Rants~N~Scribbles

[Review] Incarnate by Jodi Meadows

2012-01-30T11:23:00.000-08:00

Title: Incarnate
Series: Newsoul Series
Author: Jodi Meadows
Genre: ya, reincarnation, dragons, souls, fantasy
Format: Ebook, 384 pages
Publication Date: January 31, 2012
Published By: Katherine Tegen Books, HarperCollins Publishers
Source: NetGalley ARC received from publisher for review.

Synopsis from Goodreads

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

My Thoughts

I haven't done a review for a while. Most of you are probably aware of the reviewer/author drama that was ongoing at the beginning of this year, and if you have no idea what I am talking about, be thankful, because I am not going to rehash it all over again. But needless to say, it put me in a cruddy and miserable place and I honestly had no urge to review anything for anyone...I read a lot of books, I just didn't feel like sharing my opinions with anyone while everyone was still sensitive.

But Jodi Meadows and her debut novel Incarnate changed all that for me. It was the first time in quite a while that I had so thoroughly enjoyed a book that I felt I just had to share it with anyone willing to listen. Not since Divergent by Veronica Roth has a story captured my attention with such unique ideas and vivid characterization. And not since The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater has a love story felt so true and realistic, and sometimes heart-breaking. (Does anyone else find it odd that Sam is the name of the two male characters I absolutely adore now?)

Incarnate has this wonderful world where dragons attack cities made of seemingly living walls with acidic breath and sylphs can literally burn the flesh from your body with the briefest of touches. Everything is new and exciting and you feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store as you turn around slowly in circles trying to take everything in. It took me less than 24 hours to devour this book. The only sad part is now it will feel like forever as I wait for part two...

My only minor complaint with the events near the end of the book. I won't spoil anything at all but I just have to share that it felt so rushed and confusing I'm still not actually sure of everything that happened. Perhaps that was done on purpose as more things unravel in future books. Once I pick up my physical copy on release date I will most likely re-read at least the end to see if it makes more sense to me. But it made me very happy to not have to be subjected to a horrible cliffhanger of doom that often accompanies most series books in ya right now.

I suggest every single one of you rush out and buy this as soon as your local book store opens tomorrow. No excuses!

My rating?

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #14

2012-01-28T08:23:00.000-08:00

The TBR (To Be Read) Intervention Challenge is a weekly challenge hosted by Books4Juliet, Whatever You Can Sill Betray and Refracted Light.

The following information is posted on Refracted Light's blog:

The goal of this challenge is to help each other (fellow readers and bloggers) manage our enormous and constantly growing TBR (To-Be-Read) List. The rules are simple and everyone is encouraged to participate. It does not force you to commit to more than what you can manage to read in a week or so, but participants are encouraged to read at least one book within a week. You are free to choose the book you want to read and commit to this challenge. You may post your entry every Saturday, at the frequency of your choice–EVERY WEEK or EVERY TWO WEEKS. However, we will sponsor this event regularly every Saturday.

Here are the rules:

1. Post the book(s) you committed to read in your last TBR Intervention post and tell us something about it. Did you finish it? Did you enjoy it or not? Post the link to your review (if you have one).

2. Post a book that you want to read and already own. Pick something that has been sitting on your shelf for too long now (6 months or longer). Commit to read the book in the next couple of days or week.

3. Grab the TBR Intervention Button and post it on your blog sidebar so you will be constantly reminded of the challenge, making it easier for you to commit. This will also encourage other readers/bloggers/visitors to join the challenge.

4. Add the link to your post in the Linky below and make sure to visit the other blogs. Comment, encourage, and spread the love to our fellow readers.

Last Week's TBR:

I still haven't finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone yet. I'm only reading it at home because I had this strong urge to write down every character's name the first time they show up and track it in a spreadsheet to see what I missed during my first reading of the series. Not sure if I will keep it up though as it does take the fun out of the reading.

But I did finish both The Young Black Stallion (for my Black Stallion Challenge) and Incarnate for the DAC Challenge and January mini challenge (DAC eBook). Incarnate was FABULOUS! I recommend it to everyone. It's going to be one of those books I rave about this year. Stunning.

I still haven't brought myself to do any reviews yet, but after reading and really enjoying Incarnate I have been re-inspired to write some reviews for next week.

This Week's TBR:

This week I hope to finish Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (for the Harry Potter 2012 Challenge), it's really about time... Other than that I'm not quite sure what I want to read next, I have a lot to choose from! For one, I would like to read one of the books for the Tudor Challenge I am participating, and I think the first one will be Mary, Bloody Mary. I think I will also read the NetGalley I have for Drowning Instinct by Ilsa J. Bick.

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: Drowning Instinct

2012-01-25T13:30:00.000-08:00

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

Title: Drowning Instinct
Author: Ilsa J. Bick
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab, Lerner Publishing Group
Publication Date: February 1, 2012

Synopsis:

There are stories where the girl gets her prince, and they live happily ever after. (This is not one of those stories.)

Jenna Lord's first sixteen years were not exactly a fairytale. Her father is a controlling psycho and her mother is a drunk. She used to count on her older brother—until he shipped off to Afghanistan. And then, of course, there was the time she almost died in a fire.

There are stories where the monster gets the girl, and we all shed tears for his innocent victim. (This is not one of those stories either.)

Mitch Anderson is many things: A dedicated teacher and coach. A caring husband. A man with a certain...magnetism.

And there are stories where it's hard to be sure who's a prince and who's a monster, who is a victim and who should live happily ever after. (These are the most interesting stories of all.)

Drowning Instinct is a novel of pain, deception, desperation, and love against the odds—and the rules.

You might remember how much I loved Ms. Bick's writing style when I raved about her book, Ashes in my review. Although this book is completely separate from that series, I just know it's going to be amazing and I cannot wait to read it!

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - January 24 2012

2012-01-24T08:06:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) “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!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Souls are sentience, an essence born into a new body when the old one dies. There have always been a million souls, but now we're a million minus one. Five years ago, the temple flashed dark on the night Ciana died. This evening, when Li gave birth to our daughter, we expected Ciana's reincarnation. Instead, truths on which we'd built society were irrevocably made uncertain."

This teaser is from Incarnate by Jodi Meadows.I picked it based on the cover and for the DAC 2012 challenge. I also really liked the whole premise of reincarnation and new souls. I am about half way through it and I am really enjoying it. The language is beautiful and it's so intriguing.

~NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?~

Share your teaser with me!

[Meme] In My Mailbox #16

2012-01-22T17:09:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received From Author For Review:

Rapture by Phillip W. Simpson

Freshman Year & Other Unnatural Disasters by Meredith Zeitlin

Zombie Love: The Outbreak by Eric J. Sobolik

Won:

From the Razorbill site (Penguin Canada) Bloodrose by Andrea Cremer

A Twitter contest from HarperCollins Canada (@HCCFrenzy) - Hell's Heroes by Darren Shan (signed)

Purchased:

Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Sailor Moon #3

eBooks:

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #13

2012-01-21T09:00:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

I still haven't finished Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone yet. I'm only reading it at home because I had this strong urge to write down every character's name the first time they show up and track it in a spreadsheet to see what I missed during my first reading of the series. Not sure if I will keep it up though as it does take the fun out of the reading.

But I did have a busy reading week otherwise, I read Wither as well as My Soul to Lose and My Soul to Take, books 0.5 and 1 in the Soul Screamers series, which I am reading for the Soul Screamers challenge. I am so glad I joined this challenge because I am LOVING these books!

I still haven't brought myself to do any reviews yet, but with my reading enjoyment returning I hope to get one or two up for some older books next week.

This Week's TBR:

This week I hope to finish Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (for the Harry Potter 2012 Challenge), and start The Young Black Stallion (for my Black Stallion Challenge). I also plan on reading Incarnate for the DAC Challenge and January mini challenge (DAC eBook) and then hopefully get back to the Soul Screamers series.

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: Incarnate

2012-01-18T10:20:00.000-08:00

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

Title: Incarnate
Author: Jodi Meadows
Publisher: HarperCollins, Katherine Tegen Books
Publication Date: January 31, 2012

Synopsis:

I am so very intrigued by both this stunning cover and interesting synopsis. I have always been a fan (and believer) or reincarnation and I just know I am going to love this book. For some reason I think a little of Stephanie Meyer's The Host when I read this, and I loved that one as well!

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Meme] In My Mailbox #15

2012-01-15T07:32:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received for Review:

From RandomHouse Canada

Mr. g by Alan Lightman
Now You See Her by Joy Fielding

NetGalley:

Won:

From the Razorbill site (Penguin Canada) A Million Suns by Beth Revis

A Twitter contest from RandomHouse Canada - Daughter of the Centaurs by K.K. Ross

For School:

Received my 2012 school planner in the mail. Woohoo!

EDIT: I can't believe I forgot my eBooks!

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #12

2012-01-14T10:04:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last (2) Week's TBR:

So, I haven't done a TBR post this year. To be honest, with a lot of the reviewer/author/agent crap going around the past few weeks I haven't much felt like reading and books for review. I have been in such a reading funk that I pick something up, read a few pages, and put it back down. I'm not finding joy in much of anything. I'm not sure when I am going to get back into it either. So right now I am reading for me, and as such I see more dusty reads coming of my shelf. Books that I have sidelined in order to read those review copies I have been receiving. Maybe one the fires settle a bit I might pick it up again. Time will tell. I still have to get the review out for the ones I have read. I just haven't had the mental energy...so that being said...

I did finish Cinder. It was pretty good, not as amazing as I have heard others state, but enjoyable none-the-less. Then, to just take a breather I pull my Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 2 off my shelf and just enjoyed the pure prettiness of it. It was great. I also stumbled across this real gem of a vampire story when I agreed to participate in a blog tour. Crossroads by J.J. Bonds was a fabulous read and I recommend to all vampire lovers.

This Week's TBR:

As to what I want to read this week, I really don't know...I hope to be able to finish Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (for the Harry Potter 2012 Challenge), or start The Young Black Stallion (for my Black Stallion Challenge). But other than that I think I will just read whatever catches my eye...

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: The Way We Fall

2012-01-11T06:39:00.000-08:00

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

Title: The Way We Fall
Author: Megan Crewe
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Publication Date: January 24, 2012

Synopsis:

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

Finally, a book without a black and red cover! But it seems I also have this thing for these wonderfully creative (and scary) end of the world by virus type books (I'm currently reading Wither). Tell me this synopsis doesn't sound amazing, and yet completely freaky? I'll be picking this one up on release day for sure! (And then I'll probably start freaking out every time I feel that odd little tickle in my throat...)

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - January 10 2012

2012-01-10T12:07:00.000-08:00

This teaser is Crossroads by J.J. Bonds. It is a vampire story, and a pretty darn good one at that! I am literally just pages shy of finishing this bad boy! Look for my review very soon. Yesterday I hosted a guest post by J.J. Bonds and there are 2 giveaways involved, so make sure you take a peek!

~As if high school isn’t miserable enough, try being uprooted and dropped fangs first into an uptight prep school where everyone knows your name and they’ll stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of your past.

When Katia enrolled at Crossroads Academy she knew things weren’t exactly going to be easy. The sole heir to the worlds’ most powerful vampire, her presence was bound to cause a stir. But nothing could have prepared her for this. Whispers follow everywhere she goes. So does trouble.

But Katia will do her time at Crossroads. After all, she’s only enrolled at the prestigious school for pure blood vampires to fulfill a promise to her Great Uncle Aldo. Tucked away in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Katia hopes to shed the demons of her past and focus on her education. Raised blissfully unaware of the entire vamp world, she’s got a lot of catching up to do.

