Review & Giveaway | ARROWHEART by Rebecca Sky

About the Book:

Title: ARROWHEART

Author: Rebecca Sky

Pub. Date: June 14, 2018

Publisher: Hodder

Formats: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 384

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, TBD

Kiss the boys and make them cry...

The gods are gone. 

The people have forgotten them. 

But sixteen-year-old Rachel Patel can't forget - the gods control her life, or more specifically, her love life.

Being a Hedoness, one of a strong group of women descended from Greek God Eros, makes true love impossible for Rachel. She wields the power of that magical golden arrow, and with it, the promise to take the will of any boy she kisses. But the last thing Rachel wants is to force someone to love her . . .

When seventeen-year-old Benjamin Blake's disappearance links back to the Hedonesses, Rachel's world collides with his, and her biggest fear becomes a terrifying reality. She's falling for him - a messy, magnetic, arrow-over-feet type of fall.

Rachel distances herself, struggling to resist the growing attraction, but when he gives up his dream to help her evade arrest, distance becomes an insurmountable task. With the police hot on their trail, Rachel soon realizes there are darker forces hunting them - a group of mortals recruited by the gods who will stop at nothing to preserve the power of the Hedonesses - not to mention Eros himself, who is desperate to reverse the curse . . .

Rachel must learn to do what no Hedoness has done before - to resist her gift - or she'll turn the person she's grown to love into a shadow of himself ... for ever.

My review:

What drew me right in this novel from the very first few sentences, was the writing style.

It seemed so friendly and inviting to me, that I couldn't put the book down for hours on end.

But, apart from the fab and refreshing voice of the author, really, the fact that I loved this book is no mystery as it contained so many of the elements I like in a good book.

It was inspired by Greek mythology - and, as a Greek, I deeply adore all the myths, especially the well-known plump little baby angel, Eros, and his arrows!

And, to top it all off? It was a contemporary read, which means that the Greek myths come to our modern world. What could be better than that? Like, seriously!

Anyway, I liked our heroine, Rachel, very much, and I deeply enjoyed experiencing this unique story from her point of view. 

The - forbidden, might I add - romance was swoon-worthy and I just couldn't get enough of Rachel and Benjamin!

But, what deeply captured my attention while reading this novel were the plots and twists - although, that cliffhanger in the end of the book did destroy me a bit!

I seriously need the next book in this fabulous new series, yesterday!

All in all, 4 stars to a fantastic read, I recommend to everyone, especially if they like a good blend of mythology in the modern world and forbidden romance!

About Rebecca:

After graduating high-school, Rebecca Sky set out on a five-year, 24 Country exploration to find herself. She slept in a hammock in the Amazon Jungle, skinny-dipped off the West African Coast, ate balut and climbed the chocolate hills in the Philippines, and fell in love in Cuba (then again in Brazil, and a final time to a Rocker from Canada). Rebecca returned home to the West Coast captivated by the world and ready for another adventure.

So she did what every wanderer does when standing still—began writing. Her work has since garnered over 20 million reads on Wattpad, and she’s had the opportunity to partner with some really great brands. She was featured in The New York Times and The Boston Globe, (check out those articles here). Her debut Arrowheart, book one in THE LOVE CURSE series is published by Hodder Children's Books a division of Hachette Book Group.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Wattpad | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will win an Owlcrate Book Subscription Box.

Rafflecopter link:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/441692971/?

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

7/16/2018- BookHounds YA- Interview

7/16/2018- Writer of Wrongs- Excerpt

7/17/2018- CoffeeCocktailsandBooks Blog- Review

7/17/2018- For the Love of KidLit- Guest Post

7/18/2018- Do You Dog-ear?- Review

7/18/2018- Fall Into Books- Excerpt

7/19/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

7/19/2018- The Cover Contessa- Interview

7/20/2018- Wonder Struck- Review

7/20/2018- The Cozy Reading Corner- Guest Post

Week Two:

