“I wonder if she knows that I would anything for her.”

I wouldn’t have dreamt of an heir to the Shatter Me series and yet here it comes! Another seething, heart-warming yet cliffhanger sequel which will definitely tug at your heartstrings all along. Juliette, Warner, I welcome you back guys! I missed you so bad....

“…it makes it possible for me to know how deeply Juliette loves me. I can always feel the rush of emotion in her words, in her eyes. The certainty that she would fight for me. Protect me. And knowing this makes my heart feel so full that, sometimes, when we’re together, I can hardly breathe.”

If the twelve years of the madhouse had not been enough, Juliette must face a different kind of crazy. After having shot Aron’s father, the responsibility of governing North America rests on her shoulders. Instead of going to prom, she commands soldiers of this unhinged world of Re-establishment. When she presides meetings of militarization, she would be supposed to worry about next day’s algebra tests. Instead of buying a new dress for her first date, Juliette faces the surrounding conspiracy while realizing it buries her deeper in the mud of treachery and lies.

But this world is not about normalcy any longer. It is about power and domination. And only those will survive who outsmart the others. Juliette is about to figure the whole mess out when she is already betrayed again. Not only by the prominent leaders of the other half of the world, but by Warner himself.

“Juliette will never, ever forgive me, I will lose her. And it will kill me.”

Although, I should say, this dinky lie about her parents are totally forgivable, I mean, he doesn’t even know a clue about her adopted parents let alone her abandoned half-dead sister. Though, the missive is always the one to blame unfortunately. Thus, I would have spared the poor blighter from a severe heartbreaking who, by the way, thinks the sun starts and sets on Juliette. Warren goes off the deep end where I was afraid he wouldn’t be able to come back. I had been travelling on a rollercoaster in the hills and valleys of their relationship, and I have been dropped dead at their flare-up. I was so high at their most intimate moments and so low at their end game. The writing is flat-out genious.

“I only know that the scientists are wrong. The world is flat. I know because I was tossed right off the edge and I’ve been trying to climb back up for seventeen years but it’s nearly impossible to beat gravity when no one is willing to give you a hand. When no one wants to risk touching you.”

At the beginning I was wondering whether the plot takes a war-centered direction full of malevolence and political turn-arounds. But to my greatest pleasure, it was orbiting all along around Juliette and Warner. Both of them are under a lot of emotional pressure putting me under an emotional mess as well as a sea of questions pop up in my mind with the old life of Juliette. Like about her sister, and the experiments in connection with the Unnaturals. How could they contribute to the success of the Reestablishment? How can the regime take advantage of Juliette’s deathly touch? Is Warner would be better leader than her?

I can’t bear this emotional turmoil really. Especially in the end. I don’t get it at all what is happening right now. I want it to continue! Like. Right. Now.

Rating

5 out of 5 (no wonders)

“If we don’t take any risks, then we won’t find the things worth living for.”

First off, I don’t really get the title of Some quite place which might be the reason for my low level of intelligence quota and here, at my thirtieth word you’re possibly yelling at my review for being so dumb and clueless at which point I am trying to live up to my juvenile age meanwhile not marching on the walk of shame which is so far far away from my much wiser, enlightened peers while I am starting to think that this sentence might have stretched way too long that I have previously planned and right there I need to stop.

So the point is I am obliged to ascribe some symbols to the title as zealous readers are supposed to while proving myself that I am not so dumb as you might have thought before.

Lizzy, although I am not entitled to use the short name but whatever, it is my review (freedom of press), is a quiet place herself incapable of feeling a twinge of emotion on her own but she is swarmed by human-faced Emotions which has officially the best concept of paranormal YA of 2018 so far on my read list. I am so cheesed off while she resist to feel a driblet of love or a dab of fear as if I am not authorized to have any sentiment either. But I would so love to feel so many things at once! I’d love to feel infatuation as long as staring into Fear’s piercing blue eyes or a little quavering in my stomach by Joshua’s touch or I would very much love to clobber that bastard Tim avowing himself to be Lizzy’s father. Instead I have to endure the dolorous nothingness which comes along with Elizabeth’s every step, however, I have nothing to harrumph about while there is Fear kissing all over and Joshua blushing around. Adorableness has just skyrocketed!

All story needs to include something best thing ever. Some quiet place’s best thing ever is that I could not figure out what she’d been made of all along! All those portentous dreams and sulky Emotions goofing around did not add up till the very end and after all this came the Emotion who must appear behind me when sinking under a hot tub: relief. Relief because once in a lifetime the storyline is not predictable. Relief because the punch line turns out to be 98% logical, 99% believable and 100% enjoyable. I cannot thank it enough!

The bright side is that I had been snatching my head from Fear to Joshua wondering who would finally do the homerun, for half of the time rooting for Fear, for the other half drooling over Joshua (true). So when Fear was not in flesh (muhahaha) then Joshua could easily take his place, for I did not miss him.

The 50 shades of greyer side is that I was so horribly crushed when my poor baby was thrown aside like a piece of trash. And for him, there is not such a thing as consolation or other happy ending. He was just a tool in her game, easily got rid of. Thus, though I am beside myself with joy that Elizabeth and Fear getting their Emotional happy ending, I am not the least satisfied with that of Joshua who bears the brunt obviously but what is left for me is to groan inwardly. I really carry the torch for this guy. xoxoxo

All in all, I gaily take a leap of Emotion into the Where Silence Gathers and I hope I will thank my lucky star!

Rating

5 out of 5 (Joy is peeking over my shoulder, say hi to her ;)

Pre-thoughts of Peril

    I was expecting a bunch of Savant-like supercool guys kicking someone in the ass, as usual, Joss Stirling style. What did I get instead? Some bloated Teans and even more bumptious Perilous fighting their little games of war based on a lifetime old abomination due to a mutation in their DNA differing them between glowing people and a species possessing heightened UV vision…so original.
Not quite aware of her own origins, Meri can’t quite get a grip on her never-ending pursuit by some tattooed guys flaring out in a flagrant colour of UV when being provoked or overwhelmed by tender emotions. ;)

    Kel on the other side has been training to protect the Crown of his people all of his life from the vengeful Teans devoted to wipe the Perilous from existence until a sudden change of heart. Yes, obviously Meredith has that effect on people subjugating their free will to her any desire of heart. What makes of the safeguard of a millennium old civilization dated way back to the beginning of time having ruled the long-lost kingdom of Atlantis compared to the new all-sweeping sensation of first love? Much more were lost in the great battles of antiquity than a whole supporting family and a playboy way of life that are about to confront Kel out of the blue, I suppose.
He must have cheek to give up on all the privileges his way of living offers him including a loving family and friends for a girl he hardly knows. It is pretty much everything a guy of his age languish for especially in this bleak hailstormy era of Britain. Living is not easy let alone now in this manhandled world of floods and climatic monstrosities without any days of respite.

