Truthwitch by Susan Dennard

Truthwitch by Susan Dennard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to say that this book really found its strength in the quite moments, towards the end we really got to see the characters shine and some development take place. The mythology comes together and that was when it all finally clicked for me and i was like ok, I'm into it. The first 250 pages, man that was rough. At first i was thinking how am i not connecting to this book? why aren't i falling all over myself like everyone else seems to be. I really liked it when it was all said and done. I kept reminding myself of some less that perfect first books in epic series that you have to get through (Darkfever anyone?). I am definitely looking forward to book 2 and i hope Susan can keep those beautiful quite moments coming, because that to me made all the difference.

When i was at BEA i missed out on a copy so that buzz surrounding this book has not only been huge but its been building for months. So when i finally got it I was really excited. The book is definitely action packed from the moment you hit the ground running. I feel like i wasn't able to catch my breath because it was just going by so fast. I kept thinking whats going on? Why do they hate Isuelt? what does she look like again? i literally couldn't even remember if her appearance was described or not. Another big issue for me was that a lot of names, places, things (Cahr Awen) were so phonologically similar to Sarah Maas's epic Throne of Glass that i found it confusing and odd. They're best friends to they of course would be consumed with one another work and inspired by each other. but i don't think the names did this book any favors, this was a big no-no for me.

Bottom Line: Off to a rocky start but a strong finish makes this series a must-read for YA fantasy loves. I can't wait for book 2 to see where this is going to go.


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Taking a Break.. Officially..

Hey guys. I know it feels like forever since I have posted here and it's true! My school work load is just enormous and I am trying to read as much as I can on the weekends. PLEASE PLEASE follow me on Goodreads as that is the only site I am currently updating on a regular basis and my twitter where I am sharing about book news daily @JaclynPsyD


I am also still reviewing titles that I receive on NetGalley and they gave me this handy badge to let publishers know that I am at an 80% or above feedback rate so please continue to reach out to me via my GR and Twitter accounts. Thanks guys and I'll hopefully be back to blogging full time again sometime soon...

BEA & the PsyD Blues..

Man when I decided to go back to school for my doctorate in psychology it was something that I wanted forever. I mean seriously forever. However, I did not realize how much it would cut into my personal reading time. I haven't been able to read many books lately and am looking forward to summer! However, what better way to celebrate my first year of doc school done then going to BEA!! I absolutely cannot wait to go to Book Expo America. It is the highlight of my year and I am really looking forward to going all 3 days when it is the last year it will be in NYC.. Not sure if I will be attending Book Con though because I did not have  a great experience last year. Anyways let me know if you are going and when.. Tweet me @JaclynPsyD

Surviving Book Con..

If this is your first year attending Book Con well I have some pointers for you, Sure! Well I usually go to BEA and last year was the first year of BookCon and it was really scary. They over sold it by thousands of people and the Fire Marshall almost had to shut it down. So I would be prepared for large crowds and to make sure you have a meet up point with friends. I'm not kidding. Lol. Um this year BEA is not sharing the floor with BookCon, it is finishing the day before so they are saying the over crowding will not be a problem but I will still play it really safe. It was so crowded last year people couldn't get into panels. 

What I do every year is make an extremely detailed schedule and then highlight who is a must see. Some people spent all day in panels and couldn't even get to the autographing area. Make sure you plan out who you want to see and check early if they are lining people up for that person because they had lines forming 2 hours before a person was scheduled to sign. Wear sneakers. Bring food and water and a phone charger and your schedule. but I honestly can't stress how important it is to plan a head make a schedule get their early and map out the floor..

Welcome!!!

Hi Friends
I am going to be updating a lot more on my blog. I took a little break since I was applying and accepted into a PsyD (Doctorate in Psychology) program at Alfred University! I'm really excited and even though I havent been updating as much as I would like to here, as say my GoodReads, I'm going to be back and better than ever! Also I'm happy to announce that my friend Marissa will be blogging on my site with me now! Check out her Goodreads page! We have a lot of exciting things in the works and can't wait to share them with you!
Love Always
Jaclyn

Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge

Synopsis: Based on the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, Cruel Beauty is a dazzling love story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny. Since birth, Nyx has been betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom-all because of a foolish bargain struck by her father. And since birth, she has been in training to kill him. With no choice but to fulfill her duty, Nyx resents her family for never trying to save her and hates herself for wanting to escape her fate. Still, on her seventeenth birthday, Nyx abandons everything she's ever known to marry the all-powerful, immortal Ignifex. Her plan? Seduce him, destroy his enchanted castle, and break the nine-hundred-year-old curse he put on her people. But Ignifex is not at all what Nyx expected. The strangely charming lord beguiles her, and his castle-a shifting maze of magical rooms-enthralls her.
As Nyx searches for a way to free her homeland by uncovering Ignifex's secrets, she finds herself unwillingly drawn to him. Even if she could bring herself to love her sworn enemy, how can she refuse her duty to kill him? With time running out, Nyx must decide what is more important: the future of her kingdom, or the man she was never supposed to love

My Review: "Where you go, I shall go; where you die, I shall die, and there will I be buried.." 
Wow, that was a great read! I think the story, world and plot were original and definitly compelling, and most parts I really loved but there were some things I just didnt like. 

What I Loved: I loved Ignifex first off. I fell for him hard and quick just like Nyx. I love that both of these charecters were un-appologetic with their flaws. They were both selfish, impulsive, and had 'poison in their hearts'. Ignifex, being a demon lord and Nyx being the bride raised to kill her enemy. What they dont expect is to find love with one another, or to see in each other beauty and acceptance of their flaws. I really loved this because that was love really is in my opinion, finding someone you love's imperfections perfect. 
I loved all the dark emotions in this book. I loved that Nyx hated her sister, her father, her aunt and her mother. She resented everyone for sending her to her death and it felt so genuine to me. I hated her sister also.

As for the scenes and descriptions they were beautiful. I loved that room where the Heart of Water was. It reminded me of Tangled with all the floating lights. I loved that the house was always changing that kept it fun and interesing. Overall i really loved this book and would recomend it to readers looking for something dark and original. To bad it's a stand alone novel. Maybe we'll get a novella with their story one day

Rating: 4 of 5 stars!!!

Dare You To

 Publisher's Synopsis:
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."
"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....
"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all....

My Review: No one can acuse Kaie McGarry of being a one-hit-wonder that's for sure. I loved this book! It was incredible. I didn't reallyl love Beth from "Pushing the Limits". I always thought she was kind of beastly to Echo and she didnt really win me over so I thought, a book about Beth, great. However, I believed in the strength of KMG writing so much I said OK! and I am so happy that I did. Beth's story was not what I thought it would be. I really felt for her and her struggle and family situation. I loved her relationship with her uncle, who is not much older than her! I think the way she treats his wife is awful but you know what they say, Hurt people hurt people.

Ryan is totally swoon worthy. I think he is so sexy and I wouldve definitly dared him into a date in high school. I loved the complexity of his relationship with his father, mother and brother. What an interesting a rich story within this story. I would recomend this book to fans of KMG first book and anyone riding the contemporary romance wave. It takes alot to drag me out of my PNR cave and this was worth it. On a funny side note, my friend mis-pronounced the title to me as "Dare to you" which i would keep saying to myself, well that doesnt make sense but hey whatever. It took months for me to realize she was switching the words, now I need to try and remember the correct title.. :)

Bottom line: pick up this book!!! I cant wait for Isaiahs story