The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland

The Summer My Life Began by Shannon Greenland
Release Date: May 10, 2012
Publisher: Speak
Source: NetGalley
Rating: Bland

Elizabeth Margaret—better known as Em—has always known what life would contain: an internship at her father’s firm, a degree from Harvard and a career as a lawyer. The only problem is that it’s not what she wants. When she gets the opportunity to get away from it all and spend a month with the aunt she never knew, she jumps at the chance. While there, Em pursues her secret dream of being a chef, and she also learns that her family has kept some significant secrets from her, too. And then there’s Cade, the laid-back local surfer boy who seems to be everything Em isn't. Naturally, she can’t resist him, and as their romance blossoms, Em feels she is living on her own terms for the first time. - Goodreads

I really liked the sound of The Summer My Life Began when I looked up the premise on Goodreads. I'm really into contemporary novels right now, and I love summer books so I was really looking forward to reading it and I was so, so happy when I saw it was available on NetGalley. Unfortunately, the poor writing style and the wooden characters meant that the book didn't live up to my expectations.

My main issue with this book is the writing style. There is a lot of telling instead of showing and lots of "I did this, and then twenty minutes later I did that." I couldn't get into the book and I found myself becoming very bored very quickly.

The characters weren't appealing either. Elizabeth Margaret (or Em) didn't have much of a personality. I knew she liked cooking, but that's about it. The secondary characters are all pretty plain, especially the love interest who is meant to be a broken, tortured soul. There's also a contrived love triangle in the beginning, and this annoyed me. Why does every book nowadays have a love triangle?

The author does throw a twist in, and it could have been good if I hadn't been able to tell what it was from the first chapter. It wasn't surprising for me, and so it didn't draw me in like it could have.

I can't recommend this book to people, because it was just so boring. I have read a lot of mixed things about it, so definitely check out some other reviews before deciding. You might like it! I just couldn't get past the wooden writing, dialogue and characters.

Follow Friday: Do You Read Multiple Books At Once?

hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Today's featured bloggers are Jenni over at Alluring Reads and Justin over at Justin's Book Blog.

Q: Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two books or more?

I tend to only read one book at a time. I used to read lots of books at once, but since I started reviewing books on this blog I have stopped doing that. I do put down books and leave them for a later date, though, when I can't get into them.

Wishing you all a great weekend!

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
Incarnation #1
Release Date: April 26, 2012
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Source: For Review
Rating: Enjoyable

After spending six hundred years on Earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world's riches but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to take the bodies of other humans from jumping from one vessel to the next, ending the human's life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she's done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body while trying to save her. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she's inhabiting--and falling in love with the boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she's his again, and every moment she stays, she's putting herself and the people she's grown to care about in danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that's eluded her for centuries: true love?- Goodreads

The Alchemy of Forever is a very short book at just over 250 pages. At first I was wary, because I often find that authors don't flesh out the characters or the plot in shorter novels and they're trying to keep it compact, and then I end up disliking the book. This wasn't exactly the case with The Alchemy of Forever though. I did enjoy it, just not as much as I was hoping to.

Seraphina is the main protagonist and she is over 600 years old. Over these 600 years, she has been stuck with the same guy - Cyrus - who made her what she is. Sera is a really nice protagonist, who feels it is now her time to die. Instead, she is transferred into the body of a dying girl and she ends up living with this girl's family and friends, living her life.

I have to admit, we don't know much about Seraphina. Does she have any hobbies or interests? The lack of hobbies may be explained by her backstory, as she grew up in the 1400's and her main interest was finding a husband, and then her life revolved around Cyrus after that. I don't know, though, I just thought we'd learn more about her than we did.

Nevertheless, I really enjoyed reading about Sera and how selfless she could be. She really did want to just leave this world instead of killing people so she could take over their bodies. I loved reading about her as she settled into her new life, however brief that may have been. I have to say, though, that for a 600 year old she really did make some stupid decisions. She claims that she knew Cyrus as well as he knew her and yet... Well, that would be a spoiler. Let's just say she doesn't know him as well as she thought, or she is just ridiculously naive.

Cyrus is one scary guy! He was probably my favourite part of the novel. He's an excellent antagonist and whenever he was on the page I was holding my breath, waiting for him to make his move.

Noah is the love interest, but he didn't really do much. I liked him well enough, but he wasn't the most interesting character. At all. He seemed really sensitive and plain, and that's just not my thing.

