8 March 2016

The Fable of Us by Nicole Williams

The Fable of Us by Nicole Williams
Series: No
Publisher: Nicole Williams
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Source: Bought




Her heart can’t be destroyed by the same person twice. At least that’s what Clara Abbot finds herself hoping when she runs into Boone Cavanaugh less than an hour after returning to Charleston.

As kids, Clara and Boone had been each other’s firsts, and no one or nothing could stand in the way of their forever. But all kids have to grow up sometime. The troubled son of the town drunk winding up with the firstborn daughter of the local royalty was a happy ending even the most imaginative of fairy tales couldn’t make believable.

Their fable came to an end as most do: tragically. Boone might have done the leaving, but it was Clara who got away and made a new life for herself in California. But after seven years of dodging her hometown, she’s only back in Charleston for seven days to celebrate her sister’s wedding. She won’t let her overbearing family or her run-in with Boone rattle her—though rattling her is obviously Boone’s primary objective.

Boone is her past and her past is behind her, a mere speck in the rearview. So why does she feel it coming back every time she looks at him? Why does she see it every time he looks back?

Just when Clara’s life can’t possibly get more complicated, the ground shifts, and she discovers just how far her family was willing to go to keep the wrong boy out of her life. Was it really Boone who left her? Or was it Clara who left him?

The truth will be hard to face. Especially when she discovers most of her life has been built on lies.

The Fable of Us was a huge disappointment. I've read two of Nicole Williams series - Lost & Found and Crash - both of which I loved, so when I heard she had a new book coming out, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! But unfortunately, this book turned out to be a major disappointment.

The Fable of Us follows Clara and Boone. Clara escaped from Charleston years ago and had no intention of returning. But as her sister is getting married, Clara has to step into her past once again and is dreading every second of it. And as soon as she turns up in Charleston, she runs into her old sweetheart Boone. Things with Boone were left on a bad note, and he clearly dislikes Clara. But Clara offers him a deal he can't resist - pretend to be her plus one for the wedding and she'll give him $10,000. 

I didn't like Clara or Boone, or any of the characters in the book really. Clara comes across all high and mighty, thinking she's better than her family because she's the only 'normal' one. Boone is just a complete ass. Both of them are terrible people and they both have awful families, Clara's is definitely the worst, and there's nothing redeeming about any of them.

Clara and Boone's relationship basically fell apart due to them being told things by other people, believing said things and never actually speaking to one another about anything. It was completely frustrating hearing about their past and what happened between them, and I honestly couldn't believe how stupid they both were for not even speaking to each other. It was ridiculous.

Overall, The Fable of Us was a major disappointment, and I'm actually pretty sad about writing this review because I was so convinced I was going to love this book. But unfortunately not.

3 March 2016

Beyond the Red by Ava Jae

Beyond the Red by Ava Jae
Series: No
Publisher
Publication Date: March 1st 2016
Source: Publisher (Edelweiss)




Alien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She’s the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she’s determined to protect her people from her brother’s would-be tyrannical rule.

Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn’t stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora’s soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He’s given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity—a secret kept even from him.

When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros’s secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.

Beyond the Red had so much potential and the storyline sounded like it was going to be amazing, but unfortunately, I didn't really enjoy it.

Beyond the Red follows Kora - the alien queen - and Eros - a half blood rebel soldier. Kora is the first female ruler of her territory, but her people are calling for her twin brother to be the one on the trhone. Kora is determined to prove to her people that she is the best person to rule. Eros is a solider who is hated by both aliens and humans due to being a half blood. When Eros is captured, Kora gives him two options: either become her bodyguard, or be executed. 

For a story full of betrayal, political unrest and attempted assassinations, I found it extremely boring and also very predictable. I really wanted to enjoy this because it sounded so good, but I just couldn't get into the story and I ended up skimming through most of it. Not only was it boring, I was getting completely sick of Kora and Eros. Every time they were together - and I mean every. single. time - their thoughts were just full of how they want to kiss, but oh no they shouldn't because they just can't and I really didn't care! It was tiring reading about how they just couldn't possibly kiss each other and it all got a bit repetitive. And that was most of their thoughts about each other for the whole damn book. Also, Eros's storyline was extremely predictable and I'd guessed what was going to happen with him pretty early on.

Overall, Beyond the Red just wasn't for me. I found it boring and repetitive, and I just didn't enjoy it, no matter how much I wanted to. There hasn't been anything mentioned about a sequel yet, but if there is one, I don't think I'll be continuing with the series.

1 March 2016

February Wrap Up

Hello everyone! How was your February? Mines was pretty uneventful. It started to get a bit busier at work, and I also had a week off which was nice. I also went to the cinema quite a bit with my fiancé. We saw: Dirty Grandpa (which was funny. Also shirtless Zac Efron <3); Deadpool (which I LOVED! Ryan Reynolds is just amazing, and I ended up seeing it twice); Zoolander 2 (funny, but pretty bad); Grimsby (didn't like this one, I'm not a big Sasha Baron Cohen fan) and The Forest (it was jumpy, but not great. Natalie Dormer was good though). Bookwise, this month I managed to read 12 books and 5 of them were re-reads!
1. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes 
12. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (re-read) 
13. After by Anna Todd 
14. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins (re-read) 
15. The Fable of Us by Nicole Williams 
16. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor 
7. Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry (re-read) 
8. Kingdom of Ashes by Rhiannon Thomas  
9. Beyond the Red by Ava Jae 
10. Walk the Edge by Katie McGarry 
11. Faking It by Cora Carmack (re-read) 
12. The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout (re-read) 

Me Before You by Jojo Moyes was definitely my favourite book of the month. It's one of the books Brittany recommended to me for our challenge and I'm kicking myself for not reading it sooner. I also hated Brittany slightly after I finished reading it because I just couldn't stop sobbing. It was so damn heartbreaking, but such an amazing story.

So, in March I'm hoping to read around 10 books. I'm in the middle of three books just now: Dreams of Gods and Monsters by Laini Taylor; The Power by Jennifer L. Armentrout and When We Collided by Emery Lord.

So that was my February wrap up! Let me know what you're favourite book of the month was and what you're most looking forward to reading in March!