Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Series: Mara Dyer #2
Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR
First published: October 23rd, 2012
Source: Bought
Format: Hardback
Pages: 527

Goodreads Summary:
Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. She can’t.

She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren’t.

She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She’s wrong.

In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Previous review(s): The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

My Rating: 5.0 / 5

First thoughts:

When I read the last word of The Evolution of Mara Dyer I couldn't really think about much but "What the f***ing hell?!" I'm always a tiny bit scared of sequels to books I really loved and if you feel similar, don't be scared of this book - it's just as amazing as the first installment and will leave you speechless and wanting more... immediately.

More detailed:

After falling love with the first installment of this trilogy I have been eagerly awaiting the release of The Evolution of Mara Dyer and of course ditched my reading schedule to read it as soon as possible. But now I almost regret not waiting, because I'm seriously wondering how I'm supposed to survive the wait for the third book of this über-awesome series.

One of my favorite parts is still Noah Shaw, of course. In the beginning I was scared that The Evolution of Mara Dyer might suffer from a typical second-book-problem by not including the love interest as much as I'd like it to, but luckily I soon realized that Noah isn't that easy to get rid of. And while he's quite a broken character, I just love witnessing scenes with him.

Mara is still the unreliable narrator we got to fall in love with in the first book and it's still fascinating to see the world from her perspective. During certain scenes in The Evolution of Mara Dyer - especially toward the ending - I just wanted to hug the poor girl and tell her that she'll eventually get her happy ending. My only problem? I'm not really sure she will and if Michelle Hodkin decides to break our hearts, this is one of the few series I'd actually still love nonetheless.

Just like it's predecessor, The Evolution of Mara Dyer is incredibly hard to put down. Apart from the beautiful style of writing, the über-exciting plotline and the intriguing characters, it's Michelle Hodkin's way of always ending her chapters with little cliffhangers that made me continue reading even when I should have been sleeping or learning.

All in all, I fell in love with this amazing series all over again. I'm already craving the third book more than it's healthy for me and I can't wait to delve back into Mara Dyer's creepy world full of mysteries and secrets that I'm dying to get answers to. If you haven't read this series yet, I strongly recommend you to change that as soon as possible - this is a must-read!

Do you love this series as much as I do? Or, if you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Carina

Review: Poison Princess by Kresley Cole

Poison Princess by Kresley Cole
Series: The Arcana Chronicles #1
Publisher: Simon & Schuster FYR
First published: October 2nd, 2012
Source: Received from UK publisher
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 369

Goodreads Summary:

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

I'd recommend this for an older audience (16+).

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

Mysterious, compelling and with a positively frustrating love story, Poison Princess is impossible to forget and keeps its readers on their toes all the time. With more than one twist in the storyline and characters that you can love and hate at the same time, this novel ensured that I'll be reading its sequel as soon as possible, hoping to find out more about the mysteries Kresley Cole weaved into this paranormal post-apocalyptic story.

More detailed:

How do you describe a book that has taken you by surprise completely? What can you say about a novel that you wanted to read, but didn't expect to be so special? Because that's exactly how I'd describe Poison Princess - special.

We get to follow Evie on her quest to find answers to her questions about who - or even what - she truly is and if her destiny is somehow connected to a greater good, or evil. As a main character and narrator I liked her a lot and found it easy to understand her motivations and reactions to certain situations and characters.

Her love interest, the swoon-worthy Jackson Deveaux is definitely a different type of bad boy. He's not as easily turned into a good guy like some other "bad" love interests in the YA world, but still shows his weaknesses from time to time. I definitely would have preferred to find out more about his past and his demons, but except for a few hints, Poison Princess solely concentrated on Evie's destiny.

And what a destiny that is. The paranormal aspect of Tarot that is used in Poison Princess is, at least to me, unique in YA and I've devoured the lore and mystery Kresley Cole created. Along with the post-apocalyptic setting, readers are thrust into a completely different world that's still familiar enough to create a subtle fear of having to endure similar things.

All in all, Poison Princess turned out to be a wonderful and addicting read and I can't wait to see where Kresley Cole will take this story. Even though it can be a bit confusing at times, I fell in love with the lore, but am still trying to mend my slightly broken heart after an ending that will have you crave the second book of the Arcana Chronicles.

