A Stuck In Books Giveaway ~ Hear the Wolves by Victoria Scott

Hi, friends! We have an extra ARC of Hear the Wolves by Victoria Scott, so we figured we'd send it on to one of you lovely people. Read more about Hear the Wolves below, and enter to win the ARC! :)

Sloan is a hunter.

So she shouldn’t be afraid of anything. But ever since her mom left the family and she lost hearing in one ear in a blizzard, it’s been hard to talk to people, and near-impossible to go anywhere or do anything without her dad or big sister within eyesight — it makes her too scared to be on her own.

When they leave her home alone for what should only be two nights, she’s already panicked. Then the snow starts falling and doesn’t stop. One of her neighbors is hurt in an accident. And the few people still left in Rusic need to make it to the river and the boat that’s tied there — their only way to get to a doctor from their isolated Alaska town.

But the woods are icy cold, and the wolves are hungry. Sloan and her group are running out of food, out of energy, and out of time. That’s when the wolves start hunting them . . .

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

 

- ARC copy

- US only

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P.S. I Like You by Kasie West ~ Review & Giveaway

Source:  Received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. 

What if the person you were falling for was a total mystery?

While Lily is spacing out in Chemistry one day, she picks up her pencil and scribbles a line from one of her favorite songs on the desk. The next day, someone else has written back to her on the desk! Soon enough Lily and the mystery student are exchanging notes, and lyrics, and even sharing secrets. When Lily finds out that her anonymous pen pal is a guy, she's flustered -- and kind of feels like she's falling for him. She and her best friend set out to unravel the identity of the letter writer -- but when the truth is revealed, the guy is the LAST person Lily could have ever imagined it to be. Now that Lily knows the truth, can she untangle her feelings and gather the courage to listen to her heart?

From beloved author Kasie West (The Distance Between Us) comes an utterly charming story about mixed messages, missed connections, and the magic of good old-fashioned secret admirer notes.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Indiebound | iBooks | The Book Depository

Review...

I adore this book.  It's everything that makes YA so enjoyable to read.  There are amazingly real characters that I enjoy being around.  There is a great story that has me a little unsure and yet positive.  There is an accurate capture of the YA voice with skillful writing.  This book has it all and I enjoyed every minute of reading it.

Lily is the best.  She's more confident than she realizes.  Though she struggles to talk to the boy she's crushing on, she is comfortable in her style and her own skin.  She's witty and refreshing.  Surprising those around her with what comes out of her mouth, she doesn't feel she fits in with the mainstream but she's okay with that.  Her love of obscure bands, lyric writing and her beloved guitar are her life.  She's also this amazing sister and daughter that others saw as a flaw but it was who she was.  I loved that she grew but didn't change the things about her that made her who she is.  Overcoming her fear of speaking to her crush was just one thing that she did.  I throughly enjoyed her as a character.

I enjoyed the friendship between Lily and her bestie, Isabel.  They weren't perfect with both making mistakes that hurt the other.  But these two were true friends because there was always understanding and forgiveness.  That was nice.

As for the boy in this story, I love him.  He's not perfect.  Struggling with his own issues, he finds common ground with Lily over bands.  Together they share the struggles they are facing and look forward to the notes they share.  There's a lot of misunderstanding between them that have both of the thinking the other hates them.  That's real teenager drama right there.  But this boy is really a good guy and I just adore him.

This is my first Kasie West book.  Yeah, what was I thinking not reading her books before?  I own two more.  I found them on my shelf and set them all together so I can pet them and plan to read them soon.  If you've missing this author along the way, don't wait any longer to pick up one of her books because she is brilliant.  

I picked this up one night thinking I'd read a little before I went to bed.  Yeah, right.  I finished it before there was any sleeping.  

                                            

The perfect combination of amazingly real characters, great story and skillful writing make this book YA at it's best.

