A Touch of Book Madness

I wasn’t expecting to love this book, but I did! It is a sweet coming of age story about forgiveness. I loved watching these characters make mistakes and learn from them.

The fact that all of the characters were flawed made this story feel real and true, like it could be happening somewhere in the world. It has a mixture of drama and comicality, which made this a fast paced and easy to read story, even if it dealt with some difficult issues like domestic violence, teen pregnancy, adoption and loss.

It did seem like too much drama for one lifetime, and maybe some of the subplots or main events weren’t necessary, the story had enough material as it was. That definitely is my biggest complaint with this book. It also confused me a bit that the time frames were changing all the time. Like from one chapter to the other several months would’ve passed, but sometimes three or more chapters would take place within the course of days. Finally, I felt that David’s reactions to one particular event, which I cannot comment about without spoilers, were weird. If that happened to me I would’ve been way angrier or frustrated, confused even. Not so happy or willing. I did feel that as time passed he sort of felt the consequences of that decision, like it hit him later, which made up for his hastiness a bit.

Other than that I felt this story was simply beautiful. I tend to avoid Christian fiction at all costs because, even if I’m a Christian myself, I found them to be, more often than not, too preachy and the characters just don’t appeal to me. They are weird. Like being a religious person means you don’t get to be normal. Thankfully this book was an exception, which is one of the main reasons I loved it. The Christian kids were very real and normal, and the book wasn’t preachy at all. It portrayed God as a loving father who accepts us no matter what.

Lucy was very religious but so real. She did normal stuff, felt jealousy and envy at times, made horrible mistakes! Cared about important and silly stuff, like a Normal teenager! I actually felt very close to her, because I used to be just like her! And worried about the same stuff.

But what I loved the most was the message about forgiveness. It is portrayed just as it is: a hard decision we have to make over and over again, but in the end will help lift a huge weight off our shoulders. I also loved that they featured it as the most important Christian value.

I loved David’s journey because we could see him change, but also understood the moments that triggered those changes or growth. It was very organic and progressive.

The narration was good. I enjoyed David Dietz narration a bit more than I did in Halfskin. He wasn’t too loud this time, and I thought I would have trouble hearing the same voice for a different character but I didn’t. I liked how he did David and Grandma, and he had great pacing for his narration. I did feel though, that the female voices were too similar to each other.

Overall, it was a great read, with powerful messages and good narration; and even if it was charged with heavy stuff, it was still a light read. It has great character development and it is impossible not to care for this adorable gang, and David’s grandma. What a women she was.

I would like to warn you first that the word love is extremely overused throughout this review.

This was the perfect ending for a lovely series. I love Camp Juniper Point so much I feel like one of the senior kids whose last year at camp just ended. I will miss it. Thankfully there’s still one last companion novella, which is actually #2.5 in the series, therefore it should be read before this book. Nevertheless, I have the feeling the order won’t matter since it happens within the same time frame as this story, and hints of what will happen in Camp Crush were given in this book. So it makes no difference.

I loved that Kayla’s story was set in the same year than Camp Payback, it actually picks up right when Javier left Camp so we get to see what Alex was up to while she was alone. I also loved that we got to see her and Emily a lot in this book as well. But I was most grateful to get some more Hannah and Julian! I was begging for some more since Camp Christmas, I really wanted to see how life had changed for Hannah after pairing up with Julian, and I finally got what I wanted. I loved to witness how much she’s changed! And along her, all the Divas actually. They finally grow up and leave all their differences behind. I loved to see so much of their world. We always thought of them as the mean girls, even if in Camp Boyfriend some of that prejudice was lost thanks to Lauren and Kayla, but now we get their side of their story and it was great. Such a different dynamics from the Munchies girl, I even felt they were a bit more loyal than them, funny huh?

Kayla is great. We really see her personality shine this time, and much like Lauren she has a very conciliatory personality. She is sweet, and forgiving, and once she got her own voice she was a natural leader. I would’ve loved to be friends with her in real life.

Brooke I couldn’t stand. Even if she had the whole weight of the world on her shoulders I just can’t justify her behaviour. She is worse than Hannah people! Awful girl. I had many issues with Nick as well. It was the first time I wasn’t actually rooting for the male interest, which gave me some mixed feelings. I was at first, but then he sort of lost his niceness and I felt Kayla was better off without him. He did manage to vindicate himself in the end, so everything was right in the world at last. I dare say that this couple’s relationship has been by far the most complicated one at Camp Juniper Point. Man, these kids had issues!

