The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan - Book Review

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan
Publication date: May 2, 2017
My rating: 3.5 stars

Now, before anyone starts screaming "OMG, 3 STARS?! Zoey, are you alright? What is happening?!" let it be told that I very very much enjoyed The Dark Prophecy by my favorite author since childhood. 

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Rick Riordan can do no wrong. At all. Never. No chance.

And despite the fact that it emotionally hurts me to rate a Rick Riordan book any less than 4 stars, It will be even worse to be untrue to my feelings.

This book had it all: hilariousness, new characters, well known and beloved characters, Peaches, kickass demigods, a god going through a humanization phase, Leo Valdez, crazed emperors, sad moments, happy moments, heartwarming moments, heartbreaking moments.

I highlighted so many quotes in this book I might as well have highlighted this whole book since it was so quotable.

I laughed, I smiled, and I went all 'awww' over almost everything.

So then what didn't I like about this book? 

Nothing, really. 

"So why did you rate it 3.5 stars?" you might be thinking. 

Well, you see... it simply didn't give me the BANG I was looking for. You know, that punch to the heart when all of your feelings are a mess and through them, the only thing you can think is: "yes, this is... this is what my heart has been looking/searching/hoping for." 

Maybe I don't make much sense. 

This book had many small bangs, just not a big enough one to make me truly, truly fall in love with it. 

That being said, it's only the second book of the series, you guys! There's so much more epicness coming our way - I can feel it.
And... well, it is a truth universally acknowledged (sorry, I just came back from watching Pride and Prejudice and Zombies) that second books in a series are the least favorite ones. That, at least, had been something that always seemed to happen to me with book series. Like how Percy Jackson and the sea of monsters is my least favorite book of the Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. Or how the second book of the Heroes of Olympus is my least memorable one.

Not to say they're not great. Just like not to say I didn't like The Dark Prophecy. I totally had my moments of "this is some awesome stuff" and "oh I missed this so much!" I can't seem to stress this enough but I think you got what I'm trying to say here. 

My only consolation after saying goodbye (yet again) to my beloved characters of the Percy Jackson universe and having to wait until May 1st, 2018 (please don't let the date change any further) for the third book to come out, is that we get another Rick Riordan book this year and it is none other than the highly anticipated third and last book in the Magnus Chase trilogy! 

And now, the wait for The Burning Maze begins.
Shall we enter the depth of the labyrinth once again, my friends? 

*Full Review - With Spoilers*

"This doesn't mean I can pinpoint her location with my mind! Zeus as revoked my access to GPS!"  

"GPS?" Calypso asked. 

"Godly Positioning System." 

Meg is back!
I'm sure I'm not the only one to have been so worried about her after the terrible events that left us speechless at the end of The Hidden Oracle.
Oh Meg, you were dearly missed!
Apollo would never admit this but he was not his same glorious self without yo *wink*. 

We're still not completely off the hook with Meg, though.
Meg might have escaped and rejoined team good but she has yet to face Nero - her evil and abusive stepfather who we all wish will burn it hell - since her betrayal.
And we all know how Nero has always had his way with Meg.
It would take some serious willpower for her to resist him.
And we can only trust Apollo to help her achieve that. 

Speaking of our favorite god, the things he went through in this book...
He's changing.
And I'm so heartwarmed by the fact that he starts to actually care about the world around him.
Apollo, as it seems, has a hidden heart of gold.
I liked him since the first time we met him years ago in Percy Jackson book 3, and now that I've gotten to know him all I can say is... you go, Apollo. I'm rooting for you. You're amazing. 

I cannot give up. Apollo/Meg needs me. 

Their bond is just... so... precious. *sob*.
Nothing can break it. You hear that, Nero?
Those two are best friends for life (even if they're way too stubborn to ever admit this).