    So the thing is he has an inclination to light up like a lighthouse with peculiar spiral patterns on his skin and what namely she has is the ability of burning him out with a mere stroke of her backhand. That’s what makes them eternal foes, doesn’t it? And that is where all goes wrong. Meri is running for her life while he attempts to put some reasonable sense in his allegedly Perilous people. But no can do. The Perilous are convinced they are right, justified even. Yup, this infatuated way of approach always turned out well in the last centuries. I am totally put out at the blindfolded stance of this cult calling themselves the Perilous. The name does not quite fit the image, I guess. They may make do at rave parties or graduation celebrations but not in the sector of intimidation until they fetch Meri and propose her a secure teenager life under their personal watch, as the slogan goes “never let a full-blood Tean let lose blowing the entire neighborhood a fuse.”
Becoming estranged from his family, Kel is determined to follow Meri in her elopement with other Teans. Not the best move budy jumping from one mess to another havoc, but I can not put the blame on him. Every girl needs an inferior sidekick, don’t they? ;)

    By and large, the story made me stick to it but I am less impressed. Simply, I don’t find the score of the story original enough as it easily could handle some more supernatural if you ask me. If there is a whole lost kingdom to discover with rather unattractive skills on both sides than why not mix the smoothie a bit? If it is a plain YA so be it, but if we want to build a genuinely spectacular world of supernatural beings, do not extract the excitements and twists from it.

    Rating

    3 out 5 stars  - not impressed :/

    P.S: I would be delighted to make acquaintance with this perilous cupcake Ade until he took a shot at my babe Kel. Naughty boy. Never forgiven.

Angel of Vengeance aka Wrath of God

"Then, a darker silhouette appears against the sky.
Menacing demon wings.
Broad shoulders.
The shape of a Greek god gliding through the sky.
Raffe."
—So this is how Raffe could look like. Holy crap on a cracker! *mental swooning then full black-out*

No surprise, though. If he's a hell on wheels archangel, he should live up to the perfect-guys-exist-only-in-books expectations. Or would I be wrong? Don't think so.
Despite his physical absence — which is enough to make the angels weep—the memories speak for themselves and keep up the tension. I love peeking into his nuances of being a fierce warrior and moments of fond emotions behind the mask of a hell-bent I-am-in-charge-of-a-batch-of-angel-mercenaries macho guy. Succinctly, Raffe managed to wrap me around his little finger. Not many has pulled that off so far thus he successfully worked his way up to the top of my booklover-list. Such a petite cherub.

"How bad are things when your clinically insane mother is more rational than you are?"

Penryn is true to her hard-ass, kicking-God's-most-gruesome-creatures-in-the-butt self. I'm doing cartwheels everytime she gets a blow in the effing angels' exquisitely-carved jaws. If it was up to me to choose between humans and angels, my momentous answer would be 'how about Penryn and Raffe fly away in the sunset?' They have been through way too much than the remnants of humanity. No wonder she thrusts her unsettling doubts in the vault at the back of her head. Until they burst through the walls...God forbid!

I'd love to start a petition titled as Angels have all their right to love the chosen Daughters of Man. Everybody lives happily ever after. Till the Judgment Day shall arrive. Make the best of the golden age of post apocalypse, right?

"I wonder if the satisfaction of a major punch to her perfect jaw would be worth dying a horrible death."

I'd better befriend her ASAP since she does hand to hand combat, wields a mighty angel sword—notorious Pokey Bear— let alone she handles her freak-out crackpot mother and razor-teeth killing machine sister 24/7. It is a lot to ask from anyone. Yet, that's what makes her the number one female heroine who doesn't need a Greek god to watch her back for she's good on her own.
Well, for a while at least.

The locusts creep me out! The combination of darkness, war and romance makes such a spectacular firework that you need to blink several times to enjoy it's beauty. Despite the fact that I'm not for horror, it has every right to be present just to feel the weight of the oncoming human extinction and of battling with savage survival instincts.

My only wish left is to bask in Raffe's immortal glory in the next volume. Amen.

How I feel now

I went through a washing machine and was shaken out to dry.

P.S.

I'm most likely acting as the angel's advocate when I say the End of Days will be epic!!!

Rating

I'd be out of my right mind not giving it a high sparkling five. Aren't we ridiculous! *winks*

How we found each other

It never gets out of fashion to read some gods-walking-among-us-covertly bed-time stories. Just like watching Disney movies.

“Take care of her, Jax. She’s one of us now.”

Apart from the fact that Delia is imprisoned for life on Trespass island, she takes better than expected. At least, better than I would go with it. No internet? They'd better call themselves cavemen again. And good gracious no Instagram? Holy cow! Earth must have spin off its axis.
What the hell is this freak-me-out show Trespass-style?

However, I wouldn't mind if I was taken to an amazing underwater journey like this. I love when Jax and Delia are traveling to uncharted waters of which every minute feels like magic. Have I mentioned I love water? It convinced me to take scuba-diving lessons. Thumbs up!

Personally, I think the story could have been unfold in a trilogy for the characters being multiplayer to explore, let alone enjoyable story-telling. But It remains hidden in the world of imagination left to the audience to go on guessing what will happen to them. And I can't get tired of re-make of Greek mythology ever! I start to believe people of Ancient times got the most inspiration and we, the masses of the 21th century, got the meek part of worshipping. Typical.

How I feel now

I'm doing impressed.

Rating

3 out of 5

Song

Naughty Boy - Running

"One of the most important things I’d learned, though, is when things that shouldn’t happen do happen, the demon shit eventually hits the fan."