Once again the authors didn’t disappoint with a powerful message. Even though the whole series is about finding your own voice, trusting your gut and doing what feels right to you, in spite of what others may think. They managed to bring a different perspective to it every time. This time around was about speaking up, and even if I can’t relate to it that much, because I’m more like Alex, I still found it to be endearing and I was rooting for Kayla the whole time.

Again, this was the perfect ending for the series. It sort of felt like the authors tied everything up nicely. There was forgiveness and long lasting friendships, but most of all, much love and growth.

I finally read this book. It is sooo good! It has so many eerie moments that gave me goosebumps. I can only find time to read before bed, so you can imagine how those nights were for me. I had the feeling that someone was watching!

The characters are impossible not to love. Danny is sweet, and very kept to himself. He understands way too much for such a young kid, and you can't help but feel sorry for him and this gift he has, which in that Hotel is a curse. He was so well crafted with this mix of maturity and innocence. He is perfect!

Jack Torrance is a troubled man who is trying to put his life back together. But he is sincere in his efforts and loves his family, especially Danny. You can tell he is doing his best. He had so many quirks it brought him alive, and you can see how he slowly begins to give in to The Overlook (the Hotel). It is a very subtle process. His character development is the strongest. I think Mr. King created this character brilliantly!

I felt so much empathy for Wendy she is also a rather distressed woman, who is trying to do what's best for her family. She is sweet, and attentive, and her biggest concern is her child. She does have an opinion of her own regarding what is best for Danny. She is a very present mother. I loved that she believed in Danny's abilities since the beginning, and that she wasn't scared of confronting her husband. She isn't the strongest woman, I'll give you that, but considering all she's been through, she came out as such a flawed and real woman. I loved her.

Finally, the Overlook is a character of its own. You cannot tell at first, but as things start to happen, you sort of guess it. It has a mind of its own, and a personal agenda, which is in fact the scariest thing about the book.

Overall, the book is one of the best I've read ever! Seriously Mr. King you lived up to your name.

This series is just getting better and better! Although I do wish we would know how many more books in the series we can expect because the waiting is killing me! I want to know what happens next please!

It picks up right where book one left us, and as it turned out Peters was right, the world is burning down! Oh God! Why is it that doing the right thing could lead to so wrongful consequences?

Let’s just say that the plot is getting more complicated and that the stakes are higher now. Nataly has taken a bigger role, and I have to say I just love that woman! She is so independent and strong! Being married to Nick Cooper couldn’t have been easy. We see a little less of Shannon though, which made me sad because I also adore her. There are few women characters in this book, but the author has made sure to make them compelling and memorable. They have quite the personality!

But even if the characters are very interesting, this book is certainly plot driven. Which is why this time around we are introduced to a new character, Ethan, who is not a Brilliant but gets his own point of view. We don’t get to know him very deeply but I understand he is there because of a very important element of the plot, and he’s the only one who can tell us about it. We do get some insight on his personality though, because he has to endure some pretty rough stuff. I loved how tight he was to his family.

I dare say that this book has more action and tense moments than the previous one, which makes it more thrilling to read. Nick sure has some hard decisions to make, but I like his resilience and strength. He has a pretty sharp mind which helps him make the right decisions, no matter how difficult. I love that guy! Or more accurately I really trust him.

We also meet another new character named Soren, who is a Brilliant, and boy does he have a neat ability. I can’t recall the name for it but it was pretty cool. Although I understand how it could be a real burden. Nevertheless this guy is a total sociopath, so I wouldn’t like to meet him anywhere.

Mr. Sakey’s world building is incredible. I haven’t found a single plot whole yet, so the world is pretty solid. Especially considering all the scientific explanations it needs. You can tell Mr. Sakey has done a great deal of research for this series.

I really appreciated the little propaganda they included between chapters, it really gives you an idea of what is going on in the world and how are people reacting to all what’s happening. I couldn’t appreciate it as well in the first book because I listened to the audio version, but I missed Luke Daniels, the narrator, this time around. He definitely brings something extra to the story.

