One Page At a Time YA Book Reviews

Book Breakups: Books I Couldn't Finish [5] - The Knife and the Butterfly and Sweet Venom

2012-03-01T08:00:00.004-05:00

"Book Breakups" is a meme created by Lori at Pure Imagination that features books we just couldn't finish for whatever reason. I've got two books on deck this time around!

First up...

Author: Ashley Hope Perez
Title: The Knife and the Butterfly
Genre: YA supernatural thriller
Released: Feb. 1, 2012
Publisher: Lerner

After a marijuana-addled brawl with a rival gang, 16-year-old Azael wakes up to find himself surrounded by a familiar set of concrete walls and a locked door. Juvie again, he thinks. But he can't really remember what happened or how he got picked up. He knows his MS13 boys faced off with some punks from Crazy Crew. There were bats, bricks, chains. A knife. But he can't remember anything between that moment and when he woke behind bars.

Azael knows prison, and something isn't right about this lockup. No phone call. No lawyer. No news about his brother or his homies. The only thing they make him do is watch some white girl in some cell. Watch her and try to remember.

Lexi Allen would love to forget the brawl, would love for it to disappear back into the Xanax fog it came from. And her mother and her lawyer hope she chooses not to remember too much about the brawl—at least when it's time to testify.

Lexi knows there's more at stake in her trial than her life alone, though. She's connected to him, and he needs the truth. The knife cut, but somehow it also connected.

This book was really disappointing only because it was actually quite well written. And the pacing was perfect. The plot was also really interesting. Why didn't I finish it then? Because I just couldn't handle the explicit language and sexual content. It was...pretty intense. But this book has a really good message, I think, and if you can handle the profanity and crude sexual jokes, then you should definitely pick up this book!

People Who Loved It: Confessions of A Bookaholic, P.J. Hoover

Author: Tera Lynn Childs
Title: Sweet Venom
Series: Sweet Venom #1
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: Sept. 6, 2011
Publisher: Katherine Tegen

Grace just moved to San Francisco and is excited to start over at a new school. The change is full of fresh possibilities, but it’s also a tiny bit scary. It gets scarier when a minotaur walks in the door. And even more shocking when a girl who looks just like her shows up to fight the monster.

Gretchen is tired of monsters pulling her out into the wee hours, especially on a school night, but what can she do? Sending the minotaur back to his bleak home is just another notch on her combat belt. She never expected to run into this girl who could be her double, though.

Greer has her life pretty well put together, thank you very much. But that all tilts sideways when two girls who look eerily like her appear on her doorstep and claim they’re triplets, supernatural descendants of some hideous creature from Greek myth, destined to spend their lives hunting monsters.

These three teenage descendants of Medusa, the once-beautiful Gorgon maligned in myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

This was another one that really disappointed me, only because I was looking forward to it. Usually, I love anything to do with mythology. But for some reason, I just couldn't get into this book. It was just sort of boring, and I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Maybe I'll eventually pick this one back up and finish it, but I doubt it.

People Who Loved It: Mundie Moms

What books have you not been able to finish?

Waiting on Wednesday: Wanderlove, Embers & Echoes, and Shadow and Bone

2012-02-29T08:00:00.002-05:00

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme hosted by Breaking the Spine that features books yet to be released that we're looking forward to.

Author: Kirsten Hubbard
Title: Wanderlove
Genre: YA contemp
Released: March 13, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte

It all begins with a stupid question:

Are you a Global Vagabond?

No, but 18-year-old Bria Sandoval wants to be. In a quest for independence, her neglected art, and no-strings-attached hookups, she signs up for a guided tour of Central America—the wrong one. Middle-aged tourists with fanny packs are hardly the key to self-rediscovery. When Bria meets Rowan, devoted backpacker and dive instructor, and his outspokenly humanitarian sister Starling, she seizes the chance to ditch her group and join them off the beaten path.

Bria's a good girl trying to go bad. Rowan's a bad boy trying to stay good. As they travel across a panorama of Mayan villages, remote Belizean islands, and hostels plagued with jungle beasties, they discover what they've got in common: both seek to leave behind the old versions of themselves. And the secret to escaping the past, Rowan’s found, is to keep moving forward.

But Bria comes to realize she can't run forever, no matter what Rowan says. If she ever wants the courage to fall for someone worthwhile, she has to start looking back.

Kirsten Hubbard lends her artistry to this ultimate backpacker novel, weaving her drawings into the text. Her career as a travel writer and her experiences as a real-life vagabond backpacking Central America are deeply seeded in this inspiring story.

I am DESPERATE to read this book! I'm seriously obsessed with travel books, and I've been stalking Kirsten Hubbard's Tumblr and blog, looking at all the pictures she has of Central America. This book seems SO incredible, and I can't wait to read it!!!

Author: Karsten Knight
Title: Embers & Echoes
Series: Wildefire #2
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: Aug. 28, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Ashline Wilde is about to discover that when you’re the reincarnation of a Polynesian volcano goddess, “new beginnings” are just a myth.

Leaving the fiery ruins of her sophomore year behind her, Ash travels to the sizzling beaches of Miami, hot on the trail of the little sister she’s only seen in visions. But her happy family reunion isn’t all palm trees and paradise. A cult of evil gods-on-earth, known as the Four Seasons, has kidnapped her sister to use in its terrifying new religion. Soon, the streets of Miami erupt in chaos and violence…and Ash gets caught right in the tropical crossfire

Ash isn’t without help, however. Unexpected romance arrives in the form of Wes, an Aztec god of night with his own vendetta against the Four Seasons. As memories of Ash’s previous life begin to flicker into her dreams, the boundaries between ally and enemy, life and death, and love and hate all bleed together. And when a mysterious trickster from her past reappears to derail her new quest, Ash must choose between the echoes of a once-forgotten yesterday and the embers of an uncertain future.

Because when old flames return from the dead, even a volcano goddess can get burned.

I was actually a little disappointed in the first book, Wildefire, but I still really want to read this one! Plus, now that I know more about Polynesian and Native American mythology, I'm excited to see how all the characters come together.

Author: Leigh Bardugo
Title: Shadow and Bone
Genre: YA high fantasy
Released: June 5, 2012
Publisher: Henry Holt and Co.

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee.

Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.

Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.

I got this one off NetGalley a while ago, and I can't wait to read it! The cover is one of my favorites of 2012 so far, and the blurb sounds really intriguing. I also love that it has Russian influences. Very cool!

What books are you looking forward to?

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Give a Theme Song To

2012-02-28T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish that features our top ten list of books in a particular category. This week's category is books we would give a theme song to, including the song. This was a TOUGH list to make, so I'm sorry if I'm stretching it a little bit.

Here's my list:

1. The Dark Divine, by Bree Despain

I've always thought Florence + The Machine's "Howl" fits really well with this book! The first verse in particular is perfect, I think.

2. Take A Bow, by Elizabeth Eulberg

This book reminded me a lot of the movie "Fame," with everyone all trying to get famous and be the best. So I couldn't resist the the song with the same name for this theme!

3. A Million Suns, by Beth Revis

I know it's not the actual title of this one, but I felt like "Across the Universe," by the Beatles actually fit better with this book! There was more of an exploration of what it meant to be inside the space shuttle, and I feel like this song should be Amy's theme!

4. Nevermore, by Kelly Creagh

I pretty much just think of Darren whenever I hear My Chemical Romance's "Welcome to the Black Parade." It just really sums him up as a character, I feel like, with his personal demons and his journey of becoming an anti-hero.

5. Everneath, by Brodi Ashton

Nikki's relationship with Cole was really complicated, and I think Coldplay's "Death and All His Friends" really sums up the themes of that relationship, especially the line "I don't wanna follow death and all of his friends."

6. Tiger's Voyage, by Colleen Houck

Ren is trying desperately to win back Kelsey in this book, and that was really the main crux of the story in the third Tiger Saga book, so Death Cab for Cutie's "I Will Possess Your Heart" goes well, IMHO.

7. The DUFF, by Kody Keplinger

Okay, I couldn't resist - "Sex on Fire," by Kings of Leon. Let's be real. This book is ALL ABOUT sex. That's really the entire basis for the story. Hence the song choice. :)

8. Instructions for a Broken Heart, by Kim Culbertson

This is really a book about finding yourself and letting go of your past, and "Dog Days Are Over," by Florence + the Machine really captures that spirit!

9. The Secret Year, by Jennifer R. Hubbard

This was SUCH a sad book! And I thought it was interesting that Colt always thought of Julia when he was by the river. Thus, I chose "Somewhere Only We Know," by Keane! "Is this the place we used to love? / Is this the place I've been dreaming of?"

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

There's very much of a carpe diem, we're-young-so-let's-live-it-up theme to the beginning of this book, which really reminded me of Fun.'s "We Are Young" (not the Glee version, which TOTALLY ruined the song!).

What books would you give theme songs to?

Cover Alert: SO MANY New Covers!

2012-02-27T08:00:00.003-05:00

There were lots of great cover reveals recently, and I thought I'd let you know if you missed any of them!

1. Through to You, by Emily Hainsworth

Loving this one! I like the reflection a lot!

2. Gravity, by Melissa West

I'm loving all these space-themed covers! And the colors of this one are gorgeous.

3. Ten, by Gretchen McNeil

This book sounds creepy, and I think the cover definitely reflects that! Reminds me of the cover for a Stephen King novel or something.

4. Silver, by Talia Vance

This reminds me of a high fantasy cover, even though the novel is a paranormal romance. But I still like it - very different than most Flux covers.

5. Time Between Us, by Tamara Ireland Stone

I'll be honest. This one isn't my favorite. It screams "Contemporary romance/coming of age novel!" to me, but it's actually a story about time travel. I don't know. Not a fan.

6. Hidden, by Sophie Jordan

I'm in love with all the covers for this series! They are gorgeous, and this one is no exception!

7. Crown of Embers, by Rae Carson

This one looks really good with the first novel, I think. But this one is more striking, in my opinion.

8. Defiance, by C.J. Redwine

I am loving this cover! So cool how her dress fades into a picture of the city. Beautiful!

And my personal favorite...

9. Shadow and Bone, by Leigh Bardugo

OMG I am in LOVE with this cover! It reminds me a lot of the Night Circus cover, which was also gorgeous. I've realized that I'm a huge fan of illustrated covers, and if I ever write a fantasy novel, I really hope I get an illustrated cover for my book. :)

So what do you think of all these covers?

Review: Darkness Becomes Her, by Kelly Keaton

2012-02-23T08:00:00.000-05:00

Author: Kelly Keaton
Title: Darkness Becomes Her
Series: Gods & Monsters #1
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: Feb. 22, 2011
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Source: Traded
Rating: ★★★ 1/2

A dark and lush paranormal romance set in a richly reimagined New Orleans.

Ari can’t help feeling lost and alone. With teal eyes and freakish silver hair that can’t be changed or destroyed, Ari has always stood out. And after growing up in foster care, she longs for some understanding of where she came from and who she is.

Her search for answers uncovers a message from her long dead mother: Run. Ari can sense that someone, or something, is getting closer than they should. But it’s impossible to protect herself when she doesn’t know what she’s running from or why she is being pursued.

She knows only one thing: she must return to her birthplace of New 2, the lush rebuilt city of New Orleans. Upon arriving, she discovers that New 2 is very...different. Here, Ari is seemingly normal. But every creature she encounters, no matter how deadly or horrifying, is afraid ofher. Ari won’t stop until she knows why. But some truths are too haunting, too terrifying, to ever be revealed.

I have some mixed feelings about this book. For one, I really enjoyed the urban fantasy feel to this book. It's definitely not a paranormal romance, which I loved. Coinciding with that genre, there's a lot of grittiness in this book, but I also liked that. What I wasn't a huge fan of were the pacing the romance.

First, this is a pretty short book. That's okay, but at times, it felt a little rushed. I would have preferred some more character development and some more time passing. The story takes place in a matter of days, and I've never been a huge fan of stories like that. I just feel like I get to know characters better the longer I spend with them.

Related to this was the romance. It felt REALLY fast, a teensy bit like insta-love. Ari meets Sebastian the first day in New 2 and she's making out with him the VERY NEXT DAY. That didn't work for me. I didn't buy that she was that connected to him, when for the first quarter of the book we're always told that she keeps people at arm's length because she doesn't want to get hurt. Why is Sebastian different? Why does she trust him? I felt none of that was ever really answered.

Also, I totally guessed what Ari was after the very first chapter. Maybe it's just because I know more about mythology than the average reader. (You could call my interest bordering on obsession.) But there was no real mystery for me, especially with all the talk about her hair and what not. This then led me to figuring out who the villain would be. (It's all very logical if you think it through.) But maybe I'll be stumped when I read the next book.

Now, on to what I DID like: for one, the mythology and worldbuilding. Keaton does a great job of crafting an interesting world. There were a lot more types of paranormal creatures than I was expecting, like vampires and shapeshifters and witches, but they fit into the mythology nicely. I also liked seeing familiar characters show up like Arachne. (The geek in me squealed a little on the inside.)