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Have you read Poison Princess? If yes, what did you think about it?

If no, do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Carina

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Series: Beautiful #1
Publisher: Atria Books (Simon & Schuster)
Published: August 14th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Format: eARC
Pages: 432

Goodreads Summary:
The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby needs—and wants—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

I'd recommend this for an older audience (16+).

My Rating: 5.0 / 5

First thoughts:

There's always that one book among many that you pick up without too many expectations and end up falling love with just after reading a few sentences, and that love just grows with every chapter. One of these books is Beautiful Disaster, which I devoured as fast as possible without realizing that with every beautiful word I read, I came closer to its inevitable ending. I need more!

His eyes brightened. "You have my word. I won't even think about your panties... unless you want me to." (Kindle Location 237)* 

More detailed:

I had heard amazing things about Beautiful Disaster, but I also have to admit that I was scared that all the hype would leave me disappointed. If you're having the same fears, stop worrying and get your own copy of this awesome novel immediately - it was more addicting than chocolate cakes, fresh coffee or anything else that can make a girl happy.

The love story is as intense as one can get. Travis and Abby are perfectly imperfect and have to face many ups and downs together. As the bad boy and the not-so-good girl they have many issues to get over, which ensures that reading Beautiful Disaster never gets boring. Whenever I thought 'Yes, they finally got over issue Y', they found problem Z to fight over (just to make up, or out, again).

A pair of heavy black boots stepped in front of me, diverting my attention to the floor. My eyes traveled upward; jeans spattered with blood, a set of finely chiseled abs, a bare, tattooed chest drenched in sweat, and finally a pair of warm, brown eyes. (Kindle Location 72)*

I actually didn't know that Beautiful Disaster has some very steamy and hot scenes that make a girl even happier, but I definitely didn't mind finding out about it. I wouldn't exactly classify this as a Young Adult story - more something leaning toward "New Adult." This is why, like I already said above, I'd recommend this for an older audience rather than the usual YA one.


But not only the love story made it so hard to put down Beautiful Disaster. I also adored the supporting characters, especially America and Shepley, who were so vividly and realistically written that I'd love to read a novel just about them as well. While they are continually weaved into Abby and Travis' lives, I love that they had their own little love story as well.

She seemed disappointed, and I giggled at the fallen expression on her face. It had always been a dream of America's for us to date friends, and roomated-slash-cousins, for her, was hitting the jackpot. (Kindle Location 314)*

All in all, Beautiful Disaster is a book that I put onto my favorites-list immediately after finishing it. I'm definitely regretting that I never read it before despite the raving reviews and now can't wait for Jamie McGuire's upcoming companion novel Walking Disaster which will allow us to witness the same story from Travis' point of view.

By the way, why are you still reading this review? Get a copy of Beautiful Disaster and read it. Now!

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Have you read Beautiful Disaster? If yes, what did you think about it?
If no, do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Carina

* All quotes are taken from an eARC of Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire, courtesy of Atria Books and NetGalley, and are subject to change in the final version.

Review: Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson

Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson
Series: Lila #2
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster UK)
First published: August 2nd, 2012
Source: Received from publisher
Format: Paperback
Pages: 322

Goodreads Summary:
Alex and Lila are on the run, desperately trying to stay one step ahead of the Unit, which is somehow tracking their every move. While Alex is determined to keep Lila safe and her ability secret at any cost, Lila's only thought is of finding a way back to California so she can rescue her brother and mother from the military base where they're being held. Struggling to control both her growing power and her deepening feelings for Alex, Lila decides the time has finally come to stop running and start fighting. Together with Alex, Demos, and the others she's come to think of as family, Lila plans not only to save her brother and mum, but also to completely destroy the Unit and everything it stands for. But the plan requires Lila to return to California alone, and to make friends with the enemy - and in doing so, she risks losing everything: Alex, her family… even her life.

This review might include spoilers for Hunting Lila.

