Legendary

I have eagerly awaited Legendary since finishing the last page of Caraval. I wasted no time in per-ordering it (something I never do) and quickly forgot the day it was released since my husband had surgery that day. It was when flipping through my Nook library that I saw it and suddenly recalled it had been released.

I was afraid Tella would be a lot like Scarlette but both sisters are very different with clear personalities, faults, quirks, and ideas about life. Tella is extremely well written with such life in her that I could feel like she is a friend I would go visit any time I could. Clearly torn on which paths are the correct paths Tella walks a dangerous line as she tip toes around until plunging fully into her choices. Even when her choices are not the best Tella still moves forward and keeps doing her best to correct the mistakes she makes.

The writing was a lot slower then Caraval and way less magical. I did like the game in Caraval better, Legendary felt more like a love story then anything else. With some twists and turns the story did drag on a bit too much in places and I wanted more action. I do hope that Finale will showcase both Scar and Tella equally while bringing the story whole circle.

The Watchmaker's Daughter

The Watchemaker's Daughter was never a book on my radar. While ill with the flu and stuck in my husbands truck I picked up his tablet and browsed his books, The Watchmaker's Daughter looked like the only one I would read out of what he had downloaded.

India is in a predicament, with her father deceased and her fiance calling off the engagement she has no where to go and no money to her name. Scammed out of her family's shop she is desperate and determined to do what she can to support herself. It is her determination that leads her to meeting Mr. Glass a mysterious American who is desperately searching for an elderly clock maker to repair his pocket-watch. Caught up in the mystery India faces mystery everywhere she looks and grows into her own as she beings to learn how to survive in the world without a man to protect her.

The writing was alright, not some of the best I have read but it was clear and concise. I did enjoy the characters and their quirks. I do hope for some perspective from Mr. Glass at some point in the series. While I do plan on continuing on with the series it is not a high priority at this time.

The Remedy

The Remedy is a companion book to The Program series. It had all new characters and a whole new story line. I am not one hundred percent sure but I believe the events took place before The Program.

Quinlan is a Closer, a highly disliked job among normal people. To let families heal and move past their grief Quin takes the persona of the girl who has died so the family can say goodbye. It is not an easy job and Closers constantly fear losing themselves into the persona of the people they are portraying. Considered one of the best at her job Quin takes pride in helping people move beyond their grief and get back to a normal life. All that changes when Quin is given a very unusual request, instead of the standard day or two she is to take on an assignment that requires her to be a deceased girl for two weeks. An unheard amount of time, as Quin struggles to remember who she is and keep up the persona for the family dark secrets start to emerge.

Again I was sick with a fever while reading The Remedy so my opinion might be due to that but I did like the story. I found it creative and original. I have not previously read any story line similiar. I do want to read The Epidemic.

The Prey

While sick with the flu a few days ago I just choose a book at random that was on my Nook and it happened to be The Prey.

Book seemed like a simplistic character at first but the more the story went on the more Book seemed to come into his own. Instead of just being an LT he started to develop a personality and think about the consequences of his choices.

Hope came off as strong and determined while terrified and resentful inside. Her twin sister Faith was a bit harder to read since no chapter was presented from her point of view.

Cat was a fun mystery he clearly knew how to take care of himself yet he was willing to let others help him which also seemed contradicting at times.

My memories of the overall story are blurry since I was running such a high fever while reading The Prey. I do remember the ending well and would not say no to reading the second book in the series.

The Recovery

I did not realized The Recovery was a short story when I checked it out from the library.

While it was nice to get inside of Realm's head I really had hoped for a more in-depth story involving him since he has been my favorite character so far. Realm felt far more human this time, he at least thinks about the people he hurt but he is still one confusing as heck person. Even after reading about Realm I am still not sure I am able to say what his role is in everything. I do not know if this is due to who Realm is or if the writing is not clicking with me.

I have started The Remedy and it appears to be all new characters so far. Time will tell if I continue with The Program series.

The Treatment

The Treatment is the second book in The Program book series. I was really confused with where Suzanne Young was going with the story. I feel like lots of new characters appeared which was exciting and great but none of them stuck around to make an impression on me at all.

Sloane just seems broken and too messed up to even know what is going on anymore, I am not a fan of the love triangle thing going on at all. I just wanted to know if Sloane was going to get her memories back and go completely crazy from all of them. I did not really feel like I knew Sloane or even really cared about her.

James is just as bad as Sloane at times, he is needy and highly insecure. With a lightening fast temper his answer is to hit everything that annoys him and I was not a fan of his character building.

Realm is why I kept reading The Treatment. The mystery around Realm is well done, I still do not understand who or what Realm is. I am sure he has done horrible things but also good things. I love how he is so grey and constantly kept me guessing.

I read a preview for The Remedy and since it is obviously different characters I am highly considering giving it a try. I do not dislike the writing style just the character building to an extent. Plus I hope to read more about Realm.

A Curse So Dark and Lonely

I received an advanced reader copy of A Curse so Dark and Lonely in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Harper comes off quickly as a girl who likes to do the right thing and help people out no matter what the cost to her. In a way I felt like Harper was constantly trying to prove to herself she was worth while despite being born with cerebral palsy. While it seems like Brigid Kemmerer wanted Harper's cerebral palsy to be a key point I did not really see it fitting into the story much at all, no one seemed bothered by Harper walking in a different way in a country primitive with medicine. I kept expecting someone to say something superstitious about Harper's difference. Despite this I really did enjoy Harper, she felt like a real person and someone I would enjoy being friends with.

Rhen is a really complicated character, handsome and stunning he is clearly used to getting his way. Tormented from decades of being under a curse he seems to lose himself in his mind and care less about the reality of his kingdom. Distraught from his own pain, grief, and the memories that haunt him Rhen seems unhuman at times and several times I was wondering if the curse was to make Rhen love not a girl fall in love with Rhen.

Grey was a complicated character, clearly of strong moral fiber Grey took his job as the Prince's guard as his whole being. I liked Grey the best in a lot of ways, while it was hard to read his personality it was clear he has strong character, a sense of duty, and faith in the Prince finally breaking the curse.

The writing was elegant, smooth, lovely, and entangling as the plot line twisted around before coming full circle. I could not get enough, the words called to me taunting me to risk reading later and later into the night. While I know the story of Beauty and the Beast well I was very happy and surprised with the new twists and concepts Kemmerer introduced. While A Curse so Dark and Lonely did have a nice ending and felt like a stand alone I was excited seeing Kemmerer post that their will be a sequel.