Review - Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger

by Gail Carriger
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: February 5, 2013
format: egalley
pages: 307
source: the publisher via Netgalley
series: Finishing School

From Goodreads:

It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.

Sophronia Temminnick at 14 is a great trial more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners -- and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Her poor mother, desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady, enrolls the lively tomboy in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage -- in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

Though I love steampunk, I have a confession to make: Etiquette & Espionage is my first experience reading Gail Carriger's work.  I know!  I've been completely remiss in not reading The Parasol Protectorate series during the 2 years it has been on my TBR list.  Thanks to Little, Brown, however, I had the opportunity to read Etiquette & Espionage, the first in Ms. Carriger's new YA series.  I had heard much praise of Ms. Carriger's writing beforehand.  Now I know exactly why.  To say that Etiquette & Espionage is amazing doesn't even begin to cover how much I enjoyed this book.

I'll admit to at first being thrown off by the main character's name.  I soon adjusted, though, and quickly began to enjoy reading her story.  She's such a spunky, funny girl that you can't help but quickly become captivated.  With each failed curtsey, midnight foray, and discovery, Sophronia proves more and more that she has a future as a force to be reckoned with.  As if that weren't enough, you will also discover that there are some familiar characters to be found within Etiquette & Espionage.  Younger versions of Genevieve Lefoux and Sidheag Maccon can be found within.  Having promptly started reading The Parasol Protectorate series right after finishing E&E, I found it fascinating seeing them as youths as well as the women they become.  Perhaps one of my favorite characters, however, isn't a living, breathing being at all.  Neither is he a vampire.  This character is a gadget known as a mechanimal named Bumbersnoot (trust me, the vast majority of the names in Etiquette & Espionage are hilarious), who proved to be just as humorous as Sophronia.  I loved every minute!

The world-building, though perhaps not quite so technological as that found in The Parasol Protectorate, is nevertheless fascinating.  Not only does Etiquette & Espionage take place at a school, it takes place in a floating school.  It doesn't get much more intriguing than that.  Between the finishing school, the boys' school for evil geniuses, and Sophronia's home, there is so much to discover from page to page.  The rich environments combined with the novel inventions are simply fantastic in every shape of the word.  It makes for a rich world for Sophronia to have adventures in and shows much promise of getting even better in the next installment.

Ever since I finished Etiquette & Espionage, I have been simply devouring everything by Gail Carriger that I can get my hands on.  It has been a while since an author has made me want to read everything they have written one book after another.  If you, too, have yet to experience the writing of Ms. Carriger, take my advice: prior to reading Etiquette & Espionage, make sure you have The Parasol Protectorate books readily available.  If you love E&E as much as I did, you'll probably want them before the warmth from your hands has faded from the pages.

Buy Etiquette & Espionage at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - Fathomless

by Jackson Pearce
publisher: Little, Brown & Co. BFYR
date of publication: September 4, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 304
source: from the publisher for review

From Goodreads:

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.

Ever since I read the very first of Jackson Pearce's fairy tale re-tellings, Sisters Red, I have been a big fan of her characters, settings, and her approach to the werewolf concept.  At the end of Sweetly, I was dying to find out what would happen next.  The ending of Sweetly hinted at so many great story elements that I was eager to continue on into the next part of the story.  When Fathomless arrived at my door, I was happy about the prospect of finally continuing that journey.  What I expected and what I found, however, did not exactly mesh this time around, and I found myself left with feelings equaling much less than enthusiasm.

At first the Reynolds twins prove to be an intriguing set of characters due to their abilities and their dynamic as triplets.  When the full extend of Celia's differences come to light, there is more interest and the potential for an engrossing narrative.  However, I found myself struggling to fully connect with Celia.  I wouldn't necessarily say that she strikes me as a push-over, but neither does she exhibit much by way of personal strengths.  Even her struggles with her untruths didn't provide as much development as I would have hoped.  I found Lo, the other MC, to be far more intriguing as she struggled to maintain her grasp on humanity and to uncover the truth behind her past.  With Lo, you know you are faced with a wonderfully dynamic character, thus leaving her chapters amongst my favorites throughout the entirety of the book.

As was hinted in Sweetly, the concept behind Fathomless was everything I hoped it would be.  The mermaids Lo lives amongst are such an alien group even given their human shape.  They may not have fish tails, but they are still very obviously not human.  Everything from their behavior to bluish skin hints at their lack of any shreds of humanity.  With the exception of Lo and a few others, none know who they once were, nor do they care.  It all made for an exceptional approach to the concept of mermaids and one I was very glad to see.