Prologue

Hell in a hailstorm! The Monster Masher is back in the saddle! And Jessie is way too ready to bring trouble all over her head. Not that I've expected anything tranquil or rational on the part of Jessie...

"Mom kept telling me I acted first and thought second. She was dead on. The sad part? I never seemed to learn from my mistakes."

To make life more rainbow and unicorn-ish, it wouldn't be her if she happened to unleash the lieutenant of the Shadow Realm on the untutored society. What an empty brusque hole of space would it be without some teeny-tiny troubles in paradise? Especially if your personal hottie were there ready to pull you out from the edge of the pit?

“No one ever told you? Nothing in life that’s worth anything is ever easy."

I adore her for her cut-the-bullshit way of life. The world needs more of this kind of heroine. Edgy, die-hard straightforward and full of passion. The yummy make-out-sessions with Lukas is icing on the cake.

I'm wondering if I could make a living by chasing demons and exercising slimy ghost. That would be a thriving business, let alone the constant fusion of adrenaline...maybe in an alternative universe.

After-the-thrill

I am a planet-sized buttercup-boulder rolling at warp-speed down a steep hill smashing awesomeness-ville.

Rating

5 out of 5

“I set my own course through the ocean of life.”

—Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Oh yeah. Bad-boy-vibe was off the charts.

Lukas Scott was one big bundle of surprises wrapped in a nice, swoontastic package. Sometimes I am wondering how on earth I could be so lucky that such butterflies-in-the-stomach-inducing guys are just there, making each day brighter, perfectly made for me. Bad boys are always appealing, no matter what. Especially if they embody the seven sins of the world. Oh my! He totally makes me buttercup-shape Jell-O.

"Very few things in life couldn’t be made better with chocolate. Well, chocolate and sharp weapons."

It should be made into a damn-good Hollywood block-buster. Thrilling actions, nasty poltergeists, sexy guys—aka slushy piece of Strawberry Smoothie. Nothing but some kicking lines and hot protagonists would make the trick and bumm! Greatest paranormal of our time. I hope Santa will grant my special request...

"Gah! How could you want to strangle someone and kiss him at the same time? Craps. The truth came stomping through the room like a were on steroids…"

Jessie reminds me Jessica from the Mediator (put that on top of your TBR pile), so I welcomed her accordingly. Ghost-butt kicking, impulsive, I'll-survive-even-the-world's-end vibe makes her my number one heroine. She plunges headfirst in all shady business and she likes playing with fire which results in getting the short end of a stick in most cases. I love for her man of mettle-ish ball of fire. Badass.

"Hold your nose, jump in feet first, and think about it later."

I have to admit that I have a thing for Damien, as well. Dark, demonic kind of hottie. Smashing personality. I'd totally call him for some ghost-butt kicking workout in my house...

“I doubt there’s anything in heaven and earth that could be better than this.”

Things get more interesting as she made a deal with devil, and won the Wrath-free-Jackpot—aka sweet-Lukas-honey. Can't wait the next book!

How I feel now

I'm free-falling into the abyss of swooning and excited chirps. There is no way out.

"He had a really nice voice. Warm and deep. It reminded me of hot cocoa—and there was nothing nicer than hot cocoa."

Rating

5 out of 5

“Your choices define you, Amelie. Make thoughtful ones.”

Despite the fact that Amelie's life got hijacked by demonbloods and flushed down the Immortal toilet, she makes do pretty well, I must tell.
Not that I expected any less. She's just plain hilarious, no-matter-what kinda girl. If we all inherited her easy-going, snarky personality, life would be a puffy cloud-pillow where we could see the rainbow-unicorn from the first row. I'd totally ride a unicorn.

I can 100 % relate to her caffeine-addiction, by the way. What would I do if I knew it's my last day on Earth? Bumm! Drink coffee. I doubt she would act otherwise.

“Ami, you’ve violated seven, possibly eight levels of Guardian trainee protocols tonight, and you want to know how it’s goin’?”
“I was being conversational.”
Jack looked annoyed. “Are you aware of the punishment for this?”
“Death by coffee?” I said optimistically.

We get back to point zero because of an unfulfilled prophecy, a forbidden Lucifer-Gabriel bonding and a war against Crossworld-demons. Same old same old. I feel like we got stucked by a log in the fast-running stream. Not moving forward. And I must tell, I miss Jack a lot. Where's he anyway? He and Amelie is a collateral package aka they can't exist without each other. I'm not consoled entirely by Luc, the smoking-hot downworld-vampire-playboy. How can I love none other than Jack who knits a scarf and a matching barret for her bond-girlfriend? Hot in so many ways.

I. Want. Him. Back. *rampageous maniac alert*

"Maybe I had a choice right? Even when the options suck and it seems like nothing fits, there’s always a choice there.
Live or die.
Fight or flee.
Pancakes or omelets."

As for Amelie and Luc, I don't see the point of a love triangle no matter how much I love triangles, which are incidentally the perfection of love geometry. She's bonded with Jack from the beginning which is pretty much sacred for me. Period. And I don't believe in switching sides. It's sort of a road leading to a ginarmous-nowhere.

“If you’re here to kill me, make it fast. I won’t fight you,” I said.
“We’re not there quite yet,” he replied. “First comes the psychological torture.”
I peeked out from my pillow. “Nicholas Sparks movie marathon?”
“I’m not that cruel.”
“Says the diabolical overlord.”

Oh and what is it with Lisa? She's not other than an evil-doer sister who has tried to kill Jack. Sisters don't do that! She cannot make it up to me unless she lives forever, which I doubt. Just because she's justified her actions in front of Amelie, I have to be reborn to befriend her. And even then, I would ensnare her boyfriend, Alec. A guy with crossbow? Give him to me. He will be in good hands.

“Sometimes life is figuring out what you can live with then letting go of the rest."

The prophecy became fulfilled, an entire magical world ceded to exist and Jack has lost his memories. They've been through a rough day. Cruel twist of faith. In contempt of such events, Amelie doesn't lack further edgy comments and mortal optimism. They all happily lived and loved ever after....lucky bastards.

“I love you,” I said. “More than oxygen and coffee and chocolate, and even more than my favorite glyph-engraved throwing knives. Don’t forget that. Okay?”

Setbacks

I miss my fiery-Jack-passion-portion from the Prophecy Girl. No offense Luc. The vamp-vibe didn't work here. My bad.