As Katia learns more about this dark society and her own legacy, protecting her past becomes increasingly difficult. Bodies start turning up in nearby Rutland and Katia is sucked into a twisted web of danger and deceit. Haunted by nightmares she can’t explain and a thirst for blood that is never sated, Katia will do whatever it takes to keep her past buried. What choice does she have? Exposure will shake the Elder’s Council to its core and likely result in a death sentence at the hands of the Linkuri.

Nothing at Crossroads is what it seems and Katia’s secrets may be the darkest of them all.~

Share your teaser with me!

[Cover Reveal] Untouched by Jus Accardo

2012-01-09T07:15:00.000-08:00

As promised last week, today I have the great pleasure of participating in a cover reveal for a novella I am extremely excited about. I am super honoured that the author allowed me the opportunity to participate in this exciting cover reveal!

Today's cover reveal is for Untouched by Jus Accardo, which is book #1.5 in the Denazen series. As you may remember I gave Touch, book #1 in the series, a raving 5 star review, and it also appeared in the #2 spot for my top 10 2011 released reads. So needless to say I am super impatient to read this new in-between section, and lucky for me it looks like it is scheduled to be released February 21st!

But on to the reason we are here! The cover!

The Blurb:

To come soon!

For even more information please visit the author's official website www.jusaccardo.com

I am SO happy for some more Kale love...I mean how can I not be? Look at that face!

What are your thoughts on the cover? I'd love to hear what you think!

[Blog Tour] J.J. Bonds and Crossroads

2012-01-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

Today I am honoured to introduce you all to J.J. Bonds, author of Crossroads, the first book in an exciting new Crossroads Academy vampire series.

Synopsis from Goodreads:
As if high school isn’t miserable enough, try being uprooted and dropped fangs first into an uptight prep school where everyone knows your name and they’ll stop at nothing to uncover the secrets of your past.

When Katia enrolled at Crossroads Academy she knew things weren’t exactly going to be easy. The sole heir to the worlds’ most powerful vampire, her presence was bound to cause a stir. But nothing could have prepared her for this. Whispers follow everywhere she goes. So does trouble.

But Katia will do her time at Crossroads. After all, she’s only enrolled at the prestigious school for pure blood vampires to fulfill a promise to her Great Uncle Aldo. Tucked away in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Katia hopes to shed the demons of her past and focus on her education. Raised blissfully unaware of the entire vamp world, she’s got a lot of catching up to do.

As Katia learns more about this dark society and her own legacy, protecting her past becomes increasingly difficult. Bodies start turning up in nearby Rutland and Katia is sucked into a twisted web of danger and deceit. Haunted by nightmares she can’t explain and a thirst for blood that is never sated, Katia will do whatever it takes to keep her past buried. What choice does she have? Exposure will shake the Elder’s Council to its core and likely result in a death sentence at the hands of the Linkuri.

Nothing at Crossroads is what it seems and Katia’s secrets may be the darkest of them all.

Excerpt from Crossroads (Courtesy of J.J. Bonds):

I spot Jade first, fangs bared, looming over a human girl who can’t be more than twelve or thirteen years old. Lexie and Blaine are with her. They’re taunting the girl, hissing and laughing, feeding on her terror. She’s crouched alongside the corn, her face stained with tears.

“Leave me alone! Please!” She cries futilely. They laugh in response and creep closer, which only makes the girl wail louder. I can’t say I blame her. The fire casts an eerie glow making the appearance of her leather clad tormentors even more demonic as shadows slant across their faces.

I charge forward without thinking, slipping between Lexie and Blaine and placing my body between the cowering girl and the three monsters assailing her.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” I shout furiously as I catch the lingering scent of the girls’ fear. A new surge of anger bubbles up from the pit of my stomach and I feel my fists clench, instinctively preparing for battle.

“This is none of your concern,” Blaine growls, assuming a defensive position. “Get lost.”

“We’re just having a little fun,” Lexie drawls, her accent sounding more sinister and disgusting in the firelight.

“Well now you’re done,” I tell them firmly, meeting Jade’s heated stare. Lexie and Blaine are puppets. It’s Jade who pulls the strings.

“But we’re just getting started,” she tells me. “It’s Halloween. And we want to play.” The way she draws out this last word makes my stomach twist in disgust.

“This isn’t a game,” I respond, curling my lips back to reveal my own teeth. I may just have a taste of Jade’s blood yet. I lick my lips in anticipation as anger courses through my veins. “Let her go.”

“Why don’t you make me?” Jade replies, as she steps forward menacingly.

She doesn’t have to ask twice. I pounce immediately, knocking her to the ground, the weight of my body pinning her to the dry earth. Her reflexes are sluggish compared to my own. Either she’s not as dedicated to her physical training as I am or she didn’t think I’d dare lay a finger on her. Apparently she has me confused with someone who’s worried about rules.

I remember reading this part in the book and loving it! J.J. Bonds has such a great writing voice!

Can I just tell you how much I am

OVING this book!

I can't wait to finish it and write a review up for you all.

The Crossroads Tour Participants:

Giveaway:

1. Comment to win!
2. One random comment (on this blog post) will be selected to win a digital copy of JJ Bonds Crossroads.
3. All comments will be counted to win a KINDLE FIRE with a Crossroads Gel Cover.
4. Collect Clues along the tour for a chance to win.
5. Comment at each tour stop for extra chances to win.
6. Tweet and use #crossroadsbooktour for extra chances to win along with random drawings to win digital copies of the book.
6. Collect clues to find the final entry to win the Kindle Fire.
7. Winners will be selected January 31st.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

[Meme] In My Mailbox #14

2012-01-08T10:29:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received for Review:

As part of the ongoing Crossroads Tour I was sent a digital copy to review. I am devouring it! It is such a great read. Look for my guest tour post tomorrow morning (complete with giveaway) and a review hopefully late this week!

Crossroads by J.J. Bonds

Purchased:

Thanks to the ongoing Chapters Hardcover Sale I finally picked up a physical copy of Divergent to place my awesome book-plate inside.

Fellow Ontario book blogger and reviewer Amber is hosting a 2012 Tudor Reading Challenge, and to help her out I signed up and vowed to read at least 5 Tudor related books (which I have never done before!) and so I picked up my first 3 over at Chapters.

Mary, Bloody Mary and Beware, Princess Elizabeth by Carolyn Meyer

(The first 2 books in the Young Royals Series.)

The Secret Bride by Diane Haeger

(Book 1 in the In The Court of Henry VIII Series.)

Due to some concerns with my brain fail-age lately (calculus) I figured it wouldn't hurt to read some books on memory improvement techniques, and so I bought these:

As mentioned last week I bought some books for my sister. She finally visited yesterday and walked away with the complete Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa and the boxed set of the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins. She also went home with some of my read ARC's like Cinder and Crossed (and she still wanted to take more!). Yup, she is spoiled...but they also gifted me with some books!

That's right! Books 1-4 of the Wicked Lovely Series by Melissa Marr! Fun times!

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Review] Archon The Books of Raziel by Sabrina Benulis

2012-01-02T09:57:00.000-08:00

Title: Archon: The Books of Raziel
Series:  Archon Series
Author:  Sabrina Benulis
Genre: ya, supernatural, angels, demons
Format: Trade Paperback, 385 pages
Publication Date: December 27, 2011
Published By:  Harper Voyager
Source:  ARC received from publisher for review.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Angela Mathers is plagued by visions of angels, supernatural creatures who haunt her thoughts by day and seduce her dreams by night. Newly released from a mental institution where she was locked away for two years, she hopes that her time at the Vatican’s university, the West Wood Academy, will give her a chance at a normal life. Unlike ordinary humans, Angela is a blood head — a freak, a monster, the possible fulfillment of a terrifying prophecy of overwhelming death and destruction. Only in Luz, the Vatican’s wondrous enclave, are blood heads accepted and encouraged to discover what kind of powers or special abilities they might possess.

But within West Wood, a secret coven plots, and demons and angels roam the streets searching for the key to open Raziel’s book — a secret tome from a lost archangel. Some are determined to destroy Raziel, while others, like the beautiful Supernal Israfel, one of the highest of the high, wish to free him. And when the Archon — the human chosen to possess the spirit of a dead angel — rises as foretold, they will control the supernatural universe.

Torn between mortal love and angelic obsession, Angela holds the key to Heaven and Hell — and both will stop at nothing to possess her.

My Thoughts

I'm totally the type of person who often picks books based on cover first, and synopsis later. This stunning cover and synopsis had me hooked right from the start, I just had to read it. Unfortunately the warning "Don't judge a book by it's cover." is something that should have been considered here. The sad thing is that I really wanted to like it, I really did, but I just couldn't.

First off, the term Blood Heads really threw me off. I kept thinking back to Vampire Academy for some reason and the "feeders" that voluntarily provided blood to the vampires. It never was explained very well and I can still only assume that Blood Heads refers to the blood red hair of this specific group of students. But a little more clarification would have been nice.

One of the main reasons for my dislike of this book was the over-complication of the writing. It was heavy and often felt like work to read, and often I had to go back and re-read sections multiple times to figure out was happening (and sometimes I just gave up and moved forward unwilling to fight with the wording any longer). It was also very confusing with constantly switching viewpoints, making it hard to tell who was saying/doing what. I often just wanted to give up on the book altogether, but I pushed myself to the end hoping it would get better.

The character and world building however were magnificent! I instantly fell in love with Angela Mathers, a young woman who dreams of angels and wants to be with them so desperately she tries so hard to end her life to be with them, but someone (or something) is protecting her from succeeding. The friends Angela meets at school are also intriguing and exciting! Nina and Sophia are so unique and alive they almost jump right off the page at you. The characters are truly the crowning achievement of Sabrina's writing.

The world building is also incredible. The weather, the atmosphere, the creatures, all stunning work. At first I was put off by the unique interpretation of the angels as these evil and nasty selfish creatures, but it really worked for the book and it was mostly explained. It was nice to see the angel idea from a new angle. Also the addition of demons and jinn and other such interesting creatures really increased the excitement level of this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to put the effort into reading such a heavy piece of writing,the characters and world building really do make it worthwhile, but it just wasn't for me. I doubt I will be reading any more in the series.

My rating?

[Cover Reveal] Toxic by Jus Accardo

2012-01-01T21:01:00.000-08:00

Today I have the great pleasure of participating in a cover reveal for a book I am extremely excited about. I am super honoured that the author allowed me the opportunity to participate in this exciting cover reveal!

Today's cover reveal is for Toxic by Jus Accardo, which is book #2 in the Denazen series. As you may remember I gave Touch, book #1 in the series, a raving 5 star review, and it also appeared in the #2 spot for my top 10 2011 released reads. So needless to say I am super impatient to read this second section.

But on to the reason we are here! The cover!

The Blurb:

When a Six saved Kale’s life the night of Sumrun, she warned there would be consequences. A trade-off. Something taken for the life they gained. But Dez never imagined she’d lose the one thing she’d give anything to keep… And as if it’s not enough Dez finds her immunity to Kale fading, the Six brought in to help Kale learn to control his killer touch starts drooling on him the moment they meet. Worse than that? Jade can touch Kale. But bimbo Barbie is the least of Dez's problems.

After Dez and Kale got away at Sumrun, her father lost not only his most powerful weapon but an important piece of the Supremacy project. Forced by Denazen to remedy the situation, he poisons Dez and offers her a choice—surrender to Denazen for the cure…or die. Determined to find a solution that doesn’t involve being bagged and tagged—or losing someone she loves—Dez keeps the poison a secret. But when a rash of Denazen attacks hit a little too close to home, Dez is convinced there’s a traitor among them. Jade.

