This is one of those times where my logical brain pisses me off. For some reason, the blurb of this book made me think that perhaps the fantastical goings on in Love in the Time of Global Warming were not real – that they were a story Pen was telling. And I was wrong. But I couldn’t accept this fact until halfway through reading, and by then my enjoyment of the story had been greatly reduced because I had spent so much time going WTF? Is this real OR NOT? So if you think it’s not: it is. IT FREAKING IS, OKAY?

So, once I got over myself, I was able to really enjoy Love in the Time of Global Warming. Like, four star enjoy it. But I won’t get into my irritation at myself again. But yeah, it was lovely once I realised that everything that was happening was happening.

All of Block’s other books that I have read haven’t really followed a true storyline (more like prose, I suppose), but Love in the Time of Global Warming is told like a normal book (albeit with flashbacks). And I really liked her style; it was very easy to read and yet quite lovely with its prose-like qualities in places, as well.

The four main characters in this book are pretty adorable, not gonna lie. And they’re all diverse, which just makes everything about them amazing. Pen was not a very vivid character to me, but I liked her nonetheless. My favourite aspect of her character was her love for Hex, and her complete acceptance of who he was. Which brings me to Hex. I just. I cannot even with Hex. I absolutely adored him from the moment he stepped onto the page. He’s freaking divine in so many ways, and I just. *nods furiously* HEX. Ash and Ez were pretty likeable, too. Although I must say I likes Ash a little better than Ez. I always like the musicians. >.>

There wasn’t a lot of urgency to the plot, but I wasn’t averse to that. I kind of wish I knew The Odyssey a little better because everything was new to me in Love in the Time of Global Warming, and I’m sure that knowing the parallels between the two texts would have made for an even more enjoyable read but hey. I haven’t picked up an ancient book, and I may never.

I was really happy with the ending of Love in the Time of Global Warming, and I am a little surprised that there is a sequel, since I think it could have been left as a pretty agreeable standalone novel. But I can see that there was room for a sequel, so that relationships would be explored even more, as well as the whole “end of the earth” theme. I haven’t heard very good things about the sequel, but I’m willing to give it a try anyway. Even if only to revisit one of my all time favourite characters in any book ever (HEXXXX).

© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

A copy of this novel was provided by the author for review.

I really loved The Forgotten. It remains one of my all time favourite dystopian novels, and I really don’t see that changing any time soon. The funny thing is – sequels are often a letdown. Second Book Syndrome or whatever. And most of the time this applies to me. When I look at my ratings on Goodreads, the first book in a series is always the highest and then the ratings pretty much get lower as the series goes on. So I was expecting to like The Wandering, because I love the characters and the story but the amazing thing is that I ended up LOVING it – perhaps even more so than its gorgeous predecessor.

Saruuh is really freaking talented. This book is told from a bunch of perspectives, I think the total is something like six, and each and every chapter is so clear that there is never any confusion about whose chapter is whose. I know from beginning to end of each chapter who I am reading about. And I freaking love each and every one of them.

Yosiah is my babe, though. He is one of my all time favourite book boyfriends, because he adores and protects Miya but understands her need to be strong on her own grounds and the way he handles her aversion to be being touched. I JUST CANNOT WITH YOSIAH, OKAY? I AM GETTING TOTALLY EMOTIONAL OVER HIM RIGHT NOW AND HE’S JUST MY PRECIOUS FREAKING DARLING BB.

Miya is heartbreaking. I adore her to pieces, and I ship her with Yosiah SO FREAKING HARD. I love how confused she is, and how much she loves the people she loves (which sounds a bit odd, but this girl is fierce when it comes to her family, it’s amazing).