Rating

3 out of 5

"Just remember, dear, life is suffering. Love, even more so.”

I can't take Amelie very seriously, which is okay as it is. No offense. Her spontaneous, flippant, above-the-law attitude makes the story smooth and enjoyable despite the dark forces that are lurking behind the scenes. If you'd like to be naughty and put some lonely goats on the roof of your old school, you're knocking at the right door. I would be definitely her friend, hence my life would never turn dull and empty. She's one of the heroines who speaks from the heart, no matter what. It's always refreshing when the truth is released in the and when no bullshit is dumped on your neck.

"Amelie Bennett, you’re the most annoying girl on the planet. You make me want to throw myself off a bridge. And, unfortunately, I am one hundred percent, head-over-heels, crazy in love with you. There. Satisfied?”

Jack is definitely my book boyfriend. I'm always into guys who put the girl's needs before his. In this case, he's willing to sacrifice himself in order to save her. And it is true vice versa. Although I can give him some paternal slaps in the face when he seemed to be indifferent to Amelie. He's technically made me swooning and drooling because that's what all forbidden loves do to me. The little sneaky bastards.

“I felt my heart expanding, making room for him to movie in permanently.”

Lisa, you pretty little liar, I can't believe her. Not only did she stab Amelie in the back but literally spat her in the face! Not very nice of a sister, I tell you. North Witch is a piece of pie compared to her. While Toto returned to Dorothy, Amelie's old life is lost forever. What's more, she has to cope with the consequences of her Wraithmaker actions. That she's become a vampire fledgling. Not everyday do the people have to embrace the fact that they're bloodsucker non-garlic-eater monsters, according to Amelie at least.

"Love takes courage, sweetheart, maybe more than most people know. That’s not something a coward can handle.”

By the way, I love this bond-mate thing full of golden threads connecting Amelie and Jack everytime they touch or do other things. It kinda feels forever. That most people just dream of. The benefit is they don't have to go through a bunch of useless relationships leading to nowhere to find the One. Let's held the nuptials of the young doves! Party rock anthem.

The gods of opportunity did not knock twice.

—And even if they did, I wouldn't get my hopes up they let the soul of my love sneak back onto the world of living after once he kicked the bucket. But everything has a price in order to maintain the balance of nature. So up to now, she may have believed they will have a happy future full of raspberry jello cake with icing on top...and that's the way the cookie crumbles. The one acts like there were no tomorrow, the other moves heaven and earth for the girl. And don't forget that his kiss makes the sun explode and walls start melting. Must be a freaking spectacle.

How I feel now

I've just had the time of my life ;)

Rating

4 out of 5

Song

Fall Out Boy - Immortals

https://youtu.be/l9PxOanFjxQ

Kale and Dez are back! It's been a long time since I managed to lay my hands on the third volume of the Denazen series but afterwards a hell of blissful days has arrived! xoxoxo

A woman of few words –a live wire

Dez is one of my favourite kick-ass heroines. She's overly confident, sarcastic, and just a little bit crazy. She has a tendency to make waves and get a blow in first rather than ask questions nicely. The ability of taking care of herself extremely appeals to me. The actions of her carpe diem policy usually put a thorn in her pillow but there's no time to lose on second-thoughts or regrets. An ex-adrenaline-junkie whose older life full of swirling parties seems so trivial now compared to the deep water in which she happens to find herself from time to time. She lives a crazy life but it's more than okay for her.

A hot potato

"I’m going to fix it. He’s in there—I know it. I’ll make this right.”
“And if you can’t?”
I lifted my head and met her gaze head-on. “That’s just not an option for me.”

She comes hell or high water just to get Kale back who has been apparently brain-washed by one hell of an institute: the Denazen. After several months of captivity, he takes after the supreme killer machine of the Capitolium, Peeta Mellark-style. Being unable to put Dez in the right place of his mind, he's intended to terminate her. For good.

Their love is luckily not a heart of glass so they're gonna pull through together eventually. Or at least I keep my fingers crossed...

Race against time

"Some people were just so damn untrusting."

Despite the fact that Kale makes her mouth waters (which makes two of us) everytime she sets her eyes on him, she's well aware of the danger he means to her. Instead of twirling her fingers, however, she doesn't let Kale slip out of her hands if it's up to her. How about kidnapping him and sheperding his thoughts in the right course for a starter? Oh! And don't forget about her eighteenth birthday that could easily become her death sentence if it's not for an antidote . Finding the cure should be a priority but who dares to determine her to-do list? Either way, her clock is ticking. Tick-tack.

A watched pot never boils

"It was the sound of his voice. Deep and rich like warm caramel coffee, each word a soothing sip that sent the endorphins in my brain jumping."

With bulging eyes, she looks out for Kale in case he's showing any progress with his memories. So far, not so good. Much worse he got hooked up with the soulless monster's daughter, Kiernan. Let alone Kale is still trying to figure out whether he should kill her. Or not. Take him as a boyfriend. Free for sale.

"You told me once that I was your lifeline. That I calmed the storm in your head."

Anyway, she won't give up on him. Ever. This is a whole messed-up situation. Crackers on crazy as Kale would say. Such a sweet innocuous guy. Especially when he opens his mouth and says things like that. Luckily he starts to get certain things such as their love cannot be wiped out by some mind-messing Six-weirdo. The intense chemistry plus the head-wrapping fight-to-death stunts result in a damn-sparkling firework. Thanks heaven it's not over yet. Three books but there's still more to the Denazen world. Can you keep up?

"He wasn’t your average chocolate chip cookie. No. Kale was a mocha cookie with coffee-flavored chips and a gooey caffeinated center. He was one of a kind—and I wouldn’t have changed that for anything on earth."

Favourite scene

Beside all the smoldering make-up sessions, it's when Dez in the elevator...this could be made one hell of an action movie!

Rating

5 out of 5

"There’s nothing more dangerous than going to war
without knowing your enemy.”

What I can't wrap my mind around...

Firstly, the missing-dad-figure. Why does she have to go off the deep end about someone who left her 5-year-old-herself? Get over it, girl. Not that anyone could say she or he has so many memories at this age. Seriously. I don't know the guy but I already hate him.