Previous review(s): Hunting Lila

My Rating: 5.0 / 5

First thoughts:

Almost better than its predecessor, Losing Lila starts off with lots of action and never pauses to a slower pace. The romance is bittersweet, sexy and heartfelt, the friendships will never fail to make you smile and the witty narration makes the sad moments bearable. If you have yet to read this series, stop procrastinating and pick it up - it's worth every second you spend reading it, and more.

'Bye,' Suki called out, her eyes so glued to Alex's bare chest that she failed to watch where she was going and walked straight into the doorpost. We heard her giggling all the way down the stairs. (p. 45)*

More detailed:

If a book makes you squeal like a little girl, laugh out loud, and shout at its characters angrily, you know it's going to end up on your list of favorites. Losing Lila is no exception and alternately turned me into a puddle of goo and a bundle of nerves. It was just impossible to put down and I finished reading it in less than a day, always hoping that the book might magically become thicker.

Just like in the first novel, the romance warmed my heart and made me clutch the book to my chest on more than one occasion. I was lucky to be mostly alone while reading it, because my reactions would have caused more than one raised eyebrow, but, as I said above, this is exactly what makes a novel like Losing Lila so special.

He leaned forward and kissed me, still smiling. My whole body melted away, the muscles becoming as soft as sponges dipped in a hot bath, all the guilt and worry disappearing back into the corners of my consciousness, where I preferred them to stay. (p. 17)*

The times aren't easy for Alex and Lila, but they manage to never give up and fight for the things they believe in and the people they love. Their interactions are beautiful and I loved witnessing how not only they developed but quite a few secondary characters as well. Sarah Alderson has created such wonderful characters (although there are, of course, some evildoers as well) and I fell in love with them completely.

There was never really a slow moment in Losing Lila; everyone and everything constantly moved and changed, trying to find solutions to the problems and severe situations they were faced with. Some powers developed to a great extent, not only surprising its wielders but me, as a reader, as well. I was always looking forward to the next fight, hoping to find out even more.

We were six floors up. I looked at Alex, wondering what he was thinking. He wasn't looking down, though. He was looking across at the opposite roof.
'We've got to jump,' he said.
'Are you kidding?'
He wasn't kidding. (p. 5)*

If you have not read this series, do yourself a favour and don't wait any longer. If you've only read Hunting Lila so far, go ahead and get a copy of Losing Lila as well, because you'll love how this story continues. While reading this series, I completely fell in love with Sarah Alderson's writing and will make sure to read more of her books in the future.

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | The Book Depository

Have you read Losing Lila? If yes, what did you think about it?

If no, do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Carina

* All quotes are taken from a finished paperback copy of Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson, published by Simon Pulse (ISBN: 9780857071972).

Review: Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson

Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson
Series: Lila #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster UK)
First published: August 5th, 2012
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Pages: 318

Goodreads Summary:

17-year-old Lila has two secrets she’s prepared to take to the grave. The first is that she can move things just by looking at them. The second is that she’s been in love with her brother’s best friend, Alex, since forever.

After a mugging exposes her unique ability, Lila decides to run to the only people she can trust—her brother and Alex. They live in Southern California where they work for a secret organisation called The Unit, and Lila discovers that the two of them are hunting down the men who murdered her mother five years before. And that they’ve found them.

In a world where nothing and no one is quite as they seem, Lila quickly realises that she is not alone—there are others out there just like her—people with special powers—and her mother’s killer is one of them…

My Rating: 4.5 / 5

First thoughts:

With very unique paranormal elements and a love story that will make you swoon, Hunting Lila turned out to be just as awesome as so many other bloggers already told me. Lila's a character who is easy to relate to despite her paranormal problems and with her narration I was inevitably pulled into her world and didn't want to leave it once I got to the book's end.

I caught sight of the top of Alex's head and inhaled fast, my heart rate skyrocketing. I missed my footing on the next step and went tumbling forwards. In the split second before I hit the wall all I could think was that this wasn't exactly the reunion I'd fantasised about in my head every hour of every day for the last three years. (p. 21)*

More detailed:

Even though I had read many very positive reviews for Hunting Lila, I took much longer than necessary to finally read it myself. And now I can just say that I'm regretting to have waited so long and can only advise anyone who is thinking about reading it, to do so as soon as possible.

