The Book Explorer

Graduation

2010-04-25T18:58:00.002-05:00

This last semester was very hectic! I read hardly anything, and continue to stress over school. I only have two weeks left, one of classes and one of finals. After that... I graduate from College! YAY!

After graduation I'll be back on the site, updating with posts, contests, interviews, etc.

Can't wait to get back.

Dear John

2010-03-23T11:12:00.000-05:00

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks

Release Date: October 30th, 2006
Publisher: Warner Books
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 276
Overall:

An angry rebel, John dropped out of school and enlisted in the Army, not knowing what else to do with his life--until he meets the girl of his dreams, Savannah. Their mutual attraction quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah waiting for John to finish his tour of duty, and John wanting to settle down with the woman who captured his heart. But 9/11 changes everything. John feels it is his duty to re-enlist. And sadly, the long separation finds Savannah falling in love with someone else. "Dear John," the letter read...and with those two words, a heart was broken and two lives were changed forever. Returning home, John must come to grips with the fact that Savannah, now married, is still his true love--and face the hardest decision of his life.

Nicholas Sparks has a way of writing characters that readers immediately care about. I was happy when John was happy, I was sad when he was sad, and I was angry when he was angry. I felt exactly what John was feeling and it was an intense read that I highly enjoyed.

John and Savannah are character that immediately become favorites and friends. John goes into the world of falling in love, going to war, and losing the love of his life. John is a guy that girls want and yet he is normal in a human way that lets him find his own self and how to relate to his father. Savannah is a girl that readers love and hate. Her choices make us immediately side with John, but not because she is wrong in her decisions. Instead, it is because we simply know John better than we know her. We understand why she does what she does, but that doesn’t mean we agree with it.

Nicholas Sparks’ writing style is great. It is from John’s perspective as he tells us the story of how he met Savannah and his experiences with her. While it is from his point of view, Sparks does a great job of giving us an insight into Savannah’s head without letting on too much since John will not know what is actually going on in her head. The overall story telling is great and I loved following the story.

I have read a few others of Nicholas Sparks’ works, and plan on reading more in the near future. I have seen the movie and will do a comparative blog about it at a later date.

Who Might Like This Book:
Love Story Lovers
Nicholas Sparks Lovers
Self Discovery Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian

2010-03-04T08:31:00.001-06:00

Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan

Release Date: July 5th, 2009
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 591
Overall:

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of victory are grim. Kronos's army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan's power only grows. While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it's up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.
This is the final book in the Percy Jackson story. It is time for him to come to terms with the Prophecy that was foretold long before he was even born. Also, he is going to finally come up against his ultimate enemy: Kronos. The question everyone has is who will come up on top? The Titans? The Gods? No one? Only time will tell.

This book has it all. Romance is a new exciting feature in this book. Percy finally comes to terms with his own personal feelings. Also, he explores his friendships and what it means to be a true hero. Percy grows a lot in this story and by the time it ends, the reader knows Percy better than when the first book begins. This book is also full of adventure and fight scenes. It is an overall exciting book.

The ending is satisfying. While I love the series and want to read more about Percy and the Half-Bloods, the ending left nothing unresolved. I really can’t wait to read more about Camp Half-blood and other demigods.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth

2010-02-04T09:14:00.002-06:00

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Release Date: May 6th 2008
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 362
Overall:

Percy Jackson's fourth summer at Camp Half-Blood is much like his previous three—high-octane clashes with dark forces, laced with hip humor and drama. Opening with a line for the ages—The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school—this penultimate series installment finds Percy, Annabeth and the satyr Grover furiously working to prevent former camp counselor Luke from resurrecting the Titan lord Kronos, whose goal is to overthrow the gods. When the heroes learn that Luke can breach Camp Half-Blood's security through an exit from Daedalus's Labyrinth, they enter the maze in search of the inventor and a way to stop the invasion. Along the way they encounter a lifetime supply of nightmare-inducing, richly imagined monsters. Grover's own quest to find the lost god Pan, meanwhile, provides a subtle environmental message.
This book just sends the story even deeper as it explores not only what it means to be a hero, but also the relationships between the characters. Annabeth and Percy have grown much closer in this book, but there is still a lingering disappointment when it comes to Luke and possible feelings Annabeth may harbor for him. Percy gets the chance to leave the battle behind, and yet he preserves like any true hero, along with the help of his friends.

The reader also gets to meet some more Gods in this book including Hephaestus who is seen in overalls with his name embroidered on it as if he were working at an automobile repair shop. We meet the mysterious Calypso, and some interesting creatures who are obviously up to no good.

The best part of this book that intrigues not only guys but girls who like a little action is the fight scene. It was great to see how even though the army might be small, with companionship and friendship anything can be overcome.

I absolutely love this series and enjoy just getting to enter the world of Half-bloods.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: The Titan's Curse

2010-01-28T08:49:00.003-06:00

Percy Jackson: The Titan’s Curse by Rick Riordan

Release Date: May 1st 2007
Publisher: Disney Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Overall:

When the goddess Artemis goes missing, she is believed to have been kidnapped. And now it's up to Percy and his friends to find out what happened. Who is powerful enough to kidnap a goddess? They must find Artemis before the winter solstice, when her influence on the Olympian Council could swing an important vote on the war with the Titans. Not only that, but first Percy will have to solve the mystery of a rare monster that Artemis was hunting when she disappeared -- a monster rumored to be so powerful it could destroy Olympus forever.
There were so many things happening in this book, that it was sometimes difficult to guess what was going to happen. When the Oracle recited the prophecy of saving Artemis, like many of the characters, I thought it meant one thing, when it meant something entirely different. This book was one that I couldn’t put down because I had to know what happened.

It is in this book that the relationship between Percy and Annabeth really starts to become apparent. For anyone who knows anything of stories revolving between two characters, one male, one female, know that they will probably end up together. While this story is not surprising in that fact, it is fun to see how they slowly decide how they feel about each other.

While the other books before this one basically set up the story line and introduced vital characters, this book starts to center on the war against Kronos. Readers learn more about how Kronos is affecting the world around him.

We also get to meet more mythological characters like Atlas and Calypso. My favorite group is the Hunters of Artemis, who bring their own personal twist in the story which become vital in the other books later on. This series has easily become one of my favorites.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters

2010-01-25T12:44:00.001-06:00

Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

Release Date: April 1st 2006
Publisher: Disney Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 385
Overall:

After a summer spent trying to prevent a catastrophic war among the Greek gods, Percy Jackson is finding his seventh-grade school year unnervingly quiet. His biggest problem is dealing with his new friend, Tyson, a six-foot-three, mentally challenged homeless kid who follows Percy everywhere, making it hard for Percy to have any normal friends. But things don't stay quiet for long.

Percy soon discovers there is trouble at Camp Half-Blood: the magical borders that protect Half-Blood Hill have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and the only safe haven for demigods is on the verge of being overrun by mythological monsters. To save the camp, Percy needs the help of his best friend, Grover, who has been taken prisoner on an island somewhere in the Sea of Monsters, the dangerous waters Greek heroes have sailed for millennia. Only today, the Sea of Monsters goes by a new name: The Bermuda Triangle.

Together with his friends, Percy must retrieve the Golden Fleece from the Island of the Cyclopes or Camp Half-Blood will be destroyed. But first, Percy will learn a stunning new secret about his family, one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.
Like the first book, this book was amazing. I loved learning more about the world that Percy Jackson and his friends live in. It would be amazing to join that world, which makes it a new absolute favorite of mine.

The characters become even more detailed in this book. It is easy to see a budding relationship happening between certain characters, as well as learn to love new characters that are brought in. Tyson is one of my new favorite characters and he is adorable! I love how he treats Percy and is so protective of Annabeth. We also get to see more amazing takes on mythological beings such as the Cyclops that Odysseus encounters.

The thing that I love about this series is how easy it is to get drawn into the world, making it impossible to leave even more a second. Just like any other good series (thinking along the lines of Harry Potter), this series makes the reader wish they could simply jump into the pages and join the adventure.

I just love it.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Teaser Tuesday (9)

2010-01-19T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

”Hi, Abby. How was your day?”

“The usual.” Liar, Liar, Pants on fire…

“Did you have any standout readings?” My sister loved to hear about the people I read. Tales of my clients were a bit of a soap opera for her, and typically I would rattle off a list of the highlights, but I just didn’t have it tonight.

Abby Cooper, Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie, Pg. 124

The Lightning Thief (Percy Jackson and the Olympians)

2010-01-14T06:00:00.001-06:00

Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan

Release Date: July 2005
Publisher: Disney Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 385
Overall:

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can’t seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse—Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. When Percy’s mom finds out, she knows it’s time that he knew the truth about where he came from, and that he go to the one place he’ll be safe. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends—one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena—Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods.
This is Book One in the Percy Jackson series and I absolutely loved it. It created a Secondary World that existed within modern day America, which is partly why I love the Twilight Saga, and more importantly, the Harry Potter series. The entire series is set in a similar fashion to that of Harry Potter with a few exceptions: Percy Jackson is a demi-god; The Greek Gods are very important to the story; Oh and they go to a summer camp.

I loved the characters. Percy couldn’t be more of a hero as he struggles with his identity, his powers and his people skills. He makes many friends along the way including other demi-gods, nature spirits, and creatures of the ocean. He also makes many enemies with his peers, elders…and maybe a god or two. However, his trusty sidekick Grover and best friend Annabeth are there to help keep him in line. Grover believes in him, giving him courage when he needs it while Annabeth brings logic and wisdom to the group, as is her nature. The other characters are represented in fun ways including Medusa and Ares. No one would expect to see the Greek Gods represented in such a way, and it is enjoyable as Rick does it.

The writing is fun and easy to read. It gives you insight into Percy’s head, and though it can be frustrating at times because it is obvious someone else (Annabeth, typically) knows information vital to the story that he hasn’t discovered yet. It also works well with the age that Percy is, especially since the reader can see a few things coming in the future books when he’s older, Percy is portrayed perfectly at the age of twelve.

This was the first book in a long time where I couldn’t wait to pick up the sequel. I read it in a day without any trouble. It was a great read and I recommend it to anyone who likes to read.

Who Might Like This Book:
Harry Potter Lovers
Mythology Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Teaser Tuesday (9)

2010-01-12T06:00:00.001-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

Both zombies were safe in their beds, sleeping it off. They'd snooze through the day and wake up around sunset, starving, but no longer craving human blood. Five or six pizzas each, and they'd be as good as new. Or as good as newly risen anyway.

Dead Town by Nancy Holzner, pg 138

Skeleton Creek

2010-01-11T06:00:00.000-06:00

Skeleton Creek by Patrick Carman

Release Date: February 1st, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 185
Overall:

S trange things are happening in Skeleton Creek . . . and Ryan and Sarah are trying to get to the heart of it. But after an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam to search things out. . .and then email the clips for Ryan to see.

In a new, groundbreaking format, the story is broken into two parts -- Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the book.

This book is unlike anything I have ever read before. It combines reading and the Internet in a spectacular way. The marketing aspect of the book is what really got me hooked when I joined a bunch of kids who were trying to depict whether or not it was real but clues that Patrick Carman set up months before its release at http://www.skeletoncreekisreal.com. It was fun to get into the story before it even came out.

The characters are pretty realistic, especially when you can see Sarah and read Ryan’s thoughts. It feels as if the reader is following along with them as they try and figure out this ghost story. Even the clips that are given throughout the story to show Sarah’s point of view, allow it to become more realistic and intriguing than other books.

The writing style and video style is what one would expect of the ages that are portrayed through the characters. It feels as if you are actually reading the journal of Ryan, instead of just a story that someone is writing. The incomplete and random thoughts that he has, makes the idea of him existing a little more real. By combining that with Sarah’s videos, it makes the entire story more relatable and approachable to those who do not necessarily like to read.

Who Might Like This Book:
Ghost Story Lovers
Mystery Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Bloggiesta!

2010-01-08T11:58:00.003-06:00

The 2nd Annual Bloggiesta is happening this weekend! I did not participate in the last one, partly because I was an extremely new blogger, as well as I did not know about it until it was halfway over. I didn’t even find about this one until I stumbled across a mini-challenge at a favorite blog of mine, Bookworming in the 21st Century. Bloggiesta starts today (January 8th) and ends on Sunday (January 10th). It is a blogging marathon where you can catch up on everything for your blog. I think this will be a great thing for me so I can get ahead of posts as well as other things that are blog-related. What’s the best part of this whole thing? You can win some prizes for doing things you should be doing anyway! So, grab your essentials, get in the zone and get your blogging chores done!

I’ll be doing update posts along the way (unless I just get completely trapped in catch up) and let everyone know what I’m doing. If I don’t, I’ll do a wrap up post on Sunday and let everything be known!

If you’re doing Bloggiesta, leave a comment and let me know!

Waiting on Wednesday (12)

2010-01-06T10:43:00.003-06:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Shadow Mirror by Richie Tankersly Cusick
Release Date: March 18th, 2010

Unsettling. There’s no better word to describe Miranda Barnes’s ability to hear the cries of the dead, feel the wind move her hair when they run by, and—dare she look into a mirror—see the reflection of a ghostly woman behind her. There’s only one person to turn to for support: Etienne. As sexy as he is mysterious, Miranda can’t help but be drawn to him. He believes her; he wants to help her. But there’s a secret in Etienne’s past, something Miranda’s on the verge of discovering. As paranormal activity escalates, passion grows, and soon Miranda is caught up in both love . . . and tragedy.

This sounds amazing. I need to pick up the first book!

In My Mailbox (10)

2010-01-02T08:00:00.002-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (Ebook/Little, Brown and Company/ July 3rd, 2002)

When we first meet 14-year-old Susie Salmon, she is already in heaven. This was before milk carton photos and public service announcements, she tells us; back in 1973, when Susie mysteriously disappeared, people still believed these things didn't happen. In the sweet, untroubled voice of a precocious teenage girl, Susie relates the awful events of her death and her own adjustment to the strange new place she finds herself. It looks a lot like her school playground, with the good kind of swing sets. With love, longing, and a growing understanding, Susie watches her family as they cope with their grief, her father embarks on a search for the killer, her sister undertakes a feat of amazing daring, her little brother builds a fort in her honor and begin the difficult process of healing. In the hands of a brilliant novelist, this story of seemingly unbearable tragedy is transformed into a suspenseful and touching story about family, memory, love, heaven, and living.

Percy Jackson: The Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan (Paperback/Hyperion/May 6th, 2008)

Percy Jackson's fourth summer at Camp Half-Blood is much like his previous three—high-octane clashes with dark forces, laced with hip humor and drama. Opening with a line for the ages—The last thing I wanted to do on my summer break was blow up another school—this penultimate series installment finds Percy, Annabeth and the satyr Grover furiously working to prevent former camp counselor Luke from resurrecting the Titan lord Kronos, whose goal is to overthrow the gods. When the heroes learn that Luke can breach Camp Half-Blood's security through an exit from Daedalus's Labyrinth, they enter the maze in search of the inventor and a way to stop the invasion. Along the way they encounter a lifetime supply of nightmare-inducing, richly imagined monsters. Grover's own quest to find the lost god Pan, meanwhile, provides a subtle environmental message. Percy, nearly 15, has girl trouble, having become something of a chick magnet.

Percy Jackson: The Last Olympian by Rick Riordan (Hardback/Listening Library/May 5th, 2009)

All year the half-bloods have been preparing for battle against the Titans, knowing the odds of a victory are grim. Kronos’s army is stronger than ever, and with every god and half-blood he recruits, the evil Titan’s power only grows.

While the Olympians struggle to contain the rampaging monster Typhon, Kronos begins his advance on New York City, where Mount Olympus stands virtually unguarded. Now it’s up to Percy Jackson and an army of young demigods to stop the Lord of Time.

In this momentous final book in the New York Times best-selling series, the long-awaited prophecy surrounding Percy’s sixteenth birthday unfolds. And as the battle for Western civilization rages on the streets of Manhattan, Percy faces a terrifying suspicion that he may be fighting against his own fate.

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson (Hardback/Century/December 14th, 2009)

Everything is about to change. The government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now kids are disappearing. For 15 year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside-down when they are hauled out of bed one night, separated from their parents, and thrown into a secret compound for no apparent reason. It's clear that the new government will stop at nothing to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager.