Secondly, the Kennedy-Jared loveboat. I blithely thought that it would swim with the tide on the great lovesea but I couldn't have been more mistaken. Sometimes it seems they are not a thing at all. As if their relationship comes to the spotlight when it occasionally pops up in the writer's head. Although they're not evolving as a couple, it's good to have a solid piece of the story you don't have to worry about among all the craziness going on.

‘To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.’

Between the devil and the deep blue see

Jared Grumpy Cat Lokhart's mind is taken by Andras who can jump from body to body whenever he feels like it. That's when Kennedy really freaks out. The guilt of setting an unworldly maniac free was already heavy but watching those she loves drift apart is unbearable. Her inner mother lion comes to life and she's willing to beat the hell out of him if necessary.

And the prodigal father returns, which adds to the swirling net of relationships. Jared is still suffering and the other members are pissed off because a great dark secret slips out. Let alone that Kennedy is the white dove who is able to contain the demon. Good luck to solve the inequality!

“Sometimes moving forward changes what’s behind you.”

Songs

Linkin Park - Castle of Glass
https://youtu.be/ScNNfyq3d_w

Rating

4 out of 5

"May the black dove always carry you."

I'm on top of the world because this sequel is like another volume of the Mortal Instruments but instead of demons a bunch of poltergeists are being hunted and exorcized. How badass tis that? Another supernatural Fight Club fighting against all odds tries to save the world from eternal darkness that endangers human kind. Ok, maybe sloppy enough but I can't get tired of these stories. It's too cool for being ignored.

Kennedy gets into a habit of seeing creepy ghosts willing to make her harm. They succeed. Her mother dies and a  pile of kids in their teens comes for her claiming she's part of the Legion and their mission is to kill vengeance spirits plus they need to stop a powerful demon unleashed from hell who is planning to set upon the opaque crowd of negligent people.

It feels like we set out on a stupendous adventure of the Nation's Treasury. Unless Nicholas Cage is not in the package deal, I'm keen on taking part in the treasure-hunting. Except for the fact that the chase is after the Shift, an instrument that allegedly liberate the planet from the evil force of Andras. What story would have an ending without further twist and turns, intricate misteries and outrageous scam? Definitely that would be flat-out lame that's the reason the Shift proves to be an infernal device making Andras possible to possess bodies. I wouldn't entrust my destiny to a bag of unexperienced queer fish but whatever.

The point is a this group is lovely. Although a bit blunt and guilt-striken at least they have each other no matter what. The newbee has to adapt, Kennedy feels she belong with them. After her mother's death she takes root in here which is kind of cute. Apart from the thrilled, action-packed story I love all of the characters: Priest (tech-genious, being the youngest he's certainly the pet of the band) Alara (though-kill-anyone-with-a-coup-d'oeil) and the twins. Lukas and Jared seem to look alike but they don't always look eye to eye. Mainly because Jared most likey killed their parents indirectly. They both fight for Kennedy's attention due to the desperate need for a love triangle in YA books. But after all of the vicious projections of the other world it's nice to have something enlighten the mood. And Jared doesn't have to do much to give me goosebumps. The mysterious-don't-say-a-world-bad-guy vibe is obviously working!

P.S.: A must-to-read sequel

Song

Linkin Park - What I've done
https://youtu.be/8sgycukafqQ

Rating

5 out of 5

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Hell is empty and all the devils are here.

—William Shakespeare, The Tempest

The valley of the shadow of death

I can't believe these guys are dying over and over again. Like they would be in a never ending vortex of existence. It must be tiresome for them. Not to mention me...

"I’m in love with your strength. I’m in love with your determination, the way you never ever give up."

Lela stampedes for Malachi in the the Mazakin realm with Ana at which point I'm not even surprised. The rule of staying dead once you get killed apparently doesn't apply here. The rescue mission of getting Malachi out of the Mazakin shackle doesn't go all smoothly. Although this is the place where people can not cross the river of death, they are likely to suffer a thousand of terrible ending. Sometimes mort is not the worst thing that can happen in life.

The girls set off on a suicide mission while they're well aware of the darkness feasibility of not making it alive. But then what life would they have to live devoid of the men they love?

"Sometimes all you can do is face what’s in front of you and see it for what it is—and what it’s not."

Worse than hell, they pop up amid the bustling creatures and can't do anything but fight their way through to Malachi suffering a thousand of almost-to-dies when the Mazakin Queen eats his heart every day. It's the worst of nether world we're talking about so you may not be surprised if you encounter some nauseous things here. But everything is allowed in love & war, isn't it?

If it's not enough, the rescue mission is playing the omnipotent spirits who are intended to free the trapped human souls from this bottomless pit. Who else would sacrifice his own eternal soul other than that goodwilled bastard, Malachi? That's how he makes amendments for his deeds, I guess. Now I'm pretty sure Malachi and Lela have no future left to live if every damn second Malachi is willing to dich his life for someone else's. Frigging distressing.

“You walked into hell for me. I fought my way out of heaven for you. No matter what happens, there is one thing I don’t doubt at all: we will find each other again.”–the statement is unlikely to stay true this time.

Lela has an unfinished business left on the land of living after they distroyed the portal to the Mazakin realm. She's way too tired and afflicted by the loss to think clearly which nearly causes her death. But her life-time hero ascends from the downworld one more time to fight their finally battle.

"I was still exhausted. Still grieving. But I wouldn’t stop until I had done the job I’d been sent here to do. It was about me choosing who I wanted to be."

Lela has to make a difference between what she wants and what she needs. Ether she stays on the peaceful Countryside where no harm will befall on her ever or she returns to the one with whom she's always felt home. There's a faint beacon of hope that they might go on with their life together alive and breathing. Another chance to live. They'd better appreciate this time.

How I feel

Level-headed.

Song

Fleurie - Hurts Like Hell

https://youtu.be/pUlX8ltm_JU

Rating

5 out of 5

"One of the most important rules of mediation:
Never, ever underestimate a ghost."