The Alchemy of Forever is very gripping and fast paced. I read it in just five hours, before I went to bed, and I am so glad I stayed awake to finish it! Avery Williams has a fabulous writing style which makes what could have been an average book ten times better!

Waiting on Wednesday: Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Series: Velveteen #1

Release Date: October 9, 2012

Publisher: Random House Children's Books

Goodreads

Velveteen Monroe is dead. At 16, she was kidnapped and murdered by a madman named Bonesaw. But that's not the problem.

The problem is she landed in purgatory. And while it's not a fiery inferno, it's certainly no heaven. It's gray, ashen, and crumbling more and more by the day, and everyone has a job to do. Which doesn't leave Velveteen much time to do anything about what's really on her mind.

Bonesaw.

Velveteen aches to deliver the bloody punishment her killer deserves. And she's figured out just how to do it. She'll haunt him for the rest of his days.
It'll be brutal . . . and awesome.

But crossing the divide between the living and the dead has devastating consequences. Velveteen's obsessive haunting cracks the foundations of purgatory and jeopardizes her very soul. A risk she's willing to take—except fate has just given her reason to stick around: an unreasonably hot and completely off-limits coworker.

Velveteen can't help herself when it comes to breaking rules . . . or getting revenge. And she just might be angry enough to take everyone down with her.

I've been subscribed to Danny on Youtube for a long, long time now and I have been looking forward to reading this ever since I first heard him talk about it. This is his YA debut, so it'll count towards the DAC and it sounds AWESOME. Does anyone else think so? I'm really excited for this, and I'm so glad that the cover was finally revealed so I can feature it here!

The Avalon Chronicles: Once in a Blue Moon

Once in a Blue Moon by Nanzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir
Avalon Chronicles Volume 1
Release Date: March 21, 2012
Publisher: Oni Press
Source: NetGalley
Rating: Essential

When Aeslin Finn was a little girl, her parents read to her from a magical book called The Avalon Chronicles. But that was a long time ago. Now a teenager, Aeslin is about to discover just how magical she and that book really are. Transported to the world of Avalon, she discovers a kingdom in need of a Dragon Knight - and the last dragon, Blue Moon, is waiting for her.- Goodreads

I went into this not knowing much about the background of the story, and I'm pleased to say that I totally didn't need to know anything before reading this.

I haven't read many graphic novels, but this one is definitely one I'll come back to again and again. This is only the first volume, and I'm really looking forward to the next book.

The story itself is action packed from the start, and the drawings make it easy to depict what is happening. The illustrations are beautiful, and added a lot to the story itself. I'm kind of disappointed that I didn't get to read this in full colour, as I received it as an ARC, because I think it would have made the experience even better.

The world building is FANTASTIC, the illustrator and writers include the rich history of the world that Aeslin gets transported to really well and efficiently, and I was sucked in from the beginning.

I would definitely recommend picking this one up if you enjoy reading graphic novels or comics. I was really impressed with everything about it, and would recommend it to everyone. I'm dying to read the next book in the series, because I need to see more of this world!

New Releases (6)

March 27

April 1

In My Mailbox - (50)

Bought: 

I hate myself for snapping and breaking my book ban... but these books do sound good!

Fracture by Megan Miranda

Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

Die For Me by Amy Plum

The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson

Won: 

The Last Echo by Kimberly Derting (from Miss Page Turner's City of Books, thank you!)

Secrets by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

Secrets by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
The Ivy #2
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Rating: Essential

Callie Andrews triumphed during her first semester at Harvard: she made incomparable friends, found the perfect boyfriend, and received invitations to the most exclusive secret societies. But she may have ruined every-thing with one ill-fated night. Now she's keeping secrets from everyone, including Clint, the upperclassman who's too good to be true; Vanessa, the best friend turned backstabber; Gregory, the guy who's a total(ly hot) mistake, and Lexi, the social queen who wants to bring Callie down.

But Callie didn't get into Harvard by giving up, and she isn't about to now. Besides, she's not the only one with something to hide. . . .- Goodreads

This review will likely contain spoilers from the first book in the trilogy, so if you haven't read it then please stop reading now. Unless, of course, you don't mind spoilers. You can read my review of the first book, The Ivy, here.

Overall, I'm really pleased with this sequel! There was none of the typical sequel slump that so many second books go through. Everything kept progressing at an equal pace with the first book.

