REVIEW: CAPTIVE (THE BLACKCOAT REBELLION #2) BY AIMEE CARTER.

Title: Captive (The Blackcoat Rebellion #2)
Author: Aimee Carter
Edition: Paperback
Published: November 25, 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Pages: 304
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Genre: Romance, Dystopia
Trailer: Not available.

Synopsis:

For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever.

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape.

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?

I finished reading Captive earlier today, around five in the morning. Up until now though (it's already three in the afternoon), I still couldn't figure out how I truly feel for this book. It wasn't a bad read but there was no excitement in me either.

I loved Pawn that I was left in awe after reading it. I wasn't expecting much from Captive but I wanted to read it as soon as possible. After that ending in Pawn, am pretty sure a lot of us wanted to know what happens next.

After Kitty accepted her new life as Lila Hart, she knew that she doesn't own her life anymore. She has to follow everything the legitimate Harts tell her to do, especially the new Prime Minister, Daxton Hart. After the failed assassination, Daxton acted as if he didn't remember anything so no one would suspect him but he let Kitty know. Kitty couldn't stand being kept in the dark and being treated as a pawn so she went on her way to prove she's something -- only to get people killed including those she truly cared about.

Captive, as opposed to Pawn, is a little more daring and packed with tension, blood and well, rebellion. The story smoothly transitioned and even have a ton of blood-curdling surprises. Honestly, the twists are somewhat predictable only if you know how these characters act. You can easily read between the lines. And what I loved dearly about it is that Carter succeeded in patching events and would still make you scream in the middle of the night. Predictable for me but I still loved how these predictions popped up in a totally surprising way.

Kitty surprised me as well. She's now braver and she's no longer afraid to get killed. And because of that, she took risks -- UTTERLY STUPID RISKS -- which cost lives. See that? Plural. LIVES. From page one up until the last chapter, SHE CONSISTENTLY DID STUPID THINGS even if she's told it would endanger people. LIKE, WHYYYYYYYY? And the worst part? She didn't stop making ridiculously stupid things even if she knows she would get her loved ones killed. She didn't care. All she cared for is to prove she is uncontrollable and she can make decisions on her own. She even revealed the Blackcoat's plan to someone she barely know just because she thought it would give the person hope. WTF, Kitty. IT WAS A REBELLION AND YOU DON'T GIVE OUT SENSITIVE INFORMATION TO OTHER PEOPLE. I cannot even express how freaking annoyed I was with her. She is unbelievably stupid, stupid, stupid.

I do not know why Carter made her that way but seriously, it wasn't fun to see her fuck everything up. But at least she did a few helpful things and found out information about who she is in the process. Consolation, I guess.

And what about Benjy? No character development? Forever underdog? When would he stand firm on his decisions? I don't like how he would just say yes to everything Kitty says without batting an eyelash. I appreciate the love he has for Kitty but he has to be tough and be a man. He's so..bland.

Thank you very much Carter for making Knox, Knox and Greyson, Greyson. They are the only characters left with rational thinking. Without these two, I would have stopped reading, I would have cried hard in a corner feeling so defeated that I couldn't like this book as much as I anticipated. But thankfully, they remained logical and didn't let emotions cloud their judgement. Thank you very much for making me trust Knox from Pawn until Captive and that trust didn't falter. I knew his heart, I guess. And that's what I adore about him. He tries so hard to keep his promises.

I wish I liked Captive just like how much I liked Pawn. I wish this action-filled sequel didn't have such stupid and stubborn female protagonist because it would have been perfect. A few mistakes can be tolerated but being consistent with it? That will never work for me. Queen, please be better.

Thank you so much HarlequinTeen for the review copy!

"Finally he closed the distance between us and kissed me -- a sweet, gentle kiss that held within it every single one of the thousand days I'd loved him as my everything, long after I'd begun to love him as a friend."

"If you had something to tie you back to your old life, would you keep it or destroy it?"

"An armory isn't always made up of guns and knives. Sometimes, information is the most powerful weapon of all."

"The only thing that really matters in the end is how we choose to live."

REVIEW: PAWN (THE BLACKCOAT REBELLION #1) BY AIMEE CARTER.

Title: Pawn (The Blackcoat Rebellion #1)
Author: Aimee Carter
Edition: Paperback
Published: December, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pages: 296
Source: ARC provided by the publisher
Genre: Dystopia, Romance
Trailer: Aussie Version here.

Synopsis:

For Kitty Doe, it seems like an easy choice. She can either spend her life as a III in misery, looked down upon by the higher ranks and forced to leave the people she loves, or she can become a VII and join the most powerful family in the country.

If she says yes, Kitty will be Masked—surgically transformed into Lila Hart, the Prime Minister's niece, who died under mysterious circumstances. As a member of the Hart family, she will be famous. She will be adored. And for the first time, she will matter.

There's only one catch. She must also stop the rebellion that Lila secretly fostered, the same one that got her killed …and one Kitty believes in. Faced with threats, conspiracies and a life that's not her own, she must decide which path to choose—and learn how to become more than a pawn in a twisted game she's only beginning to understand.

