Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Published: August 27th 2013 by Bloomsbury USA Children's
Pages: 420

"A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached.
It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend."

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie...and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

“But death was her curse and her gift, and death had been her good friend these long, long years.”

For what feels like the hundredth time this year, I feel like an alien for not loving a book. In this case, it's Crown of Midnight. After my encounter with the first book in the high fantasy series, Throne of Glass, I would say I had high expectations for its sequel. I was after all in love with the world and the characters. I still am, even after the disappointment I've read. This book had the same flaws as its predecessor, but besides the plot and pace, it were also the characters who were lacking. I'm now what feels like praying in the hope that the third one will be better, because I have not yet lost my faith in this series.

Spoilers for the first three books, so including this one, of the series will be in this review until the very end, so be warned.

My main issue with Crown of Midnight is very similar to the one I've head with Throne of Glass, namely the plot. I can easily split the book into two parts, both containing fifty percent of the book. In the first part, the plot dragged to nowhere. There was nothing happening. If something did happen, it had to do with Celaena being the King's Champion. The competition is over, and honestly I was thrilled to finally see the great assassin doing what's she's been trained for. Because of this it was no surprise that I was extremely disappointed when I learned she has been faking their deaths all along. Celaena Sardothien, out of all assassins, would at least have the brains to know there will be consequences. I understand it completely when it comes to killing Terrasen citizens, but looking at everyone else, I felt like the Maas wanted things to head a certain way, even if it was a stupid decision and completely out of character.

It wasn't the only decision Celaena made in this book which felt completely out of character. The girl I've grown to love in Throne of Glass was barely recognizable in this one. She frustrated me in more ways than I first imagined, and it wasn't because of her arrogance. I guess she was still okay during the first half of the book and was one of the few things I held onto to get through it. With the loss of her best friend Nehemia, her emotions were all over the place. It felt like she didn't even knew what to do with herself anymore. The grieving process is something you have to get through, but I didn't particularly love the way Celaena handled it. She was whining whenever she could and did nothing else than to complain.

Despite all this, there was still something that I adored about the events that happened after Nehemia's death: when she snapped. In my opinion, the best scene out of the entire book. I was overwhelmed by her thoughts when all she could think of was her time in Endovier. She wouldn't see the difference anymore between the overseers and the guards, and went on a serious killing spree. She couldn't do anything and couldn't think about anything else than to kill. I may look like a sociopath by now, but the fact that that scene showed her animal side, she side she never wanted anyone to see, that was what made it great.

When I said the book can be divided into two sections, I hadn't even written about the second one. It restored almost all of my issues regarding the first half. Celaena was still acting stupid, but suddenly the pace started picking up and I knew something big was going to go down. The ending left me speechless. Just like the author probably wanted, my jaw dropped when I read the last few words. It was definitely the type of situation when I couldn't even begin to describe my raw emotions. If I wasn't sitting by then, Chaol wouldn't have been the only one who would have sank to his knees. It is common news that Crown of Midnight ends on a cliffhanger, and now I know why I feared getting to it. I feel like one of the happiest girls in the world right now because I don't have to wait much longer for the release of Heir of Fire.

Unfortunately, I still can't judge my entire opinion on only the ending of the book. Even though it did make the book so much better -- and explained previous events I'd written off as random --, it didn't automatically make the entire book fantastic. Especially because I felt like this book is more of an inbetween book because of the dragging plot. A book that sets up the mystery and tension, but for what's still to come. There's no doubt about it: the mystery itself is intriguing, but dragged out way too much and in the end it was way too thin to come across as a real mystery anymore. It could have been great, if only with way less pages.

Just when I thought we were getting through the love triangle, I now realise it's only just the beginning of an endless and complicated relationship. Honestly, I don't even know which side I'm on anymore. After rooting for Chaolaena, I felt myself leaning more towards Dorian in this book, to eventually lean back towards Chaol again. Both characters have traits I love and both have something special. I fully understand Celaena as to why she's trapped in this mess. I can't seem to pick just one side either, since I'm also in love with both. It's obvious I was satisfied with their romance. The wait had seemed to last forever until they finally got to it. I couldn't help but to not hide my grin. The scenes involving the two of them seemed to be written more beautiful than ever and I completely swooned at every word they said to each other. It is also why I would have liked it to last a little longer, for at least the rest of the book. Deep down I know Celaena will end up with Chaol again, despite him being responsible for Nehemia's death.

Nehemia herself still remained a complex character I had an even more complex love-hate relationship with. I never got to understand my reasons for not really loving her as everyone else when I finally figured out why. There is so little known about her character so was really hard to properly bond with her and be compassionate. She went through a lot, and I feel like I wasn't ready yet to say my goodbyes to a character who died fighting.

In my mind I have this feeling I still have lots of topics to write about, when all I need right now are to express my feelings towards the two main love interests of the series. Honestly, Chaol was such an idiot in this book. A lot of it has to do with him having put the king before the girl he loves so dearly. He put the cruel king before Celaena, and it's not something I can be okay with. During the first half of the book he literally does nothing but be romantic and exclaim his love for her. I find it adorable of course, yet he's still so dumb to hide such a big secret from her. The fact that the king is at all friendly or caring makes it even worse. Chaol had no reason to even bother to hide it. As much as I still love him, I do think he definitely deserved those scars. His actions after Celaena's brutal attack seemed to have come out of nowhere and didn't hold any connection to his love for her. He lets her go without even considering consequences. Good job, Chaol. Good job.

I really don't have much to say about Dorian's character. The reason behind that is quite logical, as he almost never appeared in the book until the climax, nor did he have much development. It's not because Chaol and Celaena start a wonderful romance that I don't want to see anything from Dorian. Especially now when he discovered his magic, his storyline is promising. I'm desperate for more scenes with him in Heir of Fire.

Clearly Heir of Fire has a lot to improve and fix again. My hopes aren't currently very high because of my disappointment with this one. Still I hope it will be something fantastic, something that will blow me away. After all, the end of the book has made endless possible direction in where the plot will head now. I wonder what will happen in the future. I have faith that it will leave me even more speechless than I had with Crown of Midnight.