For the sister and brother, the chaos started when Whit's girlfriend, Celia, was spirited away in a black van, never to be seen or heard from again. Locked inside their cells, the two fear that they have been taken to the very same complex that swallowed Celia and realize that a daring escape is their only hope of survival.

While imprisoned together, Wisty and Whit start exhibiting strange abilities and powers they never knew they possessed. Their new talents lead them to believe that maybe there is a reason they were singled out. Can this newly minted witch and a wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?.

Night Shift by Lilith Saintcrow (Paperback/Orbit/July 1st 2008)

Not everyone can take on the things that go bump in the night.

Not everyone tries.

But Jill Kismet is not just anyone.

She's a Hunter, trained by the best - and in over her head.

Welcome to the night shift...

So many books, so little time...

Hush, Hush

2009-12-31T06:00:00.000-06:00

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitpatrick

Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 391
Overall:

For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her. Not until Patch came along.

With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment.

But after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure who to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is way more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and, when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life.

I’m not sure what it was about this book, but it just was not as entertaining as some of the other books I’ve read. It might have been that the story seemed very familiar (Sparkly Vampire anyone?), or that there were places where it kind of drug on.

The characters weren’t as memorable as I would have expected. Nora Grey is as average girl who suddenly become attracted to Patch even though it is obvious that he’s dangerous and wants to kill her. Patch is this boy who for his own reasons wants to kill Nora, and yet there is something about her that keeps him from doing so. Why do characters end up like this? What is so special about Nora that he considers giving up his quest for her when she’s just an average girl of no means? The characters were just a pair that could be easily mixed up with some other characters of the same story idea.

The writing was not bad except for the fact that it was slow and more detail in places where we did not necessarily need the description, nor want it. In the places where we would want to know more, it rushed through leaving is kind of confused or wanting more. It just seems as if it could have been better.

I like the story idea, but I think it could have been executed better if done slightly differently or had a twist at the end that the reader doesn’t see coming. I’ve heard there is a sequel coming out sometime next year, and I’ll probably pick it up, but it’s not my first priority to see where this story goes.

Who Might Like This Book:
Angel Lovers
Paranormal Romance Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Waiting on Wednesday (11)

2009-12-30T08:00:00.000-06:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Glimmerglass by Jenna Black
Release Date: May 25th, 2010

Dana Hathaway doesn’t know it yet, but she’s in big trouble. When her alcoholic mom shows up at her voice recital drunk, Dana decides she’s had it with being her mother’s keeper, so she packs her bags and heads to stay with her mysterious father in Avalon: the only place on Earth where the regular, everyday world and the magical world of Faerie intersect. But from the moment Dana sets foot in Avalon, everything goes wrong, for it turns out she isn't just an ordinary teenage girl—she's a Faeriewalker, a rare individual who can travel between both worlds, and who can bring magic into the human world and technology into Faerie.

Soon, she finds herself tangled up in a cutthroat game of Fae politics. Someone's trying to kill her, and everyone wants something from her, even her newfound friends and family. Suddenly, life with her alcoholic mom doesn't sound half bad, and Dana would do anything to escape Avalon and get back home. Too bad both her friends and her enemies alike are determined not to let her go . . .

Teaser Tuesday (8)

2009-12-29T06:00:00.000-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

She didn't make very much progress before a hand clamped over her mouth from behind.

"Do not move," a low voice growled. "And don't try to sing. I'll take your throat out before you can get two words into your spell."

Warrior by Marie Brennan, Pg. 230

Love You Hate You Miss You

2009-12-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott

Release Date: June 1st 2009
Publisher: HarperTeen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 276
Overall:

You know, I always thought I told you everything, but there are some things I should have said but never did. I should have told you about the time I lost your new sunglasses. I know you really liked them. I should have apologized the time I ruined your brand-new skirt, the one with the beading. I should have apologized for a lot of stuff.   I’m sorry. I’m sorry for everything.

It's been seventy five days. Amy's sick of her parents suddenly taking an interest in her, and she's really sick of people asking her about Julia. Julia's gone, and Amy doesn't want to talk about it. No one knew Julia like she did. No one gets what life is without her.

No one understands what it's like to know that it's all your fault.

Amy's shrink thinks she should keep a journal but instead, Amy starts writing letters to Julia. As she writes letter after letter, she begins to realize that the past holds its own secrets--and that the present deserves a chance.

It is so hard to describe this book. It left me speechless after I read it and think it is a book that everyone should read. It really speaks to the reader, allowing him or her to relate to something happening in the book.

Amy is an intense character who embodies exactly what teens go through when put in a stressful situation. The last time I read a character so intense, it was in the book Cut by Patricia McCormick. Amy is dealing with Julia’s death and goes through the stages of grief, dealing with people in her life that are treating her differently. She grows so much throughout the book that it is so inspirational to the reader.

The writer style was incredible. I love how Elizabeth Scott let’s the reader to get inside Amy’s head and understand what she’s truly going through and her thoughts concerning Julia. The letters show the development that she goes through in regards to Julia’s death, as well as her realization with her therapist. The scenes in which Amy interacts with her peers show the outward reaction that happens as she comes to terms with what happened with Julia.

I loved this book and definitely plan on reading it again in the future. I’m definitely going to pick up more of her books, since this was the first I read

Who Might Like This Book:
Life and Death Readers
Realistic Story Readers
Teen Issue Readers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

In My Mailbox (9)

2009-12-27T12:10:00.002-06:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl (Hardback/Little, Brown Books for Young readers/December 1st, 2009)

There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner (Paperback/Ace/December 29th, 2009)

They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders — but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…

Vicky’s demanding job keeping the city safe from all manner of monsters is one reason her relationship with workaholic lawyer (and werewolf) Alexander Kane is in constant limbo. Throw in a foolhardy zombie apprentice, a mysterious demon-plagued client, and a suspicious research facility that’s taken an unwelcome interest in her family, and Vicky’s love life has as much of a pulse as Deadtown’s citizens.

But now Vicky’s got bigger things to worry about. The Hellion who murdered her father ten years ago has somehow broken through Boston’s magical protections. The Hellion is a ruthless force of destruction with a personal grudge against Vicky, and she’s the only one who can stop the demon before it destroys the city and everyone in it.

Betrayals by Lili St. Crow (Paperback/Razorbill/November 17th, 2009)

She’s no angel . . .
Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)
Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .
Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?

Dear John by Nicholas Sparks (Paperback/Warner Books/ October 30th, 2006)

When Savannah Lynn Curtis comes into his life, John Tyree knows he is ready to turn over a new leaf. An angry rebel, he had enlisted in the army after high school, not knowing what else to do. Then, during a furlough, he meets the girl of his dreams. Savannah Lynn Curtis is attending college in North Carolina, working for Habitat for Humanity, and totally unprepared for the passionate attraction she feels for John Tyree. The attraction is mutual and quickly grows into the kind of love that leaves Savannah vowing to wait for John while he finishes his tour of duty, and John realizing that he's ready to settle down with the young woman who has captured his heart. Neither can foresee that 9/11 is about to change the world and will force John to risk every hope and dream that he's ever had. Like so many proud men and women, John must choose between love and country. And like all those left behind, Savannah must decide to wait or move on. How do we choose wisely? How can we face loss-without giving up on love? Now, when he finally returns to North Carolina, John will discover that loving Savannah will force him to make the hardest decision of his life. An extraordinary, moving story, Dear John explores the complexities of love -- how it survives time and heartbreak, and how it transforms us forever.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore (Hardback/Harcourt Children’s Books/October 1st, 2008)

Katsa has been able to kill a man with her bare hands since she was eight--she's a Graceling, one of the rare people in her land born with an extreme skill. As niece of the king, she should be able to live a life of privilege, but Graced as she is with killing, she is forced to work as the king's thug.
When she first meets Prince Po, Graced with combat skills, Katsa has no hint of how her life is about to change. She never expects to become Po's friend. She never expects to learn a new truth about her own Grace--or about a terrible secret that lies hidden far away . . . a secret that could destroy all seven kingdoms with words alone.
With elegant, evocative prose and a cast of unforgettable characters, debut author Kristin Cashore creates a mesmerizing world, a death-defying adventure, and a heart-racing romance that will consume you, hold you captive, and leave you wanting more.

Heart's Blood

2009-12-26T19:31:00.002-06:00

Heart’s Blood by Juliet Marillier

Release Date: November 3rd, 2009
Publisher: Roc Hardcover
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 416
Overall:

This is a stunning gothic love story based on the legends of Beauty and the Beast. Whistling Tor is a place of secrets, a mysterious, wooded hill housing the crumbling fortress of a chieftain whose name is spoken throughout the district in tones of revulsion and bitterness. A curse lies over Anluan's family and his people; those woods hold a perilous force whose every whisper threatens doom. For young scribe Caitrin it is a safe haven. This place where nobody else is prepared to go seems exactly what she needs, for Caitrin is fleeing her own demons. As Caitrin comes to know Anluan and his home in more depth she realizes that it is only through her love and determination that the curse can be broken and Anluan and his people set free.

Juliet Marillier is the writer of my favorite series The Sevenwaters Trilogy which I think I have reviewed at least two of them earlier on. She has also written Wildwood Dancing and Cybele’s Secret. Being my favorite author, I might be slightly biased, but I loved the book and story.

While the story mimic’s that of the typical Beauty and the Beast storyline, the characters are unique and immediately loveable. The thing I liked more about these characters was that Caitrin, (who plays the Belle character in comparison to the Beauty/Beast story) does not become a beauty until after she spends time at the enchanted fortress with the ‘Beast’ or Anluan. The character of Anluan is different from the typical Beast; yet share many of the same qualities. The curse that is placed upon Anluan’s people is also amazingly new and unique. I loved the Host and the characters it brought to life through them.

The beginning is a little slower than some of her other books, but it did not stop me from being sucked in after the first few chapters. It is more complex than her teen fiction novels, but could still be enjoyed by mostly anyone. It was nice to read a book that was a little more challenging and could not be finished in a day like some other books that I have read.

It was a great story, and I would definitely reread it at some point in the future. Juliet Marillier has a way with taking an old fairy tale and putting an amazing twist on it that people do not expect, with characters that stay with you long after the story ends.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fairy Tale Lovers
Fantasy Romance Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T15:14:00.002-06:00

Hey Everyone,

There will be a new review up tomorrow.

I've been hanging out with the family like I'm sure many of you have been doing.

I hope everyone's holidays are great!

See you guys tomorrow.

Teaser Tuesday (7)

2009-12-22T11:42:00.004-06:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

Gurgle, gurgle, the naiad spoke in my mind. The canoe was slowing down.

I looked ahead, and I saw why.

This was as far as they could take us. The river was blocked. A dam the size of a football stadium stood in our path.

The Titan's Curse by Rick Riordan, Pg. 205

Blood Promise

2009-12-21T09:53:00.001-06:00

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead

Release Date: August 25st, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 503
Overall:

How far will Rose go to keep her promise?
The recent Strigoi attack at St. Vladimir’s Academy was the deadliest ever in the school’s history, claiming the lives of Moroi students, teachers, and guardians alike. Even worse, the Strigoi took some of their victims with them. . . including Dimitri.
He’d rather die than be one of them, and now Rose must abandon her best friend, Lissa—the one she has sworn to protect no matter what—and keep the promise Dimitri begged her to make long ago. But with everything at stake, how can she possibly destroy the person she loves most?

Let me just start by saying, Oh My Gosh. I love this series and this book did not let me down one bit. It picks up right where the other one left off and throws you immediately into the action, giving the reader almost exactly what they want to read while throwing in a few surprises.

You get to know more about Dimitri in this one, where he comes from and who his family is. It also gives a new view on the Bond of Lissa and Rose by showing a different type of connection, letting on just how strong and powerful this bond could become if it hasn’t gotten there altogether. Through this book, you learn more about the characters and the bonds of friendship, love, and family that they all share.

The writing was amazing. I love how Richelle wrote the parts that involved Lissa. I was slightly worried that she would either cut out Lissa from this book since Rose would be in Russia, or that it would be overly tacky in keeping her that would be completely out of character for Rose. Instead she did it in a great way and I loved the way the story lines ended up together.

I cannot wait for Spirit Bound to come out. I desperately need more to the story.

Who Might Like This Book:
Vampire Lovers
Paranormal Romance Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Coming Back Around~

2009-12-20T21:03:00.003-06:00

Hey Everyone!

I know it has been a couple months, but let me tell you, it was much needed.
Last semester nearly killed me, it was so stressful. I only read two books (which kills me) the entire semester due to be bogged down with school work and everything else. Thankfully that semester is over! =D

So~ What does that mean? I'll be back now! Woot!

I'm going to be getting some book reviews up and posted in the next couple days, as well as reading to catch up on how far I have fallen behind in my book pile!

See ya soon!

I am alive~

2009-09-04T11:49:00.002-05:00

I just wanted to say that I am alive, just have been kind of behind on stuff.

I got really sick this past week, ended up having to deal with a lot of issues, and have been trouble getting through all the books I'm reading~ Mostly textbooks for school.

I should have a review for Blood Promise up soon.

Sorry for lack of updates!

Update

2009-08-21T09:30:00.004-05:00

Hey you guys!

I just want to thank you all for following me! I've reached 105 followers. =D I think since I have reached that, everyone in my Ash contest who was a follower from 105 or before will get like 3 extra entries! Woot!

Alright. A little update. I have officially moved back to college! Which is a good and bad thing, for various reasons. Anyway. Due to this, as well as having to get ready for classes. I probably won't have a new post up until Sunday, maybe Monday. I sadly don't have any posts lined up and won't have time to type any reviews until probably tomorrow.

Just wanted to let you guys know and show I hadn't disappeared. =)

Waiting on Wednesday (10)

2009-08-19T08:34:00.002-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

The Everafter by Amy Huntley
Release Date: October 1st, 2009

Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this--she is dead. And alone, in a vast, dark space. The only company she has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things Maddy lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that with these artifacts, she can re-experience--and sometimes even change--moments from her life: Her first kiss. A trip to Disney World. Her sister's wedding. A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and sometimes frightening truths about her life--and death.

Mega Contest Palooza!

2009-08-18T09:26:00.005-05:00

Hey Guys,

So, I know everyone loves contests! I know I do. So recently I posted about Princess Bookie's contest who is giving away a TON of books. You can check out my post about it HERE if you haven't already.

Well a good blogger friend of mine is holding another Awesome Contest. She's giving away a lot of good books to three lucky winners! Some of the books include, but are not limited to:

Give up the Ghost by Megan Crewe

Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

So what are you waiting for? Run on over to Taschima's blog by clicking HERE and sign up!

And Good Luck!

Eyes Like Stars

2009-08-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev

Release Date: July 7th, 2009
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352
Overall:

Enter Stage Right

All her world's a stage.
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She is not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but has no lines of her own.
Until now.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain

This book as become one of my all time favorites. This is because this book is one of the most original story lines I have read. It was upbeat, humorous, entertaining, and most of all completely new from other things I have read.

First you have the characters and if you have read any of the Shakespearean plays you might recognize some of the characters, with the exception of Beatrice Shakespeare Smith. Bertie is strong minded, determined and very capable. She finds magic in things no one else thinks is worth anything, shows trust in those who are unreliable, and gives life to the book (and Theatre). To lighten the otherwise darkened mood of the plot is the Fairies! I love their humor and obsession with sugarcoated things. It makes everything more delicious. There is the highly favorable love triangle as well, and I can’t wait to see how it turns out in the next books.

The writing was also fun and upbeat. It was quick to pick up and fast pace to the end. It was definitely an easy enough read that makes you want to read it over and over again. The only complaint was that I was slightly confused in the beginning at what was going on, but that was simply because I forgot what the jacket flap had mentioned about the book.

I definitely CANNOT wait to read the sequel and will definitely be keeping a watchful eye on Lisa hoping for spoilers.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fairy lovers
Shakespeare Lovers
Play lovers
Paranormal Romance

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Fairy Tale

2009-08-14T06:00:00.001-05:00

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog

Release Date: June 23rd, 2009
Publisher: Delacorte
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Overall:

Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah- they're totally hot for each other.

But a week before their joint Sweet Sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away.

