Defy by Sarah B. Larson

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?


Holy good book, Batman! This was a fantastic book. I found myself on the edge of my seat, gasping in shock, fist pumping the air and squealing like the girl I am so many times it's hard to count! This is one of the best books I've ever read! The character development is phenomenall, the descriptive scenery and action that takes place makes you feel like you're actually there. Mystery, intrigue, love, brokenness, injustice, betrayal, hope... this book has it all.

10 out of 10

Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis

Visiting their annoying cousin, Eustace, Lucy and Edmund Pevensie come across a painting of a majestic ship called the Dawn Treader. Suddenly, the painting comes to life and draws the youths into Narnia, where they meet their old friend, King Caspian. Caspian is on a quest to find the seven lost Lords of Telmar, whose swords will save Narnia from an evil green mist that enslaves men's minds and bodies.

I've never read this book, but I will say that the movie created based on this book is very very different. The book is good, however, and I really enjoyed it. The story of Eustace's transformation, unlike in the movie, is only a small part of the story as a whole. The book goes on and on, diving into story lines that revolve more around the seven lost Lords of Telmar and about Caspian's desire to reach the end of the world, where Aslan's country exists. However, I am sad to learn that this is the last that Edmund and Lucy will be in Narnia. I had hoped they would be back for more adventures in the following books. Only two left in the Chronicles of Narnia series and I'm excited to read them. 


5 out of 10

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

In an instant, Mia's whole world is shattered, leaving her with only questions. What will happen I she leaves? If she loves?if she stays? Heartbreaking, romantic and ultimately filled with hope, this is a powerful story of love and loss, and finding the courage to make the right decision when your life is literally in your hands.

This was a fantastic read and an easy one at that. The content wasn't super easy but the way the author writes just floats off the page. The story is heartbreaking and it makes me stop and think. I'm a little sad by it but also hopeful in the idea of true love and the hold we have on those we care about. I look forward to finding the next book.

8 out of 10.

Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Mare Barrow's world is divided by blood - those with red and those with silver. Mare and her family are lowly Reds, destined to serve the Silver elite whose supernatural abilities make them nearly gods. Mare steals what she can to help her family survive, but a twist of fate leads her to the royal palace itself where, in front of the king and all his nobles, she discovers an ability she didn't know she had. Except... her blood is Red. To hide this impossibility,  the king forces her into the role of a lost Silver princess and betroths her to one of his own sons. As Mare is drawn further into the Silver world, her actions put into motion a deadly and violent dance, pitting prince against prince and Mare against her own heart.

If you're a fan of the Hunger Games then you will love Red Queen. This book is mysterious, an easy read, exciting, suspenseful and you just can't put it down. From start to finish, I couldn't leave it alone. This was a great book, one with twists and turns you don't expect with a traitor posing as a friend throughout the entire novel. A great, spellbinding read. Can't wait to read the next in this series.

9 out of 10.

Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson

San Piedro Island, north of Puget Sound, is a place so isolated that no one who lives there can afford to make enemies. But in 1954 a local fisherman is found suspiciously drowned, and a Japanese American named Kabuo Miyamoto is charged with murder. In the course of the ensuing trial, it becomes clear that what is at stake is more than one man's guilt. For on San Piedro, memory grows as thickly as cedar trees and the fields of ripe strawberries - memories of a charmed love affair between a white boy and the Japanese girl who grew up to become Kabuo's wife; memories of land desired, paid for and lost. Above all, San Piedro is haunted by the memory of what happened to its Japanese residents during World War II, when an entire community was sent into exile whole its neighbors watched. Gripping, tragic and densely atmospheric, Snow Falling on Cedars is a masterpiece of suspense -  but one that leaves us shaken and changed.


This book is a very interesting and suspenseful murder mystery. A combination of past and present twist and turn until you honestly don't know if the suspect did it or not. The story is a good one involving forbidden love, interracial prejudices, war and the aftereffects of war. It made me read up to the last page because the story truly isn't finished, the mystery truly isn't solved until the last page.
The only thing that disturbed me was the fact that the author thought it necessary to include sex scenes between main characters and even refer to some amongst the minor characters. Alot of it wasn't necessary and I found myself skipping ahead to the more important paragraphs. Unfortunately this affected how I felt about the book as a whole. So even though there were some really good parts and even some quote able lines, my rating of this book is pulled down quite a bit.

4 out of 10

The Horse & His Boy by C.S. Lewis

Narnia... where horses talk... where treachery is brewing... where destiny awaits. On a desperate journey, two runaways meet and join forces. Though they are only looking to escape their harsh and narrow lives, they soon find themselves at the center of a terrible battle. It is a battle that will decide their fate and the fate of Narnia itself.