Sacrifices, broken promises, and secrets. Dez will have to lay it all on the line if there’s any hope of proving Jade’s guilt before they all end up Residents of Denazen. Or worse, dead...

For even more information please visit the author's official website www.jusaccardo.com

This cover just makes me even more giddy to read this next instalment. I can hardly wait! And I love the colours...it was almost like it was made for my blog!

Check back next week when I will be helping Jus Accardo announce the cover and blurb for her exciting novellla, also from this series, Untouched. /squee!

What are your thoughts on the cover and/or the synopsis? I'd love to hear what you think!

[Meme] In My Mailbox #13

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

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

E-books Purchased for my Kobo:

I've decided that unless a book is a super good deal, or just HAS to be purchased in print format, I am going to save money by focusing more on e-books. I mean I have that super awesome pretty Kobo Vox, I might as well take advantage of it!

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Farsighted by Emlyn Chand

Purchased:

In preparation for my 2012 Black Stallion Reading Challenge I ordered the following from Book Depository since they were a pretty good deal (and free shipping!).

And during the annual Chapters 30% hardcover Boxing Week sale I couldn't help but pick up this beauty. This is one of those books that just HAS to be purchased in it's print version.

First of all, who can resist that title? Why We Broke Up. I could tell you some stories!

And just look at this artwork! So stunning!

Also, completely unrelated to books, we picked up Seasons 4-9 of Smallville for our viewing pleasure since Best Buy had them on for $19.99 each! Score! Also picked up some video games to try out, Skyrim, Assassin's Creed Brotherhood and Darksiders. Let the fun begin!

I also bought some books for my sister...but I can't tell you which ones in case she is reading this...we don't want to ruin the surprise!

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #11

2011-12-31T08:33:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

I finished Blood Rights, and it was amazing! I am so glad it was a great read. I really needed that after Archon. As I suspected, with the exam studying I didn't get much reading in, but I did start Cinder. I'm not very far into it yet, but it is intriguing.

This Week's TBR:

I hope to be able to finish Cinder, but again, with the studying, I'm not guaranteeing anything. If I happen to finish that I will pick ONE of the three following books: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (since I found the release date was moved up from February to January 3rd), Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (for the Harry Potter 2012 Challenge), or The Young Black Stallion (for my Black Stallion Challenge).

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Post] Top 10 2011 Releases Read This Year

2011-12-30T09:06:00.000-08:00

Almost all of my fellow bloggers are putting up variations of their top 10 lists so I figured I would hope right in and share some of mine with you.

Today we have the top 10 2011 released books that I read this year. Tomorrow I will feature some other great books I read this year that were released prior to 2011 and later I will share my top anticipated releases for next year!

#1 Divergent by Veronica Roth
Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

***Easily the best book I read this year! I am still taking about it, and dying with impatience for the second one. Read my review here.

#2 Touch by Jus Accardo
When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

***If it wasn't for Divergent, this book would have been my top pick for 2011. What a fabulous and unique story with strong realistic characters. You should all read it now! Read my review here.

#3 Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick
It could happen tomorrow . . .

An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.

Author Ilsa J. Bick crafts a terrifying and thrilling novel about a world that could be ours at any moment, where those left standing must learn what it means not just to survive, but to live amidst the devastation.

***One of the creepiest and goriest books I read this year, and absolutely amazing! If you don't mind a little horror in your YA I suggest you give this one a read! Read my review here.

#4 The Death Cure by James Dashner

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?

***A fantastic ending to a fabulous series. I couldn't ask for too much more with this book. And...there seems to be a prequel coming out next year! I recommend this whole series to everyone. Read my review here.

#5 The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.

And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

***I haven't published my review on this one yet, but let me tell you it was amazing! A super ending to a decent series. I was surprised to hear this book almost wasn't written, but I am glad it was. It made the whole series.

#6 Wereworld: Rise of the Wolf by Curtis Jobling

Imagine a world ruled by Werelords--men and women who can shift at will into bears, lions, and serpents. When Drew suddenly discovers he's not only a werewolf but the long-lost heir to the murdered Wolf King's throne, he must use his wits and newfound powers to survive in a land suddenly full of enemies. Drew's the only one who can unite the kingdom in a massive uprising against its tyrant ruler, Leopold the Lion. But the king is hot on Drew's tail and won't rest until he's got the rebel Wolf's head.

***This book was such a unique and enjoyable experience. I look forward to book two next year. Read my review here.

#7 The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson
Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.

Elisa is the chosen one.

But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can't see how she ever will.

Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.

And he's not the only one who seeks her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people's savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.

Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.

Most of the chosen do.

***Another surprising and unique story with a great main character. Read my review here.

#8 Variant by Robinson Wells
Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

***I loved this book! At first it seemed highly predictable, but I was very very wrong! Read my review here.

#9 Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stievater

In Maggie Stiefvater's Shiver, Grace and Sam found each other. InLinger, they fought to be together. Now, in Forever, the stakes are even higher than before. Wolves are being hunted. Lives are being threatened. And love is harder and harder to hold on to as death comes closing in.

***Not as great as the first book in the series, but still a wonderful wrap-up. Read my review here.

#10 Children of Paranoia by Trevor Shane
ALL WARS HAVE RULES

Rule Number One: No killing innocent bystanders.

Rule Number Two: No killing anyone under the age of eighteen.

BREAK THE RULES, BECOME THE TARGET

Since the age of eighteen, Joseph has been assassinating people on behalf of a cause that he believes in but doesn't fully understand. The War is ageless, hidden in the shadows, governed by a rigid set of rules, and fought by two distinct sides-one good, one evil. The only unknown is which side is which. Soldiers in the War hide in plain sight, their deeds disguised as accidents or random acts of violence amidst an unsuspecting population ignorant of the brutality that is always inches away.

Killing people is the only life Joseph has ever known, and he's one of the best at it. But when a job goes wrong and he's sent away to complete a punishingly dangerous assignment, Joseph meets a girl named Maria, and for the first time in his life his singleminded, bloody purpose fades away.

Before Maria, Joseph's only responsibility was dealing death to the anonymous targets fingered by his superiors. Now he must run from the people who have fought by his side to save what he loves most in this world. As Children of Paranoia reaches its heart-in-throat climax, Joseph will learn that only one rule remains immutable: the only thing more dangerous than fighting the War...is leaving it.

***For a book completely out of my comfort zone I was amazed by how much I enjoyed reading this book. Read my review here.

Honourable Mention:

I just finished this book so it actually didn't make it into the above list, but it should be there, but I wouldn't know who to kick out so I'll just share it here with everyone.

Blood Rights by Kristen Painter

The lacy gold mapped her entire body. A finely-wrought filigree of stars, vines, flowers, butterflies, ancient symbols and words ran from her feet, up her legs, over her narrow waist, spanned her chest and finished down her arms to the tips of her fingers.

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarré—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.

***An absolutely fantastic vampire book. It's new and fresh and I cannot wait to devour the next two in the series. Look for my review in the new year!

What are your top reads for the year?

[Meme] In My Mailbox #12

2011-12-25T13:06:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received from Publisher for Review:

Received from the lovely Lindsey at RandomHouse we have The Gathering Storm by Robin Bridges and Selected by Mark Van Vugt and Anjana Ahuja.

This book, Arcadia by Lauren Groff, showed up unannounced and unmarked from an undeclared source...it's a mystery!

E-books Purchased for my Kobo:

I went a tiny bit crazy on the e-books this week for some reason...it started all with the Epic Reads deal, and progressed further with the Kobo daily puzzle contest...

Epic Reads Epic Deals had 10 books for $10! I already had a good chunk of them, but I did pick up 4 of them for $4 and that made me a happy gal!

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood

The Unidentified by Rae Mariz

Ten Things We Did (and Probably Shouldn't Have) by Sarah Mlynowski

Some books I have been kind of delaying buying for some reason, but Kobo had a daily puzzle where you could win between 20% and 35% off purchases based on putting together a puzzle image of their Kobo Vox. I did it every day I could remember and here are my purchases using those coupons.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Soul Screamers, Volume One by Rachel Vincent

Gray by Rachel Karns

Turned by Morgan Rice

And then...on top of all that...I discovered the FREE section on Kobo...so I ended up downloading books 1-6 of the Star Wars: Lost Tribe of the Sith series by John Jackson Miller.

Purchased:

And just for the heck of it, I picked up (and already devoured) the following:

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Volume 2

(I love Sailor Moon...I can't deny it.)

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #10

2011-12-24T08:19:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

I finally finished Archon. That was a lot like work and I'm still not completely sure how I feel about it. It was such a heavy complicated read. I hope to get a review up soon. I also whipped off a quick Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon, Volume 2 read just for pure indulgence.

This Week's TBR:

After the semi-fiasco that was Archon I didn't feel like I was ready for another angel related book, so instead I started Blood Rights by Kristen Painter. It is amazing and I should be finishing it any day now. Once I finish that I am going to read Cinder finally as the publication date is fast approaching! I am home for 2 weeks studying for my Calculus final, so I might not get much extra reading in (because I usually do most of that type of reading during my commute) but I will try!

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Challenge] 2012 Black Stallion Reading Challenge

2011-12-22T12:09:00.000-08:00

One of my favourite book series to read growing up was The Black Stallion series by Walter Farley. I was so obsessed with them that I would ofter pretend I had my own horse and I would ride him everywhere. That's right...I didn't have an imaginary friend...I had an imaginary horse!

I decided I would like to recreate those good old days by doing a reread of The Black Stallion series, and I also decided I wanted to spread that joy I felt when I was younger around to as many others as I could. (I'm even trying to get my teenage son to read along!)

Hence, the 2012 Black Stallion Reading Challenge was born!

I don't expect everyone to be able to get through the entire series, so I have broken the challenge down into levels:

1-5
6-10
11-15
16-20
21-24 (That's the whole complete original Black Stallion series!)
25-30 (Including the newer Young Black Stallion series by Steven Farley.)

The books should be read between January 1st and December 31st 2012. My goal is to read at least one a month, so I will be posting a wrap-up post at the end of every month and I welcome you to post your updates in the comments and let us know where you stand.

Prizes will be based on levels (amount of books) read. Please be honest!

RandomHouse Canada has graciously agreed to offer up some wonderful prizes including books and RandomHouse swag such as mugs, pens, bookmarks, etc. More details about exactly what prizes are available and how the system works will be added later. My goal is to get at least a bookmark or pen to every person who reads at least one of these fabulous novels in 2012. Right now let's get everyone signed up! Leave a comment below and let everyone know you are participating!

I have created a Goodreads Group for people interested in participating in the challenge. You don't have to have a blog, just a Goodreads account! So please join up and answer the poll stating how many of the books you think you are going to read. If you have a blog I would appreciate you using the image and code below to show your support, and make sure to tell all your friends!

Tim Farley, Walter Farley's son, runs the official Black Stallion site and he is super excited about this challenge as well! He will be posting about it on his site to help spread the word. Make sure to take the time to pop over there and check out his blog, store, and message forums all about The Black Stallion!

Here is a complete list of the books for this challenge:

These are the books written by Walter Farley, although The Young Black Stallion was co-written by Farley's son, Steven Farley. Steven Farley continued The Young Black Stallion series, about the Black's early years, and has written four Black Stallion novels, which are included at the end of the list.

Books are available at Chapters, Amazon, The Book Depository, and now they are also available for your e-reader! I just picked up a whole ton of them for my Kobo at kobobooks.com! Of course the local library is always an option as well.

