Darken the Stars (Kricket, Book 3), by Amy A. Bartol

Format: e-ARC, 302 pages

Publisher: 47North

To Be Published: September 8, 2015

ISBN: 9781503947429

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction & Fantasy

Back cover blurb: Kyon Ensin finally has what he’s always wanted: possession of Kricket Hollowell, the priestess who foresees the future. Together, their combined power will be unrivaled. Kricket, however, doesn’t crave the crown of Ethar—she has an unbreakable desire to live life on her own terms, a life that she desperately wants to share with her love, Trey Allairis.

As conspiracies rage in the war for Ethar, Kricket’s so-called allies want to use her as a spy. Even those held closest cannot be trusted—including Astrid, her sister, and Giffen, a member of a mysterious order with a hidden agenda. But Kricket’s resolve will not allow her to be used as anyone’s pawn, even as the Brotherhood sharpens its plans to cut out her heart.

As the destiny prophesied by her mother approaches, Kricket will backtrack through her fiery future to reshape it. For she knows one thing above all else: the only person she can truly count on is herself.

My review: When I got to the end of this book I kept swiping the page to see if there was more. Ms. Bartol can’t leave us there!

I love how strong Kricket became and the choices she made, even though I was a bit worried she was suffering from Stockholm Syndrome in the beginning. I was totally Team Trey from the previous two books and was disappointed he wasn’t in this much, but Kyon surprised me, and although I wasn’t totally falling for him, he did have his swoony moments. To say too much would probably be spoilerish – you’ll just have to read this for yourself!

The writing is compelling and had me gripped from start to finish. I really can’t recommend this series highly enough. But there just has to be another book!

***Disclaimer: This e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to them. ***

My rating: 5/5

Amazon

Stacking the Shelves #15

 

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Welcome back to Stacking the Shelves, a regular meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the latest books you have added to your shelves, physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course e-books!

I took “Dry July” to the extreme and didn’t buy or borrow any books, but now it’s August I’m back!

I won a $US10 Amazon gift voucher this week, and have started spending it with two 1001 Dark Nights Demonica novellas from Larissa Ione, Aazagoth and Hades. Love these covers!

I made two requests from Netgalley and they were both granted. The first was Darken the Stars (Kricket, book 3) by Amy A. Bartol. I absolutely love this series and can’t wait to get started on this final installment.

I also asked for and was granted Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon, about which I have heard great things. Really looking forward to starting this one, too. Again, both of these have beautiful covers!

Finally, I borrowed The Devil’s Star (Harry Hole, book 5) by Jo Nesbo on audiobook from the public library. I’ve read a few of his books and would like to read more of his Harry Hole novels. They’re very good.

So that’s it for this week. Keep an eye out for my reviews of these in coming weeks. So what new books did you pick up this week? Let me know in the comments.

Inescapable, by Amy A. Bartol

Format: Kindle edition, 368 pages

Publisher: Createspace

Published: August 29, 2011

ASIN: B005JZTP16

Genre: YA paranormal

Back cover blurb: My name is Evie Claremont and this was to be the making of me–my freshman year of college. I’d been hoping that once I’d arrived on Crestwood’s campus, the nightmare that I’ve been having would go away. It hasn’t.

I may be an inexperienced seventeen-year-old, but I’m grounded…sane. I look for rational explanations to even the strangest circumstances. Since meeting sophomore Reed Wellington, however, nothing makes any sense. Whenever he’s near, I feel an attraction to him–a magnetic kind of force pulling me towards him. I know what you’re thinking…that sounds fairly awesome. Yeah, it would be…if he liked me, but Reed acts as if I’m the worst thing that has ever happened to Crestwood…or him. But get this, for some reason every time I turn around he’s there, barging into my life.

What is the secret that he’s keeping from me? I’m hoping that it’s anything but what I suspect: that he’s not exactly normal…and neither am I. So, maybe Crestwood won’t be the making of me, but it could be the breaking of me. I’ve been left to wonder if the dark future my dream is foretelling is…inescapable.

My review: Having loved Ms Bartol’s Kricket series so far, I thought it was about time I started her earlier work, given how much my friends had raved about it. Yes, at times it reminded me a lot of Twilight, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’m not sure I entirely warmed to Reed, but I loved all the other secondary characters and Evie was a plucky heroine. The ending came as a complete surprise and I will certainly be reading the next book.

My rating: 4/5

Amazon

Stacking the Shelves #4

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Welcome back to Stacking the Shelves, a regular meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the latest books you have added to your shelves, physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course e-books! Here is my smaller-than-usual haul from this week.

Checked out from the library

From my local public library I checked out Talon by Julie Kagawa on audiobook. I like dragons so I hope this new series of hers is a good one. The second book, Rogue, is coming out soon.

Purchased from iBooks

New Zealand iBooks had another sale… yeah, I know, I’m a sucker for them – and I grabbed Hope Flames by Jaci Burton for $1.99.

Purchased from Amazon

My only other purchase this week was from Amazon. Since I enjoyed the Kricket series by Amy A. Bartol so much, I decided to start her earlier series, and picked up Inescapable.

Three books is plenty for one week, I think. My TBR list is enormous! Keep an eye out for my reviews of these in coming weeks. So what new books did you pick up this week? Let me know in the comments.

Stacking the Shelves #2

Hosted by Tynga’s Reviews

Welcome back to Stacking the Shelves, a regular meme hosted by Tynga at Tynga’s Reviews. Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the latest books you have added to your shelves, physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts, and of course e-books! Here is my haul from this week – oooh, and I can’t wait to get started on some of them!