Overall, this series is becoming one of the best science fiction thriller books I’ve read and I’m sure this will make a great movie someday. I’m even thinking about getting physical copies of the books for my collection, because the covers are pretty and match.

My heart is so swelled at this moment, that it’s hard for me to put into words what this book made me feel.

I’m a bit heartbroken it had to end, but I’m also very satisfied with the ending. Although it was a bit predictable, especially if you trust the characters as much as I did, it was definitely the ending I was expecting.

This author has absolute true talent, and with this book she sealed herself as one my favourite writers. I will read anything she writes because she is that awesome. Her world building abilities are astounding. Every time I read one of these books I felt I just dropped through a Lichgate all the way into Ourea, because every place felt so vivid. It almost feels like home by now too.

All the creatures are wonderful as well. They have their flaws and a purpose of their own, and I’m glad we got a nice preview of one the creatures we hadn’t met as a race before, the Isen. They are actually pretty cool, and despite the whole soul sucking thing, I would totally like to be one.

Anyhow, Boyce’s abilities don’t end on magical world building, because the character development in this book is also breathtaking. The story has always been told in dual narratives between Kara and Braden, which is one of the things I liked the most of this series, and we got the occasional insight of a different character. But this time around, the story kind of needed that we got several points of view, and with only a tiny glimpse (I’m talking about a chapter here) of characters we hadn’t really known before, we got the whole picture, you know? Like they were real, tri-dimensional, with a back story, a development, everything in only one chapter! That is genius I say!

I was expecting a bit more action though, being an epic battle and everything; and much like Kara, I wanted a particular thing that happened that I’m not telling because spoilers, to be more spectacular. I did love how they handled traitors and the final agreements. They were a great call.

Overall, this series ending was perfect for a wonderful series. It had all the elements I loved about it and a wrapped-up conclusion. I’m not much of a re-reader, but this is a series I will definitely read over and over again.

This book was really promising, and I had the highest of expectations. Alas, they were not met.

I am actually disappointed that I didn’t love this book, but other than the creep factor, which was very well done, it was hard for me to connect with the characters and the story was a tad confusing.

This book has more of a contemporary feel with some added paranormal elements, than a paranormal thriller. It’s the story of a girl who survived an awful accident and is now trying to put her life back together. She worries about school, grades, college resumes and boys, but her life is more complicated than any normal girl because of the paranormal sightings she’s having. She can see her dead friends everywhere, and can also see a person’s death before it happens. Sounds really cool, huh?

I would love if the story would’ve simply focused on the horrible things that were happening to Mara and trying to decipher what was going on. I loved that part, and the visions and trying to remember. Very well done! But there were some crazy subplots that deviated the attention to not so important things happening. Like Noah Shaw.

The only thing I like about that boy is his amazing library. He is a presumptuous jerk who thinks he is the biggest thing ever. I couldn’t get pass the fact he was the ultimate playboy and never really offered a reasonable explanation for his behaviour, so it was hard for me to understand why Mara liked him. He was supposedly charming, but I just couldn’t trust this guy.

There is also a confusing subplot involving a kidnapper, which didn’t bother me much but was somewhat confusing. It’s supposed to be there to give us some information, but that subplot was never tied up. Maybe we get to learn a bit more about it in the next books.

I did appreciate that Mara’s family was so close and caring. They showed the true signs of a committed and supporting family. I loved that her mum was so worried (she certainly had reasons to), and that her brothers were so sympathizing with her cause.

Overall, the main plot of this story was very good, and it definitely got me engaged with the story enough that I want to keep on reading this series. But the different subplots that surround the main plot were confusing and distracting, which lessened my enjoyment of this book.

THE BOOK

Wow!! It is so hard to write a coherent review about this book. It was so unexpected, dark, profound, touching and hauntingly beautiful!

In full honesty I only listened to this because I got it for free and heard some good talk about it. But I did not see this coming. This book is easily one of my all time favourite books, and definitely at the top of the list of this year reads.

The plot is so intricate and delicately woven. Much as the Kindly Ones in the story, the author managed to spread tiny clues at plain sight but we never see them until the end. Although I have to admit I was indeed able to predict the major plot twist of the story, but all the other details, not a clue!

The world building is noteworthy as well. It mixes so many elements of ancient mythology and some fictional lore which turned out into a wonderful world. I can’t wait to read Gilded Ashes which is also set in this intriguing world.