The Black Stallion Series
1. The Young Black Stallion (1989)(Prequel)
2. The Black Stallion (1941)
3. The Black Stallion Returns (1945)
4. Son of the Black Stallion (1947)
5. The Island Stallion (1948)
6. The Black Stallion and Satan (1949)
7. The Blood Bay Colt (1951)
8. The Island Stallion's Fury (1951)
9. The Black Stallion's Filly (1952)
10. The Black Stallion Revolts (1953)
11. The Black Stallion's Sulky Colt (1954)
12. The Island Stallion Races (1955)
13. The Black Stallion's Courage (1956)
14. The Black Stallion Mystery (1957)
15. The Horse Tamer (1958)
16. The Black Stallion and Flame (1960)
17. The Black Stallion Challenged (1964)
18. The Black Stallion's Ghost (1969)
19. The Black Stallion and the Girl (1971)
20. The Black Stallion Legend (1983)
21. The Black Stallion’s Shadow (1996)
22. The Black Stallion’s Steeplechaser (1997)
23. The Black Stallion and the Shape-Shifter (2008)
24. The Black Stallion and the Lost City (2011)

The Young Black Stallion Series
1 The Promise (1998)
2 A Horse Called Raven (1998)
3 The Homecoming (1999)
4 Wild Spirit (1999)
5 The Yearling (1999)
6 Hard Lessons (1999)

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: Daughter of the Centaurs

2011-12-21T12:42:00.000-08:00

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

Title: Daughter of the Centaurs
Author: Kate Klimo
Publisher: RandomHouse Canada, BFYR
Publication Date: January 24, 2012

Synopsis:

Malora knows what she was born to be: a horse wrangler and a hunter, just like her father. But when her people are massacred by batlike monsters called Leatherwings, Malora will need her horse skills just to survive. The last living human, Malora roams the wilderness at the head of a band of magnificent horses, relying only on her own wits, strength, and courage. When she is captured by a group of centaurs and taken to their city, Malora must decide whether the comforts of her new home and family are worth the parts of herself she must sacrifice to keep them.

Kate Klimo has masterfully created a new world, which at first seems to be an ancient one or perhaps another world altogether, but is in fact set on earth sometime far in the future.

Following on my obvious love of red and black we have this intriguing cover for Daughter of the Centaurs, book one in a new series by Kate Klimo. I have a deep love of horses, and this whole idea just makes me giddy. I can't wait to check this one out!

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - December 20 2011

2011-12-20T10:06:00.000-08:00

This teaser is from Blood Rights by Kristen Painter. It is book one in the House of Comarré series. I read many people comparing it to the Vampire Academy series I adore, so I figured I would give it a shot! (And of course the cover is stunning!)

~The lacy gold mapped her entire body. A finely-wrought filigree of stars, vines, flowers, butterflies, ancient symbols and words ran from her feet, up her legs, over her narrow waist, spanned her chest and finished down her arms to the tips of her fingers.

Born into a life of secrets and service, Chrysabelle’s body bears the telltale marks of a comarré—a special race of humans bred to feed vampire nobility. When her patron is murdered, she becomes the prime suspect, which sends her running into the mortal world…and into the arms of Malkolm, an outcast vampire cursed to kill every being from whom he drinks.

Now Chrysabelle and Malkolm must work together to stop a plot to merge the mortal and supernatural worlds. If they fail, a chaos unlike anything anyone has ever seen will threaten to reign.~

Share your teaser with me!

[Meme] In My Mailbox #11

2011-12-18T13:18:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received from Publisher for Review

Received from the lovely Lindsey at RandomHouse we have Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly.

From NetGalley for Review

Katana by Cole Gibson

How To Make A Golem by Alette J. Willis

Ripper by Amy Carol Reeves

Knits For Nerds

Allergy-Friendly Food For Families

and last but not least...

Honey Badger Don't Care

For School:

Textbooks for my next course, starting in January. These suckers were heavy!

Talk about some "heavy" reading...in more ways then one. Fun stuff right?

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #9

2011-12-17T07:46:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

I still haven't finished Archon. It is such a complicated read it feels almost like work to read it. It's good, but just takes a lot of focus to concentrate. I will finish it this week for sure.

This Week's TBR:

So...what to do this week? I know I am finally going to finish Archon. That's my main goal. Other than that I have one review due around the 27th for Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly so that's my second goal (although I'm not sure how I feel about any more angel related books right now... That's all I'm aiming for this week. With my last week of work before holidays and an upcoming Calculus exam on January 7th I'm not thinking much beyond that or my brain might liquefy...

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Review] Touch by Jus Accardo

2011-12-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

Title: Touch
Series: Denazen Series
Author: Jus Accardo
Genre: ya, supernatural, mutants, conspiracy
Format: Ebook, 262 pages
Publication Date: November 8, 2011
Published By: Entangled Publishing
Source: ARC from NetGalley

Synopsis from Goodreads

When a strange boy tumbles down a river embankment and lands at her feet, seventeen-year-old adrenaline junkie Deznee Cross snatches the opportunity to piss off her father by bringing the mysterious hottie with ice blue eyes home.

Except there’s something off with Kale. He wears her shoes in the shower, is overly fascinated with things like DVDs and vases, and acts like she’ll turn to dust if he touches her. It’s not until Dez’s father shows up, wielding a gun and knowing more about Kale than he should, that Dez realizes there’s more to this boy—and her father’s “law firm”—than she realized.

Kale has been a prisoner of Denazen Corporation—an organization devoted to collecting “special” kids known as Sixes and using them as weapons—his entire life. And, oh yeah, his touch? It kills. The two team up with a group of rogue Sixes hellbent on taking down Denazen before they’re caught and her father discovers the biggest secret of all. A secret Dez has spent her life keeping safe.

A secret Kale will kill to protect.

My Thoughts

I'm not going to lie...I totally picked this book for the cover. Have any of you out there ever watched the television series Roswell? Well if you have you might have noticed the same thing I did...

That's right...Max! (Played by Jason Behr.) I seriously believe that if a movie deal is made for this book that Jason Behr should play Kale. I would definitely pay to see that! So yeah...there's my confession...laugh at me if you will.

Now on to the review!

This book was absolutely amazing! If it wasn't for Divergent already stealing that place in my heart, I think Touch would be my top read of 2011. But it still has the much honoured place of runner-up (as far as I am concerned).

The story kind of reminded me up a mash-up between X-Men and Heroes (a television series I adore). In fact...if you know the series at all then you might understand my next comment. There is a neat character in Touch that seriously reminds me of Sylar from Heroes. If you have watched the series, and have read the book, tell me if you thought the same thing.

This book had some fabulous characters, both main and supporting. I cared about almost each and every one of them. I didn't want anything bad to happen to any of them (except those one or two really nasty ones of course). I fell in love with Kale instantaneously. His naivety and tenderness shine through despite everything he has been trained to believe and do. This provides the appropriate direct opposite to the female lead, Dez, who is a fiery young woman hell-bent on making her father's life a living Hell as much as possible. At first Dez annoyed me a bit with her out-of-control attitude and constant use of foul language. Over time I discovered the reasons behind her actions and was able to grow and mature along with here throughout each and every page, and it was a journey well worth taking. (And I'd do it again in a heartbeat.)

I also appreciate that the authour didn't feel it necessary to hold us hostage with a nasty cliffhanger to get us to read the next book in the series. To tell you the truth, I give way more credit to the authors who can make me want to read the next book(s) in their series without leaving me in a gut-wrenching "Oh my God what next!" kind of spot. So kudos to Jus Accardo. She is one of the few who have gotten this right!

My rating?

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: Switched

2011-12-14T12:01:00.000-08:00

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

Title: Switched
Author: Amanda Hocking
Publisher: Macmillan, St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: January 3, 2012

Synopsis:

When Wendy Everly was six-years-old, her mother was convinced she was a monster and tried to kill her. It isn't until eleven years later that Wendy discovers her mother might have been right. With the help of Finn Holmes, Wendy finds herself in a world she never knew existed - a world both beautiful and frightening, and Wendy's not sure she wants to be a part of it.

Yet another stunning black and red based cover...you would think I have a thing for these! (Of course you'd be right.) And that synopsis? I love it because it is enough to be intriguing and draw you in, but not so much as to give too much away. I love it!

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - December 13 2011

2011-12-13T11:27:00.000-08:00

This teaser is from Archon: The Books of Razeil by Sabrina Benulis. I fell in love with this book the moment I saw the cover. So much red and black, my two favourite colours! Plus the fishnet gloves and corset just make me all warm and happy deep down inside. Yup...I'm weird like that!

~Angela Mathers is plagued by visions of angels, supernatural creatures who haunt her thoughts by day and seduce her dreams by night. Newly released from a mental institution where she was locked away for two years, she hopes that her time at the Vatican’s university, the West Wood Academy, will give her a chance at a normal life. Unlike ordinary humans, Angela is a blood head — a freak, a monster, the possible fulfillment of a terrifying prophecy of overwhelming death and destruction. Only in Luz, the Vatican’s wondrous enclave, are blood heads accepted and encouraged to discover what kind of powers or special abilities they might possess.

But within West Wood, a secret coven plots, and demons and angels roam the streets searching for the key to open Raziel’s book — a secret tome from a lost archangel. Some are determined to destroy Raziel, while others, like the beautiful Supernal Israfel, one of the highest of the high, wish to free him. And when the Archon — the human chosen to possess the spirit of a dead angel — rises as foretold, they will control the supernatural universe.

Torn between mortal love and angelic obsession, Angela holds the key to Heaven and Hell — and both will stop at nothing to possess her.~

Share your teaser with me!

[Meme] In My Mailbox #10

2011-12-11T13:00:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received from Publisher for Review

Received from the lovely Lindsey at RandomHouse we have Blood Sun by David Gilman. (I just realized this is part of a series and am going to have to catch up before reading this one.)

From NetGalley for Review

Slide by Jill Hathaway (HarperCollins)

Replication: The Jason Experiment by Jill WIlliamson (Zondervan)

Received from Publisher (Not Necessarily for Review)

I'm not 100% sure, but I believe this next book came to me through the Penguin/Razorbill Book Request program on their Razorbill Community site. There was no letter or anything included but I did request a copy from them so I think it's a fair guess.

Legend by Marie Lu

Contest Winnings

I was super lucky and won this awesome book from The Diary of a Bookworm! She even hand delivered to me at my office! Talk about service!

Sanctus by Simon Toyne

I was really glad for a lighter week! I was starting to get evil eye from the other half! /grins

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #8

2011-12-10T10:09:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

As promised, finished Dead Politician Society and even posted up the review for it! I started Archon but have not finished it. It seems to be a very heavy and complicated read and may take some time.

This Week's TBR:

So...what to do this week? I really hope to finish Archon. After that I have some more reviews coming up so I think I am going to have to skip the Goodreads club read and dive straight into them. The ones due soon are On A Dark Wing, Cinder, Switched and Alienation. So those are the ones coming up!

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Review] Dead Politician Society by Robin Spano

2011-12-09T08:58:00.000-08:00

Title: Dead Politician Society
Series:  Clare Vengal Undercover Novels
Author:  Robin Spano
Genre:  murder mystery, thriller, undercover
Format: Trade Paperback, 325 pages
Publication Date:  September 1, 2010
Published By:  ECW Press
Source:  Publisher for Blog Tour

Synopsis from Goodreads

When the mayor keels over dead in the middle of a speech, a clandestine student society immediately takes credit for his demise. Their mission is to create a perfect political system by any means at their disposal. Clare Vengel, a rookie officer fresh from the police academy and beyond bored with her routine as a beat cop, volunteers to go undercover as a student to infiltrate the secretive organization. A streetwise amateur mechanic, Clare takes a dim view of book smarts—she is of the opinion that higher education is for people who can't handle the real world. In short order, she alienates a popular professor and begins to lose the respect of her police superiors. Soon, another politician is killed, and Clare steps up her clandestine involvement with the suspect students. When two more politicians die, the race begins to apprehend the culprits before her own duplicity can be revealed.