Though Fathomless didn't ring my bell as much as Sisters Red and Sweetly, there was still much to enjoy about the book.  When it comes to Lo and the nature of mermaids, there is so much to discover and ponder.  If you enjoy fairy tale adaptations and re-tellings, Fathomless is very much worth your time.  Even though I didn't enjoy this particular set of Reynolds siblings as much as those that appeared in the previous books, they did lend a continuity that made for a nice touch to the series overall.  If you are looking for a mermaid story with a darker slant, Fathomless just may be the book you are looking for.

Buy Fathomless at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review: The Diviners

by Libba Bray
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: September 18, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 592
source: from the publisher for review

From Goodreads:

Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first.

Upon first glance, you might think that The Diviners is a daunting book to read due to the sheer size of it.  I can happily say, however, that it truly is not that daunting.  It may be thicker than your typical YA novel, but it makes up for it in several ways.  I hope to share those ways with you today so that, just maybe, you will decide to give this book a try.

The Diviners is a great mixture of humor and horror and is made up of several wonderful characters.  There is a nice balance of vibrant, buoyant characters such as Evie, as well as more reserved, level-headed characters such as Evie's uncle Will and her best gal pal, Mabel.  By placing such an array of characters in a truly fascinating setting (New York City in the Roaring Twenties), Bray has laid the foundation for a remarkable series.

The thing that I enjoyed most about The Diviners was the sheer horror and eeriness that serves as an undercurrent to the entire story.  With a villain such as Naughty John, who wouldn't be creeped out.  It isn't often that you come across a villain so thoroughly frightening as Naughty John.  When those villains come with their own creepy song, you know you are in for some scares.

"Naughty John, Naughty John, does his work with his apron on. Cuts your throat and takes your bones, sells 'em off for a coupla stones."

-excerpt from The Diviners by Libba Bray

With the exception of some slow-moving chapters and a romance that seemingly popped up out of nowhere, The Diviners proved to be an excellent read well worth the time it took to finish.  With its references to flapper fashions, gritty locations, and truly awesome characters, I can posi-tute-ly recommend this one to you all.  Whether you enjoy historical fiction or not, I have the feeling you will enjoy this one thanks to its paranormal and horror elements.

Buy The Diviners at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This book was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.  

Review - Revived

by Cat Patrick
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
format: hardcover
pages: 336
source: from the publisher for review
score: 3.5 out of 5

From Goodreads:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash. Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life. When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger — and more sinister — than she ever imagined.

Right away you know that Revived is going to be quite interesting.  The first chapter opens with Daisy in the midst of dying.  This isn't the end of Daisy, however.  We soon find out that Daisy is different than the majority of kids: she can be brought back from the dead and be a living, breathing girl all over again.  Since she can't exactly show back up around town when so many saw her die, she and her guardians make another move that will wind up changing Daisy's life in many ways.  What ensues is a story full of mystery, intrigue, espionage, love, and heartbreak.  

Daisy has been on the move for so long that she has become a bit of a loner.  I felt for her as it struck me as a lonely existence.  In spite of this, however, she seems amazingly well-adjusted and has a great voice as a character.  Her dialog is so engaging that the pages fly by quite easily.  Her burgeoning friendship with vivacious Audrey and her budding romance with Audrey's brother, Matt, round out the most frequently seen characters.  I enjoyed all 3 of them, though I felt that Daisy shared her secrets with Matt too soon, making her perhaps a bit too naive.  Over all, though, it's a nice cast of characters that make for a smooth read.

The aspect of the book that I was the least sold on was the background.  It is lacking in further information on the who, how, what, and why involved in the making of Revive.  While you're reading it doesn't register so much, but once you put the book down there are so many questions left without answers.  Also, the threat didn't really strike me as especially urgent.  I think it's partly due to the delivery and partly the lack of information on the culprit once they are apprehended.  Knowing a motive would have been great, too.  

In spite of its flaws, Revived proved to be a fun read for a rainy Saturday afternoon.  With great character interactions and its premise, Revived is worth checking out.  I'm glad that I finally had the time to read it.  I will warn you, however, that if you are prone to becoming very emotional you will need tissues on hand.  A particular part of the book hit me pretty hard due to a past event in my life, so it's something to keep in mind.  If you're looking for a book that's a little bit sci-fi, a little bit romance, you may want to give Revived a chance.

  

Buy Revived at the Following Locations:

Amazon /  IndieBound  /  B&N  /  The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher.  No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - The Last Princess

by Galaxy Craze
publisher: Poppy/Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: May 1, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 295
source: from the publisher for review
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

Happily ever after is a thing of the past.