Secrets is the theme of this book, and it shows just how dangerous and destructive secrets can be. I'm also really pleased with Callie's 'revenge'. I won't say any more, because I don't want to spoil you guys. But Callie is AWESOME in this book. She's really maturing and becoming an even more lovable character.

The characters definitely run the show in this book. There are so many awesome characters, who are either awesome because they're evil, because they're hot or just because they are made of awesome.

Alexis is an even bigger cow in this book, and I'm so surprised that Callie put up with all her crap.

Vanessa is even more annoying. She's set on being a bitch to Callie, even though Callie tries to sort things out betwween them. I also think Vanessa is a hypocrite who thinks she can do things to Callie but Callie is not allowed to retaliate in any way.

GREGORY! *HEARTS AND FLOWERS* Say no more.

The side characters are hilarious as well, especially Mimi and OK, who are amazing.

I'm not pleased with how Clint and Callie's relationship turned out. Again, I shan't spoil you, but bah.

The ending is a HUGE cliffhanger - for me, at least - and I'm DYING to find out how it all turns out in the next book which was released this month!

New Releases (5)

March 20

March 23

Lucky Leprechaun Giveaway Hop! CLOSED

hosted By I Am A Reader, Not A Writer, Books Complete Me & Author Cindy Thomas

Here's another giveaway hop for y'all! 

YA Book of your choice from Book Depository
(Up to £10 or ~$15)

Rules and Terms: 

CLOSED

Follow Friday!

hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Today's featured blogger the lovely Liza over at Reading with ABC! Be sure to go and follow her, she's a wonderful person and blogger!

Q: What is the best book you’ve read in the last month? What is the worst book you’ve read in the last month?

The best book I have read in the past month is technically Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, but I don't want to count rereads! So the one book I absolutely loved recently was The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin.

The worst book I have read recently is All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin. My review for that is here, if you want to see exactly what I thought of it. I started off enjoying it, but that changed pretty quickly. 

Happy Friday! I'll be hopping around for most of today, so feel free to leave your links below! I hope you all have a fantastic weekend.

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur

The Ivy by Lauren Kunze and Rina Onur
The Ivy #1
Release Date: August 31, 2010
Publisher: Greenwillow Books
Rating: Essential

Callie Andrews may not have money or connections or the right clothes, and she may have way too many complications in her love life, what with Gregory, the guy she loves to hate; Evan, the guy she'd love to forget; Clint, the guy she'd love to love and Matt, the guy she really should love, all vying for her attention.

But she has three fantastic roommates (best friends or her worst nightmare?) and a wholesome California-girl reputation (oops) and brains and beauty and big, big dreams.

Will it be enough to help her survive freshman year at Harvard? - Goodreads

Let me start out by saying that the characters in this book are a bit older than what is the norm in YA. Callie is a freshman at Harvard, so she's just that little bit older, but the story definitely still fits the typical age range for YA.

The Ivy is an excellent contemporary book, with so much drama! I love books like this, and this really reminded me of that TV show, Greek, just without the sororities.

Callie is a great MC. She's flawed in ways that are to be expected with a teenager who's just moving into adulthood, and she has a lot to learn about friendships.

Her roommates provided a lot of humour, which I adored. I was laughing out loud throughout most of the book because these characters are hilarious and crazy! I loved them all apart from Vanessa.

Vanessa was a complete cow. She had the audacity to call Callie a bad friend, when in reality she was just as awful, if not worse. There was a scene at the beginning when Callie embarrassed herself in front of the entire cafeteria, and Vanessa pretended not to know her. Yeah, great friend.

This book does contain a love triangle, and while I normally abhor those, I actually really enjoyed this one! Gold star for the authors for doing it right!

Gregory! *hearts* I'm in love. Callie was so oblivious, but he obviously likes her. Open your eyes, woman! I love Gregory so much, he's a wonderful character.

Clint is the other side of the love triangle, and while I liked him - mostly - I felt he was too mature of Callie and they didn't have much chemistry. I think it's pretty obvious as to which side of this triangle I prefer!

Matt was another character I loved. He's such a nerd.

Overall I LOVED this book and I think it's definitely underrated. More people need to read The Ivy, because I think it's one of the best contemporaries I've read. And it is set in college which means no parents. Which means craziness ensues.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Birthright #1
Release Date: April 6, 2012
Publisher: MacMillan
Source: For Review
Rating: No rating

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family. - Goodreads

This is another review of a book that I'm not sure how to rate. I enjoyed some of it, but I was also quite disgusted by some characters and the plot kind of veered off course halfway through.

