Category: YA Review

Currently Reading: Into the Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo

Currently Reading: Into The Crooked Place by Alexandra Christo – A New Six of Crows?

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I’ve noticed a trend that I only seem to do Currently Reading posts when I’m in reading slumps…

Yeah, I’ve hit another reading slump.

I actually got myself out of the slump for almost a whole month and a half! It was amazing. Truly. I never felt better.

But we’re back.

So as I suffer through this slump, I wanted to talk about Alexandra Christo’s latest book: Into the Crooked Place. I’m around 100 pages into it, and I already feel the need to talk about it.

Stats

Title: Into the Crooked Place
Series: Into the Crooked Place #1
Author: Alexandra Christo
Genre: YA Fantasy
Publisher: Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan)
Page Count: 384
Release Date: 10/8/2019
Premise: Tavia is a busker, selling illegal magic on the streets until she can afford to get herself out of Creije. Wesley is Creije’s underboss, their closest thing to a gangster. Karam is a fighter, making a deadly name for herself. Saxony is a part of the resistance, who is desperate for revenge. When their world is threatened by a new dark magic, these four outsiders must come together to save their home.

Read more for all of my thoughts and predictions for Into The Crooked Place!

[ Related: Currently Reading: We Hunt the Flame (Sands of Arawiya #1) by Hafsah Faizal ]

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Caitsbooks Reviews: The Beautiful by Renee Ahdieh (5 Stars)

The Beautiful (The Beautiful #1) by Renee Ahdieh – I’m Obsessed, But Not Everyone Will Be (ARC Review)

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Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review in a Nutshell: This book is definitely not for everyone, but it was perfect for me. Everything from the characters, the setting, and the plot- it was exactly what I wanted it to be, and more.

“We forget our dreams, but nightmares linger with us evermore.”

[ Related: Smoke In The Sun (Flame In The Mist #2) by Renee Ahdieh (Review) ]

[ The Beautiful Cover ]

“There was no way for us to turn back. The tinder has been collected. The match has been struck.
Only one of us can survive the fires of Hell.”

Release Date: 10/8/2019
Publisher: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Page Count: 448
Premise:
The Beautiful follows Celine as she flees her life in Paris and goes to New Orleans. Staying in the convent, Celine falls in love with the city she’s taken refuge in. But when young girls start being found dead, Celine must delve into the dark underworld of the city to find the murderer.

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Gun Violence, Torture, Rape Mention, Rape, Murder, Racism, Racist Slurs, Misogyny //

Read more for all of my thoughts on The Beautiful, and why I think it might be divisive!

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Caitsbooks Reviews: The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey - 3.5 Stars

The Library of Lost Things by Laura Taylor Namey – A Cute Read, with Depth (ARC Review)

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*All quotes are taken from the ARC and are subject to change*

Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 3/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot and Themes: 3.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 3.5/5
Review in a Nutshell: The Library of Lost Things is an interesting read that’s a mix between cute romance and heavy family drama.

“The circle never broke. We lived in a home strung across tightropes.”

[ Related: The Burning Shadow (Origin #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Funny, Political, and Cute (ARC Review) ]

// Content Warning: Illness (Post-Concussive Syndrome), Mental Illness (Hoarding) //

Release Date: 10/8/2016
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Page Count: 384
Premise:

When Darcy Wells meets Asher Fleet, a former pilot whose dreams seem just out of reach, she doesn’t expect to care for him. For once, she doesn’t want to hide in her books. But after years of protecting her mother’s secret of being a hoarder, Darcy doesn’t know how to let anyone into her cluttered life.

“Holding a real book is like holding something alive. There’s the grit of the pages between your fingers as you turn them. The edges get soft and worn. With a real book, you feel the weight of the story more.”

Read more for all of my thoughts on The Library of Lost Things!

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Caitsbooks Reviews: The Burning Shadow (Origin 2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout - 4 Stars

The Burning Shadow (Origin #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout – Funny, Political, and Cute (ARC Review)

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*All quotes come from the ARC and are subject to change*

Overall: 4/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4/5
Review in a Nutshell: The Burning Shadow is a fun read and a great sequel. It’s length definitely makes up for how long I was dying to read it, but it does drag a little bit.

“There are people out there who are so controlled by their hate and their fear that they will not think twice before harming someone in the name of whatever they believe in. Even people you thought you knew.”

