Forgotten Silence by Quinn Loftis


Title: Forgotten Silence
Series: Grey Wolves, #10.5
Author: Quinn Loftis
Date Published: December 15, 2017

Filthy. Disgusting. Unworthy trash. The same thoughts keep swirling in Sally's mind. She's broken and no one can fix her--not her friends, try as they might, and not her beautiful mate. She'd thought when Costin had rescued her from Jericho's clutches, broken the spell the rogue werewolf had cast on her, and left the cur lying in bloody pieces on the floor of an Ocean Side bar, that one day she might find some peace. Perhaps, with time, she could forget the horrible things she'd done. Perhaps she could forget how she had betrayed her one true mate. Now, several weeks later, the memories and the nightmares have only grown stronger. Unbeknownst to Sally, though the magical bracelet that erased her memories was destroyed, the magical device deposited something sinister within the girl's mind. Now, in a last ditch effort to find some sort of healing, Sally is being shipped off to her hometown--Coldspring, TX. Little does she know that surprises are awaiting her there that will shake the foundations of all she's ever known. Will these new revelations be the key to eradicating the darkness that has taken root in the healer? Or will the secrets that are uncovered be too much for Sally to bear?





My Thoughts:

Dream So Dark by Quinn Loftis


Title: Dream So Dark
Series: Dream Makers, #2
Author: Quinn Loftis
Date Published: November 7, 2017

**Warning: Dream So Dark is book 2 in this series and darker than book 1. Child trafficking is mentioned though not graphic. No explicit explanations but themes of sexual violence and healing after are explored. Thank you for considering my book for your next read.**


He was created to be a messenger and guider of dreams. He has traveled the earth for centuries upon centuries fulfilling his purpose. Until her. Serenity crept into his existence as seamlessly as the dreams he wove and just as effortlessly, she stole his heart. Their future is still unclear, but Dair knows he doesn't want to spend even another hour without her.
Meanwhile Emma Whitmore, a brilliant young girl whose overcome so much at her tender young age was dropped in both their laps, but for what purpose neither is certain. Taken from the people she's grown to love and put in a home with a man who has no love to give, she fights to survive. She just has to hang on until she can be returned to the adoptive family who has already claimed her.
Three lives, unsure of what is to come, fighting the darkness that is closing in all around them. If they are to have any future together, then evil cannot prevail. But at what cost to them?





My Thoughts: 

Unhinged by A.G. Howard


Title: Unhinged
Series: Splintered, #2
Author: A.G. Howard
Publisher: Amulet Books
Date Published: January 7, 2014
Rating: 3.5 Stars

Alyssa Gardner has been down the rabbit hole and faced the bandersnatch. She saved the life of Jeb, the guy she loves, and escaped the machinations of the disturbingly seductive Morpheus and the vindictive Queen Red. Now all she has to do is graduate high school and make it through prom so she can attend the prestigious art school in London she's always dreamed of.

That would be easier without her mother, freshly released from an asylum, acting overly protective and suspicious. And it would be much simpler if the mysterious Morpheus didn’t show up for school one day to tempt her with another dangerous quest in the dark, challenging Wonderland—where she (partly) belongs.

As prom and graduation creep closer, Alyssa juggles Morpheus’s unsettling presence in her real world with trying to tell Jeb the truth about a past he’s forgotten. Glimpses of Wonderland start to bleed through her art and into her world in very disturbing ways, and Morpheus warns that Queen Red won’t be far behind.

If Alyssa stays in the human realm, she could endanger Jeb, her parents, and everyone she loves. But if she steps through the rabbit hole again, she'll face a deadly battle that could cost more than just her head.



My Thoughts and Ramblings:

Caraval by Stephanie Garber


Title: Caraval
Series: Caraval, #1
Author: Stephanie Garber
Publisher: Flatiron Books
Date Published: January 31, 2017
Rating: 4-4.5 Stars

Whatever you've heard about Caraval, it doesn't compare to the reality. It's more than just a game or a performance. It's the closest you'll ever find to magic in this world . . . 

Welcome, welcome to Caraval―Stephanie Garber’s sweeping tale of two sisters who escape their ruthless father when they enter the dangerous intrigue of a legendary game.


