REVIEW: The Warrior by Victoria Scott

The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

War between heaven and hell is coming, but Dante Walker makes it look damn good.

Dante’s girlfriend, Charlie, is fated to save the world. And Aspen, the girl who feels like a sister, is an ordained soldier. In order to help both fulfill their destiny and win the war, Dante must complete liberator training at the Hive, rescue Aspen from hell, and uncover a message hidden on an ancient scroll.

Dante is built for battle, but even he can’t handle the nightmares where spiders crawl from Aspen’s eyes, or the look on Charlie’s face that foretells of devastation. To make matters worse, the enemy seizes every opportunity to break inside the Hive and cripple the liberators. But the day of reckoning is fast approaching, and to stand victorious, Dante will have to embrace something inside himself he never has before—faith.

My Review

The Warrior by Victoria Scott was an exceptional end to a trilogy that introduced me to the one and only Dante Walker. In this epic finale, Scott doesn’t hesitate to raise the stakes in every level and form. Again, she entertained me, captivated me, and had me on the edge of my seat for the most part. 

Like I said previously in my review for The Liberator, I appreciate Scott for keeping Dante true to his character. He really has come full circle, even more so in The Warrior. He was still self conscious about his Liberator role, but Dante was so determined to help with the impending war, to protect Charlie and save Aspen from hell. I really thought I saw an even more deeper side to Dante in this book. True to his form, he was still arrogant, but my favorite parts of him were his doubts, his fears, and the guilt he felt even for the enemy. Dante learns a lot about himself, he pushes himself to be stronger and better, and he opens himself up to friendship and opens his eyes to the Big Guy. Dante was not perfect as much as he wishes to be and he made plenty of mistakes, but he continued to redeem himself, he continued to keep on trying and he made sure that he was giving his all every single time. 

I loved how plenty of new characters showed up and helped shaped Dante in this last book. Granted not all of them were truly on the good side, I did like the good I saw in them. My favorite quirky new character had to be Oswald. He was fun and smart and his role in the book was awesome. And speaking of characters, although it pains me to see some that I grew to love meet their end, I was glad that Scott wasn't afraid to kill certain characters. It was upsetting and heart breaking, but she gave their deaths meaning. She never once cut corners or did it just to give the book dramatics. Those deaths were legitimate and was given a close. I was also surprised by the amount of betrayal in the book, how certain characters turned from the Liberator side. It’s funny how love and war are tricky and dirty and desperate and Scott totally managed to rock my belief in those particular characters.

The amount of action and fighting in The Warrior was immense compared to book one and two. The strategies, the killing, the battles, the weapons were all exciting and shocking and probably the best parts of the book. Scott gave me exactly what I was looking for when it came to wars and epic battles and she did not disappoint in that last showdown between Dante and Rector. She built up the anticipation, she gave the thrill, she put in the drama, and the harsh reality that many will fall. 

Overall, I really love The Warrior. It was a fine piece of work to end Dante’s story. Scott was well rounded in this one and I’m completely content with how everything wrapped up so nicely. There is only one Dante Walker and Victoria Scott made sure we would never forget that. 

*Thanks to Entangled Teen for sending a copy for review purposes

More Reviews on Dante Walker:

The Collector by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #1)
The LIberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)

REVIEW: The Liberator by Victoria Scott

The Liberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 27, 2013
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Bad boy, meet bad girl.

Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

My Review

Victoria Scott brings bad boy Dante Walker back in The Liberator along with the rest of the crew we’ve all come to love. There’s a splash of new characters here and there, romance for sure and lots of action to keep you on your toes.

I have to say that while Dante has changed from the person he was in The Collector, he hasn’t completely become a new person. For that I was thankful to Scott because she still made Dante, well..Dante. In The Liberator, Dante was still that sarcastic, super funny, cocky, bacon and red color loving guy. But he was different in the sense that he struggled to come to terms with being a Liberator instead of a Collector. He continued to believe he was a demon, bad to the bone, and that he was never going to be good enough for Charlie. I really liked how Scott kept Dante the way he was, but gradually changed him on his own terms. Charlie makes him a better man, but it was ultimately he himself who discovered that he wasn’t all bad and that his love for her was proof of that.


This book definitely showed a more softer, vulnerable side to Dante. We see him doubt himself when it comes to his relationship with Charlie and with his assignment towards Aspen. We see what really haunted Dante, what his true inner demons were. He really learns to let go and care for not just Charlie, but for Aspen and other characters. 