When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the source of Cam's distance isn't another girl- it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their “perfect” love can weather an uncertain future.

Fairy Tale started out kind of slow for me.
I can remember not being that into it at all, having trouble concentrating on the story. However, I am glad I stuck with the story because it turned out to be a cute story indeed.

The characters were interesting enough. I really liked the fact that the story was told from the mortal’s point of view instead of the character being changed. It allowed the reader to see what others go through besides just the one being altered. I also liked how Pip’s character slowly changed from the awkward outsider to the cool guy all the girls want.

Except for the beginning, the writing style was fine. It didn’t give away exactly what was going to happen, but it gave hope that you might get what you want to happen (depending on which way you leaned). There was still a little bit of surprise though if you are observant you can probably see what is going to happen before it does.

I think my favorite part of the story is the ending. It ended exactly like I wanted it to, and didn’t leave me disappointed at all. I think this is one of the few books in which I really did like the ending.

Who Might Like This Book:
Faery lovers
Fairytale Lovers
Paranormal Romance

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

AMAZING CONTEST!

2009-08-12T20:04:00.001-05:00

So there's a contest I felt everyone should know about!
It's pretty much amazing! Check it out here!

You can win:
1. Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick ARC
2. Along For The Ride by Sarah Dessen ARC
3. Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters ARC
4. Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater ARC
5. Troy High by Shana Norris ARC
6. Love You Hate You Miss You by Elizabeth Scott ARC
7. Reincarnation by Suzanne Weyn ARC
8. Lovestruck Summer by Melissa Walker
9. Death by Series by Linda Gerber (3 books total)
10. a 5 dollar giftcard from Walmart (you can buy yourself half of a book with it, lol)
11. 3 Sarah Dessen books ( Just Listen, This Lullaby, Someone Like You)
12. Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson
13. Fire By Kristin Cashmore ARC
14. Last but not least, I have some extra amazon cards, so I will also include a preorder for CATCHING FIRE BY SUZANNE COLLINS. It will be shipped to on or around Sept 1st (whenever they ship it)
AND a book of your choice (under $15.00 please and it can be a preorder as long as it comes out in September-so many good books get released)

If you do enter, please let Cindy know Shayla at The Book Explorer sent you. I'll give you an extra entry in any of my contests if you add a comment here letting me know. <3

Waiting on Wednesday (9)

2009-08-12T11:01:00.001-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Other by Karen Kincy
Release Date: July 1st, 2010

I can’t last much longer. It’s been one week, three days, and I forget how many hours.
My belly cramps, and I curl on my bed, staring out at the stars. A delicious breeze glides through my window and cools my sweaty forehead. The air smells of summer–mowed grass, recent rain, lingering barbecue–and tempts me more than I want to admit. Shards of moonlight and shadow shift on the wall. I clench my teeth and toes and try to ride out the pain. My bedroom drifts counterclockwise, and I shut my eyes.
It can’t be good for me, not shapeshifting.

Seventeen-year-old Gwen hides a dangerous secret: she’s Other. Half-pooka, to be exact, thanks to the father she never met. Most Americans don’t exactly roll out the welcome mat for Others, especially not the small-town folks of Klikamuks, Washington. As if this isn’t bad enough, Gwen’s on the brink of revealing her true identity to her long-time boyfriend, Zack, but she’s scared he’ll lump her with the likes of bloodthirsty vampires and feral werewolves.
When a pack of werewolves chooses the national forest behind Gwen’s home as their new territory, the tensions in Klikamuks escalate-into murder. It soon becomes clear a serial killer is methodically slaying Others. The police turn a blind eye, leaving Gwen to find the killer before the killer finds her. As she hunts for clues, she uncovers more Others living nearby than she ever expected. Like Tavian, a sexy Japanese fox-spirit who rivals Zack and challenges her to embrace her Otherness. Gwen must struggle with her own conflicted identity, learn who she can trust, and-most importantly-stay alive.

I met Karen in a chat and when I mentioned what kind of books I liked to another blogger, she jumped in saying I would probably like her book. I immediately checked out her website and now I’ve been able to think of nothing less. Can’t wait!

More Awards!

2009-08-11T10:31:00.005-05:00

I received some more awards and figured it was time to do another post! Woot!

So the first award is from Taschima at Bloody Bookaholic and by Eli at The Tainted Poet!

The Heartfelt Award!

Do you reach for a cup of cocoa or tea when your relaxing, seeking comfort, sharing a plate of cookies with family and friends? You know the feeling you get when you drink a yummy cup of cocoa, tea, or a hot toddy? That is what the Heartfelt Award is all about, feeling warm inside.

Rules:
Put the logo on your blog/post.
Nominate up to to 9 blogs which make you feel comfy or warm inside.
Be sure to link your nominees within your post.
Let them know that they have been nominated by commenting on their blog.
Remember to link to the person from whom you received your award.

1. Erica at The Book Cellar
2. Mitali at Alley of Books

3. Kristen at BookWorming in the 21st Century

4. Chelsea at The Page Flipper

The next award was given to me again by Taschima by Bloody Bookaholics

The Spread The Love Award

I'm going to nominate a few random blogs that I love since there are no guaranteed rules.

1. Erica at The Book Cellar
2. Kristen at BookWorming in the 21st Century

3. Chelsea at The Page Flipper

4. The Book Bind

5. Mitali at Alley of Books

The next award was given to me by three people: Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century, Erica at The Book Cellar and Reggie at Uncover Book Lover.

The Zombie Chicken Award!

The blogger who receives this award believes in the Tao of the zombie chicken - excellence, grace and persistence in all situations, even in the midst of a zombie apocalypse. These amazing bloggers regularly produce content so remarkable that their readers would brave a raving pack of zombie chickens just to be able to read their inspiring words. As a recipient of this world-renowned award, you now have the task of passing it on to at least 5 other worthy bloggers. Do not risk the wrath of the zombie chickens by choosing unwisely or not choosing at all...

1. Taschima at Bloody Bookaholic

2. Eli at The Tainted Poet

3. Bri at The Book Pixie

4. Mitali at Alley of Books

5. Chelsea at The Page Flipper

The next award is from Erica at The Book Cellar!

The Me-to-You Award!

1. Taschima at Bloody Bookaholic
2. Eli at The Tainted Poe t
3. Bri at The Book Pixie

4. Mitali at Alley of Books
5. Chelsea at The Page Flipper

6. The Book Bind

The next award is from Eli at The Tainted Poet!

The Kreative Award!

I'm not sure of the rules so I'm just going to nominate a few people =)

1. Erica at The Book Cellar
2. Mitali at Alley of Books
3. Chelsea at The Page Flipper

I was also nominated for the Your Blog Rocks award! By Polish Outlander. However, I've already nominated for this award so this is just a shout out and a thank you! =)

Teaser Tuesday (6)

2009-08-11T10:20:00.003-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

I looked past her toward the hall, looking for Dad, but the hall was empty. "Where's Dad?"

"He went out for wings with the new guys from work. You act like I'd only ask you because he's not here." Mom banged around the kitchen, pouring herself granola and leaving the box open on the counter before retreating toward the sofa.

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater, Pg. 210

Quest for Cuh-Razy Creatures Contest!

2009-08-10T06:00:00.003-05:00

Alright guys! It’s time for another contest! This one is also for Prophecy of the Sisters launch!

This is the Quest for Cuh-Razy Creatures Contest.

Here is what you have to do to win.

Answer this Question

What Mythological Would You Be and Why?

The more unique your creature and reasoning, the more likely you’ll be able to win!

The winner will be chosen either by me or Michelle Zink and then she will send the winner the prize.

Now for what you’ll win:

The Winner Will Win:

Prophecy Playlist DVD
Bookstore Gift Card (of choice)
Prophecy Bookmart
Prophecy Magnet
Signed Prophecy Poster
Nail Polish
Candy
Choice of DVD between: Bram Stokers Dracula and Stardust

Ends August 27th, 2009 at Midnight

So please list your creature, reasoning, as well as your email address in order to be contacted if you win!

Contest - Win Ash by Malinda Lo

2009-08-09T17:46:00.005-05:00

Alright guys. I’ve reached over 75 followers and decided to hold another contest! Woot, right?

This time the contest is going to be to win Ash by Malinda Lo

In the wake of her father’s death, Ash is left at the mercy of her cruel stepmother. Consumed with grief, her only joy comes by the light of the dying hearth fire, re-reading the fairy tales her mother once told her. In her dreams, someday the fairies will steal her away, as they are said to do. When she meets the dark and dangerous fairy Sidhean, she believes that her wish may be granted.

The day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, Ash learns to hunt with Kaisa. Though their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, it reawakens Ash’s capacity for love—and her desire to live. But Sidhean has already claimed Ash for his own, and she must make a choice between fairy tale dreams and true love.

Entrancing and romantic, Ash is an empowering retelling of Cinderella about choosing life and love over solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

How to Enter

- MUST be U.S. Resident
- MUST comment with Email Address
-MUST Answer this question:

What is your favorite Fairy Tale?

Extra Entries:

+1 - Linking to this contest (Must leave link/+1 for each additional link up to 5)
+1 - Tweeting about this Contest
+2 - Referring someone to this contest (they must leave your name)
+3 - Following me on Twitter (thebookexplorer)
+3 - For Becoming a Follower
+5 - For already following me on Twitter
+5 - For Already Being a Follower

Contest Ends August 26th, 2009 at Midnight. Winner will be posted on August 27th.

In My Mailbox (8)

2009-08-08T21:25:00.002-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

Candor by Pam Bachorz (ARC/Egmont/ September 22nd, 2009)

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town
where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way
to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them
all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved
teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages
to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to
get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape
Candor, Florida before they're transformed into
cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor,
and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

Once Was Lost by Sara Zarr (ARC/Little Brown/October 1st, 2009)

Samara Taylor used to believe in miracles. She used to believe in a lot of things. As a pastor's kid, it's hard not to buy in to the idea of the perfect family, a loving God, and amazing grace. But lately, Sam has a lot of reason to doubt. Her mother lands in rehab after a DUI and her father seems more interested in his congregation than his family. When a young girl in her small town is kidnapped, the local tragedy overlaps with Sam's personal one, and the already-worn thread of faith holding her together begins to unravel.

Immortal by Gillian Shields (Hardback/HarperTeen/August 4th, 2009)

Wyldcliffe Abbey School for Young Ladies, housed in a Gothic mansion on the bleak northern moors, is elite, expensive, and unwelcoming. When Evie Johnson is torn away from her home by the sea to become the newest scholarship student, she is more isolated than she could have dreamed. Strict teachers, snobbish students, and the oppressive atmosphere of Wyldcliffe leave Evie drowning in loneliness.

Evie's only lifeline is Sebastian, a rebellious, mocking, dangerously attractive young man she meets by chance. As Evie's feelings for Sebastian grow with each secret meeting, she starts to fear that he is hiding something about his past. And she is haunted by glimpses of a strange, ghostly girl—a girl who is so eerily like Evie, she could be a sister. Evie is slowly drawn into a tangled web of past and present that she cannot control. And as the extraordinary, elemental forces of Wyldcliffe rise up like the mighty sea, Evie is faced with an astounding truth about Sebastian, and her own incredible fate.

Gillian Shields's electrifying tale will dazzle readers with suspense, mysticism, and romance.

Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors (Paperback/Walker and Company/August 21st, 2009)

From the author of Saving Juliet comes a romantic comedy that is good to the last drop. When Katrina spots a homeless guy sleeping in the alley behind her grandmother’s coffee shop, she decides to leave him a cup of coffee, a bag of chocolate-covered coffee beans, and some pastries to tide him over. Little does she know that this random act of kindness is about to turn her life upside down. Because this adorable vagrant, Malcolm, is really a guardian angel on a break between missions. And he won’t leave until he can reward Katrina’s selflessness by fulfilling her deepest desire. Now if only she could decide what that might be . . .

The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (Paperback/Miramax/April 1st, 2006)

Percy Jackson is a good kid, but he can't seem to focus on his schoolwork or control his temper. And lately, being away at boarding school is only getting worse: Percy could have sworn his pre-algebra teacher turned into a monster and tried to kill him. Percy's mom decides it's time that he knew the truth about where he came from. She sends Percy to Camp Half-Blood, a summer camp for demigods (on Long Island), where he learns that the father he never knew is Poseidon, God of the Sea. Soon a mystery unfolds and together with his friends, one a satyr and the other the demigod daughter of Athena, Percy sets out on a quest across the United States to reach the gates of the Underworld (located in a recording studio in Hollywood) and prevent a catastrophic war between the gods. But to succeed on his quest, Percy will have to unravel a treachery more powerful than the gods themselves.

Interview with Michelle Zink

2009-08-08T06:00:00.002-05:00

Michelle Zink is the author of the new book Prophecy of the Sisters that has recently been released on August 1st, 2009.

You can find out more about Michelle on her on her website by clicking Here or following her on Twitter at: @Michelle_Zink

To find out more about Prophecy of the Sisters, check out my review by clicking Here.

Q: What made you decide to write Young Adult literature as opposed to Adult?
To be honest, it wasn't a conscious decision! I still feel nineteen inside and I always enjoyed the same books as my teenage daughter. There's something really honest and open about YA books that appeal to me both as a reader and a writer.

Q: How long did it take you to write Prophecy of the Sisters?
The first draft only took me about three months, but that's because I prefer to draft in total-immersion mode - i.e. writing 6-8 hours a day, every day, until it's done ver sus a little here and a little there. I don't really allow myself to go back and fix anything in the first draft until it's completely done. If I did, I'd never actually finish! So I manage to write my drafts really fast. The downside is that I have A LOT of revisions on the back end. Between my "keep moving forward" motto and my preference to write without an outline, I usually have a whole lot of work to do once a book is finished. Prophecy took me ten months to edit after that first draft was complete.

Q: Did any of the characters particularly difficult to write? Particularly easy?
Alice was a difficult character for me because I really wanted to defy the cliched black & white evil antagonist. I know from real life that its rarely that simple, and I wanted to craft a character with a dark nature that also struggled with moments of goodness. It wasn't easy! But in the end, it was one of the more satisfying aspects of the book, at least for me!

Q: What would you say is your favorite book of all time and why?
You guys are going to get sick of hearing this in my interviews, but it's White Oleander by Janet Fitch. I've just never read anything that spoke to me as powerfully as that book. I'm always surprised how many people haven't read it! They always say they've seen the movie, and I'm like, "Noooooo! It's not the same!" And it isn't. It's Fitch's writing that gives that book meaning. You have to READ it!

Q: Prophecy is based off the myth about Watchers from the Bible. What is your overall favorite Legend/Myth (besides the one Prophecy is based off of)?
Ohhhhh, that's a tough one! You're talking to a myth/legend junkie! I love pretty much every biblical legend. Demons scaaaaaare me!

Q: Sonia and Lia and Alice all have supernatural gifts. If you could any supernatural gift what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to cast spells. But I would only use my power for good not evil! I promise! Wait... does giving myself the ability to eat whatever I want and be skinny count as evil? *ponders*

Q: Most authors say that music played a big help in writing their book. Did music help you while writing, and if so any particular song or genre?
Music helps me A LOT. I write to film scores because lyrics distract me. I try to find two or three scores that capture the mood of a my next book before I start a project. It helps me tune out the noise of my house (four kids aged 10-17 - need I say more?), is a constant reminder of the atmosphere I'm trying to create, and gives me a way to instantly slip back into the writing mood of a particular book no matter how much time has passed since I last worked on it. For this book I listened exclusively to the score from The Village.

Q: Now I’ve heard that Prophecy is the first of three books. Is that true and if so, is there anything you can tell us about the other two?
It is! The second book is called Guardian of the Gate. I think of the book as "big" - not in terms of length (it's almost exactly the length of Prophecy) but in terms of feel. It's just a big adventure, a lot of action, a lot of growth for Lia and a couple of crazy twists! Oh! And a hot new guy!

Q: Is there any debut novel that you are looking forward to reading?
Oh, my gosh, there are so many! Really looking forward to The Hollow by Jessica Verday, Bedeviled by Shani Petroff, The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard, and Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garci and Maragret Stohl. But that's only a teeny-tiny fraction of the books I'm waiting for!