I’ve read some reviews that have found this book a tad confusing, but for me the reading experience was almost sensorial. I mean, I did have the narrator, which helped, but this book has so many intricacies that complete the story in such a perfect way. Every story and myth that underlined the tale connected faultlessly at the end, so I cannot say it was confusing, you just have to pay attention to the details.

The characters are so rich! I loved that they were so flawed and that it was a central part of them and the story. They were bitter and angry and were meant to fulfil a tragic destiny, which is Cruel. But among all that they are able to discover true love, which is Beautiful.

They were so deceiving and had so many sides to them, that their relationships were certainly complex.

In the end, they were all a little wicked but their biggest concern was being loved.

That’s the reason I loved this story so much, because one of its central elements was love, not in a cheesy way, but love in all its forms, and about giving up hatred. I felt like it was a little too much hatred on Nyx’s side, but I could understand where it came from.

I would like to add that I loved the names! Especially Ignifex and Astraia. Oh so pretty!

Bottom line, this book is so delicately written it is hard not to fall in love with it and its characters, and I think this was even better as an audiobook.

THE NARRATION

I loved Elizabeth’s work on this one. She had a beautiful voice with a great accent which helped a great deal in setting the mood for this book. I would dare say this is one of those books that have been enhanced by the narrator. Her narration gave the story an eerie and dark feel, which felt just right for it. Also, the pace of the narration was excellent, because for this kind of story you’ll need a calm pace.

The plot is good and well structured. It’s simple yet full of a deeper message: don’t be afraid to let others get to know the real you, or don’t be afraid to be vulnerable. It’s fast paced and insightful.

It’s the story of Caddie, a girl who’s finally achieved her long life dream of studying at the Academy, a performing arts high school, so she can perfection the art of acting. The problem? She suffers from a terrible anxiety which has led her to an awful and extreme OCD. Did you guess? Don’t touch!

So how can an actress be successful and not touch anyone? Well, that’s what Caddie wants to know.

I absolutely loved the parallel the author made between Caddie’s life and Ophelia’s. Her relationship with her dad, with her love interest and even her OCD mirrored those of Ophelia.

It was great to watch her get comfortable at her new school, and then get all freaky. I must admit, her weirdness got a bit too intense for a moment, and her Don’t Touch mantra was somewhat annoying. Then again, I don’t understand someone who feels that kind of anxiety and irrational fear, so what do I know?

It doesn’t ring true sometimes to think that bad things may happen if you let someone touch you, especially for a girl who is…let’s say 16? So it’s kind of odd. But again, I insist, maybe it’s because I can’t understand the feeling.

Nevertheless I thought that the character of Caddie was very well constructed. Even though her disease made me uncomfortable at times, and others I just wanted to make her see reason, her anxiety was very real. You could feel her despair and frustration but also her insanity. I think the author captured very well the delicacies of a mental illness.

I also loved the relationships that were portrayed in the book. Especially the dysfunctional group of friends and the acting element. I’ve seen the stereotype of actor’s craving attention come to life one too many times, and this book illustrates all the eccentricities and personality of actors all too well. But what is better is that the author also managed to depict their teenage selves brilliantly. The way they dealt with their problems and how they acted with each other, yeah, that’s High School.

I want to give an honourable mention to Peter because he was so kind. I love good guys, and he was a great one! But Mandy was my favourite. Such a loyal friend! I adored that the friendship element was highlighted in the story and the family element too. I loved to read about supportive characters and unconditional love for those you care about. That’s a great message.

Overall, It was a good fast paced read that got me very invested in it. I had some issues with her OCD, but the story in itself and the message behind it was very powerful. I enjoyed the acting and the Shakespeare element very much!

*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.

I loved the plot!! I wasn’t expecting anything really because I read the blurb so long ago, and I totally loved it. The plot is very well structured and it gives you tiny bits of information so you can keep on guessing. It is exciting and enticing, and will grab you right away. I mean, time travel, dystopian future, limited time to save the world? What’s not to like?! Plus the intricate plot and relationships between the characters makes this story complex and beautiful. It really is a struggle.

It left me thinking about what I was willing to sacrifice to save those I love. Because this is a love story of sacrifice and commitment.

I loved the characters! Especially how they grow. The character development here is spectacular, and their relationships so rich. You can appreciate all the subtleties of them.