There was appearance of some old characters that we get to further know and love and Scott even throws in a returning characters I never thought I would see again. And of course, she takes away as well and that in of itself was a heartbreak for sure and probably the most vulnerable I have ever seen Dante to be. It was so well written and touching. Anyway, Aspen was the new addition and she was misunderstood for sure. Don’t let her rebellious, free spirit nature fool you because Aspen can kick ass with her big attitude to match. I liked that she was like the female version of Dante in almost every sense, emotion and inner demon wise. And like Dante, Aspen learns a lot about herself, about Charlie, about her purpose. I do wish that there was just a tad bit more of Aspen and Dante in the story. It was mostly in the beginning and especially in the end, but she sort of faded into the background around the middle. However, the sister-brother relationship that formed between Dante and Aspen was my favorite of the whole novel.

Like I said, there was plenty of action and adventure in The Liberator. So if you’re looking for some Liberator vs. Collector fist fights, you won’t be disappointed. It wasn’t just collectors anymore, but Sirens as well that are after Charlie and Dante. Secrets start coming out, especially the ones pertaining to Charlie and Aspen’s purpose. There was mention of scrolls and training at the Hive that adds great twists to the book. Questions do get answered along with why everything is the way it is and what may come. The witty banter rivals all of this, but it no means does it overtake. It just adds the perfect amount of humor and entertainment to keep the novel going. 

All in all, The Liberator was a fantastic follow up to The Collector. Dante grows up a lot and it really shows and I’m sure readers will be surprised by how much. I can’t wait to wrap this series up in the next book!

Entangled Teen August 27 Release Party!

Welcome to the Entangled Teen August 27 release party! Today, we're celebrating the release of The Liberator by Victoria Scott, Relic by Renee Collins, Everlast by Andria Buchanan, Ward Against Darkness by Melanie Card, and Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Liberator by Victoria Scott

Bad boy, meet bad girl.

Dante has a shiny new cuff wrapped around his ankle, and he doesn't like that mess one bit. His new accessory comes straight from Big Guy himself and marks the former demon as a liberator. Despite his gritty past and bad boy ways, Dante Walker has been granted a second chance.

When Dante is given his first mission as a liberator to save the soul of seventeen-year-old Aspen, he knows he’s got this. But Aspen reminds him of the rebellious life he used to live and is making it difficult to resist sinful temptations. Though Dante is committed to living clean for his girlfriend Charlie, this dude’s been a playboy for far too long…and old demons die hard.

With Charlie becoming the girl she was never able to be pre-makeover and Aspen showing him how delicious it feels to embrace his inner beast, Dante will have to go somewhere he never thought he’d return to in order to accomplish the impossible: save the girl he’s been assigned to, and keep the girl he loves.

B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Victoria Scott: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Relic by Renee Collins

After a raging fire consumes her town and kills her parents, Maggie Davis is on her own to protect her younger sister and survive best she can in the Colorado town of Burning Mesa. In Maggie’s world, the bones of long-extinct magical creatures such as dragons and sirens are mined and traded for their residual magical elements, and harnessing these relics’ powers allows the user to wield fire, turn invisible, or heal even the worst of injuries.

Working in a local saloon, Maggie befriends the spirited showgirl Adelaide and falls for the roguish cowboy Landon. But when she proves to have a particular skill at harnessing the relics’ powers, Maggie is whisked away to the glamorous hacienda of Álvar Castilla, the wealthy young relic baron who runs Burning Mesa. Though his intentions aren’t always clear, Álvar trains Maggie in the world of relic magic. But when the mysterious fires reappear in their neighboring towns, Maggie must discover who is channeling relic magic for evil before it’s too late.

Relic is a thrilling adventure set in a wholly unique world, and a spell-binding story of love, trust, and the power of good.

B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Renee Collins: Website | Twitter | Goodreads

Everlast by Andria Buchanan

Allie Munroe has only ever wanted to belong, maybe even be well liked. But even though she’s nice and smart and has a couple of friends, she’s still pretty much the invisible girl at school. So when the chance to work with her friends and some of the popular kids on an English project comes up, Allie jumps at the chance to be noticed.
And her plan would have worked out just fine…if they hadn’t been sucked into a magical realm through a dusty old book of fairy tales in the middle of the library.