Scarlett has never left the tiny island where she and her beloved sister, Tella, live with their powerful, and cruel, father. Now Scarlett’s father has arranged a marriage for her, and Scarlett thinks her dreams of seeing Caraval, the far-away, once-a-year performance where the audience participates in the show, are over.

But this year, Scarlett’s long-dreamt of invitation finally arrives. With the help of a mysterious sailor, Tella whisks Scarlett away to the show. Only, as soon as they arrive, Tella is kidnapped by Caraval’s mastermind organizer, Legend. It turns out that this season’s Caraval revolves around Tella, and whoever finds her first is the winner.

Scarlett has been told that everything that happens during Caraval is only an elaborate performance. But she nevertheless becomes enmeshed in a game of love, heartbreak, and magic with the other players in the game. And whether Caraval is real or not, she must find Tella before the five nights of the game are over, a dangerous domino effect of consequences is set off, and her sister disappears forever.
 






My Thoughts: 

Splintered by A.G. Howard


Title: Splintered
Series: Splintered, #1
Author: A.G. Howard
Publisher: Amulet Books
Date Published: January 1, 2013
Narrator: Rebecca Gibel
4 Stars

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence.

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.






My Thoughts (more like rambles?) :

Cover Reveal: The Great Pursuit by Wendy Higgins



I am so excited to help reveal the cover of The Great Pursuit, by Wendy Higgins!  
It is the sequel to The Great Hunt, and final book in the Eurona Duology. 

The Great Pursuit publishes March 7, 2017 from HarperTeen.


Ready?

Waiting on Wednesday




Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Vassa in the Night by Sarah Porter
Coming September 20, 2016!

Review: Angelfall by Susan Ee






Title: Angelfall
Series: Penryn & the End of Days, #1
Author: Susan Ee
Date Published: August 28th, 2012
Publisher: Skyscape
Rating: 4.5 Stars
It's been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels' stronghold in San Francisco where she'll risk everything to rescue her sister and he'll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.
 

My Thoughts:

DEN OF SORROWS Blog Tour & Review

Den of Sorrows, The Grey Wolves Series, Book 9

Author: Quinn Loftis 

 Release Date: March 25, 2016

DoS Cover for reveal


*possible spoilers below

Synopsis
The Romanian and Serbian Canis lupus rest in an uneasy peace. One of their own, Sally Miklos, the young and
powerful gypsy healer, aids Perizada in her quest to defeat Volcan, a long forgotten nightmare returned to our world.

Review: An Ember in the Ashes



Title: An Ember in the Ashes
Author: Sabaa Tahir
Publisher: Razorbill- Audio
Date Published: April 28, 2015
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Narrators: Fiona Hardingham & Steve West


Laia is a slave.

Elias is a soldier.

Neither is free.


Under the Martial Empire, defiance is met with death. Those who do not vow their blood and bodies to the Emperor risk the execution of their loved ones and the destruction of all they hold dear.

It is in this brutal world, inspired by ancient Rome, that Laia lives with her grandparents and older brother. The family ekes out an existence in the Empire’s impoverished backstreets. They do not challenge the Empire. They’ve seen what happens to those who do.

But when Laia’s brother is arrested for treason, Laia is forced to make a decision. In exchange for help from rebels who promise to rescue her brother, she will risk her life to spy for them from within the Empire’s greatest military academy.

There, Laia meets Elias, the school’s finest soldier—and secretly, its most unwilling. Elias wants only to be free of the tyranny he’s being trained to enforce. He and Laia will soon realize that their destinies are intertwined—and that their choices will change the fate of the Empire itself.

Review: Deviate by Tracy Clark



Title: Deviate
Series: The Light Key Trilogy, #2
Author: Tracy Clark
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Date Published: March 3, 2015


Tormented after a daring escape, Cora Sandoval must find a way to stop the Arrazi from murdering innocent people and from violating, using, and killing the Scintilla for their powers. She must also accept one bitter betrayal: Finn Doyle—the Irish boy who has both a piece of Cora's heart and soul—is Arrazi...
On the verge of extinction and sought by those who would either consume or destroy them, Cora and the remaining Scintilla survivors must solve the mystery of The Light Key. If they fail, the truth will stay buried forever and mankind will pay the ultimate price.
No longer will she hide.
No longer will her loved ones be hunted.
And she will have her vengeance...even if she shatters her heart in the process.

