The Wicked Will Rise by Danielle Paige: Review

Synopsis:

In this dark, high-octane sequel to the New York Times bestsellingDorothy Must Die, Amy Gumm must do everything in her power to kill Dorothy and free Oz.


To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and then Dorothy must die....

But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy’s only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she’s only just scratched the surface of Oz’s past—and that Kansas, the home she couldn't wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust—and who is really Wicked?

***

Have you ever looked at the American state of Kansas on a map?

The Wicked Will Rise picks up immediately after Dorothy Must Die, with Amy on the run with a trophy in her pocket, but still does not manage to kill Dorothy. While I love the turn of events in the first book, and the fact that not everything is what it seems, this book just doesn't do that for me. I feel like things kind of fall flat. There are a few parts that I really enjoy, but it's nowhere as compelling as the first book.

Amy struggles a lot in this book. Desperate to find the Order, battling with her own darkness, and trying to help Ozma regain her sanity, she's faced a lot of mental challenges. I like how Amy has evolved into her own self. While still a little bit annoying, she has come into her own power and has faced her personal obstacles. This is is one of the best parts of the book, because I can't wait to see who and what she will become in the future. I also like the constant appearance of Queen Lulu in the first half of the book. She's snarky and a bit of a bitch, but she's also cool. There are a lot of times when her logic doesn't make sense, and it manages to make me laugh. I kinda want to see more of her in the next book, just to provide a sort of relief.

However, as I've said before, The Wicked Will Rise doesn't have that kind of hold on me like the first book did. The plot barely develops. I like Amy's internal struggle because her character is more complex than before. But there's no time for other important things like, well, plot development. I'd like to see more historical stuff about Oz or even Kansas, but all I get is some vague answers. It's hardly more than what I learned in the first book. Not exactly a good sign. Sometimes I have to reread the chapters again to decipher the plot and the answers, because it's confusing. The characters that I've grown to like in the first book do not make much of an impact in the book either. I was eager to see them in this book, but my wish is clearly not granted. I also wanted to see more of Ozma. She's, after all, the rightful ruler of Oz. But she has proved herself to be of little use to the situation. In fact, there are times when she (unintentionally?) messed up things. That annoys the hell out of me. Speaking of annoyance, a lot of characters piss me off. They are either too petty or silly. The only mature thing in this book is Amy. The Wicked Will Rise is her book, but that's it. 

I hope the last book will be better, and provide more excitement.

Rating: 5.5/10

The Witch Must Burn: Review

Synopsis:

There’s a new Wicked Witch in Oz—and her name is Dorothy. This digital original novella is the second installment in the prequel arc to the edgy and exciting New York Times bestseller Dorothy Must Die.

Dorothy Gale is back . . . and she’s not the sweet little heroine of Oz anymore. She’s power-hungry and vicious, and she leaves a trail of destruction beneath her spike-heeled, magical shoes. But behind the scenes, there’s someone else pulling the strings. Someone who doesn’t want fame or glory—just control.

Glinda of the North brought Dorothy back to Oz for a reason. And in The Witch Must Burn, a young maid is about to discover that a witch who says she’s Good might be the most dangerous kind of Wicked.

The Witch Must Burn, by debut author Danielle Paige, is a dark and compelling reimagining of a beloved classic and is perfect for fans of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Beastly by Alex Flinn, and Wicked by Gregory Maguire.

***

The Witch Must Burn is Jellia's story, one of the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked. I'm a little surprised that it will be her story. I like her a lot in Dorothy Must Die. As much as she deserves a prequel, I can't believe she actually gets one. I'm all about it. 

Jellia is as I'm expected: composed and smart and patient. I do believe most people (or creatures in Oz) will die in her unfortunate circumstance. But of course, she's a survivor. An expert until, well, another girl shows up and puts her in peril (no offense to that girl. It's a fact). I'm so sad that I won't be seeing more of her in The Wicked Will Rise. 