Netgalley e-ARC requests

As I mentioned last week, I have just joined Netgalley, and this week I was granted access to a surprising number of my requests. I’m clearly going to have to pace myself! So far I have already read Sea of Stars (Kricket, book 2) by Amy A. Bartol and the sneak peek of Saint Anything by Sarah Dessen and absolutely loved them. You can read my reviews here and here. Also in my Netgalley haul were Lone Star by Paullina Simons, In the Shadow of Winter by Lorna Gray, The Confectioner’s Tale by Laura Madeleine, The Blondes by Emily Schultz, 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die by Mimi Sheraton, and Techbitch by Lucy Sykes and Jo Piazza. Such pretty covers, don’t you think?

Bought by me this week

New Zealand iBooks had a promotion this week on New Adult series, with the first in several series free. I can’t resist a freebie, and managed to pick up I Want It That Way by Ann Aguirre, After by Anna Todd, All Lined Up by Cora Carmack, and White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout. There was also a sale at Audible, through which I managed to pick up Snow Falling on Bluegrass by Molly Harper, and Red Rising by Pierce Brown.

Not bad for one week, eh? I’d better get reading! Keep an eye out for my reviews of these in coming weeks. So what new books did you pick up this week? Let me know in the comments.

Sea of Stars, by Amy A. Bartol (Kricket, book 2)

Format: Kindle Edition, 291 pages

Publisher: 47North

To be published: March 31, 2015

ISBN: 9781477828236

Genre: Fiction, science fiction/fantasy

Back cover blurb: Eighteen-year-old Kricket Hollowell was looking for her place in the world when she discovered that the universe was bigger—and more dangerous—than she had ever dreamed. Now, whisked across space to the planet Ethar, Kricket learns that her genetic ability to see the future makes her a sought-after commodity…and the catalyst for war between her star-crossed parents’ clans. According to Alameedan prophecy, one house will rise to power and the other will be completely wiped out, and Kricket’s precognition is believed to be the weapon that will tip the scales.

A target of both the Rafe and the Alameeda houses, Kricket finds protection—and a home—in the arms of Trey, her Etharian bodyguard-turned-boyfriend. But her visions of what’s to come disturb her deeply, especially since she must discover whether the gift of foresight will allow her to rewrite the future, or if her fate is as immovable as the stars.

My review: I practically inhaled this book! Sometimes second books in a series feel like placeholders, just marking time until the third and final installment, but not this one. Sea of Stars is just as gripping as Under Different Stars, with the action from the first book flowing straight into the second and never stopping for an instant.

Kricket comes into her own more as she finds herself separated from Trey and her other bodyguards and forced to contend not only with Kyon but also a new foe, Comantre baddie Giffen. Her ability to see the future comes in very handy, and there are some shocking revelations which have left me panting for the next book.

My favourite parts, though, were when Kricket and Trey were together. Their relationship develops considerably once they are reunited, and while the first book felt more like YA, this one is certainly more grown-up *fans self*. The secondary characters are again a joy, and there are some new ones I hope we see again.

Book 3, Darken the Stars, is due out later this year and I, for one, cannot wait! You must read this series!

***Disclaimer: This e-ARC was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Huge thanks to them. ***

My rating: 5/5

Amazon

Under Different Stars, by Amy A. Bartol (Kricket, book 1)

Format: Kindle edition, 296 pages

Published: December 9, 2014

Publisher: 47North

ASIN: B00MJB2ZEW

Back cover blurb: Kricket Hollowell never wished upon stars. She was too busy hiding in plain sight, eluding Chicago’s foster care system. As her eighteenth birthday approaches, she now eagerly anticipates the day she’ll stop running and finally find her place in the world.

That day comes when she meets a young Etharian soldier named Trey Allairis, who has been charged with coming to Earth to find Kricket and transport her to her true home. As danger draws close, he must protect her until she can wield the powers she cannot use on Earth…and he soon realizes that counting a galaxy of stars would be easier than losing this extraordinary girl.

Kyon Ensin knows the powerful depths of Kricket’s gifts—gifts he’ll control when he takes her for his tribe and leads the forces that will claim Ethar and destroy his enemies, starting with Trey Allairis. Now, Kricket faces the most difficult choice of her life: whether to wage a battle for survival, or a fight for love.

Winner of four 2014 UtopYA Awards, including Best Book of the Year and Best Sci-Fi Book of the Year.

My review: Amazing! This was my first Amy Bartol book, but it won’t be my last. My friends over at The Book Hookup love her, and now I know why. I could not put this down! The plot was gripping, unlike anything else I’ve read for a while – more science fiction than anything else.

Oh, but the UST! *swooon!* I’m a sucker for great UST, and Trey is a worthy book boyfriend. Bartol keeps it subtle in the first half of the book – I loved the scene where he wakes up next to Kricket and Jax tells him to walk it off, lol! – but then amps it up in the second half (the shower scene!) without ever needing to get graphic. Wonderful.

Kricket was a fantastic heroine. I loved her snark and resilience, and her life in foster care means she can get herself out of sticky situations. Bartol shows us the world she has created through Kricket’s questions and discoveries, which is much better than many other authors who use heaps of telling.

The secondary characters are excellent. The baddies are well formed, but I loved hilarious Jax and Wayra the best. I’m really looking forward to the next book to see more of all these characters, especially Trey 😉 Luckily, I have the ARC already! Highly recommended!

My rating: 5/5

Amazon

 N.B: Book 2 in the series, Sea of Stars, will be published on March 31, 2015.