Grave Mercy by R.L. LaFevers Review

"Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf?

Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?"

The synopsis slightly exaggerates the expression "For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?" The book only involves that expression for only one chapter. *raise eyebrows*

Out of all books I love, Grave Mercy is one book of the top of the top. I'm going to add it in to my Recommended List. (That is how much I liked it) Grave Mercy is one of those books readers can't help but read it over and over again. It is so addicting. 

Grave Mercy stars Ismae, a girl who is a handmaiden to Death, her father. Her mission is to find the traitor in the court of Anne, Duchess of Brittany. In order to be near the court, she poses as the mistress of Duval, half-brother of Anne, Duchess of Brittany.

The plot was wonderful! Full of surprises and endless delight, the plot was eye candy for me. I gobbled the entire plot up. After reading it once, I read it again. Every time, the plot never failed to shock and surprise me.

The writing. Strong point of Grave Mercy. 

The dialects were amazing. Each word brought more of the past alive. It's an interesting characteristic of a historical fiction series. 

The ending! Ah! What a wonderful ending. I'm so pleased with the ending. It's so fitting yet also sad. I love how Ismae moved on and just stopped thinking about the convent's ways. Instead, she moved onto a much different path. The road less traveled by. 

Characters:

Ismae: She's brave. She is Death's handmaiden. She is an assassin. She is sometimes afraid yet in other times brave. She is intelligent. She has her own scars and is afraid of showing them, because scars are weaknesses, right? (That is what she thinks) Ismae is killer. Sarah Conner bad. Angelina Jolie as Salt bad. She is, after all, helping Death do his duty to all mortals, especially the traitors of Brittany. 

Duval: Gorgeous. And awesome character. Unfortunately, he is an old man inside. He is wise and good at chess. Strategy is his game and life. One wrong step made by Duval, he would be dead before he could fix his mistake. He is also good at politics. With his skill and cleverness, Duval helps his sister Anne of Brittany survived through the political world, full of blood thirsty barons and power hungry lords. 

The villain: Clever man. Clever man. Sneaky. Cunning. Ingenious. Invisible. All marks of a great villain. 

Rating: Five out of Five

Golden By Jessi Kirby Review

"Seventeen-year-old Parker Frost has never taken the road less traveled. Valedictorian and quintessential good girl, she’s about to graduate high school without ever having kissed her crush or broken the rules. So when fate drops a clue in her lap—one that might be the key to unraveling a town mystery—she decides to take a chance.

Julianna Farnetti and Shane Cruz are remembered as the golden couple of Summit Lakes High—perfect in every way, meant to be together forever. But Julianna’s journal tells a different story—one of doubts about Shane and a forbidden romance with an older, artistic guy. These are the secrets that were swept away with her the night that Shane’s jeep plunged into an icy river, leaving behind a grieving town and no bodies to bury.

Reading Julianna’s journal gives Parker the courage to start to really live—and it also gives her reasons to question what really happened the night of the accident. Armed with clues from the past, Parker enlists the help of her best friend, Kat, and Trevor, her longtime crush, to track down some leads. The mystery ends up taking Parker places that she never could have imagined. And she soon finds that taking the road less traveled makes all the difference."

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Parker is that one traveler who stood in a yellow wood trying to decide which road to take. The less traveled by or the more traveled by road. Two choices to make. It's a huge topic of Golden. Most likely the theme. (Actually it is the one of the main themes of Golden.) From this analogy, you should be able to guess which road she taken. If not, perhaps you didn't click on the link or didn't understand the poem. Or you never read the poem.

Golden was entertaining. It was all about the paths, the choices one can make. All these endless possibilities. One after another. Then there is always bandits on the path, taking away chance. Golden was an emotional roller coaster. It was well written, beautiful and surprising in the 'how' section. It was sad yet happy between the pages. In the journal entries of Julianna Farnetti. 


The writing was amazing. It was good as Divergent by Veronica Roth. I love books like this. The description of the love interest could be much more descriptive. Then it would be much more interesting like Jace Lightwood. Then Golden would be a whole new book, so unlike the Golden already here.

The plot was goooood. I love Golden! All those twist and turns were exciting. It was nice to read this book right after Grave Mercy. 

The ending! I love how Jessi Kirby wrote the ending. The ending allowed readers to discuss theories and ridiculous ideas. Golden's ending=More Discussion about Golden. Good job, Jessi Kirby. Wonderful ending.

Characters:

Parker Frost... Amazing girl. She's smart, beautiful in personality, and hilarious. I love her. She's torn between choices. She has to fight between two parts. Her heart and her mind. Her want and her mother's want. (What is it always the parents?) I don't blame her choices, they may not be good, but they are interesting. Parker is hopeful. She has a lot of hope, that fades with Hope's decision. But she gets up and went through it. 

Julianna: Even though she doesn't appear very much, readers can feel her spirit. I can't believe her choices in her conflicts. 