My Thoughts

I received this book for review by Crazy Book Tours. It's not my typical kind of read, but it took place in Toronto, and I had the urge to participate in some book blog tours.

The first few chapters really confused and irritated me. So many characters were introduced and each chapter was told by a different narrator/character. It took me quite some time to get comfortable with the flow, and the characters in the story. I would say about half way through I was finally to the part where I didn't have to keep flipping back to see who was who.

I loved the setting, my current city of Toronto. It was great to recognize all the neat places and Subway stops, etc and to see them through each of the different character's eyes. I kind of want to know if the little cafe that is used in the story is a real place...because I would totally hang out there! It was also very interesting to dive into the whole University scene since I was never lucky enough to experience it first hand. It was very well done.

I found the story to be highly predictable and I knew who the murder was very early. The author gave out way too many clues, perhaps without even meaning too, simply by avoiding letting them share their voice with the reader as most of the other characters do.

I also wasn't a huge fan of most of the characters, and perhaps that is why it took me so long to differentiate between them. I found them all to be selfish, cold, and completely unlikeable. I really didn't care who the murderer was...I thought they pretty much all could rot in jail and the world would be a better place without the lot of them...but I can be harsh like that.

I think my biggest issue was with the murderer. There just didn't seem to be the amount of passion and hatred that you would expect someone to have before they run around murdering politicians (or anyone for that matter). I mean they had a story, and it was sad, but I think we all have those sad stories buried within us...but we don't all run around killing people off because of it! (And could you imagine the chaos if we did?)

It was too bad though, because even though it's not my usual type of story, the basis of the plot was highly intriguing and promising. It just didn't come together with the characters and everything else when the last page was read.

I am also on tour to read the second book in this series, Death Plays Poker. I really hope there are some stronger and more likeable characters involved, and I hope Clare "grows a pair" and becomes the true undercover cop I know she can be with a little maturity and experience.

My rating?

[Winner] The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

2011-12-09T07:12:00.000-08:00

And the winner is...!

Congratulations Jacquelynne!

You have been emailed and have 48 hours to respond.

[Cover Reveal] Embrace by Jessica Shirvington

2011-12-08T12:01:00.000-08:00

Today I have the great pleasure of participating in my very first cover reveal. I am super excited and honoured that I was asked to take part in the cover reveal event for Jessica Shirvington's Embrace novel, which is book one in The Violent Eden Chapters. I was also lucky enough to receive and ARC copy and will be reading and reviewing it as part of a blog tour.

But on to the reason we are here! The cover!

From the Jacket:

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…

Synopsis from Goodreads:

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun speared its first bright rays of golden orange into the sky and I leapt from the cliff, with the sorrowful knowledge that no matter what the outcome, at least part of me would die that day...

Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body ... and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Phoenix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.

As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

Are you interested in seeing the behind the scenes video from the photo shoot for the cover?

Of course you are !

Embrace Cover Shoot from Sourcebooks Inc on Vimeo.
(I love the model's whole "Oh no, two hot guys are in love with me comment...made me giggle...)

For even more information please visit the official website www.embracetheseries.com

A beautiful cover and an intriguing synopsis. I don't know about you but I know I can't wait to read this!

What are your thoughts on the cover and/or the synopsis? I'd love to hear what you think!

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: Cinder

2011-12-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

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

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Macmillan, Feiwel and Friends
Publication Date: January 3, 2012

Synopsis:

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.

What an intriguing cover! Doesn't it make you want to read it right now? The general consensus among bloggers with ARC's is that is an amazing not to be missed book. So make sure you read it! I personally also just received an ARC copy so I hope to read it and have a review live for your all soon!

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - December 6 2011

2011-12-06T07:52:00.000-08:00

This teaser is from Dead Politician Society by Robin Spano. It is a murder mystery (which is not my typical read) and takes place in Toronto, Ontario, Canada (where I currently live). It's pretty exciting to recognize a lot of the places as I read along.

~When the mayor keels over dead in the middle of a speech, a clandestine student society immediately takes credit for his demise. Their mission is to create a perfect political system by any means at their disposal. Clare Vengel, a rookie officer fresh from the police academy and beyond bored with her routine as a beat cop, volunteers to go undercover as a student to infiltrate the secretive organization. A streetwise amateur mechanic, Clare takes a dim view of book smarts—she is of the opinion that higher education is for people who can't handle the real world. In short order, she alienates a popular professor and begins to lose the respect of her police superiors. Soon, another politician is killed, and Clare steps up her clandestine involvement with the suspect students. When two more politicians die, the race begins to apprehend the culprits before her own duplicity can be revealed.~

Share your teaser with me!

[Review] Monsters of L.A. by Lisa Morton

2011-12-05T13:57:00.000-08:00

Title: Monsters of L.A.
Series: n/a
Author: Lisa Morton
Genre: adult, horror, anthology
Format: Trade paperback, 321 pages
Publication Date: October 2011
Published By: Bad Moon Books
Source: Publisher for Blog Tour

Synopsis from Goodreads

In these pages you'll find the dark stars you grew up watching: Frankenstein, Dracula, Mr. Hyde, the Phantom, the Hunchback...all the silent ones and the first to find their voices are here, and they're even presented in roughly the order in which they first appeared on a silver screen. The Haunted House of the '30s gives way to the Werewolf of the '40s, the Monsters of L.A. Creature of the '50s, and so on, all the way up to our favorite modern boogeyman, the Zombie.

In some of these stories, you'll find an earthly incarnation of a famous namesake: Frankenstein is a patched-together, homeless vet, the Invisible Woman is so ordinary you'd never see her; but some of these familiar friends - Dracula, the Devil, or those seriously creepy Clowns - will be instantly recognizable.

My Thoughts

As I have mentioned before, I'm generally not a big fan of anthologies. The reason I accepted Lisa Morton's Monsters of L.A. is because since I have started reviewing I have drifted away from my horror roots and focused more on the ever popular YA novels. With this anthology I thought it would be a great way to work some horror back to my reading in bits and pieces.

There were many things that made this collection quite enjoyable. First off, some of the stories slightly overlap with each other, not enough that you have to read them all in order or miss out, but just enough to make you smile when you read about a character from another story, or an event. It was quite ingenious to weave those in. The best part of this collection is the comparison of the monsters from my childhood, to more modern stories, events and people. And the best thing about this anthology? The writing. The humour alone was enough to leave me in giggling hysterical fits as I rode home on the subway. (Especially a very awesome vampire crack...and if you read it you know exactly what I am talking about!)

I also love how the author provided background information on the stories, however I feel they should have been placed with each story individually instead of at the end as more of a reference. I think it would have made the story to read the background first and then dive in prepared, especially if you weren't familiar with the monster in a particular story.

One other little thing that bothered me was that one longer piece was included, and although I enjoyed it, I feel it should have been left as the very last story in the collection to avoid interrupting the nice flow that was going on up until then.

As usual, I feel the need to rate and review each story separately, not finding it quite fair for each story to be based on the anthology overall grade. This is very time consuming and why I don't do this very often.

Now on with the ratings!

Frankenstein - 5/5
This story fits the Frankenstein model very well. It was a good length, evoked the perfect emotions and was very well written. I loved it!
Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde - 3/5
I found this story too be too long and often too confusing. I think it would worked better as a longer/novella length piece at minimum. It would have been better to get inside the doctor's head a little more to find out more about the motives for what she was doing. Some parts seemed to be missing and some emotional reactions from the characters also seemed to be lacking. I was not a fan of this story.
The Phantom - 4/5
The Phantom of the Opera has been one of my favourite tales as long as I can remember, and Lisa Morton did a fabulous job with her interpretation. I love the uniqueness she has added by making the phantom a female junkie who was ruined by fame. It was lovely. My only real complaint is that is was way too short and I would have loved to read more.
The Hunchback - 5/5
I'm ashamed to say I have never read the original Hunchback story, but I know the Disney version remarkably well (thanks to having a young Disney obsessed child), so some of the story was unfamiliar to me, and kind of a spoiler at the end, but I can't blame the author for my lack of knowledge. I think it was brilliant that the author used a gay male student who was the constant target for bullies as the Hunchback character. This story was so well written that even though I saw the end coming it was still just as emotional.
Dracula - 5/5
At first I found the humour in this story to be slightly irritating, but once I figured out what was going on I realized just how perfect for this story it was. Dracula being shown as this egotistical movie star was hilarious, especially once he starts getting upstaged by his new on the scene co-star. If this story doesn't make you laugh there is something wrong with you!
The Bride - 3/5
I liked how this story tied in with Frankenstein, but that was all I really enjoyed about it. It was really too short to develop any emotional bond to the main character. The events also came off as too coincidental for me.
The Mummy - 4/5
This story started off strong but I felt it fell apart as it approached the end. I was left confused as to the motivation for what is going on and how things will move forward from here. (Although a little more does come to light in The Zombie story, but still not enough to make me want to rate it higher.)
The Invisible Woman - 3/5
This was an interesting concept, but I don't think it came together as well as the author hoped. Part of the reason for this is it's too short length. It's always hard to make an idea clear and concise in a limited amount of words, but it's especially difficult when you tackle more difficult topics. I would love to reread this as a longer piece.
The Mad Scientist - 2/5
This story was way too short to be enjoyable. It almost felt as if it was simply thrown in to fill space and cover another monster topic. I really wanted to know more about the doctor and his work, the bond he had with his wife that would lead him to do what he did, and so much more. A little more from this story comes up in The Zombie, but still not nearly enough to make me happy.
The Werewolf - 4/5
I loved the idea of the werewolf as a famous musician who sort of "wolfs-out" on stage to make his music better. I felt really bad for his assistant though and all the stuff that nasty werewolf put him through. The ending left me highly confused as I don't understand why things didn't go another way...of course I can't say why because that would ruin it...but yeah...
The Haunted House - 5/5
I absolutely loved this story. I think it might have been my favourite of the whole collection. It tells the story of an old house and how this ghost hunter show tries to make it into a haunted house to raise their ratings. The house is so upset because all it wants is to be happy and have a family live inside to take care of it, and it feels like these ghost hunters are ruining her chances at happiness. It was fabulously written and I highly enjoyed it!
Cat People 4/5
This was an odd and quirky story. I had no background knowledge of "cat people" so I went into it completely blind. I feel in love with the main character, a young woman who feels like she has been walked all over most of her life and becomes obsessed with this female cat creature because she portrays a strong feminine role. It was quite an interesting read and I did enjoy it. I like how part of it surfaces again in another story.
The Creature 3/5
I'm not overly sure how I feel about this story. It started out very well. I liked the whole creature from the black lagoon coming out of the famous tar pits angle...and I liked everything including the creature as a whole...but once the story spun off into life with one of the characters after the event it lost me, and I started hating it. Sometimes authors just need to know when to end it. Often that is the hardest part...they either gone on too long, or not long enough.
The Alien 2/5
I actually had to go back and skim this story a second time when I came to write the review. It was spectacular, a simple story about a plant that shows up one day and seems to alter the thoughts of those who come in contact with it. The writing was good but the story itself just didn't stand out.
Kaiju (Giant Monster) 4/5
This was an interesting tale about a giant monster that comes out of the water (kind of like a Godzilla) but seems to take extreme care in not hurting anyone...ironically enough it is a human male who does most of the damage as he tries to "save" the people around him.
The Devil 4/5
I really liked this story as well. We have this poor guy who is terrified of haunted houses and he is being dragged to one of those haunted house type rides at an amusement park by a woman he really wants to impress. Obviously he can't wimp out and forces himself to "man-up" for her sake. The ending was slightly unexpected and very well done.
The Slasher 4/5
The writing in this story had a beautiful and creepy flow to it. The whole fascination with the crack in the foundation that draws the main character in is very well done. I think a little of the story that is told by the secondary character is a little over the top, but it is a horror story, so I guess it is to be expected.
The Killer Clown 4/5
This story creeped me out the most. As a small part of the story makes reference to, the clown from Stephen King's It has always scared the daylights out of me, so to me, as to the main character in this story, clowns are scary scary creatures. Add to that that this story has an "It" nightmarish kind of feel to it and you have the makings of many sleepless nights for me in the future. The one things that did bother me with this story is that if my fear of clowns was as crippling as this young woman's...I think my boyfriend would be a little more careful about not only dressing up as a clown for Halloween (that's just pure heartless) but also taking her to a location that has a giant clown as a mascot. Just saying...
The Urban Legend 4/5
I really enjoyed this story, however, due to it's more novella like length I feel like it should have been placed at the very end of the collection. I loved seeing the growth of the main character, especially through her relationships. She was a very strong woman, which was easy for us all to see, but she couldn't realize it herself until the end. I would like to read more from this story...and I actually think the author might have more coming.
The Zombie 5/5
I'm not a huge fan of zombies, but Lisa Morton wrote a fantastic zombie story in this collection. I can't say too much without ruining it, but it nicely weaves together a few of the other stories from this collection and paints a vivid picture of a post-apocalyptic world and the characters trapped within it.