Review: Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard


Title: Red Queen
Series: Red Queen, #1
Author: Victoria Aveyard
Publisher: Harper Teen
Date Published: February 10, 2015
Rating: 3 Stars

Graceling meets The Selection in debut novelist Victoria Aveyard's sweeping tale of seventeen-year-old Mare, a common girl whose once-latent magical power draws her into the dangerous intrigue of the king's palace. Will her power save her or condemn her?

Review: Runes by Ednah Walters


Title: Runes (Runes, #1)
Author: Ednah Walters
Date Published: June 8, 2013
Publisher: Firetrail Publishing
Source: Netgalley


Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18046743-runes
 


My Thoughts:

I first heard about Torin St. James, when he was a contestant in the YA Crush Tournament, over at the YA Sisterhood, last year.  His advocate did such a great job of presenting him and his book, Runes, that I knew I had to "meet" him for myself. It took awhile for Runes to get to the top of my reading pile, and now I'm kind of kicking myself for not bumping it up to the top sooner. I can now see why others were buzzing about him.

I have to say, I really liked Ednah Walter's spin on Norse mythology! Ever since I read Elsker by S.T. Bende, I've been hooked on the topic, and have been seeking out new books that delve into it.  I really I liked reading about the Valkyres and the deities.   I also loved the idea of runes, and how they could be used for various purposes. It was also interesting to learn about the history of a few of the characters, and what life used to be like for them. I hope to learn more about their pasts, as some of them have been more secretive about their lives than others. *cough*Andris*cough*

Torin St. James was especially intriguing and drool worthy! I loved that he drove a motorcycle and that he was so intelligent. And yes, he's handsome too. I did have to giggle because there were times when his age showed, but I think it just added to his character and made him even more endearing.  Lorraine (Raine) Cooper was a great character as well. Like Torin, she's smart and good looking, yet it didn't go to her head. I'll be honest- there were a few times when she made me mad! Her good friend, Cora, was another character who frustrated me, and I had a hard timer relating to her. That's not necessarily a bad thing, and in a way I appreciated  it, as I prefer my characters to NOT be perfect and to make mistakes. It makes things seem more realistic. And we all have different personalities, right?

What I didn't like:  I didn't think that Raine was fair to Eirik. He was supposed to be her best friend and like her brother to her, yet she couldn't be honest with him, and sometimes she just seemed cruel in how she'd disregard him on a whim. I understand that feelings changed amongst people, but I had thought more of Raine prior to this, and believed she owed it to Eirik to be straight up.

Another thing I'd like to mention is that I was a tad confused at the end. Something happened, and I had a little trouble following the timeline of events, as it seemed like a couple of events overlapped just a bit.  I wasn't sure who was affected exactly and when it happened? I know I'm a little vague here (and I do apologize), but I do not want to give away any spoilers. Hopefully this will be explained in the next book, Immortals.

So you're all just going to have to read Runes for yourself. ;)  It's a great start to what is sure to be fun and promising series. I cannot wait to get to know the secondary characters more, as well follow Raine and Torin on their adventures!


The Goddess Wars (series) Blitz by Tricia Wolfe ~ Includes Excerpt and Giveaway





Of Silver and Beasts (Goddess Wars #1)
by Trisha Wolfe
Release Date:  April 19th 2013
New Adult Fantasy


Synopsis

In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it, but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant reminder that she’s different.

When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.

Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.
 New Adult Dark Fantasy: Intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17564970-of-silver-and-beasts?from_search=true
Available from:
(FREE for a limited time! Get your copy below!)

Release Date: March 20, 2014

New Adult Fantasy





***WARNING: MAJOR SPOILERS IF YOU HAVEN’T READ BOOK ONE***

Synopsis
The moon goddess has taken up residency within Prince Caben, darkening his mind and soul. Now he hunts the very women he sacrificed his life to save, his conflicting desires for love and power raging a battle within him. Kaliope possesses the key to setting Bale free, and Caben will stop at nothing to see his goddess restored. Even if that means destroying the kingdom he’s sworn to protect, and the infuriating woman who torments his thoughts.