Since You've Been Gone by Morgan Matson
Published: May 6th 2014 by Simon & Schuster
Pages: 449

It was Sloane who yanked Emily out of her shell and made life 100% interesting. But right before what should have been the most epic summer, Sloane just...disappears. All she leaves behind is a to-do list. 

On it, thirteen Sloane-inspired tasks that Emily would normally never try. But what if they could bring her best friend back?

Apple picking at night?
Okay, easy enough.

Dance until dawn?
Sure. Why not?

Kiss a stranger?
Um...

Emily now has this unexpected summer, and the help of Frank Porter (totally unexpected), to check things off Sloane's list. Who knows what she'll find?

Go skinny-dipping?
Wait...what?

"I closed my eyes only to open them once more, and make sure it was all still there - the riot of stars above me, this whole other world existing just out of reach."

 Stop whatever you are doing. Drop it, because I have to convince you to read Since You've Been Gone. This book is wonderful. It met all my expectations and surprised me above it all. Despite some events further on in the book, I can guarantee that this is an ultimate happy pill.

I cannot bring myself to believe how much I adored the plot. Despite the involvement of a list with things to do, it never felt like she was just doing things to eventually cross them off. From the beginning already, there's a nice flow which continues throughout the book. With every task she completes, Emily is pushed out of her comfort zone, bit by bit. The tasks on the list itself were nothing like you would find on a regular bucket list. I was so intrigued to learn about some of the backstories behind certain tasks. There was no way that a list of Sloane would just contain tasks which made no sense. I loved how the crossing off the list went. There are times when a task is more difficult than expected, and therefore always adds a nice twist to the story.

Emily is a protagonist close to my heart. She's the typical flawed teenager, and because of that, incredibly relatable. She's completely normal, yet she definitely has a unique touch that makes her so wonderful. She makes smart and realistic choices, even though they don't seem great at times. Everything she does is never out of character, and I love her for that. She developed so much during the book it's almost impossible at the end of the book to compare her to the girl she was before. I didn't think this would be a coming-of-age story, but it is, and a beautiful one too.

When it comes to the relatability of Emily's character, it surprised me in more ways than I imagined. Not only her personality, but also her friendship with Sloane has something to do with it. I practically recognized their friendship, since I have a similar one. That friendship one has with the prettier and more popular girl, the girl you almost look up to and admires her spontaneous behavior. The friendship where you're known as the friend of that girl. Usually this is the type of relationships that doesn't have a great impact on the other girl, and causes side effects. That automatically brings me to another thing I loved so much about Since You've Been Gone: the fact that the book managed to portray it in the way I know it. She brings out the best in you. She's always up for an adventure to remember, and therefore creates a friendship you won't let go of.

Writing my thoughts down about Sloane made me wonder if I actually liked her character in the story. At first I would have compared it to a love-hate relationship. Because she is the popular girl with the blonde hair and perfect skin, she came across as a Mary Sue in the first flashbacks. It wasn't until more flashbacks made their appearance and I saw her character develop, I was beginning to have my doubts. In the end everything was cleared up for me. Turns out the Mary Sue is just a normal girl with her everyday problems and flaws. Matson managed to never leave me unsurprised, that's for sure.

It's rare occasion when all the characters in a book are nothing but lovable. Because of Sloane's sudden disappearance, Emily bonds throughout the book with some very fantastic characters. To start off with Collins, there's nothing bad to be said about the guy. He acts the way his environment wants him to, or at least what he thinks is expected of him. All the way through it's obvious that the imagine he holds is nothing but just an image, and that there's something more beyond. It's not always clear, but he also goes through changes which become visible at the end. He was a wonderful character who made me smile and laugh from beginning to end, and always brings along a happy atmosphere. Moving onto Dawn, I was immediately intrigued when she made her first appearance. From that moment on, it was pretty clear that she would be there for Emily. Not only to cross off the list, but also as a friend. One she really needed at that time. Even though both Collins and Dawn were just side characters, they won't be forgotten very easily.

Oh, the romance. If I had to describe it in three words, I'm one hundred percent sure those would be to swoon for. It was everything I would have wished for. While it actually is a forbidden romance due a certain girlfriend, I couldn't help but ship Emily and Frank. They are adorable together. Not only Emily, but also I was one who fell hard for Frank Porter. As adorable and awkward as he is, he always managed to put a grin on my face. From the beginning he volunteers to help Emily with her list. You see their friendship growing, and eventually resulting into something more, bringing along a lot of drama, guilt and tears. The chemistry between the two was undeniable, even though both of them are too shy to see it at first.

Thumbs up for a young-adult novel where the parents are actually involved in the life of the main character. Not a sign of parents who are either depressed, dead or normal but barely talk to their children. The fact that her parents were known play writers was the cherry on top. I loved their influence on the story, which led to a certain scene where I found myself laughing, grinning and swooning like an idiot.

In a well ordered universe, I would have ready to leave these wonderful characters behind. I'm not ready. I'm craving for a sequel, even if it's just a novella. I want to know what happens after the somewhat happy end. I want to learn about possible future adventures. Just the combination of a simple but highly-entertaining plot, characters you'll get to love and a romance you'll soon enough find yourself rooting for creates an outstanding and perfect summer novel.

Cinderella's Dress by Shonna Slayton
Published: June 3rd 2014 by Entangled Teen
Pages: 340

Being a teenager during World War II is tough. Finding out you're the next Keeper of the real Cinderella's dress is event tougher.

Kate simply wants to create window displays at the department store where she's working, trying to help out with the war effort. But when long-lost relatives from Poland arrive with a steamer trunk they claim holds the Cinderella's dress, life gets complicated.

Now, with a father missing in action, her new sweetheart shipped off to boot camp, and her great aunt losing her wits, Kate has to unravel the mystery before it's too late.

After all, the descendants of the wicked stepsisters will stop at nothing to get what they think they deserve.

"That shoe was brand-new!" Kate felt her eyes tear up. The shoes weren't even hers-she hadn't earned them. She blinked rapidly. With made-up eyes, she had to be careful, or all that mascara would run down her face."