7/23/2018- Lauren is Reading- Review

7/23/2018- Rhythmicbooktrovert- Review

7/24/2018- Nerdophiles- Review

7/24/2018- Christen Krumm- Interview

7/25/2018- The Heart of a Book Blogger- Review

7/25/2018- Book-o-Craze- Review

7/26/2018- Snark & Squee- Review

7/26/2018- To Be Read- Review

7/27/2018- Belle’s Book Blog- Review

7/27/2018- Daily Waffle- Excerpt

Week Three:

7/30/2018- Buttons Book Reviews- Review

7/30/2018- The Reading Corner for All- Interview

7/31/2018- Adventures in Literature- Review

7/31/2018- Confessions of a YA Reader- Excerpt

8/1/2018- The Desert Bibliophile- Review

8/1/2018- Book Dragon Lair- Review

8/2/2018- Sincerely Karen Jo- Review

8/2/2018- Don't Judge, Read- Review

8/3/2018- Two points of interest- Review

8/3/2018- Eating Between The Lines- Review

Review | Not If I Save You First by Ally Carter

Title: Not If I Save You First 

Series: No

Author: Ally Carter

Pub. Date: March 27, 2018

Publisher: Orchard Books

Pages: 320

Format: e-book

Find it here:

Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Blurb: 

Dear Logan,
Someday I'm going to write a book: How Not to Die in Alaska - A Girl's Guide to Fashionable Survival.

I bet you don't know that a hair pin can make an excellent fishing hook. You may think you can use just any kind of mud for mud masks, but trust me, you CAN'T! In a pinch, nothing starts a fire like nail polish remover. Alaska is tough. You might know this, if you ever replied to my letters.

After Maddie's Secret Service dad takes a bullet for the president, he takes Maddie somewhere he thinks they'll be safe - far away from the White House and the president's son, Logan.

But when Logan comes to Alaska, so does the danger.

If there's one thing Alaska has taught Maddie, it's how to survive. And now her best friend's life depends on it ...

My review: 

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing a free copy for me to read in exchange for an honest review.

Ally Carter did it again...

This is how I sum up my experience with this book.

I have been an avid Ally Carter loyal follower and admirer ever since I read her Gallagher Girls series (which I still need to finish, but anyway), and never up 'till now has she ever failed to capture my attention and make me lover her books.

This is the case with this book, as well. I was quickly sucked into its uniqueness (because I have never before read such a capturing and adventurous novel, set in ALASKA nonetheless), and found myself enjoying every minute of it.

I loved so many things in this book. Maddie and Logan, and the weird and sudden turn of events that changed their lives forever all those years ago, the fact that this book was set in Alaska, the bad guys, the fact that our heroes were so clever and Maddie actually kicked some serious butt.
And, then I was so anxious over everything, and how they would survive and return home sound and safe, whether they would manage to salve their relationship.

So good, so good. Made me remember why I can't go without an Ally Carter novel for long. Like, seriously, it's become an addiction.

All in all, 4 stars for an amazing survival story that 

kept me rooted to my spot throughout the whole adventure. 

Oh, in Alaska, too!

Review | Everless (Untitled series #1) by Sara Holland

Title: Everless

Series: Untitled series #1

Author: Sara Holland

Pub. Date: January 4, 2018

Publisher: Hachette Children's Group

Pages: 368

Format: Digital arc by NetGalley

Find it here:

Amazon | Book Depository

Goodreads Blurb:

Time is a prison. She is the key. Packed with danger, temptation and desire - a perfect read for fans of The Red Queen.

In the land of Sempera, the rich control everything - even time. Ever since the age of alchemy and sorcery, hours, days and years have been extracted from blood and bound to iron coins. The rich live for centuries; the poor bleed themselves dry.

Jules and her father are behind on their rent and low on hours. To stop him from draining himself to clear their debts, Jules takes a job at Everless, the grand estate of the cruel Gerling family.

There, Jules encounters danger and temptation in the guise of the Gerling heir, Roan, who is soon to be married. But the web of secrets at Everless stretches beyond her desire, and the truths Jules must uncover will change her life for ever ... and possibly the future of time itself.