Okay, deep breaths right now because EPIC FANGIRLING AND FLAILING IS ABOUT TO OCCUR BECAUSE I JUST CANNOT CANNOT CANNOT CAN’T WITH BRAN AND HONOUR. In the beginning of this book, I was like: am I getting the feels between these two? And then the SLOW BURN AND THE REVELATIONS AND THE KISS AND OMG YES. I needed this to happen because those two characters are the most adorable and vulnerable darlings in the world and together they are just freaking PERFECT AND I AM SQUEALINGGGGGGGGG WITH HAPPINESS. *incoherent happy mumbling*

I’m glad we were introduced to Bennett again because after she was transported away from Bran in The Forgotten, I was pretty worried about her. But she’s been getting along fine. She’s totally rocking life by herself, and I cannot wait to see where her paths take her in the future.

I need Horatia to be happy again, or for her boyfriend to be miraculously alive because I don't like seeing these characters in pain.

As for plot line, The Wandering was perfectly paced, and executed. Again with Saruuh’s talent, guys. It’s amazing. She’s one of my favourite writers, because she just has this way of making me care so much about everyone that she introduces me to, and her characters are so fleshed out and freaking real, and I just love it.

I NEED the third book in this series because I just need so much more of these characters that I have well and truly fallen in love with.

© 2015, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

Oh my gosh. Lately I have been reading okay books. Ones that I don’t abhor, but ones I don’t love, either. And then, this morning, I was rifling through my library books, and I remembered that I had requested The Hallowed Ones be ordered in because I loved the look of it. It’s overdue, and I didn’t want it to become another one of those library books I really want to read but end up returning and never reading. So I picked it up. And here I am, six hours later, writing a review for it.

I simply could not put The Hallowed Ones down. From the moment it started, I was sucked into the amazing world building and character voice that Bickle has given us in this novel. I mean, I only stopped reading this book throughout the last six hours to check my blog three times, and do necessary things for normal bodily function, like eat food. And then it was straight back to The Hallowed Ones.

Katie was an amazing character to read about. She was devout in her Amish beliefs, but wasn’t ready to accept the rule and authority of others without making sure that she was willing to accept it first. This made her an awesome and interesting character to read about. If you don’t want to read a novel heavily focussed on the Amish way of life, and many thoughts about religion itself, I wouldn’t suggest The Hallowed Ones to you. However, it was this in depth look into the Amish life, and Katie’s questioning of God and religion that entranced me so whilst reading this novel. I found her thoughts captivating, and they had me wondering along right alongside her. I loved her absolute dedication to anything that she applied herself to. She didn’t complain about anything, even when she was handed the most awful of tasks. But she didn’t just obey blindly. She risked a lot by being the person she was – a really good person.

I adored Alex’s character, as well. I thought he was wonderfully fleshed out, and I loved that he didn’t judge Katie for being the way she was. Sure, he didn’t agree with it or accept it wholeheartedly, but he didn’t try to change her or force her to abide by a different way of life. One of my favourite scenes in the novel is where he and Katie are talking about all the ancient Greek gods. It was beautiful.

Alex and Katie’s relationship was amazing. I loved how Alex was passively protective of Katie, and how he always worried, and always comforted her. And then AND THEN *squeals* Siiiigh. It was so perfect. They are so perfect. Whilst I am here swooning about these guys, the romance was NOT at the forefront of this novel. It was a nice addition to an amazing story. But I just so happened to fall in love with this relationship more than anything else. As so often happens with me. Hopeless romantic that I am.

The Hallowed Ones is a slow book. You’re not thrown into the midst of an action-packed supernatural novel. Heck, I wasn’t even sure if it was going to turn into a supernatural novel. But it did. Slowly and surely with eerie suspense and suspicions and creepiness. It was fantastic. I love Bickle’s take on a thoroughly popular supernatural creature – it brought a whole new freshness to the story that made reading it thoroughly enjoyable. If I go too far into it, I believe I would wreck the amazing experience that is The Hallowed Ones.

The writing style absolutely gripped me from word one, and is the kind that you find yourself settling into very easily. The Hallowed Ones is beautifully written, but reading it is so very effortless - in the most epic of ways. I found myself immersed in the world entirely whenever I landed my eyes on the pages.

One thing that I thought could have been improved upon a little bit was the description of Katie herself. I had no idea what she really even looked like until halfway through the book. And I am still a bit mystified as to how old she is, too. I would have liked to be given the details of our fantastic heroine.

