Cloaked

Cloaked by Alex Flinn



I’m not your average hero. I actually wasn’t your average anything. Just a poor guy working an after-school job at a South Beach shoe repair shop to help his mom make ends meet. But a little magic changed it all.

It all started with the curse. And the frognapping. And one hot-looking princess, who asked me to lead a rescue mission.

There wasn’t a fairy godmother or any of that. And even though I fell in love along the way, what happened to me is unlike any fairy tale I’ve ever heard. Before I knew it, I was spying with a flock of enchanted swans, talking (yes, talking!) to a fox named Todd, and nearly trampled by giants in the Keys.

Don’t believe me? I didn’t believe it either. But you’ll see. Because I knew it all was true, the second I got CLOAKED.

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Johnny Marco works with his mom at the family business doing shoe repair for the rich and famous.  His dad left when he was only a baby, and his mom has struggled to make ends meet every day since.  He's a hard working good boy.  But even though he never complains, underneath it all he longs to be free of his ordinary life.  He wants to be a shoe designer, and he knows he'd be good at it, too!  But he knows he will never have the money to do what he wants.  When a famous princess visits the motel where he works he thinks he'll be lucky just to get a look at her.  But Princess Victoriana notices him, and asks him for a favor.  It seems a witch has turned her brother into a frog and she needs Johnny's help to find him and break the curse.  And what will Princess Victoriana do for Johnny in exchange?  Well, she'll marry him, of course!

I love fairytale retellings!  I know some people don't, and I can understand why.  They aren't always original.  But, I like that you can pick one up, have no expectations of literary genius, and just enjoy a good story.  That's exactly what you get with Cloaked.  Johnny is a very likable character.  He tries to help everyone he encounters on his quest, and even when he messes up (which he does quite a bit!) you can't help but hope he will finally get it right.  His best friend, Meg, is my favorite character.  She's in love with Johnny, but she's never let him know how she feels.  When she realizes Johnny is going on a dangerous quest she does everything she can to help him, saving his life more than once.  Even after she finds out he plans to marry Victoriana she never lets Johnny down.  I loved watching how these two handle one problem after another.  I had so much fun reading Cloaked! 

This is the third book I've read by Alex Flinn (also read Beastly and A Kiss In Time), and it's most definitely my favorite.  Have you read it yet?  Would you like to?  Well, I hope so because I've decided to give away my copy!!  So if you would like to get your hands on Cloaked be sure to enter the giveaway below!!  And good luck! 

4 Stars * * * *

Don't forget to enter the Off the Shelf Giveaway too!!

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The Scorpio Races

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

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I really wish I had updated my progress as I was reading this book!! Well, actually I listened to the audiobook. I don't think I've ever read a book where my opinion changed so much throughout. The story started slow for me. It took me awhile to really get into it. I found Puck to be very childish and Sean to be extremely dreary. You really get to see these two characters grow and mature, and I loved how slow and steady their relationship progressed. The the last half of the book was much more e...moreTheSS    Somewhere in the Scorpio sea lies the island of Thisby. It's a small island mainly inhabited by fishermen, and every Fall the capaill uisce (pronounced copple ooshka) come ashore only on the this island.  Fearsome water horses, they feed on meat and blood.  They are predators, killers, every year taking the lives of several innocent fishermen.  The island of Thisby is also famous for The Scorpio Races, which are held each year in November.  Men capture and tame the capaill uisce. Well, as well as a fierce monster that hears the call of the sea can be tamed.  They train and prepare them for a race on the beach.   Sean Kendrick is a sure thing. He's the one to beat. He is the equivalent of a water horse whisperer, and most seek his advise on everything concerning horses, land and sea. He lost his father to the races when he was a child, and since then he has worked for Benjamin Malvern, horse breeder and the richest man on the island. Sean has won The Scorpio Races four times on the capaill uisce he loves, Corr. But he can't really be happy because Corr belongs to Malvern. When Malvern tells him he will sell Corr to him if he wins The Scorpio Races this year Sean knows there is nothing he won't do to win. But what about the strange and determined girl that has captivated him?  This year newly orphaned Kate "Puck" Connolly, has decided she is going to ride in The Scorpio Races.  Initially it is to delay her older brother, Gabe, in leaving her and her younger brother, Finn, for the mainland, but she quickly realizes she has to win the race in order to save the house she and her brothers have inherited from their parents.  No woman has ever entered the race, and the townspeople are not happy with Puck for challenging tradition.  Especially since she decides she will be riding her horse, Dove.  Her small land horse.  I don't think I've ever read a book where my opinion changed so much throughout. One minute I'm wondering why Ms. Stiefvater chose to write about, of all things, killer horses.  Then, when I was in the middle of my day to day life and NOT listening to the book, I couldn't get my mind off of it.  The story started slow. It took me awhile to really get into it. I found Puck to be very childish and Sean to be extremely dreary. I know and understand the reason for both of their personalities and quirks though.  You really get to see these two characters grow and mature, and I loved how slow and steady their relationship progressed. Too many books have the lovers fall head over heals into a relationship that is unrealistically romantic.  It's refreshing to read a story about two people that get to know each other, spend time together and then realize their feelings.  It just feels more real.  The the last half of the book was much more exciting, I was hooked! The races were exciting and beautifully written.  I was on the edge of my seat the entire time.  And I love Finn!! His devotion to his sister was amazing, and he totally cracked me up at the end.  I picked this book out because not only do I love YA and dystopian novels, I also love Maggie Stiefvater.  Although I initially thought it might, this book did not disappoint!!  This book is 90% about the water horses and the race, and 10% love story. If you're looking for a sappy love story, this is not it.  It is however, an amazing book.  I am a bit sad that it's a stand alone novel;  I'd love to read more about the island of Thisby in the future. As a side note I'd also like to say that the audiobook was great!! I don't usually like it when more than one person narrates, but this time it really worked perfectly! I gave The Scorpio Races 4 stars.