Book Review: Touched by Cyn Balog

eBook
Release date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Author: Cyn Balog
A big thanks to Net Galley and Delacorte for providing this eARC for review!

Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over . . . and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work. But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something's about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets a girl named Taryn and finds out about the Book of Touch. Now the path that he thought he was on begins to shift . . . and there's no way to stop things from happening. Or is there?  In a life where there are no surprises, nothing has prepared Nick for what he's about to discover--or the choice he will be forced to make. . . .

So that's a pretty cool blurb up there, right? Well let me tell you, it does NOT do this book justice!
I couldn't put it down!

Touched is about this guy named Nick who can see his future. ALL of his futures. Every decision he makes changes what will happen in his life, but he remembers futures that COULD have happened too.
His marriages, his deaths, his children, it's all there in his head.
Crazy, right?!

What a fascinating concept! I LOVED it!

Enter Taryn, who changes Nick's future yet again....but this time it's NOT a future Nick wants.
The two must do everything they can to change what will happen.
It's quite a roller coaster ride for the reader, let me tell you!

I love the characters. Your heart goes out to Nick when you realize what the poor guy has to go through everyday.
And I adore Nan.

But the best part? The ending! Oh em gee, that ending! I can't say a word about it, but it's twisty and shocking and it'll leave you teary.

There's no excessive sex or language or anything too mature in Touched, so I'd be comfortable recommending it to kids 12+, and it's written from a boy's perspective, so it's perfect for boys, too!

True Blood: Authority Always Wins

I can't. I just...can't.

It's killing me, watching this show I used to love and look forward to AGAIN go down the drain.
The first two seasons were amazing. Brilliant. Epic.
Season 3? Meh.
Season 4? Utter shit.
And now season 5? It's looking as bad as season 4, and we're only 2 episodes in.


The ONLY plot I care about is the Authority plot. IF they write it well, it has the potential to be fabulous.

The rest of the shit that's happening?
I don't care. At all.

Rev. Steve--Did we REALLY need to bring him back? There isn't enough drama with Jason, Jessica and Hoyt? Now we have to add a gay vampire American who wants to buy Jason? Really?!

There are NO puppies in True Blood!

Sam-- What the hell was that weird fight/break-up with Luna? Does anyone care about her at all? Anyone? Yeah, neither do I.
And the bit that made me finally throw my hands in the air and give up? THE DAMN PUPPY!
SERIOUSLY?!? What. The. EFF??
Dumbest plot EVER.

Terry-- Again, does ANYONE care about this? I sure as hell don't. Yes, Terry has PTSD. Yes, he has demons. Yes, Arlene is trying to help him work through all that. Can we not just leave it at that?
Now we have to bring in an old war buddy, someone setting fires and trying to kill the members of his squad, and Terry sleep-walking and having flashbacks and pushing Arlene around?
UGH.

Get off the damn counter, Tara.

Alcide-- Okay, this plot I can tolerate. Because it's IN THE BOOKS. PLEASE let this develop the RIGHT way!

Tara-- WHY DIDN'T SHE JUST STAY DEAD?!?
I HATE the character. Always have. Now she's an idiotic vampire with apparently NO self-control?
Oh just...get lost!



Pam-- Okay, the Pam/Eric flashbacks are kinda cool. Lets hope they don't screw those up.

Andy-- Don't care. Can we please just let background/minor characters STAY background characters?

There's too much shit going on and very little of it is good shit.

I'm not at all impressed, and I highly doubt I'll be blogging about this show again. It's just not worth it.
It'll just be post after post like this--full of ranting and venting and bitching.

RIP, True Blood. I'm only watching now for naked Eric, the Authority and Pam's hilarious lines.

It was nice knowing you.

YA Book Review: Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers

ebook
Release date: April 3, 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Series: His Fair Assassin #1
Source: Net Galley Advance Copy

Why be the sheep, when you can be the wolf? Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others. Ismae's most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Sometimes, when you're least expecting it, a book comes along that's so brilliant...so breathtaking...that it reminds you that YA books don't always have to be written as YA books.

Most teens are more than capable of reading at the same level (or higher!) as the older (I prefer the term 'mature')  generation YA book lovers.

Grave Mercy is such a book.

Set in the late-15th century in English-speaking Brittany--which was in North-West France-- Ismae (LOVE her name, by the way!) is born bearing the mark of Mortain--the God of Death--after her mother's attempt to terminate her pregnancy with poison fails.

Because she bears the mark, her childhood is...difficult, until the night she's spirited away to the convent of St. Mortain, where she learns to serve Death himself...by becoming Death's handmaiden. An assassin.

Ismae is a phenomenal character. I connected with her immediately. Although set in a time where women were seen as weak and compliant, Ismae is strong and intelligent and intimidating, when she needs to be.

The setting and background of the era almost become characters themselves, they're written and described so wonderfully. Ms. LaFevers brings them to life so vividly that I almost felt like I was living inside the book. I could see the cities and towns, the castles and gardens and roads and forests.

And the costumes? Absolutely beautiful. I can still close my eyes and see Ismae's simple habit. Anne's glorious dresses. Duval's dark attire. 

And speaking of Anne...Loved her.  And it doesn't hurt that she was a REAL person, Anne, Duchess of Brittney! The history surrounding Anne in the book is based on what's written in OUR history books, which I found VERY cool!

Of course, I can't forget Duval. Ah, Duval. I'm not ashamed to admit I fell completely head over heels for him. Mysterious, yet kind and sweet and gentle. Le sigh.

And there are all manner of minor characters that you'll also come to love, and to hate...and some will even make you cry.

Yes, yes...I sobbed like a baby during one specific, heartbreaking scene--A scene that I didn't expect would be as emotional as it was, which is yet another testament to Ms. LaFevers' wonderful writing.

Have I gushed enough, yet? ;)

Grave Mercy IS book 1 in the series, but it's also a stand-alone novel with a satisfying conclusion. Book 1 follows Ismae...but she's is only ONE of the handmaidens training at the convent. Book 2 follows another assassin, Sybella, who we do meet in this first book....but that's not to say their stories don't intertwine a wee bit. ;)

I highly, HIGHLY recommend this book to teens 15 and up, and to adults. If you like historical fiction, supernatural fiction and assassin nuns, you'll adore Grave Mercy.

It was a true pleasure to read such a brilliantly written YA novel.

I'm DEFINITELY looking forward to book 2, Dark Triumph!