Moving

So, if you follow me on Twitter you know that I have been toying with the idea of moving the blog over to a Wordpress format. Well after much consideration I have decided that is the best course of action for the blog.

I'm not a huge fan of the blogger platform and have a histroy with Wordpress, so it just made sense for me. I'd love for all of you who follow the blog to head over to Wordpress and see the new site!

 https://thegoldenmantle.wordpress.com/

City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare Plus Giveaway!

So if you have been in the YA space for the last couple of years you have probably heard of Cassandra Clare and her Shadownhunters series. I started the series back in High School many moons ago and was anxiously awaiting the end of Clary and the gang's saga. I find that people are of two opinions when it comes to the books, either they wish Clare had finished with the Valentine plot, or they love the books and continuously want more. Usually, I am of the second camp. Why knock a good thing? Harry Potter seven books right? But I've got to say, when it comes to this story line, it seems to have become a bit stale for me. I love the world Clare has created and her other series was amazing, but I think this story had a very clear ending and by dragging it out into six books it's staled a little for me. 

Here's what I liked: Clare's ability to create the Shadowhunter world is insane. The way that all of her characters so closely interweave is continuously impressive, and I love trying to but the families and the legacies together. I also love Jace and Clary. One thing I never tire of is their relationship. It's come a long way since the first book, and even Simon notices how it's evolved. If you haven't read that part yet, you'll know what I'm talking about when you do. I love Simon too. He really does bring a lightness and a humanity, even six books in, and I completely love him for that. Basically, Clare's ability to write remains, as my friend put it "off the chain," 

Here's what made me cringe: The subplots. There were like three. Some made sense, some were marketing tools. Good on you for making use of your built in audience to make way for the next books, really, but adding it so heavily into the story made it drag at times. It felt like I was sloshing through to get to the good stuff. Girl, I love you already--I don't need you to force feed me the next chapter, I'll buy it. I wanted to enjoy the ending of Clary's chapter, but most of the time I was slogging through the set up to the next series, and the back story of the other series and I became uninterested. That's another thing. Honestly, if you haven't read her other works "The Infernal Devices," and "The Bane Chronicles," you are going to spend 75% of the book confused. There are a lot of references to those books made Finally, I was not a fan of the ending. Talk about wrapping it all up in a bow. I'm of the strong belief if you make a massive decision the way Clare did, you should stick with it. Don't try and please everyone. If you do something awful to a main character or in this case characters I think it's a more poignant message, especially in the world she created, to stick to your choices. 

Overall, I say if you are a fan of the books, you'll enjoy the finale--for the most part I did. But if it's not something you love/haven't read them all and Clare's other works, maybe pick up something else. You'll spend a lot of time scratching your head. 7/10 

Now onto the giveaway!! I am giving away a copy of City of Heavenly Fire. I really do love Clare's writing and am a true fan of her work. I think this is a great book to complete your Mortal Instruments collection. Please note that this giveaway is only open to those in the U.S.

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Blog Tour: Branded Review

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Fifty years ago the Commander came into power and murdered all who opposed him. In his warped mind, the seven deadly sins were the downfall of society. He created the Hole where sinners are branded according to their sins and might survive a few years. At best. 
Now LUST wraps around my neck like blue fingers strangling me. I’ve been accused of a crime I didn’t commit and now the Hole is my new home. Darkness. Death. Violence. Pain. 

Branded A Sinners Series novel by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki is set in a dystopian world where those who have been accused of crimes are branded with one of the seven deadly sins and set into what is essentially an internment camp called The Hole. The novel follows main character Lexi, who has been branded with the blue mark of lust and sent to live out the remainder of her days in The Hole. It is there that she meets guard Cole and makes some shocking discovers about the world she has found herself. 

Let me preface this by saying that I read Branded twice. I really, really wanted to like it more than I did. Let me start by focusing on the positives, because I really thought there were many of them. Ketner and Kalicicki have created a really intriguing world. Their setting is unlike any other that I have read before. When I heard dystopian I was expecting something along the lines of Hunger Games or Divergent, but this world is a bit more brutal than those. I enjoyed the reality of it and found that the authors really didn't shy away from depicting the harshness of the world they created. 

What I struggled with was the overall plot. I found myself struggling through a lot of the plot points. It seemed to me that the authors tried to fit too much into the plot. Instead of laying bread crumbs they dumped in all the ingredients at once, and it caused a lot of inconsistencies. I struggled with Lexi's character. I mean I get--sucks to be her--but she was extremely whiny. All the time. Even when she was trying to show strength I found her lacking in backbone. Cole also wasn't the studly hero you usually see in YA novels. His dog Zeus seemed to be the only character with much personality. 

Overall I found Branded to be perfectly fine. It seemed to me to be a manuscript that needs some finishing. I think the authors have some really amazing pieces but some of the connections are a bit off. With a little polish I think they could have something truly extraordinary. 6/10

Branded Review Coming May 31st!

Hey everyone! It's been a few weeks since I have had a review and honestly I've just been crazy busy starting a new job! I'm back at it and plugging away through some new reads that I can't wait to share with everyone. My come back post will be part of the Branded Blog Tour!

