#Friday Review - Violet Grenade by @AuthorVScott #YALit #Contemporary #Thriller @EntangledTeen

Series: Standalone
Format: EBook, 300 pages
Release Date: May 16, 2017
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Source: Publisher
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

DOMINO (def.): A girl with blue hair and a demon in her mind.

CAIN (def.): A stone giant on the brink of exploding.

MADAM KARINA (def.): A woman who demands obedience.

WILSON (def.): The one who will destroy them all.

When Madam Karina discovers Domino in an alleyway, she offers her a position inside her home for entertainers in secluded West Texas. Left with few alternatives and an agenda of her own, Domino accepts. It isn’t long before she is fighting her way up the ranks to gain the madam’s approval. But after suffering weeks of bullying and unearthing the madam’s secrets, Domino decides to leave. It’ll be harder than she thinks, though, because the madam doesn’t like to lose inventory. But then, Madam Karina doesn’t know about the person living inside Domino’s mind. Madam Karina doesn’t know about Wilson.

Victoria Scott, author of books such as Fire & Flood, and Salt & Stone, returns with Violet Grenade, a story that is dark, gritty, & engaging. It is a story that is stunning brilliant in the way the author interweaves her story between Domino Ray, and Wilson, a character who will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what will happen next.  17-year old Domino Ray lives on the streets. She desperately wants wants a home of her own, and a safe place where she won't have to worry about where she gets her next meal. 

But, there is more to Domino than meets the eye test. Domino, you see, has a dark secret that lurks just under the skin waiting to pop out at any moment. After her closest friend is caught by the police, Domino realizes that she has to find a way to make money quickly to spring him from jail. Riding on a white horse she comes in the form of Madame Karina. Karina, it seems, has a place called "Home for Burgeoning Entertainers." Domino's acceptance of Karina's offer takes her from Detroit to Pox, Texas.

Upon arrival in Texas, Domino finds herself in a secluded farmhouse where a brothel of girls are billed for anything, and everything & must entertain in order to make any money to pay off their debts. Each girl can work their way up the rank which includes Carnation, Daisy, Tulip, before going to the dark side where anything is possible, including sexual services. This level is where Domino & readers will find the Lily's and the Violets, as well as the girl of the house, Lola. The higher you go in rank, the more of a profit you make. Each rank is filled with cutting, backstabbing, and manipulative girls who have no desire to make friends.

The most intriguing parts about Karina's home, are Poppet, and Cain, as well as the dangerous secrets which lie not only with Karina, but with other characters as well. Poppet is the most adorable character in the book. Poppet quickly becomes Domino's only friend in the house. She may not be the most talented, but her desire to help Domino, concreted her way into my heart. Cain and Domino play off each other extremely well. Domino and Cain each have deep, dark secrets that bring them close together in finding a way to change their fates. 

As Domino explores the house system, and how to rise up through the ranks, she also has to deal with Karina who may be charming one minute, but the devil in a black dress the next. There is also Angie who has some interesting scenes in the book which bring Domino's situation to the seriousness it really is. But, along for the ride is Wilson. What can I say about Wilson that isn't spoiler-y? Hmm. He's a protector of sorts. He loves violence. He could be an alter-ego of Domino in some fashion. He has protected her from some of the worst things that a human being can be subjected to, and kept Domino safe. He makes this book fun, dark, and twisted. Just the way I like it. 

Violet Grenade will make you question how many young girls have been taken off the street by those like Madame Karina who makes them feel as though they will be safe. Later, they discover that they are caught in an inescapable situation. If you try to run, well, let's not spoil what happens. I do often wonder how many girls disappeared while trying to escape from those like Madam Karina, Eric, and Hodges. How many have tried to escape brutal pimps, or sexual slavers, or traffickers and not been seen or hear from again? 

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#Review - Titans by Victoria Scott (Young Adult, Fantasy)

Series: Standalone
Format: Hardcover, 320 pages
Release Date: February 23, 2016
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Ever since the Titans first appeared in her Detroit neighborhood, Astrid Sullivan’s world has revolved around the mechanical horses.

She and her best friend have spent countless hours watching them and their jockeys practice on the track. It’s not just the thrill of the race. It’s the engineering of the horses and the way they’re programmed to seem so lifelike. The Titans are everything that fascinates Astrid, and nothing she’ll ever touch.

She hates them a little, too. Her dad lost everything betting on the Titans. And the races are a reminder of the gap between the rich jockeys who can afford the expensive machines to ride, and the working class friends and neighbors of Astrid’s who wager on them.

But when Astrid’s offered a chance to enter an early model Titan in this year’s derby, well, she decides to risk it all. Because for a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, it’s more than a chance at fame or money. Betting on herself is the only way she can see to hang on to everyone in the world she cares about.

"Don't let others do for you when you can do for yourself."

Titans, by author Victoria Scott, is a young adult, standalone fantasy novel featuring 17-year old Astrid Sullivan. Astrid lives in a part of Detroit where things are bleak. So bleak, that she and her best friend Magnolia Reynolds's families are in dire jeopardy of losing their homes to foreclosure. 

Astrid knows the dangers of gambling. She's seen what it has done to her father, and grandfather, but she still has an avid love for the Titan Races. She has studied the Titan's for four years, and is well aware of the dangers that the race brings to the participants. Titans are a mix of real horses, and race cars. They participate in a dangerous series of 6 races called the Titan Circuit where riders are eliminated after each stage. 

In the end, the winner gets to walk away with a nice chunk of change. Change that both Astrid and Magnolia could desperately use to keep them from becoming homeless, and losing touch with each other. The Titan races intentionally separate the haves and the have nots. There is a definite feeling of entitlement and superiority that bleeds from the very being of almost all of the jockeys.