All These Things I've Done is written from Anya's point of view. Anya is the daughter of a deceased mod boss and she has to looks after her siblings and dying grandmother.

I really liked the idea of a world in which chocolate and caffeine had been banned. Who in the world would ban chocolate? Anya's family run an illegal chocolate business, although Anya doesn't want anything to do with them now that her father is dead.

The plot was excellent at the beginning, and kept me hooked, but after the romance started up the entire plot shrivelled away. I was really looking forward to reading about Anya's mafia family, but we didn't get to see much of them. The book became all about Anya and her love interest, and there was no depth there, either. I was looking for something akin to Holly Black's White Cat, which balanced a crime plot with character development wonderfully. But this was as if the two plots couldn't wind together. One had to be abandoned for the other to go ahead.

I also couldn't really relate to Anya. She was a Catholic - which alone I was fine with, of course - yet she wasn't a very 'good' one. She also only turned to religion because of her deceased Catholic mother, which I thought was a bit silly but whatever. Also, she couldn't make up her mind about how she felt about sex. Before she met Win, she didn't believe in sex before marriage, and after she met him she almost jumped on him right there and then. Sigh.

Win, the love interest, was also kind of bland. He didn't have much of a personality and I couldn't relate to him at all. If anything, he was far too sensitive. He acted like an overly hormonal girl at some points when he whined and got his feelings hurt over nothing. Man up.

Like I said at the beginning, I was quite disgusted by some of the characters in this book. Anya's ex-boyfriend tried to force himself on her not once, but twice. She did end things with him after the first time, but after the second time she didn't really do anything. Even worse, HER BEST FRIEND STARTED DATING HIM!! What kind of a friend starts dating a guy who almost date raped their best friend? And what kind of friend (Anya) lets her do that?! And what kind of a boyfriend/love interest takes sympathy on this almost-rapist?! This left such a bitter taste in my mouth and I'm sorry that this was a bit spoilery. I just think it needed to be said.

At random times, Anya started addressing the reader. It was really out of place, and it took me out of the story every time this happened. I would have preferred it if this hadn't happened at all, or at least happened consistantly.

So, yes. That's my choppy review. I was really disappointed in this book, but I did enjoy the beginning. Maybe I need to come up with a new rating "DISGUSTED" because that's honestly what I mostly am at this point.

New Releases (4)

Look! Olga made me a banner! *Happy dance* Isn't it pretty? I've already thanked her, but THANK YOU! <3

There are loads of books coming out this week, so I'll jump right in. As always, I've included the Amazon link. If you buy after clicking from my link, I'll get a tiny percentage of the money. Thank you in advance if you do! My earnings go towards giveaways, so I'm not just trying to get money from you! 

March 13

March 15

Bookshelf Tour March '12

If you're anything like me then you love looking at other people's bookshelves. I recorded a bookshelf tour video for my Youtube channel, so I thought I'd share it with all of you wonderful people. I have a second part coming up that shows my TBR pile as well! I hope you enjoy it. I've reviewed most of these on my blog, but if you spot any that I have yet to review then feel free to tell me to get my butt into gear!

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver
Delirium #2
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Rating: Essential

I’m pushing aside the memory of my nightmare,
pushing aside thoughts of Alex,
pushing aside thoughts of Hana and my old school,
push,
push,
push,
like Raven taught me to do.
The old life is dead.
But the old Lena is dead too.
I buried her.
I left her beyond a fence,
behind a wall of smoke and flame. - Goodreads

Has everyone bought their copy? I hope so!

Pandemonium was, quite simply, BRILLIANT. I have been waiting for this book for an entire year and I have been dying to read it. I definitely wasn't disappointed, despite having expectations that were pretty much through the roof.

Lauren Oliver has written Pandemonium in a slightly different style to Delirium. The chapters alternate between "Then" and "Now", with the "Now" chapters taking place in a city and the "Then" chapters starting when Lena was running around in the wilderness after escaping her city in the previous novel.

I really liked the new style this book had going on. I don't think I've read a book that was set out quite like this, and I found that it enhanced the story by having non-stop action right from the beginning. I think the book would have been good if it had been written the usual way - from start to finish - but the alternating chapters gave us two different views on Lena and the other characters, as well as making sure there were no boring points in the novel, and it made Pandemonium FANTASTIC. Something was always happening, and my heart was almost jumping out of my chest through most of it.

Lena did annoy me, though. She thought about Alex a lot, which was understandable seeing as she lost him, but she also compared Julian to Alex CONSTANTLY and it got on my nerves. I wish she could have been able to see him for who he is instead of a comparison to Alex.

She also kept talking about love being a disease, and I was disappointed because after everything she had been through in Delirium - and everything she goes through in this novel - I would have thought the government's brainwashing would have worn off. I guess not, though. I hope to see some improvement with her views in the final book. Other than that, Lena was a strong character and watching her grow between "Then" and "Now" was beautiful to watch.

Julian is the new love interest, and I thought he was adorable. I won't say too much about who he is or what his role is in this novel, but I loved him.

The cliffhanger got to me. WHAT WAS THAT?!?!?!?! Now I have to wait ANOTHER year for the third - and final - book in the trilogy. I'm dying to know what happens. I did see the ending coming, not because I read spoilers but because it was just something I was expecting to happen. However, there are several suprises in this novel that I wasn't expecting, and I was thoroughly impressed at how well Lauren Oliver hid these things from me.

As for if I enjoyed it more or less than Delirium, I really don't know. I think I like them both the same, some things I preferred in Delirium and other things I enjoyed more in Pandemonium. It's the same series, and I don't think it's necessary for me to compare the two. I loved them both so, so much! (I also love Before I Fall, Lauren's first novel, but that's besides the point. /book pushing).

Please go out and buy this book if you haven't already. I promise you will not regret it!

Waiting on Wednesday: Breathe by Sarah Crossan

Series: Breathe #1

Release Date: October 2, 2012

Publisher: Greenwillow (US), Bloomsbury (UK)

Goodreads

The world is dead. The survivors live under the protection of Breathe, the corporation that found a way to manufacture oxygen-rich air.

ALINA has been stealing for a long time. She’s a little jittery, but not terrified. All she knows is that she’s never been caught before. If she’s careful, it’ll be easy. If she’s careful.

QUINN should be worried about Alina and a bit afraid for himself, too, but even though this is dangerous, it’s also the most interesting thing to happen to him in ages. It isn’t every day that the girl of your dreams asks you to rescue her. 

BEA wants to tell him that none of this is fair; they’d planned a trip together, the two of them, and she’d hoped he’d discover her out here, not another girl. 

And as they walk into the Outlands with two days’ worth of oxygen in their tanks, everything they believe will be shattered. Will they be able to make it back? Will they want to?

Thanks to Daph for bringing this to my attention! I know this isn't out for AGES but I am dying to read it, especially after hearing how much Daph liked it! It sounds as though this dystopian has some great world building going on, so I can't wait for its release.

Forgiven by Jana Oliver

Forgiven by Jana Oliver
The Demon Trappers #3
Release Date: March 1, 2012 (UK)
Publisher: MacMillan Children's Books
Source: For Review
Rating: Bland

Riley has made a bargain with Heaven, and now they've come to collect.

Lucifer's finest are ruling the streets and it seems that Armageddon might be even closer than Riley imagined. But with her soul and her heart in play it's all she can do to keep herself alive, let alone save the world. Riley's not afraid of kicking some major demon butt, but when it comes to a battle between Heaven and Hell, she might need a little help... - Goodreads

Forgiven begins where the previous book left us, with people hunting for Riley, and Riley's dad being reanimated. I liked the first book well enough to read the second, and I found that the second book was brilliant! I really enjoyed it, and was really looking forward to reading this book because I was so interested in finding out what happened next. Unfortunately, Forgiven didn't meet my expectations after such a good second book.

The plot was kind of boring in this book, there was a lot of getting from Point A to Point B without there being much substance. The romance aspect takes over the action and plotting, and it really irked me. I know Beck and Riley care for each other - even if they're both too frustratingly stubborn to say anything - but I wanted more fighting and more demons rather than scenes of the two of them bickering constantly over nothing.

Riley and Beck also really annoyed me in this book. I wasn't a huge fan of Beck in the first book, but in the second he started to grow on me. I was hoping to like him even more in this one now that he had come to terms with his feelings - even slightly - but that just wasn't the case.