Overall this was a great collection and I highly enjoyed reading it. I'm glad I took the chance on it, and it was wonderful to have a little horror thrust into my world for however short a time.

My rating?

[Meme] In My Mailbox #9

2011-12-04T17:47:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received from Publisher for Review:

Last week I was lucky to receive books one and two in The House of Comarre series. This week I received book 3, Bad Blood. This series is going to be awesome!

The wonderful Shannon at HarperCollins read my W.O.W. post about Archon and was kind enough to send me an ARC copy to review. She really made my day!

Crystal over at Raincoast sent me a few books to review as well, and I am really looking forward to these 2 in particular. Life is but a Dream by Brian James and After the Snow by S.D. Crockett.

Also from Raincoast is The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll & Mademoiselle Odile by James Reese and The Hunger Games Companion by Lois H. Gresh.

From NetGalley for Review:

Alienation by Jon S. Lewis

(I just realized it is book #2 so I better track down book #1!)

Halflings by Heather Burtch

Received from Publisher (Not Necessarily for Review)

Completely out of the blue, Hachette UK Canada contacted some bloggers and asked if they would like to receive a box of randomized books. How can you say no to that? Below is the books that were included in my surprise shipment.

The first two books were books one and two from the Languedoc trilogy, Labyrinth and Sepulchre by Kate Mosse. I have seen these in stores before and often thought about reading them. I am pretty excited about them!

I was also super excited to find all six books from the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver. I have been intrigued by these often in the past but never had the chance to read them.

Some other books of random joy:

Twisted Heart by Eden Maguire

(This is book 2 and it looks so interesting I am going to have to track down book 1, Dark Angel.)

Dead Man's Cove by Lauren St. John

The Shape of Things to Come by H.G. Wells

The Mourning Emporium by Michelle Lovric

15 Miles by Rob Scott

The Silver Blade by Sally Gardner

Winter's Knight by Richard Argent

The Alchemist in the Shadows by Pierre Pevel

The Double-Edged Sword by Sarah Silverwood

And more awesome randomness:

Fenrir by M.D. Lachlan

Blue Remembered Earth by Alastair Reynolds

The Heroes by Joe Abercrombie

Farundell by L.R. Fredericks

Phew! After all that I didn't dare mention book shopping to the other half...maybe next week...

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Post] 2011 Virtual Advent Tour

2011-12-04T07:48:00.000-08:00

Today is Day 4 of the Virtual Advent Tour, and that means it is my day to share a little bit about Christmas from my eyes with my readers.

Growing up my family didn't have a lot of money. My father was a truck driver and was on the road a lot of the time and my mother had to work what ever part time jobs she could to bring some extra money into the house. So needless to say our Christmas was rarely about the actual gifts we received. For us it was all about the small things we did every year that made us feel involved in the family traditions.

Christmas Tree
Every year we made some handmade decorations for the Christmas tree including the following:

popcorn garlands
paper ring garlands
baked and painted salt dough ornaments
crocheted ornaments

Also every year each one of us added a new ball to the tree that my mother wrote on that listed our name, year, and what number Christmas that was for us. I was only 2 months old when my mother made me my first Christmas ball. I still have it somewhere.

Also, my mother had these awesome bubble tree lights from when she was a child. Only one string had survived but we made sure it had a prominent spot at the front of the tree where we would see them easily every year. They were so cool because after you plugged them in they took a few minutes to get warmed up, but once they were, they just bubbled away happily until you unplugged them again before going to bed. I used to stare at them for hours (in between turned pages of my current read).

Other Traditions
Besides the tree traditions we had a few other traditions that made us happy. One was the chocolate advent calendars. No matter how bad a year we were having we each were given our annual Christmas chocolate advent calendar. The chocolate rarely made it through the whole 24 days, but it was a comfort just having the little doors to open every night before bed. Added to this we also did the 12 nights of Christmas marked with the lighting of one Christmas candle. We would sit there and stare as the little candle melted into a little pool of wax on a tinfoil covered side plate.

I think two of my favourite traditions were actually gift related. The first was the fact that my parents always allowed us to open on of our gifts on Christmas Eve (usually to keep us distracted until the following morning). We could open any gift of our choosing as long as it wasn't the "main" gift. I remember one year getting a picking basket (like the ones with apples etc in them ) filled with Barbies and Barbie clothing, and my brother got a similar basket filled with dinky cars, and we just messed around with those all night until we were exhausted. It was awesome.

The second favourite tradition was where no matter how old we were, we always got colouring books and crayons in our stocking. The stockings were always left in our rooms so we could open them and enjoy them until our parents managed to crawl out of bed Christmas morning. I always took the time to colour at least one page as neatly as possible after receiving them. Even after I moved out of the house my parents continued to make a stocking for me, and my mother ensured I always had my own colouring books and crayons...even after my son was born and started receiving his own.

What family traditions do you remember fondly from your childhood years?

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #7

2011-12-03T08:16:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

As promised, I did finish both Crossed and The Monsters of L.A. I enjoyed both of them and am left feeling very accomplished. Look for my tour as stop review on Monday for Monsters of L.A.

This Week's TBR:

So...what to do this week? I have Dead Politician Society for a blog tour post on December 9th. After that I am going to read the ARC of Archon that Shannon at HarperCollins kindly sent me after seeing my Waiting on Wednesday post about it. If I finish that I will most likely start Daughter of Smoke and Bone for the Goodreads club read.

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: Clockwork Prince

2011-11-30T08:07:00.000-08:00

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

I know this comes out next week, but I really can't wait, so I figured I would share with you all what I am waiting to read. I have seen so many bloggers post reviews already (and I have avoided reading them like the plague) - I am so jealous! But soon I too will know the joy that is Clockwork Prince.

Title: Clockwork Prince
Author: Cassandra Clare
Publisher: Simon & Schuster, Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publication Date: December 5, 2011

Synopsis:
In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

That cover is dashingly smexy...oh yes I went there. I read the first one on my Kobo so I most likely will do the same with this one. I can't wait!

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - November 29 2011

2011-11-29T08:47:00.000-08:00

This teaser is from Monsters of L.A. by Lisa Morton. It is an anthology of short dark stories that revamp the monsters from the 20's, 30's, etc. I have only read the first 3 stories so far but I am really enjoying it! I love reading hoe Ms. Morton has re-imagined the monsters from my youth!

~In these pages you'll find the dark stars you grew up watching: Frankenstein, Dracula, Mr. Hyde, the Phantom, the Hunchback...all the silent ones and the first to find their voices are here, and they're even presented in roughly the order in which they first appeared on a silver screen. The Haunted House of the '30s gives way to the Werewolf of the '40s, the Monsters of L.A. Creature of the '50s, and so on, all the way up to our favorite modern boogeyman, the Zombie.

In some of these stories, you'll find an earthly incarnation of a famous namesake: Frankenstein is a patched-together, homeless vet, the Invisible Woman is so ordinary you'd never see her; but some of these familiar friends - Dracula, the Devil, or those seriously creepy Clowns - will be instantly recognizable.~

Share your teaser with me!

[Review] Variant by Robinson Wells

2011-11-28T08:49:00.000-08:00

Title: Variant
Series: Variant Series
Author: Robinson Wells
Genre: ya, dystopian
Format: Ebook, 384 pages
Publication Date: October 4 2011
Published By: HarperCollins Publishers, HarperTeen
Source: Received ARC from Publisher via NetGalley for Review.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Benson Fisher thought that a scholarship to Maxfield Academy would be the ticket out of his dead-end life.

He was wrong.

Now he’s trapped in a school that’s surrounded by a razor-wire fence. A school where video cameras monitor his every move. Where there are no adults. Where the kids have split into groups in order to survive.

Where breaking the rules equals death.

But when Benson stumbles upon the school’s real secret, he realizes that playing by the rules could spell a fate worse than death, and that escape—his only real hope for survival—may be impossible.

My Thoughts

I highly enjoyed reading this book. It was an interesting and unique story with just enough mystery and action thrown in together to make for a lively read that even the boys out there will enjoy. The pacing was a little uneven at times, but I guess I can't expect a book to rock and roll along through every word and every page. I also found that even though some of the sections were highly predictable, it was evened out by the number of twists and turns that caught me completely unaware.

The characters were fantastic! I completely fell in love with Benson, not in a romantic way, but in the way where he was so realistically stubborn, brave, and willing to stand up for himself and others, no matter the cost...there was no wishy-washyness in this boy!

I got a little blind-sided at the end, in a mostly good way, which was a nice experience. It's not often that happens to me anymore. However, I feel that the last two pages of the book were completely way off in left field, as they say. It's not so much that I don't agree with what was written, I just think because it was so different it should have been saved for the next book in the series, not just slapped in the reader's face with nothing historical to base it on yet, and then just end the book. That earns Variant the "cliffhanger of DOOM" classification that irritates me beyond belief. Bad Variant! (Of course it doesn't help that at the time of reading Variant I had no idea it was even going to be a series!)

I will of course still read the next book in the series. I did enjoy the story and I do want to know where it ends up...I just wish the author had of balanced out the ending a bit more...

My rating?

[Meme] In My Mailbox #8

2011-11-27T17:10:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received from Publisher for Review:

From the lovely Kaitlin over at Hachette I received copies of book one (Blood Rights) and two (Flesh and Blood) in The House of Comarre series by Kriten Painter. I am really looking forward to reading these. Book three (Bad Blood) comes out December 1st.

Received from Author for Review:

Lisa Morton sent me a copy of her recent anthology titled Monsters of L.A. to read and review as part of a blog tour. She even included a sweet little hand-written note!

From NetGalley for Review:

Long Lankin by Lindsey Barraclough

See You at Harry's by Jo Knowles

Lies, Knives, and Girls in Red Dressed by Ron Koertge

Purchased for Possible Review

And thanks to the always fabulous buy 3 get the 4th free sale at Chapters I just HAD to pick up some books that have been on my personal want list for quite some time...