The love story is definitely one of my favorite aspects about Hunting Lila. Even before we get to know her, she was in love with her brother's best friend Alex and when she sees him again after a few years, all her old feelings come rushing back. And while my teenage crushes might not have been as intense as hers, I could completely sympathize with her feelings.

Bachelor pad? Of course. It was absurd that Alex wouldn't be dating girls. He was beautiful, and yes, I was blinded by bias, but it was still an undisputable fact. By anyone. (p. 15)*

But not only Alex and Lila's relationship is lovely to witness. Sarah Alderson has created many characters that are so realistic despite being "only" secondary characters and make reading this so much more fun. Their relationships are almost just as complex as the main love story and that's what makes a book special for me.

As I've already said above, I really liked the paranormal elements of Hunting Lila as well. Powers like Lila's telekinesis are usually connected with being a certain supernatural creature and I liked that this wasn't the case in this book. And finding out more about the organization and groups that were created based on the problems such powers might come with was very interesting as well.

I knelt on the floor, breathing loudly. I had to get this under control. No more using my ability, for anything. That was the rule. (p. 17)*

All in all, I wish I could force you to read Hunting Lila if you haven't done so already. My only criticism is that I wish it were longer which would have given me a chance to spend even more time in this intriguing world. Be sure to have a copy of the second book Losing Lila near when starting this series, because you're going to crave it.

Buy this book:

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Have you read Hunting Lila? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts, so feel free to leave a comment below.

Carina

* These quotes are taken from a finished copy of Hunting Lila by Sarah Alderson, published by Simon & Schuster UK.

Review: The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams

The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
Series: Incarnation #1
Publisher: Simon Pulse (Simon and Schuster UK)
First published: April 26th, 2012
Source: Received from publisher
Format: Paperback
Pages: 246

Goodreads Summary:

After spending six hundred years on Earth, Seraphina Ames has seen it all. Eternal life provides her with the world's riches but at a very high price: innocent lives. Centuries ago, her boyfriend, Cyrus, discovered a method of alchemy that allows them to take the bodies of other humans from jumping from one vessel to the next, ending the human's life in the process. No longer able to bear the guilt of what she's done, Sera escapes from Cyrus and vows to never kill again.

Then sixteen-year old Kailey Morgan gets into a horrific car accident right in front of her, and Sera accidentally takes over her body while trying to save her. For the first time, Sera finds herself enjoying the life of the person she's inhabiting--and falling in love with the boy who lives next door. But Cyrus will stop at nothing until she's his again, and every moment she stays, she's putting herself and the people she's grown to care about in danger. Will Sera have to give up the one thing that's eluded her for centuries: true love?

My Rating: 3.5 / 5

First thoughts:

Incorporating thought-provoking topics like the wish for immortality, the difference of science and spirituality and trying to fight for something you need to believe in, The Alchemy of Forever has the potential to be a mind-blowing read. While I wasn't too happy with some aspects, I definitely enjoyed reading it and after the cliffhanger ending I can't wait for the second book of the Incarnation series.

More detailed:

I had been intrigued by The Alchemy of Forever's synopsis ever since I first read it and am happy to finally have read the novel itself. Alchemy - scientific magic in my eyes - makes it possible for Seraphina to live forever. But to do that she has to take over other people's bodies at regular intervalls, her old ones getting tired very soon.

Sera is also the narrator of this story, enabling us to see the world through the eyes of someone who has lived for centuries. Considering that many YA paranormal stories are told from a "human" protagonist, or at least someone who is completely new to the paranormal aspects, it was refreshing to witness the story from Sera's point of view.

The man who made this possible for her, Cyrus, also ends up being the bad guy in The Alchemy of Forever. Over centuries he's become cold and ruthless, not understanding Sera's hesitance to take over new bodies. While I really like reading about such an development, I would have loved to get to know more of his sides, since I have a hard time believing that there is nothing left of the old Cyrus.

All in all, The Alchemy of Forever was a bit too rushed for me though. Like I said above, the plot line has lots of potential, but with only 246 pages I missed a certain depth to important scenes. It wasn't enough to really connect with the characters and the story. But nonetheless it's a very imaginative story and especially after the cliffhanger I can't wait to get my hands on its sequel!