I can't even envision a romantic relationship between them because they're just so best friends - bordering on brother-sister - material.
Not to mention, Meg is, what, 12?
And even if age wasn't the problem, they're just so perfect in this relationship of theirs.
I want them to be closer, and I want them to find love, but between the two of them... they're just so precious the way they are. 

It was even made clear when Apollo had to give Meg a mouth to mouth and described it as 'a slimy, unpleasant sensation - much like what I imagined Poseidon experienced when he realized he was kissing the gorgon Medusa.'
Ouch. 
Luckily, Meg was unconscious and couldn't punch him in the face for the insult.
Then again, she probably would have punched him in the face for giving her a mouth to mouth in the first place (even if it was to save her life).
Meg is charming this way. 

I'd always thought of my sister's followers as a sort of all-maiden mafia. Once you were in, you never left - unless you left in a lovely silver coffin.

Ah, Thalia Grace!
You are a true sight for sore eyes.
It's been, what, a few books now?
I sure did miss our fearless huntress.
*the nostalgia* 

Okay, okay, so I was actually hoping - praying, liked Apollo - for Artemis to show up.
Even though it was made clear she wasn't going to, I still wanted to see the two of them interact now that Apollo is mortal.
That should be great fun.
Not to mention, Apollo truly does miss his sister. Which I found heartbreakingly beautiful.
I just love a good brother-sister bond.
I wonder if we'll get to see Artemis, despite the restrictions, soon.  

In the meantime, don't die in your foxhunt, Thalia Grace.
I get the feeling you and your hunters will be desperately needed in times to come. 

Was there anyone I hadn't betrayed and disappointed? Any relationship I hadn't destroyed? 

If I thought The Hidden Oracle was sad with all those flashbacks to Apollo's past...
Hearing Apollo's stories of past times was just... so... very... sad. 

That scene when he cried in the toilet was heartbreaking. I wanted to rush in there, hug him, and tell him everything was going to be okay.  

I blinked back tears. I was not sad. I was not overwhelmed by their friendship. No, it had just been a very long day and my nerves were fried. 

Oh, Apollo.
I find the way he admits to things by denying them is simply adorable. 

Leo Valdez - savior of earth (quite literally).
Calypso - an ancient sorceress.
Apollo - a former god turned teenager. 

I found this unlikely trio to be so wonderfully fit together.
They had rough times. They argued and shouted and disliked one another. But at the end of the day... they were like family. 

That "goodbye" scene between Apollo and Leo & Calypso was just so touching.
I wasn't entirely expecting it because I thought those two would keep on journeying with Apollo and Meg but... I understand why they need some normalcy in their life after everything they've been through (not that it seems they're going to get it so quickly, given Leo's recent mission to warn the Romans of their impending doom). 

It was a truly heartfelt moment to see Apollo caring about these two - about everyone at the waystation - as the story progressed.
As arrogant and goddy as he can get, he truly does have a hidden heart of gold.
It only shines brighter with every passing moment.
I already can't wait to see the growth of the Apollo of book 5. 

Jimmy's electricity was different - a more humid scent of ozone, a darker red hue to the flashes. 

Who is the world is Jimmy?
My suspicions that Jimmy is, in fact, of a different mythology, have been confirmed by the end of the book. 

At first, I thought maybe he was part of the Magnus Chase world or even The Kane Chronicles world but oh no, oh no my friends... Jimmy is of different mythology entirely. 
And I can't help but think - can't help but hope - that this is a sort of preparation for a brand new Rick Riordan series (!).  
Please.
Oh please let it be so. 

Rick Riordan is not the type to throw in random clues.
Which means... our dreams for a new mythology series after The Trials of Apollo might come true. 

There are so many mythologies out there to explore - Japanese, Chinese, Hindu, etc. - and I can't think of anyone other than Rick Riordan who is better for the job.  

In all, the boy reminded me somewhat of Nico Di Angelo, the son of Hades, if Nico was slightly older, more vicious, and had been raised by jackals. 