Kaliope, now the leader to the newly formed Nactue Guard, has vowed to save Caben. But with a traitor lurking among her people, and powers she’s unable to fully control, Kaliope’s mission becomes shrouded with doubt. Her new role as watcher over Caben’s kingdom brings a burden she’s unable to bear alone, and appointing the right person in charge of the prince’s affairs has turned a kingdom against the Nactue leader. Saving her stubborn, willful prince from the darkness overtaking him will be the battle of her life, and she needs people she can trust by her side. But bad blood between members of the Nactue obscure Kaliope’s journey, while her feelings for Caben cloud her judgment.

When the time comes to do what she must to destroy the goddess of chaos, will she be able to if it means losing Caben forever?


Book two of the Goddess Wars is told in dual point of view from Kaliope and Caben. New Adult Dark Fantasy, intended for readers 17 years of age and older.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17794299-of-darkness-and-crowns?ac=1
Available from:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Smashwords

OF DARKNESS AND CROWNS: A Goddess Wars Novel, Book 2
Caben’s POV
Excerpt

I block her blow and come at her from above, forcing her to deflect my attacks at an awkward angle for her petite stature. My smile spreads. “We can dance like this all night, but I’d rather our time be spent more usefully.” I lunge and slash, making it tiring for her to defend herself. “Take me to the goddess relic, and I’ll let you and your empress live…for the time being.” I grunt as she snakes a cheap shot to my wrist.
She’s not amused by the slight damage she’s inflicted. Rather, as her gaze traps my
broken skin, she looks mortified. Everything I’ve waited for is falling apart. I can’t have her die at the end of my sword while mourning the loss of her prince. She needs anger. Wrath. Disgust.
Those are the emotions that will drive her to face me full-on and not hold back.
I could end this now—slice her open and turn my back on her forever. Find the relic
easily for myself and what else I came here for and then be gone. But something inside me
refuses to accept a simple defeat. Not from the woman who has tormented my thoughts with
weakness and regret.
She’s the last thing in this world that threatens my power. And I refuse to destroy her in
this state, only to have her haunt me from the grave. I need a worthy foe—a vicious opponent—to defeat.
Not a heartbroken girl.
“This won’t do.” I growl as I back her against the wall, my swings becoming sloppy with
my rage. As if she knows what she’s doing to me, she smiles. The first one I’ve seen in so
long…and she’s beautiful. Heart stopping. It infuriates me.
I shout and thrust my sword, knocking hers aside as I move into her personal space.
Realization washes over her face, and she quickly brings up her arm to guard against my fist. I stop short, my balled hand an inch from her cheek.
My breaths are hot and quick as they leave my mouth in heavy puffs. My gaze flicks over
Kal’s shocked face, her trembling lips. And my fingers uncurl. I press closer and trace my
fingertips along her soft skin…
Kill her.
With a jerk of my head, I hush the dark goddess’s voice. Then I seize Kal’s wrist and
slam the back of her hand against the stone wall. She’s as stubborn as ever, keeping a tight grip on her weapon. I knock her arm against the wall again. And again, until she releases a cry and her sword clatters to the floor.
I drop my own and grab the arm still held up as a shield, then pin both her wrists to the
wall. “Look at me,” I order, my tone giving away my frustration. Impatience grips my nerves,
and I drop one hand to grasp her face, forcing her eyes to meet mine.
As she drinks me in hungrily, like she’s only just now truly seeing me, something stirs
beneath my skin. The white power crackles over my hands, healing the wound on my wrist, and Kal’s eyes widen.
The last time she encountered my power, when she was trapped by the glowing tentacles,
she suffered tremendous pain, I’m sure. And though something inside me is screaming to
unleash that power on her now, I rein it in. I don’t want our dance to end so soon.
As the power recedes, leaving my skin unblemished, I caress her face. Run my palm and
fingers along her soft flesh. Down her jawline. All the while, her eyes hold me, ensnaring me.
This is her power—her spell over me. It’s the reason why she must die.
I have to be free of her.
Yet, I can’t help wanting to inhale her, taste her, quench my thirst of her one last time.
And maybe that will even spark the fury within her to fight. Bring the old Kal back, the one who would rather put a blade through a man’s heart than be victim to his charms.
Pushing my body against hers, I revel in the feel of her curves, and know that I’m lying
to myself. It’s completely selfish what I’m craving, but the lie is all too tempting. Just like her.
I lower my head and place my lips to her neck, breathe her in. Then, trailing them along
her slick skin, my tongue flicking out to taste the mix of sweetness and salt, I move next to her ear. Her breaths deepen, pressing her sultry chest to mine.
“Let me in, Kal,” I whisper, loving how my words cause her to shiver. “It’s what you
want.”
Pulling back, I lock gazes with her. The desire in her eyes urges my lips to trap hers, and
I move in. Wanting to caress them as much as the yearning demands to hurt them.
“Caben,” she says, low and breathy. I halt my descent. She bites down on her lip, and my
arousal hardens painfully against my pants.
“What, love?”
A slow smile curls her lips. “Fuck off.” Then she spits in my face.
About the Author
From an early age, Trisha Wolfe dreamed up fantasy worlds and characters and was accused of talking to herself. Today, she lives in South Carolina with her family and writes full time, using her fantasy worlds as an excuse to continue talking to herself. For more information on Trisha Wolfe and her works, please visit: www.trishawolfe.com/


