Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin


Friday, April 17, 2015

Review: Dreamfire by Kit Alloway

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I received this book for free from St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: Dreamfire by Kit AllowayDreamfire by Kit Alloway
Published by St. Martin's Griffin on February 24, 2015
Genres: Paranormal, YA
Source: St. Martin's Griffin
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five-stars

Joshlyn Weaver has always lived with a big secret. Ordinary kids spend their free time going to the movies, hanging out with friends, and searching on the internet.

But for her, an evening at home usually means entering people's dreams. For many generations, her family has been part of a very powerful and very secretive society of dream walkers. Tasked with the responsibility of lowering the world's general anxiety — which only leads to war and strife in the waking world — their job has always been to stop nightmares before they go too far.
By stopping nightmares while sleeping, they help to stop nightmares in real life.

But when an ancient feud within the dream walker society resurfaces right when a seemingly unconnected series of very strange and very scary events start occurring during her dream walks, Josh finds herself in a race against time. The one true dream walker has never been known. Could she be the one

“THERE HAS TO BE A BOOK TWO. THE STORY CANNOT END HERE.”

This was my mantra upon finishing this book. And boy, did I keep on repeating this with much fervor and passionate flailing. I mean, guys. GUYS. I found a 5 star book. THIS IS NOT A DRILL: I FOUND A 5 STAR BOOK. Where’s the confetti?! Where are the champagne?! WE NEED A GODDAMN CHOCOLATE FOUNTAIN OVER HERE.

I am getting goosebumps all over my skin as I type this. I don’t even know how I’m going to review this book in the most logical, coherent way possible. I usually write my reviews in a calculated, objective (with a tint of emotional bias) manner, but right now, I don’t think that is possible. Warning: I may repeat the words awesome, fantastic, excellent, sublime, amazing, magnificent, epic many times. SAYING ALL OF THOSE WORDS ARE NOT ENOUGH FOR THIS BOOK. 

Basically? This book is awesome. It’s written so, so well that my mind is still so blown away at how amazingly thought-out everything here is. The plot, the characters, the development, the romance, the world-building, the complexity of human relationships, EVERYTHING. I loved how realistic they all felt – the feelings, the dialogue, the characters themselves – I found them so real and genuine that my heart really ached for them, that I wished I were there with them because I could see them as real people, not as fictional characters with personalities that feel forced. It was all just so natural.

Take the world-building for example. Basically, in this world, there is another realm where all dreams take place – all the happy dreams, all the nightmares, and this realm plays a big part in the world’s balance as a whole. If there are too many nightmares going on, it would mean the end of both worlds. That’s where Dream Walkers like Josh come in, people who have been resolving nightmares for generations. It may sound really simple, and you may be thinking, “Meh, that doesn’t sound complex at all.”

But this book will prove you wrong because the book really sets the world extensively with scientific explanations (that do not make you dizzy) and dream theories (that do make sense in-world). It may feel slow because of this, though (which seems to be the complaint of many reviewers), and I wouldn’t blame you if it feels to you that way if you read this, but for me, it was never a problem because the writing made up for it. The writing was so delicious to consume. I just loved how smooth and lyrical the narration was, and how it effectively gave life to the story and to the characters effortlessly.

Speaking of characters, can I just say that I love how Josh was so realistic and flawed at the same time? She was seen as the best of her generation, being able to resolve nightmares 88% of the time and with such ease and efficiency; but deep inside she was so insecure and plagued by guilt of a death that happened in the past that she thought was her fault. And these flaws were shown so realistically – she would be praised for her skills, and she would put walls around her and then think that if she were, what happened in the past wouldn’t have happened. She would get away from a dire situation, and she would berate herself for letting it happen in the first place. And best of all – it never felt overwhelming. It never felt contrived. They were all handled so sensitively, resolved gradually and realistically, and they even compliment the storyline at the same time.

And my GOD, WILL. WILL KANSAS. The love interest was just so bloody amazing. He’s an average joe who suddenly finds himself all mixed in affairs he never knew existed, and he handles them all like a champ. He is sweet, laid-back, kind, sensitive to the problems of the people around him, and has demons of his own. I loved how he was such a genuine partner to Josh, how he complimented her aggressive, reckless nature with his cautiousness and compassion. I loved how even though he was the love interest, his “development” with Josh never took center stage – they were all in the background and even moved alongside the real storyline. It made me yearn for scenes with both of them even more.

Long story short: Will Kansas is my current book boyfriend, and he won’t be going anywhere anytime soon. MORE MALES LIKE HIM, PLEASE?!?!?!

