Zenith by Lindsay Cummings & Sasha Alsberg: ARC Review

Title: Zenith (The Androma Saga #1)
Author: Sasha Alsberg, Lindsay Cummings
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: January 16th 2018
Pages:534
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

Most know Androma Racella as the Bloody Baroness, a powerful mercenary whose reign of terror stretches across the Mirabel Galaxy. To those aboard her glass starship, Marauder, however, she's just Andi, their friend and fearless leader.

But when a routine mission goes awry, the Marauder's all-girl crew is tested as they find themselves in a treacherous situation and at the mercy of a sadistic bounty hunter from Andi's past.

Meanwhile, across the galaxy, a ruthless ruler waits in the shadows of the planet Xen Ptera, biding her time to exact revenge for the destruction of her people. The pieces of her deadly plan are about to fall into place, unleashing a plot that will tear Mirabel in two.

Andi and her crew embark on a dangerous, soul-testing journey that could restore order to their shipor just as easily start a war that will devour worlds. As the Marauder hurtles toward the unknown, and Mirabel hangs in the balance, the only certainty is that in a galaxy run on lies and illusion, no one can be trusted.

Ok, so I am really on the edge for this. I really really wanted to love this book. I have heard great things about it and when I had the chance to review through Miss Print, I jumped on the chance. This one just intrigued me from the start, but once I started to read this, it fell by the wayside and my interest was elsewhere very quickly. I had to put this one down very early on, which I don't normally do. And, if I do, I usually pick it back up and try try again, but sadly, it wasn't the case for this one.

I hope others out there enjoyed this more than me and I urge everyone to pick it up and try to read it for themselves and form their own opinions. But as of right now, its not for me. The only reason for the 2 star rating is because I really liked the idea behind this. But it's very confusing for me.

Lindsay Cummings is the #1 NYT Bestselling co-author of ZENITH, along with her duology, THE MURDER COMPLEX from Greenwillow Books/HarperCollins, and the MG trilogy THE BALANCE KEEPERS, from Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins. She is represented by Pete Knapp at Park Literary in NYC.

Lindsay deals with chronic fatigue, writes full time from her home in the deep woods in North Texas, and loves to chat with fellow book nerds. Lindsay created the #booknerdigans hashtag.

She's still waiting on her letter from Hogwarts--it was probably just lost in the mail. You can follow Lindsay on twitter @authorlindsayc or on instagram @authorlindsaycummings

Find Lindsay: Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | Website | YouTube

Sasha Alsberg is the #1 NYT Bestselling Co-Author of ZENITH: The Androma Saga.

When Sasha is not writing or obsessing over Scotland she is making YouTube videos on her channel Abookutopia. She lives in Northern Texas with her dog, Fraser.

​

For her writing, she is represented by Joanna Volpe at New Leaf Literary and is represented on YouTube by Brian Lieberman at Studio71.

Find Sasha: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | YouTube

Disclaimer: *I received a copy of this book for free from MissPrint to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.

**Book info obtained through Goodreads. ***Book Cover Obtained through Goodreads. ****Author photo obtained through author website.

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Otherworld by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller: An ARC Review

Title: Otherworld (Otherworld #1)
Author: Jason Segel & Kirsten Miller
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publish Date: October 31, 2017
Pages: 355
Source: Publisher for Review
Get Yours: Amazon | Book Depository

The company says Otherworld is amazing—like nothing you’ve ever seen before. They say it’s addictive—that you’ll want to stay forever. They promise Otherworld will make all your dreams come true.

Simon thought Otherworld was a game. Turns out he knew nothing. Otherworld is the next phase of reality. It’s everything you’ve ever wanted.

And it’s about to change humanity forever. Welcome to the Otherworld. No one could have seen it coming.