Now, Allie and her classmates are stuck in Nerissette, a world where karma rules and your social status is determined by what you deserve. Which makes a misfit like Allie the Crown Princess, and her archrival the scullery maid. And the only way out is for Allie to rally and lead the people of Nerissette against the evil forces that threaten their very existence.

B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Andria Buchanan: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Ward Against Darkness by Melanie Card

The last thing Ward de'Ath wants is more trouble. On the run from both the law and the criminal underworld, Ward and Celia flee Brawenal City only to stumble into the mansion of a powerful evil necromancer. And when Ward discovers the man possesses a dangerous grimoire, his duty leaves him no choice. He can't allow the necromancer to keep the grimoire. But the mansion is filled with monsters--human and undead--and Ward has no way of telling who's friend or foe. The only person he can trust is Celia who dominates more of his thoughts and feelings everyday. But there are still laws in the way of anything but friendship. She's still dead and he's still alive . . . for now.

B&N | Amazon | Indiebound | Goodreads

Melanie Card: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Origin by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.
After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Goodreads

Jennifer L. Armentrout: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Giveaway

To celebrate the new releases, Entangled is giving away a paperback copy of each book. Enter using the Rafflecopter below!

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REVIEW: Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry

Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 6, 2013
Source: eARC* via publisher
Rating: 4.5/ 5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

She’s all that’s keeping him from falling over the edge…

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn’t have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.

Hockey player Penny Jones can’t imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who’ll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door.

Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick… and Bishop’s about to run out of time.

My Review

Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry was an awesome YA novel that I had no trouble devouring in one sitting! I throughly enjoyed what Dawn and Perry created with this book because it had very well developed characters, simplistic writing, and just the sweetest romance I could have hoped for and more. 

I adored both of the main characters in their own way. I think, like Penny, it took some time for me to fall for Bishop. This is not a bad thing because it allowed me to truly appreciate who and where Bishop was coming from. I love how connected Bishop was to music and his drumming. I felt that though he struggled with his addiction, it was obvious that he cared for his mom, Gary, Penny, and Gramps. His attitude toward Alaska was horrible, but it was so amazing too see his perspective change along the way. Penny was such a headstrong and independent character I immediately loved from the very start. I totally have a girl crush on her like you wouldn’t believe! I completely admired her passion for hockey, how much she loved and cared for Gramps and how she was determined to do what she wanted even though everyone was pressuring her to do something else with her future. Penny was such a caring and self-less character. She was always looking out for others; I really loved that in her. Penny was a tough girl with a temper who didn't take crap, but can dish it straight back. She worked so hard, gave her all and went after what she wanted. It was crazy awesome how driven Penny was. But what I really loved most about Penny was her struggle with change, how she accepted it, how she realized it wasn’t all that bad.

The romance between Bishop and Penny was really sweet with just the right amount of intensity too. I loved how they first met. It was so hilarious, who knew toolboxes, injuries, and tampons go hand in hand! I was laughing so hard during this first interaction. I was really curious to see where their interactions were going to go and how their individual issues would affect each other. I really liked that Dawn and Perry allowed their relationship to move slowly but surely. It allowed Bishop and Penny to get to know one another but it also allowed me to get to know them as well. I really enjoyed how they connected, how they made each other want to be someone better. I especially loved how Bishop made Penny believe she can do anything she wanted to do and how she made him want to change and not be the person he has become. It was wonderful to see love blossom between them. 

I thought Out of Play was really well written. The flow between Bishop and Penny’s POVs were really smooth. Dawn and Perry totally joined their spectacular writing forces to write this book with lots of passion and I really felt that. It amazes me that this book was written by two people because it was just so well done and so put together. I was really impressed. The dual points of view between Bishop and Penny took on a very addictive quality the second I started the book. I always had to tell myself that I’d only read one more chapter, but ended up reading more and more. I couldn’t put Out of Play down! The book was relaxing but also a refreshing read as well. I was easily swept in. 

The best thing about this book was the focus on change, on finding on what you really wanted and doing what was best for you. I loved that the driving force of this book was the overall message it leaves behind when you finish. 



Overall, Out of Play had a lovely romance, some humor and heartbreak that accompanied the intensity and anticipation throughout the novel. I definitely want more from Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry! 

*Thanks to Heather Riccio of Entangled for sending a copy for review purposes

I was not compensated for my opinion.