ABOUT KASIE WEST:

I write YA. I eat Junior Mints. Sometimes I go crazy and do both at the same time. My novels are: PIVOT POINT and its sequel SPLIT SECOND. And my contemporary novels: THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US, ON THE FENCE, THE FILL-IN BOYFRIEND, PS I LIKE YOU, and BY YOUR SIDE. My agent is the talented and funny Michelle Wolfson.

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Tour Schedule:

Week 1:

7/18: The Irish Banana Review - Review

7/19: The Book Addict's Guide - Book Scents

7/20: What Sarah Read - Review

7/21: Swoony Boys Podcast - Character Interview

7/22: Jenuine Cupcakes - Review

Week 2:

7/25: No BS Book Reviews - P.S. I Mustache You A Question

7/26: YA Reads - Review

7/27: Fiction Fare - Guest Post

7/28: Stuck In Books - Review

7/29: Reading Teen - Top 10

Giveaway

2 Finished Copies of P.S. I LIKE YOU (US Only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is hosted and sponsored by the tour host and the author.   StuckInBooks is not responsible for selecting a winner or sending out prizes.

Cover Reveal & Giveaway ~ Hear the Wolves by Victoria Scott

The VMafia got a treat in our inboxes yesterday---the cover of Victoria Scott's next novel, Hear the Wolves. We love Victoria Scott and her books and are so excited about this new story, so we're super happy to help reveal this awesome cover to y'all! Check out the cover and blurb and all that fun stuff below, and then enter the incredibly generous giveaway to win one of ten (yes, TEN) ARCs of Hear the Wolves! And, please, don't forget to let us know what you think of the cover in the comments! 

HEAR THE WOLVES

Releases March 28th, 2017 from Scholastic!

It's survival of the strongest in a contemporary, girl-versus-wild middle-grade debut from Fire & Flood author Victoria Scott!

Sloan is a hunter.

So she shouldn't be afraid of anything. But ever since her mom left the family and she lost hearing in one ear in a blizzard, it's been hard to talk to people, and near-impossible to go anywhere or do anything without her dad or big sister within eyesight -- it makes her too scared to be on her own.

When they leave her home alone for what should only be two nights, she's already panicked. Then the snow starts falling and doesn't stop. One of her neighbors is hurt in an accident. And the few people still left in Rusic need to make it to the river and the boat that's tied there -- their only way to get to a doctor from their isolated Alaska town.

But the woods are icy cold, and the wolves are hungry. Sloan and her group are running out of food, out of energy, and out of time. That's when the wolves start hunting them . . .

Add to Goodreads!

About Victoria Scott

Victoria Scott is the author of eight novels including Titans, Fire & Flood, Salt & Stone, the Dante Walker trilogy, Hear the Wolves (April 2017), and Violet Grenade (June 2017). She is published by Scholastic and Entangled Teen, and is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger Literary Agency.

Victoria’s latest novel, Titans, received two starred reviews, and Fire & Flood was nominated as a YALSA Teens’ Top 10 book for 2015. Victoria’s novels have been bought and translated in eleven foreign markets. The author currently resides in Dallas, and loves hearing from her readers.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway

Enter to win one of ten galleys of Hear the Wolves!

- US only

- Ends Monday, August 8th at midnight

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is sponsored by the publisher. StuckInBooks is not responsible for selecting winners or sending out prizes.

Blog Tour: Titans by Victoria Scott ~ Review & Giveaway

~ About the Book ~ 

Titans by Victoria Scott

Source: ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds.

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Goodreads

~ Review ~ 

I've been pretty pumped about Titans for a good long while. I mean, with a freaking awesome premise like this paired with the fact that Victoria Scott, one of my favorite authors, wrote it, how could I not be? So I basically was bouncing off the walls when this book landed in my mailbox. And then the excitement returned again when it was finally time to sit down and read this baby. Lucky for me, all that excitement was 100% warranted, and I LOVED this book.

What captivated me first and foremost about Titans was the premise. A girl named Astrid racing in the Titan Derby so she can use the winnings to save her family's home (and, ultimately, bring her family together). Everything about that was something I wanted to read. The races, of course, which were intense and always so very fun to read. And Astrid's struggle, something I found easy to relate to and understand. 

