Wicked Awesome Books

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GIVEAWAY
Big Honcho Media and Disney*Hyperion has kindly offered up TWO copies of The Way We Fall for giveaway...meaning, that two lucky people who comment here will be gifted with this phenomenal book.

Giveaway info:
Open to US only
You do NOT need to be a follower to enter
Normal Contest Policy applies
Leave a comment with a way to contact you to enter

Giveaway ends January 30th at midnight EST

*Giveaway is sponsored by Big Honcho Media and Disney*Hyperion, I am only hosting. They will be mailing out prizes.

In Case You Missed the Cover: Touched & Keeper of the Lost Cities

2012-01-21T10:48:00.001-05:00

Here are two 2012 releases that I am very excited for...and they have spectacular covers!

Currently scheduled for release on August 14, 2012

Description (Taken from Goodreads):

Nick Cross always listens to the voice in his head. Because if he doesn't? Things can go really, really wrong. Like the day he decided to go off script and saved a girl from being run over . . . and let another one drown. Trying to change the future doesn't work.

But this summer at the Jersey Shore, something's about to happen that Nick never could have predicted. He meets a girl named Taryn and finds out about the Book of Touch. Now the path that he thought he was on begins to shift . . . and there's no way to stop things from happening. Or is there?

In a life where there are no surprises, nothing has prepared Nick for what he's about to discover--or the choice he will be forced to make. . . .

Find Cyn Balog online:

Pre-order it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Scheduled for release on October 2, 2012

Description (Taken from Goodreads):

Twelve-year-old Sophie has always been different -- she's years ahead of the other kids in school and can read minds. She's always assumed there's some kind of logical explanation for her talents, but when she meets an adorable and mysterious boy, she finds out the shocking truth. She's never felt at home because she, well, ... isn't.

There are secrets buried deep in her memory, secrets about her true identity and why she was hidden among humans, that others desperately want and would even kill for. And she must figure out why she is the key to her brand-new world, before the wrong person finds the answer first.

Find Shannon Messenger online:

THE FAULT IN OUR STARS TOUR INFO + TICKET STUFF

Pre-order it online:

Amazon

I can only find it on Kindle right now :*(

Book Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-20T11:58:00.001-05:00

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
ARC, 387 pages
Date Published: January 3, 2012
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Every once in a while, as story comes along that will completely take me by surprise. That will capture my attention and refuse to let go. Cinder is one of those stories. And I was quite apprehensive about reading it too. What with the fairytale story turned on its head and a cyborg taking the place of the Cinderella we all know and love.

But the thing is, Marissa Meyer isn’t retelling Cinderella at all. This is an entirely different story with some throwback moments to the original. But Cinder stands all by itself as a strong novel with an immensely well thought out plot, characters that are so vivid that you’ll either love and adore them or hate them with a fiery passion, and a setting that comes to life. I loved it!

Cinder is everything a reader could ask for in a heroine. She’s strong, snarky, has quite the attitude, but is also incredibly sweet and loving. She’s a cyborg, but she’s more human than her not-so-nice stepmother. Her relationship with her stepsister Peony is the backbone to the story and Cinder’s love for the young girl comes through in all of her actions.

The plague that threatens Cinder’s home of New Beijing is captivating. The scientists, the research, all of it ties into Cinder’s life and will surprise readers again and again. The growing tension between Cinder’s world and that of the manipulative Queen Levana is palpable from the first page, but the twists thrown in are entirely unexpected and had me unable to put the book down. Readers will be dying to know more about Cinder, about Prince Kai, about Queen Levana, about the plague, and about a past that no one seems to know about.

Cinder will capture all readers, despite it seeming to be targeted towards a sci-fi audience. It is a phenom of a book with so many surprised thrown in to keep readers on their toes, while also adding touches of a fairytale we all know. Marissa Meyer has created the first of what is sure to be an enthralling series that I’m dying to read more of.

Opening line: The screw through Cinder’s ankle had rusted, the engraved cross marks worn to a mangled circle. ~ pg. 3

Favorite lines/passages: This was just an old man who was determined to dethrone Queen Levana.
An old man who had somehow placed all his hopes on her. ~ pg. 383
*This is the ARC version and lines, pages, cover art may differ from final copy

4.5 for sure!!

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Marissa Meyer online:

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Check out an excerpt from the beginning of the audiobook

Think About It Thursday (19): Did Not Finish

2012-01-19T13:22:00.002-05:00

Image used under Creative Commons - Original belongs to Salady

I’m the type of reader that reads everything until the very end. I don’t care if I’m not enjoying the book that much, if I can’t stand the characters, or if I want to throw the book against the wall. For some reason, I NEED to finish it.

But seeing as how my reading time has been so strained lately, I’ve begun the difficult process of giving up on books. I’ve had several that I’ve put down and never picked back up because I just couldn’t get into them. It’s sad, but necessary.

I don’t have a set page number where I say ‘It’s over,’ and I try to get into the story, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen. I’m having that problem right now with Why We Broke Up…and I was debating making some snarky post about why I broke up with Why We Broke Up, but I chose to just do this.
I haven’t written up any reviews for books I didn’t finish, but I know others do.

Is this something you’d like to see? Do you have books that you have to give up on? Do you have certain criteria, page numbers, etc. that you meet before you give up?

For those of you who are interested in some DNF books, Lori from Pure Imagination has this interesting feature called Book Break Ups, where she spotlights books she had to put down, but also includes links to positive reviews by others.

In My Mailbox Vlog - (1/15/12)

2012-01-15T22:39:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a list of any of the books you may have received in the past week from bookstores, libraries, authors/publishers, trades, etc.

Not too much, but I bought books for the first time in a very long while:

Bought:

The Chronicles of Vladimir Tod (4 book boxed set) by Heather Brewer

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

The Strain by Guillermo del Toro & Chuck Hogan

The Children's Book by A.S. Byatt

The Fault in Our Stars SIGNED by John Green

Not new, but now signed:
Looking for Alaska SIGNED by John Green

Paper Towns SIGNED by John Green

Will Grayson, Will Grayson SIGNED by David Levithan & John Green

Book Review: The Marked Son by Shea Berkley

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

Title: The Marked Son (Keepers of Life, #1)
Author: Shea Berkley
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Paperback, 322 pages
Date Published: August 2, 2011
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he's never met, he had no idea what.

When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents' farm, he knows he's seen her before...in his dreams. He's felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.

Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life, because where they're going is full of creatures he's only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death...

The Marked Son is a story that instantly takes ahold of the reader because the main character, Dylan, is just so enigmatic and alluring. His 17 years have been rough – with a mom that’s constantly chasing the next fling – and he’s as jaded as they come, but there’s just something about him that will pull readers in. Maybe it’s his unconcealed anger towards his mom or his ease in giving up, but I wanted things to work out for him from the beginning.

Shea Berkley captures teen angst perfectly, then flips it upside down, throws in some serious abandonment issues, and adds a healthy dose of fantasy to the mix. The tidbits about Dylan’s past and minute details hint at what’s really happening, as do the chapters from an alternate, female POV, but the big reveal is something else.

The mix of contemporary with fantasy is done flawlessly and seemingly effortlessly. The story progresses from a simple, angsty teen story, to so much more. Dylan’s dreams and the foreshadowing escalate the tension and suspense, until the readers get that BANG moment along with Dylan. And once it happens, things go from uncomplicated to insane. And I loved it.

The Marked Son is a captivating contemporary that turns into a surprising and unique fantasy. Dylan will find his way into the hearts of readers, as will his grandparents, the mysterious girl Kera, and the new friends Dylan makes along the way. If you’re a fan of contemporary and fantasy, and love a mix of the two, The Marked Son is the perfect book for you.

Opening line: I was eight the first time I saw the girl. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages:
Everything looks and feels normal. At least as normal as a guy in the forest meeting a girl wearing an old-fashioned nightgown while his buddy lies passed out nearby can feel normal. I’m sure situations like this have happened to tons of people. . . on drugs. ~ pg. 132

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Shea Berkley online:

Website | Facebook

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

The Fault In Our Stars Tour Launch - Boston

2012-01-11T15:00:00.000-05:00

The Fault In Our Stars released just yesterday and Boston was (amazingly) the kick-off city for the tour!

This was there, but it was dark, so my picture was terrible and I stole this one from the internet.

So, last night, I got to hang out with a huge mass of nerdfighters and listen to John Green read from the book, answer questions, and we were all delighted by the musical stylings of Hank Green.

Nerdfighters throughout the auditorium were singing, dancing, and having an all-around fantastic time. It was seriously one of the most interactive and fun book signings I have ever gone too.

Now, I'm not sure how many people were actually there, but I'm leaning towards 500 or so. The auditorium was packed and I somehow wound up with one of the highest numbers possible, leaving me to wait until 12:30AM to get my books signed.

But I did get my books signed!!

The Fault In Our Stars was actually pre-signed, but I brought my other books and John was personalizing TFIOS as well....and after such a long night, John happened to do this to my book:

So I have a rare (probably-not-one-of-a-kind-but-whatever) double-signed TFIOS...with a lovely Hanklerfish :)

If you have a chance to make it to any of the tour stops, you should definitely go. I'm not a devoted vlogbrothers follower, but I still had a blast! The wait sucked, but it was JOHN GREEN, so it was worth it.

In My Mailbox Vlog - (1/8/12)

2012-01-08T09:42:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a list of any of the books you may have received in the past week from bookstores, libraries, authors/publishers, trades, etc.

Not too much, but I ramble...again:

For Review:

The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler & Maira Kalman

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink

*HUGE thank yous to Jasmine Richards, HarperCollins, Little, Brown, Poppy, and Dial Books!!! I can't wait to read everything :)

2012 Debut Author Challenge

2012-01-07T09:00:00.000-05:00

Click the picture to go to the SIGN UP page

Once again I'm signing up for the Debut Author Challenge! I did it last year and reached my goal (40 books), and then some.

This year, my goal is a bit smaller at 25 debut author books, but I haven't been reading as much or as fast lately, so I think I'll have my hands full with this too.

Here's a list of what I'm hoping to read (I most likely won't get to half of them and I'll add others along the way, but it's a list):

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Córdova
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Reunited by Hilary Weisman Graham
What's Left Of Me by Kat Zhang
Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers
Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Storybound by Marissa Burt
Skylark by Meagan Spooner
Something Like Normal by Trish Doller
Defiance by C.J. Redwine
Touching the Surface by Kimberly Sabatini
Undeadly by Michelle Vail
Through To You by Emily Hainsworth
Lies Beneath by Anne Greenwood Brown
Welcome, Caller, This is Chloe by Shelley Coriell
Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Myers
The Book of Wonders by Jasmine Richards
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
Croak by Gina Damico
My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick
Wrecked by Anna Davies
Inbetween by Tara A. Fuller
False Memory by Dan Krokos
Meant To Be by Lauren Morrill
Way To Go by Tom Ryan

Book Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

2012-01-06T09:00:00.001-05:00

Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Poppy (Little, Brown)
Hardcover, 236 pages
Date Published: January 2, 2012
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

There are some books that are so perfectly perfect that they make the reader swoon along with them. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is one of those books. It’s romantic and heartfelt and so much more than just that – focusing on more than just the romance and allowing the reader to see true love in more ways than one.

There’s still plenty of romance. And it’s magnificently done, invoking butterflies and blushes and longing. Brit boy Oliver is sexy (he’s British, so obviously he’s sexy) and intelligent and quirky and funny and absolutely adorable in his randomness. He makes Hadley’s heart race and will do the same to the reader. Considering that a third of the book takes place in an airport/airplane, these two need to have some serious chemistry to keep the reader hooked.

On top of a romance that feels epic, there’s the backstory to both Hadley and Oliver. Hadley’s family dynamic is so well-crafted that I was there with her, the entire way, partially hating her father, while hoping the two of them could work everything out. The father/daughter relationship has just the right amount of angst and bitterness, then Smith throws in flashbacks of tenderness and undeniable love.

Hadley is everything readers could want her to be. She’s young and angry at her father, angry at her mother, but vulnerable and not jaded enough to have a complete disbelief in love. This book had me smiling from that very first page. Jennifer E. Smith knows how to write characters that the reader will feel an instant attachment to, and give us a story that is impossible to put down.

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight will sway even the most reluctant romantics with its delightful humor, heartfelt characters, and the idea that maybe love at first sight is possible. Smith’s collection of fate, coincidence, and love made me smile, it made me laugh, and it even made me tear up – it’s that good. As far as contemporary YA goes, The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight is one of the best and a definite must read.

Opening line: There are so many ways it could have all turned out differently. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages: “You don’t light up,” Hadley pointed out, but Dad only smiled.
“I do when I’m with you.” ~ pg. 123

He was giving her the most important thing he could, the only way he knew how. He was a professor, a lover of stories, and he was building her a library in the same way other men might build their daughters houses. ~ pg. 153

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Jennifer E. Smith online:

Website | Twitter

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Book Review: Winter Town by Stephen Emond

2012-01-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Winter Town
Author: Stephen Emond
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Little, Brown
Hardcover, 319 pages
Date Published: December 5, 2011
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Every winter, straight-laced, Ivy League bound Evan looks forward to a visit from Lucy, a childhood pal who moved away after her parent's divorce. But when Lucy arrives this year, she's changed. The former "girl next door" now has chopped dyed black hair, a nose stud, and a scowl. But Evan knows that somewhere beneath the Goth, "Old Lucy" still exists, and he's determined to find her... even if it means pissing her off.