Q: How does it feel to have a published book?
It's just.... amazing. Surreal. Crazy! My son and I used to go to the bookstore near our small town, and he remembers us browsing the YA section and me saying, "I want a book on these shelves SO BADLY!" And the other day we went in to that same bookstore and walked smack into a HUGE Prophecy display in the very same YA section. My son kept shaking his head and saying, "This is awesome." I'm hoping it's up-close-and-personal proof to my kids that dreams DO come true.

Q: Any advice for aspiring authors?
Read and write as much as you can. Silence your inner editor while working and try to just FINISH something. You'll learn more from that process than from ANYTHING else you can do, and you can always edit later. Most of all, if you really want it, don't give up. That doesn't mean write aimlessly. That means WORK to get better, to learn, to take constructive criticism. But whatever you do, don't stop writing. Because the only sure way you will fail is if you quit.

Q: Anything else you want readers to know?
Just a big thank you to those of you who have done so much to support Prophecy online! You guys have made ALL the difference, and I so appreciate those of you who believed in my book very early on and spent the past few months telling anyone who would listen that Prophecy is a great book. You're the best! <3

Thanks again Michelle for doing the interview!

Prophecy of the Sisters

2009-08-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink

Release Date: August 1st, 2009
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 352
Overall:

Without the Keys, something terrible will happen.  Something that cannot be undone. And with them, I might bring an end to the riddle of the Prophecy and my strange part in it.  If Alice and I are on conflicting sides of the Prophecy,  the Keys would be dangerous in her hands. Which means I have to find them. And I have to do it before my sister. 

Sixteen year-old Lia Milthorpe has just recently lost her father, leaving her parentless. But when a strange mark appears on her wrist, she realizes she is being branded with much more than her newfound title of orphan. Lia and her twin sister Alice are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other.   

Lia hides this discovery from Alice and even from her beloved James, but to escape from the burden this secret bestows she must end the prophecy-before her sister. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the mark on her wrist, the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her, and the impact the resolution of the prophecy could have.  

This was Michelle’s debut novel, and I have to say that I really liked it. I was a little unsure when I started reading, because I usually don’t like books set in the early 1900’s or earlier, and yet the prophecy idea drew me in and I’m glad it did. There was much more paranormal to it than I expected. Filled with demons, traveling plans and spells, Prophecy was a good read.

The characters were pretty original. You have Lia, the main character, who is trying to find her place in this prophecy. She isn’t sure whether she is drawn to good or evil, and continues to fight for the one she wants, not willing to give in so easily. She is steadfast, determined and brave. In comparison, is her twin sister Alice. Alice has obviously picked a side and refuses to try to fight for the other. She prefers the simple life promised her without wanting to fight for it. However, she also shows compassion, not wanting her sister to be harmed in anyway, and constantly tries to make this happen by trying to persuade Lia.

The writing style was very unique and yet familiar. I heard someone compare it to the writing style of Jane Austen or Emily Bronte. There is a haunting, gothic feel to the writing, making you feel like you are reading about the moors of Wuthering Heights. It was fun to read a modern-style to such classics.

Overall the book was a quick, intriguing read. It had the paranormal aspect that I tend to look for and even a bit of romance. I can’t wait to read the sequel.

Who Might Like This Book:
Mythology Lovers
Paranormal Gothic-Style Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Interview with Georgia McBride

2009-08-06T06:00:00.006-05:00

Georgia McBride is the author of a new book currently titled Praefatio. She is currently looking for an agent in hopes of getting her work published. I thought it would be fun to see how it goes for her, and follow her on this journey.

You can find Georgia at the following places:

Blog: Here

Twitter: @Georgia_McBride

Facebook: Here

Q: You have currently written Praefatio. Can you give our readers a short summary?
Grace Ann Miller isn’t sure at first why she’s sitting in a police station being questioned by police. When she finds out that it’s because the world’s biggest rock star has been arrested for her supposed kidnapping, bits and pieces of her life come flooding back causing Grace and everyone around her to question her sanity. Grace tells the police that in fact she was not kidnapped, that she is an Archangel--she sets into motion a chain of events with far reaching consequences for more than just herself. Suspected of having Stockholm Syndrome, and making up this elaborate story to protect her supposed kidnapper, Grace tells her story from the police station and later from the psych ward unsure at times of even her own self. Of course with Grace being an angel she interacts with otherworldlies but this book is about relationships above all else.

Q: Where did you get the idea for Praefatio?
Unable to sleep for weeks after being laid off characters from Praefatio started speaking to me at night. Telling their part of the story. I knew I would never sleep until I got the story out of me. I told my husband who thought I was crazy and still does.

THIS IS NOT THE OFFICIAL COVER
Photo by Mariana Britto
http://skategirl.deviantart.com
Q: How long did planning and writing take?
I wrote the story in three months but the revisions and editing took nine gruesome months.

Q: Now that it is written and edited, you are looking for a publisher, right? How does that make you feel?
I am looking for an agent who will help me find the right publisher. I’m relieved, scared to death and excited all at the same time. I cannot wait to share this story with the world. I’ve felt the entire time this sense that I wasn’t writing this for me that I was writing it for someone else, that the characters wanted or needed to be heard and I was simply the vehicle or person they chose. I know that sounds bizarre.

Q: Is there anything that worries you, now that your book is out there, possibly in the hands of a potential publisher?
No. I think the right publisher will get it and love it and take it and put it out there.

Q: What would you say the scariest part of putting your work out there for publishers to look at?
I’m not worried about publishers. I worry more so about people in general. I’ve seen how cruel some people can be toward other people.

Q: What made you want to be a writer?
I love taking something from nothing, a blank page and turning it into a story with a beginning and end. In this instance with Praefatio, I feel as if I was an instrument somehow. The story simply wrote itself. When I tried to write it, I got in the way and it ended up getting scrapped and edited out. My husband would laugh at me when I would say, “that Grace cracks me up.” He’d say, “what do you mean? Aren’t you writing it?” I’d say, “I don’t know what she’s going to say next.” He’d just shake his head. I would have no idea what my characters were going to say, let alone do next. And on days when they didn’t come around, I would have to wait.

Q: Why did you decide to write a YA book?
Well, I am a kid at heart, and a teen in my own eyes. It’s the age group I relate the most to in terms of music, literature and fashion. So, it made the most sense. Having said that, if the characters that spoke to me were older or younger, then that is the age of the characters that I would write for.

Q: What drew you to the fantasy realm?
I have always loved fantasy but it had nothing to do with me. It just so happened that this particular character turned out to be claiming to be an Archangel. What are you going to do? My other WIPs range from urban fantasy to sci-fi. I have one WIP that is a parenting/self-help/humor book. Go figure.

Q: Are any of your characters based on or inspired by people you know?
Hmmm. Well, I guess in an abstract way. One of the characters, Remi, Grace’s brother is adopted and my son is adopted. I wanted to carry the theme of adoption through the book. I also wanted to carry the theme of sisters who did not grow up together through the book as my sister and I did not grow up together like Grace and her sister Emeria. Also LJ (Olivia) is a name politely stolen from my friend, Olivia. I call her “LJ.” So, these are very loosely based characterizations. Oh, and we can’t forget Tia. I have a daughter named Tia who looks exactly like the character in the book!

Q: Many authors say that music is a big part in the writing of their books. Do you feel this is true with Praefatio?
Absolutely. I listen to music when I write. I have to. I am working on the playlist now. The major theme of the book is Halo by Depeche Mode. Take a listen one day when you have a chance. When I get the playlist done, I will let you know!

Q: Who do you think would be most interested in reading Praefatio?
Hmmm. People who question the norm, feel like maybe the don’t always fit in, maybe kids who have a strained relationship with one or both parents, anyone seeking a little escape.

Q: What is one thing you would like publishers and readers alike to know about your book?
Praefatio has a nice mix of urban fantasy, sci-fi, paranormal romance and even something for people into Christian YA.

A few fun questions:

Q: Favorite book of all time?
Are You There God, Its Me Margaret by Judy Blume

Q: If you could live in any book (besides your own) which would you choose?
Any Little House Book - life was simpler then…

Q: Current favorite Song?
Untouched, The Veronicas

Q: Favorite movie?
Pretty Woman/Jason And The Argonauts - A tie…

Q: Anything else you would like readers to know about you or your book?
It was my absolute pleasure writing this book. I had so much fun and all I could think about was the day it would be on shelves and people would have the opportunity to share my joy. I can’t wait for them to read it! Thanks so much!

Stay tuned for more on Praefatio and Georgia!

Waiting on Wednesday (8)

2009-08-05T06:00:00.002-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Witch and Wizard by James Patterson
Release Date: December 14th, 2009
Pages: 320

Everything is about to change. The government has seized control of every aspect of society, and now kids are disappearing. For 15 year-old Wisty and her older brother Whit, life turns upside-down when they are hauled out of bed one night, separated from their parents, and thrown into a secret compound for no apparent reason. It's clear that the new government will stop at nothing to suppress Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Being a Normal Teenager.

For the sister and brother, the chaos started when Whit's girlfriend, Celia, was spirited away in a black van, never to be seen or heard from again. Locked inside their cells, the two fear that they have been taken to the very same complex that swallowed Celia and realize that a daring escape is their only hope of survival.

While imprisoned together, Wisty and Whit start exhibiting strange abilities and powers they never knew they possessed. Their new talents lead them to believe that maybe there is a reason they were singled out. Can this newly minted witch and a wizard master their skills in time to save themselves, their parents--and maybe the world?

I loved the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson (though they have slightly gone down hill…) and read Daniel X (though wasn’t a fan at all…) and will continue to try his teen series with this one. It sounds good.

Teaser Tuesday (5)

2009-08-04T06:00:00.004-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

”How did I know you would say that?” Skilled fingers strummed the unseen strings of a guitar. Castanets beckoned, and Bertie wanted to snap her fingers, stomp her feet ,clap her hands. “Lead on, pretty boy.”

Ariel gave her a look that contained a lot of something, but didn’t say a word. Instead, he adjusted her arms with light touches of his hands, all the while keeping his upper body pressed to hers.

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Mantchev, Pg. 178

What is the World Thinking?

2009-08-03T19:45:00.006-05:00

Alright. I noticed over at Taschima's blog, the new Wuthering Heights cover. You can check that out Here

Well, when searching for new books I might want, I found this.

Yes. First of all, let's note comparisons. The red and white flowers. Breaking Dawn has the red pawn and the white queen. Eclipse, New Moon and Twilight has the major red eye drawer.

The other thing that bothers me is the fact that up in the corner, for those of you who can't read it, it says 'Before Bella and Edward'

Why does it even have to be compared to Bella and Edward?
Don't get me wrong, I like the Twilight Saga. I will even be posting reviews of the books on here eventually, but seriously? You don't need to have Bella and Edward on everything just to get it read.

Meh. It bothers me.

Blue Bloods, Masquerade, Revelations

2009-08-03T06:00:00.005-05:00

Note: I read this series before my blogging days. Since I will continue to read this series and will want to make a post about them as I read them, I’m going to combined the books all into one post, instead of taking up time doing individual ones. Sorry it’s so long!

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Release Date: May 1st, 2006
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 302
Overall:

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society. The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a girl from her school is found dead . . . drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think. Could those vampire legends really be true? Steeped in vampire lore and set against the heady backdrop of the rich, young, and powerful in the heart of New York City, Blue Bloods will be devoured by Melissa de la Cruzs legion fans.

After my crazy devouring of the Twilight series, I was yearning for more vampire stories and picked up this one. However, it was nothing like I expected. Thinking there was going to be some kind of blood-sucking themed story, I was pleasantly surprised.

This took the typical idea of vampires and put a twist on it by adding the biblical story of Lucifer and the angels that fell with him. I was instantly intrigued and couldn’t wait to devour this story. It was a quick read that I stayed up and finished, unable to put it down. When it finished, the plot left me wanting to know more, craving the next book.

The writing was simple enough. Nothing really lagged in this story after you got slightly slow beginning. The story picked up after the first two chapters however, and then it was easy to finish in one sitting.

The characters were easy to get attached to. I was immediately attached and forming thoughts and hopes of who I wanted to be together, who I didn’t, who I liked and hated. It was easy to pick out the heroine of the story without feeling sympathy toward her enemies.

Masquerade by Melissa de la Cruz

Release Date: May 1st, 2007
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Overall:

Schuyler Van Alen is starting to get more comfortable with her newfound vampire powers, but she still has many unanswered questions. A trip to Italy in search of her grandfather only serves to make things more confusing. What secrets are the leaders of The Committee hiding? Meanwhile, back in New York, preparations are feverishly underway for the famous Four Hundred Ball. In true Blue Blood fashion, the ball is totally fab, complete with masks, and hidden behind this masquerade is a revelation that will change the course of a young vampire's destiny.

This book didn’t disappoint in the least. It picked up almost immediately where the first one left off, helping to answer some lingering questions that the first left unanswered. It also didn’t disappoint in creating more questions to be awaited in the third book.

The character grow even more in this one, especially Schuyler as she becomes more away of her vampiric self. The bond between Jack and Schuyler blossoms to a new height, as well as her relationship with Oliver becoming slightly strained. The girl behind the bossy exterior of Mimi Force also becomes more transparent as readers learn more about her.

The writing is the same as the first book, though since there is no need for an introduction beginning, it jumps right back into the action, making it a faster and more enjoyable read. It’s a fast past read, instantly leaving the reader wanting more.

Revelations by Melissa de la Cruz

Release Date: October 28th, 2008
Publisher: Hyperion
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Overall:

Have you ever wondered what secrets lurk behind the closed doors of New York City's wealthiest families? They're powerful, they're famous...they're undead.
Schuyler Van Alen's blood legacy has just been called into question--is the young vampire in fact a Blue Blood, or is it the sinister Silver Blood that runs through her veins? As controversy swirls, Schuyler is left stranded in the Force household, trapped under the same roof as her cunning nemesis, Mimi Force, and her forbidden crush, Jack Force.
When one of the Gates of Hell is breached by Silver Bloods in Rio de Janeiro, however, the Blue Bloods will need Schuyler on their side. The stakes are high; the battle is bloody; and through it all, Carnavale rages on. And in the end, one vampire's secret identity will be exposed in a revelation that shocks everyone.

I thought this was suppose to be the last book at least in the trilogy. So when I finished it with some lingering questions, I hadn’t realized there would be another book. I’m glad there is however.

The characters come into their own, even more than the last two books. Schuyler has grown up and started to take responsibility of figuring out what is going on with the Croaton. She learns to deal with Mimi and doing what’s right no matter how she feels toward the character. There is revelation with the Jack/Schuyler situation when Sky comes to her senses a little of what is truly going on.

It was a good book. I can’t wait to read the next one, hoping to get more answers and drama of course!

Who Might Like These Books:
Paranormal Romance Lovers
Vampire Lovers
Mythology Lovers

For all three books:

Plot:

Characters:

Writing:

Covers:

In My Mailbox (7)

2009-08-01T22:00:00.004-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (Hardback/Dial/September 26th, 2006)

You know the myth...

A little girl named Alice tumbled down a rabbit hole and proceeded to have a charming adventure in the delightful, made-up world of Wonderland...

Now discover the truth... Wonderland Exists!

Alyss Heart, heir to the Wonderland throne, was forced to flee through the Pool of Tears after a bloody palace coup staged by the murderous Redd. Lost and alone in Victorian London, Alyss is befriended by an aspiring author to whom she tells the violent, heartbreaking story of her young life only to see it published as the nonsensical Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alyss had trusted Lewis Carroll to tell the truth so that someone, somewhere would find her and bring her home. But Carroll had gotten it all wrong. He even misspelled her name! If not for royal bodyguard Hatter Madigan's nonstop search to locate the lost princess, Alyss may have become just another society woman sipping tea in a too-tight corset instead of returning to Wonderland to fight Redd for her rightful place as the Queen of Hearts.

Meet the heroic, passionate, monstrous, vengeful denizens of this parallel world as they battle each other with AD-52's and orb generators, navigate the Crystal Continuum, bet on jabberwock fights and travel across the Chessboard Desert.

The Looking Glass Wars unabashedly challenges our Wonderland assumptions of mad tea parties, sleepy dormice, and a curious little blonde girl to reveal an epic battle in the endless war for Imagination.

