A Million Suns by Beth Revis

The second book in the Across the Universe trilogy, I was very apprehensive about this installment, but it did not disappoint.

Anything about space is truly enthralling, but also it is terrifying. The thought of being trapped in a ship, hundreds of years from its destination and knowing you will never step outside again is a huge fear for most of us.

The first book ended with no hope that they would ever reach the planet, which worried me. How much can happen on an enclosed ship hurtling through space? My claustrophobia kicked in, and I wasn't sure if I'd be able to read the next to books. Luckily for me, a lot happens in this story.

There is definitely character development, which I really liked. Elder grows up some, and his and Amy's relationship matures some. However, they still seemed immature to me separately. Their conversations felt like high school freshman talking to each other about something way over their heads, not two young adults debating something very important. This aspect made the book very difficult to get through.

Fortunately, there is a lot of plot. Amy spends most of her time searching for clues, and Elder spends his fighting a revolution. But despite the immaturity of their actions and words, I liked the turn this book made. It was definitely a bridge book, as the second book in trilogies often are, but it was an exciting one for sure.

I look forward to the third book, because I think if the author does it properly, it will be the most exciting of the series yet, and I can't wait for that.

Three Stars,

Rosalie

A Million Suns on Goodreads

Evertrue by Brodi Ashton

Evertrue is the final installment in the Everneath trilogy by Brodi Ashton. This much anticipated finale had a lot to live up to, especially after the surprising ending to the second novel. So the question is, did it live up the the high standards? That's debatable. 

Let's start with the characters. This is the first book where Jack and Nikki are together the entire book. In the first two they were separated by something for nearly the entire book, so we finally get to see them as a couple. I'd say that overall they are good together. They know each other, and you can almost believe the intense commitment they always profess to each other. Heres my issue. I don't feel like the emotions were real. Nikki's attachment to Cole seemed more profuse than her loyalty to Jack for some reason. 

Cole. Quick spoiler, he loses his memory about of a third of the way through the book, and all he can remember is how much he loves Nikki. I think this was a bad choice for Brodi Ashton to make. Having Cole lose his memory turned him into a different person, and it was like a new main character was introduced in the final book! Readers have grown attached to Cole, despite his scheming, and taking him out of the picture was a bad idea. I can see how Ms. Ashton thought it was necessary for Nikki to forgive Cole, but in the end, it was Cole that Nikki still loved, not the version that had lost his memory. It was distracting to the plot of the story, and I didn't enjoy it. The first book is the story when the characters are scrambling around, trying to figure everything out, not the third. This book felt pretty frantic, and didn't provide the closure that should have been there after all the build up.

If you don't want to read a spoiler about how the book ends, stop reading now.

The final scene was far too short. You want my to believe that this hundreds of year old queen is defeated by Nikki in a matter of minutes when all Nikki could conjure up was a straw? Nope, I don't think so. The climax was extremely short compared to how long they spent dithering about the Everneath and the world, trying to figure things out. Like I said, there wasn't the relationship development that I needed to feel like the story came to a good end.

So Cole dies. I'm not sure why, but I always root for the underdog, for the guy you're pretty sure the girl won't choose. But so what? I didn't connect with Jack the way I connected with Cole, and I honestly think that Cole was better for Nikki than Jack was. But I still can't decide if this was a good ending or not. My heart tells me no, but my brain tells my yes. The lack of closure with Cole is what really throws me off I think. He (or at least the version of him with his memory) isn't in most of the story, and when he finally comes back, he saves them all and helps them destroy the Everneath! Cole is a really good person, and I wasn't happy with him dying like that in end. 

Not the ending I was hoping for, to be honest. I don't know if I wanted Nikki to choose Cole, or what should have happened, I just know this wasn't it.

After all the months of waiting, I hate to say I'm disappointed.

Three Stars

Evertrue on Goodreads

Into the Still Blue by Veronica Rossi

Into the Still Blue is the final book in the Under the Never Sky trilogy by Veronica Rossi. It is one of the best written Young Adult series I've ever read, right alongside the Shatter Me series. The plot is so well devised, that everything flows into something else. The actions and events are so natural, the world seems almost more vivid than reality.

This finale was perfect. I can honestly say I've never read a more outstanding summation to a series. The author didn't try to startle the readers with shocking ending, but finished the series the way it should have been finished. With hindsight being 20 20, I couldn't have assembled a more perfect sequence of events.

The book is filled with action, but more seriousness than the other books. Perry is the leader of the Horns now, and Aria is the defacto leader of the Dwellers. There is much more responsibility on their shoulders, yet they don't yield to it. Both rise to the occasion and develop not only as characters, but as people, and as a couple.

The only complaint I'd had with Through the Ever Night, the second book in the trilogy, is there wasn't much time that Perry and Aria spent together. It seemed as if they'd just become a couple and stolen our hearts, when they are whacked hundreds of miles apart from each other. However, the redeeming feature of that installment was the never wavering loyalty they had toward each other. The second book allowed Perry and Aria to develop separately, and then more together as a couple in Into the Still Blue.

I won't mislead you, this is a roller coaster of action and emotion. The book covers a lot in a very short amount of time, but it never feels rushed. There is sacrifice, and I doubt you'll make it through the pages without shedding at least a few tears–I know I didn't!

For me, this was a highly awaited finale, and it was definitely worth the wait. If all YA series came to a close as cleanly, and as well as this one did, I would be much happier with the current YA genre.

To put this into perspective, Divergent is all the rage right now in the YA literature, and cinematic world. I would rank this series above that one in a heartbeat. Not only above it, but miles ahead in terms of plot, characters, and the overall writing.

It is an honor to award this book:

Five Stars

Rosalie

Into the Still Blue on Goodreads

A Lady by Midnight by Tessa Dare

A Lady by Midnight as one of a series that takes place in Spindle Cove, where women live to learn how to better fit into society. Kate Taylor is an orphan with a mysterious past, whom everyone absolutely adores. She's never had a good relationship with Corporal Thorne, but they soon find themselves unable to stay away from each other, even as a new family is trying to claim her as their own.

This was a highly creative story. The plot didn't have any holes that were blazingly obvious, as so many of the 'search for the past' stories do. While Kate fit the rules that were prominent in the society at the time, she also stood out, and became her own person. Corporal Thorne was awkward, and had just enough self loathing to make him endearing, and not so much whiney.

Their love story was frustrating. It seemed as if every time they got close to admitting how much they cared for each other, one of them would pull away and back out. But what never got old was how when the situation required it, they were always there for each other.

There was no real villain to the story, which in itself made things seem more realistic. The world isn't full of people plotting against you. But that doesn't mean there was a lack of action. There are quite a few very exciting scenes, all of which are written very well.

All in all this was a fun and quick read, and bodes well for the rest of the series.

Three Stars

Rosalie

A Lady by Midnight on Goodreads