11/22/63 by Stephen King
Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
Shade by Jeri Smith-Ready
Shine by Lauren Myracle
Across the Universe by Beth Revis
Fallen by Lauren Kate
Torment by Lauren Kate

The 8th one was the newest Diary of a Wimpy Kid book...but the boy took off with it before I could snap a picture (or even catch the name of it...)!

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #6

2011-11-27T14:44:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

As promised, I did finish The Future of Us, such a quick and cute read. I enjoyed it. Look for a full review soon. I also started Crossed and should be finished it soon. I didn't get my copy of Monsters of LA until Friday, so that will be for this week!

This Week's TBR:

So...what to do this week? Obviously I am going to finish Crossed. That's step one. I finally received my copy of Lisa Morton's Monsters of L.A. so the will be next for my blog tour post on December 5th. After that I have Dead Politician Society for a blog tour post on December 9th. If after all that I still have time for more I think I will throw in either Shatter Me or Daughter of Smoke and Bone to read with the Awesome YA Bookclub Group on Goodreads.

These books are my goals for this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Post] 21 Books to Read Before You're 21 - Part 1

2011-11-24T10:56:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week !ndigo released a list of books "21 Books to Read Before You're 21".

I am way past the age of 21 now, but the list still intrigued me. It seems I have read 7 of them (1/3) and I pretty much enjoyed each and every one of them. I have decided it should be my goal to read them all. And so I share the list, and my status with it, with all of you.

Since this is a pretty long list for one blog post I am going to break it up into 2 or 3 posts. This first post will focus on the 7 that I have read.

So here they are, in order of my top favourite to my least favourite:

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling
When a letter arrives for unhappy but ordinary Harry Potter, a decade-old secret is revealed to him. His parents were wizards, killed by a Dark Lord''s curse when Harry was just a baby, and which he somehow survived. Escaping from his unbearable Muggle guardians to Hogwarts, a wizarding school brimming with ghosts and enchantments, Harry stumbles into a sinister adventure when he finds a three-headed dog guarding a room on the third floor. Then he hears of a missing stone with astonishing powers which could be valuable, dangerous, or both.

***Obviously I have read this book (and the whole series). I mean is there anyone out there still that hasn't? Completely amazing and recommended to anyone, no matter what your age or reading style you usually prefer, I am sure Harry will win you over!

Divergent by Veronica Roth
Beatrice "Tris" Prior has reached the fateful age of sixteen, the stage at which teenagers in Veronica Roth's dystopian Chicago must select which of five factions to join for life. Each faction represents a virtue: Candor, Abnegation, Dauntless, Amity, and Erudite. To the surprise of herself and her selfless Abnegation family, she chooses Dauntless, the path of courage. Her choice exposes her to the demanding, violent initiation rites of this group, but it also threatens to expose a personal secret that could place her in mortal danger. Veronica Roth's young adult Divergent trilogy launches with a captivating adventure about love and loyalty playing out under most extreme circumstances.

***Easily the best book I read this year! I am still taking about it, and dying with impatience for the second one. You can read my review on Divergent here.

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

***I have to thank my son and a young lady who worked at Chapters for getting me interested in this series. My son had been reading them at school and was waiting for the newest one so we were at Chapters. I asked the nice young lady in the YA section and she started raving on and on about the books and how she actually changed her vacation dates so she could be at work when the new one hit the shelves so she could take it on vacation with her. That sold me right there, and I never regretted it. Great book, and great series. I am really looking forward to seeing how the movie turns out as well.

Twilight by Stephanie Meyer
Isabella Swan's move to Forks, a small, perpetually rainy town in Washington, could have been the most boring move she ever made. But once she meets the mysterious and alluring Edward Cullen, Bella's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn. Up until now, Edward has managed to keep his vampire identity a secret in the small community he lives in, but now nobody is safe, especially Bella, the person Edward holds most dear. The lovers find themselves balanced precariously on the point of a knife—between desire and danger. Deeply romantic and extraordinarily suspenseful, Twilight captures the struggle between defying our instincts and satisfying our desires. This is a love story with bite.

***I enjoyed reading this book. I don't completely agree with all of the issues in the book, and not sure if I would recommend it to younger girls because of how I feel the relationships were dealt with, but as an adult I enjoyed the book and was able to overlook the issues I felt wouldn't be appropriate for my younger sister (at the time) to be reading about.

Eragon by Christopher Paolini

When young Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his adopted family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of inescapable destiny, magical forces, and powerful people. With only an ancient sword and the instruction of an old,mysterious, hermit storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a Emperor whose evil and power knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands….

*** It has been years since I read this book, but I remember how much I loved it. Unfortunately the movie was so bad it completely ruined everything for me and I never picked up any more in the series. Recently my son picked them up and devoured them, gushing about how awesome they are. I might just have to pick up the rest in the series some day soon.

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
It’s just a small story really, about among other things: a girl, some words, an accordionist, some fanatical Germans, a Jewish fist-fighter, and quite a lot of thievery. . . .

Set during World War II in Germany, Markus Zusak’s groundbreaking new novel is the story of Liesel Meminger, a foster girl living outside of Munich. Liesel scratches out a meager existence for herself by stealing when she encounters something she can’t resist–books. With the help of her accordion-playing foster father, she learns to read and shares her stolen books with her neighbors during bombing raids as well as with the Jewish man hidden in her basement before he is marched to Dachau.

This is an unforgettable story about the ability of books to feed the soul.

***I have read this book and really enjoyed it. If you are interested you can read my full review on this book here.

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

Berlin 1942

When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

***I wasn't a big fan of this book. A lot of it just rubbed me the wrong way. If you are interested in the details behind my dislike for this book feel free to read my full review here.

How many of the 21 books have you read? Do you plan on reading any others from the list in the near future? Let me know. I would love to hear!

[Review] Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler

2011-11-23T13:45:00.000-08:00

Title: Two Moons of Sera
Series: Two Moons of Sera (serial format)
Author: Pavarti K Tyler
Genre: fantasy, romance, mermaid
Format: Ebook, 84 pages
Publication Date: November 1 2011
Published By: Fighting Monkey Press
Source: Received from Author for Review.

Synopsis from Goodreads

In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one?

All the Fun of YA written for Adults

Two Moons of Sera is a Fantasy/Romance and will be released in a serial format. The first volume is just shy of 20,000 words and will be priced at $0.99. Anyone who purchases it will receive all future volumes for free. However if you wait to get it until later, the price will go up with each addition.

My Thoughts

When I first received the email from Pavarti about possibly being part of her blog tour for the first section of Two Moons of Sera, I have to admit I was hesitant. I haven't had a lot of good luck with the the self-published, e-book only types of review requests. I often end up marking them as DNF (did not finish). But after seeing how short the story was I agreed to at least give it a chance. I am really glad I did.

Ms. Pavarti has such a wonderful lyrical flow to her writing you couldn't stop yourself from reading it even if you wanted to. The opening was so intriguing I just had to find out what was going on!

"Nilafay ran, slipping on the unfamiliar terrain, desperate to reach water. The rocks dug into the thin flesh of her webbed feet, cutting her skin. This place was so foreign despite being only miles from her home. Never had she seen the sun so bright or felt the moisture evaporate directly off her skin; she was sure she would die from the cruelty of the atmosphere."

It was so beautiful! The book whipped by so fast and effortlessly that I was saddened when I was already at the end. (And what a horrible place to leave me stranded Ms. Pavarti!) The characters were so interesting and unique, they completely made the story. Nilafay, the mixed-race Erdlander (human) - Sualwet (mermaid) and Tor, the simple-minded hermit Erdlander (I think) make such an interesting connection you can't tear your eyes away. Their interactions are so simple, yet speak such volumes. The whole world around them seems so exciting and new, you can't help but feel surrounded as you read about it.

My only complaints about the book were:

(1) It was too damn short. I want more now!

(2) I would like to know more about this "war" that is going on that Nilafay's mother makes reference too. It seems like it was spoken of often, but not explained. I hope there is more about it in future serial offerings.

I will be waiting anxiously for the next section...

My rating?

Pavarti is running a special giveaway contest

in connection with this blog tour.

Click the image to read more about it and enter!

[Meme] Waiting On Wednesday: Archon

2011-11-23T10:33:00.000-08:00

I have decided to work in another meme on my blog here. Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Now that I have more access to ARCs and catalogs I have more insight into what is coming out soon that is exciting and fresh. And my goal is to share that with you!

So for this, my first week, I give to you the following:

Title: Archon: The Books of Raziel
Author: Sabrina Benulis
Publisher: HarperCollinsCanada, Harper Voyager
Publication Date: December 14, 2011

Synopsis:

I don't know about you...but I find that cover stunning! And the whole premise of the book just gives me shivers. I cannot wait to get a copy of this book and devour it!

What book are you waiting for right now?

[Giveaway] The Maze Runner Series by James Dashner

2011-11-22T12:24:00.000-08:00

I love books, but I also love my husband, and my overcrowded home. It's because of this that I have decided to not only read and review books, but also to give them away to allow others to share in the enjoyment I have experienced (or possibly not as the case might be).

My first bundle up for grabs is the amazing Maze Runner series by James Dashner. I loved this series, my son loved this series, and now I want YOU to love this series!

So...because of that, I am offering up my very own, gently read, full set of Maze Runner series books. This includes the following:

1 trade paperback copy of The Maze Runner (book 1) - Purchased by me.
1 trade paperback copy of The Scorch Trials (book 2) - Purchased by me.
1 hardcover copy of The Death Cure (book 3) - Provided to me by RandomHouse Canada for review, not an ARC

So what do you have to do for a chance to win this bundle? Simple! Post a comment on the review for at least one of the books from the series (I would obviously love for you to post on all 3 but only 1 is required) . That's it. That's the only mandatory entry. (I will be checking!) You do not have to be a follower, though of course it is always appreciated.

As I am running this contest myself, and 3 books can be quite heavy, I have limited this contest to Canadian resident only. (Sorry to my international friends, I will get you next time!)

Here are the links to my reviews:
The Maze Runner
The Scorch Trials
The Death Cure

I am keeping this contest open until December 9th, which will give me enough time to ship the books out to reach the winner before Christmas!

Good luck!

[Meme] Teaser Tuesday - November 22 2011

2011-11-22T11:20:00.000-08:00

This teaser is from Crossed by Ally Condie. It is the second book in the Matched series. I can't say much about it yet since I just started it, but I hope it's as good, if not better than the first one. But I am going in with low expectations since I often find the second books in series to be more filler than anything...

~In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever. ~
Share your teaser with me!

[Review] The Death Cure by James Dashner

2011-11-21T14:31:00.000-08:00

Title: The Death Cure
Series:  The Maze Runner Trilogy
Author:  James Dashner
Genre:  ya, dystopian, post apocalyptic
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Publication Date: October 11 2011
Published By:  Random House, Inc., Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Source: Received from Publisher for Review.

Synopsis from Goodreads

Thomas knows that Wicked can't be trusted, but they say the time for lies is over, that they've collected all they can from the Trials and now must rely on the Gladers, with full memories restored, to help them with their ultimate mission. It's up to the Gladers to complete the blueprint for the cure to the Flare with a final voluntary test.

What Wicked doesn't know is that something's happened that no Trial or Variable could have foreseen. Thomas has remembered far more than they think. And he knows that he can't believe a word of what Wicked says.

The time for lies is over. But the truth is more dangerous than Thomas could ever imagine.
Will anyone survive the Death Cure?
Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?

