The Assassin's Curse & The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Assassin's Curse by Cassandra Rose Clarke
Series: The Assassin's Curse Series
Released: October 2nd 2012
Pages: 298
Source: Purchased
Buy it: The Book Depository | Book World
     - Both have free shipping worldwide

Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to another pirate clan. But that only prompts the scorned clan to send an assassin after her. When Ananna faces him down one night, armed with magic she doesn't really know how to use, she accidentally activates a curse binding them together.

To break the spell, Ananna and the assassin must complete three impossible tasks--all while grappling with evil wizards, floating islands, haughty manticores, runaway nobility, strange magic...and the growing romantic tension between them.

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The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

Series: The Assassin's Curse Series #2

Released: June 13th 2013

Pages: 330

Source: Purchased

Buy it: The Book Depository | Book World

     - Both have free shipping worldwide

After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

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An incredibly fun and exciting series! I thoroughly enjoyed these books, and if you would like to support the author and keep them available to buy, then please spread the word or purchase the books. The publishing company has closed and your support can help to ensure a re-release of these books in the future!

Read more over at Cassandra Rose Clarke's blog: here

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides

The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides
Released: March 19th 1993
Pages: 249
Source: Purchased
Buy it: The Book Depository (Free Shipping)

The shocking thing about the five Lisbon sisters was how nearly normal they seemed when their mother let them out for the one and only date of their lives. Twenty years on, their enigmatic personalities are embalmed in the memories of the boys who worshipped them and who now recall their shared adolescence: the brassiere draped over a crucifix belonging to the promiscuous Lux; the sisters' breathtaking appearance on the night of the dance; and the sultry, sleepy street across which they watched a family disintegrate and fragile lives disappear.

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The Short
The Virgin Suicides is beautiful, it is poignant, it is unique. Such a superb writing style which keeps you intrigued even when you know how this story is going to end, and not a lot happens leading up to it. You can't help but want to know the why, how and when, and this keeps you flipping those pages until the very end.

The Long

Wither by Lauren DeStefano

Wither by Lauren Destefano
Released: May 3, 2011
Series: The Chemical Garden Series [Book One]
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pages: 358
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Book Depository (free shipping) | Amazon

In our brave new future, DNA engineering has resulted in a terrible genetic flaw. Women die at the age of 20, men at 25. Young girls are being abducted and forces to breed in a desperate attempt to keep humanity ahead of the disease that threatens to eradicate it.
16-year-old Rhine Ellery is kidnapped and sold as a bride to Linden, a rich young man with a dying wide. Even though he is kind to her, Rhine is desperate to escape her gilded cade - and Linden's cruel father. With the help of Gabriel, a servant he is growing dangerously attracted to, Rhine attempts to break free in what little time she has left. 

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Wither is a beautifully written novel. The emotions conveyed and the world created by DeStefano are all so vivid. The story is heart-wrenching and tear-jerking, the characters leave you with an aching heart, and the dystopian world is so tragically disturbing. I cannot conjure up the right words to appropriately express how talented Lauren DeStefano is. The way that she writes and her ability to simultaneously infuse beauty and horror is just indescribable.

The pace of the story was quite slow and calm. This gave way to the character development and world building which was magnificently done. The plot focuses on Rhine's journey to build trust with Linden and his father, as she attempts to undermine them and ultimately escape from the life she has been thrust into. There are plenty of emotional moments, as Rhine develops strong relationships with her sister brides as well as Linden's dying wife.

Rhine is an admirable character. Her strength and dedication does not falter one bit, from the moment she is kidnapped. She wants out and that is the only option she will accept. She was so incredibly brave and strong.

I will admit, that I didn't like Cecily toward the beginning of the book. She began to grow on me as the story went on but she let of a childish and immature vibe that really frustrated me. On the other hand, I loved Jen the whole way through. Her reaction to her situation was not what I expected from her, but I still liked her personality. She brought out a lot of emotion in me when it came down to some intense scenes.

This is really hard to write. I just can't put into words how beautiful the story was. The story itself was quite horrifying, but DeStefano's writing was gorgeous and perfect for this type of dystopian book. She managed to combine these two elements so well.