On her 17th birthday, Kitty Doe took the test of a lifetime. The test that would determine what she would become and what life she would lead. She ended up being a III - which was what she didn't expect. The number tattooed at the back of her neck signifies how low she is in the society. She was devastated. Her boyfriend, Benjy, knew what this meant and he wanted her to run away with him. But Kitty knew better, she wouldn't take Benjy's chance of being a VI so she decided to work in a club only a month. Benjy refused so hard but Kitty didn't have a choice. However, Kitty, earlier that day, stole an orange in the market and a Shield saw her and told her her eyes are much like Lila Hart's -- a VII -- pretty much a royalty. What she didn't know though is the tragic meaning behind the Shield's comment. She was bought my the Prime Minister from the club and was offered to be a VII or else, she dies.

I received this ARC last year (I know, I know and am sorry) but I never got around to it. I've seen mixed reviews but I read a few chapters already on my eARC and I know I would love it. And I did. I have so much love for this book. The way Carter writes captivated me in a way that I could almost quote everything in it. I find it lyrical and I love writing styles like this. I loved how she tries to make the reader weigh each situation, its as if you're the protagonist. Carter tries to make you see both sides of the coin. That made me feel so connected to it and I felt how hard each decision was, how heavy it was to be in between. Carter won in exposing realities in the story, both from the eyes of the rich and the poor. And I was totally sold.

The world building was well executed. The Ranking System isn't new to me but in Pawn, it was delivered uniquely. I loved how she elaborated the ugly parts of District of Columbia, Elsewhere and the horrible options left for the poor. Also, the idea of perfectly Masking a person was absolutely brilliant. Carter explained the scientific consequence of Masking and the fact that the color of the eyes is the hardest to mask felt so real to me. However, in relation to Masking, one plot twist at the end seriously taken me off guard that I didn't appreciate it. I mean, I knew deep in my gut that it wasn't necessary at all. The entire plot of the story was sailing smoothly until that part. I was so ready to give this book 8/5 stars but then, THAT happened. It got me so confused and suddenly, I felt betrayed. You couldn't trust anyone, anymore.

I am Team Knox. Though he's intimidating, I like him because he's brave and coward at the same time. He's selfless and selfish and he tries so hard to be a man of his word. Plus, who wouldn't like a good kisser, right? Though Benjy is perfect, he's just too good to be true. But he's perfect for Kitty because she needs someone who would love her despite of who she was and who she is and I think only Benjy could give that. I am also looking forward to seeing more of Greyson. He's such a good kid with a trusting heart. But he can't be fooled. I loved the mystery behind his character and his inventions are absolutely useful.

Pawn is a book that is sensitive, intriguing and powerful. It speaks individual empowerment that nothing should stop you from being who you are and achieving what you want. It is such a magnificent work that you would beg for Captive immediately. Truly an evocative dystopian novel, Pawn will touch your heart with strength to fight not just to make ends meet but to seek justice, safety and equality.

Thank you so much Lisa of Harlequin Teen for sending this in for review!

"But the world is out there, and it understands that the illusion of knowledge and freedom is not the same as the real thing. Eventually it will fade, and there are those who will do whatever it takes to make that happen sooner rather than later."

"The world doesn't exist because you gave it permission."

REVIEW: THE IRON KING BY JULIE KAGAWA.

Title: The Iron King
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: The Iron Fey #1
Edition: Paperback
Publication: February 1, 2010 by Harlequin Teen
Source: Bought from FullyBooked
Pages: 363
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis:

Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined.

Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home.

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change.

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

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I haven't had this book that long and I've heard nothing but good things about Julie Kagawa's debut novel, The Iron King, and I badly wanted to get my hands on it the moment I've purchased it. I'm glad its reading schedule is done.

Meghan Chase is a normal teenager living a normal life. She lives with her mom, step-dad and four-year-old brother, Ethan. When she's ready to face her eighteenth birthday and even excited to get her driving license after school, a lot of abnormal things started happening around her: Ethan attacked her and their mom then her best friend Robbie confessed he's inhuman.

Without a doubt, this novel has one of the most beautiful world building I've ever encountered. I loved how magical the Seelie and UnSeelie Courts, Winter and Summer Courts and Nevernever in general. It is very mythical and full of magic that I would love to see it in person.

I've read faery novels in the past and I have not gotten tired of it. Kagawa's writing is brilliant that I wanted to read the series non-stop. However, The Iron King didn't live up to the hype in my opinion. Kagawa incorporated In Midsummer Night's Dream in the novel and you could actually see few similar titles like The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Wizard of Oz, The Lord of the Rings among others. I loved how she was able to come up with breath-taking spin offs but I hoped for more. The first one hundred pages were too slow for me that I almost gave up on it but still, I held on and thankfully, the last one hundred pages didn't disappoint.

Meghan and Marchina are the only characters I hated. Their characters and their past might have been better. I just thought that someone as naive Meghan couldn't possibly defeat someone as powerful as Marchina that easily. It only took one page for their encounter and Meghan wasn't even beat up or something. That part actually made me skeptical, should the verdict be three or four stars. I hated that part. But good thing there's Puck, Ash and Grimalkin. Without these characters, I might have hated the novel altogether. They are endearing and powerful and I wanted to really follow their next adventure.

I may have disapproved on some parts of The Iron King but that wouldn't stop me from loving the world building and the outstanding characters one would only find in this novel. It is truly a heart-stopping adventure in a jaw-dropping world that would leave you asking for more..

... Ash and Puck!

"Combat doesn't have to be with swords... Emotions can be deadly weapons, and knowing your enemy's breaking point can be key to winning a battle."