Could have been a fabulous YA Fantasy series

The Last of the Firedrakes by Farah Oomerbhoy
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

(Free copy in exchange for review)

I have mixed feelings about this one. It started off well enough - a young 16-year-old, Aurora, is an orphan living with her aunt, uncle and cousin who despise her. Her uncle sells her to a mysterious man from another world where she discovers her true identity. But it goes very, very slowly downhill from there. Enter many clichés and you get what I’m talking about - silly fairy names, a magical school, the fact that there has never been anyone more powerful than Aurora, mysterious, handsome stranger that she falls in love with instantly. It really is a shame because Oomerbhoy builds a fantastic world to have an adventure in.

The worst, however, is the heroine’s stupidity and inane questions. I remember being 16 but surely she could have connected the dots for SOME of this stuff, and her stubbornness to not plan ahead and to just run off into danger, regardless of consequences, over and over and over and over… she’s supposed to be a QUEEN?!

Will I read book 2? Maybe. If I have nothing else to read. Otherwise, Avalonia stops here for me.

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Fabulous Book 2 of Number Games Series

Numbers Ignite by Rebecca Rode
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

(Free copy in exchange for review)

Numbers Ignite is just as fantastic as it's predecessor.

Feeling the death of hundreds on her hands, Treena escapes the city to find Vance and the other settlers to put the past behind her.

With his future looking short and bleak, Vance discovers what has been happening in the background – that he and Treena have been played all along.

The sequel continues where Numbers Game leaves off. The surprises never stop and grip you so that you can't put the book down. The only flaws were a slow start and a tad bit too tidy of an ending. But neither detracts from the greatness of the writing and plot.

The strong characters from book one remain strong throughout the sequel. I love the brutally honest reactions; nothing is off limits. The ending wraps up nicely and quickly but with all the heartache and suffering preceding, I will take the happy where Treena and Vance can get it!

I definitely hope to read more from Rode in the near future!

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Rough Read

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

(Free copy in exchange for review)

So difficult to write this review. The book started out great! Very exciting. The main character is on the run for her life. Love it. But then it just goes downhill. The idea, story line, premise, etc. is excellent. The telling of the story is horrible. Bad grammar, repeated words and phrases, reiterating information (sometimes unimportant information), along with the flow seeming to be made up as she wrote the book (making it all up as she goes along), it all amounts to a hard to get through the story. I also had to remind myself that Robyn, the main character, was in her mid-twenties. I kept thinking I was reading about an older teen and had to say “Wait, no! She's a full-grown adult!”

If the author can clean up the writing, any sequels will be a much easier read. I have to say the only reason I got through it all because I committed to this review. Otherwise, I would have abandoned it about 20 pages in.

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Fantastic Dystopian Novel

Numbers Game by Rebecca Rode
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

(Free copy in exchange for review)

This is a fantastic dystopian novel for young adults. Rode has created great characters in a unique, future Earth. This is not a feel-good story. There is no insta-romance and romance is actually in the background of the story.

Treena is poised to be the highest rated citizen of her class. She has been waiting for this day her whole life. This rating, this NUMBER, will define the rest of her life. But all does not go as planned and soon her life is spinning out of her control.

The characters are easy to love and/or hate. Their reactions are real and the situations are heartbreaking. There are lots of surprises that keep you reading til the end. I read this book in one day - I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.

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Has potential...

Faelorehn by Jenna Elizabeth Johnson
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This story could have been better. It seemed that much of the book was boring everyday stuff that happened to Meghan, the main character. By the end of the book, she was annoying me. Did she really not put two and two together? For someone who has been different from everyone her whole life, she finally gets some explanations and starts to question everything she's being told?! I just don't get it. Overall, though, I really loved the history, the back story and where it could go if Johnson can get past the everyday mundane details and Meghan can get over her stupidity.

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A SNEAK PEAK at The Glittering Court

The Glittering Court by Richelle Mead
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a review for the *SNEAK PEAK* beginning on NetGalley. So keep in mind that I have not read the whole book...

This story has quite a few pluses but some negatives as well. I am hopeful that the book will get better with the next part of the story. Mead's world-building is good. Not much to the world yet in the first part of the book but I am confident Adoria will come to life when Adelaide and company reach it. A map, however, would do a world of good in this situation.

Speaking of Adelaide, she has the potential to be a strong character. Her bravery at finding a way out of her predicament was exemplary but then she morphs into a wilting lily. Mira and Cedric, to me, are stealing the show.

The bulk of the sneak peek is Adelaide's time at the school, which is quite boring. I think that the best part of the book will come when they reach Adoria. There are a few surprises that pop up before they leave/get there that will make the next part exciting if Mead pulls it off.

I am looking forward to the full published version and will be waiting to fall in love with Adoria.

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Sweet Romance

Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ugh! I had a full day planned! But NO!! I had to sit and read this book from start to finish. I could. Not. Put. It. Down. It was funny, sweet, frustrating and heartbreaking in all the right places.

Madelyn Knightly just wants to finish her Master's degree without kowtowing to her producer father. Brody Prescott is trying to repair his playboy image after a date gone wrong. Little do they know that both of their worlds are going to get a whole lot more interesting as they're coerced to appear on a reality dating show.

The plot does not slow down. There's no good spot to just put it down for a bit. It's not a super steamy romance but it is undeniably sweet and REAL. I am very impressed with this story and am looking forward to more from Anaya!

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