Thanks to two adorably grumpy old men in Rags and Barney who built one of the original Titans who Astrid will call Padlock, and a surprising sponsor in Lottie who comes forward after the qualifying races, Astrid's future is now very much in her own hands, and that of 44 other backstabbing jockeys who want to claim the ultimate prize. The Titan Circuit is not like anything you've seen before, especially if you follow the Kentucky Derby or other races. 

Can I just say that I loved Astrid, Magnolia, and Padlock? Well I do. I loved Astrid because here is a math genius who has watched the races for the past 4 years. She may even have the natural ability of jockeying one of the Titans. So, with her family on the edge of being homeless not for the first time, Astrid gets a bit of hope. Thanks to either the hands of fate, or the grace of God, or just being in the right place at the right time, she has the chance in a lifetime to race her very own Titan horse.

She has her best friend right beside her and supporting her and encouraging her every step of the way. Rags and Barney are nothing to sneeze about either. They could have walked away from Astrid at any point, but they stuck with her to the end. I love the relationship between these girls and the old men. They made a fantastic team! 

I kind of get all emotional when talking about Padlock. He's just a great character and his relationship with Astrid had me reaching for Kleenex more than once! One could say that he has a mind of his own, or one can say that he was given a bit of personality by two men with a desire for revenge on the man who fired them. Either way, readers really will love Padlock and want one of their very own.

In the end, Titans is a bloody brilliant story that is close to being even better than the authors Fire & Blood duology. Never thought I would say that, but there you go. I am grateful that this is a standalone novel, but would not have shed a tear had there been a sequel with perhaps new characters taking the Titan challenge. Scott can't really return with Astrid for reasons that I will leave for you to figure out.

One of my favorite lines of the book:

"Strength is forgetting everything I've taught you and becoming a machine. It's reaching inside yourself and finding you are not someone to be toyed with. It's taking every doubt you have and crushing it beneath your heel. 
"You, Astrid Sullivan, are an Oleander--beautiful, graceful, intoxicating. 
"May God have mercy on the person who touches you, and brings their fingers to their lips."

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*Book Review* Salt & Stone by Victoria Scott

Series - Fire & Flood # 2
Publisher - Scholastic Press
Released - February 24, 2015
Source: Edelweiss/Publisher
Format: E-Book, 320 pages
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

*Book Blurb*

In Fire & Flood, Tella Holloway faced a dangerous trek through the jungle and across the desert, all to remain a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed for a chance at obtaining the Cure for her brother. She can't quit--she has to win the race, save Cody, and then fight to make sure the race stops before it can claim any more lives. In the next legs of the race, across the ocean and over mountains, Tella will face frostbite, sharks, avalanche, and twisted new rules in the race.

But what if the danger is deeper than that? How do you know who to trust when everyone's keeping secrets? What do you do when the person you'd relied on most suddenly isn't there for support? How do you weigh one life against another?

The race is coming to an end, and Tella is running out of time, resources, and strength. At the start of the race there were one hundred twenty-two Contenders. As Tella and her remaining friends start the final part of the race, just forty-one are left--and only one can win. 

Salt & Stone is the sequel to Fire & Blood by Victoria Scott. Six weeks ago, 17 year old Tella Holloway left her home in Montana with hopes of finding a cure for her brother Cody who was struck with a deadly illness. In order to do so, Tella and 120 other contenders must race in the Brimstone Bleed. It is a journey across FOUR different ecosystems: jungle, desert, ocean, and mountains. With each leg, the contenders dwindle down until there is only ONE winner who will walk away with the Cure.

The first two legs (Desert & Jungle) are in the books, and Tella is still alive and kicking and in the running for the Cure. The next two legs of the Brimstone are Ocean and Mountain where they will face challenging weather, sharks, jellyfish, landslides, snow storms, a change in rules, shocking secrets about the Brimstone, and one final challenge that will break your heart. Tella has picked up a group of Contenders in Guy Chambers, Harper Shaw, Olivia Finch, Jaxon, Braun, and their Pandora's that are now a unit. Along the way, they also pick up Willow, Cotton, and Mr. Larsen. One shouldn't expect everyone to survive. It's just not that realistic that non fatal incidents would skip an entire cast of characters.

Tella is a different character from when we first met her in Fire & Flood which is more than appealing for me. She's no longer the timid player who relies on Guy or her Pandora's Madox and Bear to get her through the competition. She's grown by leaps and bounds and has become a much more inspired Contender, and shocking enough, a leader of the group when she stops following every command that Guy tosses out. I love that Tella is genuinely kind to contenders and Pandora's alike and not just a person who changes their entire being because it's expected of them. Her connection to the Pandora's is amazing and I loved that she's so protective of them, and they of her.

So, let's talk about the fact that Salt & Stone ends on a presumptive cliffhanger with lots more questions left to be answered. I know that Victoria has stated that she intends on writing a THIRD book in this series, but the publisher, Scholastic, hasn't bought the third book yet. Let's talk about the fact that way too many series are cancelled by publishers without allowing a series to wrap up storylines, and that is just wrong on so many counts.

Can you imagine if the Hunger Games series was yanked after ONE book, or how about Harry Potter? :::gasp:: I understand the business aspects of this decision, but nonetheless, it's happening way too frequently for my tastes. I told Victoria that I am cheering for her third book to be picked up and released. We need closure. We need to see an end to Tella's journey and her desire to bring down the Brimstone Bleed. We need answers about Cotton and those who were betting on the outcome of the Brimstone. We need to see if her romantic interlude with Guy will burn in flames, or exceed our expectations. WE. NEED. A. THIRD. BOOK.

**I received this book for free from (Scholastic Press) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

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