I had such high hopes for this book. I mean, the synopsis of this sounds amazing, and my daughter and I enjoyed the Nightmares! books. But this book just wasn’t my thing once I started reading. The main character is supposed to be what, 18 years old? He seems very immature, like he’s 15 or younger. He stays at home to play VR video games and steals his moms credit card to pay for the equipment he needs to play it with. He acts as if it’s ok to do this. And then his dad finds out and had a temper tantrum and beats the crap out of this $6000 equipment with his golf clubs as if to teach his son a lesson. Why do that? Why not show you are an adult and return it? After I got to this part in the book I just had to put it down and walk away. 

Now on the other hand, I did give this a 2 star rating and that’s because the concept of this alternate video game world was pretty amazing. Everything seemed very well thought out and it seemed, from what little I had read, very believable. Probably more so than the reality in the book.

I might try this one again later and update my review, but for now, this was a no go for me sadly.

 About Jason:

New York Times bestselling author Jason Segel used to have nightmares just like Charlie, and just like Charlie, he's learned that the things we're most afraid of are the things that can make us strong...if we're brave enough to face them. Jason likes acting, writing, making music, and hanging out with his friends. Sometimes he writes movies. Sometimes he writes songs for movies. Sometimes he stars in those movies and sings those songs. You might know him from The Muppets and Despicable Me. Your parents might know him from other stuff. Nightmares! is his first novel.

Find Jason: Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

About Kirsten:

I write books.

Some of my books are what librarians call middle grade. (Kiki Strike, Nightmares!)

Some should be kept away from small children and people with weak stomachs. (How to Lead a Life of Crime, The Eternal Ones, Otherworld)

I write some books with Jason Segel.

I've written quite a few books on my own.

I'm an Aquarius.

My favorite food is cauliflower. (No joke.)

I will eat almost anything. And I'm weirdly proud of it.

I believe New York City is the most magical place on earth.

I love Dolly Parton and David Attenborough. Equally.

I cannot sing or play any musical instruments.

I'm obsessed with sewers and sanitation systems.

I once broke into a Mayan temple with my brother, Spike.

Spike is an alias. It's not his real name.

I also have a sister. She prefers to remain anonymous.

We have the same birthday.

Yes, that sucks.

I think that's all you need to know.

Find Kirsten: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Disclaimer: *I received a copy of this book for free to review, this in no way influenced my review, all opinions are 100% honest and my own.

**Book info obtained through Goodreads. ***Book Cover Obtained through Goodreads. ****Author photo obtained through author website.

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Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn: A Book Review

Title: Another Little Piece
Author: Kate Karyus Quinn
Publisher: Harper Teen
Publish Date: June 11th 2013
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 419
Source: Purchased
Buy It: Amazon | Book Depository

On a cool autumn night, Annaliese Rose Gordon stumbled out of the woods and into a high school party. She was screaming. Drenched in blood. Then she vanished.

A year later, Annaliese is found wandering down a road hundreds of miles away. She doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know how she got there. She only knows one thing: She is not the real Annaliese Rose Gordon.

Now Annaliese is haunted by strange visions and broken memories. Memories of a reckless, desperate wish . . . a bloody razor . . . and the faces of other girls who disappeared. Piece by piece, Annaliese's fractured memories come together to reveal a violent, endless cycle that she will never escape—unless she can unlock the twisted secrets of her past.

I just couldn’t bring myself to finish this book. I tried and just to the point where I was just uninterested in it to go on. I sadly had to put this one down.

This one starts off pretty interesting where a girl is wandering through the woods to this house in a trash bag. But then it starts to get strange. Everyone believes she is this girl that was presumed dead a year prior. She looks like her and talks like her but doesn’t have her memories. Then she is taken to this hospital to talk to a shrink and then her parents take her home. She refers to them as “the Mom” and “the Dad”. Then it goes back and forth through the present and past memories. She even once had a craving for some boys blood or something. So this really wasn’t what I expected. 

This is another book that I need to put up on a shelf and try to come back to another time, hopefully. But for now, I just can’t bring myself to pick it up again to finish.