And these aren't your average vamps and witches. I loved how their culture has been integrated into the culture of New Orleans. Having been to that city, I can totally see how if there's going to be an entire city run by the supernatural, it would be there. It has this old world, almost creepy vibe even in real life that is PERFECT fodder for a book like Keaton's. In fact, the setting was one of my favorite parts of the book. I loved taking a tour of New Orleans along with Ari - her trip was a lot more exciting than mine. :)

I also liked that we got to see a goddess. In a lot of books about mythology, we don't ever see a single god or goddess (i.e. Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini, Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout, Everneath by Brodi Ashton, etc.). So I was excited to see that the villain herself is a goddess. Loved that! However, I'm not really sure I agreed with the choice of said goddess, but I'll suspend disbelief.

Overall, this was a really interesting book. I wish it had been longer and I'd gotten to know why Ari was so gosh darn interested in Sebastian, but I'm hoping to learn more in the next book. This is a solid urban fantasy with juicy bits of mythology!

Book Doppelgangers: Half-Blood, by Jennifer L. Armentrout; Touch of Frost, by Jennifer Estep

If You're Going to Read A Vampire Book, What to Choose

2012-02-22T08:00:00.007-05:00

I'm of the opinion that there is a book out there for everyone and that there is a book in almost every subgenre for someone, meaning that most everybody can find a vampire book they like or historical romance.

That being said, there are definitely books that are just better than others, either because of their prose, characters, or plot. Whatever it is, these books have "it." So if you're looking for a great read in one of your favorite genres or thinking about picking up a book the likes that you've never read, I've created this series for you, my reader, in which I will give my recommendations for the best books of certain genres.

This week's genre: vampires, in the spirit of my reading my first ever Claudia Gray book.

If you like action...

Author: Richelle Mead
Title: Vampire Academy

Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .

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

The interesting thing about this book is that the main character actually isn't the vampire - she's the vampire's bodyguard. There's plenty of romance and drama to be had, but there's lots of action, especially since the heroine, Rose is seriously kick-butt!

If you like a good series...

Author: Melissa de la Cruz
Title: Blue Bloods

When the Mayflower set sail in 1620, it carried on board the men and women who would shape America: Miles Standish; John Alden; Constance Hopkins. But some among the Pilgrims were not pure of heart; they were not escaping religious persecution. Indeed, they were not even human. They were vampires.The vampires assimilated quickly into the New World. Rising to levels of enormous power, wealth, and influence, they were the celebrated blue bloods of American society.

The Blue Bloods vowed that their immortal status would remain a closely guarded secret. And they kept that secret for centuries. But now, in New York City, the secret is seeping out. Schuyler Van Alen is a sophomore at a prestigious private school. She prefers baggy, vintage clothes instead of the Prada and pearls worn by her classmates, and she lives with her reclusive grandmother in a dilapated mansion. Schuyler is a loner...and happy that way. Suddenly, when she turns fifteen, there is a visible mosaic of blue veins on her arm. She starts to crave raw food and she is having flashbacks to ancient times. Then a popular girl from her school is found dead... drained of all her blood. Schuyler doesn't know what to think, but she wants to find out the secrets the Blue Bloods are keeping. But is she herself in danger?

This series was published quite a few years ago, but it still stands up as one of the longest-running teen vampire books (excluding L.J. Smith's epicly long The Vampire Diaries series and multiple companion series). You've got very stylish vamps in this series, and the books feel a lot like a paranormal version of Gossip Girl. But there are 7 books in this series, so maybe you shouldn't start it unless you're willing to get sucked in and invest a lot of time with it.

If you like romance...

Author: Claudia Gray
Title: Evernight

Bianca wants to escape.

She's been uprooted from her small hometown and enrolled at Evernight Academy, an eerie Gothic boarding school where the students are somehow too perfect: smart, sleek, and almost predatory. Bianca knows she doesn't fit in.

Then she meets Lucas. He's not the "Evernight type" either, and he likes it that way. Lucas ignores the rules, stands up to the snobs, and warns Bianca to be careful—even when it comes to caring about him.

"I couldn't stand it if they took it out on you," he tells Bianca, "and eventually they would."

But the connection between Bianca and Lucas can't be denied. Bianca will risk anything to be with Lucas, but dark secrets are fated to tear them apart . . . and to make Bianca question everything she's ever believed.

I recently read my first Claudia Gray book and really loved it! She's got a great author voice, and she does a great job balancing the supernatural elements with the teen angst that makes us so addicted to this type of book. Also, I'm sort of in love with the character Balthazar, this series' sexy vampire, so...

If you like undiscovered books with cult followings...

Author: Beth Fantaskey
Title: Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side

The undead can really screw up your senior year ...

Marrying a vampire definitely doesn’t fit into Jessica Packwood’s senior year “get-a-life” plan. But then a bizarre (and incredibly hot) new exchange student named Lucius Vladescu shows up, claiming that Jessica is a Romanian vampire princess by birth—and he’s her long-lost fiancé. Armed with newfound confidence and a copy of Growing Up Undead: A Teen Vampire’s Guide to Dating, Health, and Emotions, Jessica makes a dramatic transition from average American teenager to glam European vampire princess. But when a devious cheerleader sets her sights on Lucius, Jess finds herself fighting to win back her wayward prince, stop a global vampire war—and save Lucius’s soul from eternal destruction.

The blogosphere sort of blew up about this book at the end of last year, especially after the publisher offered it for free on Kindle. It's a lot different than other YA vampire books, mostly because she actually marries the guy. Unfortunately, I've heard that the sequel wasn't as good, but this is still a great addition to the genre!

Did your favorite vampire book make my list? If not, what would you suggest?

Review: Balthazar, by Claudia Gray

2012-02-20T08:00:00.072-05:00

Author: Claudia Gray
Title: Balthazar
Series: Evernight standalone (companion)
Genre: YA paranormal
Pages: 374
Released: March 6, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★

Haunted by memories from his first days as a vampire, Balthazar has spent hundreds of years alone—without allies, without love. When he emerges from his isolation to help Skye Tierney, a human girl who once attended Evernight Academy, Balthazar has no idea how dangerous it will be. Skye’s psychic powers have caught the attention of Redgrave, the cruel master vampire responsible for murdering Balthazar and his family four centuries ago. Having learned of Skye’s powers and the remarkable effect her blood has on vampires, he plans to use her for his own evil purposes. As they stand together to fight the evil vampire, Balthazar realizes his lonely world could finally be changed by Skye...just as Redgrave realizes that he can destroy Balthazar once and for all by taking her for his own.

In a story filled with forbidden love and dark suspense, one of the most beloved characters in Claudia Gray’s New York Times bestselling Evernight series will captivate readers with his battle to overcome his past and follow his heart.

Although Balthazar is a companion novel that comes after the Evernight series, this was my first Claudia Gray book. And even though I wish I'd read Evernight first since I now know some plot spoilers, I still really enjoyed it!

In all honesty, Balthazar is like a retelling of Twilight, squished into one book, but with a different ending. Let's whip out a comparison list of what both books share...

1. Vampire boy in love with human girl
2. Human girl has vampires chasing after her
3. Vampire boy is brooding and gorgeous
4. Vampire boy also has a hero complex
5. Human girl doesn't seem to care that falling for said vampire boy is a bad idea
6. Human girl is faced with the decision to become a vampire or not
7. Vampire boy "watches over" human girl at her house

Really, it also has a Twilight feel to it, even though the characters are a lot different. I was actually sort of surprised that Claudia Gray could get away with a plot that was so similar. But I think what makes Balthazar different was the way Gray handled the same subject matter and how our heroine, Skye responds to the conflict.

Skye is a strong female character with a good head on her shoulders. Although she's completely smitten with Balthazar, she never goes crazy or veers into Bella Swan Syndrome, which was much appreciated by this reader.

I also really liked Balthazar, even if he was brooding. He wasn't as much of a stalker as Edward Cullen (notice I say "as much," because he does sorta follow Skye around, though she's aware of it). But I liked that the book was actually more about him than Skye. We get to see a lot of scenes from his past that were interesting, and his Puritan heritage was unique. And it was sort of precious that he was a bit of prude at heart because of how he was raised.

Claudia Gray's writing really sucked me in, and I think that's what sold me on the book as a whole. The story was good and the characters were all right, but there was just something real and appealing about Gray's writing that pretty much has me going to read anything she writes (which is good, since I have 3 more sitting on my shelf to be read!).

I'll definitely be reading the Evernight series after finishing this one! Also, I'd like to thank Claudia Gray for pulling me out of my reading slump. Hats off to you, ma'am! :)

Book Doppelgangers: The Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith, Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

Dark Days of Winter Tour - Brace Yourself for the Pitch Dark Days!

2012-02-16T08:00:00.109-05:00

So maybe you've heard of the awesome tours that HarperCollins is hosting this winter, which feature authors like Jill Hathaway, Jodi Meadows, Alex Flinn, Kimberly Derting, and Lauren Oliver.

For the months of February and March, authors will be stopping by tons of great blogs. Many of the authors are also going to making stops around the country at a bookstore near you!

And guess what? This girl is very excited to be the official blogger for the Alpharetta, GA, tour stop! Whoop whoop!

Here is the complete tour schedule:

Cynthia Hand (Hallowed), Brodi Ashton (Everneath), Jodi Meadows (Incarnate), and Courtney Allison Moulton (Wings of the Wicked)
Feb. 16 @ 5pm, Barnes & Noble in Southlake, TX
Official Blogger: A Good Addiction

Feb. 17 @ 7 pm, Barnes & Noble in Austin, TX
Official Blogger: Mundie Moms

Feb. 18 @ 4 pm, Blue Willow Bookshop in Houston, TX
Official Blogger: IB Book Blogging

Lauren Oliver (Pandemonium), Claudia Gray (Balthazar), and Dan Wells (Partials)
March 9 @ 6:30 pm, Books & Books in Coral Gables, FL
Official Blogger: Harmony's Radiant Reads

March 10 @ 2 pm, Barnes & Noble in Alpharetta, GA
Official Blogger: ME! (Squeee!)

March 11 @ 4 pm, Vroman's in Los Angeles, CA
*Livestream Event

Kimberly Dertin (The Last Echo), Jill Hathaway (Slide), and Dan Wells (Partials)
April 18 @ 7 pm, Books & Co in Dayton, OH

April 19 @ 7 pm, Anderson's Bookshop in Naperville, IL

April 20 @ 7 pm, Barnes & Noble in Burlington, MA

Sounds awesome, right?!

But wait. There's more! Here's the blog tour schedule, so you can check out all the great interviews, guest posts, giveaways, and other awesomeness!

2/21 Lauren Oliver at All Things Urban Fantasy
2/22 Claudia Gray at A Life Bound By Books
2/23 Alex Flinn at Mundie Moms
2/28 Dan Wells at Bookalicious

TK Jill Hathaway at Down the Rabbit Hole
TK Kimberly Derting at Confessions of A Bookaholic

I'm really pumped to get to meet these great authors:

I've never been to any of their signings before, so I intend to tote lots of books with me and take tons of pictures! So look for a recap post from me after the event plus great giveaways!

And just so I'll know to be on the lookout: Who else is planning to go to the Alpharetta tour stop?!

Stay connected to all things Dark Days on the Pitch Dark Facebook page, including exclusive content features every Wednesday!

Also, check out the Dark Days Central Facebook page for tons more info!

Blog Tour & Author Interview: Ashley Hope Perez

2012-02-15T08:00:00.005-05:00

Today, I've got the fabulous Ashley Hope Perez on the blog to talk about her new book The Knife and the Butterfly, an edgy contemporary about a boy who gets thrown into jail but doesn't remember how he got there or who the girl is that's supposedly connected to him. And don't forget to check out the complete list of tour dates for Ashley's release!

First, here's a bit about Ashley:

Ashley Hope Pérez is the author of two young adult novels, What Can't Wait and The Knife and the Butterfly. She also is a passionate teacher and student working on her PhD in comparative literature. At the moment, she lives in Paris with her husband and son where they enjoy culture, croissants, and cramped living quarters.

And now on to the interview!

KM: Describe your book Twitter-style (160 characters or fewer).

AHP: A gang fight brings Azael & Lexi’s lives together. He needs to remember what happened, she wants to forget. The only 2nd chances they’ll get are the ones they make.

KM: Your book is a bit of a genre-bender. If you had to classify it, what would you call it?

AHP: How about… a “gritty novel with a paranormal twist”? I wish I could take credit for that, but it came from the Kirkus review of my book. But I think that’s about right!

KM: What's the best piece of advice you ever got about writing?

AHP: To be a finisher. In a writing workshop, Karen Joy Fowler (author of The Jane Austen Bookclub and lots of other terrific novels) once said that she had encountered many writers she believed were more talented than she was who nevertheless failed to make it into print.

She attributed this to a failure to persist and carry projects through. Writers write, yes, but novelists finish.