Garden State meets Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist in this funny and poignant illustrated novel about opposites who fall in love.

Winter Town combines the wondrous setting of a snowy New England town with the fun and action of a comic book. Stephen Emond somehow creates this complicated tale of love and pain and adolescence and growing up; and then throws a comic book into the mix, but makes it work. The wintry setting makes this book the perfect curl up by the fire read.

The main characters, Evan and Lucy, are nearly impossible to not love. Evan is endearing and sweet and tries so hard to please everyone. He’s an incredibly kind person and so perfectly fits Lucy’s somewhat icy exterior. Emond writes the two of them with some of the best and witty dialogue I’ve ever read. It comes off as intelligent, but still teen-like. The dialogue was just one of the many reasons why Winter Town is a fantastic book.

As great a guy as Evan is, Lucy can be a bit prickly and messed up and definitely emo. Her standoffish, hot and cold nature made me hate her at times, but I got her too. Things aren’t easy for her and she can be immature, but her insecurities and flaws bring her to life. Without them, the conflict of the story wouldn’t feel as genuine. That conflict is infuriating though. Evan and Lucy get into these fights, but then they sort of brush them aside and big, explosive fights turn into…nothing. It’s frustrating and I wish there was more to their arguments, but I got past it and still enjoyed the book.

Then there’s the comic book aspect and the illustrations. These things are beyond awesome. I loved Evan and Lucy’s history and their shared love of art. Emond’s artwork adds some depth to Winter Town and contributes in making it a truly unique and unparalleled story. The illustrations and Evan’s dreamy world of Aelysthia are what push the book into the territory of one of my favorite reads.

Opening line: “You could have at least stayed until the ball dropped,” Evan said, making no effort to hide his disappointment. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages: Knowing this would end in misery helped in a strange way. It was hope that was the problem. Hoping feelings wouldn’t be hurt, hoping love would blossom, was painful. But committing yourself to misery, that was just a dead feeling. It was pulling the Band-Aid and embracing the pain. ~ pg. 254

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Stephen Emond online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Top 22 of 2011

2012-01-01T23:01:00.000-05:00

2011 has come to an end and with it, I want to commemorate the year by showing my love for my favorite books that I read over the last 12 months. Here are the top 22 that made my list...and yes, there were 22 because I read so many that I enjoyed. :-)

I'd be lying if I said there wasn't some kind of order to these. There isn't really, not until you get to the end...because the last 6 books here were my absolute favorites of 2011.

*Note - these were books I read in 2011, they weren't necessarily released this past year

With or Without You by Brian Farrey

Winter Town by Stephen Emond (to be reviewed in 2012)

Wildefire by Karsten Knight

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

The Statistical Probability of Love At First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith (to be reviewed in 2012)

The Liar Society by Lisa & Laura Roecker

The Iron Thorn by Caitlin Kittredge

Stick by Andrew Smith

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Other Words For Love by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready

Shift by Jeri Smith-Ready

Divergent by Veronica Roth

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler

The Lover's Dictionary by David Levithan

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Chime by Franny Billingsley

Book Review: 12 Things To Do Before You Crash & Burn by James Proimos

2011-12-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

Title: 12 Things To Do Before You Crash & Burn
Author: James Proimos
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan)
Hardcover, 121 pages
Date Published: November 8, 2011
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
It’s Wes Anderson meets Holden Caufield in this wry and funny novel about a boy who is sent to live with his uncle when his father (a bestselling self-help author) dies.

James “Hercules” Martino has until the end of the summer (a.k.a. two weeks) to accomplish the twelve tasks given to him by his Uncle Anthony. The tasks will take him to the far reaches of Baltimore, lead him to a Beautiful and Unattainable Women, and change the way he sees his past, present and future.

12 Things To Do Before You Crash & Burn is a very quick read, taking me only about an hour. But it’s also a bit of a dull read. The story revolves around James “Hercules” Martino spending the summer after his father’s death at his uncle’s house. To keep him busy, Herc’s uncle gives him a list of 12 things to do in his boring Baltimore suburb, but Herc’s preoccupied with a girl he barely spoke to on his train ride from his hometown in NYC.

As far as plot goes, 12 Things To Do Before You Crash & Burn is somewhat lackluster. It’s a good book for reluctant readers, and definitely geared more towards a male audience, but Herc’s list of 12 things lacks purpose. He goes here , there, and chases this idea of a girl everywhere, but I never felt the connection as to why. Things just happen, but they don’t seem to matter.

The story behind Herc’s nickname is a nice touch and adds some depth to the main character, but all in all, 12 Things To Do Before You Crash & Burn remains a rather slow and predictable book. If you’re looking for something to read quickly, in one sitting, then this is a good one to pick up. Proimos injects some good humor that many readers will eat up, so if simple, teen male read is what you’re in the mood for, this one will certainly satisfy.

Opening line: There is a jar of pickles. ~ pg. 1

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find James Proimos online:

Blog

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Book Review: Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce & Laura Geringer

2011-12-23T10:33:00.001-05:00

Title: Nicholas St. North and the Nightmare King (Guardians of Childhood, #1)
Author: William Joyce & Laura Geringer
Reading Level: Middle Grade
Publisher: Atheneum
Hardcover, 228 pages
Date Published: October 4, 2011
Source: NEIBA

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Before SANTA was SANTA, he was North, Nicholas St. North—a daredevil swordsman whose prowess with double scimitars was legendary. Like any swashbuckling young warrior, North seeks treasure and adventure, leading him to the fiercely guarded village of Santoff Claussen, said to be home to the greatest treasure in all the East, and to an even greater wizard, Ombric Shalazar. But when North arrives, legends of riches have given way to terrors of epic proportions! North must decide whether to seek his fortune…or save the village.

When our rebellious hero gets sucked into the chaos (literally), the fight becomes very personal. The Nightmare King and his evil Fearlings are ruling the night, owning the shadows, and sending waves of fear through all of Santoff Clausen. For North, this is a battle worth fighting...and, he’s not alone. There are five other Guardians out there. He only has to find them in time.

Nicholas St. North and the Nightmare King is a fun and new explanation about the origins of Santa Claus. It has something for everyone, both those who celebrate Christmas, and those who do not. There’s fighting, action, magic, invention, and some captivating descriptions about light and dark and good and bad.

The purity and innocence that comes with childhood really plays an important role in this swashbuckling adventure. North, the Santa Claus figure, is dashing and roguish and nothing like the Santa we think of now, but children will love to see him in this new light. Everything about the story is special and holds this sense of enchantment that will charm even the most reluctant readers.

While the story focuses on Santa Claus, it doesn’t go into any sort of religious background. Instead, Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King, taps into the magic that comes with the holiday season and the childhood wonderment that this time of the year invokes. It’s a dreamlike story that will delight readers and enchant them with a new way of thinking of their dear Santa Claus.

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find William Joyce online:

Website | Guardians of Childhood

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

This is the first book in the series and it's already set to hit the big screen in an animated adventure. Check out the movie poster and get ready to see the film next year on 11/21/12:

In My Mailbox Vlog - (12/18/11)

2011-12-18T22:57:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a list of any of the books you may have received in the past week from bookstores, libraries, authors/publishers, trades, etc.

It's really late, but it's here! Not a lot of books, but I absolutely needed to post something since I've been slacking so much lately. HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE :)

For Review:

Angelina's Secret by Lisa Rogers

Pure (Covenant series, #2) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Cinder by Marissa Meyer

The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Won:
Ashes, Ashes SIGNED by Jo Treggiari

*Big thanks to Spencer Hill Press, Macmillan, Disney *Hyperion, Big Honcho Media, and A Life Bound By Books!!

Book Review: Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

2011-12-14T10:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Guardian of the Dead
Author: Karen Healey
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Little, Brown
Paperback, 333 pages
Date Published: August 3, 2011
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
This is an intriguing YA urban fantasy in the tradition of Holly Black and Wicked Lovely. Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality.

The strong, fresh voice of the narrator will pull readers in, along with all the deliciously scary details: the serial killer who removes victim's eyes; the mysterious crazy bum who forces a Bible on Ellie telling her she needs it; handsome, mysterious Mark who steals the Bible from her and then casts a forgetting charm on her. All of this culminates in a unique, incredible adventure steeped with mythology, Maori fairies, monsters, betrayal, and an epic battle.

Guardian of the Dead is not quite the book it looks or sounds like it would be, but it is full of New Zealand-based mythology and a backstory of folklore that more than entertains. I wasn’t really sure what to expect going in, so when weird things started happening and the explanations began to unfold, I was pleasantly surprised. And interested. If you know nothing about New Zealand culture/history/folklore, then be prepared for an overflow of information.

Which is both good and bad. It certainly keeps the reader enthralled, but it can be too much at times. It became a little difficult to keep the folklore tales straight and even understand some of them. But if you can stick with it, then you’ll come out with a very complete and captivating story.

My one major issue with the book was the main character. Ellie has all the makings of a very strong female character: she’s a bit of a loner, but has a good best friend; she’s intelligent, a little snappy, funny, and abrasive, but then she’s uber self-conscious and even self-hating. I understand that she may be uncomfortable with her weight, but she goes on, throughout the entire book, whining about how fat she is and comparing herself to other, gorgeous, thin girls. It made me hate her a little.

That being said, Guardian of the Dead, still has a lot to offer. The twists are very good, the characters (aside from self-hating main character) interesting – I wish we saw more of Ellie’s best friend Kevin – and the folklore something I’ve never heard about before. Karen Healey brings New Zealand to the reader and makes us a part of her fantasy, but entirely based in reality, world.

Opening line: I opened my eyes. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages: “Stories change us; they change the world. People are stories of themselves.” ~ pg. 267

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Karen Healey online:

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Wander Dust Blog Tour: Interview with Michelle Warren + GIVEAWAY

2011-12-10T06:00:00.000-05:00

Michelle Warren is the author of Wander Dust, the first book in The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy. She didn’t travel the road to writer immediately. First, she spent over a decade as professional illustrator and designer. Her artistic creativity combined with her love of science fiction, paranormal, and fantasy led her to write her first YA novel. Michelle loves reading and traveling to places that inspire her to create. She resides in Maryland, in a historic Baltimore row-home, with her wonderful husband.

The cover for Wander Dust is absolutely gorgeous and eye-catching. Did you come up with the design or have a great deal of input in its creation?

Thank you! Yes, I’m a full-time designer and illustrator, so I designed the cover, book trailer, and all the marketing materials for Wander Dust.

Wow, you've done a spectacular job!

Wander Dust’s description mentions a fantasy world. Would you be able to tell us a bit about it without revealing anything too spoilery?

Wander Dust is science fiction based story with quite a bit of magical elements. I guess you could call it sci-fantasy. There are fantastic underground lairs, statues that come to life, machines that see the past, machines that steal your dreams, and land that folds over people and catapults them through wormholes. There is quite a lot of imagery to enjoy, wound around an exciting story.

These are just a few of the many reasons people need to read this bookl!

This is your debut book, but have you always been a writer or had the desire to be a writer?

    Writing a novel was never in my life plan. As a child, I rarely ever read without a fight. I have dyslexia and struggled with reading all of my child and teen years. It wasn’t until after college that I discovered that I loved reading.

    Fast forward thirteen years and a thousand novels later, I saw an interview with an author. She mentioned that to escape her everyday world, she would make up stories in her head. This idea fascinated me. I’m sure this is no breakthrough to a writer, but it seemed like a fun idea, a new way to release my creativity. I started playing with some story ideas in my mind. I never intended to do anything but keep them in my head. Occasionally, I would sketch the scenes in a notebook. I did this for almost a year. Not long after, the recession hit my home. With the new stress, I found myself needing even more of an escape, so I started writing. When I wrote, I acted the characters out, sketched the surroundings, and used photos of my previous travels as inspiration.

    Even then, I did not consider publishing. My sister, Tabitha, read the book and loved it. She spent almost a year convincing me to publish.

Yay for encouraging siblings!

We all love a good romance, so I must ask: can you tell us anything about this mysterious, stalker boy? Anything at all? Pretty please?

Well, I think I should let the readers discover him. I will just say that when you finally get to know the Stalker and the reason for his strange behavior, he becomes very swoon-worthy.

I hope this makes everyone want to run out and read Wander Dust asap :)

Find Michelle Warren online:

Book Website | Facebook | Twitter

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Add Wander Dust on Goodreads

Giveaway:

Giveaway Info:
Open to US Only
Ends December 17th
Leave a comment with some sort of contact info to enter

Normal Contest Policy applies

And if you're interested:

Cover Reveal: Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

2011-12-08T15:00:00.004-05:00

A few months back I posted about the gorgeous ARC of Embrace by Jessica Shirvington. Today, I'm happy to be one of the bloggers that has the opportunity to share the final cover with all you lovely readers.

So, without further adieu, here is the cover for Embrace by Jessica Shirvington!

And here's a Behind-the-Scenes Cover Shoot video:

Embrace Cover Shoot from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.