The very soon-to-be Susannah de Silva is gleefully planning her wedding which much to her distress will take place next year. Thousands of light year from now. Till then, she has to find a paying job instead of fulfilling her duties in the administrative offices of her old high school Junípero Serra Mission Academy for free. That could be no other than Father Dominic who takes advantage of her being aware of the fact that she's in need of earning some of the practicum credits she needs to get her certification as a school counselor. In the meantime she needs to learn not to waste all of her money for the Swear Jar quickly.
Apparently she can't break away from her roots. But that's okay. She has a comfy house, she's engaged to her love of life and definitely has future prospects of helping to navigate the "gifted" mediator-souls on a challenging path where they have to deal with some handful Non-Compliant Deceased Person. She can't imagine life more explicit.

"I just wanted to find out where you are,” I said, “so I can drive to that location and then slowly dismember you, something I obviously should have done the day we met.”

Until Paul Slauter—off the record sociopathic sleazebag and a skunk—comes within sight. Not only is he a hideous mediator but an abominable human being, as well. Even if his "making ammends of what happened on graduation night" policy seems phoney, Suze falls in his masterful trap. According to an Egyptian curse the act of pulling down her house where Jesse had died previously stands the chance to unleash the evil in him and most likely will wreak havoc on everyone he cares about. A petite inconvenience of resurrection. Unless she agrees to a rendezvous, the Slaughter Industry will wipe the house off earth. This kind of declairation of Paul's affection doesn't really convince Suze the depth of his love. In retrospect, she should have to get rid of the scumbag till she'd got the chance.

Insurmountable odds against us

Loosing Jesse before they're wedded in holy marriage is out of question. After six years of standstill in their relationship she'd waited long enough for her honeymoon to push through. Not a sole spoiled-bankroller-brat would strike a death-blow to her happy-ever-after. She'd better find a way to stop him ASAP. On top of that, obliterating the past of his attempt to exorcise her one-and-only soulmate is quite a tough undertaking. Yet what could be possibly done? An elongated jail-time experience is bound to happen if she tells the alluring offer to her fiancé, since an overwhelmed protective Spanish macho man like Jesse wouldn't let his pristine foe overcome him. Let alone steal his well-deserved throphy for which he lived through the past of the 1800s and the present of 21th century levitating between afterlife and real life. Who else can tell the same thing about himself fighting for a girl so ardently? Seriously, no one can argue with that.

Presumably he'll beat the crap out of him first then he gets an orange suit and a matched private slot.

"When I got my hands on Lucia, however tragically she might have passed, I was going to kill her all over again."

All hell broke loose

If it's not enough, the soul of a sanguaniry cherub-faced little girl's after her fiercely protecting her friend Becca. Although the poor spirit came off badly having been the victim of corruption of the church, she is rather pain in the ass despite the fact that she's nothing but a poltergeist. Do not worry. Holy jurisdiction is to be served by none other than the godsend herald Suzannah Simon. With some kicks in the ass and a devout one-resolute fiancé by her side, she smooths the tameless waves of the hurricane in a conventional-badass-Suzie-style. The good old days...

"I don’t see why you won’t allow me to beat a confession out of the priest,” “It would be faster.”

Back on track

The big wedding is happening. At last! I was wondering if it would at all...Paul is out of the picture of the gleeful reunion for heaven's sake. I was at their reception if not psychically but spiritually for sure. Maybe Suzie added me to the spook gang who has no nothing to do there but anyway poke their nose into planetary business. And life can't be more explicit.

Jesse’s voice was a soothing elixir, whipped cream floating on rich steaming cocoa on a cold winter morning.

How I feel now

I'm over the moon.

Songs

Elton John - Someone Saved My Life Tonight —Suzannah's and Jesse's official song

Coldplay - Ghost story
https://youtu.be/9r1BSLyZFu4

Rating

5 out of 5 (What else? We have a long and abundant history.)

My booklove

Absolutely.

The Benedict Brothers don't stop and the Savant world still has a surprise up it's sleeve. I can't tell how sweet every single Joss Stirling book tastes. As if a warm chocolate cake with whipped cream is put on my plate. Enticing.

Among several Savant skills I reckon Misty's truth-telling ability the most hilarious one. She can't enter a room without stirring some trouble and making others spit the plain truth that people try so hard to hide from their surroundings. It couldn't explain better that sometimes it's better to leave our loved ones in the darkness about one thing or two. Peace doesn't always come from truth. Message of the story?
Lie.

Second star on the right and straight on till morning.

Misty and Alex must wonder what trickster god was in command of fate when it turns out they're each mother's soulfinder. It doesn't look like they have anything in common. Still. Persuasion and telling truth proves to be a knockout combination making the world off it's hinge. Even if Alex takes his time with realising it, acting like a total idiot. But when he does a pretty sparkling firework fades the light of the stars of his conventional universe. This soulfinder thing is quite magical not in a Hogwart style but more down-to-earth–I wish it was real then we wouldn't be stuck up in dead ends of relationships. We would just find ourselves in Cloud Nine all at once. What a convenience.

"You infuriate and attract me in equal parts. Your every kiss cast its spell."

It wouldn't be a Benedicts novel if someone wasn't abducted. Mainly the hell-bent heroine finds herself in a pile of gunk at which point an army of Savant guys are busy operating a rescue mission. This time it's Misty's turn. She's kidnapped by a psychopath savant "saving Alex from the life sentence of sticking to his soulfinder." One touch and she's silenced forever. Just as I'm on the verge of panicing she's brought back to life froom the green pastures of afterlife by following the chain links of the strong bond that connect the two them. Fortunately it doesn't a waking-from-the-dead kiss but the hard-rock connection that brings her back to Alex's wellcoming arms. Sleeping Beauty got a good beating. No hard feelings.

After the book

Sweet after-taste of a harmonious relationship. I've counted on the predictable simultaneously heart-warming events of unfolding. Flat-out cute ;)

P.S: Angel Dares is on the top of my TBR pile. Time to buckle down to it.

Rating

5 out of 5

Start reading from the beginnings

Joss Stirling - Finding Sky

Happy Valentine's day!

"IT WAS VALENTINE’S DAY, and where was I?
Freezing my butt off in a cemetery, that’s where. Romantic, right?"

The souls of the deceased don't stop vexing Suze Simon even on Valentine's Day! Not that she'd care, for she and Jesse have been dating for 4 years now, they came to terms and drew a conclusion that it's merely "a stupid holiday named after some martyred saint to tell them when to say I love you." But still. Is she really doomed to persuade all dead dudes to be so nice and move on to their next lives or whatever they're condemned to do, but please don't hover around the livings for the rest of her life on Valentine's Day? Man, it sucks.