I seriously cannot wait until I can read The Outside. I desperately want to know what happens to Katie and Alex, and pretty much the whole world inside this story.

© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

Okay, it is official. I have never previously had a favourite author - only favourite books. But the time has come for that era to end. I have a favourite author, and lovelies - her name is Erica Crouch.

Every single time, and I mean every single time I read ANYTHING by Erica, I am completely and 100% captivated from start to finish. Her way with words is unparalleled, in my humble opinion - and what words those are. Every single one has a meaning and a place, and they are never useless. Each and every one is important to the storyline, and the way these words come together is beautiful. Erica was blessed by the word gods, I must say.

As for the story: again, wonderful. Again, a wonderful and kickass heroine. Again, sexy boys. Again, mystery. Again, AMAZINGNESS EVERYWHERE.

There is such an awesome cast of characters in The Empath, even though there aren't that many of them. Each and every one of them is complex, and their motives unclear. Every single character is questionable and leave you wondering what they really want with Odessa.

Which brings me to my thoughts on Odessa. Two words: hell yeah. Erica has this ability to write characters that are completely real. They have vulnerabilities and strengths - just like every person on earth. And Odessa was no different. She also grows so much as a character in a mere 100 or so pages! Character development in a novella? Never before seen.

There was one thing I didn't like about The Empath, and that was that it wasn't an entire novel. I want more of this story, and I want to know were life takes Odessa after the last page. I just want more of everything Erica writes, if I'm being entirely honest.

If you want a story that will completely captivate you with magic, mystery, and murder - The Empath is perfect for you. GO! BUY! NOW!

© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.

Scarlet was an amazing sequel to Cinder. We were introduced to new characters, new stories, new settings, new everything, and it was refreshing.

I know a lot of people are wary when it comes to the second book in a series - I think there’s even a term (second book syndrome, or something along those lines). I have never quite understood this fear and trepidation, as I have often enjoyed sequels just as much, if not more than the first book. I am happy to say that I enjoyed Scarlet just as much as Cinder.

I loved the introduction of Scarlet herself, and Wolf the best. WOLF. I cannot even comprehend my love for this character. The way Meyer has woven the traditional tale of Little Red Riding Hood into this epic sci-fi story is kind of unbelievable. I didn’t know how she would tackle LRRH, but she tackled it well. It wasn’t predictable, or slow. It was fast-paced, action-packed, and simply amazing.

Even though Scarlet and Wolf only knew each other for a day or so, I didn’t feel insta-love. The development of their feelings was written into the story so cleverly that I completely believed their feelings for each other, and didn’t feel as if anything had been rushed at all. Only a talented writer could pull that off, and Meyer is nothing if not talented.

Wolf was definitely my favourite character in this novel. I love broken characters, and I love broken love interests even more, and he fits that description perfectly. This book definitely makes it onto the ‘ultimate swoonage’ shelf in my mind, reserved for the book boyfriends that will make me swoon to the max. But, other than the excessive and incessant swooning that went on whilst reading of Wolf, his story was also interesting, and intriguing. I REALLY hope there is a chapter in Cress told from his ‘point of view’ (as much as it can be in third person), because I want to see inside his head, and learn more about him and his predicament. I pretty much just want more of him, but I can veil it in the interest of his background, can’t I?

Scarlet was also an awesome new character in The Lunar Chronicles. She’s strong-willed, won’t take crap from anyone, and is dedicated to her mission of saving her grandmother. Whilst I didn’t love her as much as I love Cinder, I still think she’s a great character, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about her, and her story.

I desperately want to know what happens to all of the characters – especially Kai. KAI. *insert wailing noise* I need Cress in my grabby hands right now.

If you cannot tell that I really liked Scarlet, and that I think you should The Lunar Chronicles ASAP, I shall tell you now. Scarlet was awesome, and I loved it, and you should definitely read The Lunar Chronicles. Like, right now.

© 2014, Chiara @ Books for a Delicate Eternity. All rights reserved.