Tag: The Revolution of Ivy

Top 10 Books of 2015!

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m continuing on with my Top 10 series, and sharing my favorite books of 2015 with all of you. I was very happy with myself, because I managed to read 50 books this year! My goal was originally to read only 20 books, because I knew I would be busy with my schoolwork. Luckily, I made reading a priority out of my hobbies and managed to read some amazing stories. This Top 10 list will includes the books that I read this year, not purely books that were published in 2015. Let’s jump right into my Top 10 Books of this year!

Top 10 Books of 2015!

Honorable Mention | Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’m cheating a bit and including an honorable mention on this Top 10 list because I really enjoyed reading Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. This is a debut novel, and I did find some issues in it, but the story itself was so emotional. I look forward to seeing what Yoon will release next!

10. The Revolution of Ivy by Amy Engell [REVIEW] [BUY]

I was so excited to read the conclusion to The Book of Ivy duology by Amy Engell. This is a great dystopian read, with well developed characters and exciting adventure. I know I’ll be re-reading it in the future!

9. An Italian Wife by Ann Hood [REVIEW] [BUY]

I read An Italian Wife early in the year, and I was a bit nervous to do so because it has pretty bad reviews on Goodreads. The book definitely has its issues, but it’s also a book that has stayed with me throughout the year. I’m surprised how often I think about the stories within it, and I really loved the overall message.

8. Binge by Tyler Oakley [REVIEW] [BUY]

Tyler Oakley’s Binge is by far the funniest book I read all year. It truly spoke to me, and I’m so glad I decided to pick it up even after originally snubbing it. If you’re a fan of the YouTuber, you have to get this one! 

7. Shutter by Courtney Alameda [REVIEW] [BUY]

I won a copy of this young adult horror book on Goodreads, and I’m so glad I did! It is a modern day twist on Dracula starring Micheline Helsing, a kick-butt heroine. Shutter gave me the chills, and I was obsessed with it for weeks after finishing it. I cannot wait for the next book in the series to come out!

6. The Martian by Andy Weir [REVIEW] [BUY]

I’m sure you’ve all heard of The Martian! Not only is it one of the most popular books of the year, but it came out as a movie, too. I haven’t seen the film yet, but the book was really cool. It definitely encouraged me to pick up more science fiction.

5. The Accident Season by Moïra Fowley Doyle [REVIEW] [BUY]

Another debut that I was really impressed by is The Accident Season. This is a creepy read for sure, and one that actually got me quite scared while I was reading it late at night. Plus, it has a fun plot twist that I didn’t see coming.

4. We Are Pirates by Daniel Handler [REVIEW] [BUY]

I seem to have read quite a few weird books this year! We Are Pirates is by far the most disturbing book I’ve ever read. I’m not going to say much about it, because I want you all to read it and let me know what you think!

3. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Saénz [REVIEW] [BUY]

There are four medals on the cover of this book for a reason! Aristotle and Dante is a uniquely written book with equally unique characters. Whilst the ending was predictable, the journey to the end was one hundred percent worth it.

2. Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff [REVIEW] [BUY]

Illuminae was beyond incredible! It is a young adult science fiction novel that is written through hacked document files. The reading experience is completely different than anything else I’ve read. You need to pick this up, trust me!

1. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn [REVIEW] [BUY]

I know, I was very late to the Gone Girl train. I am so glad I finally picked up this book. It lived up to the hype for me, and is by far the best book I’ve read all year. It is just amazingly crafted. I cannot say enough good things about it!

I hope you enjoyed hearing a bit about my Top 10 Books of 2015! If you’d like to learn more about any title, simply click on the link to my review. The link will either be on this blog, or to my Goodreads profile for older reviews. Please share your favorite books of the year with me in the comments! I’m always looking for my next read.

Book Review | The Revolution of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #2) by Amy Engel

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

This review is of the second book in a series, and contains spoilers for the first book. Please only read this review if you have read The Book of Ivy by Amy Engel.

Book Review | The Revolution of Ivy by Amy EngelThe Revolution of Ivy (The Book of Ivy #2) by Amy Engel

Published by Entangled Teen on November 3, 2015

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Dystopian, Romance

Format: eARC

Pages: 290

Source: NetGalley

Goodreads: ★★★★

Ivy Westfall is beyond the fence and she is alone. Abandoned by her family and separated from Bishop Lattimer, Ivy must find a way to survive on her own in a land filled with countless dangers, both human and natural. She has traded a more civilized type of cruelty — forced
marriages and murder plots — for the bare-knuckled brutality required to survive outside
Westfall’s borders.

 

But there is hope beyond the fence, as well. And when Bishop reappears in Ivy’s life, she must
decide if returning to Westfall to take a final stand for what she believes is right is worth losing everything she’s fought for.
REVIEW

The Revolution of Ivy was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I am so excited to be a part of a Blog Tour to celebrate the book’s release. I absolutely loved the first book in this young adult duology, and was anxious to see how Ivy’s story would end. This book begins just where The Book of Ivy ends, with Ivy waking up beyond the fence after being put out of Westfall. I did have some issues remembering the details of the first book, but thankfully was able to jump right back into the story rather quickly. That being said, I definitely see a reread of this series in the future!

As with the first book, The Revolution of Ivy is exceptionally well-written. Ivy is an excellent first-person narrator. She speaks in a dreamlike manner, but she is always easy to follow. I also really liked the addition of new characters Caleb and Ash. They were added to the story seamlessly, and were developed well throughout the book. The pacing of the novel was well done, too – Engel knows when to share details, and when to jump forward.

That being said, I did find the story to be a bit predictable, especially to a reader who is no stranger to the dystopian genre. There were definitely some big plot twists and unexpected scenes, so I deducted a half star from my rating for the touch of predictability. There were also a few moments in the book that I didn’t find fully convincing, so I decided to settle on a solid four star rating for that reason.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed The Revolution of Ivy. I cannot give much away in this review, as the story is so action-packed even the slightest hint of the plot will give a lot away in advance. The story is very emotional in more ways than one, and I can really connect with Ivy and feel for her in terms of what she experiences. I don’t necessarily agree with all of Ivy’s choices, but I still absolutely loved how this duology concluded.

Overall, I highly recommend picking up The Revolution of Ivy if you read The Book of Ivy. This duology is really incredible, and I am looking forward to the next book Engel writes. I know I will be reading this series again in the future. I’ve fallen in love with these characters, and will need to return to them throughout my reading life!

BUY THE BOOK

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GIVEAWAY

Enter to win a signed copy of The Revolution of Ivy and a necklace! This giveaway is open to US residents only, and is hosted by the publisher. Good luck!

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This blog post is a stop on a Blog Tour hosted by YA Bound Book Tours. All opinions are my own. Giveaway is hosted by the publisher, Entangled Teen, and I am not responsible for choosing or contacting the winner.