Within the story, there are several characters that make it a joy to read. Astrid, the main character, who is smart and strong and a great narrator. I enjoyed being in her head while she told her story. Magnolia, Astrid's best friend, who is quirky and fun and a total fashionista. Rags, who begins as an old man giving Astrid a chance but grows to be so much more. I adored him, and his moments with Astrid were some of my favorite. Hart, who I totally admit to having a crush on. And then there's Dottie and Barney, both characters who help Astrid while also adding lightheartedness and laughs. 

And then there is Padlock. No way I could forget about Padlock. He honestly deserves his own section as one of my favorite aspects of Titans because dear goodness, I am head over heels for this steel horse. He wormed his way into my heart and I don't foresee him leaving anytime soon. Or ever. Truly, if you need one reason to pick up this novel, Padlock could totally be it. He's worth it. 

Victoria Scott's writing was stunning. The entire book had a very specific tone to it that caught my attention from the first page and kept me hanging on through the last word. It was intense and lovely and I enjoyed every moment of it. The story begins with a peek at the Titan races before Astrid joins them, and then dives into Astrid's life and what leads to her jumping on her own horse. There are several races throughout the novel, and they didn't all come at the very end, which I loved. The first race happens less than 100 pages in, and then there are a few more after that with other aspects of the story -- like training and other aspects of Astrid's life -- in between. 

Those other aspects of the story were both interesting and enjoyable, as well. Seeing Astrid's friendship with Magnolia, and her growing friendships with the people she meets in this novel, was fantastic. Astrid's family also has loads of moments, and those facets of Titans were some of my favorite to see evolve throughout the story. 

Romance is not a huge part of Titans. There are some romantic elements on the side, but the Astrid does not have a romance herself. Honestly, this was something that worried me when I began reading. I had every confidence that I'd like the book, since I was already sold on the premise, but I'm a reader who strives on romance. If there wasn't much to speak of, surely my reading experience would suffer, right? WRONG. Wrong, wrong, so very wrong. There were so many other things going on in this story (Titan races, friendships, family) that the lack of romance for Astrid was not something I was concerned about. I was pulled into Astrid's life and the races and Padlock, and fell in love with Titans. So if you're worried about romance in this book the way I was, pick it up anyway and give it a shot. 

Overall, Titans is an intense, gorgeous story that totally made me cry. I loved everything about this stunning novel, and I definitely recommend picking it up! 

5 stars - Intense and full of heart, fun and absolutely stunning. I definitely recommend picking this one up!

~ About Victoria Scott ~ 

Victoria Scott is a teen fiction writer represented by Sara Crowe of the Harvey-Klinger Literary Agency. She’s the author of the FIRE & FLOOD series, and TITANS published by Scholastic, and the DANTE WALKER trilogy published by Entangled Teen. Her books have been bought and translated in eleven foreign markets including the UK, Turkey, China, Poland, Israel, Germany, Australia, Brazil, Taiwan, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

Victoria lives in Dallas with her husband and hearts cotton candy something fierce.

Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram | Pinterest

~ Giveaway ~ 

Five winners will receive a finished copy of Titans! US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This is a tour-wide giveaway not sponsored by StuckInBooks. StuckInBooks is not responsible for selecting winners or sending prizes.

~ Tour Schedule ~

Week 1:

2/15/2016- Lost in Literature- Interview
2/16/2016- Paranormal Book Club- Review
2/17/2016- Two Chicks on Books- Excerpt
2/18/2016- Stuck in Books- Review (you are here!!!)
2/19/2016- Fangirlish- Guest Post

Week 2: 

2/22/2016- Seeing Night Reviews- Review
2/23/2016- Mundie Moms- Review
2/24/2016- The Book Cellar- Excerpt
2/25/2016- Krista's Dust Jacket- Review
2/26/2016- Addicted to Happily Ever After- Review

Twitter Party ~ Titans by Victoria Scott!

