Book Review #15 [A Spy in the House by Y.S. Lee]

Rescued from the gallows in 1850s London, young orphan (and thief) Mary Quinn is surprised to be offered a singular education, instruction in fine manners — and an unusual vocation. Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls is a cover for an all-female investigative unit called The Agency, and at seventeen, Mary is about to put her training to the test. Assuming the guise of a lady’s companion, she must infiltrate a rich merchant’s home in hopes of tracing his missing cargo ships. But the household is full of dangerous deceptions, and there is no one to trust — or is there? Packed with action and suspense, banter and romance, and evoking the gritty backstreets of Victorian London, this breezy mystery debuts a daring young detective who lives by her wits while uncovering secrets — including those of her own past.

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Follow me to the Victorian Era as I review Y.S. Lee's debut novel A Spy in the House (The Agency #1). We follow Mary Quinn a seventeen year old orphan who is shadowing as a spy for all-female agency. Mary is an out-spoken, independent, headstrong, and intelligent young woman whose been through a lot in her young life.

In the beginning we meet a 12-years old Mary on the verge of life or death. After escaping by the help of Annie, Mary enrolls in Miss Scrimshaw’s Academy for Girls. But, this academy is secretly the front of a detective agency for women.  Think of the times. It's in the 1800s' around this time women weren't taken very seriously. Only seen to do the housework. To "fragile" to do anything other than that. This is the catalyst for The Agency. Using that stereotype for women, no one would suspect them as hired spies. It's a perfect set-up when you think about it; it gives them the advantage.

Our male counterpart to Mary is James Easton. Oh James. He's witty, arrogant, and adorable! When he first meets Mary he has his judgement and questions. (I LOVE how they first met. How awkward was that? lol) But, as time went by and they saw each other more; James came to respect and appreciative Mary as an equal. They were an adorable pair, I really enjoyed their flirty banter. I also enjoyed how James and Mary's relationship is one that will gradual grow. Sadly, there is an obstacle in the way. Mary's secret --- of being a spy. I'm curious as to how everything will turn out when James find out. 

Either way, I will continue to follow Mary on her adventures along with James and the ladies of the Agency.

I recommend this to anyone with a thirst for historical romance/mystery.

Rating: 4/5

Who Am I?

So, I decided to re-do my about me page.

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Name: Megan
Age: 20
Location: USA

Yes. So, my name is Megan and I am a reader/blogger/reviewer. I've been a reader since the age of 12, but I did not become an avid reader until I was in my sophomore year of high school since then it has grown.
I review/read Young Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, and the occasional Middle Grade novels. YA being the majority of my reviews.
After stalking and commenting on other readers' blogs, I thought "Why not make my own?" So, I started this blog last year in September.

Authors| Publishers etc - If you would like to contact me regarding anything on my blog, or if your interested in me reviewing/promoting a book, hosting a giveaway, etc. Feel free to contact me via email.

Email: busybookbee@aol.com
You can also find me at Goodreads or on Twitter - @toshigem

 I hope you'll follow along or continue to follow along as I continue to dive deeper in this world. :)

Library, Library where for art thou?

It's been years, and I mean YEARS since I last stepped foot into my neighborhood library. I know! I know! How could I right? The library should should be like my second home?

Yes and No.

Yes, I love books; which should be pretty obvious. I don't mind going to the library. As a matter of fact that's where I am right now as I am writing this blog post.

No. Mainly, because when I was a visitor of this establishment it was when I was in middle school/early high school years. Now, that I'm in college the only "library" I really do visit is my school when I need help with projects and papers.

So, today I decided to come back and boy am I glad. They totally upgraded on books. Right now, next to this computer I have at least 5 books I've wanting to read. Who knew I'd find it here? The only bad part is that I can't keep it, you know? But, hey! At least I get to read it.

Saratoga Library - my faith in you has been restored.

On Wednesday....

I am waiting. And waiting, and waiting..
This coming Wednesday the UPS man will be handing me or my dad a box. And, in that box are two books (supposed to be three but my mom said no. stupid tax/shipping and handling.) I can't wait to read! And they are..

Y.S Lee's The Agency spy series A Spy in the House and The Body at the Tower.

Ugh, you guys have no idea how long I've been wanting to read this series! It's just something about spy/mystery series especially if it's based in a different era. I'll admit sometimes with certain books the dialogue kind of throws me off and my eyes may glaze over. (lol) But, I'm making an exception for this. :)
You can defintely expect a review of this once I've read it. Whoop-whoop!

Book Review #14 [Everneath by Brodi Ashton]

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

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Isn't this cover just so pretty? Love the red dress and the backdrop. Yeah.

Today I'll be reviewing Brodi Ashton's YA novel Everneath. Similar to my last book review this book is based on a piece of Greek Mythology; more specifically Hades and Persephone. You guys know the story right? Hades was in love with her. so he tricked Persephone to stay in the Underworld by getting her to eat 4 seeds from a pomegranate. She's stuck there for 4 months and the other months she gets come back to the surface. Blah Blah.

Anyway, in this novel our versions of Hades and Lady P. are Cole and Nikki. What I loved about these two was that everything was pretty much clear cut. There was no beating around the bush. Cole knew Nikki didn't want to be with him, just like Nikki knew that she'll never really escape Cole. This book can easily be mistaken as Nikki moping around doing the teenage angst party but it wasn't. The only thing Nikki wanted was redemption. To apologize, to make-up for the mistake she made before her time runs out again.

Another character we are introduced to is Jack. OH JACK. JACK...It's impossible not to fall for him. After losing Nikki for so long, he never gave up on her. I loved his reaction when he found out she was back. Everything between Nikki and Jack is so simple, you can tell they love each other so much.

