A Court of Thrones and Roses by Sarah Maas

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

My Thoughts:
I could not put this down. Like, I had to keep to reading to find out what happened even though it's a Beauty and the Beast retelling and I basically knew exactly what would happen in the end. But this version was so fresh. So different. It's all faeries and mythical creatures and politics and warfare and I was absolutely hooked.

I liked that nothing was over-explained. Hardly anything was explained at all in one big monologue moment; We learned things slowly, piece by piece until it all wrapped up in this nice little bow at the end to make perfect sense. I liked how Feyre's relationships evolved with those around her. It was a natural, progressional evolution where we met a character thinking one thing about them, then got to know them better and they became something else entirely.

This world was very imaginative and I loved how Maas built it. How real the people felt. How there were normal people and normal problems mixed in with the extraordinary and magical and crazy. It was a fun, inventive world even without being a completely original story.

The part with Feyre dressing all Princess Leia-like annoyed me mostly because it was pointless. It was just a way to get our main character scantily-clad and offer up some kind of sexual tension. But it was pointless.

Since this world was new and had different rules and that oh-so-familiar fantasy-medieval-feel, I was abruptly pulled from the story every time I came across a modern curse word. It really annoyed me. The faerie people had that one phrase where they'd curse "by the cauldron" but other than that, they'd all use regular-ol' modern day curse words. If you're going to build an entire freaking world and make up all these rules for it why not go ahead and create some kind of original language to go with it? Most fantasy authors do. Heck, many non-fantasy authors do this, too. That's all.

So basically: If you're into fairy tale retellings or medieval fantasy or magical creatures, you may very well like this book. It's well-written, it has a lot of interesting new elements that I wouldn't have thought to go with Beauty and the Beast and it sucks you in from the beginning. This is definitely New Adult and I do not recommend for teens just because there is some graphic sexual content and very adult themes. But, for realz. it's entertaining. 

Sexual Content: Heavy
Language: Moderate
Drugs/Alcohol: Moderate
Violence: Heavy

Mechanical by Betsy Cornwell

**I was given an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. It will be released on August 4, 2015.** 

Publisher: Clarion Books
Pages: 304
Nicolette’s awful stepsisters call her “Mechanica” to demean her, but the nickname fits: she learned to be an inventor at her mother’s knee. Her mom is gone now, though, and the Steps have turned her into a servant in her own home. 

But on her sixteenth birthday, Nicolette discovers a secret workshop in the cellar and begins to dare to imagine a new life for herself. Could the mysterious books and tools hidden there—and the mechanical menagerie, led by a tiny metal horse named Jules—be the key to escaping her dreary existence? With a technological exposition and royal ball on the horizon, the timing might just be perfect for Nicolette to earn her freedom at last.

Gorgeous prose and themes of social justice and family shine in this richly imagined Cinderella retelling about an indomitable inventor who finds her prince . . . but realizes she doesn't want a fairy tale happy ending after all.

My Thoughts:
I wanted to read this because it had a Cinder feel to it. But I read that so many people were turned off by this book because it sounded so much like Cinder by Marissa Meyer. 

However I can honestly say this is NOTHING like Cinder and it is it's own unique retelling of Cinderella. Such a classic that retellings will never get old. 

Nicolette has become the servant of the house but on her sixteenth birthday she discovers a secret workshop in the cellar of her home that once belonged to her mother. Nicolette's mother was a mechanic or tinker. She created mechanical creatures to do things and Nicolette decides to carry on with her mother's work. Nicolette loves to create things and she's very good at it. 

In order to one day leave her current situation, Nicolette decides  to make things and sell them at the market. Well her inventions become a hit and soon she has several orders. At the market she meets two people and they become really good friends.

The story itself was cute and unique but I had a hard time staying focused. I wanted to see how the story would progress especially with the epic ball and prince scene we are all familiar with and what this author would take the story.

Sadly it couldn't really keep my interest. I finished it but I really had to push through it. There wasn't anything content-wise wrong with the book, I just didn't enjoy the story.

The romance was lame and I was disappointed with it all. I saw it all coming and knew right off the bat what was going on and that was a little disappointing. 

Overall if you want another retelling then check it out. I think younger audiences would appreciate it and possibly enjoy it more than I did.