We're hosting a Twitter party to celebrate the release of TITANS!!! 

Join us and Victoria Scott on February 23rd at 7 p.m. CST using the hashtag #ReadytoRide

There'll be a Q&A with Victoria Scott, and the chance for attendees to win books (including Fire & Flood and Titans) and signed swag!

We are SO EXCITED and hope to see you there!!

~About the Book~

From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds.

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indie Bound

Goodreads

~About Victoria Scott~

Victoria Scott is the author of seven novels including Titans (Spring 2016), Violet Grenade (Summer 2017), the Fire & Flood series, and the Dante Walker trilogy. She is published by Scholastic and Entangled Teen, and is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger Literary Agency.

Two of Victoria’s novels, Salt & Stone and Titans, have received starred reviews, and Fire & Flood was nominated as a YALSA Teens’ Top 10 book for 2015. Victoria’s novels have been bought and translated in eleven foreign markets. The author currently resides in Dallas, and loves hearing from her readers.

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Titans by Victoria Scott ~ Sneak Peek & Giveaway!

Hey, everybody! We (along with the rest of the V Mafia) received an email from Victoria Scott last night with a cool little peek at the Titan Enquirer, a gossip paper featured in Victoria Scott's next book, Titans (February 23, 2016)! Here's what Victoria told us about the paper:

The paper is printed year round in Detroit, but the news, and gossip, really heats up during the Titans racing season (June - August). This article is from this year's races (not the year Astrid competes), and talks about a jockey being injured on the tracks--something that happens frequently, unfortunately.

So now we have a little snippet of the paper to show you, along with a giveaway from Victoria Scott!

~Giveaway~

Enter through the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a preorder of Titans!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is hosted and sponsored by Victoria Scott. StuckInBooks is not responsible for selecting a winner or sending out prizes.

~About the Book~

From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds.

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

Book Links:

Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indie Bound

Goodreads

~About Victoria Scott~

Victoria Scott is the author of seven novels including Titans (Spring 2016), Violet Grenade (Summer 2017), the Fire & Flood series, and the Dante Walker trilogy. She is published by Scholastic and Entangled Teen, and is represented by Sara Crowe of Harvey Klinger Literary Agency.

Two of Victoria’s novels, Salt & Stone and Titans, have received starred reviews, and Fire & Flood was nominated as a YALSA Teens’ Top 10 book for 2015. Victoria’s novels have been bought and translated in eleven foreign markets. The author currently resides in Dallas, and loves hearing from her readers.

Author Links:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram

Have you seen this? PLUS Giveaway

From Victoria Scott, author of FIRE & FLOOD, comes a thrilling story of impossible odds. 

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses. She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

Coming February 23rd from Scholastic

Goodreads

To celebrate, the author is doing a giveaway.  Check it out below!

Giveaway...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Marvels by Brian Selznick ~ Available September 15th & Giveaway

THE MARVELS

by Brian Selznick

In stores September 15^th

About the Book...

From the Caldecott Medal–winning creator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck comes a breathtaking new voyage.

In this magnificent reimagining of the form he originated, two stand-alone stories—the first in nearly 400 pages of continuous pictures, the second in prose—together create a beguiling narrative puzzle.

The journey begins on a ship at sea in 1766, with a boy named Billy Marvel. After surviving a shipwreck, he finds work in a London theatre. There, his family flourishes for generations as brilliant actors until 1900, when young Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage.

Nearly a century later, Joseph Jervis runs away from school and seeks refuge with an uncle in London. Albert Nightingale’s strange, beautiful house, with its mysterious portraits and ghostly presences, captivates Joseph and leads him on a search for clues about the house, his family, and the past.

A gripping adventure and an intriguing invitation to decipher how the two narratives connect, The Marvels is a loving tribute to the power of story from an artist at the vanguard of creative innovation.

Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

*credit: Jamey Mazzie* 

About the Author

Brian Selznick is the Caldecott Medal-winning author and illustrator of the #1 New York Times bestsellers Wonderstruck and The Invention of Hugo Cabret which was adapted into Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning movie Hugo. Selznick's books have garnered countless accolades worldwide, and have been translated into over 35 languages. He has worked as a set designer and a puppeteer. He lives in San Diego, California, and Brooklyn, New York.

TRAILER... 

YOU EITHER SEE IT OR YOU DON’T – TEASER TOUR...

Unlock the mystery of THE MARVELS.

Join Joseph, a young boy in 1990 London, as her pieces together clues found in his uncle’s mysterious house. Who are the Marvels? And how are they connected to Joseph?

Follow the YOU EITHER SEE IT OR YOU DON’T tour to hear mysterious recordings by Brian Selznick, get a sneak peek at artwork from the book, and discover souvenirs from inside THE MARVELS house. What do they mean? You either see it or you don’t.

September 7^th – TheBookSmugglers.com

September 8^th – Hypable.com

September 9^th – SuperSpaceChick.com

September 10^th – TheReadingRoom.com

September 11^th – PopWrapped.com

INTERIOR ARTWORK...

LEARN MORE...

Visit The Marvels website

#TheMarvels

Giveaway...

THE BRIAN SELZNICK COLLECTION

One (1) winner receives:

·         The Marvels, Wonderstruck, and The Invention of Huge Cabret.

Giveaway open to US addresses only.

Prizing and samples provided by Scholastic.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater ~ Review

Source: Paperback gifted from my #OTSPSecretSister :)

The Raven Boys (The Raven Cycle #1) by Maggie Stiefvater

“There are only two reasons a non-seer would see a spirit on St. Mark’s Eve,” Neeve said. “Either you’re his true love . . . or you killed him.”

It is freezing in the churchyard, even before the dead arrive.

Every year, Blue Sargent stands next to her clairvoyant mother as the soon-to-be dead walk past. Blue herself never sees them—not until this year, when a boy emerges from the dark and speaks directly to her.

His name is Gansey, and Blue soon discovers that he is a rich student at Aglionby, the local private school. Blue has a policy of staying away from Aglionby boys. Known as Raven Boys, they can only mean trouble.

But Blue is drawn to Gansey, in a way she can’t entirely explain. He has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on a quest that has encompassed three other Raven Boys: Adam, the scholarship student who resents all the privilege around him; Ronan, the fierce soul who ranges from anger to despair; and Noah, the taciturn watcher of the four, who notices many things but says very little.

For as long as she can remember, Blue has been warned that she will cause her true love to die. She never thought this would be a problem. But now, as her life becomes caught up in the strange and sinister world of the Raven Boys, she’s not so sure anymore.

From Maggie Stiefvater, the bestselling and acclaimed author of the Shiver trilogy and The Scorpio Races, comes a spellbinding new series where the inevitability of death and the nature of love lead us to a place we’ve never been before.

Review...

Some books are so intimidating. Whether it be the size, the author, the hype, or whatnot, there's something about them that just make me drag my feet before picking them up. The Raven Boys was one of those books for a few reasons. First, it's by Maggie Stiefvater. I've never disliked a book by her before, but I still worried I'd get bored or something. Second, HYPE. I've heard so many wonderful things about this book--and then this series. I didn't want to be disappointed. And third, my own expectations were pretty high. As I said, I didn't want to be disappointed. I also used the excuse that I didn't own the book for a while, but then my Secret Sister sent me a copy and well... there went that excuse. So when The Raven Boys was chosen as the Read Along for the TBR Pile Challenge over on Bookish Lifestyle, I decided it was time to suck it up and READ this book.

Thank all that is good and shiny in this world because I LOVED THIS BOOK. I enjoyed it so much, and I'm still laughing at myself for being so intimidated and taking so long to pick it up.

