sagek's reviews
1006 reviews

* I received an eARC copy of this book from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
**This is also posted on Fishing For Books,

The Dreamer is a very well written story about a 24-year-old woman who was struck by lightning. Now she suddenly has these dreams, theses seriously vivid dreams, that leave her questioning her sanity and yearning for someone she's sure isn't real. By day she's just Molly, a normal woman resting and recovering from her recent accident (being struck by lightning), usually hanging out with her best friend Becca, and sort-of boyfriend Jared (they're untitled, not labelled, but together). By night she's Molly, The Dreamer with crazy cool powers who's discovering a whole new wave of feelings with Dev, and a whole new world full of a bunch of new people.

So, I just want to get this out right now. Molly irritated me a lot. It's not because she was a bad character or anything, because she is actually a pretty good one, but because of her... situation with Jared and Dev. Jared is a nice, handsome young man who is clearly in love with Molly. He understands her, always makes her feel at ease, and things with them are just so in touch that it makes you want what they have. Jared adores her, he's there for her and wants to be her forever. And Dev, well, Dev is a handsome man in her dreams. He's strong and odd in a sense that he comes from a whole new place where everything is so new and different to Molly. He's a jerk at times, never answers her questions, flirts with her a lot, and he obviously likes her. And so the reason she irritates me? While she's basically dating Jared, who is a nice and brilliant guy in the real world, she's also experiencing feelings for Dev and kissing him and flirting and touching. When she's with Dev, she forgets all about Jared. In fact, she hardly spares him a thought while she dreams! And while she's with Jared, she has a hard time forgetting Dev, forgetting his touch and his kiss. It irritates me because she's basically cheating in Jared, and it's like she doesn't even care! Until she has sex with him and feels guilty for thinking of Dev. But seriously, she's Jared's whole world and she doesn't even love him. Not yet, at least, but she's sure she can some day. It's safe to say I'd rather she be with Jared. I mean, Dev's great and all, but she only sees him when her eyes are closed. And Jared's more open.

Whew. Okay, so not that I got that out of the way...

I'll start off with the world building. It was amazing. I could visualize most of what was described and I really liked the feel we got of the workings of Terra. However, there were times that while things were described really well, I just couldn't visualize them. And so while reading, there were points where I had a blank visual because I just couldn't picture it in my mind. Though I really love the people. There were the Nocturna, who all wore black, and there were Vigil, who wore fancy robes and the likes. The Vigil are the leaders, the council, basically, and they know a lot that they keep from the Nocturna. I really like how they had the two different groups, much like us normal citizens and then the government. I also like how the author balanced between Terra and the real world. I was never bored or sick of wither world, and I actually eagerly awaited to get back to the other while I was reading of one. I was so invested in both sides, that Molly's decision (which I'm sure she'll have to make) about Jared or Dev, is really tearing into me. I want her with Jared, but then Dev will get all sad and empty again and Rae will probably be very angry with her...

I also like how Molly thinking she's going insane was portrayed. It really felt like she was losing her marbles. She definitely changed since meeting Dev. She wanted to sleep more, she was zoning out a lot. She even took sleeping pills at one point just to get answers from Dev. Which may or may not have worked, I won't say because it's be a spoiler.

Which brings me to characters. They all play a big part in Molly's life and how things go. I adore them all. I can't think of a single character I didn't like. And while at times they may have irritated me (Molly), or made me want to punch them in the face for potentially ruining something great (Dev), I loved them more than I didn't.

Overall, I liked this book and all the characters, the world building, and the feelings it makes you feel. I recommend it to you lovers of romance and fantasy

*I received an ebook copy of this from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Cutlass wasn't only about pirates and revenge. Oh no, it was about Elves and Lyrics, death and deceit. It was about learning the truth and letting go of and anger and revenge because it only makes you bitter and lonely. It's about falling in love and being loyal! It's about freedom.

Everything in this book from the action on the sea, to the romance on board, to the shocks of betrayal and the fantasy aspects were simply brilliant. Yes, Barren oftentimes was controlled by his anger and need for revenge, but he's young and still learning! He's a force to be reckoned with and has a sharp mind, he's a man holding such a weight as murder, revenge and pain! He lost his father because his brother killed him, his mother for something he couldn't remember! Barren could never understand why; he didn't want to understand. And so he stalked the shores of Maris and attacked ships in hopes of luring William out to sea so he could act on his revenge. But William wouldn't dare and so months later of no change, Barren learns of William's engagement and kidnaps his wife. But Lady Larkin is not docile and quiet and fearful. No, she's strong and Barren's equal with a sword. In fact, she almost killed him the night he kidnapped her. If it hadn't been for Leaf, his best friend, who knows if Barren would have found a way to live?