Rating: Five out of Five

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch Review

"There are some things you can’t leave behind…A broken-down camper hidden deep in a national forest is the only home fifteen year-old Carey can remember. The trees keep guard over her threadbare existence, with the one bright spot being Carey’s younger sister, Jenessa, who depends on Carey for her very survival. All they have is each other, as their mentally ill mother comes and goes with greater frequency. Until that one fateful day their mother disappears for good, and two strangers arrive. Suddenly, the girls are taken from the woods and thrust into a bright and perplexing new world of high school, clothes and boys.

Now, Carey must face the truth of why her mother abducted her ten years ago, while haunted by a past that won’t let her go… a dark past that hides many a secret, including the reason Jenessa hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. Carey knows she must keep her sister close, and her secrets even closer, or risk watching her new life come crashing down."

Wow. This book is stunning. Dark yet also light. Pretty yet also with ugly secrets. Every page reveals a little more of what is unexpected.

This book is the best I had read in quite a while. It is mindblowing. Every word, every sentence, every paragraph will echo in the reader's head.

Carey... The main character who is the victim with a lot of dark secrets. She is the one narrating the book. Carey gives a little information one bit at a time. It's also as if she is afraid of what the reader might think of her. Carey is a perfectly balanced character. She is light and kind and protective. But she is also dark, shameful, and full of guilt. She balances all the responsibilities her mother gave her. She is badass. (She could fire a shotgun. Badass, for sure.) Carey has a unique view of the world. She believes that a certain of group of people are like that, but they are not. She slowly learns that there are good people in the world. Not everyone is as horrible as she thinks. Carey is slow to trust people because of the time she spent in the woods. Carey's big secret was dark, yet Carey doesn't realize that her secret isn't really dark at all. She is just guilty, but it isn't her fault. Carey, like a lot of women in the world, is slow to forgive things. Carey is such a complex character with a lot of depth like the Pacific Ocean. And she is only fourteen years old. Totally like a huntress.

Jenessa... Carey's sister (biological). Who couldn't fall in love with a girl like Jennessa? She is so adorable. Jenessa is six years old. She seems much more mature than how old she really is. I wish there are more six year olds like her. The world of six years old will suddenly be a whole lot more cuter! Jenessa is selectively mute. The why question? Because of Carey's dark secret.

Del... Carey's other sister (by marriage). And evil stepsister. I love how her attitude change throughout the book. When Carey discovers her sister's dirty secrets, Carey and her stepsister are a little closer to each other. They are friendlier. I love the character change.

The plot was good. The twists and turns can make the reader's jaw drop all the way to the ground. Some of it was just outrageous in a good way, of course. Many of it was shocking. Other twists and turns, you'll have to put the book down just to catch your breath because the twists/turns were...shocking and mindblowing and... Just WOW!

I mentioned that Carey drops a little of her past bit by bit right? Every little word or sentence or even paragraph will echo in the reader's mind until they can process it. Actually, even if the reader can process it, the words will echo for a very long time. The darkest secret was so dark that I shut the book and didn't start reading it again for a long time.

I love all these little references to Winnie the Pooh, Emily Dickinson, and other famous poets. These little references totally helped me understand the story. The little sections of poems and references to Winnie the Pooh somehow made the book a little more realistic.

SPOILERS (Skip this section if you didn't read this book)

1) Carey's darkest secret:

She killed a man. With her shotgun. Because he was a threat to Jenessa and Carey. He wanted money and Carey's mother.

2) Jenessa will start talking again.

3) Del's secret:

She is sleeping with some boy in her school. Del's a Sophomore.

4) Carey and Jenessa attacked.

End Spoilers

This book's rating is a five out of five.

Perfect Scoundrels By Ally Carter Review

With a sneaky cover and a awesome name, this book is the need of all teenagers. It is even better than the other series by Ally Carter.

Even though this book is one of the books in the most awesomest heist series on the young adult list, this is the worst book of the series, Heist Society.

Synopsis for all those lazy people out there cause I love you guys:

"Katarina Bishop and W.W. Hale the fifth were born to lead completely different lives: Kat comes from a long, proud line of loveable criminal masterminds, while Hale is the scion of one of the most seemingly perfect dynasties in the world. If their families have one thing in common, it's that they both know how to stay under the radar while getting-or stealing-whatever they want. No matter the risk, the Bishops can always be counted on, but in Hale's family, all bets are off when money is on the line. When Hale unexpectedly inherits his grandmother's billion dollar corporation, he quickly learns that there's no place for Kat and their old heists in his new role. But Kat won't let him go that easily, especially after she gets tipped off that his grandmother's will might have been altered in an elaborate con to steal the company's fortune. So instead of being the heir-this time, Hale might be the mark. Forced to keep a level head as she and her crew fight for one of their own, Kat comes up with an ambitious and far-reaching plan that only the Bishop family would dare attempt. To pull it off, Kat is prepared to do the impossible, but first, she has to decide if she's willing to save her boyfriend's company if it means losing the boy."

When I first read the synopsis, I was like OMG, Kat and Hale are going to be leaving each other!?! Then I read it again and again to make sure I have a reasonable assumption. Then I thought, no. It can't be possible because Ally Carter is writing this and she is usually is not the kind of author who splits couples like these apart. (Other than Josh and Cammie, but that is a different story). 