From the jacket flap:

It starts with a whisper.
“It’s time for you to know who you are…”

Strange dreams leave her with very real injuries and there’s a dark tattoo weaving its way up her arms. The guy she thought she could fall in love with just told her he’s only half-human—oh, and same goes for her. And she keeps hearing a distant fluttering of wings.

Violet Eden is having a very bad 17th birthday.

But if angels seek vengeance and humans are the warriors, you could do a lot worse than betting on Violet Eden…

Check out Embrace online:

Embrace Website | Facebook | Add on Goodreads

Pre-order it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Hushed Blog Tour: Guest Post With Kelley York

2011-12-05T09:00:00.000-05:00

Kelley was born and raised in central California, where she still resides with her lovely wife, daughter, and an abundance of pets. (Although she does fantasize about moving across the globe to Ireland.) She has a fascination with bells, adores all things furry – be them squeaky, barky or meow-y – is a lover of video games, manga and anime, and likes to pretend she’s a decent photographer. Her life goal is to find a real unicorn. Or maybe a mermaid.

Within young adult, she enjoys writing and reading a variety of genres from contemporary with a unique twist, psychological thrillers, paranormal/urban fantasy and horror. She loves stories where character development takes center stage.
*Bio taken from Kelley's Website

In case you missed it, my glowing review of HUSHED went up yesterday. Read on for Kelley's guest post!

The Girls I Knew

I’ve been asked if the characters in HUSHED are based off of someone I know. At first, my answer was “No.” But the more and more I thought about it, the more I’ve realized that Vivian is, in fact, a manifestation of many girls I knew in high school.

I had a very close friend who met a lot of guys on the phone chat lines (which were all the rage at the time). They were older guys in their twenties, while we were 15 or 16. Every week, it seemed, this friend had a new guy she was so in love with. They stuck around long enough to sleep with her, and vanished, never to return a phone call again. After being friends with her for years, anytime she came to me to talk about her newest guy, I’d give a dry response of, “Have you learned his name yet?”

I spent years telling her she was worth more than sleazy guys wanting to use her.

I spent years telling her, “What do you think a twenty-something-year-old guy wants with someone our age? It’s sure not love.”

And, for years, when she came over in tears because yet another boy had broken her heart, I hugged her and told her everything would be all right.

Because what else could I do?

These kinds of girls are suffering from a severe lack of self-confidence, so eager to hear a guy say “I love you” that they’ll believe it no matter how unrealistic it might be. I heard them be called ‘sluts’ and easy, but I knew better. (No one is immune from bullying, are they?)

It’s frustrating to be on the outside, looking in. Seeing the answer right in front of you and being unable to get through. Unfortunately, I had a few other friends like this, too. I never knew what to do for any of them except give my honesty, which resulted in many fights and hurtful comments flung in my direction: “You’re frigid,” “You don’t understand,” “If you had a boyfriend, you’d get it.”

I grew apart from those girls. I wish I’d known how to help them, but maybe the power had to come from them and not from an outside source.

The same rings true with Vivian who was, perhaps, my frustration and sadness that I could never fix the things broken in my friends. Vivian could’ve been more and she wasn’t...but it wasn’t the fault of anyone but herself.

If you’re one of those girls, or if you know one (many of us seem to), remind yourself—or them—that they’re worth more.

Description (Taken from Goodreads):

He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Praise for Hushed:
'Kelley York delivers in this impressive debut. I was at the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next! Bottom line, this was unputdownable!!!' --- YA Fantasy Guide ---

'How exciting that we live in a time when gay teen protagonists can be just as screwed up as straight ones -- and their stories just as creepy!' --- Brent Hartinger, award-winning author of Geography Club and Shadow Walkers ---

Find Kelley York online:

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Book Review: Hushed by Kelley York

2011-12-04T11:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Hushed
Author: Kelley York
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
e-ARC, 231 pages
Date Published: December 6, 2011
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
He’s saved her. He’s loved her. He’s killed for her.

Eighteen-year-old Archer couldn’t protect his best friend, Vivian, from what happened when they were kids, so he’s never stopped trying to protect her from everything else. It doesn’t matter that Vivian only uses him when hopping from one toxic relationship to another—Archer is always there, waiting to be noticed.

Then along comes Evan, the only person who’s ever cared about Archer without a single string attached. The harder he falls for Evan, the more Archer sees Vivian for the manipulative hot-mess she really is.

But Viv has her hooks in deep, and when she finds out about the murders Archer’s committed and his relationship with Evan, she threatens to turn him in if she doesn’t get what she wants… And what she wants is Evan’s death, and for Archer to forfeit his last chance at redemption.

Hushed is this insane, in the mind of a killer, thriller that both YA readers and adult readers will devour. It has the perfect combination of, suspense, what!? moments, and a sizzling romance that burns right off the pages.

Archer, the main character and maybe not so great guy, has this innate darkness about him that is just a little terrifying. He comes off as a sociopath, but then we see the side of him that cares. That really, truly, cares; about Vivian, about his mother and Vivian’s mother, and about the new guy Evan. It’s this contrast in his character that makes Archer so intriguing. He becomes this enigma that is tantalizing to riddle out.

As creepy as Archer can be, there’s also something about him that is loveable – that will make readers root for him and for his happiness, despite the terrible things he’s done. It’s very easy to see him as the bad guy, but even easier to see him as a victim. I credit Kelley York’s astounding writing and character development because as bad as Archer may be, York makes sure we know there is much worse out there.

And that much worse just might be Vivian. She is someone to loathe and I found myself angry at Archer for caring so much; but I got it. His love for her stems from a deep, childhood friendship that he cannot fathom breaking. Mirroring Vivian’s wild and unpredictable personality, is Evan; who is good and kind and solid. I was as captivated by him as Archer is. Archer’s interactions with Vivian and Evan are so opposing that it makes for this fire and ice feeling throughout the novel. York is a master at creating these complicated and convoluted relationships that are unhealthy on some levels and destructive on others.

Hushed is as much a psychological thriller as it is a love story and that is a testament to the talent that Kelley York possesses. For every disturbing scene or thought, there is one that is steamy and rife with sexual tension. The plot unfolds in unimaginable ways, while maintaining this realistically messed up driving force. I loved every minute of it.

Opening line: “I feel that suicide notes lose their zing when they drag on too long.” ~ pg. 2

Favorite lines/passages: He was taking a life. The least he could do was suffer through witnessing it. ~ pg. 3

And less creepy, more melancholy

Maybe that’s what the trembling is. Take away Vivian, take away Evan…the leftovers weren’t strong enough to hold him up and keep him going. ~ pg. 147

*This is the e-ARC version and lines, pages, cover art may differ from final copy

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Kelley York online:

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

In My Mailbox Vlog - (12/3/11)

2011-12-04T00:06:00.000-05:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a list of any of the books you may have received in the past week from bookstores, libraries, authors/publishers, trades, etc.

The IMM in which I show a few books and ramble A LOT.

For Review:
Wintertown by Stephen Emond

Arcadia by Lauren Groff

Won:

Dark Passage (Dark Mirror, #2) by M.J. Putney

Children of Paranoia SIGNED by Trevor Shane

Juliet Immortal by Stacey Jay

*HUGE thanks to Little, Brown, Random Buzzers, Confessions of a Bookaholic (I think), and A Life Bound By Books

In Case You Missed the Cover: Croak & Welcome Caller, This Is Chloe

2011-12-02T12:38:00.000-05:00

Gina Damico (apparently) lives in my neck of the woods (yay for future book events!) and her debut book Croak hits shelves this upcoming March!

Currently scheduled for release on March 20, 2012

Description (Taken from Goodreads):

Sixteen-year-old Lex Bartleby has sucker-punched her last classmate. Fed up with her punkish, wild behavior, her parents ship her off to upstate New York to live with her Uncle Mort for the summer, hoping that a few months of dirty farm work will whip her back into shape. But Uncle Mort’s true occupation is much dirtier than that of shoveling manure.

He’s a Grim Reaper. And he’s going to teach her the family business.

Lex quickly assimilates into the peculiar world of Croak, a town populated entirely by reapers who deliver souls from this life to the next. Along with her infuriating yet intriguing partner Driggs and a rockstar crew of fellow Grim apprentices, Lex is soon zapping her Targets like a natural born Killer.

Yet her innate ability morphs into an unchecked desire for justice—or is it vengeance?—whenever she’s forced to Kill a murder victim, craving to stop the attackers before they can strike again. So when people start to die—that is, people who aren’t supposed to be dying, people who have committed grievous crimes against the innocent—Lex’s curiosity is piqued. Her obsession grows as the bodies pile up, and a troubling question begins to swirl through her mind: if she succeeds in tracking down the murderer, will she stop the carnage—or will she ditch Croak and join in?

Find Gina Damico online:

Pre-order it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Here's another debut for you:

Currently scheduled for release on May 1, 2012

Description (Taken from Goodreads):

Big-hearted Chloe Camden is the queen of her universe until her best friend shreds her reputation and her school counselor axes her junior independent study project. Chloe is forced to take on a meaningful project in order to pass, and so she joins her school’s struggling radio station, where the other students don’t find her too queenly. Ostracized by her former BFs and struggling with her beloved Grams’s mental deterioration, lonely Chloe ends up hosting a call-in show that gets the station much-needed publicity and, in the end, trouble. She also befriends radio techie and loner Duncan Moore, a quiet soul with a romantic heart. On and off the air, Chloe faces her loneliness and helps others find the fun and joy in everyday life. Readers will fall in love with Chloe as she falls in love with the radio station and the misfits who call it home.

Find Shelley Coriell online:

Website | Twitter

Pre-order it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Book Review: Stick by Andrew Smith

2011-12-01T09:00:00.002-05:00

Title: Stick
Author: Andrew Smith
Reading Level: Older Young Adult
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Hardcover,
Date Published: October 11, 2011
Source: Publisher

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Fourteen-year-old Stark McClellan (nicknamed Stick because he’s tall and thin) is bullied for being “deformed” – he was born with only one ear. His older brother Bosten is always there to defend Stick. But the boys can’t defend one another from their abusive parents.

When Stick realizes Bosten is gay, he knows that to survive his father's anger, Bosten must leave home. Stick has to find his brother, or he will never feel whole again. In his search, he will encounter good people, bad people, and people who are simply indifferent to kids from the wrong side of the tracks. But he never loses hope of finding love – and his brother.

Andrew Smith has a knack for creating unforgettable characters in astounding situations. He refuses to hold back with his storytelling and gives the reader characters that go through gritty, raw, and oftentimes, difficult and traumatic happenings. Stick is no exception to that.

Stark McClellan, known as Stick to most because of his incredible height, is a fourteen year old living in hell. He was born with one ear into an abusive family and has a self-loathing that’s heartbreaking and an innocence reminiscent of Charlie from The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Stick’s only salvation comes in the form of his brother, Bosten, and his best friend Emily. He has this undeniable love for both of them, despite his constant hatred for himself.

The plot advances slowly, but with such precision and in such unnervingly painful ways that it’s impossible to put down. Stick and Bosten suffer and suffer and then suffer some more. They aren’t loved by their parents; they aren’t protected by the other adults around them. They have each other, and Emily and Bosten’s maybe boyfriend Buck, but that isn’t enough – not when Stick isn’t even whole and Bosten can barely manage to get by; not when they walk through their front door and fear the worst.

Instantly, I was captivated by these two boys and their harsh circumstances. I was taken by their struggles and wanted to protect them both. Stick’s matter of fact thinking and childlike wonderment invoke this undeniable need to shield him – from his father, from his mother, from all the bad things in the world that could hurt him. I loved him, dearly. I loved Bosten. I cared about Buck. I wished Dahlia could have been there from the beginning. And I adored Emily.

This book, these characters – they aren’t just mere words on paper – they come to life. The occasional change in formatting highlights the way Stick hears the world around him and helps the reader feel the story even more. Andrew Smith is a master at creating vivid stories with as much hope as there is heartbreak and I will continue to look forward to each and every novel he writes.

Opening line: They call me Stick. ~ pg. 5
Favorite lines/passages (this first one is even more affecting when you read the book):

On a Friday
before Saint Patrick’s Day,
Emily Lohman planted a miracle in me.

When I woke up
when I woke up

in the morning
my chains were loose. ~ pgs. 248-249

And another one:

Bosten and I could never let that sea

separate and drown us.

We were all we ever had. ~ pg. 282

As there is always someone who creates a big stir, here's a fair warning - there's plenty of foul language and sex talk in the book. It didn't bother me and I don't see it bothering most YA readers, but it's there

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Andrew Smith online:

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

*Minor swearing in trailer*

Book Review: Touch by Jennifer Snyder

2011-11-29T10:00:00.001-05:00

Title: Touch (Novella)
Author: Jennifer Snyder
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Self-Published
e-book, 65 pages
Date Published: August 26, 2011
Source: Author

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Seventeen-year-old Rowan Harper knows her life is forever changed the moment her schizophrenic mother commits suicide. What Rowan doesn’t realize is how much her mother’s choice altered her own fate. It’s not until after meeting Jet, a sapphire-eyed dead boy, Rowan begins to learn of her new destiny as becoming her mother’s replacement for something she never knew existed.