A series of natural disasters has decimated the earth. Cut off from the rest of the world, England is a dark place. The sun rarely shines, food is scarce, and groups of criminals roam the woods, searching for prey. The people are growing restless.

When a ruthless revolutionary sets out to overthrow the crown, he makes the royal family his first target. Blood is shed in Buckingham Palace, and only sixteen-year-old Princess Eliza manages to escape.

Determined to kill the man who destroyed her family, Eliza joins the enemy forces in disguise. She has nothing left to live for but revenge, until she meets someone who helps her remember how to hope—and to love—once more. Now she must risk everything to ensure that she not become... The Last Princess.

In a post-apocalyptic England, the royal family has been set upon by tragedy after tragedy at the hands of a zealous would-be tyrant and as the result of a string of natural disasters.  Eliza, the youngest princess, finds herself alone after a night of blood shed and abduction.  It is up to her to find the man responsible and exact revenge on behalf of her shattered family.  As she fights to survive in an increasingly hostile world, Eliza finds love in an unexpected place and learns to keep hope alive.

Eliza was a pretty easy character to "get along" with.  Though she can be a bit flat at times, she is an intelligent, loyal girl who doesn't consider giving up easily.  While I wished to learn at least a little more about her, I did find myself enjoying the story as told from her point of view.  She was made for an easy to follow main character who didn't let anything stand in her way.  The villain in the story, Cornelius Hollister, is a truly despicable human being.  While he claims to be fighting for the greater good of what remains of society, it is apparent that he is nothing more than a power hungry monster.  He's one of those villains that you just love to hate, which definitely added to the intensity of the story.

I have seen this novel referred to as dystopian several times over, but please don't be mislead.  The Last Princess does not fall under that particular umbrella.  Instead, it falls more under the post-apocalyptic umbrella than anything thanks to its ravaged landscape, dwindling population, and chaotic atmosphere.  Society has broken down and there is no pretense that things are fine.  It all makes for a brutally riveting plot that almost fully arrested my attention and imagination.  The only things I really had pressing questions about was the Roamers, a group of cannibalistic people that aren't given as much explanation as other groups throughout the book.  Nonetheless, The Last Princess proved to be a well thought-out story with some wonderfully alarming aspects that I enjoyed very much.

The Last Princess has much to recommend it.  From its intense setting to its engaging characters, The Last Princess is a vastly entertaining read that you won't find easy to put down.  Though there are some aspects that could use a little fleshing out, I found that there was still a lot to learn about the world in which Eliza lives.  If you haven't read much post-apocalyptic fiction, The Last Princess could be a good starter for you.  It has earned a permanent home on my shelves thanks to its engrossing action sequences and frightening world.  It has made me more interested in the genre, which is a definite plus.

Buy The Last Princess at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher.  No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review - I Hunt Killers by Barry Lyga

by Barry Lyga
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: April 3, 2012
format: hardcover
pages: 359
source: from the publisher for review
read it in: 4 days

From Goodreads:

What if the world's worst serial killer...was your dad?

Jasper (Jazz) Dent is a likable teenager. A charmer, one might say.

But he's also the son of the world's most infamous serial killer, and for Dear Old Dad, Take Your Son to Work Day was year-round. Jazz has witnessed crime scenes the way cops wish they could--from the criminal's point of view.

And now bodies are piling up in Lobo's Nod.

In an effort to clear his name, Jazz joins the police in a hunt for a new serial killer. But Jazz has a secret--could he be more like his father than anyone knows?

Jazz Dent is not like other teenagers in Lobo's Nod.  Being surrounded by the infamy that being the son of the world's most prolific serial killer brings on, Jazz is a boy struggling to figure out who he really is.  Is he a meant for solving murder cases... or something far more lethal?  I Hunt Killers is a chilling peek into the mind of a boy damaged by the psychological scars inflicted upon him by his murderous father and the repercussions those scars have upon his life.  Turn on the lights, lock the doors, and sit down for a thrill like none you've ever experienced before.

Jasper "Jazz" Dent, while often charming, is a character with many skeletons (almost literally) in his closet.  He possesses both a keen intellect and an eye for detail that gives local law enforcement a run for their money.  It's difficult not to feel pity for him due to the brainwashing perpetrated by his father, Billy Dent, the world's worst serial killer.  He is a boy on the brink of tumbling into a dark abyss of murder and depravity.  His struggle to avoid this fate makes him a surprisingly admirable character, as does his loyalty to his best friend, Howie, who is as different from Jasper as it is possible to be.  The overall experience of being so immersed in Jazz's head is both enlightening and frightening.  He is definitely one of the most unique characters I have ever read about.