My Thoughts

This final book in The Maze Runner trilogy picks up right where The Scorch Trials left off. Thomas is in a white padded room, contemplating something interesting...

"It was the smell that began to drive Thomas slightly mad. Not being alone for over three weeks. Not the white walls, ceiling and floor."

James Dashner definitely brought his A game back when writing The Death Cure. All the minor things that annoyed the heck out of me in The Scorch Trials was smoothed over by the fabulous writing and story-telling in this conclusion. It was an amazingly awesome wrap-up to this exciting and enjoyable series.

I don't want to give too much away, because I know nothing ruins my day more than stumbling across a nasty spoiler that drives me crazy for days on end...but I just have to say that I absolutely adore a writer who is not afraid to kill off main characters if and when it needs to be done. And to do it right! I mean, not just kill them to get a reaction, and not just for a matter of convenience sake, but because this character MUST die for things to be right with the world, and the story (if that even makes sense to you...it does to me...at least in my head...).

That comradeship that was built in The Maze Runner comes back into play in The Death Cure and you see, and feel, how important these relationships these characters have built with each other are, and how fragile they can become when push comes to shove. You care about these characters and what can, and does, happen to them. They are almost like family now!

The chapters, as always, were kept short, yet involved, which keeps the readers interested and coming back for more. Overall it was an amazing story that I am glad I got the opportunity to read and review. The ending cleared up almost all outstanding issues and I was really impressed with the series as a whole.

I recommend this book, and this series, to everyone!

My rating?

Series Rating (My detailed reviews are linked):

The Maze Runner - 5/5

The Scorch Trials - 4/5

The Death Cure - 5/5

Overall Rating: 4.67!!!

And did I mention the best part? James Dashner just announced a prequel to the series, The Kill Order, to be released in August 2012. A prequel! Oh yeah I'll be reading that!

[Meme] In My Mailbox #7

2011-11-20T11:51:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received from Publisher for Review:

From the lovely Lindsey over at RandomHouse (who also celebrated a birthday this week) I received a copy of Inheritance, the fourth and final book in the Inheritance Cycle series by Christopher Paolini. It made my son squeal like a little girl...don't tell him I said that!

I was also super blessed to receive this package from the awesome Crystal at Raincoast Books. Not only did I receive ARC review copies of Cinder by Marissa Meyer, Tempest by Julie Cross, Switched by Amanda Hocking, and Embrace by Jessica Shirvington, but copies of Glow by Amy Kathleen Ryan and The Predicteds by Christine Seifert were added as a bonus! Plus two wonderful catalogues in which to pick other future releases if I was interested in.

I felt truly honoured to receive such a wonderful package. I can't wait to dig in!

From NetGalley for Review:

Dust Girl by Sarah Zettel

Received from Penguin US for Free Advance Galley Drawing:

Solving the Communion Enigma by Whitley Strieber, a follow up of Communion: A True Story by the same author, as well as a super cute mouse pad promoting The Internet is a Playground by David Thorne (which my son absconded with).

There were quite a few books I wanted to purchase this week...but after coming home with this many books my husband looked at me with death in his eyes when I mentioned purchasing more...maybe next week...

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

[Meme] TBR Intervention Week #5

2011-11-19T08:54:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

Last week was a pretty eventful week! As promised I finished Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler and it was really good! Look for my post November 23rd (my blog tour date).

I started Outcast of a Dream World and got about 100 pages into it before I gave up and marked it as DNF (did not finish). I was having a lot of trouble with the flow of the story. Perspectives shifted too rapidly and characters knew things they shouldn't. It just made for a very awkward read and I have too many books to be read to invest in reading something that annoys me.

I dove into The Future of Us next and so far it seems to be a light quick and easy humorous read and I am enjoying it very much.

I never ended up getting to Wither, and I think I might save that one for my 2012 TBR Challenge...we will see.

This Week's TBR:

So...what to do this week? Obviously I am going to finish The Future of Us, That's step one. I am also really hoping my copy of Lisa Morton's Monsters of L.A. comes in because I am supposed to prepare a blog tour post for December 5th, but I haven't received the book yet! So once that book comes in I will be reading that. I think I will also squeeze in Crossed (Matched #2) by Ally Condie. I have the ARC I was lucky enough to pick up at a focus group event, and since I liked Matched I might as well give it a read.

These books are my goals or this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

[Review] The Scorch Trials by James Dashner

2011-11-17T09:34:00.000-08:00

Title: The Scorch Trials
Series:  The Maze Runner Trilogy
Author:  James Dashner
Genre:  ya, dystopian, post apocalyptic
Format: Trade Paperback, 384 pages
Publication Date: September 2011
Published By:  Random House, Inc., Delacorte Press Books for Young Readers
Source:  Purchased

Synopsis from Goodreads

The Scorch Trials picks up where The Maze Runner left off. The Gladers have escaped the Maze, but now they face an even more treacherous challenge on the open roads of a devastated planet.
And WICKED has made sure to adjust the variables and stack the odds against them.

Can Thomas survive in such a violent world?

My Thoughts

This book (book 2 in The Maze Runner trilogy) picks up right where The Maze Runner left off. As mentioned in my review of The Maze Runner, James Dashner is an amazing writer, and his writing remains up to snuff in this second installment. Once again the book opens with an intense and intriguing opening that immediately pulls the reader right into the story, but this time we are shoved into a room cramped with the surviving gladers, but we already know things are going to be bad.

"She spoke to him before the world fell apart."

I felt the pacing was a bit off with this novel. I was often left wondering what was really going on, why they were where they were, and what everything meant. It felt a little slapped together to be honest. It wasn't nearly as scary and creepy as The Maze Runner, and the whole back and forth thing with Theresa was just plain annoying.

Thomas felt completely detached from the rest of the group, which I am sure was part of the point, but it just seemed like all those relationships that were built up in The Maze Runner didn't matter at all and were a waste of space. I hope things come together better in The Death Cure.

Another thing that really annoyed me was the whole thing where Thomas would meet someone new, debate whether he should basically tell them his whole life story, then decide he either can trust them or has no other choice, and then those characters have no real main part in the book. Again it just feels like filler...and annoying filler at that...

I guess it just felt like overall there wasn't enough surprises to keep my interest, especially since I knew there would be one more book. I find most trilogies tend to slack in the second book...almost as if there really should have been only two books in the first place.

The chapters were kept short, yet involved, which keeps the readers interested and coming back for more. So that's a plus. There were also a few new characters added that made the story interesting, and hopefully continue to do so into The Death Cure. The writing was fantastic as was to be expected, just felt jumpy and unnecessary at times. Overall it was still a very enjoyable read, despite my complaints. It was interesting to see what happened to all the surviving gladers after they thought they were finally safe from the maze.

I recommend this book to anyone who loved the first one, and plans on finishing the series off with The Death Cure.

My rating?

Teaser Tuesday - November 15 2011

2011-11-15T07:12:00.000-08:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along!

Just do the following:

1. Grab your current read
2. Open to a random page
3. Share two (2) “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!)
4. Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

"Nilafay ran, slipping on the unfamiliar terrain, desperate to reach water. The rocks dug into the thin flesh of her webbed feet, cutting her skin. This place was so foreign despite being only miles from her home. Never had she seen the sun so bright or felt the moisture evaporate directly off her skin; she was sure she would die from the cruelty of the atmosphere."

This teaser is from Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler. It is the first part of an e-series. The second part is to be release in January or February I believe. I was provided a copy for review. It is surprisingly much better than I first thought it would be!

~In a world where water and earth teem with life, Serafay is an anomaly. The result of genetic experiments on her mother's water-borne line Serafay will have to face the very people responsible to discover who she really is. But is she the only one? ~

Full review to come soon.

Share your teaser with me!

In My Mailbox #6

2011-11-13T13:49:00.000-08:00

Here is this week's In My Mailbox hosted by The Story Siren.

Received from Author for Review:

Stomp Out The Bullying by Angel McGowan

(Complete with cute little matching bookmark!)

From NetGalley for Review:

Received from RandomHouse Canada for Trick or Tweet Contest:

Plus another mug and pen like from last week's Blogger Event!

Purchased for Possible Review:

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
(So many people have been talking about this book lately I just had to pick it up! 30% off at Chapters because it was a Best Seller, plus my 10% iRewards = Must Buy It Now!

What did everyone else get this week? Let me know!

A special thanks to Parajunkee Designs for my new IMM image.

TBR Intervention Week #4

2011-11-12T13:06:00.000-08:00

Here are the rules:

Last Week's TBR:

As promised I finished The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa. Such a wonderful ending to the series. Full review to come.

I also started, and finished Touch by Jus Accardo. Amazing book! Everyone should read it. Full review to come soon.

I didn't get to Wither or Fever because I realized I had a book tour coming up soon and needed to read the book for that, so I also started Two Moons of Sera by Pavarti K Tyler. It is pretty interesting so far!

This Week's TBR:

This week I am going to do things a little different. I have been so focused on new releases I have been ignoring the books I have been sent to review that have previously been published. So I am going to pick on at lease every 2 weeks that has been on my review list the longest and read that.

On that note, for this week, I plan on finishing Two Moons of Sera for the tour and then I plan on reading Outcast of the Dream World by Sandra Chandler. This has been on my to review list since August 5th of this year.

If I happen to finish both of those, then I am looking at reading an ARC copy of The Future of Us by Jay Asher (even though the book trailer made me almost NOT want to read it...).

And maybe then finally Wither?

These books are my goals or this week's TBR Intervention Challenge.

What are yours?

Winter Holiday Book Blogger Exchange

2011-11-11T10:44:00.000-08:00

So I love book exchanges. Something about getting a book but also sending a book in exchange just gives me happy tingles. But the one thing that has kind of irked me is the blogger book exchanges are just exchanges between two people with nothing else tied to it. So I decided to host a similar event, but with a bit of a twist...

Not only will we be exchanging books with our partner, but we are also going to participate in a "get to know your blogger partner" type of exercise! I'm not sure why but this excites me quite a bit!

And to make it open and exciting to everyone, every member will have the option of choosing just the exchange, just the get to know your blogger, or both. Members will also have the option to send internationally, or locally only.

I am going to try very hard to match bloggers by area and genre so they have as much in common as possible.

The idea will be to highlight your blogger partner on your blog with a question and answer you send to each other, with a guest post by them also, whether it be a review or something else. The details can be worked out between yourself and your partner.

I love how open and friendly the book blogger community is, and I think this will help bring us even that much more closer together.

So what do you think?

The Nitty Gritty:

You do not have to be a follower, but it is, of course appreciated.
You must have a blog to take part in the get to know your blogger portion, but may choose to only participate in the exchange portion if you do not have a blog.
Books can be any format. I have created a section on the form where you can choose which formats you prefer. I will try to match up people accordingly. Please keep in mind if sending previously read books that they should be in near-new condition.
As mentioned previously, this is open internationally. Please make sure to check the area on the form to let me know if you are willing to work with international participants or not.
Sign-ups will be open until November 30th to ensure everyone has a chance to join. I will send out assignments over the weekend of December 3-4.
Only myself and your partner will have access to your personal information.
If participating in the exchange, packages should be sent out before December 15th to ensure they make it to their recipient before Christmas. Guest posts/question and answers can be posted any time up until December 31st.
Please email me at gwenythlove (at) gmail (dot) com when you receive your package and when your posts go live so I can make sure everything is accounted for.
Please grab the button and make a post to show your participation! Let everyone know so they can have a chance to join!

If you are up for the challenge and the fun, fill out this form!

Thanks to Parajunkee Designs yet again for the wonderful button designs!