'Sara Holland is a fierce storyteller. An intoxicating blend of blood, secrets, and haunting mythology, Everless gives new and terrifying meaning to the phrase running out of time.' Stephanie Garber, New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of Caraval

My Review:

What an amazing, captivating and completely breathtaking ride this story was!

This book became straightaway my new favorite novel, and for so many good reasons.

✰ The back story and universe? Clever, original, so so close to the truth, with the few powerful abusing that power in the expense of the more, but with a vital twist. They are not just taking their money. They actually steal their years of life through their blood. This is literally the currency of this world, and despite how frightening it sounds to live in such a world, I loved every bit of it!

✰ The heroine? Brave, intelligent, ready to sacrifice herself for her loved ones, even if that means she will get in trouble. Or, worse... One of my favorite protagonists of all time, hands down.

✰ The characters revolving around her? Her father paying the rent (which translates to "giving his blood and his remaining life") behind Jules's back to protect her and not let her give away her years.

Her strong friend, who I suspect has a lot more to give to the story, and I really missed not seeing her for the better part of the book.

Her childhood friends, who inspired strong feelings in me, because I knew something was not right immediately. But, I was very, very, very surprised when I actually found out what was wrong, and I have to admit, I wasn't completely right...

✰ The writing style? Fantastic, smooth and really making me wonder how this could be the author's first novel? We really need more books by you, Ms Holland.

✰ And, my fifth star goes towards all the things I really want to talk about in this book, but I can't, as they will be extreme spoilers. Such as the incredible revelations you would never imagine, the exceptional villain, and all the amazing twists and turns of the story.

All in all, five stars to a book I will definitely read again

(how could I not go back and re-interpret all the shady people's behaviours?),

the amazing start to an extremely promising and captivating new series.

And, - I really can't contain myself, so - five stars to Jules.

Review | The Cruel Prince (The Folk of the Air #1) by Holly Black

Title: The Cruel Prince

Series: The Folk of the Air #1

Author: Holly Black

Pub. Date: January 2, 2018

Publisher: Hot Key Books

Pages: 384

Format: Digital arc by NetGalley

Find it here:

Amazon, Book Depository


Goodreads blurb:

Of course I want to be like them. They’re beautiful as blades forged in some divine fire. They will live forever.

And Cardan is even more beautiful than the rest. I hate him more than all the others. I hate him so much that sometimes when I look at him, I can hardly breathe.

Jude was seven years old when her parents were murdered and she and her two sisters were stolen away to live in the treacherous High Court of Faerie. Ten years later, Jude wants nothing more than to belong there, despite her mortality. But many of the fey despise humans. Especially Prince Cardan, the youngest and wickedest son of the High King.

To win a place at the Court, she must defy him–and face the consequences.

In doing so, she becomes embroiled in palace intrigues and deceptions, discovering her own capacity for bloodshed. But as civil war threatens to drown the Courts of Faerie in violence, Jude will need to risk her life in a dangerous alliance to save her sisters, and Faerie itself.


My Review:

An interesting read, full of action, a brave (maybe even too brave for her own good) protagonist and even YA politics.

I want to be honest in saying that I didn't get hooked by this book from the beginning. It actually started to make me unable to put it down around 2/3 of the way, which I thought to be considerably late.
That's when all the plot twists and scheming escalated, and when the real action began.
That's when I started appreciating the heroine, too.

That is the reason why I am giving this book 3 stars.

It was a good read, but its pace during the first half of the book was too quick, with too many back stories interrupting the narrative's flow, and scenes taking place so quickly sometimes, that it was hard for me to really connect with the heroine.
A heroine who I found a little reckless, more than brave, most of the time during this period.

I understand that the story had to be built, and the author wanted to get that quickly out of the way so that the action started, but it could have happened a lot more smoothly, in my opinion.

Maybe I am just not used to this writing style.
Nonetheless, I will probably read the sequel, because I would like to keep up with the story's progression.