The plot of I Hunt Killers, while somewhat bogged down with Jazz's frequent inner monologues in regard to his true nature, is made up of an intricately woven mystery of the most frightening sort.  The brief glimpses into the point of view of the killer are chilling and do a great job at imparting a thick atmosphere of foreboding.  There are some truly horrific dream descriptions within that are more than capable of making you nervous, a sure sign that you are in the midst of a riveting, if not disturbing, book.  I must give one warning, however, if you are easily suggestible and prone to nightmares, be careful about when and where you read I Hunt Killers.  With the right surroundings, you could successfully scare yourself silly with this one!    

I Hunt Killers is quite possibly one of the most eerie books I've ever read.  Jazz is a very engaging character, even if he does manage to make you worry from time to time.  The plot is intense and full of some truly stunning twists that leave you scrambling to figure out the culprit behind the crimes.  The ending is truly an explosion of surprise that left me reeling after I turned the last page.  If you're looking for an intense, creepy read, you simply must try I Hunt Killers.  Thrills and chills abound and you'll be perpetually on the edge of your seat.

Buy I Hunt Killers at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher.  No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Giveaway - Belles by Jen Calonita

I was approached last week with a great opportunity for you, my lovely readers.  Jen Calonita's publicist has offered up a pretty sweet giveaway to be administered here on Starting the Next Chapter in celebration of Jen's tour (which starts tomorrow!).  Thanks to Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, you have the opportunity to win a finished copy of Belles (have you seen them yet?  so pretty!) and a special Belles lipgloss.

Fifteen-year-old Isabelle Scott loves her life by the boardwalk on the supposed wrong side of the tracks in North Carolina. But when tragedy strikes, a social worker sends her to live with a long-lost uncle and his preppy privileged family. Isabelle is taken away from everything she's ever known, and, unfortunately, inserting her into the glamorous lifestyle of Emerald Cove doesn't go so well. Her cousin Mirabelle Monroe isn't thrilled to share her life with an outsider, and, in addition to dealing with all the rumors and backstabbing that lurk beneath their classmates' Southern charm, a secret is unfolding that will change both girls' lives forever.

Check out the Belles web page for more information & an excerpt!

 

Jen Calonita is a former magazine editor who has intereviewed everyone from Justin Timberlake to Reese Witherspoon. She lives in New York with her husband, Mike; sons Dylan and Tyler; and their Chihuahua, Captain Jack Sparrow, and daydreams about moving south. Jen is currently hard at work on her second book in the Belles series, Winter White, coming October 2012. She invites you to visit her online at www.jencalonitaonline.com.

Other books from Jen:

• Secrets of My Hollywood Life
• Reality Check
• Sleepaway Girls

Catch Jen on tour:

Wednesday, May 2nd at 6:00pm
The Booksellers at Laurelwood
387 Perkins Road Extended
Memphis, TN 38117

Saturday, May 5th at 2:00pm
Barnes & Noble – Mansell Crossings
7660 Northpoint Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30022

Sunday, May 6th at 4:00pm
Little Shop of Stories
133A East Court Square
Decatur, GA 30030

Tuesday, May 8th at 6:30pm
Barnes & Noble – Cool Springs
1701 Mallory Lane
Brentwood, TN 37027

What You Can Win

1 finished copy of Belles

AND

1 Belles lipgloss

You know what to do next!  Click below to continue to the Rafflecopter widget.

Review - Purity

by Jackson Pearce
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: April 24, 2012
format: digital review copy
pages: 152
source: Netgalley widget from the publisher
read it in: 2 days

From Goodreads:

A novel about love, loss, and sex -- but not necessarily in that order.

Before her mother died, Shelby promised three things: to listen to her father, to love as much as possible, and to live without restraint. Those Promises become harder to keep when Shelby's father joins the planning committee for the Princess Ball, an annual dance that ends with a ceremonial vow to live pure lives -- in other words, no "bad behavior," no breaking the rules, and definitely no sex.

Torn between Promises One and Three, Shelby makes a decision -- to exploit a loophole and lose her virginity before taking the vow. But somewhere between failed hookup attempts and helping her dad plan the ball, Shelby starts to understand what her mother really meant, what her father really needs, and who really has the right to her purity.

My approach to Purity was one of hesitance, at first.  This is quite the departure from Jackson's Fairytale Retellings series, which I simply adore.  As I enjoy her writing so much, I decided to go for it and, thanks to Little, Brown, I was able to read Purity and form an opinion.  Purity succeeded in surprising me from the very beginning with an unexpected amount of humor and an interesting approach to the subject at hand.  Though there is something of a coming-of-age story involved, the driving force behind Purity is much more complex.  There was a lot to think about upon completion.

