SPOTLIGHT: The Man of a Thousand Faces by Jay Stritch

The Man of a Thousand Faces by Jay Stritch
Genre: YA Science Fiction
Release Date: 20th August 2014
Series: #1 in Eight Worlds Chronicles

Nineteen year old Achill has never left his training camp on Mars. With the revelation that his mother was exiled from the strict system after he was born he feels even more pressure to prove his loyalty and status as a fearless warrior who doesn't think before he kills. That is until he, who has never been taught of love or freedom, is sent on a secret mission for which he must travel through the other seven planets and fight for survival. As his journey unfolds he will discover unknown truths, potential love and face the strangeness of the lives and culture of those raised so differently to him. He may even uncover the timeless mystery of the man of a thousand faces. As tensions rise and the stakes are higher than ever Achill must decide who he is actually fighting for as he tries to understand both conflicts between the planets and also within himself.
A story that will take you to another world...many in fact, it has anti hero’s, romance, strong adventure and unforgettable characters. Overall it is a rip roaring ride in a world where each of the eight planets has a different idea of civilization, a ruling god and where travelling between these contained worlds can spell extreme danger, conflict and in some cases unexpected insight.

{Links: Eight World Chronicles Website | Author Facebook}

About the Author:
Jay Stritch is a published author, Cambridge student and lover of all modes of storytelling. She has always been a fan of gritty YA fiction that can cover real issues while taking you on an adventure. She is a self confessed adrenaline junkie and has recently released the first installment in the new YA trilogy, 'The Man of a Thousand Faces.'

BOOK REVIEW: How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski

Published: 7th May 2013 | Simon Pulse
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Format: Kindle

Overall: ½

goodreads | amazon | barnes & noble

Summary: First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she’s on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel’s packed with drama and romance!
Rosie’s always been impulsive. She didn’t intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend’s car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So when she’s served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she’s heartbroken—and furious.
To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie’s parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie’s spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…

Review: I have been avoiding a lot of YA lately as I've fallen (very deeply) into the genre that is NA. But books about summer road trips are by far my favorite genre (yes, I think it's its own genre. Deal.); so I knew I had to pick this book up. Knowing that I wasn't very into the YA scene I was weary of what I'd read. I figured there'd be a lot of juvenile dialogue and shenanigans....but this ended up being a fun and funny book from start to finish. I never found myself bored. In fact, there were times I could not bring myself to stop reading even when it was 4am! I haven't read a book like that in a very long time.

Rosie has the inability to think before she speaks or acts--she's impulsive--and because of that comedy ensues, as well as igniting her boyfriends car. Then she's forced (but really, who wouldn't want to go on a road trip 'cross country?) to take a road trip with her reliable neighbor, and best friend, Matty and his two nerdy (or not really?) comrades, until her TRO (temporary restraining order) court date. Along the way she learns to let go of the past and find a future that looks a little brighter as well as meeting a few people along the way that give her a new way to look at life.

I loved each character throughout the book and I was probably the minority in saying that Matty wasn't my favorite character. In fact I think he was last. It was that "friend forever I think I like you" character that I was over. Spencer and Logan were my favorite of the bunch. Though at times Logan's weirdness was a bit too much, and it is justified, throughout, why he seems so stiff.
The adventure across the country had me yearning to go on a trip myself. And then they make it to Arizona. Now, I've never been there myself, but I've always had this weird secret fascination with it. The desert like state, the colors the idea of Native American culture still living freely there... I want to go, and after reading of their time I now know that I need to go!

This book isn't heavy in the romance department, which I am just fine with, but you do get lovey dovey times and cute boys. And honestly, what more could you ask for? Road trip? Sure. A douchey ex-boyfriend who gets what he deserves? Check. Fun times with a possible bucket list started by the time you're done? Double check. Comedy that comes out of no where and causes you to snort like a pig? Why not.
So, why didn't I give it a full five stars? The ending... It was too abrupt and didn't feel like an ending at all. I wanted more. At least another paragraph. Anything.
I cannot wait to read her second book, Famous Last Words. A great great debut from Ms Doktorski!


