Oh, the things we do for love. Gretchen doesn’t think twice when she decides to return to Germany to help Daniel who has suddenly returned there to seek out the individuals’ responsibility for his cousin’s death. She was ready to put Germany behind her and move forward in her life but this sudden turn of events has everything she hoped for on pause, for now.   This twist wouldn’t be so dramatic if: it wasn’t March of 1933, if Hitler wasn’t trying to gain power, if Gretchen wasn’t Hitler’s former pet and she hadn’t just escaped from under his strict restraints, if Gretchen’s face wasn’t publicly known and if Hitler rise to power wasn’t causing havoc among the citizens right now. It’s not long before the two are united and Daniel informs Gretchen about his cousin. Things are never simple as word gets out the Daniel is back and he’s blamed for a murder. Being a reporter, Daniel wants to investigate the murder so he can clear his name. Traveling together, the book picks up speed and there’s talk of the Ringvereine, the Enabling Act and the National Socialists. It is believed by some, that the National Socialists are causing chaos and blaming or planting evidence on other individuals/groups to help their cause. The Ringvereine, they reminded me of a band of people who come together to stop corrupt activities. Not all they do is legal but they have a common enemy and they are a united group. The time table in this book is the Enabling Act, as Daniel and Gretchen want to get their tasks completed before this Act becomes a reality. This is the second book in the series and I thought the first book was much better. The first half of this book did not capture my attention and I really had a hard time staying awake reading it. There seemed to be a lot of words without a lot of action or adventure being played out. In the second half of the book, the main characters took a more active role and their journey had more to offer than what I struggled with in the beginning of the novel.

I have no idea why I never did a May one. I guess I'm just lazy. I read quite a bit these past two months-at least a lot for me, Though I know I'm behind because I want to read 75 books this year. Graphic novels and manga count right? I read three these past two months.

The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski

It was a good sequel, but I definitely enjoyed the first book more.

I really liked the politics in this one, but I felt the build up was dragged for the ending sequence that was only like five pages. Also, not enough interaction between Arin and Kestrel. Though I really did like their heart breaking romance though. Rip my heart out it's okay. That cliff hanger though. UGH.

 Prisoner of Night and Fog by Anne Blankman

I loved this book so much. I loved it so much I actually made a post about it. i still want a story from Daniel's perspective. Just saying. 

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

Everyone seems to love this and I am not part of that group. I wasn't impressed by this. Nothing meshed well and it was all over the place. I can't explain it but it was also very open...(?) It kind of just jumped right into the story and went from one thing to the next. I liked it enough to buy the sequel though. Interesting plot but meh writing. (Though I do love her Hex Hall series.)

Scandal by Sarah Ockler

The message of this book is very important. Cyber bullying is horrible and should never be done. I hated the bullying. I hated the fact that no one helped the main character. This poor girl would walk through the hallways of her school and get spat on. Why did no one stop this? Bullying is a messed up thing and I hate hearing about it. 

The one thing I didn't like was the main character's romance thing with the guy. There were things that were written about them that happened that were so vague they made no sense. 

Important message but everything else was meh. 

Lux Beginnings and Consequences by Jennifer L. Armentrout

I read Obsidian, Onyx, and Opal (technically I read Obsidian in May in finished in June and the same thing happened with Opal and finished July first oh well.) I like the story. It's enjoyable and has it's moments. I like Katy, I don't like Daemon. He was fine throughout the first book but half way in Onyx and a majority of Opal he was so annoying. He's so inconsistent. Up and down up and down. One minute he hates her the next he's in love. I was also so done with the romance in Opal. I want plot development I don't care about you two kissing. 

Angelfall and World After by Susan Ee

Literally the best angel books I've read so far. Granted I was annoyed that it just jumped to six weeks later. I want to know what happened but that's the whole point of the story. The angels have invaded and no one knows why. I love the relationship between Penryn and her sister and her relationship with Raffe. And of course the actual story and the crap that happens to her. But mostly Penryn. One of the best female leads I have ever read. (I heard the third book is a disappointment and I really hope when I read it I won't think it is.)

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

I guess it was a cute contemporary? I don't really like contemporary nor did I like the instalove.

Salt and Stone by Victoria Scott

This sequel was so good! The character development was great with Tella, That cliffhanger though. When's the last book coming out?

I also read Deadly Class vol.1 and the manga Blackbird vol.1 and I liked the story to both of them but to me they were all over the place. Literally jumped from one thing to the next. 

Right now I'm in a reading slump. I have so many books on my tbr that need to be read but I don't wanna read any of them. 

