Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Series: Stand Alone
Published By: Entangled Teen (March 10, 2015)
Source: ARC Copy Provided by the Publisher (in exchange for an honest review)
Genre: YA Fantasy/Paranormal
My Rating: 4 Stars!
Book Description:
Bad girls burn hot…
Red is the color of Kia Alcott's hair.
It's her temper, which blazes hot and always gets Kia into way too much trouble.
And it's the color of fire. Fires that Kia can start…just by thinking about them.
When her latest “episode” gets her kicked out of school, Kia is shipped off to her grandmother, who works for the wealthy Blackwoods. It's an estate shrouded in secrets, surrounded by rules, and presided over by a family that is far from normal…including the gorgeous and insolent Ethan Blackwood.
Ethan knows far more about the dangers of the forest surrounding the estate than Kia can ever imagine. For this forest has teeth, and Ethan is charged with protecting the outside world from its vicious mysteries.
But inside, even the most vibrant shade of red doesn't stand a chance against the dark secrets of the Blackwood family…
Harvey has been on my favorite's list for awhile now, or rather, her amazing writing and fun series have been. It all started with the fun and lovable Drake boys and her enchanting Lovegood Girls. When I saw she had a new book out, I knew resistance was futile and quite frankly, I didn't even want to try in the first place.
Harvey once again had me hooked after the very first chapter. Who can resist fire, a bad girl, a mysterious castle, creepy woods, and a handsome broody boy? Not I. Throw in a whole mix of mythical creatures and monsters and you have one heck of a good story that kept me thoroughly entertained the whole way through.
I really enjoyed Kia and her fierceness. She was witty, snarky, and full of sarcasm and yet still compassionate and brave. Her character reminded me so much of Lucy from the Drake Chronicles that I couldn't help fall in love with her immediately.
Ethan and Sloane and even Abby were all wonderful characters and I loved how this alternated bewteen both Kia and Ethan's point of view. I don' t think I quite would have liked Ethan as much if we didn't get those glimpses inside his most inner thoughts and feelings.
The only thing I regret about this read is that it is a stand alone. I would love to delve back into the world of the Cabal and learn more about it and see where everyone is after this one ended.
*All thoughts and opinions are my own and were not influenced by the author or publisher. I was not compensated for this review.*
I haven't read a book by this author but it looks like she is really good! I don't think I knew about this book but all the characters sound so interesting! Plus it's great that you were hooked from the first chapter. Great review!
ReplyDeleteShe is a fun author, you should definitely try her sometime!
DeleteOh I remember seeing that book cover and thinking omg that looks amazing! So awesome it was. I love that there's a smattering of para beings and the heroine sounds like one I'd adore. Yay for an awesome read! Will keep my fingers crossed for ya on another book front. :D
ReplyDeleteIt definitely lived up to the cover. ;)
DeleteYay, I'm so glad you had fun with this one as well! As soon as I saw it was with a dark forest and castle like setting, and a rebel girl with the power of fire, I was hooked. This is my first read by Alyxandra Harvey and won't be my last.
ReplyDeleteWonderful review, Ali :)
Yay! I am so glad you tried her Kim, she write's such fun reads!
DeleteI really enjoyed this book too, Ali! It was a lot of fun and I really liked the characters. I love Alyxandra Harvey's writing style. And yes, I'm sad too that this is a stand alone! :(
ReplyDeleteGreat review!
She really does have such a fun style. I want more! :P
DeleteEthan sounds like the tricky kind of brooding boy Ali, the kind you would want to kick in the shins (or maybe a touch higher ;-) if it wasn't for his POV. I always get sucked in by characters like that though, and I've been hearing such great things about this author. I think it's way past time I read something by her!
ReplyDeleteYou're right, without his POV you wouldn't like him nearly as much. Definitely try her Jenny!
DeleteGreat review. That cover is gorgeous!! I love female characters with a bit of sarcasm because I can be sarcastic myself. Going to check this one out. :)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the sarcasm, I love it too. Just makes a read more fun for some reason. :)
DeleteI love Alyxandra Harvey! I didn't know she had this new one, it sounds great!
ReplyDeleteOh gosh then you must read it Candace!
DeleteI haven't read anything by this author, but it sounds like a good story! I love when the author makes you not only fall in love with their characters, but the world they created too. Wonderful review :)
ReplyDeleteYou will love her Natalie, I hope you decide to give her work a try. :)
DeleteIt;s funny how I long for more standalones, but then like you, when I get a solid one I want another book and a series. Sounds like this is one I need to look into.
ReplyDeleteI know right? We can never be pleased. ;P
DeleteThis sounds really good, and I like the sound of Kia. Sorry it's a stand-alone since you want more, but I kind of like that. :)
ReplyDeleteIt was good that it was a stand alone but sad too that there wasn't more. ;)
DeleteKia sounds spirited and I love the setting for this one. I know you want more but it is nice to see a standalone
ReplyDeleteShe was spirited and I loved her for it. :)
DeleteI love the cover of this one! It's creepy and mysterious. I like when an author can make alternating point of view work in the story. Great review!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much!
Deleteglad to see you enjoyed this book :D sound so creepy which is not my type of book :D
ReplyDeleteIt was a little creepy at times but overall not bad at all. ;)
DeleteI always want books I love to be turned into a series, but nope, we are not always that lucky. Sounds like a good one.
ReplyDeleteFunny how that works isn't it? Thanks Jennifer!
DeleteA bad girl and creepy woods? Sounds like a good time to me!
ReplyDeleteIt was. ;)
DeleteThis looks like a really fabulous read, girl! Kia definitely sounds like a heroine I'd root for. Adding this one to my TBR. :D
ReplyDeleteYay!
DeleteThis sounds awesome! On the one hand, I'm sort of excited to hear it's a standalone because I've got too many series on my TBR pile, but on the other, it sounds like you want a lot more, so hopefully she'll write a sequel or companion. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, it was nice to have it be over but sad too because I did want more. :)
DeleteI love fierce and snarky, and this has been on my list for a while. After reading your review, I REALLY can't wait to get to it :) Brilliant post!
ReplyDeleteA firestarter?! How have I not heard of this one before? I must. Read. This.
ReplyDeleteOooo I hope you do!
Deleteyea, I loved all the creatures in this one. It was my favorite part.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you enjoyed this one so much
Have an awesome weekend Ali :)
Michelle @ Book Briefs
Thanks Michelle, you too!
DeleteThis is one that I couldn't decide if I was interested in. It sounds good. Your review makes me more interested for sure. Especially that you're disappointed it's a standalone. Great review!
ReplyDeleteI do hope you give this one a try!
DeleteLove the cover, glad to hear the story is great as well. I'll be adding this to my TBR list, thanks for the review!
ReplyDelete