Book Review: The Beacon by Ashley Dotson

The Beacon by Ashley Dotson

I came across this book through Instagram, (as I do a lot of books.), when I followed the author, Ashley Dotson. She was super nice and so I just had to look up her work! I am sooo glad that I did because the book and series quickly became a favorite! (If you look at my Instagram accounts you'll know this!)

Layla Justus is in her senior year of high school when she and her father move to Providence RI. Layla doesn’t exactly want to be there but she tries to make the best of it after seeing that she has the best room in their new/old house and making her first friend there. She had to leave her home, friends and everything she knew back in Louisiana which was hard for her but something about Providence has grabbed her attention. Including the neighborhood “bad boy”, Orrin Darringer. Layla becomes the subject of all gossip in the school, starts having strange dreams, uncontrollable feelings from deep inside of her and starts to discover things she never knew were possible. With the help of an unlikely friend Layla will learn things about her world, herself and even her new city that she would never have dreamed of. She has a birthright. Her history is not what she thought. Her future is unclear and it’s all up to Layla to become her own bright light in a dark world.

This book was my first paranormal novel that I have read. It was AMAZING! I was hooked just pages in and finished both book one and two in just a few days. The characters are relatable and super fun!

Recommended age:

14+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

The book doesn’t have many strong emotional moments. But there are a few and you find yourself either loving Orrin or hating him. Or both. And you start to “ship” Orrin and Layla quickly!

6.5/10

Violence:

There is not much violence in this book. A fight scene but it isn't gory at all.

3/10

Sexual content:

There is some kissing.

3/10

Crude language:

Mild language is used. But nothing serious.

2/10

Other elements:

This book deals with daemons. It deals with inner daemons and can be looked at from the perspective that we all have inner daemons that we, like Layla, have to master and control.

Overall:

Overall this book was phenomenal! I loved the story and when I was finished with this book I had already purchased the second book and flew through that one too! Fans of The Darkest Minds, The Mortal Instruments and Branded will love this book!

10/10

Xoxo

- Sarah

The Beacon is available for purchase here:

Amazon.com/AshleyDotsonBooks

Book Review: The Fear Trials by Lindsay Cummings

The Fear Trials by Lindsay Cummings

The Fear Trials is a short prequel novella to The Murder Complex, an action-packed, blood-soaked, futuristic thriller set in a world where the murder rate is higher than the birthrate.

Meadow’s father calls it The Fear Trials, it’s a series of tests that he has designed for his children  to prepare them for life in their dangerous world. Meadow is up against her older brother Koi. If Meadow wins The Fear Trials she will receive a weapon of her own and the right to leave the houseboat alone without her mother or father there with her. This short story is set two years before and in the same gritty, walled city as The Murder Complex! It is a must read for fans of the series!

I was so stoked to read this e-book because I loved TMC (The Murder Complex) so much! I read The Fear Trials after reading TMC while we are still waiting for book two, The Death Code to be released this spring! This short story shows us how dark the world that Meadow lives in is and is so in sync with TMC! They flow effortlessly together! Lindsay Cummings is brilliant and I look forward to all of her upcoming books!

You can find this e-book on

Amazon

B&N

Google play books!

Recommended age:

13+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

There aren’t really any emotional moments in the book.

2/10

Violence:

There is some violence. Meadow has to fight grown men and her older brother during The Fear Trials.

6/10

Sexual content:

None.

0/10

Crude language:

Mild language is used words like “damn” or “hell” but nothing serious.

3/10

Other elements:

Like I said there is fighting and violence but it is all to prepare Meadow for her life in the real world and to protect her.

Overall:

Overall I loved it! If you have read The Murder Complex then this e-book is a MUST read!

7.5/10

Xoxo

- Sarah

Book Review: The Eye Of Minds by James Dashner

 

The Eye of Minds by James Dashner

I've never been a fan of video games but I am a total fan of this book! The Eye of Minds centers around Michael, a teenage boy who lives in a world where at any time you can escape the world around you by getting inside a device called a Coffin. Once inside your personal Coffin you are connected to sensors and your mind is completely taken into the VirtNet system. It is basically a huge video game where you hear, taste, smell, see and feel things as if they were right in front of you!

The more hacking skills you have the more fun the game can be. But not everything about the VirtNet is fun though. Michael and his friends keep hearing about a mysterious gamer who is wreaking havoc in the VirtNet world. The government knows that to catch a hacker, you need a hacker and they’ve had their eyes on Michael.

If he accepts their offer, Michael will have to dig deep and go into the dark alleys and corners of the system that human eyes have never seen. It could cost him everything. And could blur the lines between game and reality forever.

This book is so cool, let’s just be honest. It has elements that reminded me of The Maze Runner, The Hobbit and Under the Never Sky. But this is seriously a very unique book!

Recommended age:

11+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

There were a couple of moments that had me like “whoa!” or "awe!" but nothing too, too sad.

4/10

Violence:

There is some violence but it is not described too graphically.

5.5/10

Sexual content:

None.

0/10

Crude language:

The occasional “hell” or “damn” nothing too serious.

3/10

Other elements:

There are some creepy creatures. But I've seen worse.

Overall:

Overall I really enjoyed the book. James Dashner never ceases to amaze me with his awesome imagination and it's really cool to see what he can come up with outside of his most popular series, The Maze Runner! I recommend this book for fans of The Maze Runner series and Divergent.

7.5/10

Xoxo

- Sarah

Book Review: Blue by Kasey Jackson

Blue by Kasey Jackson

When Kasey asked me to check out and let her know what I thought of her book, Blue, I was super excited to do so. I was totally thrilled that an author basically asked me to review their work!

When I first downloaded the book onto my phone all I knew about it was that it had something to do with Albinism and that it was out of my normal dystopian comfort zone. But it was SO much more than I expected it to be. This story was extremely beautiful to say the least. Kasey’s ability to make me feel like I was right there walking alongside or sitting with or in a conversation with the characters is a very rare thing.

The story focuses on two very different yet two very similar girls. Anytha and Tabitha. They both find themselves rethinking their thoughts on life and questioning authority in a non-rebellious way and are so likable! I honestly recommend going into this story the same way that I did, not knowing too much about it. I think that is what made it so awesome for me. Blue is thought provoking, inspiring and motivating. It deals with some pretty controversial subjects but they are handled very tastefully. It ended leaving me wanting more! It hit a soft spot in my heart for certain reasons and quickly became one of my favorite reads! I highly recommend it! Also it will make you want a yard full of Jacaranda trees.

Recommended age:

13+

On to the ratings!

Stars..

0 = None 10 = Tons

THE FEELS:

Although it didn't make me cry like some books have, this book was incredibly heartfelt!

8/10

Violence:

Some violence here and there..

3.5/10

Sexual content:

It’s briefly insinuated that some girls are lured into beds with men. There is inappropriate behavior toward a girl by an older man.

4/10

Crude language:

None.

0/10

Other elements:

Some elements may seem too mature for readers under 13.

Overall:

Overall I loved the book and cannot wait for the release of the second book in the series later this year!

10/10

Xoxo

- Sarah