Pages: 336
Publication date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: Sara B. Larson

How I got the copy: From Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating:  4 out of 5 Stars
  

  

From Goodreads:

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

To say this review is late is an understatement.  But in all fairness I wrote it on my phone in the notes app back in January.  So I apologize to the publisher it took so long for me to post it!

Are you a fan of Mulan and Throne of Glass?  Then I highly suggest you try Defy.  It's got a girl pretending to be a boy in the kingdom's army.  She's vulnerable like Mulan and yet really kick butt like Celaena.

Pages: 423
Publication date: September 20, 2011

Publisher: Greenwillow

How I got the copy: bought

Rating:  3 Stars
  

       
  

From Goodreads:

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one. 

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will. 

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

    Holy character development batman!  There was so much growth for all the characters in this book it was fantastic.  And unfortunately, one of the very few things that kept my interest.  I wasn't a big fan of the plot.  Not sure if this is because I'm not a big fantasy reader or if I just didn't like it.  

The world was a little confusing to me (kind of like how Shadow and Bone was confusing at first).  But the world was definitely cool and unique.  I pictured it to be this Spanish Aladdin world mixed with the TV show Reign on CW.  

Ya there was a lot of weird stuff going on in my mind during this book.  Like how I pictured a troll doll everytime she mentioned the blue godstone in her belly button.

(If Karou and Elisa had a sister.)

Pages: 310
Publication date: August 23, 2011

Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers

How I got the copy: ARCycling for review 

Rating:  4 Stars
  

     
  

From Goodreads:

As a child, Gretchen's twin sister was taken by a witch in the woods. Ever since, Gretchen and her brother, Ansel, have felt the long branches of the witch's forest threatening to make them disappear, too.

Years later, when their stepmother casts Gretchen and Ansel out, they find themselves in sleepy Live Oak, South Carolina. They're invited to stay with Sophia Kelly, a beautiful candy maker who molds sugary magic: coveted treats that create confidence, bravery, and passion.

Life seems idyllic and Gretchen and Ansel gradually forget their haunted past -- until Gretchen meets handsome local outcast Samuel. He tells her the witch isn't gone -- it's lurking in the forest, preying on girls every year after Live Oak's infamous chocolate festival, and looking to make Gretchen its next victim. Gretchen is determined to stop running and start fighting back. Yet the further she investigates the mystery of what the witch is and how it chooses its victims, the more she wonders who the real monster is.

Gretchen is certain of only one thing: a monster is coming, and it will never go away hungry.

    I've never read Hansel and Gretel, but I knew the base of the story.  Two kids are lost in the forest leaving a trail of breadcrumbs and find the candy house with the witch inside that wants to eat them.  I wasn't sure how Jackson was going to be able to make this into a YA friendly retelling.  somehow she took this really disturbing story and made it fun and entertaining.  And yet she captured that dark and creepy tone that made it feel true to the original tale.

     Gretchen's character really grew during the story.  I'm such a fan of character development so I was very happy to see this progress over time.  What I did find odd was her strange trust in Sophia, the chocolatier.  As someone who was so scared of the witch, why would she trust a complete stranger especially when things started getting weird?

    But with that said, I found myself trusting Sophia too.  I wanted to like her even when things started making her seem shady.  I wish I had read Sisters Red first because I feel like I wasn't understanding everything that was going on.  Also, for anyone who has read this.  Is the chocolate supposed to have magical powers?  I was really confused by the confidence inducing chocolate oranges.  This was definitely a page turner and probably my favorite retelling so far. 

Number of Pgs.: 371 

Publication date: January 1, 2013

Publisher: A. G. Howard
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Fairytale Retelling

How I got the copy: library

Rating:  3.5/4 stars

From Goodreads:

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.

Plot: 5/10

Characters: 7/10

Setting: 8/10

Pacing: 7/10

Style: 5/10

Cover: Even after staring at this cover for months in anticipation, I still think it's gorgeous.  I love how all the colors pop.  Feels like it should be holographic or something.

32+50=82 (4 Stars)

After talking about how excited I was for this book for almost a full year...

I'm almost ashamed to admit it, but I almost DNFed this book.

Why you ask?  I was having trouble getting into the story.  The first half of the book was kind of slow and there was hardly any action.  I was confused because I thought I signed up for a book that took place in Wonderland and I didn't want to wait 100 pages to get there.  Once I got past the first half of the book I literally could not put it down.  I read the last 200 pages in one sitting and stayed up  late.  It wasn't until the last few chapters that I was incredibly hooked and decided I'd continue the series.  I havvveee to know who Alyssa decides to be with and what Wonderland holds in the future.

Alyssa was such a unique character.  She's more of a tomboy which you hardly ever see in YA, even books where the main character is kick ass.  Alyssa skateboards, blue highlights and dreadlocks her hair(is that even a verb?).  Once she's in Wonderland she has a pretty funky outfit that I plan to try to create for my next Passion for Bookish Fashion so keep an eye out for that.  It involves striped socks!  I found it hard to connect with her character though.  I think she didn't really have any layers.  Even though she was unique she was kind of bland.  Her character did really grow up and change which I enjoyed watching.