Here are some mini-reviews of a few recent books I’ve read, so take a peek! Let’s get started!
Ace of Shades by Amanda Foody
Publication: April 10th 2018 by Harlequin Teen
Thank you to Harlequin for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
I was really interested in reading this, and while I did enjoy many of the aspects in this novel, I did have a few reservations. I found the search for Enne’s mother to be very interesting, like a puzzle, which made me think of CARAVAL in its atmospheric setting and interesting clues. I also enjoyed the writing, which I thought was well-written and flowing. My only reservation is that this novel introduces so many characters and many of them aren’t characterized upon, so it felt a bit difficult for me to keep track of all of the characters. However, I will most likely continue with this series.
Do I recommend? Yes! This was a very interesting take on a city of sins, of some sort. If you enjoyed the atmosphere of CARAVAL, you’ll enjoy this one.
Time Bomb by Joelle Charbonneau
Publication: March 13th 2018 by HMH Books for Young Readers
Thank you to HMH for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.
TIME BOMB is incredibly fast-paced and delves deeply into stereotypes and the assumptions that can arise from stereotypes. This novel is written in multiple POVs, and I thought I would get confused about who is whom, but the author does a fantastic job of differentiating between each character and establishing their own personalities. Along the way, we learn more about their backgrounds and secrets. My only reservation is that I felt like the ending was a bit rushed. I had guessed who the bomber was, and I wish there had just been a little bit more closure at the end of the novel.
Do I recommend? I do! There are a variety of backgrounds in each of the characters, which made them very diverse. I read this novel in two sittings because it was so captivating!
Alice is an 18 year old college student who loves the oxford comma, television shows, and the company of dogs. She finds writing in the third person odd yet enjoyable. You can find her scrolling through Twitter, Instagram, and forever organizing her shelves on Goodreads.
arctic books 
I really enjoyed both these books – loved the characters and world-building in Ace of Shades, and Time Bomb really challenges stereotypes (some you may not realize you possess).
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I also thought some of the side characters in Ace of Shades were a little underdeveloped, but hopefully that changes as the series expands 🙂 Glad you enjoyed both reads!
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Oh no, I hated Caraval. Does that mean I won’t like Ace? I’m worried :-\
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