Sometimes, I don’t want to review books. Because I don’t feel like it. Maybe I am lazy. Maybe I am tired. Maybe I lack inspiration and/or motivation. And good news! I don’t have to review these. But, I like to shout at people about books anyway, so I will just shout fewer words with less reason.
The White Rose by Amy EwingSeries: The Lone City #2
Published by HarperTeen on October 6th 2015
Pages: 320
Format:ARC
Source:BEA
Violet is on the run. After the Duchess of the Lake catches Violet with Ash, the hired companion at the Palace of the Lake, Violet has no choice but to escape the Jewel or face certain death. So along with Ash and her best friend, Raven, Violet runs away from her unbearable life of servitude.
But no one said leaving the Jewel would be easy. As they make their way through the circles of the Lone City, Regimentals track their every move, and the trio barely manages to make it out unscathed and into the safe haven they were promised—a mysterious house in the Farm.
But there’s a rebellion brewing, and Violet has found herself in the middle of it. Alongside a new ally, Violet discovers her Auguries are much more powerful than she ever imagined. But is she strong enough to rise up against the Jewel and everything she has ever known?
The White Rose is a raw, captivating sequel to The Jewel that fans won’t be able to put down until the final shocking moments.
The Quick & Dirty:
I loved the first book in ways I cannot quite describe. It was unputdownable. And not that this one was bad, I just was more able to put it down. Maybe it was some middle book syndrome, I don’t know. There were parts of it that were enjoyable for sure: getting to know some of the characters much better, getting a little more insight into the world, and some of the adventures that shall not be mentioned for spoilery reasons. So while it wasn’t a five star, it was good. And definitely left me excited for the last book!
Daughters Unto Devils by Amy Lukavics
Published by Harlequin Teen on September 29th 2015
Pages: 231
Format:ARC
Source:Traded
When sixteen-year-old Amanda Verner’s family decides to move from their small mountain cabin to the vast prairie, she hopes it is her chance for a fresh start. She can leave behind the memory of the past winter; of her sickly ma giving birth to a baby sister who cries endlessly; of the terrifying visions she saw as her sanity began to slip, the victim of cabin fever; and most of all, the memories of the boy she has been secretly meeting with as a distraction from her pain. The boy whose baby she now carries.
When the Verners arrive at their new home, a large cabin abandoned by its previous owners, they discover the inside covered in blood. And as the days pass, it is obvious to Amanda that something isn’t right on the prairie. She’s heard stories of lands being tainted by evil, of men losing their minds and killing their families, and there is something strange about the doctor and his son who live in the woods on the edge of the prairie. But with the guilt and shame of her sins weighing on her, Amanda can’t be sure if the true evil lies in the land, or deep within her soul.
The Quick & Dirty:
This book was absolutely strange and creepy. I was wholly sucked in, and wanted to know all the things. I guess the only problem I actually had with the book is that I did not end up knowing as many of the things as I wanted. But that is a problem in my world. I don’t actually know where or when this happened. I guess somewhere in the middle of the country because there’s a prairie mentioned? But also a mountain? And like… even though the characters were “old-timey” in the way they lived, was the whole world like that? You see, these things bugged me because I like answers.
On the other hand, this was delightfully weird and awful. So if you enjoy that, Daughters Unto Devils absolutely delivers. And maybe the vagueness was purposeful, but I do love answers. I would totally read a sequel, just saying.
P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #2
Published by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers on May 26th 2015
Pages: 352
Format:Hardcover
Source:Purchased
Lara Jean didn’t expect to really fall for Peter.She and Peter were just pretending. Except suddenly they weren’t. Now Lara Jean is more confused than ever.When another boy from her past returns to her life, Lara Jean’s feelings for him return too. Can a girl be in love with two boys at once?
In this charming and heartfelt sequel to the New York Times bestseller To All the Boys I've Loved Before, we see first love through the eyes of the unforgettable Lara Jean. Love is never easy, but maybe that’s part of what makes it so amazing.
The Quick & Dirty:
It’s cute. I didn’t love it quite as much as To All the Boys, but I did enjoy it. It’s kind of off the fluff charts of course, but with some teen drama thrown in for funsies. Lara Jean still reminds me a lot of myself, and Kitty continues to be the star of the books. Seriously, can Kitty come live with me or something? Her snark, her “tell it like it is” attitude, and comparing things to The Sopranos all make her beyond lovable.
There’s also some more serious stuff which brings up great discussions about double standards and the awfulness of slut-shaming. And nothing beats the sweet family dynamic and sisterly bonds. The only negative for me is that things did get a little hokey from time to time- almost too much in a few situations. But overall, adorable and sweet.
We all have those books, don’t worry Shannon! I mainly get this way with books I really, really, really loved. I just can never find the words that sum up how much I truly loved the book.
Such a good point! Sometimes I have that problem too- especially if I can’t quite pinpoint the reason I loved it! But I think the hardest books for me to review are 3.5 star books. Because they’re usually fine, but didn’t blow me away and I can’t quite put my finger on WHY!
I still need to read P.S. I Still Love You. I love fluff and it seems like the best kind since I loved the first one. Kitty is the best!
I think you will enjoy it- it is VERY fluffy 😀 Kitty is my favorite EVER!
I enjoyed The Jewel so I think I should eventually read The White Rose, although I’ve seen quite a few mixed reviews. I still haven’t read P.S. I Love You (need to do that!) but I’m glad you enjoyed the sequel 😀 Thanks for sharing, Shannon!
