Sophie Reads YA: Brodi Ashton

Waiting on Wednesday: My Plain Jane (The Lady Janies #2) by Cynthia Hand, Jodi Meadows & Brodi Ashton

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#RockMyTBR 2016 Challenge

Review: Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton

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Diplomatic Immunity
Series: None
Author: Brodi Ashton
Published September 6th 2016 by Balzer + Bray

Goodreads Synopsis
Aspiring reporter Piper Baird decides to write a scathing exposé on the overprivileged students at an elite Washington, DC, school, only for her life to change when she begins to fall for the story's main subject, in this new realistic contemporary romance from Brodi Ashton, the author of the Everneath trilogy.

Raucous parties, privileged attitudes, underage drinking, and diplomatic immunity...it’s all part of student life on Embassy Row.

Piper Baird has always dreamed of becoming a journalist. So when she scores a scholarship to exclusive Chiswick Academy in Washington, DC, she knows it’s her big opportunity. Chiswick offers the country’s most competitive prize for teen journalists—the Bennington scholarship—and winning will ensure her acceptance to one of the best schools in the country.

Piper isn’t at Chiswick for two days before she witnesses the intense competition in the journalism program—and the extreme privilege of the young and wealthy elite who attend her school. And Piper knows access to these untouchable students just might give her the edge she’ll need to blow the lid off life at the school in a scathing and unforgettable exposé worthy of the Bennington.

The key to the whole story lies with Rafael Amador, the son of the Spanish ambassador—and the boy at the center of the most explosive secrets and scandals on Embassy Row. Rafael is big trouble—and when he drops into her bedroom window one night, asking for help, it’s Piper’s chance to get the full scoop. But as they spend time together, Piper discovers that despite his dark streak, Rafael is smart, kind, funny, and gorgeous—and she might have real feelings for him. How can she break the story of a lifetime if it could destroy the boy she just might love?
Goodreads

Review
I recently read My Lady Jane, a book that was co-written by this author, and when I heard about Diplomatic Immunity, I added it to my wish list. Political books have become an interest of mine recently, and I was hoping this book would add to my ever growing list.

Diplomatic Immunity tells the story of Piper, a high school senior who dreams of nothing but becoming a journalist, travelling the world, reporting on important cases. When she gets offered a scholarship to the prestigious Chiswick Academy, the school home to the Bennington scholarship, the most exclusive journalism award, she jumps at the chance. Now she will be rubbing shoulders with the children of some of the most important people in the world, and the opportunity for a story is just waiting to be found. Once she realises that there is a serious hierarchy at the school, and that the kids of diplomats can get away with anything, she begins digging into the story of Diplomatic Immunity, the soon finds herself falling for one of her subjects.

I liked the premise of the book, but for some reason, it just didn't work on paper. As I was reading the book, I did enjoy it, but kept wishing for more and more. Piper's character was alright, but I never really got an opinion on her - she wasn't boring, but she also wasn't exciting, either. She was fleshed out, with a really good backstory and family members, but character was just there. I understood why she wanted to get the story, especially as it was basically her only way to get to college, but she wasn't exactly professional about it. She kept telling people what she was writing about, and even though she knew how much of a fall out it would cause, she didn't consider that until it was too late.

Her relationship with Rafael was good, and I did enjoy that aspect of the book, but it did feel sour to me, as I knew she was using him to get ahead. They did develop naturally, after she had somewhat forced her way into his eyeline. However, she knew he had some kind of feelings for her, but she flaunted her dates with another person, without really a care in the world.

I did enjoy reading the book, but I kept wishing for more, and that didn't come. I'm not going to say this isn't a good book, but it just didn't do it for me.

Dates Read:

December 29-30, 2016

Rating
3 Stars

Brodi Ashton

Waiting on Wednesday: Diplomatic Immunity by Brodi Ashton

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is:

Diplomatic Immunity
Series: None
Author: Brodi Ashton
Published September 6th 2016 by Balzer + Bray

Goodreads Summary
Aspiring reporter Piper Baird decides to write a scathing exposé on the overprivileged students at an elite Washington, DC, school, only for her life to change when she begins to fall for the story's main subject, in this new realistic contemporary romance from Brodi Ashton, the author of the Everneath trilogy.

Raucous parties, privileged attitudes, underage drinking, and diplomatic immunity...it’s all part of student life on Embassy Row.

Piper Baird has always dreamed of becoming a journalist. So when she scores a scholarship to exclusive Chiswick Academy in Washington, DC, she knows it’s her big opportunity. Chiswick offers the country’s most competitive prize for teen journalists—the Bennington scholarship—and winning will ensure her acceptance to one of the best schools in the country.

Piper isn’t at Chiswick for two days before she witnesses the intense competition in the journalism program—and the extreme privilege of the young and wealthy elite who attend her school. And Piper knows access to these untouchable students just might give her the edge she’ll need to blow the lid off life at the school in a scathing and unforgettable exposé worthy of the Bennington.