Plot:
Characters: ½
Ending:
Writing:
Cover:

BOOK REVIEW: "The Distance Between Us" by Kasie West

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West
Published: 2nd July 2013 | Harper Teen
Age: YA Contemporary
Format: Kindle Edition

Overall: 

Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.
So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she's beginning to enjoy his company.
She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

Review: I never fully had the intention of reading this book. I started the first chapter to get a feel for it and just never put it back down. It was a simple read that I thoroughly enjoyed.
From the beginning I loved the sarcasm Caymen used as her second language--some would say her crutch, but that is opinion based--and the way she kept light of everything. When she meets Xander, I knew this guy was going to be fun.
This lighthearted, fun and witty book keeps you entertained the whole time. You have best friends, cute guys, a doll store, cute guys in bands and the main character who is dedicated to everything and everyone in her life.
I don't have a whole lot to say about this book--good or bad--and I guess that's a good thing, it's just one of those books I recommend for anyone who wants a book that will numb the mind and take you to a place where someone else is fighting battles and finds their way through them.

I loved the relationship Caymen has with every other person in the book. She seems so easy going and it was a relief compared to other heroines. They all have these demons and life is so hard and the world is out to get them and blah...blah...blah. She has things in her past that she isn't happy about, but they don't keep her down.
I loved that Xander just was. He wasn't there to save her or show her the sunshine and rainbows again. They meet, they like each other, they hang out.

This was one of the first books I've read in a long time that just keep me interested. I believe you just might be too.

This Week in Books (009)

1. The Keep (#4 The Watchers) by Veronica Wolff (YA Paranormal | publisher; review | 4th June 2013)
2. The Evolution of Mara Dyer (#2 Mara Dyer) by Michelle Hodkin (YA Paranormal | library)

So excited for both of these books! I will be reading The Keep first so I can get the review up before or around the release date! I'm almost done with the book I'm currently reading (Going Vintage by Lindsey Leavitt) and can't wait to dive into these.

WINTERTOWN by Stephen Emond [review]

Wintertown by Stephen Emond


Published: December 5th, 2011 | Little, Brown Books
Age: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Acquired: ARC

Overall:

Review: The summary for this book had me extremely excited to read it. I was hoping it'd be just like it sounded, but for me, it wasn't.
In my opinion is was just another YA contemporary read with comic strips attached. And, the comics were my favorite part.

I never really got to know Evan or Lucy, they just seemed like people you got to watch from afar, but not allowed to get too close to. But when we were allowed into their little world, I enjoyed learning about them, especially when Lucy finally decided to speak.  But her sudden change was just off-putting, I really didn't find her reasoning behind it to be very dramatic. It was actually whiny. She had options. She made bad choices. I didn't feel sorry for her.
But, with that, I felt bad for Evan. He's a people-pleaser and he just never seemed very happy. From the beginning the end, he just wanted to make sure everyone around him was happy before him.

Evan's grandmother was the comic relief, in my opinion, the rest of the story just seemed to go on.

I don't regret reading this, but I wouldn't have been disappointed if I'd have never read it.

But, don't let that stop you. I've read quite a bit of mixed reviews, so give it a try. :)

(PS. There's a shameless plug for his other book Happyface in here. Look for it!)


Plot:
Characters: 1/2
Ending:
Writing: 1/2
Cover:


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Author Info:
Steve Emond does not have any superhuman powers, neat tricks, or famous relatives, but he’s a pretty cool guy who can draw. He is the creator of Emo Boy, which ran for 12 issues and two collections, and the comic strip, Steverino. He grew up in Connecticut, where he wrote and directed a public access sketch comedy show that only his grandmother watched.
Wintertown is his second published book. Happyface is his first.

Check out Stephen on: website  | twitter | facebook | goodreads | deviantart