Thank you Entangled Teen for providing me with an advanced reading copy of review.

I am being absolutely honest here when I say that I wanted Cinderella's Dress to turn out differently. It's not like I had high expectations for it. It was just the premise of this book that made me want to read it, despite all the mixed reviews. I can't believe that the book I read is the same one with the synopsis above. I was all in for a Cinderella retelling set during World War II. But honestly, none of those were very clear. I'm disappointed to add yet again another novel to the famous list of: a good premise, but a bad execution.

The first thing I noticed about Cinderella's Dress, was how long it actually took me to get through the entire thing. It has been a while, since I can't even remember when I started it. The book didn't have that many pages, but I never had any interest to continue. There was literally nothing to hold on to and because of that, way too easy to put down. To be honest, there were several moments when I felt the urge to stop reading and call it a DNF. Nothing happened besides the boring everyday life of an American girl writing letters and creating window displays.

The mystery that Slayton was trying to build up throughout the book did nothing for me, because there was little to none. The plot lines that were supposed to do the job and build up anticipation and secrecy, did nothing. Instead of being woven neatly together, they're more like loose strings that don't connect in any way. The promise fairy tale aspect of the book was also nowhere to be found. It was only the prologue that held a bit of that. It's not because Cinderella's dress was involved that it suddenly turns the story into a retelling. When it comes to plot twist, the only surprise I got was how disappointed I ended up being.

It's known from the first line of the synopsis already that the story takes place during World War II. If it weren't for the many references in this book to the War and the pointless letters, I wouldn't have noticed. While reading, there wasn't a moment when I believed I was reading a story set in in that time period. In my opinion Slayton clearly failed in creating an appropriate atmosphere. Even though the centre of the war was in Europe, I didn't think the American citizens didn't notice what was going on. The book portrays as if that was the case. There was way too little influence of the war on Kate's situation, because she lived her life as if she didn't even live in the forties. The book could have easily been set during the sixties or even modern times, because it wouldn't have made much difference. Research is the main key word when it comes to writing a historical novel, and I didn't feel like Slayton did enough research to completely capture the vibe of the war.

I can't even bring myself to talk about the flat and undeveloped characters. None of them develop throughout the entire novel and remain just the same as they were before. In normal cases it's usual for people to change, even just a little bit. Yet when it's during the Second World War and spread over a few years, it amazes me how none of them did. Kate in particular was one dull and flat character. Instead of making things happen, things happened to Kate. She was passive in so many ways and did absolutely nothing for the story but writing letters and complaining. When I started thinking about her, she reminded me more of the forties white girl than anyone else. Like the plot, this girl had interesting stuff about her, such as being a feminist and having a unique passion, that supposedly would make her interesting. Nothing of that happened. Setting that aside, you would at least expect me to have compassion for the characters and their loved ones overseas. I don't. I really don't.

The clichéd romance in this book left me with only a few words in mind: well, that escalated quickly. In the blink of an eye, they went from being strangers to opponents to friends to opponents to lovers, and all of that not even in entire first half of the novel. The development of their relationship suddenly went to insulting to writing letters, and the romance just jumped out of the blue. I didn't care for the rest of their relationship. It felt like yet again one of those forced romances, and I wasn't a fan.

What could have been a great retelling with an extraordinary setting compared to the story, ended up being a slow-paced book with a plot that seemed to head to nowhere and boring characters that did nothing good.

The Giver (The Giver Quartet, #1) by Lois Lowry
Published: August 1st 1994 by Laurel-Leaf Books
Pages: 179

In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories. Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With echoes of Brave New World, in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give up their humanity in order to create a more stable society. Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and pain-free society can ben and boldly decides he cannot pay the price.

"The life where nothing was ever unexpected. or inconvenient. Or unusual. The life without colour, pain or past." 

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I have a feeling I should have read The Giver a long time ago, but since I'm not American nor is English my mother tongue, I have my excuse for waiting until reading it with the movie's release. Upon finally reading The Giver, a classic in the dystopian genre, I now understand why it's labeled that way. Forget The Hunger Games or Divergent. It's the best book out of all the dystopian novels I've ever read.

Lois Lowry clearly did a wonderful job, but especially when it comes to the world building. Already from the very first pages, I was completely drawn into Jonas's world without colour. Everything about it was incredible and fantastic and did everything most YA dystopian novels can't do in two hundred pages. While reading, I almost everything about the system and its functions, however I never felt like the information was thrown at me or that I was overwhelmed by it, and I seriously appreciated it. It was brought in a way that it was still a very exciting read. The world itself is dark and scary at times, but also intriguing. It's above all, the main reason why I loved it so much: believability. I'm not saying I actually believe the colours will fade in fifty years, or that it will be possible to transfer memories by a simple touch. Yet when reading the book, sometimes I actually believed that I was reading a book which is just a flashforward of our future. That we won't know phenomenons like snow, sunshine or even downhill. Again it is scary, but in my opinion that's what makes it so amazing. In a few words, a fascinating book, with an even more fascinating world.

While the world actually made this book so great, it's sadly not the only element that creates a book. I'm certain I'm not the only one who feels the need to discuss the ending. Honestly, I never expected it to go downhill towards the end. How surprising as it might sound, I'm not the biggest fan when it comes to endings that seemed to have come out of nowhere. Even less, open endings with a supposed symbolic meaning to it. The so-called logical explanation behind it is that it leaves things to us to interpret and be satisfied with what comes to mind. I was not at all satisfied with the way it ended, and almost all those reasons are the ones I've listed just now. It just seemed like Lowry ran out of inspiration and then created that vague ending. I'm sad to confess that it really ruined the book for me, and therefore explains the three and a half stars.

Another thing about the ending what frustrated me was Jonas in particular. What he suddenly decided to do was completely out of character. After being in his head all the time, you would expect to know the boy, more or less. Then "puberty" struck, and a YOLO moment pops up. The decision to do this was so rushed, it seemed like he barely even thought about it but did it anyway. It went against everything and everyone he cared for. Surprising, yes, but naive and stupid are clearly the key words here.