I don’t often read novellas, but Jennifer Snyder’s Touch is one that really piqued my interest. The opening throws the reader right into the story and a car crash, but quickly dives into the plot of death reapers. Snyder’s reaper lore is vastly different from anything I’ve ever read before and it screams of possibilities.

The main character Rowan is likable enough, but I felt like she wasn’t developed as much as I wanted. Then again, this is a novella and only so much can fit into its pages. I did like her though; and feel for her. Snyder gives Rowan some history that plays well into the reaper plotline.

The romantic aspect wasn’t my favorite, as Jet, Rowan’s would-be suitor, is more than a little rough around the edges. He plays the hot and then cold thing too much, but he makes up for it by grounding the world of the reapers in our reality. Without him, the reapers would feel too supernatural, but with him, they are tied to our world and to Rowan’s.

All in all, Touch is a very strong start to a story. So many possibilities could spring from this world of reapers and I hope Snyder chooses to expand upon what she’s begun to build. I wasn’t in love with this book as a novella, but I did enjoy it enough to recommend it to others. Snyder is such a strong writer and she knows how to get to readers on a very emotional level. I’ll definitely continue to read her work in the future.

Opening line: Glimmering black feathers and beady little eyes that never seemed to move from me – that was what flashed through my mind seconds before the blue truck clipped my car – images of the watchful crows from my backyard. ~ pg. 4

Favorite lines/passages: “What are you?” I asked, annoyed.
“Fascinated,” Jet answered simply. ~ pg. 15

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Jennifer Snyder online:

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T03:42:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again.

The time when we're supposed to be thankful for what we have (then run out the next day to buy new things). And I am thankful...for what I have and for what I'm about to run out and buy :)

This is a book blog, so I'll start with some bookish thankfulness - I'm thankful for:

My older brother teaching me how to read when I was 4 - I went on to be the freak first grader reading chapter books (BOXCAR CHILDREN!!)
So many amazing books, amazing authors, amazing publishers, amazing fellow readers, and fellow bloggers

And for some other thankfulness that must be mentioned - I'm thankful for:

Having a wonderful family that's dysfunctional, but I wouldn't have it any other way
For having more than enough to get by
For finding a job in this horrible economy and going on to NOT hate it
For having some of the best friends - near and far - that I could ask for

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

(and if you don't celebrate/aren't in the US, then enjoy your Thursday)

Stuff your face full of turkey, take a nap, and shop until you drop!

My plans look something like that, only I'll be shopping until I get the few things I have to grab, then heading home, sleeping, and off to work.

Teaser Tuesday - Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

2011-11-22T09:00:00.002-05:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly meme hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading

The Rules:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share two (2) or so “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
•Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers

This is my second Karen Healey book and I really like her style - her characters have this edge to them, but are still accessible to readers. I'm only three chapters in, but THINGS ARE HAPPENING - also, funny, sarcastic comments have happened.

He was worried about her "influence," which neatly translated to: "But, Ellie, what if you also catch the gay?" ~ pg. 7

See? Great, right?

This is an intriguing YA urban fantasy in the tradition of Holly Black and Wicked Lovely. Set in New Zealand, Ellie's main concerns at her boarding school are hanging out with her best friend Kevin, her crush on the mysterious Mark, and her paper deadline. That is, until a mysterious older woman seems to set her sights on Kevin, who is Maori, and has more than just romantic plans for him. In an effort to save him, Ellie is thrown into the world of Maori lore, and eventually finds herself in an all-out war with mist dwelling Maori fairy people called the patupaiarehe who need human lives to gain immortality.

The strong, fresh voice of the narrator will pull readers in, along with all the deliciously scary details: the serial killer who removes victim's eyes; the mysterious crazy bum who forces a Bible on Ellie telling her she needs it; handsome, mysterious Mark who steals the Bible from her and then casts a forgetting charm on her. All of this culminates in a unique, incredible adventure steeped with mythology, Maori fairies, monsters, betrayal, and an epic battle.

*Description taken from Goodreads

Book Review: Sign Language by Amy Ackley

2011-11-21T09:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Sign Language
Author: Amy Ackley
Reading Level: Older Middle Grade/Young Adult
Publisher: Viking Juvenile
e-ARC,
Date Published: August 18, 2011
Source: Author

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Twelve-year-old Abby North's first hint that something is really wrong with her dad is how long it's taking him to recover from what she thought was routine surgery. Soon, the thing she calls "It" has a real name: cancer. Before, her biggest concerns were her annoying brother, the crush unaware of her existence, and her changing feelings for her best friend, Spence, the boy across the street. Now, her mother cries in the shower, her father is exhausted, and nothing is normal anymore. Amy Ackley's impressive debut is wrenching, heartbreaking, and utterly true.

Sign Language is a bit of a cross between a middle grade novel and a young adult novel; it also has nothing to do with sign language itself. The sign language part comes into play because at the start, the main character Abby, a twelve year old with no worries and a loving mother and father, likes to talk to her magic eight ball and ask it for a sign regarding her nonexistent – but very much hopeful – love life.

Abby’s life quickly goes from being normal, to being the façade of normal. Her father has cancer. No. Her father is dying. She knows it, he knows it, her mother and brother know it, but they all pretend and hope and act, like he’ll pull through. Abby’s insistence that no one outside her family – not even her best friend Spence – know, is heartbreaking because it is realistic. Abby doesn’t want to be that girl whose dad has cancer. She wants normal.

Even if she can’t have it.

As the story progresses, and Abby’s father comes closer and closer to death, we get to see her grow and grow up. The story takes place over a span of about 3-4 years, so it truly does start out as a middle grade novel, but moves towards a more young adult field. I still believe it is a good fit for older middle grade readers though, as it handles death and grief and loss with so much honesty and raw emotion.

Death is never easy. And it’s not easy for Abby to handle. She starts off as a young, naïve, innocent girl, but quickly transforms into a saddened, even bitter teenager. She doesn’t know how to deal with her grief because she shies away from it, almost ignoring it altogether. Her family falls apart around her and there’s nothing she can do about it, but deal.

Amy Ackley has expertly handled death and life with Sign Language. It’s clear that she has experienced such tragedy firsthand; and has infused Abby, her mother, her brother Josh, the sweet boy next door Spence, and every other character with so much life that it is impossible not to feel and grieve and hope and live with them. The grief is real, the loss extreme, but the hope, the life, the love that comes out at the end – it is truly uplifting. Sign Language is heartbreaking in its raw portrayal of a family losing a father and learning how to live in his absence. The subject matter may be a little too mature for some middle grade readers, but I think it’s suitable for more mature MG readers and has plenty to offer for YA readers as well.

Opening line: The first thing Abby remembered about It was the scar. ~ pg. 3

Favorite lines/passages (there were so many):
Six months. It was now April, so that meant that Dad would die before October. He’d be a ghost for Halloween. ~ pg. 108

She became the champion of wasting time, knowing she was wasting precious time. ~ pgs. 129-130

She was angry at Spence, but had no idea why. She was mad at Mom, she was mad at Dad, she was mad at everyone and everything. It was a nameless, blameless fury, and it terrified her. ~ pg. 320

*This is the e-ARC version and lines, pages, cover art may differ from final copy

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Amy Ackley online:

Website | Twitter | Facebook

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Book Review: The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

2011-11-18T09:00:00.000-05:00

Title: The Pledge
Author: Kimberly Derting
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
ARC, 321 pages
Date Published: November 15, 2011
Source: Friend

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Words are the most dangerous weapon of all.

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she’s spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed.

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can’t be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country’s only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

The Pledge combines the best aspects of future dystopian societies and presents it in almost a fantastical way. This future society has very distinct classes that must adhere to certain rules, including only understanding Englaise and the language of their class. Derting’s world-building is excellent, if not very detailed. The first half of the book is quite information heavy and drags a bit, but once you hit the halfway mark, it takes off.

Charlie is a family-oriented girl and her adoration for her sister is one of her greatest qualities. I can’t help but love a character who adores his/her younger siblings. Angelina, Charlie’s four year old sister, isn’t around all that much, but she’s infinitely fascinating. Each scene she’s in made me want to know more about her.

Derting weaves history into her storytelling in such delectable ways that the reader yearns for more. I’m not much for history – in any form – but Derting’s way of dropping history into her character’s everyday conversations flowed perfectly and never felt like too much at once. I wanted to know more about Charlie’s world, about the queendom and the class system, about the soldiers, and those prepared to fight against their society. I wanted to know about all of it.

With an immensely interesting world and plot, I thought I’d be hooked. And I was, to a degree. Charlie’s constant preoccupation with Max – the mysterious guy she meets – in the midst of everything, grated on me though. I never saw him as anything other than a little too confident and never felt that connection that Charlie does. With everything going on with Charlie and around Charlie, I couldn’t see how this guy was dominating her thoughts. So the love interest aspect fell short for me, but the rest, the queen and the queendom, the class system, and the languages, all intriguing and well done.

The Pledge isn’t quite the dystopian I had hoped it would be, but it is still very much worth the read. Many people are going to wholeheartedly disagree with me about the love interest, and I get that; but I felt like the love interest aspect dominated too much of the story when there were much greater things to focus on. One thing I do love is – as far as I know – this is a standalone and it ends as a very complete story, with, maybe, the possibility of a companion novel somewhere in the future.

Opening line: The air crackled like a gathering thunderstorm the moment the girl entered the chamber. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages: I loved voices, I always had. Words held meaning, but voices held emotion. ~ pg. 110

And this one:

The silence of a queen is deafening and can stretch into eternity and back. Standing before her, I understood the meaning of forever as I waited for her response. ~ pg. 298
*This is the e-ARC version and lines, pages, cover art may differ from final copy

Definitely a 3.5

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Author Interview: Melanie Card + A Giveaway

2011-11-15T06:00:00.001-05:00

Melanie has always been drawn to storytelling and can't remember a time when she wasn’t creating a story in her head. Her early stories were adventures with fairies and dragons and sword swinging princesses.

Today she continues to spin tales of magic in lands near and far, while her cat sits on the edge of her desk and supervises. When she’s not writing, you can find her pretending to be other people with her local community theatre groups.

It’s great to have you stopping by today, Melanie! I’m excited to read more about Ward Against Death.

The setting for Ward Against Death seems very Victorian-esque to me, but it’s is never described as a real place. Did you draw upon any specific time or area when you created Brawenal City, Veknormai, or any of the other places mentioned?

Thanks Nikki for inviting me here today. The setting to Ward Against Death is a collection of historical details. It isn’t set in the real world, but I try to base all my settings (loosely) on real world places and try to stick to a late Renaissance-ish time period—for me just before gun powder but after the invention of the printing press. Think Three Musketeers which was set in the 1600s when gun powder was just starting to make a popular appearance in Europe.

Brawenal City was inspired by pictures of the Italian and Greek coast. I love the images of these towns clinging to the sides of steep hills, with twisting roads curling down to the sea. The city rings are based on the idea of the fortified medieval city. In Brawenal’s case, the city kept growing and the prince kept adding defensive walls, creating different rings in the city.

As for Veknormai, it was inspired by a trip to the Caymen Islands and a beachside cemetery. I’m most familiar with the type of grave where the coffin is buried in the ground and a tombstone marks the head of the grave. But this cemetery in the Caymen Islands was filled with sarcophaguses in neat rows—and by filled I mean maybe two or three dozen tombs, it wasn’t a very big cemetery. These rectangles shimmered in the topical sun, bright and white.

Wow! The setting really comes to life and learning how parts of it are based on specific type of areas is so interesting. I felt like I could imagine Brawenal City before, but I have an even better image of it now.

When you write, do you plot out your storyline beforehand or do you let your characters take the reins and run the show?

For me it depends on the book. I’ve written a handful of manuscripts on my path to publication and experimented with everything from doing a detailed plot before hand to just winging it. Ward Against Death wasn’t intended to be a “just winging it” but that’s what happened. Ward and Celia knew what they wanted, knew how things we’re supposed to go, and I was just along for the ride. I seem happiest as a writer somewhere in between winging it and detailed plotting. I usually have an idea of a few major scenes, but after that I like to just drop my characters into a situation and see how they react.

Sometimes that changes how I imagined some of those major scenes, sometimes that just reaffirms I was right about what my major scenes are.

Both characters have moments where they are incredibly strong, so I can imagine them taking control from time to time. Either way, it turned out wonderful.

The relationship between Ward and Celia is very complicated (and entertaining). When you started writing, were Ward and Celia such polar opposites?

I did purposefully set out to write an opposites relationship. Ward, as a character, showed up first. He was this shy, awkward, honorable guy who needed to realize his potential. I wanted someone to challenge him, stretch him, and help him become who he’s supposed to be. What I didn’t realize when I fist sketched out Celia was how much influence Ward would have on her. She’s fighting it tooth and nail—because that’s what she does—but she can’t hold onto what she was. She has to figure out who she’s going to be, and Ward’s quiet dedication is worming its way into her heart.

I kind of loved Ward, with all his awkwardness and bumbling around, but his passion and dedication are incredible. Will we find out more about his past as a doctor in any future books?

I’m so thrilled to hear that’s what you love about Ward. That’s what I love about him, too. Both Ward’s past as a necromancer and as a physician will come back to haunt him. But I don’t want to ruin any surprises so my lips are sealed.