Yeah this one hits too close to home

[ Related: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout (ARC Review) ]

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Gun Violence, Mature Content, Murder, Illness, Xenophobia //

Release Date: 10/8/2019
Publisher: Tor Teen
Page Count: 649
Premise:

The Burning Shadow is the sequel to The Darkest Star. After the revelations of the first book, Evie must come to terms with everything she has learned, and piece together the missing pieces of her memory. Meanwhile, a new virus is spreading to humans and people believe it’s linked to the luxen. With panic spreading, peace between luxens and humans seems harder and harder to maintain.

”All I wanted to do is eat a damn grilled cheese sandwich, eat some freaking soup, and be normal for five seconds…”

( me )

Read more for all of my thoughts on The Burning Shadow!

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Caitsbooks Review and Giveaway: Crier's War by Nina Varela (5 Stars)

Crier’s War (Crier’s War #1) by Nina Varela – Giveaway + Review!!

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Before I get into this review, I want to talk about the giveaway! I’ll be giving away a copy of Crier’s War to one person. The giveaway ends on October 8th, so enter now for a chance to win!!! All details on how to enter are down below, after the review!

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own! *

Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 4.5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 4.5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 4.5/5
Review in a Nutshell: The second I heard this book was LGBTQ+, I put it on my TBR, but I never expected to love with the writing, world, and characters as much as I did.

“Justice was a god, and Ayla didn’t believe in such childish things.
She believed in blood.”

[ Related: Book Release Round Up – 16 LGBTQ+ 2019 Releases ]

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, War Themes, Murder, Mental Illness //

Release Date: 10/1/2019
Publisher: HarperTeen
Page Count: 448
Premise:
The Automae, once created to be the playthings of humans, now rule Rabu, with humans as their servants. Ayla’s family was killed by the Automae when she was a child, and now she serves the House of the Sovereign waiting for her chance to get her revenge and take away his family. Crier is the Sovereign’s daughter, Made to be his heir, but after her betrothal to Scyre Kinok, she realizes that there is much about her kingdom, their history, and herself, that she doesn’t know.

“‘Humanity is how you act, my lady,’ said Jezen. ‘Not how you were Made.’”

Read more for all of my thoughts on Crier’s War, plus all of the info on the giveaway!!

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Caitsbooks Reviews: When She Reigns (Fallen Isles #3) by Jodi Meadows - 3.5 Stars

When She Reigns (Fallen Isles #3) by Jodi Meadows – Dragons and Anxiety: How Could This Go Wrong? (Review)

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Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
Characters: 3/5
Setting: 3.5/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Plot and Themes: 3/5
Awesomeness Factor: 3/5
Review in a Nutshell: When She Reigns delivers on its promises of dragons, but at the cost of some of its other aspects. That said, I still enjoyed it.

“Hate cannot abide where many stand in love.”

(This exact line is said a million times. I think I’ll be saying it in my sleep)

[ Related: As She Ascends (Fallen Isles #2) by Jodi Meadows (Review) ]

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// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Torture (Mention), Panic Attacks, Anxiety, Animal Abuse, Animal Death, War Themes, Murder, Mental Illness //

Release Date: 9/10/2019
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Page Count: 496
Premise:
When She Reigns is the third and final book in the Fallen Isles trilogy. It takes place shortly after the devastating ending of As She Ascends, and follows Mira and her friends as she tries to find a way to save her people and her home.

“Love survives death.”

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Caitsbooks Reviews Graceling by Kristen Cashore - 3.75 Stars

Graceling by Kristen Cashore – Is It As Good As People Say? (Review)

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Overall: 3.75/5 Stars
Characters: 4/5
Setting: 3.5/5
Writing: 3.5/5
Plot and Themes: 4/5
Awesomeness Factor: 3.75/5
Review in a Nutshell: I went into this book with crazy high expectations, and while it didn’t quite meet all of them, it was still a great read.

“Mercy was more frightening than murder, because it was harder.”

[ Related: August Favorites & My September TBR ]

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// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Torture, Animal Death, Murder, Incest (hinted at), Pedophelia (hinted at), sexual assault (hinted at), Human Trafficking (Mention) //

Release Date: 10/01/2008
Publisher: Harcort
Page Count: 471
Premise:
Katsa is a Graceling. She was born with an innate gift. Except, while some people were Graced with fighting, telepathy, or music, Katsa was Graced with killing. Used as the king’s pawn, Katsa is sent across the kingdom threatening and torturing whoever the king tells her to, but what he doesn’t know is that she has her own missions, helping those who need it. On one of those missions, she meets Po, the youngest prince of a faraway kingdom. The two of them must work together to solve a mystery that threatens his family, but they didn’t expect to fall in love, or uncover a secret that threatens everything they know.