KM: How have your life experiences influenced your writing?

AHP: So many inspirations for my writing come from my work as a high-school English teacher in Houston and the hundreds of awesome students I got to meet and love. Even today, five years out of the high-school classroom, I still think of them as my audience. I’ve written so much about “my kids,” I should probably have a STUDENTS tag on my blog. This post talks about how my students inspired aspects of The Knife and the Butterfly.

[Ashley's class]

KM: Did you have to do any research for your book?

AHP: I did a lot of research since both of the gangs in The Knife and the Butterfly (MS-13 and Crazy Crew) actually exist. I like to know specific details, and of course I needed to know about handsigns, tattoos, speech patterns, and stuff like that. I wanted to make sure I wasn’t repeating stereotypes about gangs but actually showing with some plausibility what it’s like to be a low-level gang member. I also did heaps of research about street art, which is Azael’s creative outlet. I see graffiti in a whole new light now.

KM: Do you have a favorite scene in The Knife and the Butterfly?

AHP: I have lots of “favorites,” but there is one chapter that I feel really reflects some important tensions and themes in the novel. It’s when Azael and his brother crash in an empty apartment after their dad gets deported. Azael finds a message Sharpied onto one of the bathroom drawers, and we get to see both his empathy and his sense of helplessness. Actually, I’ll be posting that chapter, plus six sneak peeks behind the scenes at the writing, on 2/23 at Books from Bleh to Basically Amazing. I hope you’ll stop by for it!

KM: What's the best YA book you've read recently?

AHP: I just read The Marbury Lens for the first time, and found it eerily compelling. I’m still trying to decide if it’s a book about trauma and what it does to us, or if—in the world of The Marbury Lens—trauma actually is a portal into another world. I’m banking on the second, in light of the two additional books to come (a series is kind of a lot of space for resolving trauma, even that caused by kidnapping and torture).

My only gripe? I was completely unconvinced by the protag’s “romantic” ties to a certain girl.

I just started I Will Save You by Matt de la Peña, and I’m already in love with the voice.

KM: What's your favorite part about writing?

AHP: Revising. It’s painful but in a good way… kind of like exfoliating. And it feels so much safer than writing the first draft.

And just for fun...

KM: Favorite literary hero or heroine?

AHP: Moll Flanders of Defoe’s novel by the same name. She’s an absolute rogue who pretends to be giving morality lessons. I recommend listening to it on audio—it’s really funny.

KM: Pen or pencil?

AHP: Quick-drying pen. I’m left handed, so pencil turns into a giant gray smudge, and fancy-pants gel pens smear all over me.

KM: Chinese or Italian food?

AHP: Italian. I love me some cheese-stuffed pasta, and my first real date with my husband (who doubles as live-in best friend) was at Cavatore’s, this great Italian restaurant in Houston.

KM: TV or movies?

AHP: Movies! I adore losing myself in a good indie flick. We have watched all of “Mad Men” while in Paris, though, and I have to admit that I’m hooked.

KM: Harry Potter or Twilight?

AHP: Harry Potter. I love the blend of humor, magic, and amazing plotting.

KM: Beatles or Rolling Stones?

AHP: Stones. I’m listening to “Paint It Black” right now, in fact.

KM: Thanks so much for stopping by, Ashley! And just so you know, I totally approve of the Stones choice! :)

Make sure to check out Ashley's website and order your copy of The Knife and the Butterfly today!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Broke My Heart a Little

2012-02-14T08:00:00.053-05:00

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish that features our top 10 list of books in a particular category. This week, it's books that broke your heart (in the spirit of being anti-Valentine's Day).

This list was REALLY hard for me because I don't usually get emotional with books. So I modified the list a little and am listing 5 that made me cry(ish) and 5 that disappointed me, so that would be 5 positives and 5 negatives.

Here's my list:

5 Books that Made Me Cry

1. Dear John, by Nicholas Sparks

This is one of the saddest books I've ever read, but it's SO GOOD! I know a lot of people don't like Nicholas Sparks, but this book made me a fan. It's perfect in every way. I would read it again if I didn't think I'd blubber all over the last chapter.

2. Sea, by Heidi R. Kling

This is one of my favorite books and mostly because I found it so gut-wrenching. It's a beautiful story with a bittersweet ending - a must read. Oh, and the setting is SPECTACULAR!

3. Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare

Oh, Will. You were the reason I loved this book so much. You were also the reason I got quite a few sniffles after the you-know-which scene with Tessa after you-know-who asks her you-know-what. ::sigh::

4. The Iron Queen, by Julie Kagawa

I didn't really cry, per se. I don't think I even really sniffled, but I thought the end of this book was SO SAD! But that was why I liked it so much. I was really impressed with where Kagawa took the story - she had a lot of balls to go there.

5. Stone Fox, by John Reynolds Gardiner

Okay, now I really did shed actual tears after reading this book in the 3rd grade. I'm pretty sure I cried for a good 30 minutes straight. It was intense.

Of course, I was also 9...so that probably had something to do with it.

5 Books that Were A Major Letdown

1. Breaking Dawn, by Stephenie Meyer

Ugh. There are really no words to how much I disliked this book. It was the most surreal, awkward book I've ever read. I mean, the birth scene, Jacob becoming a pedophile, the non-fight at the end.

It was just REALLY bad.

2. Wolfsbane, by Andrea Cremer

I really loved Nightshade, especially after I got to see Andrea Cremer at a signing talk about the series. I was really impressed with her...until I read Wolfsbane. This book sucks balls.

That's all I'm going to say.

3. Rebel Angels, by Libba Bray

I really liked A Great and Terrible Beauty, even if it had its weird moments. But this book was a huge letdown and I couldn't even read the third one. Ms. Bray took this series a a place that I really hated, and I was incredibly disappointed. This series had so much potential, but it all fell flat for me.

4. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, by J.K. Rowling

Don't get me wrong - I still really liked this book. But it was NOT what I was expecting when I stood in line to get my copy at the midnight release. It was so crazy long and convoluted, and practically EVERYONE dies. I mean, it was a bloodbath. It took me watching the movies 10 million times and people explaining the climax to me at least a dozen times before I really understood the bit with the owner of the elder wand and all that jazz.

5. Specials, by Scott Westerfeld

This book really pissed me off. It was another case of an author killing off too many or the wrong characters (IMHO). I understood the purpose of you-know-who's death, but that didn't make me any less angry. I couldn't even finish this one I was so mad.

And that's my list! What books have broken your heart?

Why My Reading Life Sucks, And My Current Muse

2012-02-13T08:00:00.008-05:00

Sooooo...it's been roughly 2 weeks since I actually finished a book. I'm not sure how this happened, but I'm beginning to wonder if I still have it in me to actually read that last page of a riveting YA novel.

There are a number of contributing factors to my current reading paralysis:

1. I have yet to read an incredible book in 2012.
2. My TBR pile is literally starting to scare me, and I'm cracking under the pressure.
3. School is taking over my life.
4. I'm getting back into the swing of writing.

For more information on reason #1, read this post. I would also like to mention that my current read, Pure, by Julianna Baggott, though intriguing, is HUGE! I mean, we're talking like almost 500 pages, and the print is the size of adult books (i.e. SUPER tiny). It's incredibly daunting

For more information on reason #2, let's just take a look back at my IMM from last week. Now, this may not look like a lot, but it's a TON for me, who also should be reading a lot of stuff for school.

Which brings me to another upsetting issue: the fact that my professors feel the need to assign a nauseating amount of homework. I mean, who decided that college should actually be difficult? I don't like this plan. And although I'm actually sort of enjoying what we're reading in American Modernism (Langston Hughes, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and Jean Toomer anyone? Whoop whoop!), I'm definitely sick of analyzing. There's only so much annotating of a poem I can handle.

Let's just say I've got senioritis, and I've got it bad.

As for reason #4, I'll just say that I started a new WIP, as my urban fantasy is nearly done and we're having an argument so I've decided we should see other people for the time being. My current WIP is the one I planned to write for NaNoWriMo but inevitably decided not to start so I could devote more time to my urban fantasy.

Now, because I'm sorta pumped about this story, I think I'l share the *working* blurb, as well as a picture(s) of my current muse, who keeps me writing.

Grace Wilde is running—from the multi-million dollar mansion her record producer father bought, the DJ ex-boyfriend who broke her heart, and the drugged-out older brother who’s topped the country music charts five years in a row. Instead of heading to Vanderbilt for her freshman year of college like her parents want, she jets off to Southern Chinese University in Guangzhou, hoping for a fresh start. But what she finds instead is lots of bicycles, rice, and smog. Not to mention the hottest Korean she’s ever seen.

After growing up in America for most of his life, Jason Bae is now the fresh face of K-pop and about to star in a TV drama alongside Korea’s most eligible bachelorette. But for a reason unknown to his fans and friends alike, he opts to take a break from the music industry to pursue a degree at Southern Chinese University. He and Grace have a lot in common; too bad they hate each other immediately.

But when Grace’s past begins to catch up with her, she soon realizes how alone she is in a foreign country. And how the only person she can have a real conversation with is Jason. When she writes home to her brother every week, she signs her letters “From China, with love,” but what if love is right in front of her?

FROM CHINA, WITH LOVE is a YA contemporary novel about facing prejudices and the healing power of music.

I should seriously pay Jung Yong Hwa for being my primary inspiration. I mean, really...

*Dies*

So that's why I'm not reading. And why I haven't posted a review in a very. long time. I know, I'm a terrible blogger. But hopefully, I'll manage to find it in me to read again.

I just need to find that book that yanks me out of this slump...

In My Mailbox [41]

2012-02-11T09:00:00.000-05:00

"In My Mailbox" is a meme create by Kristi at The Story Siren. No vlog this week, but I've got pictures!

[What I'm calling the "Claudia Gray Collection"]

And all of the spines:

I also got another copy of Partials, by Dan Wells, which I forgot to include in the picture, and a digital galley of Night Sky, by Jolene Perry.

Here's the complete list:

Complete List
1. Night Sky, by Jolene Perry
2. Deadly Cool, by Gemma Halliday
3. The Springsweet, by Saundra Mitchell
4. Evernight, by Claudia Gray
5. Stargazer, by Claudia Gray
6. Balthazar, by Claudia Gray
7. Partials, by Dan Wells
8. Pandemonium, by Lauren Oliver
9. Dreamless, by Josephine Angelini
10. Pure, by Julianna Baggott

*Thank you to HarperTeen, Balzer + Bray, Grand Central, and Lyndsey!

What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Interview: Sonia Gensler, Author of The Revenant + Giveaway

2012-02-09T08:00:00.106-05:00

This month, I'll be hosting our author spotlight for the 2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge, and we're featuring the author of a book that made both my top 11 of 2011 and favorite heroines of 2011 lists!

The author is Sonia Gensler, and the book is her historical ghost story, The Revenant!

Author: Sonia Gensler
Title: The Revenant
Genre: YA historical

When Willie arrives in Indian Territory, she knows only one thing: no one can find out who she really is. To escape a home she doesn't belong in anymore, she assumes the name of a former classmate and accepts a teaching job at the Cherokee Female Seminary.

Nothing prepares her for what she finds there. Her pupils are the daughters of the Cherokee elite—educated and more wealthy than she, and the school is cloaked in mystery. A student drowned in the river last year, and the girls whisper that she was killed by a jealous lover. Willie's room is the very room the dead girl slept in. The students say her spirit haunts it.

Willie doesn't believe in ghosts, but when strange things start happening at the school, she isn't sure anymore. She's also not sure what to make of a boy from the nearby boys' school who has taken an interest in her—his past is cloaked in secrets. Soon, even she has to admit that the revenant may be trying to tell her something. . . .

I chose The Revenant for this month's Multi-Cultural Challenge book pick because it's set in a time and people that often get overlooked in American history - the Cherokee Indians who were displaced from their lands in the Southeast to Oklahoma.

Ms. Gensler was sweet enough to stop by the blog for an interview. We're also giving away a brand new copy of The Revenant for someone, to scroll to the bottom for that! But first, the interview:

KM: Thanks so much for stopping by, Ms. Gensler! Describe your book Twitter-Style!

SG: I've actually had practice with this!

"Nineteenth-century identify thief encounters bullying students and vengeful ghost in Cherokee boarding school."

KM: What inspired you to write The Revenant? Why did you set it at a Native American school?

SG: The second part of the question actually answers the first. The setting was the first thing to grab me. I've always been fascinated by 19th century boarding schools for girls -- in that time educators were finally taking female intellectual capacity more seriously and it seemed to me that this opportunity for girls to leave the domestic sphere and find intellectual challenges with their peers would have been very empowering. And yet it also had a lot of potential for conflict -- we all know how much drama goes on in schools! When I learned there had been a high-powered girls' school in eastern Oklahoma, and that it had been built by the Cherokee Nation for Cherokee girls, I HAD to learn more. The plot of The Revenant grew out of my research.

KM: Did you have to do a lot of research about American Indians before writing the book?