It doesn't matter that I only just saw Nico the other book.
No, I want him around all the time. 
That is precisely that kind of obsession I have with Nico Di Angelo. I have been dealing with it since book 4, gasping as every strap, mention, and sightings of him.
That boy really should have gotten his own books. *sigh*. 

I scowled at him. "Don't test me, Valdez. When I am a god again, I will make a constellation out of you. I will call it the Small Exploding Latino."  

"I like it!" He patted my shoulder, causing my knife to jiggle. 

 Did no one fear the wrath of the gods anymore? 

Sorry, Apollo, but you're talking to the people who saved the world - multiple times - and faced the earth itself.
It would take some serious stuff to rattle them.
And, well, Leo Valdez is Leo Valdez. He's, like, in his own category. 

"The only mortal sin," I said. "Would be failing to incinerate you as soon as I become a god again." 

"You could try," Leo said. "But then how would you learn those secret scales on the Valdezinator?" 

I accidentally sprayed myself in the face. "What secret scales?"

Oh god, flashback to the Valdezinator!
*laughs*

You know the feeling when you suspect you might have fathered someone thousands of years ago, but you're not really sure? Then you see that child as a grown man, and looking into his eyes, you know beyond a doubt that he is yours? Yes, I'm sure many of you can relate. 

Oh yeah, sure. Happens all the time. *nodding*.

Speaking of, do you think Georgina really is Apollo's daughter?
I believe so. But then the matter of who her mother is - and why she was abandoned - is a big question.
I wonder if that's going to play a part in later books, or if Rick is going to leave it like that. 

Percy Jackson could drive a car.

Percy Jackson can do so much more than just drive a car.
He's the amazing Percy Jackson, after all.

We were ten feet away when we triggered the First Law of Percy Jackson.

That moment when you realize Percy has a law named after him.
They grow so fast *sob*. 

I smiled. "Hello, Grover Underwood. I am Apollo. This is Meg. And you, my lucky friend, have been summoned to lead as through the Labyrinth." 

That ending, though! 

GROVER! It's been too long, buddy! 

We missed you in Heroes of Olympus, but now you've got yourself a spot in The Trials of Apollo, so all is well again. 



Favorite quotes:  

Calypso called me a few names the reminded me how colorful the Minoan language had been before it went extinct. 

I hated having a mortal body. I experienced so many bothersome things, like fear, cold, nausea, and the impulse to whimper Please don't kill me!

All those people whose names ended in O - Jo, Leo, Calypso, Apollo - suddenly made me feel like my brand was being diluted. I thanked the gods we were not in Ohio and our dragon was not named Festo. 

Demigods today. I blame social media for their short attention spans. When you can't even take the time to listen to a god hold forth, that's just sad. 

"What about that song Zeus used to sing?" 

 I blinked. "Zeus... singing?" I found that concept mildly horrifying.

"Trust Meg, Leo, and Apollo. This is their task: to find and free the captives, to retrieve the Throne of Mnemosyne-" 

"And get Festus," Leo added. 

"And especially Georgina," Jo added. 

"We could pick up some groceries, too," Leo offered. "I noticed you're low on hot sauce."

I sighed inwardly. First it had been the zoo at first light. Then the Canal Walk at first light. Now the caverns. I really wished dangerous quests could start at a more reasonable time, like perhaps three in the afternoon. 

"We only fail when we stop trying."

Random thoughts:  

• How will the new prophecy play out?
• Will Artemis make an appearance?
• Will we see Demeter - Meg's mother? Or maybe Persephone - Meg's immortal sister?
• Will Leo and Calypso ever get some peace and quiet?
• What is the dreadful punishment of river Styx going to be? (you should never have made that oath, Apollo!)

All we can do now is wait and see.
2018, here we come. 

Trading Yesterday - shattered

One should never underestimate the healing power of music. 

