing was good and the story interesting from page one to the end. This could well be a set-up for a series of adventures.

      I would recommend Striking Terror to readers of any age who love excitement and foreign locales. I am giving it a four-star review. Some might give it five, but I'm Mamaw, and I'm rather stingy with my stars.

Good reading, all

Mamaw Cheryl

Other Reviews by Mamaw Cheryl: {click here}

{Guest Review: Alex} [MINOR SPOILERS] Johnny & Jamaal by K.M. Breakey

Page Count: 340 Published on: June 20, 2016 Published by: K.M. Breakey Genre(s): Contemporary, Political, Realistic Fiction Source: Print: Paperback -via author Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @kmbreakey

Alex's Rating: 4.25 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Two athletes from different planets are on the verge of greatness. Johnny’s a carefree Canadian making his mark in the NHL. Jamaal’s set to follow LeBron and Kyrie out of the ghetto. When their worlds collide, the catastrophic clash ignites racial conflict not seen since Ferguson. The incident tests the fledgling love of Johnny’s best friend Lucas and his African-American girlfriend Chantal, and sets them on a quest for truth and justice in the perverse racial landscape of 2016.

As chaos escalates across American cities, an MLK-like voice rises from the ashes. Wilbur Rufus Holmes may be salvation for Luke and Chantal, but can he stop society’s relentless descent into racial discord?

Johnny and Jamaal is awash with sports, violence and political taboo, as America’s seething dysfunction is laid bare. 

~~~

Minor spoilers ahead

      Liv was contacted about reviewing this book a couple weeks back. With a new semester starting up, she didn’t have time to check this out, so I decided to read it. This book ended up throwing me a curve. I expected the book to be  & about the titular characters. Early in the story, Johnny is killed with Jamaal being at least partially responsible. The story shifts to focus on Lucas, Johnny’s white best friend, and Chantal, Lucas’s black girlfriend, as the couple watch the racial discussion explode in the United States.

      Johnny and Jamaal were not what I expected at all. I anticipated a fairly generic sports story where Johnny and Jamaal meet, become best friends, and make an example of overcoming differences on a national stage. I was skeptical and then a bit appreciative that I was wrong. The author is not afraid to show every opinion of race relations in his book. I really enjoyed the different views presented throughout.

      There are a few issues that I’d like to mention. First is the language. Swearing is omnipresent in this novel. It is more realistic to the world today, but I would give an R rating if it were a movie. Another detractor is the abundant use of African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Again, its use makes the world more fleshed out, but written down is somewhat difficult to follow, at least for a small town white guy.

      Overall, I enjoyed reading Johnny and Jamaal. It was good to see someone write about race in the United States and present logical ideas. Not everyone will agree, and that’s okay. The book opens the dialogue to begin a discussion. It will surely upset some people, and that’s okay too. I think anyone remotely affected by race (so everyone) should check it out, as long as the reader is mature enough to handle the language and heavy material.

Other Books You Should Read:

• The Autobiography of Martin Luther King Jr by MLK & Clayborn Carson 
• The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley & Malcolm X
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
• The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander

Keep your stick on the ice, 

~Alex~

Gemina (The Illuminae Files #2) by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman (illustrated by Marie Lu)

Page Count: 659 Published on: October 18, 2016 Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers Genre(s): YA, Science Fiction, Dystopia Source: Print: Hardback & Audiobook via Library Age Rating: YA

Where To Find It: Goodreads // Amazon

Twitter: @misterkristoff @AmieKaufman @Marie_Lu

My Rating: 4 stars (overall)

Audiobook Rating: 5/5 stars

Goodreads synopsis:

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The saga that began with Illuminae continues on board the space station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of BeiTech’s assault. Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter, Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum may be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival. The fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

~~~

Hey, guys!

      It's been about six months since I read Illuminae, the first book in the Illuminae Files, but Kristoff and Kaufman's story has resonated with me for those few months. I really loved the characters and the format of Illuminae. I really fell in love with the characters that were introduced in Illuminae, so I was kind of wary to be introduced to a whole new group of characters. On top of that, I neglected to remind myself of the details that I had forgotten during the last few months. Granted, it wasn't hard to get context from Gemina, but I probably would have benefited if I had just read a spoiler-y summary before I started Gemina. That was my fault, but no big. I loved this book. 

      I'm not going to comment about the format again. I adore how unique this book is. There were so many different elements that are featured in this book that really tied the story together. I can't wait to read more.

      The audiobook was such a fantastic production. I absolutely adored it. There were so many voice actors and cool sound effects that really added a special something to the story. If your local library has a copy of the audiobook to listen to while you read, then I highly recommend that you read and listen. It's a very visual book, but the audiobook gives you so much more. I highly recommend.

      I really enjoyed the new characters that were introduced in Gemina. Hanna and Nik were so funny to read about and listen to. I really enjoyed reading Gemina and listening to the audiobook with it. Although I really loved the characters from Illuminae, I really fell in love with Hanna and Nik's friendship. Hanna was such a badass and Nik was the perfect mix of bad boy and the sensitive tough guy. Hanna, at first, seemed like a really spoiled and annoying person, but once I really got into the book I totally loved her. She was so strong and snarky. Her relationship with her father wasn't perfect, but it was so cool to see what they did together...it wasn't the typical father-daughter relationship, but her father really did love her and wanted her to be able to protect herself. I loved it. She's so gorgeous, but she's lethal. I couldn't exactly relate to her circumstances, but I connected with her. She was a very realistic character. Let's talk about Nik. Oh, Nik. He was just a fantastically well-rounded character. He is so mysterious and sarcastic. I just loved him so much. He was perfect. I don't want to reveal too much, but he was probably one of my favorite characters. I also really enjoyed Nik's cousin Ella. Her commentary was so hilarious to read/listen to. Her story was so heartbreaking to read. I wanted so much more of Ella. 

      I loved that Kady and Ezra were still in this book. The little bits that they were in weren't my favorites, but I loved how the books are being intertwined. I can't wait to see what book 3 will entail. 

      Once again, AIDEN was featured in this addition to the series. I love AIDEN! He is so obliviously sassy. While I was reading and listening to this book, AIDEN's parts really freaked me out. I had to mute/skip AIDEN's parts during the audiobook. I can read about AIDEN, but the voice actor was gloriously creepy. I can't wait to see how AIDEN is incorporated in book 3. 

     Little appreciate blurb for Marie Lu's illustrations! They were so gorgeous! I had no idea that there were going to be illustrations this time around. I can't wait to see if there are more featured in book 3! Phenomenal! How have I not read any of Marie Lu's books yet? It's been added to the list of books that I should read in 2017. 

     Overall, I really enjoyed Gemina. I don't think it was as great as Illuminae, but I still loved it. I can't wait to continue the series in October. I also need to pick up some of Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman's books. I hope their writing styles are just as good apart as they are together. I can't wait. 

I highly recommend this book and audiobook!

More By the Authors That I've Reviewed:

• These Broken Stars (Starbound trilogy #1) by Amie Kaufman & Megan Spooner
• Illuminae (The Illuminae Files #1) by Jay Kristoff & Amie Kaufman

Happy reading!
Olivia

~LivTheBookNerd~

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