SG: My research involved visits to historical societies, archives, museums, and visits with the policy analyst of the Cherokee Nation. I also read several books about the Cherokee people in Oklahoma, but the most helpful was Cultivating the Rosebuds: The Education of Women at the Cherokee Female Seminary, 1851-1909 by Devon Mihesuah, a very detailed social history of the school.

KM: How do you feel about multi-culturalism in YA, and how do you think your book contributes to it?

SG: I love to read and write historicals. In the past I mistakenly thought my desire to write a Victorian-era mystery precluded the opportunity for multicultural perspectives. I was wrong! The Revenant features a white pov character, but she is an outsider who in many ways is less privileged and less sophisticated than her Cherokee students. I was excited by the irony of that situation, as well as by the potential for character growth.

KM: What message do you want readers to take away from Willie's story?

SG: This is tough. One message might be to "do the work." Willie is an avoider and a bit of cheater. I think she learns over the course of the story to face her problems and work through them, but it takes a while.

KM: Okay, now the rest of the questions are just for fun! Who is your favorite YA heroine? Hero? Couple?

SG: Does Jane Eyre count? She is a teenager for most of the book. I also adore Anne Shirley and Jo March. In more recent YA fiction (...runs to bookshelf...) I loved Elisa from Girl of Fire and Thorns and Clare from Clarity. One of my favorite YA heroes is Eldric from Chime. (I even wrote a guest blog about him.) Favorite YA literary couple? At the moment it's a tie between Katniss/Peeta (Hunger Games) and Briony/Eldric (Chime).

KM: Do you believe in ghosts?

SG: I'm open to the possibility of them. I find the idea of them fascinating, but I'd much prefer to encounter them in fiction than real life. :)

KM: What was your favorite scene to write in The Revenant?

SG: I'm not sure they were my very favorite, but I did enjoy writing the classroom scenes. It was strangely therapeutic to make Willie suffer after all my years of slog and toil in high school English classrooms.

KM: I really, really loved the setting in your book. What books do you think capture setting the best?

SG: Two spooky books from 2011 that brilliantly captured setting were Texas Gothic and The Name of the Star. The former does a lovely job of placing the reader in Texas cattle country and incorporating the landscape into the mystery. And the latter takes one of my favorite settings, the boarding school, and embeds it in one of my very favorite cities, London. Wonderful!

KM: What is your favorite creepy, ghost-y book you've read recently?

SG: I recently re-read Henry James' The Turn of the Screw, and I have to say that it holds up well as a creepy book even though it's more psychological horror than anything. It's delicious. So many of the ghostly stories and films I love could probably trace their origins back to it.

KM: Do you have any new books in the works that you can tell us about?

SG: I have another paranormal mystery in the works -- a standalone story that takes place in a completely different setting than The Revenant. It's slated to come out in 2013, and I'm afraid that's all I can say for now!

Thanks again to Ms. Gensler for stopping by! Now for the giveaway!

Rules
- All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter below.
- However, if you are taking part in the 2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge, you can get extra entries for posting reviews of books you're reading for the challenge. There is an option on the Rafflecopter to click that you posted those reviews!
- All entrants must be 13 years or older
- All entrants must have a US address
- I am not responsible for lost or damaged packages

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Good luck!

Waiting on Wednesday: Maggie Stiefvater, Jolene Perry, and Kassy Tayler

2012-02-08T00:20:00.000-05:00

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme created to feature books we that haven't been released but that we can't wait to read.

Here are my picks:

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Title: The Raven Boys
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: Sept. 18, 2012, from Scholastic

Filled with mystery, romance, and the supernatural, The Raven Boys introduces readers to Richard “Dick” Campbell Gansey, III and Blue Sargent. Gansey has it all—family money, good looks, devoted friends—but he’s looking for much more than that. He is on the hunt to find Glendower, a vanished Welsh king. Legend has it that the first person to find him will be granted a wish—either by seeing him open his eyes, or by cutting out his heart.

Blue Sargent, the daughter of the town psychic in Henrietta, Virginia, has been told for as long as she can remember that if she ever kisses her true love, he will die. But she is too practical to believe in things like true love. Her policy is to stay away from the rich boys at the prestigious Aglionby Academy. The boys there—known as Raven Boys—can only mean trouble. When Gansey and his Raven Boy friends come into her life, Blue realizes how true this is. She never thought her fortune would be a problem. But she was wrong.

Maggie Stiefvater.

No other explanation needed.

Author: Jolene Perry
Title: Night Sky
Genre: YA contemp
Released: March 1, 2012, from Tribute Books

After losing Sarah, the friend he’s loved, to some other guy, Jameson meets Sky. Her Native American roots, fluid movements, and need for brutal honesty become addictive fast. This is good. Jameson needs distraction – his dad leaves for another woman, his mom’s walking around like a zombie, and Sarah’s new boyfriend can’t keep his hands off of her.

As he spends time with Sky and learns about her village, her totems, and her friends with drums - she's way more than distraction. Jameson's falling for her fast.

But Sky’s need for honestly somehow doesn’t extend to her life story – and Jameson just may need more than his new girl to keep him distracted from the disaster of his senior year.

I'm actually going to be featuring this book for the 2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge in a few months, and Ms. Perry was wonderful enough to send me a digital galley of this. I can't WAIT to read it! I love a good contemp, and this one sounds awesome!

Author: Kassy Tayler
Title: Ashes of Twilight
Genre: YA dystopian/steampunk
Released: Nov. 13, 2012, from St. Martin's Griffin

Wren MacAvoy works as a coal miner for a domed city that was constructed in the mid-nineteenth century to protect the royal blood line of England when astronomers spotted a comet on a collision course with Earth. Humanity would be saved by the most groundbreaking technology of the time. But after nearly 200 years of life beneath the dome, society has become complacent, and the coal is running out. Plus, there are those who wonder, is there life outside the dome, or is the world still consumed by fire? When one of Wren's friends escapes the confines of the dome, he is burned alive and put on display as a warning to those seeking to disrupt the dome's way of life. But Alex's final words are haunting. "The sky is blue."

What happens next is a whirlwind of adventure, romance, conspiracy and the struggle to stay alive in a world where nothing is as it seems. Wren unwittingly becomes a catalyst for a revolution that destroys the dome, and the only way to survive might be to embrace what the entire society has feared their entire existence.

I am all about steampunk! And while this is technically a "dystopian steampunk" (a rather weird but very interesting blend of genres, IMHO), I'm really looking forward to its release. I'm not a huge fan of the cover, but it's slowly growing on me. It's just nice to see a non-girl-in-pretty-dress cover for once!

What books are you looking forward to?

January in Review, And The Four-Star Slump

2012-02-06T00:42:00.000-05:00

I managed to stay ahead of my reading challenge in January, as I squeezed quite a few books in before I had to go back to school. Here are the books I read in January, as well as links to my reviews (if they've been posted already).

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith (my review)
Half-Blood, by Jennifer L. Armentrout (my review)
Wolfsbane, by Andrea Cremer (my review)
Destiny's Fire, by Trisha Wolfe (my review)
Immortal Beloved, by Cate Tiernan (my review)
The Wasteland, by T.S. Eliot *For School*
Masque of the Red Death, by Bethany Griffin
The Garden Intrigue, by Lauren Willig (my review)
Lives On the Boundary, by Mike Rose *For School*

I noticed something a bit troubling by my list of books read in 2012 so far - that I've rated almost ALL of them 4 stars and NONE of them have been 5-star ratings. This time last year, I'd read two books that I rated 5 stars.

I'm getting nervous.

Maybe I'm just picking the wrong books? But I'd thought that Masque of the Red Death was a sure-fire way to achieve that perfect rating, but unfortunately, it was a little disappointing. Immortal Beloved ALMOST got 5 stars, but I just couldn't do it.

So what's wrong with me? Sophomore book blogging slump? Or maybe I'm just getting harder to please.

Here's hoping February brings at least one 5-star book!

What did you read in January?

Most Anticipated KDrama of 2012 HAS AIRED!

2012-02-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

So maybe you guys remember me raving about last year's Korean drama "Dream High." I likened it to the love child of "High School Musical" and "Fame," but with a more mature spin.

Well, all of us who have been suffering from post-"Dream High" syndrome have all been satisfied once again, as the new season aired this week!

Unfortunately, none of the same characters are starring in this one, but I have faith that it will be just as awesome. I'm trying not to be disappointed that there is no more Taecyeon and Wooyoung and I'm afraid that 2am's Jinwoon just can't compare to the previous male leads, but I have faith.

It's gonna be epic.

Also, I've watched the first two episodes, and I've got to say that I really liked the story line. It's a lot different than the first season, which was mostly about following your dreams no matter what. But this one is posing questions about the definition of art and ethics in the music industry.

Hoping it'll continue to be good!

Project Tell Taylor, Featuring Michelle Madow's Remembrance

2012-02-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Author Michelle Madow is hosting an incredible giveaway at her blog as part of her "Project Tell Taylor," which is basically trying to make Taylor Swift aware of the fact that her music video for "Love Story" inspired Madow to write her debut novel, Remembrance.

Here's how Madow describes the project:

My debut novel Remembrance was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. I talked about it in a blog entry a few months ago, discussing how Remembrance was inspired by Taylor Swift's "Love Story" music video. I even wrote a letter to Taylor Swift and sent it to her, along with a signed book!

It's been a few months now, and I have yet to hear back from Taylor that she received the letter and book. I really want to tell Taylor about how inspiring she and her music have been to me, but since Taylor Swift is an international superstar, she’s a little hard to reach. This is where YOUR help comes into play! With the help of 76 awesome book bloggers, I am giving away the biggest prize pack I've offered yet, and the ways to enter to win are by telling Taylor Swift about Remembrance.

The Goal: Get Taylor Swift to Tweet about Remembrance!

Awesome, right?! So here's what you could win:

- Signed copy of Remembrance
- Signed copy of Vengeance
- Three signed Remembrance bookmarks
- Two Remembrance stickers
- Taylor Swift's debut album
- Taylor Swift's Fearless album
- Pride and Prejudice (HarperTeen edition)
- Remembrance mask
- Vengeance mask
- "Always & Forever" heart chain bracelet

I'm actually not a part of the this project, but I just had to let you guys know about this! Enter at Michelle Madow's blog and pass along the info on this amazing project!

Review: The Garden Intrigue, by Lauren Willig

2012-02-01T08:00:00.011-05:00

Author: Lauren Willig
Title: The Garden Intrigue
Series: The Pink Carnation #8
Genre: Adult historical
Pages: 400
Released: Feb. 16, 2012
Publisher: Dutton
Source: NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★

As Napoleon pursues his plans for the invasion of England, English operative Augustus Whittlesby gets wind of a top secret device, to be demonstrated over the course of a house party at Malmaison. The catch? The only way in is to join forces with that annoying American socialite, Emma Morris Delagardie, who has been commissioned to write a masque for the weekend’s entertainment. Even so, it should leave plenty of alone time with Augustus’ colleague (and goddess), Jane Wooliston, who has been tapped to play the heroine. Or so Augustus tells himself. In this complicated masque within a masque, nothing seems to go quite as scripted - especially Emma.

I don't think I've ever hung on to a series this long, but Lauren Willig's books never fail to impress. This woman is an amazing storyteller, and she's probably the only author of adult books whose releases I always anxiously await.

As per usual, the latest Pink Carnation book is chalked full of historical realism that I nearly feel like I've fallen into the 1700s. Unlike some of the other books, this one takes place in France, following everyone's favorite ridiculous poet, Augustus Whittlesby. I was really excited to see that he was getting his own book. Like Turnip, Whittlesby has a bit of the idiot in him. Or so we thought. We come to find in The Garden Intrigue that Whittlesby isn't the buffoon everybody makes him out to be. Instead, he is a clever spy.

With Whittlesby being such a major character, his poetry was highlighted quite a bit. It's hilarious in its absurdity, and I was really impressed with Willig that she could come up with such great stuff! Also, the banter between Whittlesby and Emma was great, especially at the beginning, where she says that he murders "unsuspecting adverbs."

I've got to say this is probably one of the funniest Willig books I've read because of the poetry and the banter. It was also a lot better than the last one, The Orchid Affair, which I didn't much care for.

But while this was a really good read, I've got to admit that it still didn't quite capture that magic that's in the first three Pink Carnation books. There was just something charming, smart, and delicious about The Secret History of the Pink Carnation, The Masque of the Black Tulip (my personal favorite), and The Deception of the Emerald Ring, although I thought perhaps the wonderful The Mischief of the Mistletoe had brought back her former glory. I'm not sure if the plotline is becoming is a little tired, since they're all relatively similar, or if Willig has run out of a lot of good ideas. The characters just don't feel quite as fleshed out, and the danger doesn't seem quite as imminent.

I'm still awaiting the book dedicated to Jane, our Pink Carnation. I think it's time for the series to come to a close, as great as it was. And I hope to see a lot of old friends in the finale, like Henrietta, Miles, Richard, Amy, Turnip, and Charlotte...but mostly Turnip.