I have to admit there’s some sort of weird love triangle going on here, between the future and the past. I’m sorry I can’t elaborate more without spoiling anything, but it really worked. It was very realistic, and not even because of time travel, but because sometimes in real life it is hard to let go of past loves. Particularly when the love was true.

I adored that these characters were running against time and willing to sacrifice anything. I simply can’t resist characters so passionate. Passion is such an important thing in life, and it must be there for everything that matters.

It was also great that the characters were also able to be compassionate and kind through the worst of circumstances.

I am so proud of both Em and Marina, and completely won over by Finn.

The points of view for the narration were simply a wise choice. Having both Em and Marina’s really helped the story. It provided us with the whole picture which was absolutely necessary to follow this fast paced, action packed story.

I know there was a huge overuse of the word love through this review, but that's all the unexpected love I fell for this book. So if you haven't already, give it a try.

I have to admit I was pretty upset at the beginning of the book because the narrator was making the same voice for Marina and Em, as it turned out the joke was on me. In short, the narration was good, well paced and the voices where very good, both male and female. Nevertheless, even if the dialogue scenes were great, the narration per se was dull. I don’t understand why she used a different voice to narrate than the voice she used as Marina and Em. I mean they were the ones telling the story, so why change the voice? Plus, it sounded like a flight attendance giving information not someone telling a passionate story.

I almost DNF’d this book, but in the end I decided to stick with it until the end, in the hopes maybe it would get better or get a hold of my interest. Sadly, none of those things happened.

In the first place, I don’t feel the plot was very well structured. I mean it had a logical order and all, but it seems like in the need maybe to spice things up, the plot went a little bit over the top.

Like these awful things kept happening out of the Blue. Pun not intended. It didn’t flow smoothly is what I’m trying to say.

In general I don’t oppose to stories which involve drugs and some excess if they have an educational purpose, but in this book I felt that all the drug abuse and irresponsible and very explicit sex scenes, where there just for the sake of it. Like every part of it was ok, just a different lifestyle. What?

I tend to dislike books whose characters leave me with an unpleasant feeling. I have noticed that whenever a character’s life or personality is tedious, they’ll leave me with this awful sensation that I just cannot stand.

Therefore, it should not appear as a surprise that I didn’t like Charlie at all. I mean she had her whole life ahead of her and she blew it on a whim? Seriously? In exchange for what? A life of drug abuse, irresponsible sex, and on the run. What a trade off that is.

Blue was no better. He was a like a devil, all full of pretty promises that will entice you and drag you to your doom. That’s what I felt happened to Charlie at least.

I mean I somewhat felt he was well meaning, but come on kid, get your business together.

I also felt their relationship was also too much. I mean, I am a believer in love at first sight, when done right of course, but it always has to be cautious. Like you feel the love, but you don’t throw yourself irresponsibly into it.

I also feel strongly that love should be passionate and that true love is willing to make the biggest sacrifices. But again, too much passion in such a short time, especially the way their relationship developed, felt pretty much like insta-lust. So it made no sense to me that Charlie was willing to throw caution and her future out the window to be with a guy she barely knew, was a liar, and could only mean bad news.

Finally I will have to add, it is not healthy to be so attached to your ex boyfriend. Especially when you broke up with him. Weird dynamics there.

The book is not long, and a lot of different things happen, but I found it really hard to get into the story. Maybe it isn’t as slow paced as I felt it to be, but yeah, that’s how it felt to me.

In sum, I really had high expectations for this book. I thought it would be kind of crazy but great, and I’m really sad I ended up not enjoying it. But maybe you will like it?

*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.

1. Eleanor from Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell. She is an awkward girl who's had to endure more hardships than a regular teen. She is brave and smart and quite original. I have to admit I like her very much because of her quirkiness. Her story was challenged because: profanity and age inappropriate subject matter.
2. Alice from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. She is a curious young little girl, but the most adorable one. She has the tendency to wander off into the greatest adventures I should warn you. Her story was challenged because: alleged drug use promotion and the abomination of talking animals (not kidding on this one: keep in mind they were other times). 
3. Jean Louise "Scout" Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This girl is rebellious, a book nerd and simply decided to enjoy life they it pleased her the best, even if it didn't please those around her much. I must add she is also curious. Her story was challenged because: offensive language and racism.
4. Anne Frank from the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank. This girl is resilient and brave, but also very innocent for the crazy world she was living in. Her story was challenged because: explicit sexuality and homosexuality.
5. Maya from I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou. This girl is smart and will not give up even if the stakes are high. She is quite the inspiration, and like all the other guests has endured more hardships than any girl should know, Her story was challenged because: sexually explicit.

