Review: Beautiful Broken Girls

Beautiful Broken Girls by Kim Savage
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Mira and Francesca had lived very protected lives. They still rode bikes because they could not ride in a car with most people. Ben, though, had touched Mira; he had touched her on seven parts of her body. The girls are dead, drowned in the quarry, and Ben has received a letter from Mira to go to each place where he had touched her and retrieve a note she has left. As he finds each note, Ben uncovers a little more about what was happening in Mira and Francesca’s life. Was it suicide or was it an accident? What other secrets about his small town will Ben discover?

Beautiful Broken Girls is a stand-alone story that is borderline with many genres. Savage has interspersed the girl’s story with Ben’s by spiraling timelines and narrators. There is a mystery to be solved, a myriad of relationships to uncover and a series of letters to be found. Readers who enjoyed unraveling the truth with Thirteen Reasons Why may see a similarity between the stories, yet the differences allow this to be its own unique read. Beautiful Broken Girls is a good escape for those needing a break from series fiction.


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Review: The Queen

The Queen by C.J. Abedi
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Caroline is continuing to come to terms with the fact that she is the Queen of the Light Fae and that her relationship with Devilyn is wrong on many levels. They both feel the pull to be together, but neither wishes to put their own feelings above the safety of their people. When the Dark King and Puck create a new plan that defies long established rules, Caroline must learn from her hidden past and cultivate the Fae powers that have been dormant within her. Will Caroline and Devilyn be able to resist the pull between them? Does she have the fortitude to take her place as the Queen of the Light?

The Queen is the third and final book in the Fae Trilogy. Even though this is the third book, readers who have not read the first two volumes can still enjoy this installment as long as they are familiar with basic Fae lore and of course Puck. The story is told by alternating characters and each transition gives the reader a little more knowledge that the other characters are not aware of. This was an enjoyable read and I think I am going to find the first two books so that I can experience more about these fascinating characters.


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Review: The Chemist

The Chemist by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Chemist is on the run. Her former job with the U.S. government was extremely classified and when they wanted to end the relationship, they tried to end her. She is now fleeing, constantly changing her name and doesn’t stay in one place very long. She knows they still want her dead, but when she receives information that might lead to safety, she gives it her all. Unfortunately, she wasn’t given all of the information and now her life is in even more peril. Will she survive the muscle her ex-employer sends her way? Will a new relationship put her at even more risk?

The Chemist is a new adventure novel that is action packed and full of twists. Readers who go into this book thinking about the fantasy novels written by Meyer will be sorely disappointed. Yet if they remember that this is a realistic adventure story, they will be pleasantly surprised. The Chemist is a recommended read for those who enjoy the Jack Reacher series or the Jason Bourne series.


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Review: The Cruelty

The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Gwendolyn may not have enjoyed her boring life, but when her father disappears she does not believe the U.S. Government that he defected to another country. She believes he was kidnapped and decides to undertake the monumental task of traveling across Europe and infiltrates various groups in Paris, Berlin and even Prague. As Gwendolyn becomes a part of the underground world of gambling, smuggling and human trafficking, she must reevaluate how far she is willing to go to find and hopefully rescue her father. Is there a line she won’t cross? Will she discover the truth about her father?

The Cruelty is the first book in a new series with the same name. Bergstrom’s portrayal of these various illegal operations appears to be believable, at least to someone who has never experienced them. Gwendolyn is a weak and timid girl at the start of the book and by the end readers will find a strong and amazing woman. The Cruelty is a good adventure with a strong female protagonist. There is a definite ending to this volume, but readers are left hanging with a need for the next installment.


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Review: Artemis: Wild Goddess of the Hunt

Artemis: Wild Goddess of the Hunt by George O'Connor
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Artemis was to live a life away from the touch of man. She was the Goddess of the Hunt, she helped women in childbirth and she protected women and young girls. It was her choice to remain unmarried and O’Connor gives readers insight into the beginning of Artemis as well as some of the major stories surrounding her. Since this is a graphic novel about Artemis, readers can jump into this ninth book in the series without needing to read the previous volumes. Yet most readers who enjoy Greek mythology will want to read about all of the other gods and goddesses too.

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Review: Glitter

Glitter by Aprilynne Pike
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Palace of Versailles has many modern technological touches, but all of its inhabitants must pretend they are still in the eighteenth century. After Danica witnesses the king murdering a lover, her mother uses that knowledge to blackmail him into making Dani his queen. She has until her eighteenth birthday to discover a way out from the path her mother has planned. Dani thinks she knows a method; she wants to mix a little Glitter into make-up so that its users will be addicted to the drug without even knowing they are using it. If she can make enough money, she will be able to buy passage outside of the palace. Will she be able to keep this secret from the technology eyes everywhere? Is six months enough time to raise that kind of money?

Glitter is the first book in a new series with the same title. The mixture of historical Versailles and futuristic technology gives an interesting spin to the story. Dani has a mother that most readers will agree to dislike and even though we can safely assume none of us have been forced to marry a king, Pike creates these characters seamlessly so that readers will easily believe they are in the palace with Dani. A fun escape read that leaves readers wanting to know what happens next.


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