Book Doppelgangers: India Black by Carol K. Carr, And Only to Deceive by Tasha Alexander

If You're Going to Read A Steampunk Book, What to Choose

2012-01-31T00:01:00.001-05:00

I'm of the opinion that there is a book out there for everyone and that there is a book in almost every subgenre for someone, meaning that most everybody can find a vampire book they like or historical romance.

That being said, there are definitely books that are just better than others, either because of their prose, characters, or plot. Whatever it is, these books have "it." So if you're looking for a great read in one of your favorite genres or thinking about picking up a book the likes that you've never read, I've created this series for you, my reader, in which I will give my recommendations for the best books of certain genres.

This week's genre: steampunk.

If you like hardcore fantasy with a splash of dystopia...

Author: Catherine Fisher
Title: Incarceron

Incarceron is a prison so vast that it contains not only cells, but also metal forests, dilapidated cities, and vast wilderness. Finn, a seventeen-year-old prisoner, has no memory of his childhood and is sure that he came from Outside Incarceron. Very few prisoners believe that there is an Outside, however, which makes escape seems impossible.

And then Finn finds a crystal key that allows him to communicate with a girl named Claudia. She claims to live Outside - she is the daughter of the Warden of Incarceron, and doomed to an arranged marriage. Finn is determined to escape the prison and Claudia believes she can help him. But they don't realize that there is more to Incarceron than meets the eye, and escape will take their greatest courage and cost more than they know. Because Incarceron is alive.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again - this book messed me up. It's so confusing and vague and magical and AWESOME! This was one of my first ventures into steampunk, and it really propelled me into the genre. Plus, this is a great pick for people who enjoy dystopia - it has that totalitarian government that we all love to hate.

If you like dark, literary books...

Author: Bethany Griffin
Title: Masque of the Red Death

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

I know this book hasn't come out yet, but mark your calendars, people. It's going to be big. I was really surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, considering it's so incredibly dark. But Bethany Griffin has a beautiful way of writing that will really capture your imagination and transport you into this grim world.

If you like humor...

Author: Gail Carriger
Title: Soulless

Alexia Tarabotti is laboring under a great many social tribulations. First, she has no soul. Second, she's a spinster whose father is both Italian and dead. Third, she was rudely attacked by a vampire, breaking all standards of social etiquette.

Where to go from there? From bad to worse apparently, for Alexia accidentally kills the vampire—and then the appalling Lord Maccon (loud, messy, gorgeous, and werewolf) is sent by Queen Victoria to investigate.

With unexpected vampires appearing and expected vampires disappearing, everyone seems to believe Alexia responsible. Can she figure out what is actually happening to London's high society? Will her soulless ability to negate supernatural powers prove useful or just plain embarrassing? Finally, who is the real enemy, and do they have treacle tart?

SOULLESS is a comedy of manners set in Victorian London: full of werewolves, vampires, dirigibles, and tea-drinking.

This isn't a YA book, but I just had to include it because it's so gosh darn funny. Seriously, Gail Carriger is hilarious. She reminded me a lot of Sophie Kinsella...if Kinsella wrote about vampires, werewolves, and dirigibles.

If you want to read the most epic series of your life...

Author: Cassandra Clare
Title: Clockwork Angel

Magic is dangerous--but love is more dangerous still.

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

I honestly don't have enough space to tell you all the amazing aspects of this book (and its sequel). It should be argument enough that Clockwork Angel was my best read of 2010 and Clockwork Prince was my best read of 2011. These are so well researched, so well written, and so well characterized, that you will be breathless throughout the entire book. It's just epic. Period.

What are your favorite steampunk novels?

2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge January Giveaway and Recap

2012-01-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

We had a great first month in the 2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge! The book I read and reviewed for this month was Cinder, by Marissa Meyer, which is set in China (New Beijing, to be precise)! You can check out my review here!

And if you have no idea what this post is about and haven't already signed up for the challenge, check out this post with more info OR just link up with us here:

And here's a quick reminder of the book we're giving away for January:

Author: Jaime Reed
Title: Living Violet
Genre: YA paranormal

He's persuasive, charming, and way too mysterious. And for Samara Marshall, her co-worker is everything she wants most--and everything she most fears. . .

Samara Marshall is determined to make the summer before her senior year the best ever. Her plan: enjoy downtime with friends and work to save up cash for her dream car. Summer romance is not on her to-do list, but uncovering the truth about her flirtatious co-worker, Caleb Baker, is. From the peculiar glow to his eyes to the unfortunate events that befall the girls who pine after him, Samara is the only one to sense danger behind his smile.

But Caleb's secrets are drawing Samara into a world where the laws of attraction are a means of survival. And as a sinister power closes in on those she loves, Samara must take a risk that will change her life forever. . .or consume it.

You can also check out NC's interview with Jaime here! This is a great book so definitely enter for a chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What multi-cultural book(s) did you read this month?

In My Mailbox [40]

2012-01-28T15:00:00.004-05:00

"In My Mailbox" is a meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books Mentioned
1. A Breath of Eyre, by Eve Marie Mont
2. Switched, by Amanda Hocking
3. Dust Girl, by Sarah Zettel
4. The Garden Intrigue, by Lauren Willig
5. Midnight in Austenland, by Shannon Hale
6. Sirenz Back in Fashion, by Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman
7. Vesper, by Jeff Sampson
8. Havoc, by Jeff Sampson
9. Faithful, by Janet Fox
10. Silver Phoenix, by Cindy Pon

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

2012-01-26T16:30:00.000-05:00

This hop is hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Amber at Down the Rabbit Hole.

Here's what I'm giving away:

Hardbacks of the first three books in the Caster Chronicles, by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl

Blurb for book one:

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

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

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

This is definitely a beloved YA series, so I thought it would be perfect for this giveaway hop!

Entering is simple, just fill out the Rafflecopter below.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Immortal Beloved, by Cate Tiernan

2012-01-26T08:00:00.079-05:00

Author: Cate Tiernan
Title: Immortal Beloved
Series: Immortal Beloved #1
Genre: YA paranormal
Pages: 407
Released: Sept. 7, 2010
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★
Buy: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository

Nastasya has spent the last century living as a spoiled, drugged-out party girl. She feels nothing and cares for no one. But when she witnesses her best friend, a Dark Immortal, torture a human, she realizes something's got to change. She seeks refuge at a rehab for wayward immortals, where she meets the gorgeous, undeniably sexy Reyn, who seems inexplicably linked to her past.

Nastasya finally begins to deal with life, and even feels safe--until the night she learns that someone wants her dead.

Cate Tiernan, author of the popular Sweep series, returns with an engaging story of a timeless struggle and inescapable romance, the first book in a stunning new fantasy trilogy.

I was really happy that I got a copy of this for review when it came out in paperback, as I missed it the first time around. Nastasya is one of the most fascinating characters I have ever run across in YA, and amount of philosophy Tiernan manages to pack into this 400-page novel was incredibly impressive.

First off, let me say that this might not be the book for everyone. The pacing is really slow. And honestly, if you asked me to tell you what actually happened in this book, I'd come up blank. Because almost nothing actually DOES happen. The entire plot could be condensed into the following outline:

1. She [Nastasya] freaks out at her friend paralyzing a guy
2. She realizes her life sucks
3. She goes to "River's Edge," which is pretty much like immortal rehab
4. She does lots of chores
5. She must come to grips with her past

And that's it.

But the beauty of the novel is Tiernan's writing and characterization. Nastasya is a really complicated character, and at the beginning of the novel, you can't decide if you like her or not. She's so entrenched in apathy that it's hard to really see who she is. But, of course, Nastasya doesn't even know who she is beneath the healthy layer of snark that covers her.

I REALLY loved Nastasya and her character arc. Talk about a complete 180! And Tiernan manages to create this change while still maintaining a lot of humor. Nastasya's sarcasm was really funny - I loved hearing her inner monologue about everything, especially River's Edge, where she must chuck her designer clothes for long underwear and learn how to farm.

River's Edge itself was a really interesting setting. It's essentially like rehab for immortals who need to figure out their lives. The book is peppered with bits of philosophy, making you think about your own life. Nastasya and all the other immortals run the risk of letting life pass them by since they live forever, but they have to learn to stop and smell the roses, essentially. It's a very interesting theme for a YA book, but I loved it!

Speaking of this book's connection to YA, I honestly didn't feel like it fit much into that category. The heroine is over 400 years old, and she has a LOT of life experience. We're talking marriage, being widowed, and a miscarriage. I think it might be difficult for teens to relate to her. Heck, I had a hard time relating. But I liked the break from the traditional immature MC.

Another aspect I really liked was the romance (or lack thereof). Now, don't get me wrong. There's some romance, but I think the book description (and the title, for that matter) plays it up a lot more than what there actually is. Reyn is certainly a love interest, but there's a LOT more to him than that. Also, he doesn't show up enough in the story for me to consider this a paranormal romance. He doesn't become important until the very end.

But again, I found this break from the traditional YA archetypes really refreshing! It was nice to read a paranormal story about self-healing instead of an all-consuming love. This is DEFINITELY a series I will be continuing! Can't wait to start reading Darkness Falls!

Book Doppelgangers: Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

Waiting on Wednesday, Historical Edition: Wentworth Hall,Violins of Autumn, and The Academie

2012-01-25T08:00:00.040-05:00

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme created to showcase books that we bloggers can't wait to be released. I've got some great historical choices this week, so check 'em out!

Author: Abby Grahame
Title: Wentworth Hall
Genre: Historical
Released: May 1, 2012
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

A lush, historical novel about the secretive Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall!The prettiest people often have the ugliest secrets…

Eighteen-year-old Maggie Darlington has turned into an entirely different person. The once spirited teen is now passive and reserved. A change Lord and Lady Darlington can’t help but be grateful for.

It’s 1912, and the Darlingtons of Wentworth Hall have more than just the extensive grounds to maintain. As one of Britain’s most elite families, they need to keep up appearances that things are as they have always been…even as their carefully constructed faÇade rapidly comes undone.

Maggie has a secret. And she’s not the only one…the handsome groom Michael, the beautiful new French nanny Therese, the Darlingtons’ teenage houseguests Teddy and Jessica, and even Maggie’s younger sister Lila are all hiding something. Passion, betrayal, heartache, and whispered declarations of love take place under the Darlingtons’ massive roof. And one of these secrets has the power to ruin the Darlingtons forever.

When scandalous satires start appearing in the newspaper with details that closely mirror the lives of the Darlingtons, everyone is looking over their shoulder, worrying their scandal will be next. Because at Wentworth Hall, nothing stays secret for long.

Okay, does this remind anyone else of "Downton Abbey"?! I love a good historical, and the turn of the century is a great time period! I'm really looking forward to this book!

Author: Amy McAuley
Title: Violins of Autumn
Genre: YA historical
Released: June 19, 2012
Publisher: Walker

Go behind enemy lines during World War II in this tale of romance and espionage...

Betty, an American teenager living in Britain, is determined to contribute to the cause when the Germans begin bombing London in World War II. Instead of collecting scrap metal or running air raid drills like most girls her age, Betty lies about her age and trains to become a spy and member of the Special Operations Executive. Now known by her secret agent persona, Adele Blanchard, she soon finds herself parachuting over German-occupied France in the dark of night to join the secret Resistance movement.

Adele's missions in Paris and throughout the French countryside delivering top-secret messages, lead to several close calls with the Gestapo, but it's when she crosses paths with a young American pilot that Adele fully realizes the brutality of this war and the seriousness of her circumstances. Plus her changing feelings for this pilot are as uncertain as their future. Can Adele elude the Gestapo long enough to enjoy the future they are trying to protect?

There are lots of adult books like this, but this is the first YA I've ever seen that dives into spies during WWII. I really enjoy books set around this time period (it's SO epic!), so I am really looking forward to this one. And the cover? Awesome! Love the glamour.

Author: Susanne Dunlap
Title: The Academie
Genre: YA historical
Released: April 10, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury

Eliza Monroe—daughter of the future president of the United States—is devastated when her mother decides to send her to boarding school outside of Paris. But the young American teen is quickly reconciled to the idea when—ooh, la-la!—she discovers who her fellow pupils will be: Hortense de Beauharnais, daughter of Josephine Bonaparte; and Caroline Bonaparte, youngest sister of the famous French general. It doesn't take long for Eliza to figure out that the two French girls are mortal enemies—and that she's about to get caught in the middle of their schemes.

Loosely drawn from history, Eliza Monroe's imagined coming of age provides a scintillating glimpse into the lives, loves, and hopes of three young women during one of the most volatile periods in French history.

I don't think I've ever read a book like this one, so that makes me want to read it already. But I'm a sucker for anything about Napoleon. I battle with myself as to which time period in history I like better: the Napoleonic Wars or the Victorian Era. Anyway, this one sounds really interesting!

What books are you looking forward to?

Book Discussion: What Is This "Creative Nonfiction" You Speak Of?