Zareena @ The Slanted Bookshelf
I hope you enjoy them both! I didn’t hate The White Rose, but maybe my expectations were too high? I had also had a few friends who absolutely LOVED it so I was expecting greatness. I am still SO excited for book 3!
There are always those books that get away from me! I do an end of the year posts of Book I’ve Read But Never Reviewed!
Ohhhh that is such a good idea!! I worry that my year end post would be like, half the books 😉
I think I was one of the few people in the universe who didn’t love To All the Boys so I’ve been putting off P.S. I still think I’ll get to it eventually. Agree with you on White Rose – I think I gave it four stars, but I agree that there was a bit of middle book syndrome there.
Well if you didn’t like To All the Boys because Lara Jean seemed whiny and immature… skip PSISLY. But if there was some other reason, then go for it! Especially if you love Kitty 😉
YEP definitely middle book syndrome! I was going to give it four stars too actually, but when I thought back on it, I felt even more underwhelmed, so it ended up losing half a star 😉
I do that sometimes too. In fact, occasionally it even works the other way around and the more I think about a book the more I appreciate it and I end up rating it a half star higher than I originally planned. It seems so strange when that happens!
Funny I don’t really like fluffy books but I adored To All the Boys. I haven’t read the this one but I want to!
As for the other two – haven’t read them either. I got the Jewel at BEA last last year (is that right? IDK) and never got around to it!
SAME! I am usually SO anti-fluff, but To All the Boys was one of my favorites of 2014! The White Rose was at BEA 2015, so The Jewel (I would assume?) was at 2014? I think that would be right. People either loved The Jewel, or hated it. And I will admit that it was FLAWED. But I loved it anyway 😉 Also a 2014 favorite!
Speaking of PS I Still Love You here is a highly relevant post I wrote after reading it: https://missprint.wordpress.com/2015/06/16/buttons-inspired-by-to-all-the-boys-ive-loved-before-p-s-i-still-love-you/
OH YAY! I love highly relevant posts!
Now, I want to read Daughters Unto Devils. That sounds so dark and creepy.
It was VERY dark and creepy. The whole thing was just… messed up! I really would kill for a sequel though 😉
I love these posts. 😀 I didn’t like The Jewel enough to attempt The White Rose, so I gave away my ARC! I loved P.S. I Still Love You though. 🙂 Not as much as I loved To All the Boys!
Great post, Shannon!
Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!
Thanks so much! I think a lot of people felt that way about The Jewel, because it DID have some huge flaws, but I liked it anyway- kind of a guilty pleasure 😉
I like how your DNR books aren’t necessarily books you didn’t like, just books you don’t have much to say about. I’ve seen a lot of the Jewel/The White Rose around, but never seemed to REALLY interest me beyond the gorgeous, gorgeous covers. Daughters Unto Devils … well, I think I’ll save that for a more horror-suited time frame. The holidays certainly aren’t the best time, especially the pre-exam holidays XD
Yes, some of them are 5 stars, some are 2, and everywhere in between 🙂 Basically, it’s most of the books I bought (instead of review copies) and I paid for the right to not review them bwhahahha. Daughters Unto Devils would be very good for Halloween. The Jewel… I loved it, but it has flaws. And since you are such a skilled writer, you may have even MORE of a hard time overlooking them. I loved it for pure entertainment value 😀
There’s always some books that I just can’t seem to review no matter what, love how you brought it all together!
Thanks so much! And you are SO right- sometimes you just can’t do it 😉
Love these mini reviews! Sometimes it’s so hard to review a book and this format is perfect! I didn’t like PSISLY as much as the first book but it was cute — loved the dance they put on! But I agree, definitely hokey at times. Great reviews!!
Aw thank you! OH I agree, the dance was priceless! SO CUTE. Especially since the old women were SO wise, I just loved it! It was hokey, but luckily not in an annoying way 😀
This is an awesome idea to highlight books you’ve read but never feel like reading! (Seriously, I just put them on a list and forget about them after a while haha.) Daughters Unto Devils seems absolutely terrifying from the cover alone, but I think I’ll get it a try if I’m in the mood for a spooky read. I’ve also never read Jenny Han’s books but am planning to for the new year because everyone just loves them.
I would always forget about them too, so I was just like “why not tell people I am never reviewing them?” hahha. Daughters Unto Devils is more “what in the fresh hell is this?” as opposed to actual fear inducing, if that helps 😉 And thanks!!
Daughters Unto Devils looks creepy and sounds creepy and how dare you put a gif of a creepy clown underneath your not review. Prairie? Mountain? Clearly the area between Kansas and Colorado. 😉
I still need to read P.S. I Still Love You! I’ve had the book for months (months) and I haven’t touched it. Except to add it to my bookshelf then move it around a bit, so…I freaking love Kitty.
I liked The White Rose slightly less than The Jewel, too, but it was still a good read – very addicted – and I’m so excited for the last book! It’s good to see I’m not the only blogger who likes this series. 🙂
Great mini reviews Shannon, I’m really looking forward to reading The White Rose! I’m not too sure about PS. I love you though, it’s on my tBR but I’m not going to rush to pick it up. That Daughters Unto Devils book looks extremely creepy! A shame about the loose ends though.
IT still terrifies me to this day, haha. Anyways, I really like this idea! Like you, I sometimes don’t want to write a full review on books so I just put them on Goodreads and then forget about them xD I did have a few issues with The Jewel but I am liking the sound of some of the aspects of The White Rose!