May I present to you the bullet-headed but all-commissioned attendant of specters who kicks ghost-butts relentlessly until their bare spiritual presence is literally jostled into the afterlife. Suzannah Simon is back, ladies and gentlemen! And I'm high over heels right now.

She's twenty-one, college girl, psych major, currently in a permanent realationship with Jesse, a century-and-a-half-ago-deceased-but-formerly-brought-back-to-life spanish male hotness. In a nutshell, life cannot be more perfect.

Unless an NCDP—­Non-­Compliant Deceased Person, as those in her trade refer to those who refuse to cross over to the other side —­bust up her idyll. Such an ungrateful fate awaits those who work in the ghost-busting business for some decades now. Not exclusively a prosperous profession. Bet on starvation if you tried to make a living out of it.

“What are you—­how can you—­who are you?”
“I’m Suze Simon,” I said. “And you thought being dead was bad? Buddy, your eternal nightmare’s only just begun.”

The scientific community has declared her secret “incompatible with the well-­established laws of science,” and therefore nonexistent. But it doesn't explain the fact that she has to sit on an ice-cold granite headstone on Valentine's Day just to ogle a spook who supposedly killed his girlfriend and himself as well, just because the love of his life refused his proposal. It's her job to convince him or —if it's not working— make him leave once and for all, for he has no place among the livings. Especially for a murderer.
At the point of resorting to more violent means (Suze's patience runs low—her type first hits then asks questions usually), the guy disappears into the night leaving a soaking downpour behind in his rage.

"I threw open the door to my room and found six feet or so of unadulterated Spanish-­American male hotness stretched out on my bed."

After re-evaluating the situation she's headed back to her dorm where she finds Hector "Jesse" de Silve a future-to-be-doctor but still having post-­traumatic stress from being dead plus he has been still warming up to the modern world for four years. It's quite obvious from the words like "miniature refrigerator" and “Good morning, ma’am” slip out of his lovely curvy mouth from time to time. He's adorable!

Even though they’d agreed they weren’t going to contribute to the mass hysteria surrounding Valentine’s Day, since they loved each other unconditionally every day, Jesse was all prepared for Valentine's Day. How he was! He was ready to take the next level in their committed relationship (it was high time after four! years) and make a proposal to Suzannah. All the details planned: on the beach, at sunset while drinking champagne. But it wasn't for her if she wouldn't have discovered the ring first by pulling the box out of his boyfriend's pants. So awkward...

"I just can’t deal with this right now.”
“Can’t deal with what right now? The man who loves you asking you to spend the rest of your life with him?”

Instead of saying "Yes, Jesse, I will be Mrs. de Silva" she starts babbling about the time not being right. And it isn't. They have to stop the dead guy to avange on a boy who's all responsible for the young couple's death out of jealousy. But things are not cut short there.

To sum up, justice will be served with the influence of superior powers. (And with the assistance of Jesse who always has to look after Suze to keep her from biting the dust.)

Make the run one more time

“So will you, Susannah Simon, kindly do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
And yet, suddenly, I felt like the luckiest girl alive.
I sank down into the sand beside him.
“Yes, Jesse de Silva,” I said, throwing my arms around his neck. “I will.”

Seriously I love you guys!

Rating

5 out of 5

To be continued...

"Most of my regrets have to do with things I didn’t do versus things I did.”

Addison's trust is broken once and for all by the treacherous betrayal of Duke and her best friend Laila who were making out behind her back. She doesn't know what to do especially after her turning point of almost-to-die. Still she's gathering her scattered pieces. Nor she's in favour of searching her future again which does more harm physically than good. It does look like she's able to slow down time on top of everything. Despite her gift, she hasn't foreseen that coming. Does it mean her ability goes wrong without recognition? Is her mind irreversibly damaged?

Unfinished business

Addie spends her winter holiday at her dad in the 'Norm' world so as to leave her messy fake-and-finite-relationships behind for a while. Then bumm! As life gives the green light Addie and Trevor's way comes to a cross-road or more likely a round-about as they're circling around each other non-stop, uncapable to hit the highway together. The good news are that they're stuck together in this new life as well, even though they don't remember what they have gone through in their other lifes theoretically. Wow that's pretty confusing!

Obviously what's meant to be always find a way...

"Trevor had some kind of hold on me, and I couldn’t figure out what."
"Why was I having such a strong reaction to him?"

Addie can feel a tangible bond between the two of them, something inexplicable feeling is gnawing on the edge of her mind as though she knew him from somewhere...it's as clear as daylight that love tends to overstep sheer logic and is capable of existing beyond space and time. It doesn't matter that she doesn't have a single memory about him but she has already lived this love once. Lack of memories don't erase feelings apparently.

"As I watched him drive away, I stood wishing I would’ve taken the other path."

Trevor is being suspicious concerning Addie's superpower. As a matter of fact, that's what makes a wedge between them. I wish she didn't wallow in the sea of would-have-beens and do-overs and actually take action to win her well-deserved shiny award. In the past she may have chosen to save Laila's life but she has to bear the consequences. The consequences of not being able to repeat the past.

I have to admit the knowledge of certain future events isn't as cool as it sounds. But oblivion is much worse.

In the meantime, Laila, choked by compunction, resolves to learn how to expand her ability and restore Addie's memory. She owes her that much. It's time to bury the hatchet. Easier said than done. She invokes the aid of a supplier of illegal enhancing devices, Connor who's resistance to Laila's charm is quite surprising. She always get what she wants. In case she doesn't, she is used to erase memories and start over till she carries out her plan. It's not working with Connor however. His mind is impregnable. This out of the ordinary catches Laila off guard.

How come she is prone to show her vulnerability in his presence? She's the formidable-Laila-McMemoryEraser-who-doesn't-care-other's-feelings. Connor is no exception. Same rules apply. But do they if she can't help thinking about him all the time? Beyond comprehensable.

Life isn't about do-overs

Laila successfully restored Addie's memories which instantly brought a full-on, Trevor-delivered knockout. Now that she's fully aware of the One specifically put together for her, letting him drift any inch further is out of question.