2012-01-23T00:09:00.000-05:00

I was on Twitter the other day and saw Wolfson Literary tweet this about what the heck creative nonfiction is. I think this is a common question in writing circles, as creative nonfiction really isn't that mainstream. If you look on Goodreads, you will actually only find 1 listopia list that has it.

This astounds me. Especially that a literary agent [and many authors] is unfamiliar with the term.

Here's the definition I found on Wikipedia:

"Creative Nonfiction: (also known as literary or narrative nonfiction) is a genre of writing that uses literary styles and techniques to create factually accurate narratives. Creative nonfiction contrasts with other nonfiction, such as technical writing or journalism, which is also rooted in accurate fact, but is not primarily written in service to its craft."

Now, not many people have ever read something like this, but I'm here to tell you that it's AWESOME!

A good example of creative nonfiction is David Sedaris, who is a humor author who writes a lot about his family. His stories are all true, but they're dramatized, meaning that they're not written in a technical or journalistic way.

That's what separates traditional nonfiction from creative nonfiction: the means by which the author chooses the tell the story.

Say you want to write a short piece of writing about your favorite childhood memory. You could write an essay about it, which would resemble more academic writing. It might even have a thesis statement. OR you could take that same exact story and tell it the same way you would write a short story. The latter is creative nonfiction.

I had a college professor who said it this way:

Creative nonfiction is how you REMEMBER an event, not necessarily how it happened.

This gives the author more freedom to tell the narrative but not so much freedom that they're lying about events. Lying about your memoir? That's just lying, not creative nonfiction.

Memoir is a large portion of this genre, along with travel writing, food writing, and biography.

Julia & Julia? That's creative nonfiction.

I have strong feelings about this genre (as evidenced by the sheer existence of this post). I was introduced to it about a year and a half ago in one of my college courses and completely fell in love with it because it's real. But that doesn't mean it has to be boring.

Actually, I really enjoy writing creative nonfiction, as well. I ended up writing a creative nonfiction piece (which I have attached to the end of this post) about one of my trips to Thailand that was published in our school's literary magazine and actually won the prize for best in literature, above creative short stories. (I felt vindicated for all creative nonfiction writers everywhere.)

This is a legitimate genre. It can be raw and beautiful, or it can be really funny. But what makes it so great is that it actually happened. Everything is real. And that makes it ten times better because it takes literature out of the hypothetical and puts it in the real world.

How do you feel about creative nonfiction as a genre? Had you even heard of it?

And for anyone who's interested, here's my creative nonfiction story, as was published in the literary magazine. It's a little over 5 pages. Hope you enjoy it! (And, yes, all of this DID happen.)

Cover Alert: Heidi R. Kling, Aimee Carter, Carrie Jones, and More!

2012-01-21T00:52:00.000-05:00

Here are a few covers that have been revealed recently that I thought you should check out in case you missed them!

Ironskin, by Tina Connolly

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It's the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain -- the ironskin.

Now Jane returns to the war-torn country to help a fey-cursed child. Helping the unruly Dorie suppress her curse is hard enough -- she certainly didn't expect to fall for the girl's father, the enigmatic artist Mr. Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio -- and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows he cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things are true? Step by step Jane must unlock the secrets of her new life -- and discover just how far she will go to become whole again.

Endure, by Carrie Jones
*Unfortunately, I couldn't find a larger picture of this one

It’s all-out war (and no-holds-barred romance) in the climactic conclusion to Carrie Jones’s bestselling series.

Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .

Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers.

The Goddess Hunt, by Aimee Carter

A vacation in Greece sounds like the perfect way for Kate Winters to spend her first sabbatical away from the Underworld...until she gets caught up in an immortal feud going back millennia. Castor and Pollux have been on the run from Zeus and Hades's wrath for centuries, hiding from the gods who hunt them. The last person they trust is Kate, the new Queen of the Underworld. Nevertheless, she is determined to help their cause. But when it comes to dealing with immortals, Kate still has a lot to learn....

Kill Me Softly, by Sarah Cross

True love’s kiss just may prove deadly....

Mirabelle’s past is shrouded in secrecy, from her parents’ tragic deaths to her guardians’ half-truths about why she can’t return to her birthplace, Beau Rivage. Desperate to see the town, Mira runs away a week before her sixteenth birthday—and discovers a world she never could have imagined.

In Beau Rivage, nothing is what it seems—the strangely pale girl with a morbid interest in apples, the obnoxious playboy who’s a beast to everyone he meets, and the chivalrous guy who has a thing for damsels in distress. Here, fairy tales come to life, curses are awakened, and ancient stories are played out again and again.

But fairy tales aren’t pretty things, and they don’t always end in happily ever after. Mira has a role to play, a fairy-tale destiny to embrace or resist. As she struggles to take control of her fate, Mira is drawn into the lives of two brothers with fairy-tale curses of their own ... brothers who share a dark secret. And she’ll find that love, just like fairy tales, can have sharp edges and hidden thorns.

Witch's Brew, by Heidi R. Kling
*P.S. I'm really intrigued by this "active fiction" premise.

The Spellspinners of Melas County is a fantasy YA romance series about a witch, a warlock, and their fight for their forbidden but prophesied love.

Once soulmates, the witch and warlock covens of the California coast have been estranged for a century. Raised to hate each other, their teenagers meet in the Solstice Stones, a magical battleground where they draw energy from each other to maintain their balance. 16 year olds Logan and Lily have spent years training for their first Stones…only to discover just days before that the enemy may not be what either of them had thought.

In Witch’s Brew, Lily is torn between her feelings for Logan and her coven’s need to know who—or what—he is. The young lovers race against time, their distrust for each other, and the powerful influence of their elders to unravel the mystery of their pasts before their future is destroyed.

This is an Active Fiction title
"Active fiction" is a new type of e-reading experience that allows the reader and the author to interact with each other and the text in new and different ways.

In Witch’s Brew, Lily and Logan's fate is already decided, but Heidi explores several different possible pathways for how they get there. She shares scenes that wouldn’t normally fit in a book format and gives readers more precious moments between the two young lovers. As the series progresses, you'll see some normal narrative forms, interspersed with smaller scenes, alternate points of view, and a lot of "what if" scenarios.

Loving these covers, especially the Tina Connolly one - GORGEOUS!

What do you think?

Book Twins: Is There Another Book Reviewer Who Thinks Just Like You Do?

2012-01-19T08:00:00.083-05:00

Having been around the blogosphere for about two years, I've seen a lot of reviewers who listen to other reviewers. Someone has decided not to read a book based on negative reviews or what have you. I've also seen people pick up books because someone they trusted gave the book a high rating.

This got me thinking about my own process of choosing books to read. Has there ever been an instance in which there was a book I wanted to read but I read a negative review by someone I trusted and therefore I didn't pick up the book?

Honestly, I don't think so.

And let me tell you why: because I have yet to find anyone in the blogosphere who shares my exact taste on books.There have been times when I loved a book but someone with a similar taste to mine doesn't, and vice versa.

Here are some examples:

NC from Truly Bookish and I share a lot of similar beliefs, and we get irritated by a lot of the same things in books. For example, we're both fairly wary about angel books, and we love a good story based on mythology.

But our tastes differ in that I will read a paranormal romance pretty much no matter what. I love them. I mean, seriously, they might be one of my favorite genres. Werewolves. Vampires. Fairies. Gods and goddesses. Steampunk. Whatever. I like it all. But she's not as much into them as I am, and she reads more dystopian and thrillers, which can easily get boring for me.

So I don't always trust her opinion 100% when she says she didn't like a paranormal romance because I generally like them more than her, and I suspect she knows that she's into dystopians more than me and there's a better chance of her liking one than me.

I can always trust Wendy over at The Midnight Garden to post critical reviews. She's a tough one to please! But I know that if she says something's good, then it MUST be. We also share a love for Cassandra Clare's Infernal Devices series.

But Wendy likes some books that I don't or that I don't really want to read, like Cynthia Hand's Hallowed series. Wendy and I don't always share the same opinions about angel books in general, because I have a hard time accepting angel mythology as legit and they make me uncomfortable.

Stephanie from Book Catching is another person who is hard to please, but I tend to respect her positive reviews more than a lot of other people's. We also both hated Carrier of the Mark, by Leigh Fallon, and Wolfsbane, by Andrea Cremer.

But there have been books that I really liked that Stephanie didn't, an example being just about anything written by Cassandra Clare. I'm a HUGE Cassie Clare fan, and Stephanie is...not. She can be a much more discerning reader than me and what I can breeze past, she doesn't.

I should really start raising my standards to Stephanie's...

--

Now, there IS one person that I would consider my taste really close to, and if I was forced to pick a book twin, it would be this girl. And that's...

Kristin over at Kristin Creative is more than just another reviewer to me, though. She also happens to be my crit buddy. And really, if you're going to have a critique partner, you want that person to have similar taste to yours.

I can always count on Kristin to point me towards the best contemporary novels, as she's way more passionate about them than I am. And although we don't read a lot of the same things, we tend to agree on what we like and don't like. The one gaping chasm in our reading tastes is Anna & the French Kiss, but really, I think I'm a huge oddity for not liking that book as much as everyone else.

--

So even though I REALLY trust all of these great girls' opinions, I tend to go with my gut more than other reviews. There's always a chance that I might love something than my most trusted reviewers don't.

Now, I do make exceptions for when a reviewer highlights content that I don't agree with. In that case, I will definitely heed the warning and forget about the book. For example, if I hadn't already bought Wolfsbane before I read Stephanie's review, I never would have picked it up! Truly, the book is an all-around travesty, and I wish I hadn't read it.

But now I want to know: Do you have a book twin? Is there someone in the blogosphere who has a really similar taste to your own? Do you listen to their opinions enough to keep you from reading a book?

Review: Wolfsbane, by Andrea Cremer

2012-01-18T09:00:00.029-05:00

Author: Andrea Cremer
Title: Wolfsbane
Series: Nightshade #2
Genre: YA fantasy
Challenge: 2012 TBR Pile Challenge
Released: July 26, 2011
Publisher: Philomel
Source: Bought
Rating: ★ 1/2

When Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemies, she's certain her days are numbered. But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

I really enjoyed Nightshade. Although it REALLY resembled Annette Curtis Klaus' Blood and Chocolate, I enjoyed the pack dynamics, the mythology, and of course, Ren Laroche. I wasn't a huge fan of a few other things, most notably, Shay; but I was able to look past the negatives and really like the book. Unfortunately, everything that I liked about Nightshade was nowhere to be found in Wolfsbane, and instead, we're given the husk of a novel that lacks really any interesting qualities.

First, let's talk about three rules of writing that Andrea Cremer needs to review before she writes any more books:

1. Pacing/Plot
2. Worldbuilding
3. Characterization

The pacing of Nightshade was relatively quick. We were constantly on the go, following Calla around as she did her duties, went to school, and fell in love with Shay. We're left at a major cliffhanger at the end of Nightshade, but unfortunately, the pace comes to a screeching halt at the beginning of Wolfsbane and it putters around throughout the rest of the book, never really picking up.

Nothing happened in this book. I still have no idea what the climax was. Was it Calla sort of [but not really] "choosing" Shay as her alpha? Because that's all I can come up with. And if THAT was the climax, I've got to say I'm even more disappointed in Cremer than I was originally.

Second, let's discuss worldbuilding. Cremer really, really, REALLY expands her mythology in Wolfsbane, so much so that I felt like I was drowning in it. There were ten million characters introduced to us, with more backstories than any 400ish-page book could handle, all tied together through long-winded lectures in which Calla and Shay ask really stupid questions that spur even MORE backstories. I love that Cremer knows her world so well. The mythology really is sorta interesting, but I felt she suffered from a serious case of thinking we all need to know as much about this world as she does. Although I'm glad SHE knows every nuance of every character, down to who they would vote for in the 2012 election, no offense - but I don't care. I don't need to know the particulars about how wolves heal each other. And for the love of all that's holy, do NOT break up an action scene to give me these superfluous details! When I thought something exciting was going to finally happen, Cremer would throw in another info dump. It was all very disappointing.

Lastly, characterization. It was horrible. We only get about 10ish pages of Ren, and he is NOT the same Ren we saw in Nightshade. I can understand that he's gone through a lot, that the Keepers have tortured and questioned him. But I don't think he would have gone through quite that much of a change. I mean, he (highlight for spoiler) almost RAPES her! While he was always flirty in the first book and joked about seducing her, he never forced himself on her. I just had a really hard time believing that this same character would do that (end spoiler).

This brings me to the character of Shay, who is, quite possibly, my least favorite love interest in all of YA. I even liked Edward Cullen more. (I know! CRAZY!) At least Edward always had Bella's best interest at heart, even if he was creepy and wanted to eat her. I NEVER felt like Shay cared about Calla. Oh, he says he does. In fact, he does quite a lot of talking about how he wants to keep her safe, he loves her, blah blah blah. But what he is isn't loving; he's manipulative, and he's a bully.

