Pretty Girl ~ Review

Title: Pretty Girl

Author: Amy Heugh

Publication Date: July 29, 2014

Pages: 393

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Trigger warning

Rating: 1 star

Summary: If there were one day that she could change it would be the day she was taken. 

After her parents’ divorce, seventeen-year-old Izzy Scott and her mother move to the old town of St. Augustine to begin a new life, a life beyond the media attention and the memories of the traumatic experiences that left an everlasting affect on their family. 
The former ballerina is trying to adjust to the outside world without suffering a panic attack and exposing who she is - all while getting through her senior year at a new school. That’s easy to say until she meets local boy Mason Winchester, a boy with a tragic past. 

Mason has a reputation for violence, but a love for motorcycles. At the age of eleven he lost his mother to cancer and from then he has been running from something, but could never really get away.  

Like any other angry teenager, he just wants to be left alone and to have nothing to do with anyone else because he believed that he had nothing to offer. That changes the moment he saw what was in the new girl eyes. 

Tragedy wasn't new to either of their lives but among the secrets and the memories the one thing they both never excepted was to find hope. 

Did you read that summary? That's the book. There it is, pretty much all of it. Do you notice the way that it's written? That's also how the book reads. I'm sure you're thinking "well, it can't be that bad." Oh how naive you are, my dear. 

Page after page of this nonsense drove me insane. If it weren't for my book resolution to not have one book end up on my DNF shelf this year, this book would be on it. In the span of two chapters I was completely bored, already knew what the big "mystery" was behind Izzy's scarred past, and found the thoughts of both our MC's to be completely unrealistic. 

After informing our coquettish waiter of my unwelcomed filamentous biomaterial...

And that's both the characters "voice." An unending stream of thought vomit with SAT words thrown in for funsies I guess. 

I can get over all the typos, past/present tense inconsistencies, and ridiculous word choices if the story is good. Unfortunately for this error-riddled book, I found it lacking in all aspects. There was a lot of telling, and not enough showing. There was also this really bad habit of bringing up an aspect of Izzy right before it affected the story and characters. Like really? Her brother, for instance, there is absolutely no mention of him for pretty much the first 70% of the story. I thought he was dead. No really, I though he died tragically. All of the sudden we find out that she talks to him every day. Excuse me? Oh wait, five pages later and he shows up for a surprise visit. Well that's super nice of him! It's also really convenient that we learned  more about him five pages ago.

I wish I had more positive things to say about Pretty Girl. The story is there, but it's deeply buried under a lot of other sub-plots (which do nothing for the story), unneeded commentary, and ridiculous characterization. I did put a trigger warning under genre as it does contain sexual abuse, violence, profanity and psycho-babble.

Endless Knight ~ Review

Title: Endless Knight

Author: Kresley Cole

Publication Date: October 1, 2013

Pages: 320

Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Fantasy

Rating: 4.5 stars

Summary: Shocking secrets.

Evie has fully come into her powers as the Tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. She now knows that the teens who’ve been reincarnated as the Tarot are in the throes of an epic battle. It’s kill or be killed, and the future of mankind hangs in the balance.

Unexpected allies.  

With threats lurking around every corner, Evie is forced to trust her newfound alliance. Together they must fight not only other Arcana, but also Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals.
Gut-wrenching treachery.  

When Evie meets Death, things get even more complicated. Though falling for Jack, she’s drawn to the dangerous Endless Knight as well. Somehow the Empress and Death share a history, one that Evie can’t remember—but Death can’t forget…

Oh man, oh man. How to even begin with this one… How Kresley Cole managed to pull this one off is just beyond me. A love triangle that I actually enjoy?! 

Better yet, a love triangle where I don't know who I want the MC to end up with?!

Aric, a.k.a Death, takes center stage in the second installment of the Arcana series, and I am over the moon in bliss. (well, you know, I was until I read the last page… Cliff-fricking-hanger!)

But then what about Jackson? Unfortunately, there is very little about ole Jack. I may be going through withdrawals. But there is one very important question that readers need to ask themselves before reading the next book, Dead of Winter. (due out in a few weeks, might I add!!!!)

Team Jack or Team Aric?

Ah yes, I knew I liked you for a reason wise, taco shell girl. There is just one small problem with this scenario.

We're in a YA fictional novel. Dammit.

So obviously that fantasy of mine will never come to light. -le sigh-

Welp, nothing like rereading until the next book comes out right? Right.

I must admit that I was a bit peeved at Jackson for the little time we did have with him. I mean, come on man, stop invading Evie's privacy!! Some thoughts should remain private! Evie recounted her entire story into Arthur's (The Hermit) recorder. Well guess who naturally snatched that up and listened to it. Yup, Jack. Do you remember everything that Evie said about Jackson? Well, I didn't. So naturally I reread the first book and whoaaa, buddy! There are quite a few things that Evie should really be mortified over.

Pair that with the shocking revelations about Jack (which come from Death! Whaaat?!) and there is a fine heated argument due for the tarot-crossed lovers. Unfortunately, I doubt that this exchange will ever take place thanks to the cliffhanger Kresley leaves us with. (Thanks for that btw. -pouts-)

I wish I could have a much more coherent thought process about Endless Knight. I feel like I am all over the place. But that's how I am feeling!

P.S. Kresley Cole, this is probably not an important literary question about Endless Knight, but it is so very important that it's answered in some way. If Evie smells like honeysuckle when she's turned on with Jack, then how does she smell to Aric?
I NEED TO KNOW THIS! Thaaaanks. :)