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh - Book Review

* I received an e-ARC of this book from Penguin Young Readers Group via NetGalley in an exchange for an honest review. As always, I only every write my true thoughts * 

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
Publication date: May 16, 2017
My rating: 3 stars

I'm disappointed.

Not the first words I wanted to write.
Not the first words I wanted to be read. 

But they also bring comfort. Because for one to be truly disappointed with something or someone one must care enough in the first place.
And I truly do care - about Renee Ahdieh's stories, about her characters, about her words and worlds. I knew it from the moment I read The Wrath & The Dawn and I know it now despite my disappointment. 

First things first, a few details about Flame in the Mist:

• This is not really a Mulan retelling.
  Now, now, I don't mean it in a bad way, just as a statement. Since everyone say it's a Mulan retelling everyone who love Mulan (myself included) go into it with a lot of certain expectations. But aside from the fact that it's a story about a girl who disguises herself as a boy at a time where women are not treated fairly nor taken seriously, there are no other similarities to Mulan. Honestly speaking, I wouldn't even have thought of Mulan, reading this story, if it hadn't been for the people saying it's a retelling. So no, this story stands on its own with no deep connections to Mulan.
  Certainly, it could be very loosely inspired by the infamous Mulan, but no more than that.  
• The story follows Mariko, the daughter of a Samurai, as she infiltrates the ranks of a group known as The Black Clan. Shortly after her convoy was attacked on her way to her arranged marriage to prince Raiden, Mariko sets on a journey of self-discovery and self-worth to prove herself capable of undermining the people behind the attempt on her life. Needless to say, things do not go well and Mariko soon finds herself in much deeper trouble then she realizes.
  
• There's romance, which was sweet yet confused me (no insta-love or love triangle).
  
• This story is very different from The Wrath & The Dawn. For starters, I found it much harder to get into. It didn't... flow like The Wrath & The Dawn did for me. It was rather - well, rather a lot - descriptive. In terms of places, characters, scenes... I found a lot of the descriptions too hard to follow and even to the point where they interfered with some of the enjoyment in the book. They were beautiful and unique, but hard to get into. I could see the beauty in them, but they didn't tug at my heart, didn't make me feel as though they were necessary for me. This might very well be a matter of taste, since I'm not all that fond of overly-descriptive books and complicated metaphors. I found myself craving more dialouge, less descriptions. More activity, less thoughts.
  
• Most of the story is from Mariko's POV, but there are multiple POV's (out of those most of them are from Mariko's brother POV).
  In that sense, it was very much like the trouble I had with The Wrath & The Dawn. At first, the multiple POV's were interesting. Quickly enough they wore out on me and I couldn't find why they were even necessary to the progression of the story. All I wanted was to get back to Mariko and her love interest (whose name I won't say since it's all the fun figuring this out on your own *wink*).
  
• It takes place in ancient Japan, which I loved (Japanese obsessed over here) - we're definitely lacking in books that take place in Japan.
  When writing a story that takes place in a place like Japan, it's important to do your research. And I felt like Renee Ahdieh did it extremely well. Maybe too well, though, since it felt like it had a lot to do with the over-descriptive problem I've been having with it.
  

My problems with Flame in the Mist: 

We barely get anything our of everything.

No, seriously, I read an entire book just here and yet I feel like I learned nothing.
I feel like stuff happened without even the reader realizing how they happened.
Like the romance - it just sort of happened with no development. Like one minute it wasn't and the next... it was. 
The development of their relationship (from enemies to lovers) was lacking in a way I had a hard time believing came from the author who wrote such a complex and engaging love story in The Wrath & The Dawn.
And while I did find myself rooting for those two, I couldn't shake my disappointment and need for something more... for more interaction. Development. Dialouge. Something. 

The relationship between Mariko and Kenshin (her twin brother) - we are told how much they love each other yet we don't really see it.

