Book review: Venture Unbroken by R.H.Russell

Incredible finish to a great trilogy!

NOTE: I received the ARC from the author. Thank you!

So, there is no way this review will be free of spoilers. I'll try to keep it as clean as possible, but some things need to be mentioned. Just keep that in mind.

Writing style:
Just like the previous two books in this series, I have nothing to say about that. I mean, it was clean, it was well structured. Every word oozed attention and emotion. It was incredibly written. So much so, that I didn't want it to end. Not really. Much like Harry Potter and The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices.

Story line:
This is the conclusion to this grand series. This is where we see how Venture Delving behaves after winning his title of Champion of All Richland. This is where we witness his - I can't call it downfall, because he was such a super GOOD guy, you know? - I guess I'm gonna go with demise. Not entirely appropriate, but partially at least, it was true.

So, here's the tidbit/spoiler I was talking about. Venture won the title. But he also won a LOT of POWERFUL enemies. He couldn't fight the way they did - dirty, unfair, bloody, with no honor. So when they put him in prison for no real reason but to satisfy their own EGO's, my heart broke. His too. And his soul was on the way as well. It was infuriating. It was seriously overwhelming. Reading about it was more like FEELING it seep through the pages. It was unbearable at times. Choking. Breathstopping.

Gosh, I hated and loved it at the same time. All ended well, but to get there... man! It took a while, lots of action, lots of fear, lots of variables that could've gone wrong. Intense - that's what I choose to call it.

Themes:
- in brightness there is dark; in darkness there is light
- even the strongest person CAN be beaten emotionally
- everyone has a breaking point
- love conquers all - or does it?
- friendship must be honored at all costs
- the rich and powerful can be taken down, just not the physical way.

Characters:
Like I said, Venture suffered a lot in this book. More than the other two combined. And it wasn't physical either. It was emotional and mental. He was going nuts at one point and I just wanted to go grab him and tell him to get himself together. But truly, if I were in his place as others had been... I wouldn't have lasted a week, let alone the many months he endured. He was an admirable young man. Honestly, I could only bow down and say "Thank you for not giving up." Because honestly? Most books aren't about the characters, but about the action, the adventure, the STUFF going on. These books were about the characters. Venture, mostly, but the rest of them too, and I loved the focus on the person, the individual and how that STUFF that was going on changed him/them to fit or to fight. I loved that Venture decided to fight. He is a hero.

Jade changed as well. She was not the little girl, blinded by what everyone told her. No. She now saw reality. She saw the rich and the powerful. Their twisted sense of power and rights. I sensed her desire to fight - not only physically - but for the cause of the bonded people, who practically had no rights at all to defend themselves. I loved it that she stood strong if not by Venture's side, then really really close. As close as that prison cell could let her.

Dasher... I thought there, just for a moment, that he might pursue his feelings for Jade while Venture was locked up. But he proved to be a true friend. I loved him even more for that. A respectable man is always needed. A respectable and honorable friend? Unchangeable.

I can say the same about Earnest, really. He and Dasher did whatever they could to get Venture out and back on the mat.

Grand Fieldstone, Jade's father, finally came to his senses. I respected him in the other books. Here? I admired him.

If you want to know why I loved these books so much, go buy them and see for yourself. You'll be pleasantly surprised.

My rating is

Book Review: The Silent Swan by Lex Keating

NOTE: I received the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This novel rendered me speechless. Good news? I don't feel depressed that it's over. It left so many incredibly deep feelings inside of me, that I can only say I'm grateful for the journey.

Also, I had no idea it was a retelling of a fairy tale until the very end. In this case, it was a good thing, because I couldn't go on comparing the stories at all.

There's a lot that needs to be addressed about The Silent Swan. Mainly because it was just incredibly well written, the characters were developed in a realistic way, with depth and color, and I just fell in love with everyone (minus Kerry or however her name was spelt).

To be honest, I don't know where to begin. I guess I'll talk about the story first, then stop at the characters. It's going to be difficult though, so bear with me.

