Mini Book Review Round-Up: YA Audiobook Edition

It's time for another round of mini reviews. I've recently discovered the amazingness of audiobooks. I know, I'm a bit behind the times. But they are really great. They give me the chance to read even when I have other things that need to get done. So I've had the chance to get a bit caught up on books that I really wanted to read but never quite found the time. These are some of the most recent books I've listened to. Some I recommend, some I don't. Let me know what you think of these in the comments or recommend your own favorite audios to me. I'm on the lookout for good ones!

Of Poseidon (Of Poseidon #1) by Anna Banks: This is the first book I read that was dedicated to mermaids, so I wasn't sure how I would like it or what I would think beforehand. But I'd heard a lot about this Galen character, so I knew I had to check it out. The book starts out with a bang, no build-up here, it jumps right into the drama and I really enjoyed that about it. I also liked the funny dialogue, I actually laughed out loud a few times. I was also a pretty big fan of a few of the supporting characters in the book. Unfortunately, I also had some problems with it. The alternating POV was weird because it went from 1st person with Emma to 3rd person with Galen. Since I was listening to this on audio, it was confusing the first few times it changed. I also wasn't a huge fan of Galen. Gasp! I know. He was a bit controlling and felt like another Edward Cullen, totally beautiful and allowed to tell Emma what to do and not to do because he just loves her so much and knows what's best for her. Ugh. I also had issues with the total lack of rights given to female Syrena and a couple stereotyped characters. And, of course, Of Poseidon leaves on a bit of a cliffhanger. But the next one comes out later this month, so you won't have to wait too long if you read this one now.  I thought Of Poseidon was cute and funny and the audio was pretty good but it just wasn't my favorite book ever. 3 Stars

Days of Blood and Starlight (Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2) by Laini Taylor: I loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone so much because it felt so different from anything I'd read before. I was nervous about not feeling those same things for a second book in the series, but I needed to know more about Karou and Akiva and what was going to happen. I need not have worried. Laini Taylor's writing is as beautiful and heartbreaking as ever in the sequel. I was on the edge of my seat for much of the book and the narrator did a wonderful job conveying all of the emotions.  I cannot wait to read the final book in this series when it comes out next year. It is guaranteed to be epic. If you enjoyed the first book in this series you should definitely read this one. (Suzanna is still one of my favorite characters!) I gave Days of Blood and Starlight 4 stars and highly recommend the series to fans of fantasy books. I also highly recommend the audio of both books.

The Selection (The Selection #1) by Kiera Cass: The Selection is a book that has been talked about a lot. When it first came out, I stayed away from it. I didn't want to get involved in the mess, support an author who would behave the way she did, and just wasn't that interested in the story. But after a while, when I saw the audio was available from my library, I thought why not? Turns out, I shouldn't have bothered. The Selection was originally said to be a cross between The Bachelor and The Hunger Games. I don't watch The Bachelor but I'm sure it is similar. But The Hunger Games? The only similarities I saw were the fact that The Selection is said to be dystopian and there is a competition that airs on TV. Otherwise, it is not even close. The Selection has about zero world building, a caste system that makes no sense at all, characters that are annoying and whiny, and a story where almost nothing happens. Except for a love triangle. Kind of. I don't know. I don't really have anything else to say about this book except that I really was not a fan. I don't often have books that I just don't like at all, but this was one. Also, the narrator on the audio sounded like a robot. I seriously stopped the audio after a couple minutes and looked it up because I thought it was a robot. It wasn't. I wouldn't recommend the book or the audio. I gave it 1 star.

If I Stay (If I Stay #1) and Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman: Oh my goodness, you guys, these books are so good. So. Good. (And nothing like Twilight, no matter what the cover says.) These are both contemporaries but the first has a sort of paranormal element because Mia has been in a car accident with her family and is telling the story as a sort of ghost while her body is in a coma in the hospital. She is trying to decide if she will stay and wake up or move on to whatever comes next. It is heartbreaking and raw but there is also hope and love. It is truly amazing. Where She Went is told from Adam's POV, Mia's boyfriend from If I Stay. It explores grief from a different POV and is also amazing and emotional. Both of these are also great examples of books that incorporate flashbacks and memories really well. I listened to these on audio back to back and they were better than I even imagined. I wasn't sure I could handle the emotions, but these books are beautiful and I highly recommend them. I also highly recommend the audios. They were each only about 5 hours, so they are very short and I promise you won't want to put them down! I gave If I Stay 4 stars and Where She Went 5 stars. Check them out!