***Author Links***
Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook / Tumbler / You Tube / Pinterest



***GIVEAWAY***

1 Caben Flask Necklace (US only)






Book Blitz Organized by:
http://yaboundbooktours.blogspot.com/




Review: Scintillate by Tracy Clark



Title: Scintillate (The Light Key Trilogy, #1)
Author: Tracy Clark
Date Published: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
ebook given by publisher in exchange for an honest review


From Goodreads:

A mighty flame follows a tiny spark.

Cora Sandoval’s mother disappeared when she was five and they were living in Ireland. Since then, her dad has been more than overprotective, and Cora is beginning to chafe under his confines. But even more troubling is the colorful light she suddenly sees around people. Everyone, that is, except herself—instead, she glows a brilliant, sparkling silver.

As she realizes the danger associated with these strange auras, Cora is inexplicably drawn to Finn, a gorgeous Irish exchange student who makes her feel safe. Their attraction is instant, magnetic, and primal—but her father disapproves, and Finn’s mother orders him home to Ireland upon hearing he’s fallen in love. After a fight with her father, Cora flees to Ireland, both to follow Finn and to look for her missing mother.

There she meets another silver-haloed person and discovers the meaning of her newfound powers and their role in a conspiracy spanning centuries—one that could change mankind forever…and end her life.

Scintillate is the first book in this lush and exciting new trilogy, full of romance, adventure and metaphysical mystery.


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18050015-scintillate?from_search=true


My Thoughts:

Wow! I really enjoyed Scintillate.  I'm usually pretty leery about reading some YA books, especially if there is a slight chance that there will be a love triangle involved. However, I am such a sucker for Irish folklore (and hot Irish guys), that I knew that I had to give Scintillate a shot. I'm so glad that I decided to read it! It grabbed my attention from the very beginning.

The story begins with seventeen year old, Cora, battling an unusually high fever. While she is battling her sickness, she hears her dad and step-mother talking about her mother who has been missing for twelve years, and becomes alarmed when her dad (a research scientist) draws some of her blood to study. Cora also sees a strange, creepy man watching her and making her feel lethargic, even from a distance. She later discovers various colored lights that surround the people she comes in contact with. After having these strange things happen to her, she decides to do some of her own research to find answers.

I liked Cora's character. Although smart and intuitive, she could also be pretty impulsive, and tended to jump into things without fully thinking of the consequences. She was definitely determined young lady. I have to say, I fell in love with Finn from the get-go.  He was very sweet and compassionate...and a musician to boot! I thought that there was something fishy about their instant attraction, but I just couldn't put my finger on it. The author really managed to surprise me, which isn't something that is easy to do these days.