Seeing Redd by Frank Beddor (Hardback/Dial/August 21st, 2007)

Alyss of Wonderland's rule has only just begun and already those who prefer chaos to peace are threatening to destroy everything worth imagining. Trailed by newly appointed Royal Bodyguard Homburg Molly, Alyss does her best to keep pace with the spiraling, non-stop demands of being Queen while attempting to evade Molly for a few private moments with Dodge. Alyss's life is already a challenging mix of duty, love and imagining when a series of phantom sightings set fire to an urban myth of her Imperial Viciousness's return and have everyone…Seeing Redd. Has Redd somehow freed herself and her chief assassin, the Cat, from the confines of the Heart Crystal to challenge her niece once again? If not, then who has resurrected Redd's brutal footsoldiers, the Glass Eyes, and set them loose to attack Wonderland on all sides? Battles rage, looking glasses explode and the Alyssians are once again uniting to defend White Imagination in this fast-paced second book in The Looking Glass Wars trilogy.

Warrior Princess by Frewin Jones (Hardback/Eos/February 1st, 2009)

Princess Branwen ap Griffith is fifteen when her brother is murdered by the savage Saxons, who have been closing in on her family's home in their quest for land and riches. Branwen’s brother's death is a symbol of their heightened aggression. Though Branwen loathes the thought of backing down from the job of defending her home, she allows her parents to send her away to allies who will be able to keep her safe.

But Branwen is not prepared for the wave of hostility that meets her when she arrives at her allies' stronghold, where women have no place hunting or fighting, and she is forbidden from doing anything the lady of the land deems unladylike. Branwen longs for her home and for the chance to fight, but she still isn't prepared to accept her fate as a warrior, even when an encounter with a woman clad in white foretells a choice Branwen will have to make—one with devastating consequences. When all that she holds dear hangs in the balance, Branwen will have to choose to defy her elders and take a chance, or do as is expected of her and risk losing everything.

The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (Hardback/Harcourt, Inc./January 1st, 2003)

Audrey Niffenegger's innovative debut, The Time Traveler's Wife, is the story of Clare, a beautiful art student, and Henry, an adventuresome librarian, who have known each other since Clare was six and Henry was thirty-six, and were married when Clare was twenty-three and Henry thirty-one. Impossible but true, because Henry finds himself periodically displaced in time, pulled to moments of emotional gravity from his life, past and future. His disappearances are spontaneous, his experiences unpredictable, alternately harrowing and amusing.

Stargazer Claudia Gray (Hardback/Harcourt, Inc./January 1st, 2003)

The vampire in me was closer to the surface ...
Evernight Academy: an exclusive boarding school for the most beautiful, dangerous students of all—vampires. Bianca, born to two vampires, has always been told her destiny is to become one of them.
But Bianca fell in love with Lucas—a vampire hunter sworn to destroy her kind. They were torn apart when his true identity was revealed, forcing him to flee the school.
Although they may be separated, Bianca and Lucas will not give each other up. She will risk anything for the chance to see him again, even if it means coming face-to-face with the vampire hunters of Black Cross—or deceiving the powerful vampires of Evernight. Bianca's secrets will force her to live a life of lies.
Yet Bianca isn't the only one keeping secrets. When Evernight is attacked by an evil force that seems to target her, she discovers the truth she thought she knew is only the beginning. . . .

Stray by Rachel Vincent (Paperback/Mira/June 1st, 2007)

I look like an all-American grad student. But I am a werecat, a shape-shifter, and I live in two worlds.
Despite reservations from my family and my Pride, I escaped the pressure to continue my species and carved out a normal life for myself. Until the night a Stray attacked.
I'd been warned about Strays: werecats without a Pride, constantly on the lookout for someone like me: attractive, female and fertile. I fought him off, but then learned two of my fellow tabbies had disappeared.
This brush with danger was all my Pride needed to summon me back for my own protection. Yeah, right. But I'm no meek kitty. I'll take on whatever and whoever I have to in order to find my friends. Watch out, Strays cause I got claws, and I'm not afraid to use them.

City of Glass by Cassandra Clare (Hardback/Margaret K. McElderry/March 24th, 2009)

To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that enter-ing the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her newfound powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?
Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

The ABC's of The Book Explorer

2009-08-01T11:38:00.006-05:00

I was tagged to do this by Taschima at BloodBookaholics. And I figured, why not?

The Rules:

- Link to the person who tagged you
- Share your ABCs
- Tag three people at the end by linking to their blogs
- Let the three tagged people know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website
- Do not tag the same person repeatedly but try to tag different people, so there is a big network of bloggers doing this tag.

Taken or single?

- Very much single. I've never had a boyfriend. Woo.

Best Friend?

Um. I don't really have one of this IRL. My roommate Melissa is probably the closest.
Online though, is Natalie. =)

Cake or Pie?

- Oooh. Cake...or Apple Pie. =)

Drink of choice?

- I love Rootbeer, and only if its A&W. However, I've been drinking mostly water.

Essential item for every day use?

- Laptop. Never go a day without it...that might be a little sad.

Favorite color?

- I don't have a single favorite color. I like combos. Sky blue and Violet is my favorite.

Google?

- Haha. Google is my favorite. I use it all the time.

Hometown?

- I don't really have a hometown. Military Brat, moved a lot.

Indulgences?

- ...Books?

January or February?

- January, my brother was born then.

Kids and their names?

- None as of yet. Usually a guy is involved first. haha. I like the names Isabella and Christopher though.

Life is incomplete without...?

- a purpose.

Marriage date?

- Have to find a guy first...

Number of siblings?

- One: Young Brother

Oranges or apples?

- Apples

Phobias and fears?

- I hate spiders.

Fear of death?

- I don't fear death.

Quote for the day?

- “Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book”. ~Author Unknown

Reason to smile?

- Memories

Season?

- Winter and Spring. I love the cold (Oh how I miss snow) and Spring is just so pretty.

Unknown fact about me?

- I am a writer as well, though as of yet unpublished. I have one book written though. =)

Vegetable you hate?

- Cauliflower - Eww

Worst habit?

- Biting my nails Alfredo

Xrays you've had?

- Too many to count

Your fave food?

- Chicken Alfredo =)

Zodiac sign?

- Gemini

Tag 3 people?

- Kristen at BookWorming in the 21st Century
- Mitali at Alley of Books
- Senfaye at A Maze of Books

Gone

2009-08-01T06:00:00.003-05:00

Gone by Michael Grant

Release Date: July 1st, 2008
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 558
Overall:

In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.
Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.
Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.
It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

When I was looking for Michael Grant’s website, I stumbled upon a post where he talked about his goal for writing the Gone series. His goal was “To creep you out. To make you stay up all night reading, then roll into school tired the next day, so that you totally blow the big test and end up dropping out of school.”

I think that sum up Gone pretty nicely. There were moments where I was absolutely shocked by what I was reading. When Lana was hurt in the desert, I cringed and actually had nightmares that I was the one who was hurt. I spent two nights reading this while I was in college and it was a fast read. The writing was smooth, and the transition between point of view was easy to follow.

The characters were nicely developed. Grant took his time turning Sam into the leader that everyone expected him to be. It wasn’t like “Bam, parents gone, now Sam is the leader.” It was gradual, took time for him to realize what was going on. He grew up. You can also see this in the characters of Astrid and Quinn. Astrid realizes whom she can trust, growing up and closer to Sam. Quinn becomes his own character, having making his own mistakes.

It’s a good story that is not only a Sci-Fi/Fantasy tale, but a coming of age story. It shows the issues all the characters go throw and what it means to step up when it’s time.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fantasy/Sci-Fi Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

New Blogger

2009-07-31T18:49:00.006-05:00

Hey everyone,

There is a new blogger among us and I thought it would be nice to just kind of throw a word out there to get some love to them.

The blogger's name is Reggie.

Reggie reviews YA fiction as well as the occasional adult fiction on The Undercover Book Lover

Let's show some love and check out this new blog!

Enjoy~

Wicked Lovely

2009-07-31T06:00:00.003-05:00

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Release Date: May 31st, 2007
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 328
Overall:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in the mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty-especially if they learn of her Sight-and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King, who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. His is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost-regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; everything.
Faery intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning twenty-first-century faery tale.

My current obsession of stories involving faeries, led me to Wicked Lovely, the first book in Melissa Marr’s series. It was a little slow in the beginning, but the overall story was intriguing. The plot for the Summer King to find his queen, finding it in Aislinn really drew my interest. It was a little slow to reveal information, but it was over all a fast read.

The characters were fun and realistic. It was easy to relate to how Aislinn was feeling when Keenan was pursuing her, and how she feared for Seth. The way that Keenan reluctantly agreed to her demands shows a human quality of not wanting to lose everything at the chance to get what one really needs. Seth makes a cool loveable character that is a great counter-character to the sweet talking Keenan.

The only thing I really didn’t like about the story was the ending. Personal preferences wished she would have made slightly different choices, but alas, I will not reveal the ending more than that. It wasn’t my favorite story, but I’m looking forward to reading the sequels.

Who Might Like This Book:
Paranormal Lovers
Faerie Lovers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Beauty

2009-07-30T06:00:00.004-05:00

Beauty by Robin McKinley

Release Date: January 1st, 1978
Publisher: HarperTrophy
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Overall:

Contrary to the name, 16-year-old Beauty is not the prettiest girl in her family. But she is the cleverest, bravest, and most honorable. When her father makes a promise with a beast who lives in an enchanted castle, Beauty fulfills her father's pledge. A marvelous retelling of a favorite love story.

This much-loved retelling of the classic French tale Beauty and the Beast elicits the familiar magical charm, but is more believable and complex than the traditional story. In this version, Beauty is not as beautiful as her older sisters, who are both lovely and kind. Here, in fact, Beauty has no confidence in her appearance but takes pride in her own intelligence, her love of learning and books, and her talent in riding. She is the most competent of the three sisters, which proves essential when they are forced to retire to the country because of their father's financial ruin.

The plot follows that of the renowned legend: Beauty selflessly agrees to inhabit the Beast's castle to spare her father's life. Beauty's gradual acceptance of the Beast and the couple's deepening trust and affection are amplified in novel form. Robin McKinley's writing has the flavor of another century, and Beauty heightens the authenticity as a reliable and competent narrator.

I am in love with the story of Beauty and the Beast. It is my favorite fairy tale, and I tend to watch the Disney version of it over and over again. I simply cannot help it. So when I found this book randomly one day in Barnes and Noble, I thought it would be great.

However, I didn’t really like it. The writing was what kind of threw me off. There wasn’t much detail at all. I personally like a little bit of fluff, but Beauty didn’t seem to have any. It was more being told than being shown, which every writing teacher would frown upon.

The characters also weren’t very drawn out. You knew kind of what Beauty was like. She liked to read, she was giving, she was self-sacrificing. However, there wasn’t much more depth to her character. What about her thoughts, wishes, dreams? She seemed very two-dimensional to me. The Beast was also slightly two-dimensional. There is no depth to his character, and you don’t really see why he acts the way he does.

The details of the enchantment are also kind of vague. He’s under a curse, and you find out why. However, you don’t find out why he was the one it finally took hold of, or why he managed to control the servants or anything else. The curse however was a new twist and I did enjoy that.

Perhaps I’m just a sucker for the Disney movie version of this fairy tale, but this one didn’t really do it for me.

Who Might Like This Book:
Fairy Tale Lovers
People who love Robin McKinley
Lovers of all Beauty and the Beast Stories, not just Disney Movies

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Character:

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Blood Promise: Chapter 1

2009-07-29T17:37:00.006-05:00

So, if any of you are lovers of Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, you may already know this. And incase you don't, here is some news for you!

The first chapter of Blood Promise has been posted on her website. Find it Here.

If you read it, let me know your thoughts!

If you don't read it, let me know why you don't!

I'm so excited for this book!

Waiting on Wednesday (7)

2009-07-29T05:00:00.003-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Note: There is No Official Cover for this book as of yet, and I am using a sample cover made for Georgia by Bradley.

Praefatio by Georgia McBride
Release Date: N/A
Pages: N/A

The ascension of Grace Ann Miller from human to Archangel was not what you would imagine becoming a High Angel would be. A fact which no one believes, Grace’s sanity is challenged as she tells her story from a police station. Gavin Vault, the world’s biggest rock star has just been arrested for her kidnapping and the media is having a field day. But Grace has a much more shocking tale for the police than kidnapping. A secret existence steeped in ancient Biblical myth guarded by the highest order of Angels. Thrust into an ages-old battle for power, Grace must decide who she can trust and stay alive long enough to find out why people are trying to kill her–and prove she’s not insane. Fighting blood thirsty and demonic otherworldlies, falling madly in love and finding her true calling has never been deadlier or more fun.

After talking a little bit to the author, I discovered the book she was working on and can’t wait for a chance to read it! There is no release date, nor any sort of information that I can tell you about it, except what it’s about! Doesn’t it sound amazing?

Bookcase!

2009-07-28T11:00:00.002-05:00

Just yesterday I was staring at my large pile of books that are covering the wall below and around my window. In fact, last night I added two more books to the ever growing pile and found a tub full of books that I had taken to college with me and hadn't unpacked. It has gotten to the point where I desperately need a bookcase and yet have no idea how to go about getting one. Then earlier today I received an email from CSN Office Furniture asking me if I would like to review one of their bookcases. I jumped for joy and immediately started browsing their site!

They have so many bookcases it's hard to choose which one I like more. It was fantastic to see the ones that had drawers and doors. There are ones that look old and antique which appeal to me and my love of anything that looks like it could be part of the medieval era. They have bookcases that are appealing and yet have a reasonable price for those who need to keep to a budget.

I was always happily surprised to see that they had other office furniture. Not only do they have bookcases, but they have desks and Office Chairs for those who those who may want an official space to do blogger, or writing, or whatever else may please them.

I'm so excited, time to go pick out my bookcase!

When It Happens

2009-07-27T05:00:00.005-05:00

When It Happens by Susane Colasanti

Release Date: May 4th, 2006
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Overall:

At the start of her senior year, Sara wants two things: to get into a top college and to find true love. Tobey also wants two things in his senior year: to win Battle of the Bands and to make Sara fall in love with him. A popular jock named Dave, though, moves in on Sara first. But Tobey's quirky wit and big blue eyes are hard for Sara to ignore. Plus, he gets the little things that matter to her - like why she loves the Lloyd Dobler boom-box scene in the movie Say Anything...Can a slacker rock-star wanna be win the heart of a pretty class brain like Sara?

This is the first book I’ve read by Susane Colasanti. It was a quick read and entertaining. While it isn’t the type of book I usually read, it was refreshing and joyful to see the underdog get the girl in a book.

The writing was pretty straight forward telling the reader exactly what they need to know, not really fluffing it up too much. She added cute scenes to make the reader’s hearts grow fuzzy with warmth. My favorite scene was the re-enactment from Say Anything. Those who have scene the movie and have read the book know which one I’m talking about.

The characters were very relatable. It was easy relate with Sara, who was a realistic brainy student. There is also the underdog that guys might be able to relate to if they read the book, and if they don’t, it gives the smart girls the hope of finding their own Tobey.

Overall the book was entertaining, though not necessarily a must read in my opinion.

Who Might Like This Book:
Romance Readers
Chick Lit Readers

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Contest Winner!

2009-07-26T14:54:00.006-05:00

Alright everyone. Since my contest is now over, it is only right that I pick a winner! Using Random.org got a random number between 1 and 197 with the chosen number 35! So, starting with one and counting downward the winner of Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink is...

Kristen from Bookworming in the 21st Century

So Kristen if you'll send me an email (see address to the left) your address, I'll get your book out to you asap!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Stay tuned for the next couple days as I will be posting another contest, celebrating reaching over 50 followers! Woot. =)

Thanks everyone!

In My Mailbox (6)

2009-07-26T00:00:00.002-05:00

UPDATE: My contest for Prophecy of the Sisters has ended, but I'll be doing another contest soon. Stay tuned for more contests and the winner (posted later today.)

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater (Hardback/Flux/August 1st, 2009)

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf--her wolf--is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human . . . until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.