Yes, I think this is the biggest problem of all.
We're told more than we're shown.
Trust me, I'm a great believer in the power of words. Without them, we're nothing. But just being told something repeatedly, with no action or visual whatsoever to support it... just feels fake and empty, if you know what I mean.
Actions speak louder than words, are they not? (said the writer).

That's how I felt during the story, with almost everything.
We're told about the great and unbreakable bond between Ranmaru and Okami - That's great! I love strong friendships. So then what do we have to support it? Nothing, really.

We're told about the great trust and love between Kenshin and Mariko - what do we have to support it? Nothing really.

It seems like I'm asking for proof here but it's not proof it's... action. engagement. Something this book was clearly lacking. 

So yes, I enjoyed it enough to keep on reading.
But no, I didn't get this book. It confused me greatly. And I kept on wanting more out of it.  

"What did you do now, woman?" He seethed, his face wan, the color in constract to his eyes.  

"Nothing you need concern yourself with, boy," Mariko retorted. 

But wait just a second.
Despite my reservations, I did rate this book 3 stars. Which means, despite having my problems with it, I did enjoy it. I didn't DNF it.
Especially by the end of it, I seemed to have gathered more affection towards the cast of characters and the place the story was going. 

"If I'm marching to my death, then I will march to it as a girl. Without fear." 

I also loved how, despite everything, Mariko never gave up.
She was weak but she kept on fighting.
She was scared but she kept on going.
So yes, maybe I still don't get Mariko at all. Maybe I still don't understand what makes her a character I can care for but... she deserves applause just for her strong sense of self-worth and feminism. 

Did I enjoy this book? Quite.
Will I read the next one? Yes.
Do I hope for it to get better? Very much. Please let me see and feel more next time.  

Something Wild - Lindsey Stirling

Hatred served no purpose, except to plague its bearer. 

Most Anticipated Books of May 2017

It's May!
The time of pure bookish joy is finally - mercifully - upon us!
*tearing up*

There is not one, not two, not three, but FOUR books I've been anticipating for a year now (in bookish terms, it's like an eternity of waiting).
And two of those books are by two of my favorite authors of ALL TIMES and the universes surrounding them. 

I cannot contain myself any longer.
Shall we? 

The Dark Prophecy by Rick Riordan
Publication date: May 2, 2017

It's here, it's here, IT'S HERE!
To say I'm *excited* about it would be laughable.
I'm pretty much *dying* for it. 

And IT'S finally HERE.
The second book in the much-anticipated Trials of Apollo series 😍

*AHHHHH*
Okay, I'm calm. So calm. Very calm.
All I can do right now is wait patiently for my copy to arrive all the way from the UK and try not to think what is going to happen after I finish this book and have to wait another year for the next one.
Yep, I'm super calm here. 

Note: for those of you who've been unconscious for the last couple of years, this series is a continuation/spin-off to the Percy Jackson books. It follows the god Apollo in his journey of reclaiming his immortality. I suppose it *could* be read before the Percy Jackson books but... it's not (and by the I mean highly not) recommended. And anyways, please do read the percy Jackson books if you haven't yet - they're amazing! And so easy to read, for those of you still pondering on the matter! 

Dreamfall by Amy Plum
Publication date: May 2, 2017

What if there was a way to cure Insomnia?
Wouldn't you, who suffer from it, jump at the opputnity - however farfetched it may seem?

That's exactly what Cata, who joins an experimental new procedure, gets herself into.
But then something terrible heppens, and all of the patients are plunged into a shared dreamworld where secrets and monsters come to life.
And if they don't fine their way out of there soon...
They might never wake up. 

೨ ೨ ೨

A looong loooong time ago I read Die For Me by Amy Plum (author of Dreamfall) and (according to this loooong looooong ago memory) I enjoyed it.
Okay, so I don't remember much, but I think it was a fun and easy read.
But even if I didn't have previous experience with this author I would have jumped at the opputirnity to read this very interesting looking novel ;)

Textrovert by Lindsey Summers
Publication date: May 2, 2017

I don't know what it is with me and stories about falling in love online / through emails / through texts but I'm obsessed with those.
I can never seem to resist them, nor do I want to so... (:

This seems to be a story that was first published on Wattpad and is now being published as a book.
Good for you, Lindsey Summers! :D
I'm very much looking forward to reading this one. 

