Secondborn by Amy A. Bartol Review

Synopsis:
Firstborns rule society. Secondborns are the property of the government. Thirdborns are not tolerated. Long live the Fates Republic.

On Transition Day, the second child in every family is taken by the government and forced into servitude. Roselle St. Sismode’s eighteenth birthday arrives with harsh realizations: she’s to become a soldier for the Fate of Swords military arm of the Republic during the bloodiest rebellion in history, and her elite firstborn mother is happy to see her go.

Televised since her early childhood, Roselle’s privileged upbringing has earned her the resentment of her secondborn peers. Now her decision to spare an enemy on the battlefield marks her as a traitor to the state.

But Roselle finds an ally—and more—in fellow secondborn conscript Hawthorne Trugrave. As the consequences of her actions ripple throughout the Fates Republic, can Roselle create a destiny of her own? Or will her Fate override everything she fights for—even love?

Review:
I actually don't remember where I got this book. I was bored and scrolling through my kindle TBR pile while I waited for some kind of appointment to finish up and there it was. And the cover looked intriguing so I said sure why not.

And then I fell in love with the book from the first chapter. The cover may have attracted my attention but the writing  held it.

So lets get started.

This had a definite 'Divergent' feel to me. It was like watching Tris walk into Dauntless all over again. Only this time it is Roselle being placed in a military training facility because she is a second born and not just any second born but one who comes from a family of great importance.

That was one of the things I liked about this book actually. A lot of these books they have the family unit so perfect, the mother loves all her children, all the children are good, ect . But in this book the mother has no emotional connection with Roselle other then fear that she might one day be a usurper  and kill her brother. I liked that her mother was such a mean unlikeable character. It made sense, it even made sense that her father had nothing to do with her and the only father figure she had was her fighting instructor named Dune, who drops a bomb shell as they are leaving, that he is a third born.

So lets fast forward to when Roselle is doing her duty as a second born and going into the military where she will probably be killed due to her families importance and the anger over how second borns are treated, they are stopped by a terrorist attack where a new weapon is exposed that renders their electronic weapons *cough* light saber*cough* useless, including the chips in their hands that say who they are.

And then the love interest enters. Hawthorne....where do I even begin. I know a lot of people like him...but I don't. I don't like that he comes into her life as a lie. I have trust issues... and for me that is a big no no. AND he pretty much drops contact with her once circumstances make him a first born.
I get it, he helped her emotionally through some things...but to all but disappear from her life is a huge emotional trigger for me.

I actually like the rebel she saved. He is who I am rooting for and I don't really have any reason why other then the fact he seems like the most suitable person interested in her.

One of the things I did not like about this book was how it would introduce characters and then they would vanish without any reason. Roselle meets Hawthornes friends and becomes friends with them but all of a sudden it is like there were only two friends instead of 3.

AND she decides to go to someone to create a new weapon that will render the rebels weapon's useless. A hydro blade mix, because something like that can go unnoticed in a military base...no wonder they are being attacked.

Overall I loved this book, I am eagerly awaiting the second in the series and I think the action and intrigue makes up for any plot holes.


Rating:
4 stars!

Poison Princess Review by Kresley Cole

Title: Poison Princess

Author: Kresley Cole
Author's Page : HERE

Synopsis:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.She could save the world--or destroy it.
Sixteen year old Evangeline"Evie" Greene leads a charmed life--until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, killing everyone she loves, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future--and they're still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can't do either alone.
With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can't totally trust Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?
As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it's not always clear who is on which side...

In Poison Princess, New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces a dark and intriguing world, full of unspeakable danger and irresistible romance.

Review:

I can remember when I first picked up this book. It was actually by accident, a simple suggestion from Amazon after I bought a book and I have been hooked ever since.

The cool thing about this book is the Tarot Card's being based on actual people in past games. Games that were started by the God's because they were bored. A major disaster signals the games and young adults have to battle, life or death style, to win and reset  the world. 

I like that this book does not have the typical dystopian factors. Sure there are bagman who resemble zombies, and there is anarchy from the slavers. I like that the author picked a topic I have never seen done before. Tarot cards.

This book is one of my all time favorite to go to reads. I actually own the entire series in print and in galley format that way I know that I will be able to read it whenever the mood strikes.

I love the tension that arises between Evie and Jack, their snarky back and forth makes my heart patter because it is a lot like my mouthy husband lol. 