“When a monster stopped behaving like a monster, did it stop being a monster? Did it become something else?”

Read more for all of my thoughts on Graceling!

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Caitsbooks Reviews: Capturing the Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4) by Kerri Maniscalco - 5 Stars

Capturing The Devil (Stalking Jack the Ripper #4) by Kerri Maniscalco – I Can’t Believe It’s Over (Review)

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Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review in a Nutshell: Capturing The Devil is an amazing end to a series that has captured the hearts of so many fans. While I’m sad it’s over, I couldn’t imagine a better finale.

“Perhaps some monsters were immortal after all.”

[ Related: Stalking Jack the Ripper by Kerri Maniscalco – Review ]

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// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Torture (Mention), Mature Content, Rape (Mention), Drugged, Animal Death, Murder, Mental Illness, PTSD, Homophobia, Kidnapping/Abduction //

“I had been stalked and hunted and had escaped thus far.
I’d now be the one setting a trap for this monster.”

Release Date: 9/10/2019
Publisher: Jimmy Patterson
Page Count: 448
Premise:
Capturing the Devil is the final book in the Stalking Jack the Ripper series. Audrey Rose and Thomas now found themselves in America, where a series of disappearances has them on the hunt for an elusive murderer. The two of them must try to catch the killer, while also trying to hold onto their future together.

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Caitsbooks Reviews Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith: 2.5 Stars

Bloodleaf (Bloodleaf #1) by Crystal Smith – A Quick Read, But Is It Good? (Review)

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Overall: 2.5/5 Stars
Characters: 2.5/5
Setting: 3/5
Writing: 3/5
Plot and Themes: 2/5
Awesomeness Factor: 2/5
Review in a Nutshell: Bloodleaf is an okay read, but overwhelmingly so. Nothing about it is unique or amazing enough to make it stand out from the YA fantasies it finds itself similar to.

“The wolves howl, Aurelia, and there may come a time when I will no longer be able to hold them back.”

[ Related: Disney-A-Thon Wrap Up! ]

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Torture, Suicide Mention, Self Harm (for magic), Rape Mention, Animal Death, War Themes, Murder //

“I’m just as lost and confused and lonely as anyone else.”

Release Date: 3/12/2019
Publisher: HMH Books For Young Readers
Page Count: 384
Premise:
Bloodleaf is a loose retelling of The Goose Girl. It follows Princess Aurelia, a blood-magic wielder in a kingdom where witches are the enemy. With her people eager to see her burn, Aurelia is sent to the neighboring kingdom for her safety, and to meet the prince she has been betrothed to since childhood. But when she is betrayed, Aurelia is forced to disguise herself as a commoner as she uncovers a plot that could destroy everything.

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Caitsbooks Reviews: Serpent and Dove by Shelby Mahurin (5 Stars)

Serpent and Dove (Serpent and Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin – My New Obsession (ARC Review)

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Quick Stats:

Overall: 5/5 Stars
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot and Themes: 5/5
Awesomeness Factor: 5/5
Review in a Nutshell: Serpent and Dove felt like it was made for me. From the characters to the setting, everything was well crafted and absolutely addictive. 

“A witch and a witch hunter bound in holy matrimony. There was only one way such a story could end–a stake and a match.”

[ Related: 15 September 2019 Book Releases ]

// Content Warning: Violence, Death, Assault, Mature Content, Suicide Mention, Self Harm (for magic), Rape Mention, Murder, Illness //

“They might’ve all been hypocrites, but I was the biggest of all.”

Release Date: 9/3/2019
Publisher: HarperTeen 
Page Count: 528
Premise:

Serpent and Dove follows Louise la Blanc, a witch who fled her coven, and Reid Diggory, a witch hunter. After a chaotic second meeting, Lou and Reid must marry to save his reputation, and Lou would rather face the pyre than the enemies chasing her. However, when feelings grow, what was first a simple arrangement becomes infinitely more complicated.

Read more to see why I adore Serpent and Dove!

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