That being said, this book continues to elude be by being 'currently unavailable' on my kindle. The only available copy is in Spanish and it's coming out this June.
I'm really confused here. 

Seeker by Veronica Rossi

Publication date: May 16, 2017

YES!
*happy dance*

Short history: last year, I read Riders (the first book of this doulogy) with no expectations whatsoever. What started that way turned into me immensly enjoying it, wondering why it's so underrated, and urging everyone to please read it. 

Getting back to present time, Seeker - the final book - is here!
Therfore:
*happy dance* :D

P.S: I actually also read Under the Never Sky & Through the Ever Night (both by Veronica Rossi) way before Riders came out (which is why I picked up Riders in the first place) - both very good books. 

Flame in the Mist by Renee Ahdieh
Publication date: May 16, 2017

I... I... I...
I was approved for an e-ARC of Flame in the Mist from Netgalley.
*shocked silence*

I mean... this is a HUGE deal for me.
HUGE.
This book is one of my most anticipated books of the year, and it's the first time I was ever approved for such an anticipated title.
I mean... this is... just wow.

Thank you so much Netgalley & publisher.
But of course, thank you Renee for this Mulan retelling.
I mean... it's a MULLAN RETELLING. By the author who wrote the amazing The Wrath & The Dawn!
Could I ask for anything more? 

I've never been angry to have been born a woman. There have been times I've been angry at how the world treats us, but I see being a woman as a challenge I must fight. Like being born under a stormy sky. Some people are lucky enough to be born on a bright summer's day. Maybe we were born under clouds. No wind. No rain. Just a mountain of clouds we must climb each morning so that we may see the sun.  

-- Flame in the Mist, Renee Ahdieh

The Love Interest by Cale Dietrich

Publication date: May 16, 2017

Can we just relish for a sec at how cool this title is?
And the cover?
And the summary?
And the plot? 

If I'm not going to love this book I'm going to be extremely disappointed.
Since I'm SO excited for this. As do most of the book community ;)

So what is it about?
Two teenage boys are in a race against the clock to pursue a certain high profiled girl.
The one who loses dies. It's as simple as that.
So then what happens when the two boys start having feelings for each other? 

The Best Kind of Magic by Crystal Cestari

Publication date: May 16, 2017

Amber Sand comes from a family of witches.
Only, somehow, Amber herself didn't hit the magical jackpot. The only magical thing about her is her ability to see another person's soulmate.
So when a boy comes calling for her help, and Amber finds herself falling for him... she must decide what to do next. Because, you see, if there's one thing she knows for certain it's that she's definitely not his soulmate. 

೨ ೨ ೨

Okay okay, so I'm very excited about this one.
It sounds cool, exciting, magical, funny, and wonderful.
I'm hoping for good things! (: 

Unfortunately, this book does not appear on my Kindle. I don't know whether it's just for me (some e-books aren't available in certain parts of the world, go figure) or for everyone, but... it doesn't even exist on my Kindle, so... unless I physically buy it I can't even read it.
*sigh*

Lord of Shadows by Cassandra Clare

Publication date: May 23, 2017

...
...
Deep breathe.
Calm down.
You've got this. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!

And just when I was trying to be all cool and collected '^^
How can I though?!
It's LORD OF SHADOWS! And it's FINALLY HERE! The next Cassandra Clare book IS HERE!
*hyperventilation alert*

If you know me anyway at all, you know I'm obsessed with the shadowshunters world - and basically anything by Cassandra Clare.
It's been a year - actually, longer than 12 months - since Lady Midnight.
And now... now... :') 

My copy CANNOT come soon enough.
CANNOT.
I'm feeling nostalgic, all of a sudden... since Lady Midnight was the first book I reviewed on this blog.
You can definitely expect a Lord of Shadows review - there is no way there isn't going to be one. 

