Two books usually give someone a good feel for an author’s writing style, in terms of their stylistic approaches and the choices they make with characters. But I’m not quite sure about that still, as I’m once again left with the same complicated reaction that I had after reading “Cruel Beauty”. With “Gilded Ashes” though I liked the story significantly less, and found there to be more issues.

“Gilded Ashes” presents a similar dark twist on a familiar fairytale, returning with bargaining demons and Greek mythology woven into the otherwise very Western-European retelling. But this time, the main character Maia was much more dislikable and problematic. As some pointed out, I didn’t get why she simply went along with her lies and pretense of being happy. If you want your mother’s ghost to stay but hate her cruel ways, why don’t you try reasoning with her first? And if that doesn’t work, well, perhaps then her choice in the end should’ve occurred earlier, in order to spare everyone the pain and terror that occurred throughout the novella. She seemed much more selfish and difficult to place. Nyx also had a slightly selfish streak in “Cruel Beauty”, but she was much wittier, and what’s more I BELIEVED that she was quirky and witty. Maia didn’t sell this point very well. Her conversations with the prince in the beginning were confusing, and her strategy to convince him that he needed to marry her stepsister were odd. No wonder the prince didn’t go along with it.

The Greek mythology also felt out of place this time, overloaded and at times even seeming to intrude into the writing, with the references to household gods and Zeus and Hera, among other deities. This mainly was due to the shortness of the story, I think, which meant that there was very little time to ease the reader into the world of Acadia and make the lifestyle feel plausible and natural. The whole story felt very rushed and false, like the heart and effort that was put into “Cruel Beauty” was missing this time around.

It was a very quick read, but a very unengaging one. There were problems left, right, and center, making for a predictable and complicated retelling that tried putting forward something new but ultimately ended up getting tangled in its own retelling. Maybe it’s because it’s a novella, but “Gilded Ashes” just felt like a story that was written based on the wave of publicity and enthusiasm for “Cruel Beauty”. It lacked a lot for me, although it was interesting enough for me to quickly plow through it, an easy but most likely forgettable read. I hope “Crimson Bound” will change my mind and really utilize all the potential I could feel sitting there in the words and shooting past me without sinking in.

This book is shit.
I almost want to read how this book is some kind of parody about how YA fiction is. But even the book I'm reading that's supposed to be a parody of all the terrible of YA fiction IS TILL BETTER THAN THIS BOOK.

Let's just start off with the misogyny. EVERY. SINGLE. WOMAN. Is hated on in this book. Even the sister and mother. Even some random NPC secretary. All the men are noble and awesome and great. Even when they are evil itself, they are still given more agency than the women.
I also had high hopes for this book subverting tropes. You don't need to be psychic to predict how this book is going to turn out. Alpha males good, Beta males are EVIL. That's not even a spoiler at this point. There's a "B**ch Posse" with Evageline. "He's so misunderstoooood!" and just like. YOu an see EVERYTHING coming a mile away and it leaves you shaking your head going "No the book wouldn't go there?" BUT IT DOES!
This also has a healthy dose of "NOT ALL OPPRESSIVE MAJORITY!", which is the thing that just kills this book entirely.

Every character in this book is also one dimensional. Evil Queen, Evil Fiancee, etc. Even the names are 1D. Osanos... Ocean, uses water. Even one house called Viper with black and green as the colors... like Syltherin. Did I mention the houses and the colors. This place is like dinner theatre Mideval Times in Florida.
Let's not even go into the "We have no idea what a 'coup d’état' despite the fact we kill each other." There are many moments of that in this book as well.

ARC, 354 pages

Release Date: April 28, 2015

Published by: HarperTeen

The Taking, #2

Source: ATWAT

For fans of: Sci-fi, Romance, Road Trips, Action, Cliffhangers 

 

     Romantic and action-packed, The Replaced is the gripping second installment in the Taking trilogy.

     Kyra hasn't been the same since she returned from her mysterious five-year disappearance. Now, on the run from the NSA, Kyra is forced to hide out with others who, like her, have been Returned. Yet she is determined to find Tyler, the boy she loves who was also abducted—all because of her. When her group intercepts a message that Tyler might still be alive but is in the hands of a shadowy government organization that experiments on the Returned, Kyra knows it's a risk to go after him. What if it's a trap? And worse, what if the returned Tyler isn't the same boy she lost?
     Perfect for fans of The Fifth Wave and the Body Finder series, The Replaced is both chilling and explosive, with creepy, otherworldly elements and twisty, psychological thrills that will have you questioning what exactly it means to be human.

 

*MY THOUGHTS*

     Although I did like this one, I wasn't as big a fan of it as I was of its predecessor. I;m pretty sure it was only because of me, because I just don't like on the run or road trip books as much as others. It may be the fact that they have too much time interacting with all the same characters. 

     In this second installment, Kyra is on the run from the NSA along with a group of others that have been Taken. But then the group gets a message that Tyler and who they think is her father are alive... Naturally this sparks some interest in them all and they decide as a group if they think its a trap or if it's safe for them to go find them. As they set on the road to escape the NSA once again, things start to heat up! 

"Because here's the thing. If I could dream, it would be of him. Tyler But dreaming was one of those things only afforded to those who could sleep.'"

(ARC)

     The action in this one was good, but there was too little of it. Either that or I'm not a huge fan of stories where the characters are on the run or on road trips. But at the same time, I was ok with it because when there were things going on, they were very good things. It felt like a filler book, but towards the end so many things were revealed. Some things I figured out and some others where I was left with an open mouth. 

"Memory was a tricky thing.'"

(ARC)

     As for the romance, I wasn't a fan of it in the first one and I'm still not a fan of it now. This is one ship I'm not on. It is still just too weird for me. I like them individually and I love how sweet he is, but it's just weird for them to be together. But with the "other" boy, I was very happy and wished that it would end up there. Buttttt of course Derting had other plans BECAUSE THAT ENDING THO. Why?! How am I supposed to wait this long for the next book? I need to know what the hell is going on! The ending to this one was kinda creepy. I can't wait to read the final book!

"It's your memories and life experiences, your hopes and fears and dreams and passions, that make you who you are....'"

(ARC)

    Although this felt like just a filler for me, there were some things that helped to save it. The main thing being the ending. This series is a good one that makes on question whether we're the only ones on this side of the galaxy and how long have they been watching us..... 

Overall, I give this