Aww, I was hoping to get something out of you about the next book :(

What has life been like for you since Ward Against Death came out? Does it feel different now that you’re a published author?

Life as a published author has been the same as before, but peppered with doses of the surreal. For the most part I work like I’ve always worked—writing the next book and the next book, etc—but then there are these fun little moments when someone I never expected mentions the book. Or I go to my location bookstore to buy a book and there is Ward Against Death on the shelf. Alright, I admit, I go to the bookstore just to look at the book some days. Becoming a published author has been a lot of hard work—and will continue being hard work—but it’s also been a fun, exciting ride.

Thank you so much, Melanie!

Thanks for having me, Nikki! Here’s a little about Ward Against Death:

CHRONICLES OF A RELUCTANT NECROMANCER - Book One

Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good‐bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…

Books On Board | Diesel | iTunes

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY

Up for grabs is an e-book of Ward Against Death

Giveaway info:

Open internationally

Normal Contest Policy applies

One entry per person

Ends November 20th

To enter, leave a comment (with some way to contact you) answering the following:

Why are you excited to read Ward Against Death?

And continue on to read an excerpt from the book:

Her eyes narrowed and her hand snaked under the pillow. “It’s not wise to enter a lady’s bedchamber without her consent.”
    Ward plastered on his calmest, gentlest expression. The newly wakened dead often assumed they had just roused from sleep. “You’ve been unwell.”
    Her icy blue eyes examined him, her gaze jumping from his face, to his wig, to his jacket, and back to his face. “Unwell? Is that what my father told you?”
    “In a manner of speaking.” She wasn’t acting the way she was supposed to.
Noblewomen, particularly those around his age, were usually demure or aloof—not suspicious.
    “Well, I’m fine, and I’m sorry my father troubled you.” She threw back the covers, sat up, and stepped onto the thick rug. “Now go, be a good doctor, and tell my family I’m healthy and sleeping.” She punctuated her last word by pulling her nightdress over her head, revealing a slim waist, athletic muscles, and pale skin marked with the purple bruises of livor mortis along her back. And no other clothes.
    “But—” He flushed and spun around to face the wall. “What are you doing?” No. Wait. What was he doing? He’d seen a dead naked woman before. Just never like this.
    She chuckled. “I’m going for a walk.”
    “A what? No—You can’t.” She really wasn’t acting the way she was supposed to.
    “I beg to differ.”
    The situation was spiraling out of hand. Damn it, he had to take control. He was the necromancer, she the newly awakened. She was supposed to listen to him.
    He turned to confront her. Thankfully, she was fully dressed—in men’s clothes, but at least she was dressed. “Listen, I—”
    She slipped her hand under her pillow and removed a sheathed dagger.
    Great Goddess! She kept a dagger under her pillow? Ward inched toward the
door to block her escape without appearing obvious, although he had no idea what he’d do if she fought him. Why did he always get stuck with the difficult corpses?

The Hunger Games Has A Trailer!!!

2011-11-14T11:30:00.000-05:00

Have you seen this little trailer for this little movie based on this little book?

It's called THE HUNGER GAMES

and it is freaking, unbelievably AMAZING!

Watch it now!

Think About It Thursdays (20): I Hate You Reading Slump + An Update

2011-11-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Image used under Creative Commons - Original belongs to Salady

I've blogged about reading slumps/reading funks before and I'm unhappily letting you know that I'm in one right now. I don't want to bore you with the same old questions to ponder, regarding reading slumps, so here's something a little different:

Have you ever fallen into such a reading/blogging funk that you've considered quitting your blog?

I know that can be a pretty big deal to some people, but I'm kind of at a point in my life where blogging just isn't doing it for me. I can't pinpoint any exact reason, but when I started blogging, it was a hobby and it was fun. It's still a hobby, but it's become less and less fun for me.

I don't know if it's just because I'm in a funk right now, or if, maybe, it's time for me to take a step back and reevaluate what I'm doing.

I started a new job back in July and I hated it.

Then.

It was stressful and crazy and I felt completely lost.

It is still stressful and crazy and I, on occasion, feel completely lost, but I've fallen into a routine there.

A routine that I'm really kind of enjoying.

I work with some phenomenal people (some much more phenomenal than others) and my real life has pulled me far away from my online life - and blogging.

I'm even at a point where I'm bummed out I'm not working this weekend - I found someone to cover for me so I could go to YALLFest - because I miss out on working my weekend with my favorite co-worker.

Weird, right?

As a bookish person, I should be thrilled to be spending a weekend with bookish people.

And I am.

Just not as much as I should be.

Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever fallen out of love with books and blogging or just a beloved hobby in general?

Did you give it up or just take a break?

As of right now, I'm not sure what my blogging plans are for the future. I have some commitments that I need to stick around for, so I've got at least another month and a half, but after the holidays I plan on reevaluating the situation to decide what I should do.

Any kind words are appreciated :)

Book Review: Ward Against Death by Melanie Card

2011-11-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Title: Ward Against Death
Author: Melanie Card
Reading Level: Older Young Adult/New Adult
Publisher: Entangled Publishing
Paperback, 276 pages
Date Published: August 2, 2011

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Twenty-year-old Ward de Ath expected this to be a simple job bring a nobleman s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can t be a surgeon the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can t bring himself to break his damned physician s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems including Celia. One second, she s treating Ward like sewage, the next she s kissing him. And for a nobleman s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive...

Ward Against Death is a fast-paced mystery thriller with a fascinating storyline and irresistible characters. The world itself is complex, with different groups of people working towards different goals, and an almost Victorian-esque dark city setting. Ward and Celia’s chance ‘friendship’ is problematic, but so very entertaining. They bicker constantly and have this underlying distrust for one another that just works.

The different organizations are introduced early on and aren’t explained right away, so I felt some confusion for a bit. Adding all the political-like mystery and Celia’s illusive past to the mix makes the plot a little convoluted, but if you follow along and pay attention, everything clears up perfectly. If you like urban fantasy with some seriously vivid characters, then Ward Against Death is just for you.

Celia, the newly dead, but also newly risen, daughter of a very powerful man is a spitfire, both in her attitude and her actions. She’s as likely to take down a bull of a man with just a knife, as she is to turn a man like Ward into an incoherent puddle. Speaking of Ward, I kind of loved him. He’s a necromancer, but doesn’t feel like he’s a very accomplished one. He has this innocent charm to him and takes his oath as a physician (even as one whose been ordered to never practice again) very seriously. Despite his bumbling nature, it’s clear to the reader that he’s far more talented than he thinks.

Ward Against Death is a thrilling debut that satisfies as a standalone, but offers so much as a series. Melanie Card has opened up a world that, though similar to regal days of the past, is unique and holds this darkness in it. I’m eager to see what happens next for Ward and Celia and just what it all means for the shady organizations that they’ve found themselves entangled with.

Opening line: Even in death, Celia Carlyle was beautiful. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages: “I’m a necromancer. Superstitions are merely forgotten truths.” ~ pg. 34

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Melanie Card online:
Website | Facebook

Buy it online:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

In My Mailbox Vlog - (11/6/11)

2011-11-06T15:46:00.001-05:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a list of any of the books you may have received in the past week from bookstores, libraries, authors/publishers, trades, etc.

For Review:
12 Things to Do Before You Crash and Burn by James Proimos
Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles, #3) by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Harbinger by Sara Wilson Etienne

Won:
The Death Cure (The Maze Runner, #3) by James Dashner
When the Sea is Rising Red by Cat Hellison
You Against Me by Jenny Downham

Bought/Gifted:
Beautiful Chaos (Caster Chronicles, #3) SIGNED by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Silence (Hush, Hush, #3) SIGNED by Becca Fitzpatrick

*HUGE thanks to Macmillan, Little, Brown, Big Honcho Media, Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl, Sara Wilson Etienne, Random Buzzers, Danielle from Frenzy of Noise, Becca Fitzpatrick, and Princess Bookie

2011 YA Spooktacular Winners List

2011-11-05T10:00:00.002-04:00

Here you'll find a list of winners for the 2011 YA Spooktacular.

This list will be updated as winners are chosen - all Tricks and Treats had a place to input your address, so there should be no need to email - we'll email you if we need any sort of clarification.

The #YASpooktacular was a lot of fun!! We got to meet explore the world beneath the pond, go to a killer party and meet the corn stalker. I hope you enjoyed everything--all the tricks and treats and the fabulous authors. Before I tell you all the winners, I wanted to thank some people for making this event a success. Without them, it wouldn't be anything but an idea.

Beth Revis ~ Lia Habel ~Kate Kaynak~ Shannon Delany~ Ty Drago ~ Jen Nadol ~ Kim Welchons ~ Caroline Richmond ~ Christina Ferko ~ Zoraida Cordova ~ Nova Ren Suma ~ Tessa Gratton ~ Gretchen McNeil ~ Ariane Mandell ~ Leigh Fallon ~ Leanna Renee Hieber ~ Heidi R. Kling ~ Amy Garvey ~ Cindy Thomas~ Ilsa J. Bick ~ Jennifer L. Armentrout ~ Lani Woodland ~ Nick James ~ Jessica Spotswood ~ Scott Tracy ~ Patricia Riley ~ Jennifer Rush ~ Elizabeth Miles ~ Kimberly Derting ~ Kristi Cook ~ Victoria Schwab ~ Adele Griffin ~ David (who did all the graphics!)

THE PUBLISHERS:

Sourcebooks ~ Bloomsbury ~ Scholastic ~ Flux Books ~ SimonPulse ~ HarperTeen ~ Quirk Books ~ Random House ~ BookEnds Winchester ~ Houghton Mifflin Harcourt ~ Candlewick

THE BLOGGERS:

Page Turners ~ Good Books and Good Wine ~ Frenzy of Noise ~ Portrait of a Book ~ Christi the Teen Librarian ~ Pirate Penguin's Reads ~ Chick Loves Lit ~ Ivy Reads ~ The Fable Faerie ~ The Book Scoop ~ Book Probe ~ LaFemme Reader ~ Bloggers Heart Books ~ Mindful Musings ~ Fiktshun ~ A Tale of Many Reviews ~ A Beautiful Madness ~ Christina's Books ~Reading Teen ~ The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia ~ Read This Instead ~ Reading Angel ~ Mundie Moms ~ Fallen Archangel ~ YA Bookie Monster ~ Overflowing Shelf ~ Red House Books ~ I Like These Books ~ Hooked To Books ~ The Book Cellar ~ Two Chicks On Books ~ Ticket to Anywhere ~ Supernatural Snark ~ Lisa Potts ~ Pure Imagination ~ Candace's Book Blog ~ Heise Reads & Recommends ~ The Non-Reluctant Reader ~ The Reading Fever ~ Stories To Be ~ Reading Nook ~ Mrs. Readerpants ~ The Story Queen ~ Paperback Dolls ~ Books Complete Me ~ YA Bookmark ~ Young Readers ~ 365 Days of Reading ~ Ezine of a Random Girl ~ Tangled Up In Words

And now on to the winners. The prizes are broken apart by story. Here goes.

Spread the word giveaway---Tayte H

*Winners, see note at the bottom

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendra Blake (from A Reading Nook)---Maria (Fantasy Sink)

Zombie Pack from PaperBackDolls--- Mariana V.

Sweetly by Jackson Pearce (from Mrs. ReaderPants)--- Sarah Brown

Choose one: Frost, Name of the Star, Zombies Don't Cry (International, from The Reading Fever)--- Peggy (Pawing with Books)

Signed copy of Swoon and Swear by Nina Malkin and Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts (from 365 Days of Books)--- Katie P.

The Immortals series by Alyson Noel (from Christina @ Escape from Reality)--- erin e.baker219

Shifting and Between--- Rabiah

Zoraida Cordova's Mermaid Pack--- Jessica @ Books

The Waking (Spirits of the Noh & Dreams of the Dead) by Thomas Randall---Desi

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi and Perception by Kim Harrington--- Julie Witt

ARC of Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, Fury by Elizabeth Miles, and a SIGNED copy of Cryer's Cross by Lisa McMann--- Jennelle S

Story 1 Prize Pack --- Jessica @ Book Loving Mommy

Dick & Jane & Vampires from Red House Books (international)---Hayley

Blood Magic by Tessa Gratton --- Jennifer K Jovus

Intrisical by Lani Woodland---- Emma B.

Shifting and Between --- Patricia Riley

TimeRiders and ARC of TimeRiders: Day of the Predator by Alex Scarrow---Hafsah @ IceyBooks

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa & The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (from Two Chicks On Books): Kristin Justham

Mad World Pack: Those That Wake, I-boy, First Day on Earth (ARC), Circle Nine (ARC), Timeriders: Day of the Predator (ARC) --- Emma B.

After Obsession by Carrie Jones + Team Astley & Team Nick shirts---Vivien

ARC of Variant by Robison Wells and an ARC of The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch ---Penelope @ The Reading Fever

ARC of Dead of Winter by Chris Priestly---Mary DeBorde [M.A.D.]