You know when you read a YA novel there's almost ALWAYS a love-triangle? And, half of them are just so frustrating because the girl can never make up her mind, or one of the guys is complete douche? Ms. Aston did this triangle SO WELL! You can't hate Cole or Jack. You end up feeling for the both of them. And, that's what makes it so hard to pick a guy to root for. I swayed back and forth while I read this. Ugh, damn you Brodi Aston for making me love both these boys. If I had to pick a team...arrghhh I'd go --- TEAM JACK. (sorry Cole -________-) I mean yes I won't deny the whole elusive bad boy thing Cole got going on is entincing. But, Jack...OH SWEET SUGARY HEAVEN JACK. He's so sweet, caring, protective and just..well damn it he's Jack and that's all the reason I need. Hmph.

I recommend this book to anyone looking for a solid YA novel, a non-hair ripping frustrating love triangle with a splash of Greek mythology to make things interesting.

Rating: 5/5

Quote: "Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”

Upcoming Reviews

Everneath by Brodie Ashton

     Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

 Knightley Academy by Violet Haberdasher

      Henry Grim is a servant boy at the Midsummer School—until he passes the elite Knightley Academy exam and suddenly finds himself one of the first commoners at the Academy, studying alongside the cleverest and bravest—and most arrogant—young aristocrats in the country. They thwart Henry’s efforts to become a full-fledged Knight of the Realm, but he and two commoner classmates are determined to succeed. In the process, the boys uncover a conspiracy that violates the Hundred Years’ Peace treaty—and could lead to war! Can Henry manage to save his school and country from their enemies—and continue to study at the Academy?

 The Summoning by Kelly Armstrong

    After years of frequent moves following her mother’s death, Chloe Saunders’s life is finally settling down. She is attending art school, pursuing her dreams of becoming a director, making friends, meeting boys. Her biggest concern is that she’s not developing as fast as her friends are. But when puberty does hit, it brings more than hormone surges. Chloe starts seeing ghosts–everywhere, demanding her attention. After she suffers a breakdown, her devoted aunt Lauren gets her into a highly recommended group home. 
At first, Lyle House seems a pretty okay place, except for Chloe’s small problem of fearing she might be facing a lifetime of mental illness. But as she gradually gets to know the other kids at the home–charming Simon and his ominous, unsmiling brother Derek, obnoxious Tori, and Rae, who has a “thing” for fire–Chloe begins to realize that there is something that binds them all together, and it isn’t your usual “problem kid” behaviour. And together they discover that Lyle House is not your usual group home either…

 Dark Descendant by Jenna Black

    Nikki Glass can track down any man. But when her latest client turns out to be a true descendant of Hades, Nikki now discovers she can’t die. . . .  

Crazy as it sounds, Nikki’s manhunting skills are literally god-given. She’s a living, breathing descendant of Artemis who has stepped right into a trap set by the children of the gods. Nikki’s new “friends” include a descendant of Eros, who uses sex as a weapon; a descendant of Loki, whose tricks are no laughing matter; and a half-mad descendant of Kali who thinks she’s a spy.  But most powerful of all are the Olympians, a rival clan of immortals seeking to destroy all Descendants who refuse to bow down to them. In the eternal battle of good god/bad god, Nikki would make a divine weapon. But if they think she’ll surrender without a fight, the gods must be crazy. . .  

Book Review # 13 [Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan]

Hello all! I've brought a special book review 5 in 1 ! It's the popular middle grade novels Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan! Right away I can tell you that this is series is one of my favorites. 

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In this series we follow a young boy by the name of Perseus "Percy" Jackson. Percy is described and/or seen as a troubled child. He's been kicked out of school too many too count, has ADHD and not to mention dyslexia. You can imagine how hard Percy's life is already, but it gets even more difficult when he discovers his true nature that he's actually a "demi-god" or half human/half god. He also uncovers that his so-called absent father is actually Poseidon; God of the Sea! He gets sent to a camp that trains and protects kids like him - Camp Half-Blood.

Along with his best friends Annabeth [daughter of Athena' goddess of wisdom] and Grover; a satyr. Percy goes on wild adventures to save not only his world, but the mighty Olympians. Along the way, we see Percy grow into a weak skinny little 12 years old boy and into a 16 years old courageous, brave hero who can command an entire army to defeat their enemy. 

We get a look into the gods themselves and their relationship with Percy. For example --- Ares [god of war] he and Percy have a very wary and violent relationship each always read to take down the other.

And, then there's Mr. D or Dionysus [ god of wine] who happens to be Percy's camp director at Camp Half Blood. Although throughout the series, it may seem like he doesn't care about Percy readers can tell it's all an act.

Now for out villans. We meet up with Medusa, Cyclops, Furies, HellHounds, etc. But, the main goal is for Percy and company to defeat the mighty titan Kronos; father of Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades. (and in a way....Percy's grandpa. ha. how messed up is that?) Kronos uses a fellow camper and friend of Annabeth, Luke [son of Hermes] to get what he wants. We have several attempts of saving and/or stopping Luke throughout the books.

Overall, this a very enjoyable series. And, I highly recommend it. I know, it's targeted demographic is middle graders, but this can be enjoyed by ALL AGES.

Rating: 5/5

Quotes:

“You deal with mythological stuff for a few years, you learn that paradises are usually places where you get killed.” 

“Dreams like a podcast, 

Downloading truth in my ears. 
They tell me cool stuff." 
"Apollo?" I guess, because I figured nobody else could make a haiku that bad. 
He put his finger to his lips. "I'm incognito. Call me Fred." 
"A god named Fred?”