I absolutely love this story! I didn’t expect to love it so much, because honestly I didn’t feel much for Eleanor & Park, but this? Wow!

So original, such creativity, but what I love the most is that Rainbow Rowell managed to turn a dull and mediocre life into the greatest story. In a way is about nothing and about everything at the same time.

It is the story of Lincoln, a guy who is far from being satisfied with his life. He has the most boring job, killer hours and still lives with his mum at age 28, I think? Someone we could classify as a looser. So if you had told me that was what this story was about I would've said, and you want to read that?

As it turned out the answer was heck yes!

This book is about life, learning to value the little details, and finding happiness in the simple things. Is about trusting yourself and growing up, about making decisions, and about finding love where you least expect it.

I just felt so compelled about every bit of this story, I can’t believe that weeks after I still feel that same enthusiasm.

I think I loved Beth and Jen as much as Lincoln did. They were so true to their selves, so sure about who they were, silly, smart and definitely one the best friendships I’ve read about. I love this pair together. How they respect each other, comfort, and support and make happy. I sure wish I could’ve met them in real life. I would love to have them around.

Surprisingly, Lincoln was the one I felt most closed with. I really got him. I understood completely his feelings for his ex, how hard it was for him to get over her, and the overall feeling of emptiness. I loved how subtle his growth was, and it was simply wonderful to come along for the ride.

I loved how the author changed the points of view. I mean, in truth the whole story was told from Lincoln’s point of view, but we get to know and love Beth and Jen through their e-mails, so in a way it feels like we get a bit of their points of view as well. Such an original way to introduce a character. Who knew we could learn so much about a person from just reading their e-mail?

Overall, if it wasn't clear enough, I loved this book. Seriously! Go read it, please!

I’m afraid I didn’t like this narrator much. I liked the rhythm she imprinted to the story and the life she put into it, she really kept the story going, but I didn’t appreciate that all her voices were too much alike. I get that most of the characters were female, so it is hard to make all of them sound different, but sometimes I was confused whether it was Beth or Jen writing, so I would get lost for a bit. I did like her Doris though. She made her sound exactly like she was supposed to.

John Green is an author genius! I haven’t read a book of his I haven’t loved so far, but I have to admit I am starting to discover a certain pattern.

This book, as all the others, features a great group of friends were values like loyalty comes through.

So, this book is about Q, a regular teenager about to graduate from High School who has never done anything extraordinary. He has good grades, is going to a great university but hasn’t done anything a High Schooler would deem as awesome.

On the other hand we have Margo, who is practically a legend for all the unconventional things she has achieved.

Put these two together and some crazy things may happen.

Basically this story is the crazy journey Q goes through to find Margo. It involves mystery, some self discovery and the worst road trip ever! Seriously, who goes on a road trip but doesn’t stop anywhere? Ok, ok…they had a mission, but for what road trips are worth, this is definitely the worst.

This plot was enticing and got me hooked from page 1. I just needed some more. This is the kind of book that will leave you thinking about it long after you’re finished.

I did find a lot of resemblance to Looking for Alaska, but it’s not quite the same. It deals with different issues like self discovery and the perception we have of others, and the sense of adventure these characters have is different.

The characters, as always, are very rich. They have even more dimensions they can see. They are so tangible you can imagine them easily. They could be any kid out there, which makes the story more beautiful.

Margo is my favourite. Even though Looking For Alaska remains to be my favourite John Green book, I found Margo much more exciting and real than Alaska. She is not as cryptic as her, and she seemed to have lived more, in the sense of enjoying life at its fullest. I was also able to grasp her personality and relate to her much more easily.

I would definitely want her to be my friend, no doubt. Life could never be boring with her. She is smart, interesting and with substance. Plus, you definitely wouldn’t want to cross her. No, no, this girl is a spiteful one.

As always, this book is insightful and kind of addicting. I want some more! And I can’t wait for the movie.

John Green is becoming one of my favourite authors fast!