The Horse and His Boy was a good book, but not one I'd read again. It was okay, just not as enticingly exciting as the first two books of this series. C.S. Lewis does a good job making his characters come to life, but after reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, this book leaves you wanting and desiring more detail of the Pevensie children instead of having you switch to totally new characters. All of the Pevensie children make an appearance in the book, but not for very long.

5 out of 10.

The Princess and the Hound by Mette Ivie Harrison

He is a prince and heir to a kingdom threatened on all sides, possessor of the forbidden animal magic.

She is a princess from a rival kingdom, the daughter her father never wanted, isolated from all except her hound.

In this lush and beautifully written fairy-tale romance, a prince, a princess, and two kingdoms are joined in the aftermath of a war. Proud, stubborn, and bound to marry for duty, George and Beatrice will steal your heart — but will they fall in love? 

I have to give this author a big round of applause for her bravery. This book defies any rules or storyline protocol and goes it's own way and is strong enough to stand on its own two feet. This story leaves you hungry for more. Fairytale, folklore, romance, mystery, forbidden magic.... the whole thing is really quite gutsy and enchanting. And is written impeccably well. It's an easy read, but really sucks you in. I found myself thinking about it when I wasn't reading it. Great book.

8 out of 10.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel for children by C. S. Lewis, published by Geoffrey Bles in 1950. It's the first published and best known of seven novels in The Chronicles of Narnia (1950–1956). Among all the author's books it is also the most widely held in libraries.^[2] Although it was written as well as published first in the series, it is volume two in recent editions, which are sequenced by the stories' chronology (the first being The Magician's Nephew). Like the others, it was illustrated by Pauline Baynes, and her work has been retained in many later editions.^[1][3]

Most of the novel is set in Narnia, a land of talking animals and mythical creatures that one White Witch has ruled for 100 years of deep winter. In the frame story, four English children are relocated to a large, old country house following a wartime evacuation. The youngest visits Narnia three times via the magic of a wardrobe in a spare room. All four children are together on her third visit, which verifies her fantastic claims and comprises the subsequent 12 of 17 chapters except for a brief conclusion. In Narnia, the siblings seem fit to fulfill an old prophecy and so are soon adventuring both to save Narnia and their lives. Lewis wrote the book for, and dedicated it to, his goddaughter Lucy Barfield. She was the daughter of Owen Barfield, Lewis's friend, teacher, adviser, and trustee.^[4]

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is a classic. I read it as a child and watched the original cartoon version, all the while secretly fearing and curiously peeking at an old cabinet in my grandparents' spare room upstairs in their old farm house and wondering if it contained a secret world within. This book is an easy read and it makes me want to go back and rewatch different versions of it. A fast, easy, exciting book that literally makes you feel all of the different emotions within its pages. Love this old classic by C.S. Lewis. 

8 out of 10. 

The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis

The secret passage to the house next door leads to a fascinating adventure. The Magician's Nephew, the first book of The Chronicles of Narnia... where the woods are thick and cool, we're talking beasts are called to life... a new world where the adventure begins. Digory and Polly meet and become friends one cold wet summer in London. Their lives burst into adventure when Digory's Uncle Andrew, who thinks he's a magician sends them hurdling to... somewhere else. They find their way to Narnia, newborn from the Lion's song, and encounter the evil sorceress, Jadis, before they finally return home.

I've always wanted to read through the Chronicles of Narnia in the order by which the story is chronologically correct instead of how they were written. This was a good read, quick and easy. I think I've read it before but couldn't remember. I love how things are so interwoven and connected to the other Narnia books, especially when the explanation of how the famous wardrobe is told.

7 out of 10.

Carve the Mark by Veronica Roth

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra's currentgift gives her pain and power - something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother's hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet and smarter than he knows. Akos is the son of a farmer and an oracle from the frozen nation-planet of Thuvhe. Protected by his unusual currentgift, Akid is generous in spirit, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive - no matter what the cost. Then Akos is thrust into Cyra's world, and the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable.  Will they help each other to survive, or will they destroy one another?

Holy cow. Best book I've read in a long time. I'm so glad I bought this off the shelf for myself instead of borrowing it from the library. I've read the Divergent series by Veronica Roth, which were good, but this book is hands down her best work yet. I was sucked in from the first chapter and I could not get enough. When I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. It is amazing. Suspenseful, sci-fi, mysterious, violent, romantic, intense... I can't even begin to describe what it's like. It's soso good! Definitely pick this one up.  I can't wait for the next installment in this series. I'm only sad I can't have it now!

9 out of 10!