This must be the only novel where the lead characters don't even kiss. Don't get disappointed though, the pressure and passion between them is buzzing throughout the book in a way that can't be ignored. I actually loved this development. You'd ask why. Well, have you ever tried to express your feelings without the ease of a kiss? Or an intimate touch? Try it and let's see how successful you'd be. Gabriel and Tam though... these two rocked the boat. Not a kiss, just a fleeting touch from time to time, but boy was there love. And this love grew stronger with each page, until it all climaxed in the final chapter. I just can't effectively describe the feeling of pure euphoria this romance left in me. It was pure and innocent and just so touching! *sigh, swoon, fall*

Something else I rarely see in books is the real, tangible presence of Gabe's parents. Arnold and (I believe it was) Amelia (or close to that) Pritz had five sons, one of them adopted. Those boys could make any parent proud. They were respectful of their parents most of the time, and of each other. Sure they had their brotherly 'fights', but that's only natural. I was amazed at the way Arnold disciplined his sons, how he demanded honor was shown to his wife at all times, how he set rules and everyone obeyed out of sheer respect. It was truly amazing, in a loving kind of way. I simply adored that family, the Pritzes. They were well liked in the community, had connections and were respected.

Then there was Tam Swann's family. Her parents were no longer alive, and she and her brothers (seven I believe) were 'taken care of' by the foster care system. There were lots of legal terms that I didn't understand about each of the Swann's cases, but none of them hindered the story. And those boys... they were sweethearts. Deprived of a real family, they all jumped foster homes, in hopes that perhaps someday they'd be together. All of them. They seemed to only feel safe with their sister, who fought with everything she had to get to see them often. To be able to hug them, comfort them. My heart was constantly in need for stitches, because the pain those kids went through tore it to pieces time and time again.

There was lots of baseball in this book. If I'm not wrong, at least ten games were featured - some in full, others partially. And let me tell you, I don't know anything about baseball, but I learned a lot. And I actually think I may get to like it. At least I saw how a sport can teach discipline, order, passion, love, control... It was simply unexplainable and I'm in complete admiration of this author.

Now let's talk characters.

I'm starting off with Gabe, who was not a favorite of mine in the beginning. He was cocky and full of himself. He didn't appreciate any of the things he had - and he had a lot. He took everything for granted - his family, his friends, his carefree life, the girls that circulated him... But then things changed when Tam Swann entered his life. She didn't give a crap about Gabe, and he was definitely NOT used to that sort of treatment. She was bold, honest, responsible. And she could cook - which proved to be very important. Gabriel's mom was promoted to a position which required more work at work and less work at home. Which left all five sons to cook dinner during the week. So, Gabe, with his cockiness and ego, proposed Tam a deal - she'd teach him to cook, he'd tutor her in math. And that's basically how it began between them.

But the beginning had nothing to do with the end. Because by the end, there was nothing left of the Gabe we met on page one. He'd grown so much with every turn this story took, that he wasn't easy to recognize. He started realizing that his view of the world isn't exactly accurate. He used to think that he ruled the world - what with being captain of the baseball team and a rising star and all; that being beautiful automatically meant you were good within (talking about his girlfriend Kerry); that his mom was perfect in everything; that he didn't need anyone outside his circle of people. Well, by the end of the story, he'd had his perspective changed. He realized that most of the time he had been wrong in his decisions, and had to amend his ways and attitude.

One thing that didn't change in him though was the respect he felt for whoever girl he was wooing at the moment. This is true with Kerry and with Tam too. No matter how much he wanted to kiss or touch the girl, he was too afraid that he'd cross a boundary he wasn't allowed near. At one point Kerry even called him a prude, but that only made me like him more. Because he wasn't the kind of guy who'd push a girl to sleep with him, because he wanted it. He was the kind of guy who'd keep a tissue in his pocket, so he'd keep his hands occupied. I just wish those kinds of guys weren't just fictional. Our world has a great need of them.