Have you read The Alchemy of Forever? What did you think about it?

Do you plan to read it?

Leave your thoughts in the comment section below!

Carina

Review: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
First published: September 27th, 2011
Source: Bought
Pages: 452

Goodreads Summary:
Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there. - It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed. - There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. - She's wrong.

My Rating: 5.0 / 5

First thoughts:

I remember reading a lot of positive reviews about this novel and at a certain point it seemed like everyone loved it. It's almost impossible to find a negative review of this and therefore I was, of course, skeptical whether it could live up to this hype. But it did. And it was even better than everyone said. This is a unique and wonderfully written story and I couldn't get enough of it.

More detailed:

There are a few books everyone seems to love and all the hype makes it almost impossible to resist the urge to buy it. But so much hype can leave you disappointed - but this didn't happen with The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. It is a unique story that is impossible to put down and that made me love it more with every page I turned.

It's hard to find reasons to tell you why exactly I loved this novel so much. Michelle Hodkin simply managed to combine every important aspect a good Young Adult novel needs to have: a unique storyline, likeable and somehow mysterious main characters, a very interesting (read: hot) male love interest, a beautiful style of writing and a cliffhanger that sent shivers down my spine.

Mara Dyer is a protagonist like no other. She's experiencing awful and scary things and is constantly confused about what happens to her. And I shared her confusion. I love it when a book is written in a way that keeps the reader guessing as well and doesn't give them too many clues to figure out the mystery before the main character does. And even though her secret problem seems somehow revealed, there are still many questions left that I'd like to be answered.

Before I read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer I had already heard of Noah Shaw, of course. If you haven't read at least one review of someone raving about his awesomeness, I'm sure you've been living under a rock. And again, Michelle Hodkin made it possible that another hype didn't leave me disappointed. While he is emboying the perfect bad boy cliché on the hand, he is an amazing guy and truly cares for Mara on the other hand. Despite her life being crazy, she has a lot of luck having met him.

All in all, The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is a fantastic story that will leave you wanting more. The cliffhanger at the end is both, amazing and torturous and I can't wait for the second novel to be released. And even without the cliffhanger I would have wanted to read more about Mara Dyer, because Michelle Hodkin created a scary and creepy but wonderful world that I love to be sucked into. Don't be scared by the hype and give this book a chance. You won't regret it!

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Have you read The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer? What did you think about it?
Carina

Review: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

Wildefire by Karsten Knight
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Date of Publication: July 26th, 2011
Pages: 400

Goodreads Summary:

Every flame begins with a spark.
Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm. 

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I received an eGalley of this novel via Galley Grab. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for giving me a chance to read this. This did not influence my following opinion.

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My Rating: 4.5 / 5

What I thought about it:

Wildefire is one of those novels that I "just liked" during the first part of it and after a certain point I just fell in love with it more with every page I read. It has a kick-ass main character, fantastic gods and goddesses and is full of mysteries that will take your breath away. If you like this kind of story, go ahead and get a copy, because you certainly won't be disappointed.

At first I was a little bit hesitant to read it, because I feared that a story told from a girl's POV could be slightly difficult to identify with when it's been written by a guy. But Karsten Knight did a fantastic job with Ashline and I really liked her. 

I admit that Wildefire has a lot of violence and to be honest, I was a little bit put off by that in the beginning. While those action scenes are fantastically written (you can almost see them happening right in front of you), it took me a while to get into the story because of this. While I'm not opposed to a little bit of violence in my books, the beginning of Wildefire had more than it's fair share.

But like I've said before, I soon got used to it - and, to be honest, hooked on it - and it was impossible to stop reading until I finally reached the ending. But then - I died. That ending was really close to giving me a heart attack. To be honest, the last 100 pages were one gigantic ride on a roller coaster and I need to know what will happen next.

All in all, Wildefire is a wonderfully written novel that everyone with a thing for mythology and good action scenes will love. Only the wait to find out what will happen after that incredible ending will be pure torture, but I'm willing to live with that. Although I hope that Karsten Knight will not wait too long to release me from my pain.

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Have you read Wildefire? What did you think about it?
Carina