It's surprising that I have very little to say about all the characters. Maybe it was the way Jonas told the story, but for some reason all the characters besides Jonas and The Giver seemed a bit flat, but especially lacked in depth. I didn't get to know much about the characters, nor did I see much development. It was only Jonas who was a wonderful and well-developed character. There was something about his personality that made him look like just an innocent child, but he is incredibly wise for his age. He knows the difference between right and wrong, and knows when to stand up for something important. He cares for the people he loves, and his curiosity is lovable. I wished to have seen something more of Jonas's relationship with both Fiona and Archer. They get split up after the ceremony and we barely hear something from both again. I don't particularly like any of the minor characters, but little Lily has my heart.

Plot-wise, The Giver pretty much consists of two parts: a glimpse at Jonas's life before the ceremony, and the part that happens after. Even though the first part contains a lot of Jonas riding his bike and voluntary work, it also has a lot of that world building I love so dearly. The second part then consists of the exploring of the memories. It was amazing to see Jonas learn and feel, both the good and the bad. After a while I grew tired of them more quickly than I expected to, and I'm disappointed in myself that I did. After all, each memory was so perfectly described and in normal cases it's hard not to love them. As I said before, the book did went downhill towards the end.

Eventually, I was surprised by The Giver on many levels. Mostly because of the intriguing world, but also Jonas's character and the nice flow of the book created an excellent read for me. Flaws like side character's without depth or the vague ending lower the rating I first wanted to give. A shame, really.

The Songbird's Overture (Stolen Songbird, #0.5) by Danielle L. Jensen
Published: April 25th 2014 by Strange Chemistry
Pages: 26

I wrote this story as a tool to help me with writing Hidden Huntress, and it turned out well enough that I decided it would be fun to share it with fans of Stolen Songbird rather than leaving it to languish on my computer's hard drive.

It takes place four years prior to the events of Stolen Songbird, and it will give a taste of what Cécile's life was like before the trolls.

"I had four years to practice. Four years to learn. Four years to prepare. And when I turned seventeen, I'd be ready to take on all the world had to offer."

I always thought that Stolen Songbird, the first book in the Malediction trilogy, took place in modern times. Because of that, I was always seriously annoyed with the way the characters spoke. After all, these days, nobody talks like the Queen anymore. Realising that there's a big chance the trilogy actually takes place in the nineteenth century surprises me.

That set aside, it's clear this short story is only meant for background and introducing us to characters that might make an appearance in the sequel, Hidden Huntress. It didn't contain much of a story, more like a set-up of what's still to come. That may have had some influence on why I'm giving it three stars. On the other hand, I personally loved seeing Cécile as a prairie girl and her character before the events of the first book. I think the decision Cécile made at the end of the story can have big consequences for what's still to come, and in a way, it surely increased my anticipation for Hidden Huntress. I know one thing for now: I dislike her mother very much.

Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky (The Lunar Chronicles, #3.1) by Marissa Meyer

Published: February 4th 2014 by Feiwel & Friends

Pages: 42

A short story that appeared in the Target exclusive copies of Cress.

"Carswell grinned, just to the point where it started to hurt, and rubbed a thumb over his tie tack. For good luck."

- Marissa Meyer, Carswell's Guide to Being Lucky

If it weren't for this novella, I would have already forgotten how much I love Carswell Throne. The way we got to know him in Cress pictured the guy as someone who isn't shy to get things his way, someone who's a fantastic negotiator, highly confident and after all, not bad with the ladies either. Comparing all these qualities to his teenage years, it might just seem that even back then, he was already the character we all love. What I loved even more about his character in this novella, was how good he actually is when it comes to negotiating. Or rather, excellent at telling nonsense. How talkative Carswell actually is made me laugh and love his character even more, if that's even humanly possible. The story itself is cute and fluffy, and does pictures him as a real hero despite what he says in Cress. I loved the relationship between him and Kate, and the little snippets of his life at home before even joining the army. If only this would have been more than just a novella.

The Iron Trial (Magisterium, #1) by Holly Black and Cassandra Clare
Published: September 9th 2014 by Doubleday Children's Books
Pages: 295

A powerful new fantasy series from global bestselling authors Cassandra Clare and Holly Black.
From the imaginations of bestselling authors Holly Black and Cassandra Clare comes a heart-stopping plunge into the magical unknown.

Think you know magic?

Think again.

The Magisterium awaits...

Most people would do anything to get into the Magisterium and pass the Iron Trial.

Not Callum Hunt.

Call has been told his whole life that he should never trust a magician. And so he tries his best to do his worst -- but fails at failing.

Now he must enter the Magisterium.
It's a place that's both sensational and sinister. And Call realizes it has dark ties to his past and a twisty path to his future.

The Iron Trial is just the beginning. Call's biggest test is still to come...

"As he bent closer, he realized they were words -- words his wife had carved into the cave ice with the last of her dying strength. As he read them, he felt them like three hard blows in the stomach.
   KILL THE CHILD"

Thank you Doubleday Children's for providing me with an advanced reading copy for review.

By reading The Iron Trial, the first book in the Magisterium series, I think I have signed up for an amazing adventure. Even though this book seems more like a set-up for what's still to come, I immensely enjoyed reading the story of Callum Hunt and his first experiences with the Magisterium. Now let's head into the deeper stuff.

Starting off with the characters, a lot of them already have my love. All well developed and each with their backstories. All of those quickly caught my interest, and I started to care for a lot of the characters. Not only Callum with his snarky comments, or Tamara who easily stands up for herself, or Aaron with all the surprising events involving him. Other characters such as Jasper, Celia, Drew,Warren, Rufus, and Alistair form a surprisingly fantastic combination with the other three main characters you'll get to love. And Havoc. I can't ever forget that cute little wolf I would adore to adopt, if not for that little thing.

Moving onto the world, I am thoroughly drawn into it. It is without a doubt, suitable for the story and genre and is most of all, original. I'm rather sure when I say you have never come across a world like this. The world itself is a lot more darker than you would normally encounter with a middle grade. Surely I was quite surprised with that, because I honestly didn't expect it to turn out like this. On the other hand, that doesn't mean I liked it less. In fact, because of this surprising touch to it I enjoyed it so much more. I understand why Call doesn't want to leave anymore at the end of the school year. I wouldn't either. Intriguing is the number one word to describe it all. The world of Magisterium has compelled me. Even though The Iron Trial is the first book and focuses on the world building and its history, there is still a lot undiscovered and I would love to read more about it.