Royal Bastards by Andrew Shvarts
Publication date: May 30, 2017

We all read a few dozen of stories about brave princes and princesses, haven't we?
But what about those who hide in the shadows, those who no one cares about, those called 'bastards'?
This is their story. 

At their head, there's Tilla, a girl cast aside by a father who never acknowledged her.
When a dangerous plot strikes, she and the other royal bastards must defend themselves - and the country - against threats. 

೨ ೨ ೨

Sounds pretty awesome, doesn't it?
I'm very much looking forward to this one! 

And again, I can't find this book on my Kindle at all. Not even as a pre-order or as 'currently unavailable' like Textrovert. I mean... what is going on with books I want to read this month that just aren't there?
*double sigh* 
I don't even know what to do. 

One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
Publication date: May 30, 2017

A murderous tale of The Breakfast Club?
A plot straight out of Pretty Little Liars?
Count me in. 

Who doesn't love a good murder-mystery story?
The brain, the beauty, the criminal and the athlete all had a motive for killing the outcast.
Now then, who did it?
And who's next on the list?

When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon
Publication date: May 30, 2017

Even if I haven't heard so many great things about it, I would have wanted to read this one.

It's not every day you read a book about modern-time arranged marriage for Indian-American teens.
Or when the rules are switched and the boy is the helpless romantic and the girl is... totally not. 
Cool, isn't it?
Interesting, right?
My thoughts exactly.

Some mentions: 

As you know, I can't include every single book coming out every month. 

Some, are just not for me. Others, definitely are. And the rest, are in some sort of gray area where I don't know what to do with them.
So instead of just deleting their existence, I decided to include them here under 'some mentions'. 

Seeking Mansfield by Kate Watson: I tried to read it (got an e-ARC - thanks, NetGalley!) but couldn't really get into it (sorry, Mansfield!). 

In a Perfect World & It Started With Goodbye & Dark Breaks Dawn: Those three seem interesting but they don't exactly scream "READ ME!" (at least not my way :O ). So... I am going to give them a try, but in the meantime let's leave them here.
Then again, the choice probably just flew out of my hands regarding Dark Breaks Dawn anyways, since I can't even find it on Kindle. 

Violet Grenade: I was intrigued by the summary and received an e-ARC of this book from NetGalley (thanks again, NetGalley! You've been taking care of me so wonderfully this month ;) ). I'm hoping to enjoy it (you'll be sure to hear about it if I do) (:

Cold Summer by Gwen Cole: I've been seeing this book on Goodreads for a while now and every time I was debating between "should I?" and "Should I not?". So... gray area it is ;)
And, of course, this book sounds very interesting (it wouldn't have piqued my interest if it wasn't). Time travel is involved! (although not the kind I usually jump up and down for). 

The Black Witch by Laurie Forest: Because... well, because of this, this, this, and basically THIS. I'm not judging it - since I obviously haven't read it, and I refuse to judge books I haven't read or DNF - but you can't blame me for being scared away of reading it after seeing all that, huh? '^^ 

The Traitor's Kiss by Erin Beaty: The Traitor's Kiss got away from me for reasons similar to The Black Witch. It wasn't AS overwhelming as The Black Witch's case - not yet, anyway - but even from the beginning, I wasn't all that sure about it. So when I saw some of my Goodreads friends reviews... I decided to let it go. 

And that's it for my Most Anticipated Books of May!
A truly wonderful month, isn't it? :')
*tearing up again*
This is going to be awesome, I can already tell.
Shall we start with it, then? ;)
Until then...

Birdy - Strange Birds

"Evil is its own undoing." 

-- Veronica Rossi, Seeker