 I mean...there are a lot of characters I can't stand/get frustrated and angry with but I wouldn't necessarily want to drown. Just slap a lil bit of sense into them. Mostly because for some reason I can't think of any character I actually hate. I guess I should have done the frustrating characters t5w. Oh well. Three of the characters I chose I would be glad to drown. Just saying.

If you didn't know T5W was created by gingerreadslainey and every Wednesday there's a topic in which we choose our top 5 to it. If you want to join, check out the discussion page!

1) Mal from The Grisha Trilogy.

I honestly can't remember much about him because I haven't read the last book and I just didn't like him. I know I probably should have but I'm a terrible person who much preferred The Darkling. I wouldn't mind if a book took an evil route you know? I had the same thought with the Halo books by Alexandra Adornetto. I never finished it because I grew out of of it and I liked Jake. She should have chosen the demon. Anyway, I didn't like Mal. I thought he was annoying and not a very good friend to Alina. 

2) Uriel from the Penryn End of Days trilogy 

Because he's the one who did the thing to Raffe. I haven't read the last book yet but I hope he dies. Just saying.

3) Reinhard from Prisoner of Night and Fog

He was such a shit brother! I hated him so much. 

4) Simon from Gabriel's Inferno 

(there are actual multiple characters in this I would love to drown) 

I won't say much because spoilers but this man. Oh my god this man and what he did to Julia. That's all I'm saying, 

5) Layla from the Dark Elements trilogy 

This girl! She's the main character yet she's so damn useless throughout the majority of the book and her damn indecisiveness. How you gonna be in love with someone and all o a sudden fall in love so quick with some guy you just met. I can forgive her if she chooses Zayne. 

I know there are more characters in which I'd like to stick their heads in a toilet, but I'm just going to leave it with them. 

I really liked the story, the setting, the atmosphere, the mystery, the intrigue, the betrayals, the friendships and the bravery exhibited by our main characters throughout it all. The blend of fact and fiction is very impressive and must be commended. Probably my favorite part of the book was the Author's Note, where Blankman explains what's real and what isn't. Unfortunately, for whatever reason, I didn't connect with the characters emotionally this time around like I should have, and my opinion of the book suffered for it.

So it's a good book, excellently written and impeccably researched, but it simply wasn't doing anything for me.

In 1930s Munich, danger lurks behind dark corners, and secrets are buried deep within the city. But Gretchen Müller, who grew up in the National Socialist Party under the wing of her "uncle" Dolf, has been shielded from that side of society ever since her father traded his life for Dolf's, and Gretchen is his favorite, his pet.

Uncle Dolf is none other than Adolf Hitler. And Gretchen follows his every command.

Until she meets a fearless and handsome young Jewish reporter named Daniel Cohen. Gretchen should despise Daniel, yet she can't stop herself from listening to his story: that her father, the adored Nazi martyr, was actually murdered by an unknown comrade. She also can't help the fierce attraction brewing between them, despite everything she's been taught to believe about Jews.

As Gretchen investigates the very people she's always considered friends, she must decide where her loyalties lie. Will she choose the safety of her former life as a Nazi darling, or will she dare to dig up the truth—even if it could get her and Daniel killed?

From debut author Anne Blankman comes this harrowing and evocative story about an ordinary girl faced with the extraordinary decision to give up everything she's ever believed . . . and to trust her own heart instead.

I LOVED THIS BOOK SO MUCH. SO FREAKING MUCH.

When I first heard of the bed I honestly thought this was just going to be about Hitler's niece falling in love with Jewish boy and that's it. And while that did happen, there was so much more to the story than that.

The romance wasn't in your face. It was a slow build and paced very well. It reminded me of the romance in The Winner's Curse where when it happens, it's like a good slap in the face. You have two characters from completely different worlds who have to put their difference aside to solve a very important mystery. Gretchen is obviously supposed to hate Daniel because of his religion but she doesn't and Daniel knows that she's different. They're wary of each other at first, but the more they're together and the more things are revealed, Gretchen realizes that there's more to Daniel than just his religion. 

The build up was so beautiful, it gave me the feels. I had to put the book down because I was all kinds of bubbly on the inside. 

Granted, I did want to read from Daniel's p.o.v and what he was thinking and feeling about Gretchen. The story was told the third perspective of Gretchen and we got to see her character growth and thoughts but not Daniel's. 

Anne Blankman did a fantastic job basing her story around real historical events. There was so much detail pertaining these events, that there was obviously a lot of research done to be put into the book. It's evident in the setting and even with how she portrayed the characters. The psychology behind Hitler and how she wrote him was mind blowing. The amount of detail she put in to his character to make him as realistic and authentic as possible.

This book kept me wanting more. The writing was beautiful, the characters were intriguing and I have no idea why I haven't picked up the sequel.