Throughout Wolfsbane, Calla is mourning Ren. She worries about him and the rest of the Nightshade and Bane packs. I thought this was normal. I mean, she left them so she could save Shay's skin. But every time she so much as mentions Ren or even thinks about him, Shay goes crazy, like she shouldn't dare worry about a guy that she's known her entire life and that was her FRIEND! I could have forgiven this pettiness on Shay's account if he hadn't been so blatantly trying to get into her pants every time they were alone. And when she would say no, he would get angry and blame Ren. He's never satisfied with Calla unless she's putting out.

I'm sorry, and this is the love interest...why?

And while we're on the subject of sex, I'm beginning to wonder if it's possible for Andrea Cremer to write about any sort of normal, healthy sexual relationship between two individuals. From the crude jokes at really inappropriate times (via new character Connor) to Ren (highlight for spoiler) almost raping Calla (end spoiler) to the way the Keepers inhibit the women Guardians' ability to reproduce and Shay's forcing himself on Calla, there's a lot of talk about sex. It plays a major role in this novel. And honestly, it reminded me a lot of those trashy gothic novels that women in the 1800s read, like The Mysteries of Udolfo, by Mrs. Radcliffe and The Monk, by Matthew Lewis. I'm pretty sure Jane Austen wrote a novel about girls who read too many books about women getting ravished and the like - oh yeah, Northanger Abbey. Maybe Andrea Cremer should read that book, because I'm thinking she's a little too interested in the darker nature of sexuality.

But that's all I'm going to say about that, because I intend to discuss way more about Calla, and her and Cremer's "feminism" that is presented in this series.

Overall, this book was really horrible. I think Andrea Cremer wants to write bodice-ripper novels, but she has a fetish for the supernatural and knows that YA is a cash cow. Unfortunately, this novel embodies all the negative aspects of gothic horror novels and really isn't even a YA book at all. From the content to the themes, this is an adult book with teenage characters.

At least now I know why they switched the old cover to this one - because the contents of this book didn't deserve that beautiful cover. The ugliness and overt, dark sexuality of this cover reflects that which is found inside these pages.

Book Doppelgangers: Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klaus, Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Would Recommend to People Who Don't Read YA

2012-01-17T00:36:00.000-05:00

"Top Ten Tuesday" is a meme created by The Broke and the Bookish that features our top 10 list of books in a particular category. This week, it's books you would recommend to people who don't like a particular genre.

I thought I'd list my top YA picks, you know...since I review YA books and all. So I guess this is sort of my top 10 list of YA books of all time.

Wow.

Pressure?

1. The Harry Potter series, by J.K. Rowling

Although these books started as children's and were MG in the middle, they ended as YA. They're the best modern children's literature out there. Period.

Everyone should read them.

2. City of Bones, by Cassandra Clare

This is a great introduction to the urban fantasy genre. Plus, it's funny, smart, and and super awesome!

Oh yeah, and Jace Wayland is in it. NBD.

3. The Luxe, by Anna Godbersen

There is something magical about Anna Godbersen's books, which is pretty remarkable, since she's writing pure historical fiction. But The Luxe series is one of my all-time favorites and the only series that I have ever given all the books five stars.

Even people who don't like historical books should read these. They are AMAZING! And to all the people who said this first book was just a historical version of "Gossip Girl," I challenge you to keep reading until the end of the series and say the same thing.

4. The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins

I mean, really, does this book need any explanation? It's epic. It's also a great crossover for adults. Even my mom liked this book, and she doesn't enjoy YA.

5. Twilight, by Stephenie Meyer

Okay, okay, I'll admit that this isn't great literature. But it's definitely a cultural phenomenon. And for that reason alone, people should read it. You should at least be culturally literate IMHO. If you refuse to read the books, for heaven's sake, watch the movies so you know what everyone is talking about!

6. Daughter of Smoke and Bone, by Laini Taylor

This book is crazy good! And I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy. It's beautifully written, it has way more substance than you might originally think, and it's mesmerizing in a dark sort of way. A perfect read for anyone who loves a bit of the paranormal in their books.

7. Perfect Chemistry, by Simone Elkeles

This book is for everyone who loves romance novels but thinks they don't like YA. It's insanely hot, but it's also got great character development and a killer plot. I didn't think it was possible for me to fall in love with a gang member, but this book proved me wrong.

8. Clockwork Angel, by Cassandra Clare

For me, this is the most atmospheric, well-written YA series right now. It's so different than other books, and Clare is just an incredible author. I actually loaned this book to a friend of mine who doesn't read YA and she really liked it.

9. Sea, by Heidi R. Kling

This is my favorite YA contemp of all time, I think, and it's the only "issues" book that I've ever really enjoyed. It's so beautiful in its simpleness, and it highlights a part of our world that so often gets overlooked. This is an incredible story about loss and love and healing - a GREAT read!

10. Incarceron, by Catherine Fisher

This book totally blew my mind. It's confusing at worst and vague at best, but it's one crazy awesome read! I bow at the greatness of Catherine Fisher's ability to create such a vivid world.

Reading Incarceron is a lot like watching "Inception" - at the end, you're left with your mouth hanging open and your brains turned to mush...but in the best way possible.

What would be your top 10 recommendations for people who don't read YA?

Review: Destiny's Fire, by Trisha Wolfe

2012-01-16T08:00:00.003-05:00

Author: Trisha Wolfe
Title: Destiny's Fire
Series: Destiny's Fire #1
Genre: YA steampunk
Released: Jan. 10, 2012
Publisher: Omnific
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★

It’s the year 2040, and sixteen-year-old Dez Harkly is one of the last of her kind—part of a nearly extinct race of shape-shifters descended from guardians to the Egyptian pharaohs. Her home and her secret are threatened when the Council lowers the barrier, allowing the enemy race to enter the Shythe haven.

As the Narcolym airships approach, Dez and her friends rebel against their Council and secretly train for battle. Not only is Dez wary of war and her growing affection for her best friend Jace, but she fears the change her birthday will bring. When Dez’s newfound power rockets out of control, it’s a Narcolym who could change her fate… if she can trust him.

Dez’s guarded world crumbles when she discovers why the Narcos have really come to Haven Falls, and she's forced to choose between the race who raised her and the enemy she's feared her whole life.

Destiny's Fire was for me what Jennifer L. Armentrout's books are for a lot of other people, I think - a quick, fun, fast-paced guilty pleasure with great worldbuilding and plenty of steamy romance. There were a lot of elements in this book that I don't normally like - a love triangle, [semi] insta-love, and a heroine that's totally unrealistic. But I've got to say that everything came together into a story that I devoured. This book is like candy - I just couldn't stop eating it!

I'm a little confused as to the genre of this book. It reminded of Marissa Meyer's Cinder in that it's futuristic, but it's also has a lot of steampunk elements. But technically, steampunk is supposed to be set in the past. Anyway, it feels like a steampunk novel, though a bit more modern. Whatever it is, though, I liked it!

The worldbuilding was really my favorite part of the story. This is a world I want to live in! It's SO COOL! It's kind of like if everyone now decided they were fans of steampunk and converted all our power to steam and all of our clothes became Victorian-inspired. But there's still a modern sensibility to it that made it more easy to relate to and, therefore, a good choice for those a little wary about steampunk, IMHO.

But I've got to say that reading this book made me want to walk around wearing clothes like these...

Wolfe took a very interesting approach to the steampunk elements - she rationalized them as having been influenced by one of the shape-shifter races called the Narcos. Their fire ability is what creates the steam that powers everything. It's never said explicitly, but it's implied that the other race of shape-shifters, called the Shythe, have the power of electricity. But they aren't as dominant politically, so their power isn't what's used.

Cool, right?

Anyway, enough with the worldbuilding, because really, I could talk about that the entire review - the levibikes (I WANT ONE!), the band guys that wear top hats (wouldn't mind one of those, either...), the tension between the two shape-shifting races. It was all really interesting!

But I liked the story, too. It focuses on Dez, who's about to go through the "change," which happens to all the shape-shifters at the age of 17, allowing them to fully shift into their other form. But Dez has a secret - she's not really a Shythe; she's half Narco, and the government says she's supposed to be dead. There was some good political intrigue there!

Honestly, though, this story relies heavily on the romance, as per usual in YA. You've got Jace, Dez's best friend, who has secretly loved her for years. I couldn't really figure out how Dez didn't know he was crazy about her. It was really obvious.

Then there's Reese, the Narco who's a lot more like Dez than she wants to admit. Reese was a little troublesome for me. He was a really big jerk at the beginning, and I have a rough time liking a hero that starts off mean and becomes nice but only to the heroine. You've got to give me a REALLY good reason why he was like that, and you've got to let me get to know him REALLY well before I'm going to like him. And there just wasn't enough about Reese that made me care about him.

Thus, I was Team Jace all the way. I'm a sucker for the best-friend-turned-lover, so really, I was on his side even before Dez met Reese. And I liked that even though you think he's crazy about midway through the book, he's inevitably vindicated. (I felt vindicated by association.)

The romance is pretty typical for a YA book - lots of kissing and hotness, but little substance to really hold on to. It was all very cotton candy fluffy, but I accepted it that way. I just couldn't get past the really cool wing-parachutes. I mean, really, I WANT ONE!

This is a perfect read between tough books. It appeals to the escapist in all of us. It has the same edgy sort of feel as Jennifer Armentrout's books but with a much more well-thought out world and characters that are more engaging.

Book Doppelgangers: Half-Blood, by Jennifer Armentrout; Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

In My Mailbox [39]

2012-01-14T18:28:00.000-05:00

"In My Mailbox" is a meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren that features the books we received each week.

2

Books Mentioned
1. Return to Paradise, by Simone Elkeles
2. Illuminate, by Aimee Agresti
3. Goddess Interrupted, by Aimee Carter
4. The Sapphire Talisman, by Brenda Pandos
5. The Selection, by Kiera Cass
6. The Gathering, by Kelley Armstrong
7. Masque of the Red Death, by Bethany Griffin

Non-YA Books Mentioned
1. Lives on the Boundary, by Mike Rose
2. Cutting for Stone, by Abraham Verghese
3. The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway
4. The Norse Myths, by Kevin Crossley Holland

New Lisa T. Bergren Novella!!!

2012-01-14T09:00:00.001-05:00

All of you fellow River of Time series lovers will be excited to hear that Ms. Bergren is self-publishing a new novella that takes place after the final book in the series, Torrent.

The novella's name is Bourne, and here's the best part...

It's told from both Gabi AND Lia's POV.

*dies*

I finally got my wish for a story told from Lia's POV.

Oh, and did I mention this already? It's got a cover.

*dies again*

Now, you may be wondering when you can buy this novella. Well, it should be available on Amazon somewhere between Feb. 1 and Feb. 14. Also, it should only be about .99, and it's 1/3 the length of one of the regular books. SUCH A GOOD DEAL!

The publisher will be looking at sales of this ebook, and if we want a third River of Time book, we had better do our share and buy this one. So everybody put it on your calendars and get to buying!

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith

2012-01-12T08:00:00.053-05:00

Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Title: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
Genre: YA contemporary
Released: Jan. 2, 2012
Publisher: Poppy
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

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

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

This is an adorable book about love, grief, and acceptance that's wrapped up in small, sweet package. Smith's story is both touching and entertaining, and I devoured it in one evening.

The magic of this book lies in the premise - that the entire story takes place within the span of 24 hours, starting at the JFK airport and ending in London after Hadley has flown across the Atlantic beside a cute English boy named Oliver. Interspersed throughout the narrative are Hadley's memories that give us more insight into her past and character motivation.

Hadley's headed to England because her father is getting remarried, and she's not too thrilled. We are shown the tense relationship they've had since he and Hadley's mother separated, and we watch Hadley grieve for her family and resent her father for leaving them. Enter Oliver and his charming way of making her forget about her problems and just have fun, even if she's terrified of flying.

Really, the best part of the novel for me were the scenes on the airplane of Hadley and Oliver's banter. It's snappy and cute. Oliver is really very charming, and it doesn't hurt that he's from the UK. I really liked the humor he brought to the story, which balanced out Hadley's angst very well.

The romance was also very sweet. It's not earth-shattering and epic, like so many YA books try to make it. It's simple, light, and fun, just like this book. It asks the question, "Is it possible to fall for someone after having known them for only 24 hours?" I really loved how Smith dealt with this, never dropping the l-word between them. The ending is also left pretty open. It all felt very real and honest, which I loved.

But beneath the humor and romance, there is a solidity that keeps the fluff afloat, and that's Hadley's relationship with her father. It's the main conflict of the story, and it keeps the plot moving forward. His wedding is something that looms over the first three-fourths of the book. What will happen when they see each other? I loved this more serious substance.

My only issue with the book was that I didn't like that her dad never really says he's sorry. I felt like the author made excuses for his behavior, that it wasn't really his fault because he fell in love with this new woman. I felt his character arc only propitiated the modern notion of trading in one family for a new one once you're bored - what leads to so many divorces. I understood that Hadley needed to forgive him, but I thought the dad shouldn't have been let off the hook so easily. He cheated on his wife and left his family for another woman - that's not okay, no matter how you spin it.