The only thing that fell a bit short and so caused the four stars instead of the five, was the plot and pace in general. I didn't feel like there was much plot present in this book because of the constant amount of world building and character development. I didn't like how they were trained as apprentices and I would have loved to gain some more insight on their training as a whole. I still wonder what the actual meaning was of the sorting out of the sand. It surely increased their focus and patience, yet I do hope that some more action-packed lessons are set for the sequels.

Feel free to set those prejudices towards this book because it's supposedly a Harry Potter rip-off aside, and let me tell you why. Just because J.K. Rowling wrote a world-wide known series about wizards and witches, doesn't mean that the woman holds the copy right to everything written in that particular genre. I do understand that it's never possible to completely write a book different to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson. Once you head towards that particular genre, you'll always going to end up with similarities, no matter how hard you try. There will always be someone calling it a rip-off from something else. But let me repeat myself again: it's not because someone else gets wildly popular in a particular genre that it's impossible for others to write in that genre too. Dear God, for now I'm patiently waiting until everyone reads this book and then all stop with judging.

So to everyone out there thinking this was going to be yet another Harry Potter rip-off: it isn't. The Iron Trial is a magical thrill ride on its own and filled with amazing characters, plot twists and a fascinating world.  Despite the small resemblances to other middle grade's I've read and the slower pace, I still loved reading the book. I cannot wait to see what the rest of the series holds, but I don't think I will have the patience to wait another year. Dammit.

Tortured Souls (Orion Circle, #1) by Kimber Leigh Weathon
Published: June 29th 2014 by Sea Dragon Press
Pages: 227

Sometimes Rest in Peace isn't an option.

Kacie Ramsey sees ghosts—and it's ruining her life. Her mother left, her father blames her, and no matter how hard she tries, she can't keep the ghosts away. Now a new power has emerged. Nightly visions of grisly murders and a relentless predator draw her to the brink of insanity.

When the phantom appears at a party, Kacie's longtime crush, Logan, saves her. He invites her to join the Orion Circle, a group of supernatural hunters with chapters in schools all over the country. Through the Circle, Kacie learns to embrace her spiritual powers, and for the first time in her life she feels in control rather than a victim.

But the Foxblood Demon will not give up so easily. A demented serial killer in life who trapped the souls of the thirteen children he murdered, imprisoning them within the walls of his mansion. Now in death, he plots his return while drawing power from the pure souls of the children. He recognizes something in Kacie he's never seen before—a medium powerful enough to provide a vessel for his tainted soul.

Kacie can't ignore the tortured souls of the children crying out to her every night. With Logan at her side, she will fight the Foxblood Demon. But can they banish this powerful phantom, or will Kacie lose not only her body, but her eternal soul to the monster.

"Somehow I resist the urge to squeal. He texted a heart symbol!"

Thank you Sea Dragon Press for providing me with a copy of this book!

I am seriously disappointed. I thought I was going to love Tortured Souls. The premise of a younger version of Ghost Busters combined with exorcism seemed intriguing enough for me to request a copy. However, after reading I feel like I can suit this book into a specific category of mine and probably many others: books with a great premise, but poor in execution. It lacks on so many levels it's hardly describable. I'm going to do my very best and give it a shot anyway.

The romance is the biggest let-down of the entire book. If Logan and Kacie didn't knew each other before the book opened up, you could say it was an obvious case of insta-love. So when it actually wasn't, it certainly came across as it. Besides the insta-love, the dialogues and actions between the two lovers were far from realistic. It seemed like the author tried too hard to make the romance bittersweet and to swoon for. Comparing Logan to other fifteen-year-old boys, there are a few to none who are as romantic as he is. The biggest example is constantly showering Kacie with the most romantic compliments:

"I must look awful," I say when he takes another tissue and carefully wipes around my eyes.
"No, you don't" he murmurs, his lips curled into a tiny smile. "You're beautiful. A few tears won't change that."

My eyes were already rolling. I quickly came to the conclusion that I'm not a big fan of this eternal romance between two fifteen-year-olds. In my opinion, it looked too much like a typical Disney Channel relationship. The one that develops way too quickly so instead of patiently building it up, it escalates and fills the entire film, or in this case book, with it. In the end, the lovers didn't seem to be two individuals any more, but one piece. Words like independence and self-sufficient definitely do not belong in their vocabulary. They were always reliant on each other and can't seem to do anything alone. The special bond they suddenly have jumped out of nowhere, and I'm quite sure being possessed by an evil spirit isn't prevented by kissing someone. So surprising or not, I will not be picking up future sequels just because of the ridiculous romance.

I did not like Kacie as a protagonist. Even without the laughable romance, she still managed to annoy me with the most simple things. Being naive as hell is without doubt one of them. Another reason had to be the ugly crying. This girl cried more than I can count on my fingers. You would expect her to be a little more though after everything she went through, or at least to be able to stand up for herself. Sadly, that's not the case. With everything happening around her, the only thing she seems to be capable of is faint or curling up into a ball and cry or, expecting her boyfriend to comfort her at all times. If you're looking for a female heroine with a little more courage than that, there are some minor characters in this book that do fulfill those expectations. You can guess that I'm therefore kind of sad that I didn't get to read this book from Rebecca's or Raven's point of view.

By this point of my review, I'm one hundred percent sure that you have read the synopsis. If you have, feel free to skip the first half of the book. I have no idea why someone would sum up the first half of their book and create a synopsis out of it. Because of this, I had almost no intention to continue reading in the beginning. Fortunately a few action scenes started popping up halfway through and that the ending sort of brought a feeling of suspense. I just can't shake off the feeling that I read way more than two hundred pages, but that's maybe because the dragging page did nothing good to it.

To sum it all up, the romance is close to insta-love and hardly believable. The protagonist cried more in this book than I rolled my eyes, and the pace resembles to a snail near death. If it weren't for the few good characters, I wouldn't have bothered to give it a star more.