Story 2 Prize Pack ---- Bwyatt

Amazon e-gift card (international only, from Fiktshun)---Katherine B

Haven by Kristi Cook---Jennelle S*

Tighter by Adele Griffin (from Christi the Teen Librarian) ---Deranged Pegasus

Frosty Nightmare Pack (Frost by Marianne Baer, Frost by Wendy Delsol, Bitter Frost/Forever Frost by Kailin Gow (from Christina Ferko)---Emily aka WilowRaven

MG prize pack: The Thief Lord, Wonderstruck (ARC), The Secret Prince (ARC), Villian School, Timeriders: Day of the Predator (ARC), Mysterious Four, The Last Book in the Universe---Melora Brock

Now That's Not Normal Pack: Misfit (ARC) + The Iron Thorn (ARC) + Graveminder (ARC)----Dani Nguyen

Patrick Carman Pack: Floors & Things that Go Bump in the Night, Dark Eden (ARC)----Vivien

Springsweet/Ruling Passion----Ivy

Signed Witch Eyes by Scott Tracy----Patsy Hagen

The Vanishing Game by Kate Kae Meyers---Zapf

ARC of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi & an ARC of Grave Mercy by Robin (R.L.) LaFevers--Candice J

Damage by Anya Parrish and Low Red Moon by Ivy Devlin----Penelope @ The Reading Fever

Shifting and Between ---Caitlin

Story 3 Prize Pack----Jessica Harlan

Grand Prize Packs:

US only----throughthehaze

International----Carol Thompson

That's everyone!! Thank YOU so much for participating. It wouldn't be

any fun without you. Tune in again next year!

*Please note: Your entire prize may not arrive at the same time. Prizes could be mailed out at various times from various locations. Please be patient. If you haven't received it by Dec 1, then you can email us. (YASpooktacular @ frenzyofnoise.net)

**We are not responsible for lost or damaged prizes

Author Interview: Jaclyn Dolamore

2011-11-04T11:00:00.000-04:00

Jaclyn Dolamore was homeschooled in a hippie sort of way and spent her childhood reading as many books as her skinny nerd-body could lug from the library and playing elaborate pretend games with her sister Kate. She skipped college and spent eight years drudging through retail jobs, developing her thrifty cooking skills and pursuing a lifelong writing dream. She has a passion for history, thrift stores, vintage dresses, David Bowie, drawing, and organic food. She lives with her partner and plot-sounding-board, Dade, and three weird cats.
*Bio taken from Jackie's website

What’s on your nightstand right now?

The Food of a Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky. It's an anthology of food writing from the 1930s about regional foods and customs, most of which have disappeared, from the archives of the Federal Writer's Project. Fascinating stuff! Oh, the debates about a proper clambake, the recipes for squirrel!

Squirrel! Really? Doesn't sound too appetizing.

As a child, were you always fascinated by mermaids? Do you have a favorite mermaid myth or character?

Yes, I was always writing about mermaids, pretending to be a mermaid, making mermaid "fashion magazines"... I'm not really sure I have a definitive favorite mermaid, though. As a kid I loved Marina from the cartoon Saban's Adventures of the Little Mermaid, but I'm not sure if it would hold up for my adult brain!

Did you have to do a lot of research into mythology to write about the mermaids and winged people?

I did read many mermaid myths, gathering ideas. I wanted the book to have a fairy tale feel. There aren't so many myths about winged people, so for that I had to wing it. Ahaha.

What are your thoughts on the cover of Between the Sea and the Sky? Does it fit the story within the pages?

I loved the cover from the moment I saw it! If I have one complaint it's the inaccuracy that the mermaid is wearing a shirt. But, you know, I'm not sure a bare-breasted mermaid would fly on the YA shelf, so I can deal with that. ;)

Yeah, I'm not sure if YA shelves would be okay with nude mermaids, despite it being more accurate for the book :)

What is your favorite fairytale?

The Seven Swans (which is also known by many other names). I'm rather a sucker for people who turn into birds and vice versa. (This pops up in Between the Sea and Sky, in fact. Esmerine is ALSO a sucker for fairy tales about people turning into birds...)

I always loved the story of The Seven Swans and I loved how Esmerine's fascination with people turning into birds is in the book.

Aside from Magic Under Stone, what can we expect from you in the future?

Summer of 2013 will see the release of Dark Metropolis, described by my agent as "Cabaret meets Sabriel", the story of a girl searching for her missing best friend in a decadent city full of horrific secrets, while falling for a boy who is partly responsible for said horrific secrets, inspired by Berlin between the wars and the silent film Metropolis.

Dark Metropolis sounds so freaking good. I cannot wait!

Thank you so much for stopping by and answering these questions, Jackie :)

Find Jaclyn Dolamore online:

Buy Between the Sea and the Sky online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Book Review: Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

2011-11-03T09:00:00.004-04:00

Title: Between the Sea and the Sky
Author: Jaclyn Dolamore
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Bloomsbury
ARC, 230 pages
Date Published: October 25, 2011

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship . . . and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Between the Sea and the Sky is the first mermaid book I’ve ever read and it has left me wanting so much more. As far as fairytales go, Jaclyn Dolamore’s sophomore effort provokes a vivid and whimsical image of lavish gowns and historical stylings, mixed in with a good deal of folklore and fantasy.

Esmerine is a mermaid unlike any other. First off, she’s a siren – a rare and esteemed role given to few girls – and second, she loves the land and the mermaid-shunned Fandarsee, or winged people. Her childhood friendship with Alander, a Fandarsee, sets her apart from all other merpeople instantly and this sense of being a bit of an outcast will resonate with readers. Esmerine’s longings for something more root the book in reality because we all feel that, we all want that. She wants to explore and move outside the only world she’s known, but she’s also terrified at the same time.

Much like Alander – now Alan – Esmerine fears what others will think of her. Alan is very different from Esmerine, but also very much the same. He’s a little rough around the edges at first, but it’s easy to warm up to him after a time. Esmerine and Alan both have this devotion to books and reading that made me feel why I love to read too. Jaclyn Dolamore’s take on mermaid and Fandarsee folklore isn’t your typical Disney-esque happily ever after. Mermaids on land suffer. A lot. And Fandarsee – I’ve never even heard of them before – have more responsibility and expectations than you can imagine.

Put both a mermaid and a Fandarsee together and what you have is an almost impossible love story. Between the Sea and the Sky is more than just about star-crossed lovers or doomed romance. It’s about devotion to family, childhood friendship, imagination, and vivid worlds both above and below the water. The sea can be felt in each page and Esmerine’s longing for it – when she’s away searching for her sister – is palpable. If you love mermaids, this is a book for you. If you don’t love mermaids, give Between the Sea and the Sky a chance because you just might grow to love them.

Opening line: It was not every day that a mermaid became a siren, and not every day that Esmerine attended such a party. ~ pg. 2

Favorite line/passage: They might have been the only people in the world. They were free of all the trappings of earthly existence, just two bodies, shooting like the beams of the morning sun. ~ pg. 136

*This is the ARC version and lines, pages, cover art may differ from final copy

3.5

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Jaclyn Dolamore online:

Grand Prize Giveaway - US Only

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Cinder by Marissa Meyer Excerpt

2011-11-02T10:23:00.000-04:00

First off, I'm back!! Yay! *does a little dance because I have power AND internet*

Second, thanks for all your wishes for warmth and safety. It was a crazy snowtober, but thankfully most of it has melted and we were able to manage okay. I had to drive home in the snowstorm after work at 1AM because we lost power there too and things got very crazy, and the roads were horrible and terrifying and it was the worst driving experience I ever had, but I'm here and okay and I'm back to posting :)

*Quick YA Spooktacular update: We've chosen winners for all the giveaways throughout the story and I should be getting a winners post up in the next couple of days. The story prize packs are still open, as is the grand prize giveaway, so click the banner above to enter those.

Now for the Cinder excerpt!

USA Today has an excerpt from chapter one of this Cinderella with a cyborg twist book that will be coming out January 3, 2012.

For more info on Cinder, check out the description below:

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

*Description taken from Goodreads

Find Marissa Meyer online:

Blog | Twitter | Cinder Facebook Page

Pre-order it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

YA Spooktacular Grand Prize Giveaway!!

2011-10-31T13:32:00.000-04:00

This past week has been a blast! A little hectic and a lot of crazy (hello snowstorm in October!) and I still have no internet - this post is going up from a Dunkin Donuts - but the YA Spooktacular was an enormous success and it couldn't have happened without so many authors generously donating their time and so many bloggers kindly contributing and posting along with us.

But the week has come to a close and Halloween is here, so the Grand Prize Giveaway is here too.

The giveaways spread out within each story are all open until midnight EST tonight - click the banner above to be taken to the master post to see where each giveaway is. The prize packs for each story are all open until November 3rd, so go enter! And you can still read each by clicking on the story image. You'll find the forms for the US grand prize and the international grand prize below. Thanks for following along and best of luck to all entrants :)

Story 1 Prize Pack

Story 2 Prize Pack

Story 3 Prize Pack

Grand Prize Giveaway - INTERNATIONAL Only

No Power=No Posting

2011-10-30T11:11:00.001-04:00

I currently have no power (doing this from my phone) and I'm not sure when it will be back. I'll try to post from work or something today and tomorrow. If I can't, you can find the grand prize for the YA Spooktacular tomorrow at frenzyofnoise.net

Be safe and have a her happy Halloween!

Book Review: The Shattering by Karen Healey

2011-10-29T09:50:00.000-04:00

Title: The Shattering
Author: Karen Healey
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Little, Brown
Hardcover, 305 pages
Date Published: September 5, 2011

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Seventeen-year-old Keri likes to plan for every possibility. She knows what to do if you break an arm, or get caught in an earthquake or fire. But she wasn't prepared for her brother's suicide, and his death has left her shattered with grief. When her childhood friend Janna tells her it was murder, not suicide, Keri wants to believe her. After all, Janna's brother died under similar circumstances years ago, and Janna insists a visiting tourist, Sione, who also lost a brother to apparent suicide that year, has helped her find some answers.

As the three dig deeper, disturbing facts begin to pile up: one boy killed every year; all older brothers; all had spent New Year's Eve in the idyllic town of Summerton. But when their search for the serial killer takes an unexpected turn, suspicion is cast on those they trust the most.

As secrets shatter around them, can they save the next victim? Or will they become victims themselves?

The Shattering combines a smattering of subjects, but does it very well. Karen Healey presents the reader with a town plagued by suicides. Only Janna, Sione, and Keri don’t believe they’re suicides. They believe the boys that have died over the years – including each of their older brothers – were murdered.

From this springs the hunt for a murderer and three very well-developed and distinctive characters. Keri is one of those strong without really trying types. She exudes confidence, despite the emotional despair she faces with the sudden loss of her brother. Sione is almost the complete opposite of her. He appears meek and quiet, not confident of himself or facing the same dismay over the death of his brother. Then there’s Janna, who is outwardly cool, chasing boys and her brother’s killer. She’s not easily ruffled, but is forced to confront the worst parts of herself as the plot progresses.

In fact, that’s one of the best aspects of The Shattering. Healey tackles, suicide, cultural prejudices, sex, love, loss, and even the reality of coming out in a small town; all while ensuring her characters stick to their goals of finding the murderer. Parts are a little predictable, but others aren’t. I didn’t even see a huge part of the plot coming into play. But I liked it and I really liked how the story played out.

The Shattering is a character driven story that reads like a faster-paced contemporary, but has this tiny paranormal twist to it. The twist works splendidly though because it keeps the story rooted in reality, while making things just a little more complicated for Keri, Janna, and Sione. If nothing else, The Shattering is different from other YA books, as it isn’t a love story or about angels or demons or vampires or any other overdone subject. Karen Healey keeps it interesting with her richly detailed setting and characters that jump, scream, and fight off the pages.

Opening line: The first time I broke my arm, I was ready for it. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages: The telephone shrilled as I locked the front door, but I didn’t turn back for it. I went, dressed in blue denim and my brother’s blood, to destroy his murderers.
Completely. ~ pg. 240

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Karen Healey online:

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

YA Spooktacular - The Corn Stalker - Kimberly Derting + Giveaway

2011-10-28T00:01:00.001-04:00

Welcome to story 3 - The Corn Stalker - of the YA Spooktacular. This stop is a few installments into the story, but if you click The Corn Stalker banner below, you'll be brought to Page Turners, who are hosting the first piece of the story by Nick James.

Kimberly Derting

Kara hesitated, her grip tightening. “Let’s get out of here,” she insisted, taking a step backward, already dragging me away from that eerie whistling, the one that had nothing at all to do with the wind. The one that was completely out of place in the middle of a cornfield.

I chuckled, but it was an uneasy sound. “Isn’t that what we’ve been trying to do?”

Even in the dark, I could feel the glare she shot my way. “Not funny, Josh.” But her voice was barely a whisper this time.

She was right, it wasn’t funny now. I let her pull me along, hating the way sweat prickled across my forehead despite the crisp breeze.

I had no idea if she knew where she was going—I doubted it—or if she had a plan at all. But I followed anyway, guessing that her sense of direction was as good as mine at this point.

When the whistling came again, this time closer, almost at our backs, her nails dug into my skin.

“What the—“

“I don’t know,” I tried to sound calm, but my throat was constricting and it came out on a wheeze. For the first time in months, maybe years, I wished I’d brought my inhaler. Honestly, I couldn’t even remember the last time I’d needed the stupid thing. Yet here I was, stranded in the middle of a corn maze, my airways collapsing in on themselves.

“It’s okay,” Kara assured me, recognizing the panic in my voice—and what it meant. “We’re almost there, I know it.”

Somehow her words—lies or not—made me feel better, and my breathing came easier.

That was when we heard the other sound…the scream. Only this time it didn’t sound like one of those fake, pre-recorded soundtracks. It wasn’t all static-y, or playing on a repeating loop.

This one was real.

“Run!” I insisted, and now I was dragging her, as branches from the cornstalks whipped at us from both sides, stinging and slicing us.

It was impossible to see where we were going, and more than once we ran smack into a thick stand of the corn shoots, only to have to turn around and go back, feeling our way around. We were awkward and clumsy.

I almost didn’t notice when Kara fell. I almost didn’t realize her fingers had slipped from mine.

“Josh—”

I froze, panting as I turned to face her.

“What is this?” she whimpered.

I took a step closer, reaching for the cell phone in my pocket. I already knew we didn’t have service all the way out here, but I held it up anyway, using the LED screen to find her in the darkness.

She was holding her hands out to me, holding them up for me to see.

The leaves around us rustled as the wind kicked up, and somewhere, not so far away, something snapped—a twig or a branch.

“I slipped in it. It—it’s so…sticky,” she said more quietly this time, the last word nearly lost on the breeze.

As I came closer, she was illuminated by the light from my phone. She gasped at the same time I did.

Her hands were covered in something red…and sticky.

Blood.

To continue the story, go to Portrait of a Book.

Kimberly Derting was born and raised in the Seattle area, with the exception of a few short stints in Phoenix, Boise, and San Jose. Kimberly first fell in love with writing (giving up her childhood dreams of being a Veterinarian, and then her later aspirations of "lady trucker") when she signed up for Journalism as her 7th grade elective. It was supposed to an easy A, but it soon became her passion. She moved on to be Copy Editor of the high school yearbook so that she could correct other people's writing mistakes and fill in when they missed their deadlines.

The Body Finder was Kim’s debut, followed by Desires of the Dead and the third book in the series, The Last Echo, will be released in April 2012. Kim’s short story, ‘Skin Contact’, can be found in the anthology Enthralled and The Pledge, a new dystopian book, will be coming out this November from Margaret K. McElderry Books.
*Bio paraphrased from Kim's website

Find Kimberly Derting online:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

Buy Kim's books online:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

GIVEAWAY

To win an ARC of Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi and an ARC of Grave Mercy by Robin (R.L.) LaFevers, check out the cover collage below and fill out the form - form can be found by clicking on the Trick or Treat banner.

Cover Collage - All covers are from books in a series or companion books:

Click collage to make it larger

Think About It Thursdays (19): Halloweeny Books

2011-10-27T12:57:00.000-04:00

Image used under Creative Commons - Original belongs to Salady

It's almost Halloween, and even though I doubt I'll have time to read Halloweeny books, I'd love some suggestions. I've been wracking my brain and can't think of very many books that truly scared me.

What are some of your favorite Halloween reads? Have you read anything that completely freaked you out?

The only books I can think of are things by Stephen King (I haven't read many) and very few YA books. The Devouring series by Simon Holt is really good and kinda scary. The first one starts off very, very creepy and I loved it! In fact, I loved all of them.

Project 17 by Laurie Faria Stolarz freaked me out a lot - it's about a mental hospital in Danvers, MA (totally real place and not too far from me). I think the realness and the closeness of it is what made the book that much more freaky to me.

Aside from that, I'm drawing scary book blanks.

Help me out, will you? Share some of your favorite scary books in the comments!

YA Spooktacular Story 2 - PARTY TIME - Is Live!! Giveaways Everywhere!

2011-10-26T11:23:00.000-04:00

Story 2 - Party Time - in the YA Spooktacular is now live! Links can be found below and there are a ton of giveaways to enter. Giveaways for story 1 - The Pond in the Forest - are still live as well. Click the YA Spooktacular banner up above to find links for story 1, as well as the big prize pack for story 1.

Tessa Gratton
Gretchen McNeil
Ariane Mandell
Leigh Fallon
Leanna Renee Hieber
Heidi R. Kling
Amy Garvey
Cindy Thomas
Ilsa J. Bick
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Lani Woodland

Story Installment Links:

Reading Teen - Story by Tessa Gratton - GIVEAWAY
The Haunting of Orchid Forsythia - Story by Gretchen McNeil - GIVEAWAY
Read This Instead - Story by Ariane Mandell

Reading Angel - Story by Leigh Fallon

Mundie Moms - Story by Leigh Fallon - GIVEAWAY
Fallen Archangel - Story by Lani Woodland & Melonie Piper - GIVEAWAY
YA Bookie Monster - Story by Leanna Renee Heiber

Overflowing Shelf - Story by Gretchen McNeil - GIVEAWAY
Red House Books - Story by Heidi R. Kling - GIVEAWAY
I Like These Books - Story by Cindy Thomas - GIVEAWAY
Hooked To Books - Story by Ilsa J. Bick - GIVEAWAY

The Book Cellar - Story by Heidi R. Kling
Two Chicks On Books - Story by Amy Garvey - GIVEAWAY

Ticket to Anywhere - Story by Amy Garvey
Supernatural Snark - Story by Jennifer L. Armentrout - GIVEAWAY

ALL GIVEAWAYS OPEN UNTIL OCT. 31st AT MIDNIGHT

story 2 giveaway goes up on 10/27
Lisa Potts - Story 2 Giveaway - Open until Nov. 3rd at midnight

Book Review: The Future of Us by Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler

2011-10-24T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Future of Us
Author: Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Razorbill
ARC, 309 pages
Date Published: November 21, 2011

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
It's 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet.

Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM.

Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on--and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future.

Everybody wonders what their Destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

In the age of Facebook and smartphones, it’s almost difficult to remember a time when every American household didn’t have at least one computer. But that’s exactly the life that Emma and Josh live. 1996 was the year of Toy Story, but for these two used to be best friends, now awkward moment neighbors, 96’ is the year they discover their future selves; all thanks to AOL and the appearance of a website with profiles that very much resemble themselves and people they know.

As far as the premise goes, The Future of Us had me sold. Back that with talented authors Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler, and I was more than eager for this book. I’m happy to say that the book had all the aspects I had looked forward to, but it didn’t blow me away.

Emma can be quite whiny and annoying at times, complaining that she has to change what she believes is a horrible, unhappy future, and all based on her future self’s random postings. In 200 characters or so, Emma decides that her future sucks, but since she’s still in 1996, she can change that. And does so more than willingly.

Josh, on the other hand, is much more wary of changing the future on purpose. He’s laid-back and more level-headed than Emma. He also has that pining away for a girl who doesn’t want him thing down pat. Readers will like him and feel for him. I know I did.

The Future of Us is a fast read, with short chapters that alternate between Emma’s and Josh’s POV. At times, it tries too hard to be 90’s and it never manages to actually do that. Still, it’s fun to see Emma’s utter confusion about what Harry Potter is and why it’s one of her favorite books, as well as her future self’s excitement over a night of Netflix and Glee. If you’re looking for a quick read that will entertain you, The Future of Us is sure to do just that.

Opening line: I can’t break up with Graham today, even though I told my friends I’d do it the next time I saw him. ~ pg. 12

Favorite lines/passages: “He broke your heart! How can you call it love when he hurt you so badly?” Kellan pops another fry into her mouth. “It was love because it was worth it.” ~ pg. 54

*This is the ARC version and lines, pages, cover art may differ from final copy

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Jay Asher online:

Blog | The Future of Us Facebook

Find Carolyn Mackler online:
Blog | Twitter

Pre-order it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

2011 YA Spooktacular Spread the Word Contest!!

2011-10-21T09:00:00.000-04:00

So there's this HUGE event happening on October 24. You may have heard it.

*Contest is at the end, I promise!

Can I just tell you HOW AWESOME all this is going to be? Because it's going to be wicked awesome. So awesome that I'm hosting the event with Nikki at Wicked Awesome Books.

Since the event starts on Monday, we're here to give you a full run-down of what's going on! Some things you should know about the Spooktacular...there are THREE stories. Each story is Choose-Your-Own-Adventure, where you can pick which direction the story goes. It's going to be a week full of tricks, treats, spooky adventure and lots of PRIZES.

There are a lot of stops along the way with some giveaway TRICKS or TREATS--and there's at least one international giveaway at every story. Although, the prize packs aren't international (unless you have a local address we can send to), there will be an international Grand Prize Pack posted alongside the US/Canada one on Halloween Day.

What a list, right? Right. You can check out a complete list of participating bloggers AND all the Story One, Story Two, Story Three & Grand Prize Packs by visiting Frenzy of Noise. I'll try to have pictures of the prize packs up soon as well.

Story One posts on October 24 at midnight. You can start the beginning of the story at Pure Imagination.

Story 1 Authors:

Beth Revis
Lia Habel
Kate Kaynak
Shannon Delany
Ty Drago
Jen Nadol
Kim Welchons

Caroline Richmond
Christina Ferko
Zoraida Cordova

Nova Ren Suma

On October 25, you can enter the Story One Prize Pack by going to Tangled Up in Words.

Story Two will post on October 26. You can start the beginning of the story at Reading Teen.

Story 2 Authors:

Tessa Gratton
Gretchen McNeil
Ariane Mandell
Leigh Fallon
Leanna Renee Hieber
Heidi R. Kling
Amy Garvey
Cindy Thomas
Ilsa J. Bick
Jennifer L. Armentrout
Lani Woodland

On October 25, you can enter the Story Two Prize Pack by going to Lisa M. Potts.

Story Two will post on October 28. You can start the beginning of the story at Page Turners Blog.

Story 3 Authors:

Nick James

Jessica Spotswood

Scott Tracey

Patricia Osei

Jennifer Rush

Elizabeth Miles

Kimberly Derting

Kristi Cook

Victoria Schwab

Danielle Bunner

Adele Griffin

On October 29, you can enter the Story Three Prize Pack by going to Christina's Books.

The Grand Prize giveaway will go up on October 31st both here at Wicked Awesome Books and at Frenzy of Noise.

***************************************

Now, you can help us spread the word! Tweet! Use the #YASpooktacular hash tag on twitter. We'll be there all week! Or post something on your blog/faceboook. Feel free to grab our YA Spooktacular button, header, or write another post telling all your followers about the event. The more people that know about it, the better!

We're also going to give you an opportunity to win something NOW. What? If you leave a comment(s) on this post or the one at Frenzy of Noise (either here or there, we'll be picking one winner from comments on both blogs) --with a link to anywhere you posted/tweeted/etc about the #YASpooktacular, then you can be entered to win a mini-prize pack before the event even starts! It runs from now until October 23 at 10pm.

ARC of In Darkness by Nick Lake
ARC of The Radleys by Matt Haig
ARC of Enthralled anthology
ARC of Going Underground by Susan Vaught
ARC of A Long, Long Sleep by Anna Sheehan
ARC of The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann
Welcome to Bordertown anthology
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters
Kiss of Life by Daniel Waters

Happy Tweeting! Get ready for the #YASpooktacular!

Stay up to date with everything YA Spooktacular

Book Review: The Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-10-20T10:00:00.000-04:00

Title: The Daughter of Smoke & Bone
Author: Laini Taylor
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Little, Brown
Hardcover, 418 pages
Date Published: September 27, 2011

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Words cannot adequately describe the monumental beauty and perfection that is The Daughter of Smoke & Bone. The first chapter, the first page, hooks the reader and gives us a character to care about, and to root for. Karou has this magnetic personality that I was instantly drawn to. She’s funny and witty and has this edge to her; but she’s also has this utterly vulnerable side that shows just how broken and empty she is.

The setting of Prague and Marakesh come alive with vivid clarity. Laini Taylor places the reader on the twisting cobblestone streets alongside Karou and guarantees that we live her every experience with her. In doing so, Laini Taylor demonstrates this flawless prose that captures the best and the worst of every character and every scene.

Not only is Karou intriguing, but so is Brimstone’s world of hidden knowledge and secrets long kept. The chimaera are cloaked in mystery and since Karou knows little about them, the reader remains in the dark as well. Then there are the black handprints and Akiva. Both are tied to the chimaera, but, at first, it’s unclear how. The tension between Karou and Akiva crackles with energy and the two characters alternating chapters keeps the story moving without pause.

Karou’s fight for the truth – and for her life many times – is fast-paced and complex. Nothing is ever what it seems. The omg-worthy twist towards the end does pull the reader out of the story a bit, but if you stick with it, you’ll be rewarded with one of the most perfectly told stories and one of the most intricately detailed plotlines in young adult literature.

The Daughter of Smoke & Bone is so much more than just a tale of angels and demons. It’s about secrets and wishes and love and hope. Taylor is an extremely talented storyteller who knows how to hook her readers and never let go. Believe me when I say that this is a must-read.