This book has it all. A great build up in the romance department, action and intrigue for those who want something a bit more fast paced.

It is a page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Especially with those cliff hangers at the end.

Notable- Quotable!: 

• "“Hey, you've still got your endangered hymen. Which means you'll make it to closing credits - I'm s.o.l.”
• “You have two choices, grasshopper. Out-slut Clotile - or go Springer on her ass. I'm down for the assist in both scenarios.”

Rating:

5 stars!

Intertwined & Tethered by Jenn Marie Tour Stop!

About the Author:

Jenn Marie currently lives in sunny California with her wonderful husband. When she's not writing Young Adult Fiction, she can be found reading, plotting or spending time with her crazy, lovable family. No matter what's going on in her life, whether good or bad, writing is always there to lift her spirits.

Intertwined Synopsis: (Book 1)
Quiet seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Parker is looking forward to another mellow summer with her goofy relatives: sun tanning at the beach and staying out of trouble. Which is why the thought of her younger cousin participating in what is, clearly, a setup disguised as an initiation, worries her to the point of intervention.
One that backfires … big time …
Mistaken for her cousin, Elizabeth finds herself transported to an abandoned plantation, a place deeply haunted with unresolved mystery and where horror reigns every summer between July 20 and August 13.
It is there, locked in the pitch dark, where she finds herself paired with the strange and mysterious Adam Hunt—an unexpected trespasser with his own agenda. Together, they find a list of instructions—follow the clues to various possessions in the house, store them in the backpack provided, and find the key that will grant escape.
Having snuck in to document the haunting, Adam offers to help her find the key so long as she helps him record paranormal activity along the way. But as they make their way through the house, they soon discover unexplained anomalies…
For the first time in the plantation's recorded history, the haunting deviates from its known cycle of events, thrusting Elizabeth and Adam in a series of perilous circumstances that ensue long after the night is over.
As the last day of the haunting draws nearer, and as forces beyond their control ignite their growing attraction, Elizabeth and Adam must work together to uncover the plantations mysterious past before its too late.
Or die trying.

Warning: Occasional coarse language. Intended for Mature Young Adult audience.

Tethered Synopsis: (Book 2)

A previous lifetime. A malevolent curse. A love they can’t live without. Will their past claim them once more? Elizabeth and Adam are about to find out ...

Elizabeth and Adam survived the century old curse that nearly claimed the lives of their counterparts, Josephine and Braden, but at what cost?

As the veil between timelines continues to diminish, they yet again find themselves in a race against time to cheat death in the past in order to salvage their futures. But with the curse given form, everything is changing, leaving them vulnerable to new threats. No longer are the dangers of their former lifetime contained to the Jefferson Plantation—a land fraught with peril and where horror reigns every summer between July 20 and August 13.

Until now ...

Having changed the past, history has rewritten itself, extending the last day of the haunting to August 31—their new expiration date. Without the aid of visions, though, Elizabeth and Adam must find a new way to uncover their past, leaving Adam to scour the plantation for clues, while Elizabeth learns how to access Josephine's subconscious.

Meanwhile, the Callahans—a vengeful family intent on keeping Elizabeth and Adam apart—will stop at nothing to preserve their bloodline and keep the curse from destroying their family. Will their ruthless antics prove tragic once more?

Now more than ever, their love will be tested as Elizabeth and Adam contend with the forces of the curse and fight to save their counterparts in 1905.

Will they overcome the odds stacked against them? Or will the curse claim them for good?

Warning: Occasional coarse language. Intended for Mature Young Adult audience. 

Review:
I would first like to thank the lovely YA Bound Book Tours for providing a copy of both books in this series as a part of the tour.

When you read the synopsis of these books you can't help but immediately be intrigued. I know that was the case for me and I eagerly gobbled up this book. I could not read it fast enough. This series is one you are going to want to read over and over just to make sure you get all of the information as you try to figure it out before the end.

I love the characters. They felt like family, it made me think of all the summers and weekends I spent at my grandmothers house with cousins who were very different from myself. I like that despite their differences you can tell they are very close.

This series has it all! Twists and turns that leave you gasping and eagerly turning the page, curses and magic, true love.

Even if you think of yourself as the best sleuth when it comes to mysteries and finding out those plot twists, I can guarantee this author will have a few that will blow your mind. You won't be able to see them all coming.

Rating: