I had such a bad book slump last year because I was so dissappointed with so many books that I've read. Most of it are YA fantasy and after awhile it gets tedious to read books with similar plotline, sketchy world building, love triangle, instant love and such bland female characters. Many of my favourite YA series have ended so it might be that I'm still getting over that. So here are my thoughts on some of the disappointments of last year.
The Dolls (The Dolls #1) by Kiki Sullivan
ebook, 384 pages
Published September 2nd 2014
by Balzer + Bray
ARC from Netgalley
Goodreads |
The Dolls (The Dolls #1) by Kiki Sullivan
ebook, 384 pages
Published September 2nd 2014
by Balzer + Bray
ARC from Netgalley
Goodreads |
Eveny Cheval just moved back to Louisiana after spending her childhood in New York with her aunt Bea. Eveny hasn’t seen her hometown since her mother’s suicide fourteen years ago, and her memories couldn’t have prepared her for what she encounters. Because pristine, perfectly manicured Carrefour has a dark side full of intrigue, betrayal, and lies—and Eveny quickly finds herself at the center of it all. Enter Peregrine Marceau, Chloe St. Pierre, and their group of rich, sexy friends known as the Dolls. From sipping champagne at lunch to hooking up with the hottest boys, Peregrine and Chloe have everything—including an explanation for what’s going on in Carrefour. And Eveny doesn’t trust them one bit. But after murder strikes and Eveny discovers that everything she believes about herself, her family, and her life is a lie, she must turn to the Dolls for answers. Something’s wrong in paradise, and it’s up to Eveny, Chloe, and Peregrine to save Carrefour and make it right.
If you love to read about vain, snobbish and pretty rich high schoolers with magical powers then this is certainly for you. Otherwise just stay away from this Southern fantasy.I don't get the appeal of reading about some mean girls with voodoo powers. And the love triangle just made me cringe, Beautiful Creatures is still my favourite Southern YA to this day. Oh..how I miss Ethan and Lena.
by Amber Lough
Published July 22nd 2014
by Random House Children's
ARC from Netgalley
Goodreads |
A jinni. A princess. And the wish that changes everything. . . .
Najwa is a jinni, training to be a spy in the war against the humans. Zayele is a human on her way to marry a prince of Baghdad—which she’ll do anything to avoid. So she captures Najwa and makes a wish. With a rush of smoke and fire, they fall apart and re-form—as each other. A jinni and a human, trading lives. Both girls must play their parts among enemies who would kill them if the deception were ever discovered—enemies including the young men Najwa and Zayele are just discovering they might love.
Najwa is a jinni, training to be a spy in the war against the humans. Zayele is a human on her way to marry a prince of Baghdad—which she’ll do anything to avoid. So she captures Najwa and makes a wish. With a rush of smoke and fire, they fall apart and re-form—as each other. A jinni and a human, trading lives. Both girls must play their parts among enemies who would kill them if the deception were ever discovered—enemies including the young men Najwa and Zayele are just discovering they might love.
I'm always intrigued when a YA fantasy is set in some exotic-non white/Western setting because hey..I'm all for diversity. And the fact that the book is about jinnis made me all excited. I mean.. come on..we need more jinni stories. Enough of those vampires, werewolves and fairies stuff. Jinni rocks! But after reading this and putting this review on hold for such a long time, I think I need to be honest and say that this is so disappointing. I tried very hard to like it and ended up so annoyed that a wonderful idea and setting is wasted on such boring characters, predictable plots and cheesy instant loves. (Sigh).
by Cayla Kluver
Hardcover, 512 pages
Published January 28th 2014
by Harlequin Teen
Goodreads |
Magic was seeping out of me, black and agonizing. I could see it drifting away. The magic that would let me pass the Road to reach home again.
When sixteen-year-old Anya learns that her aunt, Queen of the Faerie Kingdom of Chrior, will soon die, her grief is equalled only by her despair for the future of the kingdom. Her young cousin, Illumina, is unfit to rule, and Anya is determined not to take up the queen's mantle herself.
Convinced that the only solution is to find Prince Zabriel, who long ago disappeared into the human realm of Warckum, and persuade him to take up his rightful crown, Anya journeys into the Warckum Territory to bring him home. But her journey is doomed to be more harrowing than she ever could have imagined. She’s searching for answers to her past. They’re hunting her to save their future.
I believe I had enough of fairies stories to last me a lifetime after reading this book. It was unbelievably boring even from the very beginning. Why would you want to rescue a spoilt faire prince who doesn't even want to rule in the first place is beyond me. Anya could have just taken the easier route by taking over the kingdom instead of getting hopelessly lost and powerless in the Warckum Territory.