This book, Perfect Scoundrels, is really more focused on Hale's life than Kat's lifestyle of stealing. There isn't a big heist where the ending is just... mindblowing unlike the previous two books. It is rather disappointing compared to Heist Society and the-second-book-I-can-not-name. 

The writing is, as usual, smooth and comforting. I like its slow and fast pace. I like the Kale (or should it be Kate) scenes. They are as always to die for. 

Kat is smart with heist, but she is horrible with boys. She is a good character I enjoy reading about. She is one of the few badass characters like Scarlet from Scarlet by Marissa Meyer (you can read my review of this book). I can imagine her carrying a gun and loading it calmly while Interpol is after her. Just like Scarlet. 

“'If you don’t mind my saying, Mr. Hale. She’s a keeper.'He pointed in Kat’s direction.”

Hale, the main topic of this book. Hale is a little distant from Kat. He is spacing out in the beginning of the book. However, Kat and Hale renew their boyfriend/girlfriend status in a closet. (Literally) Hale is the stressful one in this book, Perfect Scoundrels. He had just inherited his Grandmother Hale's share of Hale's family company. He is not the owner of the company until he reaches a certain age. The lawyer of his grandmother will retain control of the company. Hale is having trouble believing it, but then he realizes that Grandmother Hale loved him out of all of the Hale family. He truly believes that Grandmother Hale gave him the share. But is it true or a trick?

The Bishop Family of Heist and Thief. As usual, this family is as tight as an ant family (Are ants close to each other?). They would never betray one another. Family drama rings high in humor. Watch the ups and downs of the family's morale. And one will perish in this book. But who is it?

The Bishop Family comes together to pull off this ultimate deception. 

The clients... The old lady that tipped Kat off. The butler's sister. Grandmother Hale promised her a life that has been financially taken care of. But the will didn't mention her. Not even an implied sentence.

The jerk who switched the wills... He is a jerk. A money hungry jerk. He is someone who is after a new invention of Hale's Company. Kat caught him almost right away. 

This book was similar to a game of cat and a mouse. LOL! KAT and a mouse. (See what I did there?) But is brilliant to my standards. Low for Ally Carter's usual standards. 

SPOILERS

1) Hale truly did inherited the corporation. 
2) Uncle Eddie died.
3) The lawyer was the jerk.
4) Hale's first name is SCOOTER!!!
5) We get to meet Hale's money-hungry family.

END SPOILERS

This book's rating is a five out of five. 

Second Chance Summer By Morgan Matson Review

Second Chance Summer

The cover is beautiful. The setting of the cover fits the description in Second Chance Summer. I just love the shade of orange!

Second Chance Summer is even better than Amy and Rogers's Epic Detour. Yes! This piece is even better and awesomer than that one. This may be the best masterpiece of Morgan Matson so far.

Amy and Roger will appeared in the book for only about a paragraph. Still it is wonderful. I had always wanted to know what happen to those lovebirds in the end. You don't need to read Amy and Rogers's Epic Detour to read this book.

In this bittersweet story, you will laugh and cry. Smile and wince. You will shake your head and be tempted to slam the book to the ground. Then you will actually do it. And then pick it back up to read a little more. A little more till you finish it.

The star of this book is Taylor. She's the one who likes to run when things get rough. This time she can't run because her father has Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer.

Taylor and her family go to their summer house one last time before you know what happens. (reason is in previous paragraph). She meets her old friends and makes new ones. Enemies become friends. Relationships mend and fall apart again.

Overall this book is a good read for children twelve and up. Not much inappropriate words. Some bad words, I think.

The main character (Taylor)... The main character is rather interesting. She is afraid. But she really loves her father and family. She is such a beautiful character. Flawless. Even better than Amy.

Taylor's family. Her brother and his newfound girlfriend are cute. Taylor's brother's flirting ways are just pure humor. (Torturing the dog, etc.) Her father is a nice guy. He really loves Taylor. He notices her a lot more than most of his family, I think. He is inspiring for cancer patients. Taylor's mom. She is a strong woman. She keeps it together despite the Grim Reaper at her door. She cracks down a little, but she remains strong for her children and husband. Taylor's grandfather... No comment. Just no...

Harry... He's the love interest. (It's been awhile since I read this, so I might get the name wrong). (For some strange reason, I kept on visualizing him as a redhead. Probably thanks to Prince Harry.) The way the author describes him is amazing. Morgan Matson just makes him sound adorable and cute. He is a sweet boy. Not the bad boy you'll read in most days. (THANKS, CASSANDRA CLARE AND JACE WAYWARD/HERONDALE/MORGANSTAR!!!!!!!)

Even though this book was a whooping four hundred pages long, I never wanted it to end. I wanted it to stay alive. Neverending. Forever. I just wanted it too last a little longer.

I really love this book. I plan on reading it again and again.

Spoilers (MINOR).

I really love how the father gives them all letters to remind them of him. He still lives on despite the fact that he died.

End Spoiler.

This book's rating is five out of five. GO TAYLOR AND HARRY!