Lament by Maggie Stiefvater (Paperback/Flux/October 1st, 2008)

Sixteen-year-old Deirdre Monaghan is a painfully shy but prodigiously gifted musician. She's about to find out she's also a cloverhand—one who can see faeries. When a mysterious boy enters her ordinary suburban life, seemingly out of nowhere, Deirdre finds herself infatuated. Trouble is, the enigmatic and conflicted Luke turns out to be a gallowglass—a soulless faerie assassin – and Deirdre is meant to be his next mark. Deirdre has to decide if Luke's feelings towards her are real, or only a way to lure her deeper into the world of Faerie.

Luke isn't her only problem. A sinister faerie named Aodhan is also stalking Deirdre. Long-time enemies with a common goal, Luke and Aodhan carry the same assignment from the Faerie Queen. Namely, kill Deirdre before her music captures the attention of the Fae and threatens the Queen's sovereignty. Caught in the crossfire with Deirdre is her best friend James whose devotion has been teetering precariously on the line between friendship and love for months – a feeling that Dee doesn't quite reciprocate. It's Luke she can't stop thinking about: Luke, who was supposed to kill her immediately but hasn't. Luke, who cannot refuse the Queen's orders without paying an unimaginable price. Deirdre ultimately must confront the Faerie Queen before she loses everyone she loves.

Ash by Malinda Lo (ARC/Hodder Children's Books/September 1st, 2009)

Pushed into indentured servitude for her stepmother in the City to pay off her father’s debts, Ash is consumed with grief. She misses her family and her happy life at the edge of the Wood where old magic used to linger in the air like fairy breath. Her only joy comes from the brief, stolen walks in the woods with the dark and dangerous fairy Sideman. Ash’s single, unspoken hope is that someday he might steal her away, as fairies are said to do.

But on the day that Ash meets Kaisa, the King’s Huntress, her heart begins to change. Instead of chasing fairies, from Alisa she learns the art of the hunt, how to ride and track. Their friendship is as delicate as a new bloom, but it grows and changes, and with it, Ash reawakens her capacity for love—and her desire to live.

Entrancing and romantic, Ash is an empowering retelling of Cinderella about choosing life and love over solitude and death, where transformation can come from even the deepest grief.

Strange Angels

2009-07-23T06:00:00.003-05:00

Strange Angels by Lili St. Crow

Release Date: May 14th, 2009
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 304
Overall:

Dad? Zombie.
Mom? Long gone.
Me? Well, that's the scary part.

The Real World is a frightening place. Just ask sixteen-year-old orphan Dru Anderson, a tough girl who has taken down her fair share of bad guys. She's armed, dangerous, and ready to kill first and ask questions later. So it's gonna take her a while to figure out who she can trust . . .

Dru Anderson has been 'strange' for as long as she can remember, travelling from town to town with her father to hunt the things that go bump in the night. It's a weird life, but a good one – until it all explodes in an icy, broken-down Dakota town, when a hungry zombie busts through her kitchen door. Alone, terrified, and trapped, Dru's going to need every inch of her wit and training to stay alive. The monsters have decided to hunt back – and this time, Dru's on their menu. Chances of survival? Slim to none.

If she can't last until sunup, it's game over . . .

I absolutely loved this book. While I have read many stories with a main character who has an attitude, I have never read one that is quite done in this fashion.

The most enjoyable portion of the book for me has to be the writing style. The spunky, take-no-crap voice that the book is written in simple made me want to read more. It had personality that I haven’t seen in books for a while. I love the Maximum Ride books for the spunky voice of Max, and this book out did her voice, making the character a true heroine.

The characters themselves were fun to read about. I love how Graves is the sidekick and comic relief with his innocent innuendos and comments. He counteracts the serious attitude of Christophe, who I personally would love to see Dru start a relationship with, since I see Graves as a more sidekick and not a possible love interest.

I can’t wait for the sequel to come out so that the story can continue!

Plot:

Character:

Writing:

Cover:

Waiting on Wednesday (6)

2009-07-22T06:00:00.003-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl
Release Date: December 1st, 2009
Pages: 640

There were no surprises in Gatlin County
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that’s what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn’t have been more wrong.

There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power, and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps, and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town’s oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything.

This book sounds amazing and everyone is raving about it! I am so jealous of those have already read it and hope I have a chance to read it soon!

Teaser Tuesday (4)

2009-07-21T05:00:00.002-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

"Are you coming down?" I ask her. It takes her a moment to look my way, but when she does I feel a surge of sympathy at the sheer terror still displayed on her face.

"Down? Now that I'm up here you want me to get down?" Her voice borders on hysterical.

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink, Pg. 177

Awards!

2009-07-20T20:09:00.002-05:00

I finally got around to post about my awards~ Woot!

So the first award is from Taschima Cullen from Bloody Bookaholic.

The rules for the Lemonade Award:

-Link back to the person he/she received the award from

-Nominate 10 bloggers who are deserving of this award

-Put the Lemonade Award logo on your blog

1. Senfaye (A Maze of Books)

2. B.A.M. Reviews

3. Jessica (Book Reviews by Jess)

4. Chelsea (The Page Flipper)

5. Briana (The Book Pixie)

6. Erica (The Book Cellar)

7. Danielle (The Book Blogger)

8. Kelsey (Reading Keeps You Sane)

9. Kim (The Book Butterfly)

10. Sharon (Sharon Loves Books and Cats)

The next award I have received is the Humane Award. I have received this twice, once from Taschima Cullen at BloodyBookaholic and Kristen at Bookworming in the 21st Century.

About the Humane Award, which was created by Eleni.

This award is to honor certain bloggers that are kindhearted individuals. They regularly take part in my blog and always leave the sweetest comments. If it wasn't for them, my site would just be an ordinary book review blog. Their blogs are also amazing and are tastefully done on a daily basis. I thank them and look forward to our growing friendship trhough the blog world.

Rules:

-Nominate 10 bloggers you feel deserve the Humane Award

Since its the same award, I'm going to just do 10 instead of 20~

1. B.A.M. Reviews

2. Chelsea (The Page Flipper)

3. Briana (The Book Pixie)

4. Erica (The Book Cellar)

5. Danielle (The Book Blogger)

6. Kelsey (Reading Keeps You Sane)

7. Kim (The Book Butterfly)

8. Sharon (Sharon Loves Books and Cats)

9. Senfaye (A Maze of Books)

10. Jessica (Book Reviews by Jess)

This award was given to me by Lost in a Book

Blogs that receive the Let’s Be Friends Award are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and befriends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers. Deliver this award to eight bloggers.

I'm going to pass it on to:

1. Mitali (Alley of Books)
2. Senfaye (A Maze of Books)
3. Taschima Cullen (BloodyBookaholic)
4. Jessica (Book Reviews by Jess)
5. Eli (The Tainted Poet)
6. Chelsea (The Page Flipper)
7. Briana (The Book Pixie)
8. Kelsey (Reading Keeps You Sane)

This award was also given to me by Taschima Cullen at Bloody Bookaholic!

I'm going to nominate the following for this award!

1. Mitali (Alley of Books)

2. Jessica (Book Reviews by Jess)

3. Eli (The Tainted Poet)

4. Chelsea (The Page Flipper)

5. Briana (The Book Pixie)

6. Erica (The Book Cellar)

7. Kelsey (Reading Keeps You Sane)

Thanks to both of you!

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale

2009-07-20T07:00:00.005-05:00

Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale by Holly Black

Release Date: March 23rd, 2004
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 331
Overall:

Sixteen-year-old Kaye Fierch is not human, but she doesn't know it. Sure, she knows she's interacted with faeries since she was little--but she never imagined she was one of them, her blond Asian human appearance only a magically crafted cover-up for her true, green-skinned pixie self. First-time author Holly Black explores Kaye's self-discovery and dual worlds in her riveting, suspenseful novel Tithe: A Modern Faerie Tale.

The novel begins in a bar in Philly, where Kaye's alcoholic rock-singer mother's boyfriend tries to kill her. For their own safety, mother and daughter quickly move back to grandma's on the New Jersey shore where Kaye grew up. This ugly turn of events was all rigged by the Faerie world, as it turns out, a world Black describes in deliciously vivid, if rather overblown, detail. Kaye, a drinking, smoking, foul-mouthed high school dropout in the land of mortals, soon finds herself embroiled--as a human sacrifice, no less--in a battle between Faerieland's Seelie and more malevolent Unseelie courts. The beautiful, mysterious knight Roiben, torn between worlds himself, falls in love with Kaye--the brave, clever changeling--against his better judgment. Throughout the electrifying journey to the horrific underworld of this modern faerie fantasy, teen readers will relate to a hard-luck tough girl who feels alienated, discovers her best qualities in the worst of circumstances, and finally finds a place between worlds where she can feel at home.

This was a cute story that I read back before I had really gotten into faerie stories. It was the supernatural romance that tends to drag me into all kinds of stories.
Kaye was a fun character to follow, and you instantly want her and Roiben to get together. Both characters are stubbornly independent but in spite of that, they end up loving each other and saving each other from those who are trying to harm them.

It was a good story and I have read the sequel Valiant, which I will be posting at a later date. I haven’t read Ironside though I intend to which is why I decided to post a review for this.

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In My Mailbox (5)

2009-07-19T00:00:00.003-05:00

UPDATE: Since I have recently reached 25 Followers, I am holding my first Contest! Yay! I'm giving away a copy of Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink! Read the description below and go Here to enter! Thanks!

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink (Hardback/Little Brown)

Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions.

Bewitching Season by Marissa Doyle (Hardback/Henry Holt and Co./April 29th, 2008)

In 1837 England, young daughters of viscounts pined for handsome, titled husbands, not careers. And certainly not careers in magic.

Twins Persephone (Persy) and Penelope (Pen) Leland are anticipating their first London season with mixed feelings. Pen can't wait for the balls and parties and crowds of handsome young men to flirt with, but Persy would far rather stay home with their governess, Ally, and continue her magic studies. The only thing drawing her to London is the prospect of seeing Princess Victoria, her and Pen's idol.

But then Ally disappears from a busy London street and the twins are drawn into searching for her...and find that her disappearance is linked to a dastardly plot to enchant the soon-to-be Queen. Persy also discovers that a good lady's maid is hard to find, that one should never cast a love spell on anyone after drinking too much brandy punch at a party, that pesky little brothers can sometimes come in handy, and that even boys who were terrible teases when they were twelve can mysteriously turn into the most perfect young men.

Silent Echoes by Carla Jablonski (Hardback/Razorbill/February 1st, 2007)

What happens to a teenage girl who starts hearing voices? The answer is vastly different for two girls living in two different eras.

When a “spirit” contacts Lucy Phillips at a séance in nineteenth-century Manhattan, Lucy quickly gains fame as a talented medium who can impart knowledge about the future to wealthy socialites. Lucy is grateful to this “spirit,” who communicates with her from beyond, for giving her a life of luxury she's never known before. By contrast, Lindsay Miller is hospitalized in modern-day New York City for schizophrenia when she starts to hear a girl's voice in her head.
But when the two girls realize they are really hearing each other's voices every time they occupy the same physical location, they begin to see possibilities that will change both of their lives forever. . .

Spirits That Walk in Shadow by Nina Kiriki Hoffman (Hardback/Viking Juvenile/October 5th, 2006)

Shadows fall across the beautiful, lush kingdom after the queen is attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger, a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land. But Alexandra has more gifts than she realizes as she confronts magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces, and is unflinchingly brave as she struggles to reclaim what is rightfully hers. Fantasy lovers will be held in thrall by this tale full of visual detail, peppered with a formidable destructive force and sweetened with familial and romantic love.

Twilight Child by Sally Warner (Hardback/Viking Juvenile/June 1st, 2006)

Eleni didn't choose to be a twilight child; it chose her. Born on the longest day of the year in the northern country of Finland, Eleni can communicate with creatures unseen by others—the tontuu of the sauna, the blue men of the Minch, and the brounies of the Scottish highlands. Part of her life is touched by magic, but the other is touched by sorrow. After losing her home, her family, and the boy she loves, Eleni finds comfort and friendship in the little town of Tobermorie. But as much as she wants to call it home, she feels the pull of someone, and something, stronger.

The Summoning

2009-07-18T07:00:00.004-05:00

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

Release Date: July 1st, 2008
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 390
Overall:

Chloe Saunders sees dead people. Yes, like in the films. The problem is, in real life saying you see ghosts gets you a one-way ticket to the psych ward. And at 15, all Chloe wants to do is fit in at school and maybe get a boy to notice her. But when a particularly violent ghost haunts her, she gets noticed for all the wrong reasons. Her seemingly crazed behaviour earns her a trip to Lyle House, a centre for 'disturbed teens'. At first Chloe is determined to keep her head down. But then her room mate disappears after confessing she has a poltergeist, and some of the other patients also seem to be manifesting paranormal behaviour. Could that be a coincidence? Or is Lyle House not quite what it seems...? Chloe realizes that if she doesn't uncover the truth, she could be destined for a lifetime in a psychiatric hospital. Or could her fate be even worse...? Can she trust her fellow students, and does she dare reveal her dark secret?

I have never read any of Kelley Armstrong’s other books. This book caught my eye however, and so I had to pick it up and read it.

The characters were interesting enough. Chloe was cute and adorable and easily relatable…that is if I too could see ghosts. Derek was also a personal favorite of mine, and I could already see my hope for a romantic interest to bud between him and Chloe. I liked Simon just fine, but he is not the one I would want for Chloe.

The book didn’t disappoint. It was a fun easy read that kept me entertained. While I wasn’t completely hooked into the book, the ending made me want more. The introduction of what was going on was finally over and the story could truly begin.

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Contest - Win Prophecy of the Sisters!

2009-07-17T10:24:00.010-05:00

Alright everyone, since I have reached (and passed) 25 followers, I'm going to hold my first contest! And since I have recently won the Swag Bag contest over at Michelle Zink's site for having found the book in stores, I thought it would make a good giveaway!

Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink
(Released officially August 1st, but being found daily in bookstores!)

Sixteen-year-old Lia Milthorpe and her twin sister Alice have just become orphans, and, as Lia discovers, they have also become enemies. The twins are part of an ancient prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other. To escape from a dark fate and to remain in the arms of her beloved boyfriend James, Lia must end the prophecy before her sister does. Only then will she understand the mysterious circumstances of her parents' deaths, the true meaning of the strange mark branded on her wrist, and the lengths to which her sister will go to defeat her. Debut novelist Michelle Zink takes readers on an unforgettable journey where one sister's fateful decision could have an impact of Biblical proportions. Prophecy of the Sisters is the first of three books.

To Enter:

Open to U.S. Residents and International Residents!

You Must:

Leave a comment telling me what debut author's book you are looking forward to the most!

For Additional Entries

+1 - Linking to this contest (Must leave link/+1 for each additional link up to 5)
+1 - Tweeting about this Contest
+1 - Referring someone to this contest (they must leave your name)
+2 - Following me on Twitter (thebookexplorer)
+2 - For Becoming a Follower
+3 - For already following me on Twitter
+3 - For Already Being a Follower

Good luck!

This contest ends Saturday, July 25th, 2009. Winners will be posted on Sunday, July 26th.

Shadow Kiss

2009-07-16T07:00:00.004-05:00

Shadow Kiss by Richelle Mead

Release Date: November 13th, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 443
Overall:

Is Rose's fate to kill the person she loves most? It's springtime at St. Vladimir's Academy, and Rose Hathaway is this close to graduation. Since Mason's death, Rose hasn't been feeling quite right. She has dark flashbacks in the middle of practice, can't concentrate in class, and has terrifying dreams about Lissa. But Rose has an even bigger secret . . . .She's in love with Dimitri. And this time, it's way more than a crush.

Then Strigoi target the academy in the deadliest attack in Moroi history, and Dimitri is taken. Rose must protect Lissa at all costs, but keeping her best friend safe could mean losing Dimitri forever.

This book just choked me up. It was full of action that was intense it had me gripping the book tightly in my hands.

The relationship between all the characters intensified. Rose is still secretly in love with Dimitri. Christian and Rose become better friends as they team up in her protection practice. They not only become friends but also a fighting force which is incredible in the action scene.

This book is my favorite in the series. It had me in tears at the end, and those of you who have read it, know why. It was just too much for me to handle. I cannot wait for Blood Promise to come out.