The pair of them whined about each other SO MUCH; it was beyond frustrated. Every page there were at least a couple of mentions of Beck (when reading from Riley's point of view) and what she thought he would think of her. Excuse me? Why do you care so much what he thinks of you? If he judges you then that's his problem. Come on, you're meant to be a fierce protagonist!

It was the same case with Beck and his point of view, except he annoyed me even more. He was so angry all of the time! I couldn't handle the complaining from him or Riley, so in the end I had to skim those bits. There was too much complaining and no character growth, and after reading about the same stuff throughout three novels now, it got old fast.

I did enjoy reading about Riley's father's reanimated. He was sweet, I guess.

This book leaves you on a little bit of a cliffhanger, which I think those of you who like the romance and relationship between the two of them will enjoy, but it didn't leave me intrigued. I couldn't wait to put this book down, I'm sorry to say, and I am not interested in continuing with the series any more.

New Releases (3)

I really need to get a picture for this feature... Is anyone skilled in that department? Because I'm definitely not. Just look at the picture below if you don't believe me. This week I've linked the books to Amazon UK and I've linked to either the hard copy or the Kindle edition on Amazon, depending on which is cheaper. I hope that helps!

March 6 - March 12

March 6:

March 8: 

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton

Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton
Angelfire #2
Release Date: January 31, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Rating: Enjoyable

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay. - Goodreads

Was anyone else really looking forward to this book after reading Angelfire? I definitely was. I LOVED the first book in this trilogy and have been waiting for a whole year for WotW to come out. Unfortunately, I didn't end up enjoying it as much as I had hoped.

The story picks up just after Angelfire ends - I think a couple of weeks have passed - and it throws us straight into a fight scene. These action scenes were some of my favourite parts of the book (when I wasn't getting frustrated with Ellie, but I'll talk about that later) and I they were really well written for the most part.

The book was fast paced to begin with and kept this up until it suddenly slumped in the middle. I feel as though the plot could have been tightened a bit more to make the book flow better. The beginning of the end (XD) was full of action, but then it died down until the very end. It ended on a cliffhanger, and while I have a pretty good idea of how this is going to turn out, it's enough to keep me reading despite the problems I had with this book.

I think that this book focused too much on the romance. The book is over 500 pages long, and I feel it could have been condensed if there was more focus on the actual story and the characters rather than having Ellie whine about Will.

I have to say, though, that the scenes between Ellie and Will were VERY steamy! Courtney Allison Moulton has SKILLS.

Now I'm going to rant about Ellie. Be warned.

She was SO bloody ANNOYING. First of all, she whined about everything. I understand that she may be having a tough time balancing her normal life with her angel stuff but really, this was ridiculous. She bitched about Will when he saved her from getting raped at a party. Ugh.

Secondly, Ellie is meant to be this badass angel warrior, yet it was the others (Will and the others) that ended up protecting her in almost every single fight scene.  Ellie just stood there like a plank of wood, watching while people died for her. I can't deal with this. Fair enough if she TRIED to help, but instead she just observed, as if she was too worried about breaking a damn nail. She was so useless, why didn't she fight?!?!

And last but not least, she's a hypocrite. She got upset about Will keeping secrets from her, and yet she decides to keep MAJOR secrets from Will. Even worse, she has told these secrets to practically everyone BUT Will. Talk about not being able to keep your mouth shut.

As for Will, I LOVED HIM. He is so adorable <3 He doesn't deserve to be stuck loving someone like Ellie for centuries. I hope he can move on, but I doubt that will happen.

Cadan was a character we met in Angelfire, and I was really looking forward to seeing more of him in this book. I loved him in Angelfire and he had great potential to become one of those snarky yet lovable antagonist/slash/love interests that I love. But nope, that was all ruined. I hate what Moulton did with his character, and I am really upset because of the potential I feel was lost. This is a slight spoiler, so move on to the next paragraph if you want to remain completely spoiler free. Apparently Cadan has fallen in love with Ellie ALREADY. They've only seen each other, at most, six times since the incident on the boat, and these scenes were terribly short. And yet he's going around telling her he's in love with her and will do anything for her. Why does his character have to be ruined by insta-love? This may be down to Ellie's abilities - or something, I didn't really pay attention because she said something about everyone being made to love her OF COURSE - but nonetheless, it completely ruined his character for me.

Overall I enjoyed Wings of the Wicked for Will and the fast paced plot, but Ellie has become one of the most useless protagonists I have ever read about. And Cadan was a huge disappointment. I'll be reading the next book for Will and Will alone.