The biggest thing I loved about The Raven Boys was how INTO it I got. I've been reading a lot of contemporary lately, and I honestly cannot remember the last time I read and loved a young adult paranormal novel this much. I'd heard it took time to get into, that the beginning was slow (which added to the intimidation factor), but I had no trouble. I see why people say that, and I also see how it takes people time to get into the story. I just did not have that problem. I think this is due greatly to how much I enjoyed the characters--specifically Blue at first, and then the rest as we were introduced to them and got to know them.

Speaking of the characters, I adored them. Every single one. Blue, who drew me into the story right off the bat. I loved Blue. LOVED. This very rarely happens to me with female MCs. Don't get me wrong, I like a bunch and could see myself as friends with them, but I don't love them very often. But I really did love Blue. She's on my list of favorite female characters--quite possibly my number one. Not sure, but she's definitely up there. Gansey, who I am so interested in. I looked forward to getting his POV more than any other, and I can't wait to spend more time with him in The Dream Thieves. Ronan, who was so mysterious and I want to know MORE about. Noah, who I really want to give a hug. Adam, who I sympathized with so much. This entire group of friends--I adored them.

The relationships were more of my favorite things. The big friendship within the group, and the little bonds in between. Noah and Blue, Blue and Gansey, Gansey and Adam, and so on. And then Blue's time with the women she lives with. I enjoyed all the interactions and relationships. 

On the romance front, there wasn't much in your face about it in this book. There were little sweet moments here and there, but I think this is going to be one of those series where ships and whatnot really kick into gear later. This book was more meeting the characters and setting things up. There is a couple in The Raven Boys, and that was not the couple I expected. I liked them well enough for most of the book, but after events around the end of the book, I think I'm pretty decided on my ship--and it's not the one that kind of teetered in this book. I must say, though, that these observations took not a single thing away from the story or my enjoyment of it. Actually, it probably added to everything. I'm looking forward to getting into more in the next book(s).

A few other things I enjoyed about The Raven Boys were the twist(s), the writing, and the general story and topic. I was thrown for a loop a few times when things I did not expect in the slightest were revealed or took place. The writing was amazing, which didn't surprise me since this book is by Maggie Stiefvater. Still, the greatness of the writing was a huge draw to continue with the story and was a serious factor in why I loved it to much. The Raven Boys is told from third person POV, alternating between a few characters. I enjoyed them all, and they were each represented very well. The story and topic were both interesting. While I know some people will not have the ease I did with getting through the beginning, I don't doubt that once they get far enough to dig into the story, there's a good chance they'll like it. This specific topic isn't delved into every day, which made for an interesting plot and story. 

Overall, I adored The Raven Boys. Amazing writing, magnificent characters, and a fresh story bumped this one up to a favorite of mine, and I am so excited to dive into the second book, The Dream Thieves.

5 stars - One of the best YA paranormal stories I've read in a while--and definitely a new favorite!

GIVEAWAY ~ Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood #2) by Victoria Scott

Victoria Scott is awesome. She's a lovely person who writes fantastic books--which I LOVE. So it's super freaking exciting that I have a giveaway for one of those great books for y'all! Salt & Stone is the second book in the Fire & Flood series, and it rocks. (I refuse to admit whether or not that pun was intentional.) Check out more about the book and the series (and links to my reviews of both books!) below, and then enter the GIVEAWAY! -Jess :)

Fire & Flood (Fire & Flood #1) by Victoria Scott

Time is slipping away....

Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?

~MY REVIEW~

Salt & Stone (Fire & Flood #2) by Victoria Scott

What would you do to save someone you love?

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win.

~MY REVIEW~

**About the Author**

Victoria Scott is a teen fiction writer represented by Sara Crowe. She's the author of the FIRE & FLOOD series published by Scholastic, and the DANTE WALKER trilogy published by Entangled Teen. Her books have been bought and translated in eleven foreign markets including the UK, Turkey, China, Poland, Germany, Australia, Israel, Taiwan, Brazil, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.

Victoria lives in Dallas with her husband and hearts cotton candy something fierce.

Author Links: 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

**Giveaway**

Scholastic is sponsoring one ARC of Salt & Stone for us to give away! 

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