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Waiting on Wednesday (5)

2009-07-15T07:00:00.005-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Once a Witch by Carolyn MacCullough
Release Date: September 14th, 2009
Pages: 272

Tamsin Greene comes from a long line of witches, and she was supposed to be one of the most Talented among them. But Tamsin's magic never showed up. Now seventeen, Tamsin attends boarding school in Manhattan, far from her family. But when a handsome young professor mistakes her for her very Talented sister, Tamsin agrees to find a lost family heirloom for him. The search—and the stranger—will prove to be more sinister than they first appeared, ultimately sending Tamsin on a treasure hunt through time that will unlock the secret of her true identity, unearth the sins of her family, and unleash a power so vengeful that it could destroy them all. This is a spellbinding display of storytelling that will exhilarate, enthrall, and thoroughly enchant.

This book sounds good. I can’t wait for it to come out!

Max: A Maximum Ride Novel

2009-07-13T07:00:00.003-05:00

Max: A Maximum Ride Novel by James Patterson

Release Date: March 16th, 2009
Publisher: Little Brown
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 320
Overall:

Maximum Ride and the other members of the Flock have barely recovered from their last arctic adventure, when they are confronted by the most frightening catastrophe yet. Millions of fish are dying off the coast of Hawaii and someone-or something--is destroying hundreds of ships. Unable to discover the cause, the government enlists the Flock to help them get to the bottom of the disaster before it is too late.

While Max and her team are exploring the depths of the ocean, their every move is being carefully tracked by Mr. Chu--a criminal mastermind with his own plans for the Flock. Can they protect themselves from Mr. Chu's army of mercenaries and save the ocean from utter destruction?

After reading the Final Warning, I was slightly against reading this book. I did not want to be disappointed yet again in a story I had grown to love.

This book wasn’t as bad as the last one, but not as good as the first three. The plot was a little more defined and back toward what the first ones were about. It still had the environment concern in the story but not as deeply as The Final Warning. However, it just wasn’t a great book.

I feel as if James Patterson is just squeezing the Max story to get every penny out of it. I might read the next one, but I might not. I guess it depends on my reading list when it comes out.

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In My Mailbox (4)

2009-07-12T07:00:00.003-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

Eyes Like Stars by Lisa Manchev (Hardback/Feiwel & Friends/July 7th, 2009)

Enter Stage Right

All her world's a stage.
Beatrice Shakespeare Smith is not an actress, yet she lives in a theater.
She is not an orphan, but she has no parents.
She knows every part, but has no lines of her own.
Until now.

Welcome to the Théâtre Illuminata, where the characters of every place ever written can be found behind the curtain. They were born to play their parts, and are bound to the Théâtre by The Book—an ancient and magical tome of scripts. Bertie is not one of them, but they are her family—and she is about to lose them all and the only home she has ever known.

Lisa Mantchev has written a debut novel that is dramatic, romantic, and witty, with an irresistible and irreverent cast of characters who are sure to enchant the audience.

Open Curtain

The Book of Dreams (Chronicles of Faerie by O.R. Melling (Hardback/Amulet/May 1st, 2009)

Dana Faolan, the spunky half-faerie heroine of The Light-Bearer’s Daughter, the third book in The Chronicles, has been using her access to the land of Faerie to escape the troubles of being a teenager in a new town. But a dark, mysterious enemy is determined to sever the two worlds forever, thus dooming both. It will take all of Dana’s bravery and resourcefulness, plus the help of friends old and new, to save her two homes, especially when it becomes clear that the answer lies in an act of terrible sacrifice.

The Swan Kingdom by Zoe Marriott (Paperback/Mira/November 21st, 2008)

Shadows fall across the beautiful, lush kingdom after the queen is attacked by an unnatural beast, and the healing skills of her daughter, Alexandra, cannot save her. Too soon the widowed king is spellbound by a frightening stranger, a woman whose eyes reflect no light. In a terrifying moment, all Alexandra knows disappears, including her beloved brothers, leaving her banished to a barren land. But Alexandra has more gifts than she realizes as she confronts magic, murder, and the strongest of evil forces, and is unflinchingly brave as she struggles to reclaim what is rightfully hers. Fantasy lovers will be held in thrall by this tale full of visual detail, peppered with a formidable destructive force and sweetened with familial and romantic love.

Poison Study (Hardback/Bloomsbury/May 27th, 2008)

Outsider Anaíd leads a solitary life in a small village in the Pyrenees with her mother Selene. She does not suspect there is anything particularly strange about her family, aside from her mother’s personal eccentricities . . . until one day Selene disappears without a trace and Anaíd is confronted with a shocking truth, her mother is a witch, prophesied to be the chosen one to end an ancient war between two feuding clans.

I have wanted to read War of the Witches and The Swan Kingdom of ages! I finally found them!

I also bought the fourth book in the O.R. Melling series, and Eyes Like Stars. Can’t wait to start reading!

Frostbite

2009-07-11T07:00:00.004-05:00

Frostbite by Richelle Mead

Release Date: April 10th, 2008
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Overall:

Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...

It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians--including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks...This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.

But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...

Richelle Mead did not disappoint in her sequel to Vampire Academy. The story picks up almost immediately where the first one left off, throwing the reader right back into the action. It was intense and nerve racking, and yet loving and exciting at the same time.

The characters are even more loveable. Rose becomes the instant heroine yet again and it is not because her life is so simple. You simply want her to have the best and yet trouble is never far behind for her. I was extremely frustrated at points with Dimitri when things did not go the way I wanted it to between them.

However, I was not disappointed with the ending and it only left me wanting more. It is too much to wait for books to come out and makes me extremely exasperated when others get to read them first.

Can’t wait for the others!

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Wings

2009-07-10T07:00:00.003-05:00

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

Release Date: March 17th, 2008
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 291
Overall:

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.
Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.
In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

I don’t mind a good faerie story, but stories about them have never been on the top of my reading list. However I’m glad I read this book. It intensified my need to read similar Faerie stories.

The twists on what faeries are was really intriguing to me. I loved learning what faeries were in this world right along with Laurel. Especially when she was learning about it from Tamani, who I absolutely adore. It was also a new twist on what the faeries were doing, and how Laurel was involved.

It was a cute story and I definitely will continue reading the series, if for no other reason to read more about Laurel’s relation with Tamani, though that won’t be the only reason.

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Maximum Ride: The Final Warning

2009-07-09T07:00:00.003-05:00

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning by James Patterson

Release Date: March 17th, 2008
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 256
Overall:

Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride and the other members of "Flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It seems like a dream come true--except that they're still being hunted by new threats at every turn.

This time, the US government wants to keep the Flock under observation, offering a safe haven and schooling in return. But after their incredible adventures in books 1-3, Max and Flock have grown to love freedom- -after all, haven't grown-ups always found a way to ruin their lives? After escaping the control of the feds, they are surprised to find themselves allied with a group of environmental scientists who just might be trustworthy. Besides, what enemy could find them in one of the remotest locations on earth--Antarctica--on an expedition studying the effects of global warming up close?

There is one: The Uber-Director-- literally, brains on a stick--an evil being who has developed mechanical soldiers far more frightening than Erasers. Their quest? To retrieve the Flock and sell them in a global auction for billions of dollars. Will the Uber-Director nab them before Max, Fang and the flock succumb to the dangers of the harsh Antarctic wilderness? Kids, parents and educators tuned into the issue of global warming will find this latest episode of the blockbuster Maximum Ride series not only a particularly riveting adventure beyond their wildest dreams, but also a motivating cautionary tale about a real-life peril that may affect their own future.

Okay. This book was a big let down after the first three books. I loved the story the other three books created, and was eager to continue reading about the life of the Flock. However, this book just wasn’t up to par.

It wasn’t the characters or the writing that let me down. It was the overall plot. The story shifted from a huge knot-tying adventure into…saving the world from global warming? Really? Are you really telling me that the purpose that Max was created for was to outlive…global warming.

Then, you get a possible bad guy who could turn the story around and before you know it the story is over. The villain isn’t even really described! It was like ‘This the bag guy. Now he’s dead. The End.’ I didn’t even get enough detail to get worked up over their possible demise this time.

Maybe I’m just slightly against the idea of global warming, but this book was just not what I was expecting at all.

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Waiting on Wednesday (4)

2009-07-08T07:00:00.004-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

Blood Promise by Richelle Mead
Release Date: August 25th, 2009
Pages: 480

DIMITRI'S HEART HAS GONE DARK

Now Rose must journey to the ends of the earth to find--and kill--her one true love...

Or has the time come to join him?

BOUND BY LOVE, BUT SWORN TO KILL...

The rest of the world had considered Dimitri dead. And to a certain extent, he was. But I hadn't been able to forget a conversation he and I had once had. We'd both agreed that we'd rather be dead—truly dead—than walk the world as Strigoi. It was time to honor our words.

Guardian Rose Hathaway's life will never be the same.

The recent attack on St. Vladimir's Academy devastated the entire Moroi world. Many are dead. And, for the few victims carried off by Strigoi, their fates are even worse. A rare tattoo now adorns Rose's neck, a mark that says she's killed far too many Strigoi to count. But only one victim matters . . . Dimitri Belikov. Rose must now choose one of two very different paths: honoring her life's vow to protect Lissa—her best friend and the last surviving Dragomir princess—or, dropping out of the Academy to strike out on her own and hunt down the man she loves. She'll have to go to the ends of the earth to find Dimitri and keep the promise he begged her to make. But the question is, when the time comes, will he want to be saved?

Now, with everything at stake—and worlds away from St. Vladimir's and her unguarded, vulnerable, and newly rebellious best friend—can Rose find the strength to destroy Dimitri? Or, will she sacrifice herself for a chance at eternal love?

This is the Fourth book in the Vampire Academy Series. I can’t wait for it to come out and am nearly dying of anticipation. Especially after the end of the last book. Maaaannnnnn. August is so far away!

Teaser Tuesday (3)

2009-07-07T12:06:00.006-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

"Are you naked?" His eyes fell shut again, and he made a little hitching sound like a snore.

Oh for Christ's Sake. But I fell asleep before I could work up the energy to be pissed off.

Strange Angels by Lil St. Crow, Pg. 105

In My Mailbox (3)

2009-07-05T07:00:00.004-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

The Light-Bearer’s Daughter by O.R. Melling (Paperback/Amulet/August 1st, 2008)

Dana has few memories of her mother, who disappeared when she was small. But she has always dreamed, despite her father’s discouragement, that her mother would come back one day. When her dad decides to leave Ireland and take a job across the ocean in Canada, Dana is heartbroken. How can she leave her home and the only chance of seeing her mother again? She runs away, high into the fairy mountains of Ireland. Following ancient paths, with a mysterious wolf companion by her side, Dana encounters a world of tragic enchantment and fairy romance, and discovers a great secret about herself.

Faerie Wars by Herbie Brennan (Paperback/Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books/September 1st, 2004)

Henry Atherton thinks his life is spinning out of control. But nothing prepares him for the invisible portal in old man Fogarty’s backyard . . . and the unexpected stranger who comes through it.

Pyrgus Malvae, crown prince of the Faerie realm, is on the run. Too many people want the rebellious young heir dead: a scheming sorcerer, a powerful demon, the malignant leader of the Faeries of the Night, and maybe even a hidden traitor within his father’s court.

Henry and Pyrgus come from very different worlds, but it may be up to Henry to save all of Faerie from being conquered by the Nightside, even if it means crossing over to a magical realm where nothing is ever what it seems . . . and no one can be trusted.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder (Paperback/Mira/November 21st, 2008)

ABout to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooma in the palace--and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust--and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison.

As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

My pile of books to read just keeps growing and not dwindling. I don't know if that's a bad thing though...

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow

2009-07-04T07:00:00.005-05:00

Sun and Moon, Ice and Snow by Jessica Day George

Release Date: January 8th, 2008
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children’s Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 336
Overall:

Blessed—or cursed—with an ability to understand animals, the Lass (as she’s known to her family) has always been an oddball. And when an isbjorn (polar bear) seeks her out, and promises that her family will become rich if only the Lass will accompany him to his castle, she doesn’t hesitate. But the bear is not what he seems, nor is his castle, which is made of ice and inhabited by a silent staff of servents. Only a grueling journey on the backs of the four winds will reveal the truth: the bear is really a prince who’s been enchanted by a troll queen, and the Lass must come up with a way to free him before he’s forced to marry a troll princess.

This is the first book I’ve read by Jessica Day George, but it was entertaining at the very least. It took the typical Beauty and the Beast story and gave it a fresh new look.

The Lass isn’t necessarily relatable, but at the very least is very enjoyable. Seeing how she deals with not having a name and how the others in her family treats her is almost interesting in itself. However, the most interesting part is when the isbjorn comes and takes her away to his ice kingdom. The mystery of the story keeps the reader in the story trying to figure out why people are disappearing and who is it that cast such a curse on this isbjorn.

The writing is nothing spectacular. While it is not necessarily an easy flowing read, it keeps the reader engaged well enough. Overall, it was a nice retailing of my favorite fairy tale.

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City of Bones

2009-07-03T07:00:00.008-05:00

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare

Release Date: March 27th, 2007
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 485
Overall:

When fifteen-year-old Clary Fray heads out to the Pandemonium Club in New York City, she hardly expects to witness a murder -- much less a murder committed by three teenagers covered with strange tattoos and brandishing bizarre weapons. Then the body disappears into thin air. It's hard to call the police when the murderers are invisible to everyone else and when there is nothing -- not even a smear of blood -- to show that a boy has died. Or was he a boy?

This is Clary's first meeting with the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the earth of demons. It's also her first encounter with Jace, a Shadowhunter who looks a little like an angel and acts a lot like a jerk. Within twenty-four hours Clary is pulled into Jace's world with a vengeance, when her mother disappears and Clary herself is attacked by a demon. But why would demons be interested in ordinary mundanes like Clary and her mother? And how did Clary suddenly get the Sight? The Shadowhunters would like to know...

Exotic and gritty, exhilarating and utterly gripping, Cassandra Clare's ferociously entertaining fantasy takes readers on a wild ride that they will never want to end.

Cassandra Clare creates a new world within the everyday world of Earth, taking all the creatures people love to read about and combining them nicely in a small package.

Clary is a loveable character who isn’t the automatic heroine in situations. She is strong willed and able to make decision about what she wants to do, but usually has Jace to back her up and keep her safe from danger. She is smart and comes up with many solutions that others perhaps wouldn’t have thought of. Jace is the strong counterpart to her. He steps up into the protector role and readily fights for those he cares for and for what his loved ones think is important. Other characters add fun and tension to the duo as other unrequited love and clashing personalities.

The reading was a little more involving than some other teen books, but not any harder to understand than other novels. It was gripping right from the start and held all the way through to the end.

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Avalon High

2009-07-02T07:00:00.007-05:00

Avalon High by Meg Cabot

Release Date: December 27th, 2005
Publisher: Harper Teen
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 355
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Avalon High seems like a typical high school, attended by typical students: There's Lance, the jock. Jennifer, the cheerleader. And Will, senior class president, quarterback, and all-around good guy.

But not everybody at Avalon High is who they appear to be ... not even, as new student Ellie is about to discover, herself. What part does she play in the drama that is unfolding? What if the bizarre chain of events and coincidences she has pieced together means -- as with the court of King Arthur -- tragedy is fast approaching Avalon High?

Worst of all, what if there's nothing she can do about it?

I love the legend of Arthur and this was a interesting twist on the story, especially putting it into a high school setting.

The characters were interesting enough. While they may not have been entirely relatable, they were interesting enough to follow. Ellie is a strong female character who takes the burden of trying to save Will from his friends, his brother and himself. It adds the sense that even girls were important in the common legend.

The writing was simple enough, and very enjoyable. It was a fast read that kept me interested in it enough to finish it fast.

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Waiting on Wednesday (3)

2009-07-01T07:00:00.004-05:00

“Waiting on Wednesday” is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

The Dead-Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan
Release Date: March 9th, 2010
Pages: 485

Gabry lives a quiet life. As safe a life as is possible in a town trapped between a forest and the ocean, in a world teeming with the dead, who constantly hunger for those still living. She’s content on her side of the Barrier, happy to let her friends dream of the Dark City up the coast while she watches from the top of her lighthouse. But there are threats the Barrier cannot hold back. Threats like the secrets Gabry’s mother thought she left behind when she escaped from the Sisterhood and the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Like the cult of religious zealots who worship the dead. Like the stranger from the forest who seems to know Gabry. And suddenly, everything is changing. One reckless moment, and half of Gabry’s generation is dead, the other half imprisoned. Now Gabry only knows one thing: she must face the forest of her mother’s past in order to save herself and the one she loves.