Lights Over Emerald Creek by Shelley Davidow
Published: February 28th 2014 by Hague Publishing
Pages: 195

Lucy Wright, sixteen and a paraplegic after a recent car accident that took her mother's life, lives in Queensland on a 10,000 acre farm with her father. When Lucy investigates strange lights over the creek at the bottom of the property, she discovers a mystery that links the lights to the science of cymatics and Scotland’s ancient Rosslyn Chapel.

But beyond Chapel is an even larger mystery. One that links the music the Chapel contains to Norway's mysterious Hessdalen lights, and beyond that to Saturn and to the stars. Lucy's discoveries catapult her into a parallel universe connected to our own by means of resonance and sound, where a newly emerging world trembles on the edge of disaster. As realities divide, her mission in this new world is revealed and she finds herself part of a love story that will span the galaxy.

"At sixteen, Lucy believed she was a pragmatic realist, but what she'd seen twenty-four hours ago seemed to defy all logic." 

Actual rating: 1.5 stars 

Thank you Netgalley and Hague Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book!

For once, I don't know where to start this review. Lights Over Emerald Creek is such a strange and weird book, and yet even those words don't even begin to cover it. I could say I was once again fooled by the pretty looking cover with the pretty looking lights, because I am. After having read the entire thing, I can definitely say that the premise of this book is misleading. This is certainly not a novel for everyone out there. Because of the topics this book handles, it would only come across as interesting to people with an interest for cymatics. I, for one, am not a fan of that, which quickly resulted into not being a fan of this book either.

The plot seemed to start off nicely, with Lucy discovering cymatics in the sand and asking a Scottish young man for aid. When I was a few chapters in, the plot started to take a turn into a strange direction. Events start to take place, and none of them happened because of a specific reason. It seemed more like the author herself wanted things to happen, so they eventually did. These different thin storylines had no coherence and drifted off to nowhere. The book just seemed to have a lack of an actual plot. There were so many elements to this book that seemed completely out of place that I wondered what they were doing there, or what importance they had. I found myself starting at what I just read more often than the actual reading.
In the end, Lights Over Emerald Creek resembles to a combination of contemporary, sci-fi and fantasy. That particular combination didn't work out all too well, because I have no idea in what genre this book actually belongs. If someone could tell me, that would be great.

The characters in this book are straight out flat. Throughout my reading experience, there little to zero character development. At the end of the book, all the characters are still the same as they were in the beginning. None of these characters also seemed to have a personality of their own, something I just find to be really frustrating. The only sparkle of truth was Lucy. This protagonist is kind of special, without trying or wanting to be. This girl is unlike any heroine I've read about, and that is mainly because of her pragmatic situation of being stuck in a wheelchair. She's not able to use her legs anymore after a tragic accident which killed her mom, and the pain she carries with her throughout the book is the only thing that feels real. Reading a young-adult novel from the perspective of someone with a disability is truly refreshing.

The romance didn't do anything good to the book either. Although it started out interesting, the actual love seemed to have popped up at such a random moment I couldn't again believe what I just read. It just all started completely out of the blue, with not a sign of chemistry to be found. Lucy had even better chemistry with her ex than with Jonathan. It's without a doubt one of the most forced relationships I've ever seen, and that definitely says something.

Lights Over Emerald Creek was not only a strange read, but surprisingly bad too. A short read, yes, but considering how rushed this book actually is, it doesn't come as a surprise now that it's such a short read. If you're not that interested in cymatics, I'd suggest to ignore the pretty cover because there is nothing interesting here to be found.

Opposition (Lux, #5) by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published: August 5th by Entangled Teen
Pages: 500

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth. But the lines between good and bad have blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her-could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it means betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion. But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything-even what they cherish most-to ensure the survival of their friends...and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

"We were supposed to have tonight and tomorrow, and many weeks and months, but we didn't have even another minute." 

I would like to make something clear. I'm really not that good of a reviewer when it comes to writing one of a conclusion to a series. Usually a review like that is consisted of paragraphs of constant fangirling, yet always in a proper manner. It also consists possible spoilers, so be warned. Now, I am always a bit scared when it comes to reading the last book in a series. Perhaps it could be so bad that it would ruin the entire series. Opposition is nothing like that. I enjoyed reading this to the fullest.

Unlike its predecessors, Opposition's plot is action-packed from beginning to end. If you thought we were already past the enormous conflict at the end of Origin, think again. I for one, absolutely adored the post-apocalyptic setting the author created for this book. There's a constant flow of fights and innocent people dying. The world is in chaos, and you actually don't know who the real bad guys are anymore. Besides that awesome vibe that was created throughout the book, I thank the Harry Potter references. After all the devastation some lighthearted moments were needed. Since the romance didn't do it for me, those references had me laughing at the right times. Together with the surprising plot twists, they added that little extra to this book which made it stand out even more.

My favourite example:

"Jesus. It's like I'm a muggle to your pure-blood or something."

After pages and pages of destruction, hope has returned when a new goal is in sight. From there, it all starts to build up slowly to eventually reach the epic climax we've all been waiting for. Even though it was awesome and did reach my expectations, the highly anticipated climax was over way too soon. I don't know if I was expecting a fantasy-like immense fight where blood would be shed and chaos would be the key word, but I did expect some elements of it. For example those little extra scenes that could have messed with my emotions even more and left me gasping. I'm not saying this was bad, probably a personal matter, but it could have been better.

The slight disappointment was quickly forgotten when I came to the epilogue. Epilogues are in my opinion nothing but that beautiful extra chapter that makes you cry rivers. I loved how the world evolved after the arrival of the Luxen, but especially where everybody ended up. Kat picking up her old life with the books and the blog was heartwarming, and Daemon's support was that extra touch to their beautiful relationship.
Dee's absence in practically the entire book was unbearable. Having her back with her family, the chemistry between her and Archer, it was all bittersweet and touching and I adored it. I do would have liked to see their relationship grow instead of seeing the results in the epilogue. Yet if that was the case, this book would have been a lot longer than it is now. I've grown to love every character of the Lux series. Even the minor characters, which quickly became clear in this book. The death of a certain minor character still brings pain to my heart. I should have seen it coming, and my heart broke when Katy found out. Moving on. All the characters that I was first introduced to in Obsidian aren't the same anymore. I'm proud to see all of them develop into the beautiful people they are now.

Although the plot is action-packed all the way through, I did found myself struggling with the first half of the book. The struggle itself had nothing to do with the actual plot, however it did concern the romance, more specific the romance between Katy and Daemon. As stated in my review of the previous book, Origin, there was this small issue I had with the romance that totally ruined the last pages of the book for me. I've grown to love Katy for her responsible behavior and that she mostly thinks before she acts, but what she and Daemon suddenly decided to do was reckless and stupid. It seemed to have come out of desperation, not out of love. Because that particular event took place, the results of that were clear in Opposition. Their love for each other suddenly didn't seem real anymore to me. Their love for each other soon started to resemble undying and forever and ever, which quickly turned into plain annoying. Their chemistry didn't feel real anymore to me, no matter how many sex scenes appeared in this book.

If it was for the romance alone, I would have closed this book with no further intention to pick it up again. I was already near sixty percent when the annoying romance suddenly were nowhere to be found. The abundance of sex scenes stopped, and their promises to each other of eternal love developed into realistic dialogues. The beautiful romance I've shipped since Obsidian came into the picture again. Let's say it had me crying my eyes out at the very end. I didn't want Daemon to die. Partly because of what Katy already had lost, but also because it couldn't be that the author would break my heart right after I was totally rooting for those two again. The unexpected happened, and by then my emotions were a mess. I just wished the first half of the book had been like this, because it irritated me way too much than I would have wished to. Every relationship has its darker period I guess.

Opposition can easily be compared to a roller coaster of emotions. I laughed, I was on the edge of bursting into tears but didn't because I was in a public area and the action-packed scenes had me flying though the pages. This book is an action-packed journey I can't believe I have to say goodbye to. It's sad that I won't be able to read more about characters I love. Looking at the series overall, I seem to agree with everyone else and say that this book is nothing but an excellent conclusion to a wonderful series. Now it's only a matter of time and wait for the spin-off series.

Intangible (Piercing The Veil, #1) by C.A. Gray
Published: December 1st 2013 by Wunderlust Publishing
Pages: 307

Peter Stewart grew up on a unique version of the Arthurian legends taught him by his father, a harebrained quantum physicist who asserts that anything is possible. But Peter disbelieves anything which cannot be scientifically explained, despite a nagging sense that there is more to the world than meets the eye.

Lily Portman is an orphan with a secret: she can see creatures that are invisible to everyone else. These creatures control every human being she has ever met to varying degrees... until she meets Peter and his father.

When a mysterious stranger stages an accident which nearly costs Peter and Lily their lives, suddenly Lily learns that she is not crazy after all, and Peter discovers the truth of his father’s stories… including the existence of Arthur’s ancient nemesis, one who calls himself the Shadow Lord, and a prophecy with implications so profound that it will alter not only the course of their lives, but potentially the fate of the world.

"The Watchers have been protecting you to the best of our ability all your life, and have been watching for your birth for approximately 1500 years." Then he added pleasantly, "Would you like some coca?"

Thank you Netgalley and Wunderlust Publishing for providing me with a copy of this book!

DNF at 55 %

Intangible is without a doubt, a book that holds great potential. It reminded me a lot of Rick Riordan's Percy Jackson series, and therefore it could have been the next big thing in the middle grade genre. Notice the emphasis I now put on 'could have been'. In a way I'm really sorry to say this, but this book was not my cup of tea.

When it comes to a fantasy novel I understand that it's necessary to focus on the world building. In this case, however, the author focused so much on the world, and seemed to have completely forgotten about the rest. Let's start off by saying how little plot there actually was to be found. It constantly involved the characters discussing things that were completely out of topic, shouting at each other, doing research and hearing about the Arthurian legends. It felt way too stretched out and started dragging after a while. I feel like the whole story could have been told in one book instead of stretching it out in order to have a series.

The characters in Intangible are likable, though that's where it ends. I didn't love or feel for any of them, even though there were some that were very interesting and I would have liked to learn more about. Others, on the other hand, were extremely annoying. The protagonist, in particular, was someone I really didn't care about. I've never had a thing for prodigies in books, but when that is combined with a boy who tries to push science into everything and explains everything by means of science. Everyone has a passion, but this went way too far for my enjoyment. After a while I wasn't afraid anymore to skip a few pages just because they were filled with Peter's scientific explanations. It did make Peter's character come across as realistic, which I must consider as a good thing. Also the fact that the author managed to combine fantasy and science is an important reason why so many people seem to like this book so much. Yet honestly, it really didn't do anything for me and became more and more annoying by the page.

The only thing I really did like about this book are the Arthurian legends it is based on. I've always had a weakness for mythology and folklore, and the story of Arthur is not an exception. This was my first read based on these legends, and I just adored that aspect of the book. The idea of an imaginary world which resembles a utopia with a lot of influences from that time made me want to pack my bags and go search for it, if I actually knew where to start looking.

I wanted to like this book so much, mainly because of the Camelot folklore, yet in the end there was nothing left that could possibly hold my attention. I couldn't get into it, and I don't think continuing would have helped. Intangible just did not live up to my expectations. Those reasons all together eventually turned out to be the main reason why I gave up on this book, and I'm sad I did.

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas
Published: May 7th 2012 by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
Pages: 404

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

"We all bear scars. Mine just so happen to be more visible than most."

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Throne of Glass is one of those novels that everyone loves and praises like it's the holy grail. Its hype definitely didn't escape me, even though it took me a long time to actually read it. I blame my huge to-read list for that. I was warned for the love triangle, yet there was still something about this book that made me still want to read it. I think it probably had a lot to do with the premise of a combination of The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones. It eventually turned out to be something completely different, yet I found myself enjoying this immensely.