I'll be writing a review next week on May 31st so definitely be on the lookout!! Can't wait to get back at it. Have fun at BEA :)

The One by Kiera Cass

May appears to be the month of endings. First the end of the Sweet Trilogy and now the end of the Selection Series by Kiera  Cass. Anyone who knows anything about me knows I LOVE anything to do with royalty. Seriously, I should have, had a tiara from birth. So obviously, the Selection Series was right up my alley. I was so excited to read "The One," that I bought Amazon Prime simply so that I could be sure to have the book by it's release. 

"The One," pretty much picks right up from "The Elite," following America, Maxon, and the other girls left in the Selection. What I always found really intriguing about the series was that you never really knew what was going to happen at the end. I liked not being sure if America was going to chose Maxon and vice-versa. That uncertainty continues in "The One," especially with only 4 girls left, and Maxon catching feelings for one of them. 

Overall, I really did enjoy the ending of the series. America is one of my favorite female YA characters, because she is so normal in the way she thinks. For someone who is in line to be a possible Princess, she is actually pretty normal. She's caught between her childhood and the possibility of a new life with Maxon. The series deals with this as she faces some very real struggles. 

This wasn't my favorite book in the series, I will say that. I felt like Cass glossed over America's relationship with Aspen really quickly, and left out some fantastic opportunities with his character. She also added some really crazy, gratuitous violence. There was a larger focus on the rebel forces that to me felt really forced. 

Review- 7/10

My First Giveaway!

Hey guys,

Double post here but my review was getting out of control. I have some exciting news. Remember how I was lucky enough to go see Wendy Higgins at her launch for Sweet Reckoning?!? Well, she was lovely enough to sign a copy of her final installment in the Sweet Trilogy, "Sweet Reckoning," which also happens to have come out on my birthday. Because I am awesome, I am giving away the signed copy of, "Sweet Reckoning," as well as a copy of , " Sweet Evil." Unfortunately, "Sweet Evil," is not signed, but it's still a great extra copy if you already have one, or for those of you who haven't read it, a great way to begin your love.  All you have to do is follow the directions below to win :)

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The Sweet Trilogy Review

        

Hey everyone! Happy Sunday. Today, I am going to be reviewing "The Sweet Trilogy" by Wendy Higgins. I was lucky enough this past week to meet Wendy in person at the launch of the final book in the trilogy, "Sweet Reckoning." It was my first ever author event and it was incredible! Wendy was lovely in person and went out of her way to answer questions and take photos. Before I start, I want to say I'm going to treat this review a little differently, mostly I'm going to be super vague about the plot. I want everyone to go and discover the Sweet Triology's awesomeness without any possible spoilers, and I loved them so much that if I start focusing on the plot to heavily I know I'll give stuff away. So, Imma be vague.

Let me start this review by saying that I am ashamed it took me this long to read the books. I've been reading YA since I can remember starting with "Harry Potter," so it's not like a skipped some time here and just missed "Sweet Evil." It's been on my radar for--well forever-- but for one reason or another I never picked it up. Now, I feel like someone should smack me in the face with it! How I could have missed something so amazing is beyond me. I'm notoriously picky about books. I'll read anything at least once but I dissect the crap out of them--both the writing mechanics part and the actual story telling. I majored in English and History in college and I get shady about certain things like grammar and continuity.

 I'm a big believer that there are two kinds of writers out there, ones who are fantastic story tellers and ones who have some magic powers with words--Wendy Higgins is one of the few that embodies both. (And I'm not just saying that because I met her.)

The Sweet Trilogy is beautifully written. Every page holds so much description that you feel as though you are right there with the characters. Her story and plot requires so much emotion and investment and she is talented enough to create that on the page. You really feel what her characters feel--the good and the bad.

Plus, her main character Anna is a great heroine. My favorite part about her and a majority of the characters is that she is not solely good. I feel like a lot of times, especially in YA, the heroine is this beacon of perfection and not someone who girls can actually strive to be like. The great thing about Anna is that she struggles and not just because she has to get her love interest to get his head out of his butt. The entire series is about her struggle with her faith, her love, and her family.

The plot that these three books are based around is fantastically different. Higgins, uses biblical lore to create a great foundation but really goes beyond and creates an imaginative and different story. The former English major in me loves how she handles the dichotomy between good and evil and relates that to moving from childhood to adulthood (that could  also be the English major in me inferring a lot of crap that's not there too). I mentioned the characters above but I can't stress enough how much I adored them. They reminded me of my friends (granted my friends aren't half demon--that I know of). Their struggles with sin (greed, lust, envy, wrath, substance abuse) are something everyone struggles with, especially in those early years when parental control starts to drift off and you have to figure it out for yourself. Higgins, really goes far and beyond in expressing the turmoils of what it's like to grow up and struggle with the good and the bad. And she's not one to judge you for giving into the bad. Her story centers around redemption and isn't a long lecture of how evil infects the good in you completely. Everyone's got a little of both and that's okay.

Seriously, someone get this woman on the NYT Best-Seller list and her books in English class!

Now, that I fangirled out. I do want to point out a few things I didn't like, because I have to be that person. There was a death in the last novel I kind of thought was unnecessary. There, I said it. I won't go further than that because I genuinely want people to read these books and fall in love and be DEVASTATED. I also felt that an unexpected...let's say surprise...one of our characters gets felt rushed. I liked the idea of rebirth and redemption in that way, but I got to say I had a WTF moment there.

Overall, buy these books! Drop everything right now and go get "Sweet Evil." If you don't like it you can complain in the comments section below and tell me I'm stupid...you won't.