Sexual Content: none
Language: none
Violence: none
Drugs/Alcohol: none

The Wrath and the Dawn by Renee Ahdieh

Published: May 12, 2015
Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Pages: 395

Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi's wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend.

She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all. 

My Thoughts:
Honestly, I had no idea what this book was going to be about. I kept seeing other YA authors and such rave about this book, so I picked it up.

I am so glad I did! It's a retelling of A Thousand and One Nights! WHOOT! I was hooked after the first sentence!

Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid the Caliph of Khorasan knowing that in the morning she will die. BOOM BABY! Are you hooked? Good!

Oh man what do I say without any spoilers! okay Shahzad only volunteered to marry the Caliph because she plans to kill him and end the suffering of her people. This king who kills his brides the morning after their marriage needed to stop and she decided she would be the one to do it. With a heart full of hate and a desire for revenge Shahrzad marries the Caliph.

Khalid is not what he seems, and soon Shazi starts to see that, which throws off her game and the reasons why she is there.

I really liked Shazi, she a great protagonist who feels so strongly even at sixteen. I liked watching to struggle and wage war with herself has she tries to discover the cause of so much bloodshed.

However this is not just a story of a girl and prince. No, there are other things going on behind the scenes that Shazi and Khalid know nothing about, things that could put their whole lives at stake.

Overall I couldn't put this book down and loved every minute of it. This does have some steamy scenes in it that may not be appropriate for a younger audience though-just a warning.

Sexual Content: moderate (knowledge that two characters had sex, some passionate kissing, and a steamy sex scene that isn't too graphic)
Language: none
Violence: moderate (fighting scenes)
Drugs/Alcohol: mild

A Court of Thorns & Roses by Sarah J. Maas

Published: May 5, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's
Pages: 419

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

My Thoughts:
This is not YA...is it? It can't be.... really? I think it has got to go under the NA (New Adult-ranges from ages 19+ or "college age") category now. Because I would NOT let a younger teenager read this.

Because WHOA....

Okay I bought this because it's a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, I mean who wouldn't! Sarah J. Maas is an EXCELLENT writer. And the retelling was amazing. I will honestly say I thought it resembled Juliet Marillier's version of Beauty and the Beast, at certain parts but IT'S NOT.

Feyre fights for the survival of her family; after being left destitute due to her father's bad business dealings and debts-Feyre hunts for food and sells what she can for whatever else they need to survive. The dynamics of the family was great and goes along with the oldest stories I've read of Beauty and the Beast. Feyre made a promise to her dying mother to take care of the family, which has kept Feyre going all these years. She is a surviver, she taught her self how to shoot, how to skin hides, and she does this solely for the purpose of her promise to her dying mother.

When Feyre kills a wolf, a HUGE beast/wolf/bear/creature comes for retribution for that kill. Feyre agrees to go with this creature and live in the dreaded faerie lands with no chance of every going home and seeing her family again.

I enjoyed the faerie aspect of this story as I feel it stays true to the original idea that faeries aren't to be trusted. I loved every aspect of the faerie world and all that came with it.

I enjoyed the mystery behind what's killing or taking over the faerie world and the concept behind and involving the faerie world and how it affects the human world. It was amazing and extremely well written.

The romance was awesome in the aspect of a GOOD MAN! I am tired of seeing these girls fall for the "bad guys" and somehow "change" these guys. It's unrealistic but you can have a brooding character who underneath is gentle, good, and kind and I loved that about Tamlin.

I loved Tamlin's character for all the reasons written above. Plus the fact that he was willing to do whatever it takes for the good of his estate and the people on there. He was good man. I liked him.

Overall the story was phenomenal and amazing. However the reason why I could not recommend this to younger audiences is the fact that there is a graphic sex scene. Now, it does NOT go on for pages on end or chapters but it's graphic enough that I would not recommend this to younger audiences. I am disappointed that if this book is considered YA that it would be so graphic.

Sexual Content: heavy (as mentioned above)
Violence: heavy
Language: mild
Drugs/Alcohol: mild/moderate (faerie parties and drinking)

*for those sensitive to that kind of content I would recommend you "OBTAIN" the book before buying it*