There no doubt about it that the Throne of Glass series is high-fantasy. In these cases there is always a lot of world building needed to have a basis for the story to continue on. After all, there's no story to be told without a setting. Therefore it explains why this book is focused on bringing the world into view, and why I was so lost in it. The world of Erilea is fascinating, and the author definitely did a wonderful job in achieving the wished amount for the series to start with. It has the elements of the ordinary high-fantasy novel, but with other unique touches to it such as the king with an iron hand, the Glass Castle and countries such as Eyllwe make it stand out. The magical places in the world where all the magic is wiped out are appealing, and I wonder whether that will have an impact in the future books. For now, I know that I would love to read more books set in this captivating world.

The beautiful world of Erilea set aside, the issues I have with this book are still here and unfortunately, need to be written about. One of the less important issues had to be the romance, more specific the love triangle. Let me put the idea of me hating these triangles aside, because I don't. My thing with love triangles has a lot to do with the involvement of two people who fight to eventually win the heart of the person they both love. Because of the two people, involved, there always has to be one who tastes defeat. (Except for that one particular trilogy I read but I'm not going to mention because of spoilers.) Besides that, I really don't mind. I actually like what might happen concerning the romance. For now, I know that I root for Chaolaena although I'm very uncertain of their chances. Maybe this is the sort of the triangle where it's already obvious from the first book who the protagonist is going to end up with, and I would seriously hate it to be like that. I feel like Chaol needs to have his shot just because the poor thing deserves to, and because Dorlaena have absolutely no chemistry and their relationship feels way too forced.

An issue that actually did matter the most to me was Celaena's character. I have to admit that the first mentions of her thirst to kill and viciousness made the impression that she was a character I would love. It seemed like she wasn't afraid to kill and use everything she had in her to accomplish what she wanted. All those impressions I first got of her still remain the same, there's no doubt about that. What also became clear when I progressed with the book, were the references to how skilled Celaena is. It would have been okay, if I actually saw more of that. Because she had to keep an eye open and she couldn't show her real self until the very end. I know that I'll get to see much more of that in the sequel, but for now, it annoyed me more than I would have liked to, and made Celaena resemble to a Mary Sue.

Other characters in this book already seem to have a special place in my heart. Both Chaol and Dorian have personalities and backgrounds that I'd love to see more of in the future, but especially Nehemia is a character I first hated when she made her introduction. Call me mad, but I had several prejudices regarding her character and her actions, that in the end all turned out to be false. Throughout the book and against my prejudices back then, I kind of started to like her. There was something about her that was fascinating, and the growing friendship between her and Celaena is fun to read. I hope to see more of her in the future books.

While the world in Throne of Glass is extraordinary, the plot didn't seem like it. In my opinion it's a combination of things I've seen before. For some reason, the other Champions disappearing in a so-called mysterious way reminded me too much of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. I don't know where I ever got the comparison, yet once I had it in mind it was impossible to put that thought aside. The plot itself was way too predictable for my taste. I first didn't want to believe myself because if it actually would turn out to be true, then it would be way too obvious. There had to be some kind of trap, to make us think that it was someone when it actually was someone else and there would be a big plot twist, etc. Unfortunately, nothing happened. It turned out to be the person everyone suspected all along. However, once the killer showed its true colours, it all started adding up to create an epic climax at the end of the book. If there's one thing for sure, the climax didn't fail to keep me on the edge of my seat and force back possible tears.

Even with the several issues I found myself having while reading Throne of Glass, I still wonder how I was capable of enjoying this to the fullest. Maybe it was because I was so invested in the world, the characters and the story that I didn't have the time to order my thoughts properly. I'm interested where the story, and the romance, might be heading. All I know is that I stand with Chaol and that I will be picking up the sequel, Crown of Midnight, very soon!

I'm proud to announce that I was among the few people to discover 'The Body Electric' before its cover, or full blurb. I've never read something of Beth Revis, yet for some reason this book caught my attention, so I quickly added it to my to-read books on Goodreads. It's known that the cover was going to be released on the first of August, so that's kind of the reason I'm writing something different today. To spread the word of a new book with possibly lots of potential: The Body Electric by Beth Revis, which will be released October 2014.

     Blade Runner meets Total Recall in this exciting new sci fi adventure!
     The future world is at peace.

     Ella Shepherd has dedicated her life to using her unique gift—the ability to enter people’s      
     dreams and memories using technology developed by her mother—to help others relive their 
     happy memories.

     But not all is at it seems.

     Ella starts seeing impossible things—images of her dead father, warnings of who she cannot 
     trust. Her government recruits her to spy on a rebel group, using her ability to experience—
     and influence—the memories of traitors. But the leader of the rebels claims they used to be in 
     love—even though Ella’s never met him before in her life. Which can only mean one thing…

     Someone’s altered her memory.

     Ella’s gift is enough to overthrow a corrupt government or crush a growing rebel group. She 
     is the key to stopping a war she didn’t even know was happening. But if someone else has 
     been inside Ella’s head, she cannot trust her own memories, thoughts, or feelings.

     So who can she trust?

Nothing can surpass the beauty of the original 'Across the Universe' covers, but I really like the sight of this one. The fact that the title is set on the girl's head probably has something to do with her unique gift, as that the background refers to the futuristic and high-tech setting. The same goes for the portraits of the two main characters, Ella and Jack. The symbolic meaning of those two portraits, however, is something that I still haven't figured out yet.

To round it up, here are some facts you probably need to know before reading:

1. This book is written between contracted ones and is going to be self-published.
2. There will be both print and e-editions available.
3. It doesn't take place in America.
4. Ella Shepherd's name comes from the title of Beth Revis's favourite Philip K. Dick.
5. Amy and Elder, the two main characters of the 'Across the Universe' trilogy, are not in this book. Yet if you look closely, you'll see some hints of their story.
6. Jack was named after Captain Jack Harkness on Doctor Who.
7. This book is a standalone, so don't worry about a possible cliffhanger.

Click here to view 'The Body Electric' on Goodreads.

Sources:
http://bethrevis.tumblr.com/post/93026278407/remember-those-amazing-portraits-of-amy-and-elder
http://bethrevis.blogspot.be/2014/07/announcing-new-book.html