Kate Karyus Quinn is an avid reader and menthol chapstick addict. She has lived in California and Tennessee, but recently made the move back to her hometown of Buffalo, New York, with her husband and two children in tow. She promised them wonderful people, amazing food, and weather that would... build character. Another Little Piece is her first novel.

Find Kate: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Disclaimer:  **Book info obtained through Goodreads. ***Book Cover Obtained through Goodreads. ****Author photo obtained through author website.

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The Alchemyst by Michael Scott: A Book Review

Title: The Alchemyst (The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel #1)
Author: Michael Scott
Publisher: Ember
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Magic
Release Date: June 24th 2008
Purchase: Amazon | BD | B&N

The truth: Nicholas Flamel was born in Paris on September 28, 1330. The records show that he died in 1418. But his tomb is empty.

The legend: Nicholas Flamel lives. The secret of eternal life is hidden within the book he protects—the Book of Abraham the Mage. It's the most powerful book that has ever existed, and in the wrong hands, it will destroy the world.

Which is exactly what Dr. John Dee plans to do when he steals it. And if the prophecy is right, Sophie and Josh Newman are the only ones with the power to save the world as we know it.

Sometimes legends are true.

And Sophie and Josh Newman are about to find themselves in the middle of the greatest legend of all time.

I really really wanted to love these books. I had bought the First Codex box set years ago with the anticipation of reading them but they got shelved and I never gave them a second glance until recently. 

The writing style of this just wasn't my cup of tea. While I loved the concept of this book, I just couldn't get past the first 3 chapters. If you want to give this a go for yourself, go into this one with an open mind.

Michael Scott is the New York Times bestselling author of The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series, an authority on mythology and folklore, and one of Ireland’s most successful authors. A master of fantasy, science fiction, horror, and folklore, Michael has been hailed by the Irish Times as “the King of Fantasy in these isles.” The Alchemyst is the first book in the Nicholas Flamel series. Look for book two, The Magician; book three, The Sorceress; book four, The Necromancer; book five, The Warlock; and book six, The Enchantress, all available from Delacorte Press.

Find Michael: Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter

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{Review} Chime by Franny Billingsley

Title: Chime
Author: Franny Billingsley
Publisher: Speak
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Witches
Release Date: April 12th 2012
Source: Won from Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | TBD

Briony has a secret. It is a secret that killed her stepmother, ruined her sister's mind, and will end her life, if anyone were to know. She has powers. Then Eldric comes along with his golden lion eyes and a great mane of tawny hair. He is as natural as the sun, and he treats her as if she is extraordinary. And everything starts to change . . . Chime is a haunting, brilliantly written novel that will stay with you--its magic, its romance, its world like none other.

This book is totally not what I expected, and I don't mean that in a good way this time.  I couldn't finish this book and put it down and walked away at chapter 10.

Briony feels as if her Stepmother's death is her fault, that her sister's child-like mind is her fault and she doesn't want to be what she is, a witch. All that is what pulled me into the book. It sounded very interesting. But when I started to read it, I was totally lost, didn't understand what was going on or what time period we were in. When I'm reading a book I like to know what time period it takes place in, especially since it has to do with witches. Are we talking about witches from the 1700's or modern day witches or futuristic witches? They way they talked made it sound like older witches but then there was talk about "Bible Balls" and that made me think dystopian.

The story had you curious about everything. Briony was talking about how she was like a wolfchild and then a witch. She could also hear spirits. It was confusing to me.

The characters were decent enough. I really did like Briony and Eldric. They seem like they would make a cute enough couple too. Even Rose with her child-like mind was favorable. The rest of the characters were alright as well.

To me this book should be rated at a one. But because I liked the characters and the book cover was attractive, I gave it two butterflies. If anyone is brave enough to attempt reading this then I would recommend this to anyone 15 and older.

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