And then there's Tamryn, Tam for short. She was a puzzle of a thousand pieces and since we followed Gabe's thoughts not hers, it was both fascinating and impossibly difficult to figure her out. One thing that was obvious from the very beginning though was her love for her family. Not only what was left of it, but also her parents. To her, their deaths didn't mean they had to be forgotten. She constantly tried to keep them alive, not only in her mind, but also in her brothers'. The youngest ones barely remembered their father, but Tam made it her purpose to have them remember. She taught them the family song, their father's moves in baseball and lots of other things that the foster parents resented (which I didn't understand at all!)

Tam was hardworking, concentrated on her goals, whatever they were. She was honest, giving, beautiful in every meaning of the word. Her heart was breathtaking. Her mind was exquisite. I just can't put into words how special she truly was. And I saw her heart breaking every time she pushed Gabe away. I just felt for this girl, you know? Like she was a close friend that I personally know.

In conclusion I can only say that the journey The Silent Swan put me through was worth every minute of my time. It had euphoric highs and lows that had me tearful. I can say that reading it has made me realize that beauty is hidden in the most unexpected places.

My rating is 5/5 stars

Book Review: These Broken Stars by Amie Kaufman

NOTE: I received the eARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm stunned. I'm mesmerized. I can't breathe! These Broken Stars has simply left me brokenhearted. Why? Because it's over, that's why. The amazing story, the incredible characters... and it's over. And I'm suffering from a severe depression because of it. Do you know how awfully difficult it is to find a book that really speaks to your heart? Do you? I know, and I also know the after effects. Above mentioned depression is certainly one of them. Then there's also sadness, and later on comes hope. Yes, hope. Because I realized a new companion novel in this series is coming out in 2014 and I cannot wait for it!

Amie Kaufman seems to be a new blinding star in the family of awesome writers. I have to be-fan her, that's for sure, because she definitely deserves it. Not only has she worked hard on These Broken Stars, but she's also made the book impossible to let go of! And to think that she's gifting us with two more stories to come? Well, that's what I call a present!

Anyway, I suppose you gathered exactly how much I liked These Broken Stars. The story was unique to me, as I haven't read many universe related novels. There was an unforeseen adventure that took my breath away in it's complicated simplicity. And of course there was romance, but it wasn't the real driving force of the events. It became a larger part of the story towards the very end, but definitely not before. Still, there were sparks that had me giggling and wishing for Lilac and Tarver to just kiss already! Then there was the mystery of the planet where all events take place - it had a certain note of paranormalcy that had me chewing my nails in anticipation for what would happen next.

Now onto the characters.

I loved Lilac from the moment I met her. Sure, she was a somewhat spoiled brat, but she was also kind and sensitive in her heart. She had to keep her real self hidden deep inside for fear her father might hurt whomever decided to take a peek of the real girl behind the pretense, so most of the time her behavior was that of the 'expected', of the norm for her position in society. I was really impressed by her, for wanting to protect Tarver, even though it meant being rude to him and pushing him away. Then when they 'landed' on that planet, she had to suck it up and be bold and brave and to trust Tarver. Not an easy task when still trying to pretend that she hated him. I really truly loved that girl. She stood up for herself and for the one she loved and I could only admire her.

Then there's Tarver. He was a sweetheart, a poet, a boy turned man in the nick of time. Totally swoon-worthy on his own - but when you add the Major uniform with medals and such and the character of a survivor... Yum! He wasn't your average guy either - he'd gone through family tragedy, through war that jumped him from a soldier to an Officer, and then he crashed on a forsaken planet with the only company of a bratty girl, whose father more or less owned the universe. It was obvious that Tarver was extremely well trained to survive whatever situation he may get stranded into - he was realistic, he knew how to look for food, he could recognize a planet's state of terraforming right away, and he could lie his way out of any question.

In other words, These Broken Stars can only make you eager to read more of the wonderful world Amie Kaufman has created. I didn't want the story to end, and I'm certain any reader who decides to pick this book up would feel the same way too.