Dan John Miller did a great job with the narration. I loved how he did Radar so smooth and chill. I think he nailed the character. He also did an excellent job with the girl’s voices and never mixed any characters. My only complaint is that I felt his voice was too manly to play Q, I kind of needed him to sound a bit younger. But overall, this narrator is one of the best I’ve heard so far.

What is it, you ask? Well, as the title suggests this is a Tea Party, not an ordinary one of course, but a Mad Tea  Party where we'll have some very uncommon guests.

1) Nick Cooper from the Brilliance Saga by Marcus Sakey: This guy is totally amazing. He has the ability to read people so he can tell what they are going to do next. He can dodge their punches pretty accurately, plus he has secret government agent training. He is a must in my super awesome team;

2) Charlotte/Dina from the New World Series by Janelle Stalder: This girl can read minds. Yeah, that's right, totally cool. She also has military training and she is pretty kick-ass. Of course being able to dig into her enemies' thoughts is pretty helpful;

3) Theo from The Blooming Goddess Trilogy by Tellulah Darling: Ok, so he is the Greek god better known as Prometheus. So...yeah...do I need to say anything more? I will add though, that he has an incredible love for humanity and is extremely hot. He is in!;

4) Kara Magari from The Grimoire Saga by S.M. Boyce: This girl is the best! I love her, she is super kick-ass, plus is a natural leader. Since she found the Grimoire she's gain incredible magical powers, which were enhanced later on (not telling why because I don't want to spoil). Let's just say she is very powerful and will make an excellent addition to this already awesome team;

5) Legolas from The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: He is an elf, wonderful creatures who possess great knowledge and wisdom. He also has amazing hearing and some extremely accurate aim. Let's just say that with a bow he kicks Katniss' ass;

6) Hermione Granger from Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: How could a team be complete without this outstanding witch? She is the best there can be. Witty, Smart and so skilful. I definitely want her by my side when things get nasty; and

7) Robert Langdon from the Robert Langdon Series by Dan Brown: He has no extraordinary abilities, but this guy can honestly crack any case. He has some vast knowledge in symbology, and wide experience solving some dangerous mysteries.

Considering the length of this book was more like a novella, a Mini Review seemed more suitable than a full review.

I think this was definitely the perfect ending for the series. Even though it was short, it was more than enough to round up everything nicely.

While I thought book three was a bit of a stretch with Ty going all crazy and unstable. I mean seriously! How can you go from Mr Perfect to Mr. Cuckoo? This book makes up for it, and the author doesn’t try to go farther from what is enough.

I don’t want to spoil anything, so I’ll just say that things reach some balance, and everyone makes a choice. Nothing dramatic happens here, I think all the drama along the series was enough, so we finally get some peace. All the characters we have grown to love and care for in the series are back and get some much needed closure.

It was an amazing journey along side Mae, and I liked to watch her grow and overcome her fears. There was certainly a lot of grief and loss, but in the end it is rewarding to see how far she and her mom were able to go, even Matt finds some of the peace he deserves. It shows you anything is possible, and that time truly can make everything better.

In sum, I’m glad I got to read this series. It was nice, and dealt with some difficult issues in a creative way.

*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and had plenty going on. The main problem I found though, was that the plot felt like trying too hard. I mean too many awful things had happened to Mae already, is it really necessary to keep adding these tragedies? Especially because they felt a bit impossible, like it was kind of a stretch.

Still it was an entertaining read. It is very fast paced and it kept me interested all the way.

I really like Mae, always had, and it was great watching her grow book from book, and being able to witness her overcome her fears and regaining control of her life is great.

Matt is the same sweet and gentlemanly guy we met in book two. We learn a bit more about him and his dark past, which made me gain a whole lot more of respect for him, because, as opposed to Mae, he deals with pain and guilt in a such an endearing way, mostly at least. I mean the guy is always happy and has the greatest disposition ever! He is truly an example, and I absolutely think Mae benefits from his company.

Ty is another story completely. We get to see the other side of him, and people I’m telling you it is not pretty. His problems made absolute sense, in context, but it also felt like a little bit of a stretch to the story here.

Overall, this book was a good addition to the series. I definitely wanted to keep reading it until the end, but it wasn’t an impressive or memorable book. It was a light book, fun to spend some time and take your mind off things.

*Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review, but my opinion was not biased in any way by this fact.