This book also gives us a view of Oz after Dorothy's return before Amy shows up. Of course, things are masterfully screwed up. But the awful relationship between the "Good" witch Glinda and Dorothy is more sinister and more awful (or less, depending on what you think). It might be a foreshadowing of what will happen in the second book. Since, well, the relationship between Dorothy and Glinda is not exactly well-established.

The Witch Must Burn is a good re-taste of the world in Dorothy Must Die, and I'm excited for The Wicked Will Rise.

Rating: 8/10

Dorothy Must Die: Review

Synopsis:

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

***

Those who have sacrificed always have the most to lose.

Somebody should've warned me about the awesomeness of this book before I actually picked it up and read it! This is just completely crazy and jaw-dropping. If you don't read this book, you will miss out a lot of fun.

So... the book is called Dorothy Must Die. And anyone who has read The Wizard of Oz before must have a face of WTF?! Dorothy is the ultimate good girl in the original story! Yeah, but this is not The Wizard of Oz. And no, she's far from perfect. And she returns (yes, returns) to Oz, things get crazy, and everything is upside down. Oz is almost destroyed by her hands. And then there's another girl from Kansas, another girl brought to Oz by a tornado called Amy Gumm. She might just be the savior of this place... and the killer of Dorothy.

Everything is upside down in Dorothy Must Die. Oz is destroyed, no longer the haven for magic. Glinda, the Good Witch of the South, is the penultimate bad guy (because Dorothy is the ultimate one). Glamora, however, may just be the good guy. Good and Wicked can't be clearly divided anymore. Good is Wicked, and Wicked is Good (no this is not The Maze Runner). Oz is no longer a place where you know exactly where you stand anymore. It's completely mind-blowing, because you will try very hard to identify which is Good and which is Wicked, but the harder you try, the more difficult it will be. That's the most twisted part of the story, and possibly the best part of it.

Amy Gumm is the protagonist of the story. How I love that girl. She's very smart and intelligent. She can think of ways to dodge the dangers setting right in front her at the very last possible second. I'm so very envious of her because I can never seem to do that. Her wits and sarcasm makes me smile. I always love a snarky girl, and who knows she can outsnark a lot of guys out there? I actually want to be friends with her, just because she's brave and naturally sarcastic.

There are no exact words to describe just how dark this book is. You just have to read it.

Rating: 8.5/10

TBR #12: April 2014

This April, surprisingly, is quite uneventful comparing to the last April. But still, there are good books!

1. Dorothy Must Die (Dorothy Must Die #1) by Danielle Paige

Synopsis:

I didn't ask for any of this. I didn't ask to be some kind of hero.
But when your whole life gets swept up by a tornado—taking you with it—you have no choice but to go along, you know?

Sure, I've read the books. I've seen the movies. I know the song about the rainbow and the happy little blue birds. But I never expected Oz to look like this. To be a place where Good Witches can't be trusted, Wicked Witches may just be the good guys, and winged monkeys can be executed for acts of rebellion. There's still the yellow brick road, though—but even that's crumbling.

What happened?
Dorothy. They say she found a way to come back to Oz. They say she seized power and the power went to her head. And now no one is safe.

My name is Amy Gumm—and I'm the other girl from Kansas.
I've been recruited by the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked.
I've been trained to fight.
And I have a mission:
Remove the Tin Woodman's heart.
Steal the Scarecrow's brain.
Take the Lion's courage.
Then and only then—Dorothy must die!

Expected Publication: April 1, 2014

2. Gilded Ashes (Cruel Beauty) by Rosamund Hodge

Synopsis:

A romantic and fantastical reimagining of the classic Cinderella tale, Gilded Ashes is a novella by Rosamund Hodge set in the same world as the author's debut novel, Cruel Beauty.

Orphan Maia doesn't see the point of love when it only brings pain: Her dying mother made a bargain with the evil, all-powerful ruler of their world that anyone who hurt her beloved daughter would be punished; her new stepmother went mad with grief when Maia's father died; and her stepsisters are desperate for their mother's approval, yet she always spurns them. And though her family has turned her into a despised servant, Maia must always pretend to be happy, or else they'll all be struck dead by the curse.