Opening line: Walking to school over the snow-muffled cobbles, Karou had no sinister premonitions about the day. ~ pg. 1

Favorite lines/passages:
It was like stepping into the pages of a book – a book alive with color and fragrance, filth and chaos – and the blue-haired girl moved through it all like a fairy through a story, the light treating her differently than it did others, the air seeming to gather around her like held breath. As if this whole place were a story about her. ~ pgs. 78-79

Because it's impossible to pick just one:

“Hope can be a powerful force. Maybe there’s no actual magic in it, but when you know what you hope for most and hold it like a light within you, you can make things happen, almost like magic.” ~ pg. 288

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Laini Taylor online:

Blog | Daughter of Smoke & Bone Site | Twitter

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

Cover Reveal: Revived by Cat Patrick

2011-10-17T09:00:00.000-04:00

So you remember this book, right?

And you remember I LOVED IT (and you should too), right?

Add Forgotten on Goodreads

Now, did you hear about Cat Patrick's new book?

It's called REVIVED and it comes out May 2012. Here's the blurb on it:
A riveting thriller about "the God Project," a hush‐hush government program that is testing a controversial drug that can bring people back from the dead.
*Taken from Goodreads

And since I know you want to see the freaking awesome cover, I'm sharing it with you today!
In fact, today is the big cover reveal, so make sure you head over to Cat's blog, where she's revealing the cover too, and let her know how much you love it :)

Currently scheduled for release on May 8, 2012

And, here's the for reals synopsis:

As a little girl, Daisy Appleby was killed in a school bus crash.

Moments after the accident, she was brought back to life.

A secret government agency has developed a drug called Revive that can bring people back from the dead, and Daisy Appleby, a test subject, has been Revived five times in fifteen years. Daisy takes extraordinary risks, knowing that she can beat death, but each new death also means a new name, a new city, and a new life.

When she meets Matt McKean, Daisy begins to question the moral implications of Revive, and as she discovers the agency's true goals, she realizes she's at the center of something much larger - and more sinister - than she ever imagined.

Add Revived on Goodreads

Find Cat Patrick online:

Website | Blog | Twitter | Forgotten @ LB Teens

Buy Forgotten online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

In My Mailbox Vlog - (10/16/11)

2011-10-16T10:00:00.002-04:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. It is a list of any of the books you may have received in the past week from bookstores, libraries, authors/publishers, trades, etc.

Okay, this video has a lot and I mean A LOT of books in it. My pre-orders came in, I received some great review books, and I went to this little thing called NEIBA - it was freaking awesome!! It was small (like a tiny, itty bitty corner compared to BEA), but it was 1000x better. I was actually able to stop and chat with reps from the pub houses and it wasn't a mad rush for books. Oh, and I picked up more than a few awesome things.

For Review:
Sweetly by Jackson Pearce
Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey

On NOOK:
Sign Language by Amy Ackley
Touch by Jennifer Snyder
Between the Sea and the Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore

Bought:
Past Perfect SIGNED by Leila Sales - love listening to Leila read from her books!
The Death Cure (Maze Runner, #3) by James Dashner
The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin (Finally shipped!)
Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins (Ditto from above)
Every You, Every Me by David Levithan (Again, finally!)
Storm Glass SIGNED by Maria V. Snyder
Inside Out SIGNED by Maria V. Snyder
Poison Study SIGNED by Maria V. Snyder

From NEIBA - not all are listed, but here are some:
Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King by William Joyce & Laura Geringer
Dear Bully edited by Megan Kelley Hall and Carrie Jones
The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Liesl & Po by Lauren Oliver
Legend SIGNED by Marie Lu
Breadcrumbs by Anne Ursu
My Name Is Mina by David Almond
Life: An Exploded Diagram by Mal Peet
The Flint Heart by Katherine & James Paterson, Illus. by John Rocco
Chopsticks by Jessica Anthony & Rodrigo Corral
Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Pandemonium (Delirium, #2) by Lauren Oliver
Perception (Clarity, #2) by Kim Harrington
Remarkable by Lizzie K. Foley
Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin, #1) by R.L. LaFevers
The Alchemy of Forever by Avery Williams
A Million Suns (Across the Universe, #2) by Beth Revis
Revived by Cat Patrick

*I cannot express enough thanks to Little, Brown, Bloomsbury, Amy Ackley, Jennifer Snyder, Leila Sales, Maria V. Snyder, HarperCollins, Penguin, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Random House, Scholastic, Candlewick, Sourcebooks, any publisher I missed, all the reps that I had the opportunity to chat with, all the booksellers I met, that incredibly kind author from Keene, and each and every other lovely person I met at NEIBA - the day was wonderful beyond belief

Book Review: Wildefire by Karsten Knight

2011-10-14T06:53:00.000-04:00

Title: Wildefire
Author: Karsten Knight
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
e-ARC, 401 pages
Date Published: July 26, 2011

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
Every flame begins with a spark.

Ashline Wilde is having a rough sophomore year. She’s struggling to find her place as the only Polynesian girl in school, her boyfriend just cheated on her, and now her runaway sister, Eve, has decided to barge back into her life. When Eve’s violent behavior escalates and she does the unthinkable, Ash transfers to a remote private school nestled in California’s redwoods, hoping to put the tragedy behind her. But her fresh start at Blackwood Academy doesn’t go as planned. Just as Ash is beginning to enjoy the perks of her new school—being captain of the tennis team, a steamy romance with a hot, local park ranger—Ash discovers that a group of gods and goddesses have mysteriously enrolled at Blackwood…and she’s one of them. To make matters worse, Eve has resurfaced to haunt Ash, and she’s got some strange abilities of her own. With a war between the gods looming over campus, Ash must master the new fire smoldering within before she clashes with her sister one more time… And when warm and cold fronts collide, there’s guaranteed to be a storm.

You know that feeling you get when you finish a really good book and you’re dying to read more? Wildefire gave me that feeling. Actually, it gave me that feeling and then some because when I read that last line, I wanted to literally scream that I NEED MORE! I plan on berating Karsten Knight over and over because of the giant freaking cliffhanger he ended Wildefire with.

So obviously, this book is great. In fact, it’s phenomenal – with strong, intelligent characters and a protagonist with so much presence, she leaps right off the page. Ashline is chock-full of sarcastic wit and hilarious snark. She has a tough girl attitude, but is a total marshmallow underneath. Seeing both sides of Ash makes her that much more real. Seeing Ash come into her own and realize who she is one of the best parts of the book. On top of the mythology, Ashline’s family issues are just as interesting as her newfound volcano goddess issues.

Eve, Ashline’s sister, is one of those hard, angry, bitter girls with a little remorse. She’s everything Ash is not and the sister’s interactions crackle with tension. Ashline’s fellow Blackwood Academy students add another layer to Wildefire’s already complicated story. Raja, Ade, Rolfe, Lily, Jackie, and gorgeous park ranger Colt all stand out in their own ways. Knight manages to imbue each character with personality and vigor. And as much as I don’t want to pick favorites, Ade and Rolfe both stole every scene they were in.

The mythology in Wildefire is fundamental to how the story plays out and Karsten Knight has worked some serious magic in the book’s pages. Not only is the premise fascinating, but it’s full of unexpected twists and turns. There’s a prophet, gods and goddesses, several different nationalities in a small boarding school – thank you for a perfect explanation on this one, Karsten – and a little romantic drama to spice things up a bit.

Karsten Knight has delivered a stellar debut in Wildefire; packed with plenty of action, some insane happenings, and a cast of some of the most superbly fleshed out characters, any and all readers will find something to enjoy. The mythology involved is inventive and intriguing, mixing different cultural beliefs flawlessly. Knight tortures the reader by jolting them in one direction and then promptly altering the path. I thought I knew what to expect, but boy was I wrong. Be prepared to for a cliffhanger, but not one you’ll ever expect. Wildefire recently just came out, but I’m prepared to beg Karsten Knight to give me anything from Embers & Echoes.

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Karsten Knight online:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YA Rebels

Buy it online:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository | Indiebound

In Which I Neglect to Have Any Post Ready

2011-10-13T12:48:00.000-04:00

Life has been busy lately.

I know I'm not alone there, but my plan was to keep up with the blog while at this new job. I haven't. At least not as much as I'd like. In fact, I try to post a review every other day and have other posts in between, but it hasn't been happening like that. I seriously need to start scheduling stuff, but at the moment, I have one book review for a book that's already out and the rest don't come out for at least a month; most of them several months.

I've been reading less, blogging less, working more, and haven't been able to figure out a way to balance everything. Hopefully I do, but for now my blogging won't be as regular as I'd like.

There will still be reviews and I'm hoping I can still manage at least two reviews per week, but no guarantees.

The YA Spooktacular is coming up in 11 days with a spread the word giveaway soon - probably Monday - so that's been taking up a little of my time, but it will be worth it. So, so, so worth it. I'm getting together with the event's co-host - Danielle over at Frenzy of Noise - this weekend to sort out prizes. And yes, there are so many that we need to sort them out and divide them up.

So please forgive my lack of blogging, twitter presence, and commenting. I promise I'm trying!

Teaser Tuesday - The Marked Son (10/11/11)

2011-10-11T11:41:00.000-04:00

I'm just a few chapters in, but I love the writing style in The Marked Son. Dylan, the main character is so wonderfully jaded and I'm at a point where THINGS ARE HAPPENING. I think this one is going to be a perfect October read. Here's an ominous snippet:

Soon, the approaching storm will block out all the light. I scan the area, and just when I'm about to give up and breathe easier, far within the trees there's another pale flicker of movement.
Someone – or something – is definitely in the woods. ~ pg. 41

Seventeen-year-old Dylan Kennedy always knew something was different about him, but until his mother abandoned him in the middle of Oregon with grandparents he's never met, he had no idea what.

When Dylan sees a girl in white in the woods behind his grandparents' farm, he knows he's seen her before...in his dreams. He's felt her fear. Heard her insistence that only he can save her world from an evil lord who uses magic and fear to feed his greed for power.

Unable to shake the unearthly pull to Kera, Dylan takes her hand. Either he's completely insane or he's about to have the adventure of his life, because where they're going is full of creatures he's only read about in horror stories. Worse, the human blood in his veins has Dylan marked for death...

*Description taken from Goodreads

Book Review: Family by Micol Ostow

2011-10-10T10:00:00.003-04:00

Title: Family
Author: Micol Ostow
Reading Level: Young Adult
Publisher: Egmont USA
Hardcover, 376 pages
Date Published: April 26, 2011

Description (Taken from Goodreads):
i have always been broken.
i could have.died.
and maybe it would have been better if i had.

It is a day like any other when seventeen-year-old Melinda Jensen hits the road for San Francisco, leaving behind her fractured home life and a constant assault on her self-esteem. Henry is the handsome, charismatic man who comes upon her, collapsed on a park bench, and offers love, a bright new consciousness, and—best of all—a family. One that will embrace her and give her love. Because family is what Mel has never really had. And this new family, Henry’s family, shares everything. They share the chores, their bodies, and their beliefs. And if Mel truly wants to belong, she will share in everything they do. No matter what the family does, or how far they go.

Told in episodic verse, family is a fictionalized exploration of cult dynamics, loosely based on the Manson Family murders of 1969. It is an unflinching look at people who are born broken, and the lengths they’ll go to to make themselves “whole” again.

Family is one of the most disturbing and terrifying, yet oddly captivating, books that I have ever read. As someone who only knows the barest facts about the Manson family murders, Micol Ostow’s take on 17 year old Mel’s descent into cult life is haunting and creepy. We get to see her slowly, but surely lose herself to this notion of family; which is ludicrous and all kinds of messed up, but for someone who has come from so little and so much pain, it makes sense to Mel.

I couldn’t see the appeal or allure that Henry (the Charles Manson-esque figure) has. It’s difficult to understand why so many people would follow him willingly and look at him like a Jesus Christ figure. Mel, Sherry, Leila, Junior, and all the people we don’t hear from view Henry as a savior and a preacher.

Ostow solidifies this fact with her episodic verse, having Henry’s name, His references, be the only things that stand out with capitalization. It’s to ensure that he reader knows, without a doubt, that Henry is running the show. He has essentially brainwashed these people, forced their lives to revolve around him, and has put them into a drug-induced stupor at times, to benefit His own wants and needs.

Mel’s life has become the Henry show and she’s willing to do whatever He wants, whenever He wants. It’s incredibly sad. Mel’s life before Henry was miserable, but her life after Henry isn’t really a step up at all. At times, I wanted to hug her, but then other times I wanted to slap some sense into her; yell at her so she could see what’s going on, that she has been indoctrinated into a desolate cult that’s only purpose is to serve this Henry. What she’s experiencing isn’t love and even though a part of Mel knows that, she doesn’t care. Her desire to be wanted and accepted – even if it’s false – overrides the voice in the back of her mind that’s telling her not to trust her situation.

Family is incredibly disturbing with its back and forth from the slow, despondent fall into cult life, to its hints of the danger that’s to come. Ostow has taken a story that many have at least the vaguest idea of and expanded upon it, dropped the reader into an endlessly forlorn situation and done so splendidly. Episodic verse works in this situation, making each day more painful and fractured. Knowing that things are going to end in a bloodbath makes Mel’s life that much more affecting and I was glued to the page.

Opening line: i have always been broken. ~ pg. 3

Favorite lines/passages:
when i was twelve years old, i drowned.
luckily, it didn’t take. ~ pg. 6

infinity has always felt impossible to me. there is
nothing, after all, that doesn’t end. ~ pg. 10

3.5

*This review is my honest opinion and I received no monetary compensation from it.

Find Micol Ostow online: