Review: Friendship on Fire by Danielle Weiler

Title: Friendship on Fire
Author: Danielle Weiler
Pages: 471
Publisher: Sid Harta Publishers
Release Date: March 1, 2011

The first few days of year 12 are disastrous for school captain Daisy Brooks.

But Daisy’s life takes a sudden turn when she is dared by Skye, the leader of the Blonde Brigade, to meet the mysterious, drop-dead gorgeous stranger, Nate, from rival school Addison Grammar. Daisy’s instant attraction to him disrupts her world. But what about her best friend Roman? How will he respond to this intruder?

Daisy is a vulnerable, yet fiery girl going through the chaotic phase between teenage and adulthood. She is about to discover the complexities of relationships, the etiquette of friendship and, most of all, her development as a woman.

Is it too late for Daisy to realise that the choices she makes shapes who she is and who she will become?

My Thoughts (minor spoilers): Friendship on Fire is one of the longer YA contemporaries I've read. There were times in the beginning of the novel where I found myself easily putting it down. The story was a bit slow-going, and I couldn't bring myself to become totally invested, which I figured was all a result of the novel's length. Once I got to a certain point later on, though, I realized it was mostly the main character Daisy who had been holding me back. Don't get me wrong. I do think Friendship on Fire could have still achieved the same message had it been shorter, but for me, it was Daisy and her relationships with the other characters that ultimately determined how I felt as I read the book. And while it took me some time to warm up to Daisy, as I got closer and closer to the end I kept wishing more pages would magically appear in my copy. I became that attached to Daisy's story.

Like I mentioned, Daisy initially wasn't my favorite character. I can appreciate a character who is strong-willed and has a fiery personality; however, it was the choices she made that were kind of a turn off. As I got further into the novel, I realized they weren't choices that most of us probably haven't made in our lives, and I began to accept the way things were happening. So, while it can still be a bit frustrating, Daisy's experiences were a necessary part of growing up, just like with any one else. She wouldn't have learned from her naive mistakes if she didn't go through all the situations she did. And comparing the person she was before to the person she is now, it's clear that she has matured greatly. It's a pretty amazing transformation.

Other than the two boys in her life (who I'll mention in a bit), Daisy's relationships with others evolved throughout the novel as well. Certain characters really surprised me in a good way, others in a completely bad way. There was one relationship that was constant throughout, and it was Daisy's relationship with her family. I love how her parents and older brothers were there for her and looked out for her. They let her figure things out on her own, even when they worried she wasn't making the best decisions. It was just great knowing that Daisy had a close and supportive family when she going through some important changes in her life.

Friendship on Fire is a bit like stories we've seen before. There's a girl (Daisy) who falls for the hot and douche-y guy (Nate) and can't see that her best friend (Roman) is actually the perfect guy for her. We know it'll either end badly or...yeah, who are we kidding? Even before reading it, I already had an idea of where Daisy's relationship with Nate was headed. It wasn't such of a surprise. What did surprise me was that I ended up feeling a bit sorry for Nate. Maybe I wasn't suppose to, but I did. Finding out about his home life made me understand why he became the person he is today. It doesn't excuse his behavior because he can definitely decide whether or not to be influenced by the people around him. I do believe his relationship with Daisy might have made him see things differently, and although I'm not sure how much he has changed or is willing to change as result, hopefully Nate realizes that it's not to late for him to become a better person. (Or maybe I'm all wrong about him and he just managed to manipulate me like he did Daisy and deserves to be miserable! Gahh!)

Now, Roman. The best friend, the good guy, the underdog. Oh, Roman. Even though I knew he was the better choice for Daisy, I can't say that I felt much of anything for him in the beginning. Honestly, and I feel bad now for saying this, I remember thinking that he must be a pretty pathetic guy for still obviously pining over a girl who didn't seem like the greatest friend. I think the reason I didn't care about him was because I was seeing him through Daisy's eyes. Since she dismissed his feelings and her focus was always elsewhere, I didn't get to really know him. It led me not to care about him or give him a second thought. I was so wrong about him. Roman ended up being part of why I didn't want the book to end. He's definitely the perfect guy for Daisy. For many reasons, actually. I thought he was sweet and attentive. It just amazes me that, while I had zero interest in him at first, I was seriously swooning over him by the end! I love that! And I love that Daisy was able to realize that he's a very good friend and that she needed to appreciate him the way he deserves to be appreciated.

It took some time for me to get completely hooked into Friendship on Fire, but when it happened, I couldn't bring myself to put it down. Whether my initial feelings were because of the pacing and length or even the characters, I thought it was all worth it in the end. I really liked Daisy's gradual development into a mature character, and I'm happy with how things turned out for her and certain other characters. I'm usually impressed with Australian authors, and Danielle Weiler is no exception. I'm not sure if there's another novel by her in the works, but if there is, I'm looking forward it!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Danielle Weiler for the chance to read FoF!

Various ARCs Giveaway

I'm giving away the following ARCs...

Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Dark Eyes by William Richter
Dead to You by Lisa McMann
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour
Slide by Jill Hathaway

...to ONE winner! :) This giveaway is US only and ends March 14. Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter.

In My Mailbox #62

In My Mailbox was created by Kristi at The Story Siren, inspired by Alea at Pop Culture Junkie.

Free Download:
Catching Suki by Sarah Alderson
The Light of Asteria: Kailmeyra's Last Hope by Elizabeth Isaacs
The Willows: Haven by Hope Collier

Library:
A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

Tour:
Fated by Sarah Alderson [Thanks to Tina!]
The Last Echo (The Body Finder, #3) by Kimberly Derting [Thanks to Southern Book Bloggers!]
The Selection by Kiera Cass

Won:
Fateful by Claudia Gray [Thanks to WinterHaven Books!]
The Forever Girl: Sophia's Journey by Rebecca Hamilton [Thanks to Rebecca!]
Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) ARC by R.L. LaFevers [Thanks to HMH!]
Hallowed (Unearthly, #2) by Cynthia Hand [Thanks to Fictional Distraction!]
Pride & Popularity (The Jane Austen Diaries, #1) by Jenni James [Thanks to Inkberry Press!]
Strings Attached by Judy Blundell [I have no idea where this came from, but thanks!]

It's been awhile! This IMM is for the past 5 weeks. I have read 4 of these books already (Catching Suki, The Selection, Fateful, The Last Echo) and currently reading Fated. My review for The Last Echo will be up closer to the release date.

A Monster Calls sounds pretty amazing, so I can't wait to get started! I'm also curious about Grave Mercy and The Forever Girl. Just a little nervous about Hallowed though, but hopefully I like it.

Thanks to Crystal & Amber from WinterHaven Books for the signed copy of Fateful! You guys are awesome! I also received copies of Pride & Popularity and Strings Attached, but I honestly have no idea how I ended up receiving them. Must have been giveaways, I guess. I definitely don't mind though; they were a nice surprise! :)

Well, this is the end of this IMM. Hope everyone has a great book week!

GirlTank + prequel to Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Want to read a prequel to Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson told in Suki's POV? Well, you're in luck! The short story prequel is Catching Suki and for a limited time you can download a copy for FREE at the GirlTank Facebook page! First, read the summary:

The Unit are closing in and Demos needs one of his team to go deep cover.

Enter Suki.

Fashion obsessed, boy-crazy and more than a little kooky, Suki is a mind reader with a special talent for buying shoes and for listening in on private conversations.

Tasked with infiltrating the enemy (namely Jack and Alex) Suki rises to the challenge, leaving a trail of chaos, destruction (and a large room service bill) in her wake.

A prequel to the events of Hunting Lila and including many of the characters from the book, this short story told through Suki’s eyes, will have you laughing out loud and gripping the edge of your seat.

My mini-review: I've already read it, and I really enjoyed it! I love Suki's character. She is seriously awesome and hilarious. It was so great to know a bit more about what happened before Lila came into the picture. At first I was nervous that I wouldn't remember anything from Hunting Lila (it's been awhile since I've read it), but I was happy and pleasantly surprised to find that it was easy to follow. I just wish it were longer because I was having too much fun reading it! It also made me want the sequel Losing Lila even more. Cannot wait!

As I mentioned, you can download the Catching Suki ebook for free at GirlTank's Facebook page. All you have to do is nominate a young woman you know (it can even be yourself) who you believe is a social entrepreneur, innovator, or hero! Want to know more about GirlTank? Here are some words from the director of GirlTank:

"We want to show the world that young women from every region of the planet are making powerful contributions to society and leading social change. We want to tell your stories!

So send us the names of the best examples of young women innovators from Chicago to Hong Kong to Capetown to Buenos Aires. Then spread the word to your networks!

As a thank you, each entry will receive a copy of “Catching Suki,” a short story by U.K.-based author Sarah Alderson (Hunting Lila and Fated)."

Awesome, right? Remember the free Catching Suki download is only for a limited time, so be sure to get your nomination in to support a great cause and for a chance to read Catching Suki and win other great prizes!

Review: Pure by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Pure (Covenant, #2)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Pages: 330
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: April 3, 2012

There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

My Thoughts: In Pure, stricter rules are implemented on all half-bloods, and Alex comes to realize just how much her actions can lead to very serious consequences. All of this results in Alex having even less freedom than other halfs (most higher-up Pures treated her unfairly though!), forcing her to either focus completely on training or stay confined in her bedroom. Although I felt that caused there to be a lot of similar scenes for a majority of the book, it did lead to some interesting and important character and relationship developments. It also made Alex aware of the fact that she is being targeted and that she needs to figure out who to trust. Honestly, I'm suspicious of almost every single character. I'm hoping Alex figures it out because I want her to finally be able to catch a break! I just don't know how soon that will be.

Compared to Half-Blood the mystery was much more amplified in Pure. I think I was excepting answers to at least some of the questions I had from the previous book. However, in reality, there was little to no answers. What's interesting, though, is that I didn't even notice, until I got to the very end and realized I was left with more questions than what I had before I started the book. There was definitely hints and small revelations throughout, like when the Oracle appeared again (seriously, WHO is the HE she was talking about?!), but there wasn't enough to actually draw concrete conclusions. I would say that Pure was a build-up to the major revelations that are sure to come in the final books of the series. Although I'm nervous, I cannot wait to know everything!

As for the romance, it was pretty obvious that there would be more love-triangle in Pure. And that the focus would shift...elsewhere. I knew this, and even though I'm not a huge fan of love-triangles, I was still dying to read this book! So, what did I think of this love-triangle? While I can't say the love-triangle in this series is groundbreaking, it's not so bad. I do like all the characters involved. However, no matter how likable and nice a character is or how steamy and hot things get, I am not easily swayed. That's just that way it is for me. If you're okay with love-triangles, then you're probably going to like what happens with it in Pure. Even I can admit there's some good development.

Overall, I found Pure to be completely addicting and hard to put down! Like with the other novels that I've read so far by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Pure was filled with awesome characters, kick-butt action, great humor, and some pretty hot romance. The 'Covenant' series is definitely a series I'm very excited to continue reading, and I'm really looking forward to the next book Deity!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to Spencer Hill Press for the ARC!

Review: Dark Eyes by William Richter

Title: Dark Eyes
Author: William Richter
Pages: 383
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: March 15, 2012

Wally was adopted from a Russian orphanage as a child and grew up in a wealthy New York City family. At fifteen, her obsessive need to rebel led her to life on the streets.

Now the sixteen-year-old is beautiful and hardened, and she's just stumbled across the possibility of discovering who she really is. She'll stop at nothing to find her birth mother before Klesko - her darkeyed father - finds her. Because Klesko will stop at nothing to reclaim the fortune Wally's mother stole from him long ago. Even if that means murdering his own blood. But Wally's had her own killer training, and she's hungry for justice.

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" for teens, this debut thriller introduces our next big series heroine.

My Thoughts: Dark Eyes had some pretty shocking moments. Things I did not see coming, especially in the last couple of chapters. But that doesn't mean I was happy with those surprises. In fact, I can't wrap my head around why some secrets were secrets in the first place. It made no sense. I felt like most of the death and sorrow in this book could have been avoided if a certain character was truthful YEARS ago about the identity of Wally's biological mother.

And the way every single event played out was completely unbelievable! See, some of the characters planned ahead for the future and seemed to know EXACTLY what would happen in the future. Like how other characters would react and what those characters' actions would be in the situations they were set up in. What are the odds of everything working out like that? Yeah... Unless those characters are actually psychics, very unlikely.

I also can't say I was a fan of the main character Wally. You would think, since Wally lives on the streets, that she must have come from a rough home. But...no. She was just a rebellious RICH kid with loving parents who decided to live on the streets. I don't care if her being adopted led to her acting out like that. She was still annoyingly selfish. I don't think she was the only character like that either. And after the big reveal near the end, I'm not sure who to blame for her behavior.

Although it managed to keep my interest, I was disappointed with the characters and the consequences of all the secrets. I do think Dark Eyes will appeal to some readers, so I would recommend it to those who enjoy thrillers minus a happily ever after.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Thanks to LibraryThing & Penguin for the ARC!