The writing was great, though I did sometimes find myself uninterested. It flowed nicely and yes, at times it was cheesy and parts were slightly cliche, but it still intrigued me. Especially since it's all one big adventure that no one can deny enjoying.

Overall, Cutlass is a read I recommend to fantasy lovers. Especially those who love pirates.

*I received an ebook copy of this from Skyscape via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4.5/5

I really enjoyed Darkness Brutal. It's a fast paced fantasy novel filled with magic, demons, angels and so much more! I was intrigued and engaged, and at times I had to stop to collect my thoughts because so much was happening and I wanted to try to predict what would happen next. It's safe to say it was hard to make predictions that came true; but that's the beauty of it.

I especially love how the main character, Aidan, is a guy who is not seduced easily and into using girls (he's actually quite the gentleman). He is a strong, but weak character all the same, in a way that while he spent so much of his life trying to do right by everyone, there are times he wants to give up. He has a rather shit life (he's an orphan [maybe] living on the streets (in the sense that he doesn't know his father or where he is and his mother is dead)), but overall he's a nice guy trying to make the best of it all. He's especially protective and devoted to his sister (because she was marked by a demon as a child and ever sense they have attacked every three years on her birthday, killing those close to her in order to get her, and so she's bounced from foster home to foster home). and he's got common sense. He isn't normal though; he has unique abilities and powers that he was born with, though he doesn't fully understand them. The great part about his powers? This book is well-written enough to make me feel like he's a real character and not a special hero/strong and invincible guy. He's fairly uncertain of his powers and tends to underestimate himself.

Jax brightens at the sight of me. “Ah, the Chosen One has returned!” he says in a very dramatic voice. “The One who shall be the most powerful!”

I give him a look that I hope says: Shut the fuck up, ass face.

I love how there's not too much romance (though the attempt at a love triangle really wasn't needed...). I also love the action and gore! It was all so well written and I easily emerged myself in Aidan's world, never feeling like I want out. Which brings me to say that the world building was great! I could visualize everything I wanted to and I loved the descriptions by the author!

All of the characters had their own personalities, their own snark and sass and humour. It was fantastic!

But basically, since Aidan has to protect his sister from those dang pesky demons, he fears the nearing of her twelfth birthday (naturally). In his sense of slight helplessness, he takes Hannah's advice (she and Eric help him earn money and get certain things to trap the demons) and calls up helps from a group of Ghostbusters (actually, he walks up to their doorstep and asks to talk to their leader). Actually they call themselves as Paranormal Investigative Agency. They hunt down demons and ghosts (though to them demons are not exactly the norm), and so Aidan falls in with a group of oddballs who are as strange as he is in the sense of having powers, led by a really weird guy. he also brings his sister along, trying his best to get her the protection she needs.

Honestly, this isn't a perfect book (when is one perfect, really?). There was talk of rape, there was a fair bit of gore, and swearing can definitely be found. If anything though, it made the characters feel more real. And so I recommend Darkness Brutal to lovers of action, fantasy, and books with great characters. Or everyone. That works too.

*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
**This is also posted on my blog Fishing For Books.

If you like quick, perhaps slightly unrealistic romances, then this is definitely the book for you. And, it's pretty much the perfect summer read.

I had absolutely no doubts about this book. Why? Because I was lucky enough to have read the first draft on Wattpad before the author even began the process of publishing it. I loved it then and I love it now. Sure, there's instant love between Oliver and Stella, but it works. And they don't get together right away. They have so many issues to go through first, considering he's a famous singer in a band and she's just a normal teenaged girl trying to get through life with her photos and sister who is a cancer victim.

But that's also why it's unrealistic: I mean, she's a normal girl, and he's a famous pop star rock star, and they so happen to meet in Starbucks before his huge signing and they're flirting, and then later that night she finds out they're staying in the same hotel as her and her brother and the next thing you know, the whole band is in an elevator with her. I mean, he still gives her his number even after she yelled at them all in the elevator...

So why, you may ask, do I love it so much if I hate instant love (as I have mentioned so many times before in other reviews)?

It's simple really. Why? Here you go: family and friendship. Those themes were abundantly clear throughout the novel.