Anax, heir to the Duke of Sardis, doesn't believe in love either—not since he discovered that his childhood sweetheart was only using him for his noble title. What's the point of pretending to fall in love with a girl just so she'll pretend to fall in love with him back? But when his father invites all the suitable girls in the kingdom to a masked ball, Anax must finally give in and select a wife.

As fate would have it, the preparations for the masquerade bring him Maia, who was asked by her eldest stepsister to deliver letters to Anax. Despite a prickly first encounter, he is charmed and intrigued by this mysterious girl who doesn't believe in love. Anax can't help wishing to see her again—and when he does, he can't help falling in love with her. Against her will, Maia starts to fall in love with him too. But how can she be with him when every moment his life is in danger from her mother's deadly bargain?

HarperTeen Impulse is a digital imprint focused on young adult short stories and novellas, with new releases the first Tuesday of each month.

Expected Publication: April 1, 2014

3. Rebel Belle (Rebel Belle #1) by Rachel Hawkins

Synopsis:

Harper Price, peerless Southern belle, was born ready for a Homecoming tiara. But after a strange run-in at the dance imbues her with incredible abilities, Harper's destiny takes a turn for the seriously weird. She becomes a Paladin, one of an ancient line of guardians with agility, super strength and lethal fighting instincts.

Just when life can't get any more disastrously crazy, Harper finds out who she's charged to protect: David Stark, school reporter, subject of a mysterious prophecy and possibly Harper's least favorite person. But things get complicated when Harper starts falling for him--and discovers that David's own fate could very well be to destroy Earth.

With snappy banter, cotillion dresses, non-stop action and a touch of magic, this new young adult series from bestseller Rachel Hawkins is going to make y'all beg for more.

Expected Publication: April 8, 2014

4. Dreams of Gods and Monsters (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #3) by Laini Taylor

Synopsis:

By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

Common enemy, common cause.

When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

What power can bruise the sky?

From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?

Expected Publication: April 8, 2014

5. Frozen (Taken #2) by Erin Bowman

Synopsis:

The Heists were only the beginning.

Gray Weathersby escaped from the primitive town of Claysoot expecting to find answers, but what he discovered shook him to the core: A ruthless dictator with absolute power. An army of young soldiers blinded by lies. And a growing rebellion determined to fight back.

Now Gray has joined a team of rebels on a harsh, icy journey in search of allies who can help them set things right. But in a world built on lies, Gray must constantly question whether any ally—or enemy—is truly what they seem…

Expected Publication: April 15, 2014

6. Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Synopsis:

Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

Expected Publication: April 15, 2014

7. The Forever Song (Blood of Eden #3) by Julie Kagawa

Synopsis:

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

Expected Publication: April 15, 2014

Check out my review here:  http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/03/the-forever-song-review_17.html

8. Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3) by Wendy Higgins

Synopsis:

It’s time.

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014

9. The Treatment (The Program #2) by Suzanne Young

Synopsis:

Can Sloane and James survive the lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end? Find out in this sequel to The Program, which Publishers Weekly called “chilling and suspenseful.”

How do you stop an epidemic?

Sloane and James are on the run after barely surviving the suicide epidemic and The Program. But they’re not out of danger. Huge pieces of their memories are still missing, and although Sloane and James have found their way back to each other, The Program isn’t ready to let them go.

Escaping with a group of troubled rebels, Sloane and James will have to figure out who they can trust, and how to take down The Program. But for as far as they’ve come, there’s still a lot Sloane and James can’t remember. The key to unlocking their past lies with the Treatment—a pill that can bring back forgotten memories, but at a high cost. And there’s only one dose.

Ultimately when the stakes are at their highest, can Sloane and James survive the many lies and secrets surrounding them, or will The Program claim them in the end?

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014

Check out my review here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-treatment-arc-review.html

10. The Taking (The Taking #1) by Kimberly Derting

Synopsis:

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing.

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day.

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men.

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own?

Expected Publication: April 29, 2014

Check out my review here: http://smoking-hot-books.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-taking-arc-review.html