I know I’ve talked about this book in length already. I just can’t get enough of this book, if you haven’t noticed yet.  If you loved The Diviners by Libba Bray, you’ll definitely want this because that’s the feel I got from this book. But even if you don’t know that book, you guys definitely need to read this. It’s just so beautifully and masterfully written.

five-stars

5 Hot Espressos

Review: All the Rage by Courtney Summers

Review: All the Rage by Courtney Summers

Posted by on 03/30/2015 • 18 Comments

This is some terribly gritty stuff! This story revolves around a rape, and soon enough, you can add in a girl’s disappearance. So yes, this book is harsh, and Summers tackles it head-on with her immensely poignant writing style. She has a way of dissecting her characters until you can’t help but feel just as lost, just as completely broken as they are. I was honestly emotionally and psychologically confused for much of this novel. This book also touches on one of today’s biggest challenges with gender violence – society’s disbelief and victim blaming. Especially when the accused is the son of a prominent town figure. Stories like this are, sadly, the reality for many girls in our own world.

With that said, this is not a story to tread…

Review: Don’t Stay Up Late by R.L. Stine

Review: Don’t Stay Up Late by R.L. Stine

Posted by on 03/19/2015 • 16 Comments

I think I’m not alone when I say R.L. Stine was a huge part of my childhood. Back when I was still in grade school, I found it hard to be committed to reading… the books I read just didn’t stick with me and it was difficult to keep being engaged after 10 pages, but R.L. Stine’s Goosebumps books changed that. I loved his books. I loved how it helped nourish the reader in me and how it nurtured my love for reading. I was so fascinated with the notion that mere words could scare the daylights out of me.

That’s why I wanted to read Don’t Stay Up Late, his newest work. I wanted to feel that nostalgia again, and see what the author has to offer many, many years since the last time…

Blog Tour: The Tragic Age by Stephen Metcalfe – Review and Giveaway

Blog Tour: The Tragic Age by Stephen Metcalfe – Review and Giveaway

Posted by on 02/26/2015 • 18 Comments

This book was very refreshing. The MC was such a fabulous voice and I really liked reading this from his POV. While I didn’t always like the character, he was really wonderful and I felt for him. I loved the writing and how he would be telling us something and create a scenario, then tell us that wasn’t what really happened. It was entertaining. He was bright and creative.

Billy was one of those characters that you really feel. He is not the stereotypical rich kid at all. In fact, he doesn’t really care about any of that and he sometimes thinks things would be easier if he was not the child of rich parents. Not to mention the death of his sister that is a constant ache for…

The Tragic Age Playlist!

The Tragic Age Playlist!

Posted by on 02/09/2015 • 6 Comments

Today I’ve got the Tragic Age blog tour dropping by to share the book’s Playlist! Here’s what The Tragic Age is all about:

The Tragic Age Playlist, by Stephen Metcalfe Land of Confusion by Disturbed – orignally by Gennesis with Phil Collins – This is the better version Burn it Down – Avenged Sevenfold –  Billy’s favorite drummer – The Rev Another Brick in the Wall Pt. 2 – Pink Floyd –  Teacher, leave those kids alone…. Rebels – Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers –  For Twom Talk, Talk, Talk – The Music Machine – 1966 – First garage rock band – “my social life’s a dud – my name is really mud…” In Your Eyes – Peter Gabriel – As good a love song as there is…

Review: Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers

Review: Please Remain Calm by Courtney Summers

Posted by on 01/12/2015 • 23 Comments

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

I could leave my review at that, really >.< Courtney Summers has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Her books are just so well written -enthralling and character driven. My first book by her was This is Not a Test, which I absolutely loved, so I was stoked when I heard she was coming out with a sequel. This is a novella, though, but it’s on the long side with about 100 pages or so (mine was an eBook so I’m approximating). Still, there’s no lack of intensity and general Summersness I’ve come to love!

Please Remain Calm begins right where we left off in This is Not a Test, but this time we’re in Rhys’s perspective. After hearing there was a safe haven not so far away,…

Review: Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn

Review: Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn

Posted by on 06/25/2014 • 23 Comments

WHAAAAAAA!

Holy mother of god this book is some kind of messed up! Like, whoa! But it’s the kind of disturbing that is really wonderfully brilliant when you turn the last page, sit back and really think about it. It’s a story that will make your skin crawl, an ending that made me want to pee myself, and a memorable quality that makes it all unforgettable.

Jamie comes off as someone who is mentally unstable from the very start. Understandably so after learning the tragedy that is his childhood. And like many unsettling narrators, he immediately had me under his spell. I quickly became fascinated by his life, his thoughts, his mysterious condition where his hands go numb anytime he gets too stressed or panicked. I wanted to know…

Review: Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn

Review: Complicit by Stephanie Kuehn

Posted by on 05/29/2014 • 13 Comments

Complicit is exactly the kind of book I like to read, but have so much trouble finding. At the same time it is exactly the kind of book that I hate reviewing. Full of twists, turns and unreliable characters, this novel keeps you guessing until the very end and leaves you with a conclusion that will have your jaw on the floor.

Jamie Henry is 16 years old and he doesn’t know much about his past. He knows that he was adopted at a young age and that he was very lucky to have gotten to stay with his sister, Cate through all of that. He knows that his mother was shot and killed right in front of him and he knows that his sister is not stable nor is…