Shelby is, simply put, a complicated character.  Her need to maintain compliance with the 3 promises she made to her mother upon her death bed is compelling and frustrating, as she seems to lose sight of the bigger picture much of the time.  He decision to find a loophole allowing her to get out of taking the vow leads her to become even farther removed from who she really is, sending her down a road lined with crazy schemes and misguided attempts at living life without restraint.  I found her to be an endearing and hilarious character in the end.  Though I didn't agree with everything she did, watching her learn something very important about both herself and her father was made for a very good reading experience.

Jackson Pearce always manages to completely draw me into her stories with her attention to detail and spot-on plot pacing.  Purity is no exception to this trend thanks to its engaging dialog and thought-provoking subject.  The storyline has very few snags and moves along at a great clip without rushing to the conclusion.  The characters involved are enjoyable and have distinct voices that help make the story more easily imagined.  I can easily see reading this book with my daughter once she has reached her later teen years, as it brings up some important questions and discussion points.

Purity is a funny, thought-provoking book that will provide you with an unexpected reading experience.  Fans of contemporary fiction should give this one a try due to Jackson's once again wonderful writing.  Purity is great choice if you're looking for a weighty topic that is handled with humor and open-mindedness.  I have yet to read all of Jackson's books, but after reading Purity, I now know that the one book I have yet to read is a must.  I will be looking forward to her next offering.

Buy Purity at the Following Locations:

Amazon / IndieBound / B&N / The Book Depository

Obligatory legal statement: This digital review copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher via Netgalley. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.

Review: Beautiful Chaos

by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
publisher: Little, Brown BFYR
date of publication: October 18, 2011
format: hardcover
pages: 528
source: from publisher for review
Amazon / Goodreads / B&N

From Goodreads:

Ethan Wate thought he was getting used to the strange, impossible events happening in Gatlin, his small Southern town. But now that Ethan and Lena have returned home, strange and impossible have taken on new meanings. Swarms of locusts, record-breaking heat, and devastating storms ravage Gatlin as Ethan and Lena struggle to understand the impact of Lena's Claiming. Even Lena's family of powerful Supernaturals is affected - and their abilities begin to dangerously misfire. As time passes, one question becomes clear: What - or who - will need to be sacrificed to save Gatlin? For Ethan, the chaos is a frightening but welcome distraction. He's being haunted in his dreams again, but this time it isn't by Lena - and whatever is haunting him is following him out of his dreams and into his everyday life. Even worse, Ethan is gradually losing pieces of himself - forgetting names, phone numbers, even memories. He doesn't know why, and most days he's too afraid to ask.
Sometimes there isn't just one answer or one choice. Sometimes there's no going back. And this time there won't be a happy ending.

What I Thought 

When compared to the novels that came before it, Beautiful Chaos begins with a slightly different tone. Gone is the bored, carefree attitude with which Ethan approaches life in Gatlin. Gone are the constant worries over catty schoolmates. Instead, there are more dire things to worry about and even more danger than ever before. Worry and despair are the names of the game in Beautiful Chaos, and be forewarned: things do get very harrowing.

The pacing of this book took a little while for me to get used to. It started out a bit slower than the previous two installments, so immediately my expectations were challenged. Part of the reason was that it was much more emotionally wrought than before, which means that there is more weight put on emotion rather than thought. Another reason that I think the story was slower for me was that the plot kept building and building before the really horrible things began to happen. While what was happening was fascinating, it took a little while for me to adjust. When I did, however, I was as sucked into the story as before. Things between Ethan and Lena are much easier to observe this time around, even with all of the worries they are surrounded by. The characters are much the same as ever, with a few exceptions. Poor Ethan, for example, is beginning to forget things he should know, while Amma is more elusive than usual. John Breed makes a surprising turn around and a little more about his past is finally revealed, which I really enjoyed. These characters make up the heart of this book and I was so glad to get to know even more about each one. I will just say that I was not at all prepared for the ending. Talk about a cliff hanger. I'm so very thankful that there is going to be a fourth book! Otherwise, I would have been one sad reader.

Pacing issues aside, I really enjoyed Beautiful Chaos. The distinct style of writing is still there and the characters are as amazing as ever. There is no way I will be abandoning this series, though I wish the wait for book 4 weren't quite so long. It's going to be hard to be left waiting for another year! If you are a fan of the first 2 books, you'll definitely want to continue. Just be prepared with tissues in hand and an open mind.

Obligatory legal statement: This finished copy was provided to me free of charge by the publisher. No monetary compensation was received in exchange for this fair and unbiased review.