This is the sequel to The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. I can’t wait to see how the story continues.

Teaser Tuesday (2)

2009-06-30T11:00:00.005-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

"Are you two...?"

"What?" Laurel tried to focus on what her mom was saying.

"Well, you spend an awful lot of time over at his house; I thought maybe the two of you were...becoming an item."

Wings by Aprilynne Pike, Pg 168

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports

2009-06-30T07:00:00.007-05:00

Maximum Ride: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports by James Patterson

Release Date: May 29th, 2007
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 405
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Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride and the other members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It seems like a dream come true--except that they're being hunted by half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" who can fly, too.   

In Book 3 of the series, the flock members are faced with a new enemy--robots called Flyboys who are stronger than Erasers and have retractable wings. The last thing Max wants is to keep running for her life, but she has to, taking the Flock across the country. There, they meet the sinister scientist Ter-Borsht, who speaks of something called "Re-Evolution," and the "By-Half Plan": the most frightening human experiment they can imagine--a kind of ethnic cleansing of the entire planet.

  As fear and tension escalate among the flock members--and a romance starts to form between Max and Fang--they split up, with Max taking the girls to Europe, where they are held captive yet again. The only thing that keeps Max going is that, this time, she might finally meet her mother and father--but she still has to save the world. Max Ride's final flight is like a thrilling roller coaster ride with twists you'd never expect and a landing that can't be anything other than... perfect.

This book is the end in this particular trilogy. It wraps up what Max and her friends were trying to accomplish in the first two books, answering any questions left over by the first two books.

There isn’t much development character wise. We learn things about each of them that we may not have known before, but there isn’t anything surprisingly new with the characters, except for maybe the developing relationship between Fang and Max, which I absolutely adore.

The conclusion to the original book is pretty good in comparison to other books. The story does continue, though taking a different direction with the other books in the series that are basically stand alone novels.

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Thirteen Reasons Why

2009-06-29T10:10:00.009-05:00

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Release Date: October 18th, 2007
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 288
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Clay Jensen returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside he discovers 13 cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker his classmate and crush who committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Clay is one of them. If he listens, he'll find out how he made the list. Through Hannah and Clay's dual narratives, debut author Jay Asher weaves an intricate and heartrending story of confusion and desperation that will deeply affect teen.

This book was an intense read for me. I have never read a book that was about why someone committed suicide. The book makes the reader rethink how they treat people or how they judge people.

The characters were intensely real. The possible guilt could be seen on various characters as Clay encountered them after listening to tapes that Hannah left behind. Hannah was also realistic as the story behind her death comes out. It is easy to see how girls feel when things they cannot control happen and they get depressed.

The writing had a way of hooking the reader until they new every reason on those tapes. It was not an easy read, not because of the style but because of the content.

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In My Mailbox (2)

2009-06-28T09:51:00.009-05:00

In My Mailbox is a weekly Meme hosted by The Story Siren

Fairy Tale by Cyn Balog (Hardback/Delacorte/June 23rd, 2009)

Morgan Sparks and Cam Browne are a match made in heaven. They've been best friends since birth, they tell each other everything, and oh yeah- they're totally hot for each other.

But a week before their joint Sweet Sixteen bash, everything changes. Cam's awkward cousin Pip comes to stay, and Morgan is stunned when her formerly perfect boyfriend seems to be drifting away.

When Morgan demands answers, she's shocked to discover the source of Cam's distance isn't another girl- it's another world. Pip claims that Cam is a fairy. No, seriously. A fairy. And now his people want Cam to return to their world and take his rightful place as Fairy King.

Determined to keep Cam with her, Morgan plots to fool the fairies. But as Cam continues to change, she has to decide once and for all if he really is her destiny, and if their “perfect” love can weather an uncertain future.

City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare (Hardback/Margaret K. McElderry/March 25th, 2008)

Clary Fray just wishes that her life would go back to normal. But what's normal when you're a demon-slaying Shadowhunter, your mother is in a magically induced coma, and you can suddenly see Downworlders like werewolves, vampires, and faeries? If Clary left the world of the Shadowhunters behind, it would mean more time with her best friend, Simon, who's becoming more than a friend. But the Shadowhunting world isn't ready to let her go -- especially her handsome, infuriating, newfound brother, Jace. And Clary's only chance to help her mother is to track down rogue Shadowhunter Valentine, who is probably insane, certainly evil -- and also her father.

To complicate matters, someone in New York City is murdering Downworlder children. Is Valentine behind the killings -- and if he is, what is he trying to do? When the second of the Mortal Instruments, the Soul-Sword, is stolen, the terrifying Inquisitor arrives to investigate and zooms right in on Jace. How can Clary stop Valentine if Jace is willing to betray everything he believes in to help their father?

The Hunter's Moon by O.R. Melling (Paperback/Amulet Books/May 1st, 2006)

The first volume, The Hunter's Moon, follows two cousins, Gwen and Findabhair, as they backpack around Ireland in search of the country's magical past. But the girls go too far when they dare to spend the night in a known fairy mound. Finn is stolen away by the dark king of Faerie to become his bride sacrifice to the Great Worm, or Hunter. It is up to timid Gwen to rescue her intrepid cousin, and she wonders if the task will be too much the first time she catches a glimpse of the Little People at play. "Gwen quaked inside. This wild abandon…was beyond anything she could imagine…Exquisite chaos." But with the help of a fairy doctress and her handsome grandson, Gwen assembles a rag tag team of heroes determined to bring Finn back -- even if it means the destruction of Faerie itself.

The Summer King by O.R. Melling (Paperback/Amulet Books/May 1st, 2006)

This second book in a series "shimmering with magic, myth, and romance" (Booklist), follows sixteen-year-old Laurel as she tries to understand the cause of her twin sister's mysterious death. Honor believed in Faerie, a parallel land of mischievous immortals. Laurel doesn't. That is, until the fairies come and ask her to take up her sister's failed quest to find the Summer King, a lord who can light the midsummer fire that keeps the two worlds, human and Faerie, cleaved. Laurel must decide to help those whose cause killed her sister, and, in the process, come to believe that there is still magic-and love-in the world.

Ink Exchange by Melissa Marr (Hardback/Harperteen/May 1st, 2008)

Unbeknownst to mortals, a power struggle is unfolding in a world of shadows and danger. After centuries of stability, the balance among the Faery Courts has altered, and Irial, ruler of the Dark Court, is battling to hold his rebellious and newly vulnerable fey together. If he fails, bloodshed and brutality will follow.
Seventeen-year-old Leslie knows nothing of faeries or their intrigues. When she is attracted to an eerily beautiful tattoo of eyes and wings, all she knows is that she has to have it, convinced it is a tangible symbol of changes she desperately craves for her own life.
The tattoo does bring changes; not the kind Leslie has dreamed of, but sinister, compelling changes that are more than symbolic. Those changes will bind Leslie and Irial together, drawing Leslie deeper and deeper into the faery world, unable to resist its allures, and helpless to withstand its perils. . . .

I haven't started reading last weeks yet, but my book appetite required me to have more.

Maximum Ride: School's Out Forever

2009-06-28T08:00:00.007-05:00

Maximum Ride: School’s Out Forever by James Patterson

Release Date: September 1st, 2009
Publisher: Little Brown Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 409
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Brave bird-kid Max and her flock fly south on a perilous quest to find their parents, after having rescued Angel and recovered secret documents about their origins. But just when they think they've finally escaped the hungry claws of evil Erasers, they're discovered by an FBI agent and forced to face perhaps an even worse nightmare: going to school. There's no such thing as an ordinary day when Max's "homework" includes decoding documents, deciphering when (and how) she's supposed to save the world, and learning to face what may be her greatest enemy: herself. A clone. Max II.

This sequel to The Angel Experiment did not leave me disappointed. It picked up right where the first one left off and was a great book.

The character relationships grew even more in this book, and it is even more evident why these bird-kids stick together instead of going off on their own. Even more twists are thrown at the reader as they try to figure out who the true enemy is in this book. There would be a moment of peace for the reader and the bird-kids until some new challenge was thrown at them.

This is definitely a series to keep one’s eyes on. It’s a new and original story written in an easy, fast pace way.

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Vampire Academy

2009-06-27T08:00:00.006-05:00

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Release Date: August 16th, 2007
Publisher: Razorbill
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 332
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St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school; it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's, the very place where they're most in danger. . . .

Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigos, the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires make Lissa one of them forever.

After the final book in the Twilight Saga came out, I was thirsty (like many Twilight fans) for more books about Vampires. Scouring the local Barnes and Noble, I found this book and was tentative about buy it. In fact, I didn’t buy it until the third or fourth time of having picked it up. And I’m glad that I finally did.

The plot line is highly entertaining. It took the typical school setting and twisted it into a new world where these characters live. I love the true chemistry between Rose and Dimitri even though it’s forbidden. The typical bad boy character is somewhat new since Christian isn’t the ‘loner’ because of his own choices, but because of the opinions of his peers about his parents.

The overall story was great. I can’t wait for Blood Promise to come out.

Reviews for the other books coming soon.

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Catching Fire

2009-06-26T08:00:00.006-05:00

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Release Date: September 1st, 2009
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 432
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Against all odds, Katniss Everdeen has won the annual Hunger Games with fellow district tribute Peeta Mellark. But it was a victory won by defiance of the Capitol and their harsh rules. Katniss and Peeta should be happy. After all, they have just won for themselves and their families a life of safety and plenty. But there are rumors of rebellion among the subjects, and Katniss and Peeta, to their horror, are the faces of that rebellion. The Capitol is angry. The Capitol wants revenge.

I received an ARC of this book when a friend sent it to me in the mail after I started my blog. While it wasn’t from Suzanne Collins or Scholastic I was still super excited when I got this book. I have wanted to read this book since I finished reading The Hunger Games little less than a year ago.

Just like The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins threw twists and cliffhangers at the reader left and right. I read this book in one day, staying up until four a.m. simply having to know what happens to Katniss and Peeta. While some questions were answered, she threw out even more questions making the reader beg for an answer before the book is finished. Unfortunately, not all were answered before the book was concluded.

We get a deeper insight into Katniss and her feelings for both Peeta and Gale, which was a big question at the end of Hunger Games. We also see how the two boys respond to her when she comes to cope with her own feelings. We also get a deeper look into characters we thought we had already figured out completely, like Haymitch.

This book was not a disappointment at all. It reached the expectation that Hunger Games left me hunger for, if not excelling it even more. I cannot wait for the next and final book in the series.

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The Spell Book of Listen Taylor

2009-06-25T09:54:00.007-05:00

The Spell Book of Listen Taylor by Jaclyn Moriarty

Release Date: September 1st, 2007
Publisher: Arthur A. Levine Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 464
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The Zing family lives in a world of misguided spell books, singular poetry, and state-of-the-art surveillance equipment. They use these things to protect the Zing Family Secret -- one so huge it draws the family to the garden shed for meetings every Friday night.

Into their world comes socially isolated middle grader Listen Taylor, whose father is dating a Zing. Enter Cath Murphy, a young teacher at the elementary school that Cassie Zing attends, suffering from a broken heart. How will the worlds of these two young woman connect? Only the reader can know!

I bought this book a couple months ago when the title of it caught my eye. My first thought that it was some book about witches, even the cover can give that suggestion. However, it was not about witches like Harry Potter was. It was completely different, and yet I was not disappointed.

The characters are completely relatable. I found myself knowing exactly how Listen was feeling as she dealt with the issues of losing friendship of girls she had been friends with her entire life. It was also comforting to watch her overcome the challenges put forth by the book. The other character Cath, helped add a little more purpose to the plot through the added mystery of how she relates to the Zings and Listen’s world.

This book was a fast read. It was fun and lively and it was cool how everything just came together in the end. Definitely a good book.
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Waiting on Wednesday (2)

2009-06-24T13:10:00.010-05:00

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine

The Devil's Kiss by Sarwat Chadda
Release Date: September 1st, 2009
Pages: 336

Fifteen-year-old Billi San Greal never meant to make history. Co-opted, or rather coerced, at the age of ten into the modern-day remnant of the Knights Templar by her father, the Grandmaster, Billi's the first girl ever to be a Templar. Her life a disciplined round of weapons' practice, occult lore, and a heck of a lot of bruises, Billi would happily settle for being a normal high-school girl rather than a secret warrior out to defeat the Unholy.

When she meets seductive, exciting Mike, Billi is dazzled. At last here is someone she can confide in; someone who will make up for the coldness and fear of her life. But Michael is not just a heart-breaker, he's an archangel with a terrifying agenda: to unleash the Tenth Plague — the death of all first-born children - and kids are already falling sick.

As the Templars ready for combat, it's clear that Billi's destiny is interwoven with that of Michael. Now she must choose who she wants to be. If she chooses the path of a true Templar, living out her terrifying heritage, it will destroy everything that matters to her. And there are some things, as Billi will discover, that are much, much worse than death . . .

This book caught my attention when I was searching for another book I want. It sounds pretty interesting.
Sadly it doesn't come out until September.

Son of the Shadows

2009-06-24T09:48:00.005-05:00

Son of the Shadows by Juliet Marillier

Release Date: June 17th, 2009
Publisher: Tor Fantasy
Age Group: Adult
Pages: 608
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Second of the Sevenwaters trilogy of novels about the last days of heroic Ireland, Son of the Shadows takes up the story of the children of Sorcha, who saved her enchanted brothers, and Hugh, the Briton she married. Sorcha's daughter Liadan is a gifted seer and healer who thinks, in spite of her visions, that she knows what the future has in store for her--caring for her dying mother and then an alliance marriage to Eamonn. A chance meeting on the road carries her off to care for a dying man--one of the mercenaries of the sinister Painted Man, Eamonn's archenemy and a killer for hire. Liadan discovers that she cannot choose whom she loves and that she and the Painted Man are as bound up in destiny as her mother and father were before her.

This is the second book in the Sevenwaters trilogy. This book is just as good as the first one. The magical charm that Daughter of the Forest had is seen in the Ireland landscape once again in the sequel.

The new characters that are introduced are just as interesting as the first book’s. Liadan is just as head strong as Sorcha was, set on getting what she wants out of life: love, adventure, and family. She expresses herself and refuses to be swayed from her love for the Painted Man even though her family frowns on her choice. The Painted Man is also an ideal bad boy that girls fall for with the haunted past that has created the man he is.

This book is a great folktale, continuing the first magical story. The third book is only bound to be as great.

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Teaser Tuesday (1)

2009-06-23T19:37:00.003-05:00

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme held by Should Be Reading and here is my Teaser for today.

It was Alec who spoke first. "What''s this?" he demanded, looking from Clary to his companions, as if they might know what she was doing there.

"It''s a girl," Jace said, recovering his composure. "Surely you''ve seen girls before, Alec. Your sister Isabelle is one." He took a step closer to Clary, squinting as if he couldn''t quite believe what he was seeing. "A mundie girl," he said, half to himself. "And she can see us."

"Of course I can see you," Clary said. "I''m not blind, you know."

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare, Page 12

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment

2009-06-23T11:13:00.005-05:00

Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

Release Date: May 1st, 2006
Publisher: Little, Brown Books
Age Group: Young Adult
Pages: 464
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Fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?

The story is a new fairy tale in the making. Every kid who has read it would be ready to make or buy fake wings and pretend to be one of the bird kids in the Flock. Even though it is set for a younger age range, I even feel the need to act the same way.

The characters are new and refreshing. The spunky character of Max is witty and fun loving. Fang is a great counter-part with is silent and brooding manner though you can tell he really cares about the Flock in his own way. Nudge and the Gasman are great comic reliefs to the serious advantage to rescue the gifted Angel. Iggy is a personal favorite because he is just as capable even though he is handicapped.

This was a fun read, and it was easy. The writing was simple, not to difficult at all. It was also written in a way where you feel like part of the adventure. It is also the first in the series and is a great beginning to the story being told.

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