She launches the “Operation Win Trevor Back" at full speed but while she's totally and irrevocably in love, Trevor just starts to get to know her. It doesn't happen the same way it did last time. To make things worse during her stay three meters above skies, the Compound is going after them not being sure how much Addie told Trevor about her world. To eliminate the smallest threat they take control over events. This time however she can't depend on a paternal warning but a complete swipe of Trevor from her life which she can concededly hardly bare, let alone accept it.

Fantastic Four

The Clairvoyant, the Memory Eraser, the Healer and the Mood Controler form a league against the once-upon-a-time-believed-to-be-good Compound and prevent (their) world from falling into chaos. It's more like an action film really. Exept for car races, there is the trinity of handcuffs, Matrix-stunts and kick-butts I assure you. Even I lost following tracks sometimes. You'd better read that part thoroughly.

Happy endings

To be frank, I favored the blooming romance of Laila and Connor over the bumpy relationship of Addison and Trevor. I justify myself with the reason of having lived their love with them in the previous book. (Like a crazy invisible third wheel) Besides, it sucks that Trevor simply likes Addie. Where's the oath of till-the-end-of-time,  the delicate words of eternal love plus the warm whispers of passion as the icing on the cake?...well, I could not find any of them, that's why my attention had to turn to the other Cute Couple (taking them on pedestal) whose backstory is full of loss, regrets and the desperate need of each other. What else do we need really? They have earned their number one place.

“Can I come in?”
“Why?”
“Because I want to talk.”
He rolled his eyes and started to shut the door. I put my hand on the edge. “Because you need me, and I’ve never needed anyone more than I need you.”

Take it or leave it

The plot made me think of the choices we are confronted in life. It doesn't worth to mull over the chances we may or may not miss. We should probably make our best at choosing. Period.

“Thanks for choosing me, Addison.” - Trevor

How I feel now

Butterflies in the stomach. It rarely happens to me I can follow two love stories crammed in one book. It duplicates the exitement!

Rating

4 out of 5

Kasie West books in a row!

Booklove

Hell, yeah!

Loner Loserdom - Fate of Clairvoyants

'One little choice can make all the difference.'

One day Addie has to face her parents' decision of separating. She's confronted two different choices of life either of which will alter her future in an irreversible way. But what's the right alternative? Boldly leaving the Compound heading to Normville full of dull, normal people or staying in the well-known comfort zone stuffed with mind-blowing Paranormals just like her? It'd be too much to ask for decision-making from a teenager suffering from post-divorce epidemic satisfied with her life just as it is, let alone a non-average teenage girl who uses her remaining 97 per cent of her brain to tell the upcoming events, which she does once in a blue moon. Sometimes future is overwhelming.

There's no way left but Search for the two paths so as to decide which road she should take. Only a sneak-peak in the great unknown would tell her which direction to follow from the cross-road where she momentarily got stucked. Her answer should be easy. But is that so? One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not. It turns out on whatever passage she move along she loses someone she cares about. The real question is whom is she able to let go?

PAR•A•dise: n. a place of extreme happiness (???)

In one potential future Addie stays with her mother (masterhead of her misfortune) relaxing in her daily routine because Heaven forbids she should taste new flavours of exotic dishes. She's stuck with scrumbled eggs while she could try chocolate pencake with maple syrup. What a waste! But no regrets since there's Duke (Telekinetic) the charming talented football player (a title which can't be really hard to achieve if you've got superpowers) who bustle up just to draw Addie's attention. Regardless of their opposite personalities they seem to get along perfectly. Addie starts to think she's in love. On the other side, I find rather suspicious that he suddenly becomes interested in her after three years of attending the same high school. Big loves need time for sure (Lizzy and Darcy for a whole year you see), but three years come on! Anyway, I rooted for them putting my disbelieves on a landing-place. For a while.

'You know we’re nothing alike, right?'
'Isn’t there a reason for the saying ‘opposites attract’?'
'Yes—magnets.'

NOR•Mal•ization: v. reduced to a normal state

'The ghost of Charles Dickens told me that after he turned over in his grave, he couldn’t go back to sleep. The ghost of Charles Dickens told me that after he turned over in his grave, he couldn’t go back to sleep.' - Addie

'Wanted: good zombie hunter. Call 555–3681. Be prepared to provide references and past experience.' - Trevor

In this alternative future Addie and Trevor are back on track to best-friend-land. They're pretty much alike owning to their mutual enthusiasm for comic books, even though he's rather keen on drawing them than reading. They' both feel like they'reclooking for something to grab on to, so they don’t lose themselves. Concerning Addie, without her ability defining her, she doesn't feel grounded. As for Trevor, he's pondering about constant 'would've beens' due to the fact that his football career is gone forever because of his shoulder injury. He's pretty much the kind of guy she's Normally attracted to. And because they don't exactly follow the rules of the friendship handbook also means she has to tell where she comes from. But who would believe her completely inconceivable illusion of Crazyland? Well, Trevor, my darling, does apparently.

Feasable destinies and 'What if?'s

'Sometimes perfection reveals the lie, Addie, not the truth.'

Trevor is a cute, caring, sensitive...(I won't list all his superlative qualities though I could do that) angel whom she loves without artificiality of her old world. On the contrary, Dukes is a Mood Controller prick who used her in hope of getting from her the right hint which university he has to go. Which univesity! The lamest excuse ever. From now on there's no way she'd pick Duke over Trevor, you'd think.

The somber reality is she must choose the douchebag version because Laila's (best Memory Eraser friend) life is at stake. Addie's unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. Thus she has to make herself forget what she has lived through with Trevor in her almost cried out in frustration. How could she? How?

One way or another

I loved the tension between the two separate storylines that let me hanging in the swirling thoughts of doubts having no idea which life she'll pick. (And no, I did not read the ending beforehand...it took all my willpower to resist though. Yeah. I'm proud of myself enough.) Altough the author doesn't really unknot the details of the Paraworld (I would like to be more involved), she does know pretty much about relationships. Love you guys!

How I feel now

Arghhh. Duke is on top of my Who-I-want-to-strangle-first list. I'd better start the next book so that I can make sure Addie would find her way back to Trevor. I mean she should have found a better way. Seeing the future involves that you are able to change it right? And don't come with the shit that one tiny alteration may cause crack of doom. Make a difference. *bewildered sigh*

Rating

4 out of 5