 I was so stoked that part of this story took place in Ireland! I loved hearing about the pubs and the scenery. One of my dreams is to go to Ireland, and this book made me want to travel there even more badly.

The Scintaillate and the Arrazi are a new concept for me, and I found them to be very interesting and intriguing! I'm really looking forward to reading more about them. I cannot wait for the next book to come out. I definitely need more Finn, and I do believe Giovanni may have some more explaining to do.


Rating: 4 Stars!



*right now Scintillate is only $0.99 on Amazon and Barnes & Noble! What a deal!




Endless by Amanda Gray




Title: Endless
Author: Amanda Gray
Published: September 10, 2013
Publisher: Month9Books
E-book courtesy of  Netgalley



Jenny Kramer knows she isn't normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them.

When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumble on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought. Like a past life.

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren't alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has travelled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back.

While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock - and the Order - Jenny and Nikolai discover a link that joins them in life - and beyond death.


My Thoughts:


  I was so grateful to get a chance to read and review Endless, by Amanda Gray! I'd had my eye on it for a couple of weeks now, not only because the cover is gorgeous, but the premise sounded very interesting as well.  I LOVE  history and historical fiction, so when I saw that the Romanovs of Russia were tied into the story, I was really intrigued. I was also curious as to how these characters  knew each other in their past lives.

Jenny is  a 17-year-old girl who has always felt different than everyone else.  With a simple touch, she could see into other people's souls and into their past lives.  She has kept this secret from everyone, including her father.

"The Ouija board was a bad idea."
One day, Jenny and her 'friends' were playing a game, and she gets a mysterious, yet personal message from a Ouija board. She knows it must somehow be related to her ability, but has no idea how and why this is going on.  Then she begins having mysterious dreams...and in these dreams she is in a place she has never seen, and she is a young woman named, Maria.  She also has encounters with a young man with vibrant, green eyes named Nikolai. He seems so familiar, yet she cannot place where she knows him from. One day she sees a man with these same green eyes, who claims that she knows him.

 Jenny also meets a boy named Ben. One day, they come across an old, antique music box with mysterious writing on it. Together they try and uncover the secrets of  the music box and things are revealed about the two of them. As Jenny and Ben spend more time together, she wonders if she can trust him with the knowledge of her gift and if she can tell him the dreams she has been having. 

I really liked the characters in Endless.  Jenny is a really sweet girl who is in a predicament when it comes to her future. She wants to be an artist, yet she doesn't want to disappoint her father by not taking on the same occupation as him. Can she keep from hurting him? Ben comes across as somewhat angry and standoffish, but I like the guy. He's been through a lot and has a lot weighing on his shoulders. Nikolai. I really liked him from the beginning. For someone so young, he has such wisdom and maturity. He would do anything to protect Maria/Jenny.

Even though, we spent most of the time in the present, the times spent in the late 20th century had a huge impact on the story. It was a bit sad, because I knew what was going to happen. Prior to reading Endless,  I knew a little bit about the Romanovs, but afterwards I did a some more research on them- especially Maria, because I was very curious about her.

After the first half of the story, I was loaded with questions- how is this and that possible? Thankfully, the author answered most of them by the end of the book. I was a little confused on one thing though. In Endless, there are the concepts of reincarnation, soul mates, and time travel, and they exist simultaneously. There's also the notion that time is not linear, but that it exists on different planes or dimensions So a person may be here with us on this plane, but they may also be living a life on another plane (during another time). So I wonder, would he or she only have part of a soul, since the other part(s) of  them (their souls) are on different planes and in different bodies (shells), with different personalities? I am in no ways a science person, so this has definitely given me something to ponder.

I would like to say that, that did not keep me from enjoying this book, as I adore books that feature time travel and find it interesting! I also thought that this book introduced many unique and interesting ideas/concepts that aren't in other YA books. One does not have to be a history lover to enjoy this book either. 

Endless was definitely a smooth read, and I really hope that it will become part of a series. The author leaves it open for a possibility. If so, I will definitely want to read it!


Rating: 3.5 Stars


 
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