The key to the whole story lies with Rafael Amador, the son of the Spanish ambassador—and the boy at the center of the most explosive secrets and scandals on Embassy Row. Rafael is big trouble—and when he drops into her bedroom window one night, asking for help, it’s Piper’s chance to get the full scoop. But as they spend time together, Piper discovers that despite his dark streak, Rafael is smart, kind, funny, and gorgeous—and she might have real feelings for him. How can she break the story of a lifetime if it could destroy the boy she just might love?

Goodreads

Why I'm waiting:

I haven't read any of Brodi's books yet, but I've always heard good things about them. This book sounds perfect for me, and seems to be the perfect mix up of Ally Carter and Jennifer Lynn Barnes - two of my favourite authors. I think I'll be adding this to my wishlist.

Are you waiting for this book? Have you already read it? Let me know :)

5 Stars

ARC Review: My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows

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My Lady Jane
Series: None
Author: Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
Published September 1st 2016 by Walker Books

Goodreads Synopsis
A comical, fantastical and witty re-imagining of the Tudor world, perfect for fans of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Lady Jane Grey, sixteen, is about to be married to a total stranger - and caught up in an insidious plot to rob her cousin, King Edward, of his throne. But that's the least of Jane's problems. She's about to become Queen of England. Like that could go wrong.
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher. This in no way impacted on my view.

I'd heard so much about this book back in April/May time. The US ARC reviews were starting to come in, and every single one loved the book. When I heard that Walker would be publishing the UK edition, I immediately requested a copy, and was overjoyed when I heard I was approved. Literally, as soon as the book dropped through my letter box, I had it open, and didn't put it down until it was finished.

My Lady Jane follows the tumultuous time in which Lady Jane Grey became the nine day Queen of England. However, it's quite a fictionalised account. In reality, Edward VI died, and his chief minister, the Duke of Northumberland, organised for his daughter-in-law, Jane, to become queen, over Edward's sister Mary. Mary, not pleased with this development, organised an army, and took back the throne and Jane was executed in nine days. The true history is quite bleak; not the case in this book. While a lot of the dating, etc., is true, the main change is that there are the presence of a group of people, the Eðians, whom can shape shift into various animals. These Eðians have been persecuted in the past, but when Henry VIII reveals himself to be one, whom becomes a Lion, he breaks with the Verity Church at Rome, and England becomes a land for Eðians. Basically, the protestants of the time are now Eðians, and Catholics are Verities - that's how I looked at it. Lord Dudley, the Duke of Northumberland, orchestrated for the marriage between Jane and his youngest son, Gifford - also known as G - and then began poisoning the king to pave the way for a Dudley succession. The main issues, G was an Eðian, and spent all his time from dawn til dusk as a horse - not the best way to begin a marriage. G and Jane soon become close, even though they began their marriage hating each other, and everything seemed to be going great, until the announcement that Jane was now Queen.

First things first, can we just acknowledge the dedication:

I think I speak on behalf of England, that you are forgiven. If our history was really like this, so many more people would enjoy it. The Tudor period is my favourite era, and I loved this new look into it. BTW, history skims far too much over Jane, when really, more should be done to research her story.

Every single character we met in the book, some I know from history, and others new characters, were exactly like I'd imagine them to be.

Edward was a bit sexist, and couldn't really do much for himself, but considering he'd been king since he was 9, and raised like a god simply because he had a XY chromosome, instead of XX.
Mary was stuck up, and totally against the Eðians - just like the real life Mary I, known as Bloody Mary, who relished in the executions and burning of so-called Protestant heretics.
Bess was carefree and kind, who loved her siblings, even if they didn't like her back. She was snarky, and had her own free will - exactly like she was when she was the Virgin Queen. I've just finished a module all about Elizabeth, and she's my favourite monarch we've ever had, so I'll always have a bit of a soft spot for her, but the authors did her justice, I think.
Jane and G, I didn't know much about, but they worked, perfectly. Jane was bookish, and well learnt - she knew she would have to marry eventually, being the great granddaughter of Henry VII, and all. Her previous engagements had all fallen apart, and she expected this one to be no different. However, they still married, without ever seeing each other before. She only discovered G was a horse Eðian the day after the wedding, when he suddenly change in front of her. G never thought he'd marry, due to the whole horse thing, but his and Jane's marriage began rough, but grew better as the time past. Their romance was a gradual one, but very swoony, and even when it seemed like everything was against them, they overcame all the odds, and won.

Really, I didn't know much about this book going in, but now, I wish I had it earlier. I finished it in just a few hours, and I already want to re-read it again. Of the three authors, I've only read books by one of them, but I'll be rectifying this soon enough. The Lady Janies have such a way with words, and the amount of references - Game of Thrones, Princess Bride, Monty Python, etc. - and 4th wall made the reading experience even better - if that's possible. They've announced they'll be writing more 'Jane' stories in the future, this time about Jane Eyre and Calamity Jane, and I can't wait to read them.

Tl;dr, it was amazing, buy it!