Stella’s sister, Cara, is horribly sick; she has cancer. And it's pretty bad. Stella blames herself, wondering why she hadn't seen the signs sooner, and so she can’t bring herself to leave her and go to college in another city; she's too afraid she'll miss something, that Cara will get worse and she won't be there. But since their birthday is coming up soon, Stell and Drew have the best idea as to how to make Cara truly happy this year; get her a bunch of singed merchandise from her favourite band in the whole world: The Heartbreakers. And though Stella herself despises the group and their music, she goes on a trip with eh brother anyway because Cara is a die-hard fan of The Heartbreakers and it's the perfect opportunity to get something Cara will definitely love and cherish.

The fact that Stella decided to put her life on hold just for her sister is truly beautiful, because not many others would do that. She doesn't want to miss out on Cara's life in case there's no Cara left to live anymore. And I adore that her and Drew care so much, enough that they'd drive hours away and wait another few hours in a line just to get Cara a gift signed by a band both Drew and Stella can't stand. They sacrificed their ears (seriously, they hate their music) to make sure Cars would be happy.

And that's just family. For friends, wow. I adored the time Stella spent with the band. They were having fun! Everything was so light and completely enjoyable. No matter what happened, you were left admiring how they formed such a strong friendship bond. Secret of life; people change people. And that shows clearly throughout the book as the band returns to their former glory (or, they're starting to take risks to be who they really want to be) and Stella bursts out of the shell she cocooned herself in, in order to stay with Cara. She grows and becomes more confident in her work and being away from Cara.

Heck, even Cara’s illness was a pleasure to read about! Sure, she was sick and so close to dying at times, but she was always so optimistic and full of life! She was never moody or brooding or just plain rude just because she was sick. She was energetic, bursting at the seams with energy that her body couldn't seem to stand! She was a great character, and it was easy to fall in love with her, as well as the others.

Overall, The Heartbreakers is a sweet, fun and light read that I definitely recommend. That is, if you don't mind a good insta-love and slightly unrealistic story.

* I received a digital copy of this from Xpresso Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5/5

Wash Me Away is an emotional tale about a young girl trying to keep her secrets and pain her own. She finally has friends. She finally knows what being cared about feels like. But she still doesn’t quite know what normal is. And so she keeps her secrets while trying to figure out her friends and help them when they need it. Amidst her discovery of normalcy and love, secrets pile up and spill out until Addy's breaking. This is a tale about how she copes with what she's been through, how she grows and becomes stronger. It's a tale of dark days and brighter futures. It's about having hope and feeling happy and having all you need with your family and friends. It's how it all came to be better.

I didn't think I would love this so much. I figured I'd enjoy reading it, but it's more than that. Addy is broken, hiding secrets and what she truly feels. I love how strong she is as a character. She's been through so much and she's still standing! She's got a new life with her Aunt and Uncle, with her friends. Things are finally looking good. She has sleepovers now, home cooked meals, friends who she likes talking to and hanging out with, who care for her as she comes to care for them. But then Willow dies and Addy wants to learn more of who her mother was as a person and Julia is spewing secrets other's hadn't known, and then everything's crumbling. The secrets Addy discovers turn her world upside down. But she gets it back upright.

Leo is also a great character. He quotes movies from the 80s and has a knack for diffusing awkward or tense situations. He makes people laugh and smile and makes Addy's world a little better. That's probably why I like him most. He treat Addy well and you just know he'll never mistreat her. They both deserve happiness. Also, every moment they were together, I fell a little more in love with the story and their blooming romance. I was definitely rooting for them.

Which brings me to the writing. The writing is fantastic. It made emotions ooze through the words. The writing flows well and you really lose yourself in the story. Sure, not everyone can connect with what happened to Addy, but either way, many of us deal with depression and so that we can connect with. That helps us understand what the characters feel and what really makes this story so emotional.The author also really makes you think about it (suicide, death, life) more. She helps open our eyes just a little wider. And that's always a good thing.

The best part? It's not all death and depression. There's hope, happiness, light, love, humour, friendship and family. We see characters break, but we also see them stand up again stronger than ever. We see friendships form and feelings bloom. We learn of weird quirks or habits characters have. We learn that while hope may seem meaningless, things always get better eventually. This book inspires hope. That's all I really need to make this a more fantastic read.

Overall, I definitely recommend this to you lovers of romance books with great characters. Or read it anyway because I think you should. Be warned, it isn't for everyone.

4.5 stars

Intriguing, well written, slightly dark and eerie, and most definitely a tale to remember.

3.5 stars

Some dragging, boring parts, and the action could have been better. It was also a bit dramatic at points, and a little annoying at times with how blind Elena made herself be, but overall, I enjoyed this book. I like how fierce and strong the characters are while being weak at the same time. I like how Elena grows to realize so many things she suppressed and how it all came about. I like the writing, as well. I'm interested in continuing this series once I get my hands on the next books.