My rating is 5/5 stars

Book Review: Storm Shells by G.J.Walker-Smith

NOTE: I received the ARC from the author. Gemma, you rock!

Here's what I wrote Gemma, a.k.a. G.J.Walker-Smith when I was finished with Storm Shells:

"Upon my honor, Gemma, Storm Shells rocked my world! I had to read it as soon as I got it and now that I'm done, all my piled up ARCs pale in comparison!!! It's all your fault, too! How could you write such a magnificent piece of prose???????? I'm not kidding when I say that Saving Wishes is the #1 contemporary series of 2013. All three books blew my mind, and I think I'm gonna have to go back and read them all over again just so I could spend some more time with Charli, Adam, Alex and Ryan."

My feelings have settled now, seeing that it's been almost a month since I read the book. Guess what though? I'd write the same thing now. Storm Shells, just like the previous two books in this series, was written in such a brilliant way, finishing it made me want to cry. I need more, darn it! I don't think I'd ever get enough of this story, of the characters, of the little quirks of Charli's character. And of La La Land. Gosh, I need La La Land!

The whole book was mesmerizing. I couldn't put it down to eat, to sleep, or to do chores. I just had to finish it and that was that. The writing flows too well, bringing one scene after the next in a way that keeps you immersed into the story from cover to cover. I never ever wanted to put it down. To be honest, I didn't want the story to end at all. I will miss each and every character, be it a minor or a major one. They were all so thoroughly depicted, it was incredible. No character was done in a superficial manner. Even those that got 5% attention were well developed with depth that you rarely see.

The entire novel was full with ups and downs from beginning to end. If you've read the previous two, you'd know what ups mean. Ups = Adam. Downs = NO Adam. Yeah, you'd say that's borderline obsession. No. It isn't. It's love that knows no boundaries. It's love that gets mad, love that forgives, love that lets go. I won't say if there's a happy ending for Adam and Charlie. I will only say that those two had to go through so much - to grow so much - to get to the end of that book. Neither one was the same after the transformation of knowing the other.

Book two had me sooooo disappointed in Adam, I was ready to cry (I even teared up which is rare for me!). Book three's summary got me breathing hard. I was on edge the entire time not knowing whether Adam, a.k.a. Boy Wonder would finally get to his senses and realize that school and work don't equal happiness. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He was selfish and stubborn but also incredibly smart and loving. Even when I was mad at him I couldn't NOT love him. Adam was Adam - Charli's Adam, but he became mine too. I loved him even when I was disappointed with his decisions. I loved him even when he let Charli go, even when he left her again and again. I thought "man, he won't ever sacrifice his law career, would he?" and a pang of pain laced itself around my heart squeezing, squeezing... Gah! That boy was one of the few fictional males who played with my head and heart way too much! I hate you Adam Decarie. I HATE YOU. AND I LOVE YOU TOO!

Charlie, my dearest Charlotte has grown into a real woman. Not a practical one, but a realistic one. She doesn't live high on unrealistic hopes anymore. She knows that Adam's love isn't enough because even though he loves her, he isn't with her. And she knows that her father, Alex, is the only man who would ever have her back 100%. There's this HUGE secret that Charli keeps from Adam and I believe she might've never told him, had not Ryan (Adam's brother) shown on her doorstep. You'll see what I mean when you sit down and read it, I won't spoil this perfect story for you. I'm just going to say that Charli is tough. She's smart and dedicated to all things RIGHT. She sees the world through a lens not many of us dare to use nowadays. I can only admire her.

And a word about Ryan. That guy is slowly winding his way into my heart. I just have a weakness for Decarie boys it seems. Anyway, I just can't forget the scene when he came to Charli, all dirty and sweaty from chopping wood with (as he put it) a 'real' axe. He was so excited! If I had been there, I'd been caught gawking at him.

Anyway, you see how excited I am about this series. It's for a reason - it's simply amazing! If you're into contemporary, reading The Wishes Series is a MUST.

My rating is 5/5 stars