Other than that one issue, however, I really enjoyed the book! It's a fairly clean read, and it's really very cute - definitely a feel-good book to curl up with this winter. I look forward to reading more from this author!

Book Doppelgangers: Can You Keep A Secret?, by Sophie Kinsella; Instructions for A Broken Heart, by Kim Culbertson

Upcoming 2012 YA Books with Mythological Goodness

2012-01-11T00:14:00.002-05:00

Anybody who has been following my blog for very long knows that I'm obsessed with mythology in pretty much all forms. A few weeks ago, NC over at Truly Bookish had said something about wanting to know about any more 2012 releases that had a plot involving myth.

Being the self-appointed herald of YA paranormals with a mythological twist, I thought I'd create this post for everyone else wondering where they can their next Zeus, Isis, or Thor fix!

Here are all the 2012 (and a few 2013) MG and YA books I could find involving myth. And if you know of any more, please let me know in the comments!

*Note: I kept it to books that have strong mythological themes, not just a little bit of myth thrown in for kicks.

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Title: Pure
Series: The Covenant #2
Released: April 3, 2012

There is need. And then there is Fate...

Being destined to become some kind of supernatural electrical outlet isn't exactly awesome--especially when Alexandria's "other half" is everywhere she goes. Seth's in her training room, outside her classes, and keeps showing up in her bedroom--so not cool. Their connection does have some benefits, like staving off her nightmares of the tragic showdown with her mother, but it has no effect on what Alex feels for the forbidden, pure-blooded Aiden. Or what he will do--and sacrifice--for her.

When daimons infiltrate the Covenants and attack students, the gods send furies--lesser gods determined to eradicate any threat to the Covenants and to the gods, and that includes the Apollyon... and Alex. And if that and hordes of aether-sucking monsters didn't blow bad enough, a mysterious threat seems willing to do anything to neutralize Seth, even if that means forcing Alex into servitude... or killing her.

When the gods are involved, some decisions can never, ever be undone.

Author: Charlotte Bennardo & Natalie Zaman

Title: Sirenz Back in Fashion

Series: Sirenz #2

Released: June 8, 2012

No blurb yet for this one.

Author: Aimee Carter
Title: Goddess Interrupted
Series: The Goddess Test #2
Released: March 27, 2012

Kate Winters has won immortality.

But if she wants a life in the Underworld with Henry, she’ll have to fight for it.

Becoming immortal wasn’t supposed to be the easy part. Though Kate is about to be crowned Queen of the Underworld, she’s as isolated as ever. And despite her growing love for Henry, ruler of the Underworld, he’s becoming ever more distant and secretive. Then, in the midst of Kate’s coronation, Henry is abducted by the only being powerful enough to kill him: the King of the Titans.

As the other gods prepare for a war that could end them all, it is up to Kate to save Henry from the depths of Tartarus. But in order to navigate the endless caverns of the Underworld, Kate must enlist the help of the one person who is the greatest threat to her future.

Henry’s first wife, Persephone.

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Deity

Series: The Covenant #3

Released: Nov. 6, 2012

No blurb yet.

Author: Kelly Keaton
Title: A Beautiful Evil
Series: Gods & Monsters #2
Released: Feb. 21, 2012

A power she can’t deny. A destiny she’s determined to fight. When Ari first arrived in the dilapidated city of New 2, all she wanted was to figure out who she was. But what she discovered was beyond her worst nightmare. Ari can already sense the evil growing inside her—a power the goddess Athena will stop at nothing to possess.

Desperate to hold on to her humanity and protect her loved ones, Ari must fight back. But Athena’s playing mind games, not just with Ari but with those she cares about most. And Athena has a very special plan for the brooding and sexy Sebastian.

Ari is determined to defeat Athena, but time is running out. With no other options, Ari must unleash the very thing she’s afraid of: herself.

Author: Jennifer Estep

Title: Dark Frost

Series: Mythos Academy #3

Released: May 29, 2012

I’ve seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I’m supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I’m just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me — again.

Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects — and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I’m also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can’t use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me — and I’m in for the fight of my life.

Author: Sarah Beth Durst
Title: Vessel
Released: Sept. 11, 2012

In a desert land where serpents made of unbreakable glass fly through the sky and wolves made of only sand hunt within storms, Liyana is destined to be a vessel, to sacrifice herself so that her clan's goddess can inhabit her body... but her goddess never comes.

Author: Brodi Ashton

Title: Everneath

Series: Everneath #1

Released: Jan. 24, 2012

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

Author: Meg Cabot
Title: Underworld
Series: Abandoned #2
Released: May 28, 2012

Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead.

Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

Author: Josephine Angelini

Title: Dreamless

Series: Starcrossed #2

Released: May 29, 2012

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

Author: Ingrid Paulson
Title: Valkyrie Rising
Released: 2012

When Ellie and her brother Graham are shipped off for a summer in Norway, she has no idea she's in for the adventure of her life. Her biggest worries are getting out from her perfect older brother’s shadow and concealing her crush  on Graham's best friend, Tucker—who’s suddenly tagging along for the trip.

The moment Ellie sets foot in the small town of Skavapol, she stumbles into a mystery that will change her forever. Boys are disappearing under impossible circumstances, and kids in town blame her. When Graham is the next to be kidnapped by ferocious yet beautiful girls, something powerful and ancient awakens within her. Strange and terrifying forces are at work in their tiny corner of Norway and Ellie and Tucker are the only ones who stop them and rescue Graham.

Author: Colleen Houck
Title: Tiger's Destiny
Series: The Tiger Saga
Released: Sept. 4, 2012

With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Adaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume of the bestselling Tiger's Curse series, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tiger's' true destiny once and for all.

Author: Kelly Armstrong
Title: Loki's Wolves
Series: Blackwell Pages #1
Released: 2013 (I HAD to include this one in the list!)

The Blackwell Pages will tell the story of two 12-year-old boys and one girl, all distant descendants of the Norse gods, who must journey to prevent the impending Ragnarok (the apocalypse). The first book,Loki's Wolves, is slated for publication in Spring of 2013.

Author: Kendare Blake

Title: Antigoddess

Series: Antigoddess #1

Released: 2013

Kendare Blake's ANTIGODDESS series, where the ancient, perpetually teenaged Greek gods Athena and Hermes cling to life in the contemporary world, seeking the causes of their mysterious, slow deaths and gathering their allies in reincarnated form: Cassandra, an ordinary girl who was once an extraordinary prophetess; Odysseus, the handsome trickster; and other fickle characters with their own secret motives; they must all band together against Hera and Poseidon who have become horrific caricatures of their former glory in their desperation to survive, again to Melissa Frain at Tor, in a very nice deal, in a three-book deal, by Adriann Ranta at Wolf Literary Services (World).

Author: Zoe Marriott
Title: The Night Itself
Series: The Katana Trilogy #1
Released: 2013

A breathtaking new urban fantasy trilogy from the critically acclaimed, award winning author of The Swan Kingdom and Shadows on the Moon.

When fifteen year old Mio Yamato furtively sneaks the katana - an ancestral Japanese sword - out of its hiding place in her parent's attic to help liven up her Christmas party costume, she has no idea of the darkness she is about to unleash on modern day London, or the family secrets that she is going to uncover.

The paralysing paranoia that descends on her before she gets to her friend's party is her first clue. The vivid and terrifying visions that nearly get her killed are a pretty good warning too.

The giant nine-tailed cat demon that comes after the sword and tries to rip her throat out? Overkill.

Seconds away from becoming kitty-food, Mio accidentally releases Shinobu, a warrior boy who has been trapped within the sword for centuries. He saves her life and sends the demon running. But it's already too late. Mio has ruptured the veil between the mortal realm and the Underworld, and now the gods and monsters of ancient Japan stalk the streets of London, searching for her and the sword.

With the help of her best friend Jack, a fox spirit named Hikaru - and the devoted protection of the betwitchingly familiar Shinobu - Mio attempts to discover the true nature of the sword and its connection to the Yamato family. Because if she doesn't learn how to control the katana's incredible powers, she's in danger of being overwhelmed by them. And if she can't keep the sword safe from the terrible creatures who want it for their own, she'll lose not only her own life... but the love of a lifetime.

Author: Rick Riordan
Title: Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters, The Graphic Novel
Series: Percy Jackson Graphic Novels #2
Released: 2013

Seventh grade has been surprisingly quiet for Percy Jackson.. Not a single monster has set foot on his New York prep-school campus. But when an innocent game of dodgeball among Percy and his classmates turns into a death match against an ugly gang of cannibal giants, things get...well, ugly. And the unexpected arrival of his friend Annabeth brings more bad news: the magical borders that protect Camp Half-Blood have been poisoned by a mysterious enemy, and unless a cure is found, the only safe haven for demigods will be destroyed.
In the wildly popular follow-up to The Lightning Thief: The Graphic Novel, Percy and his friends must journey into the Sea of Monsters to save their camp. But first, Percy will discover a stunning new secret about his family—one that makes him question whether being claimed as Poseidon's son is an honor or simply a cruel joke.
Featuring a faithful adaptation by Robert Venditti, stunning artwork by Attila Futaki, and sumptuous colors by newcomer Tamas Gaspar, Rick Riordan's blockbuster book comes to illustrative life in The Sea of Monsters: The Graphic Novel.

And Those Without Covers OR Blurbs
1. The Mark of Athena (Heroes of Olympus #3), by Rick Riordan
2. Envy (Fury #2), by Elizabeth Miles
3. Endure (Need #4), by Carrie Jones
4. Kane Chronicles #3, by Rick Riordan
5. Sweet Shadows (Medusa Girls #2), by Tera Lynn Childs
6. Echoes & Embers (Wildefire #2), by Karsten Knight
7. The Goddess Hunt (The Goddess Test #1.5), by Aimee Carter
8. Windswept (The Airborne Saga #3), by Constance Sharper

Do you know of any I missed?

Review: Half-Blood, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

2012-01-09T08:00:00.075-05:00

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Title: Half-Blood
Series: The Covenant #1
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: Oct. 18, 2011
Publisher: Spencer Hill Press
Source: Gifted (Thanks, NC!)
Rating: ★★★ 1/2

The Hematoi descend from the unions of gods and mortals, and the children of two Hematoi-pure-bloods-have godlike powers. Children of Hematoi and mortals-well, not so much. Half-bloods only have two options: become trained Sentinels who hunt and kill daimons or become servants in the homes of the pures. Seventeen-year-old Alexandria would rather risk her life fighting than waste it scrubbing toilets, but she may end up slumming it anyway. There are several rules that students at the Covenant must follow. Alex has problems with them all, but especially rule #1:Relationships between pures and halfs are forbidden. Unfortunately, she's crushing hard on the totally hot pure-blood Aiden. But falling for Aiden isn't her biggest problem--staying alive long enough to graduate the Covenant and become a Sentinel is. If she fails in her duty, she faces a future worse than death or slavery: being turned into a daimon, and being hunted by Aiden. And that would kind of suck.

This book was hyped by SO many people, and because it's based on mythology, I was really excited to read it. Heck, I saw ten million Best of 2011 posts with Armentrout books on them, this among them, so I was expecting Half-Blood to be epic in the ancient Greek, Homer sort of way. But unfortunately, it fell a little flat for me.

I've heard that this book greatly resembles Vampire Academy, by Rachelle Mead. I haven't read any of those books, so I'm not sure about that, but I will say that nothing felt all that original here, especially the romance. You've got the forbidden love, Aiden, who embodies tall, dark, handsome, and brooding. He was really reserved throughout the entire book, and I just didn't see the appeal.

Then there was Seth, the cocky underdog that Alex just so happens to be bonded to for life.

Insert love triangle.

Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE a good love triangle. It can really amp up tension and move the story along. But because there are so many in YA these days, you've got to have an epicly awesome one, like the one found in Cassandra Clare's The Infernal Devices or Colleen Houck's Tiger Saga. This one was just cookie cutter and didn't really feel that emotional. Of course, I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had liked the characters in it better.

Also, the one scene of sensuality that occurs seemed incredibly random and ill-placed. And the fact that Alex and the boy go from being friends who longingly look at each other to "two seconds" away from sex seemed REALLY fast, like Armentrout wanted a steamy scene but didn't feel like giving a proper lead-up to it.

And while I'm still on the subject of characters, I'd like to mention Alex. This is one tough chick. And while I like a good kick-butt heroine the likes of Katniss Everdeen, I felt Alex bordered on the unrealistic. She seemed just a teensy bit too tough for me, so much so that she often came off as masculine. If that had been part of her character arc, I would have been okay with it, but this seems to be a permanent part of her personality, and I sorta found it annoying.

I would have preferred to see a heroine more like Gwen Frost from Jennifer Estep's Mythos Academy books. Gwen goes through training with Logan in the book and she learns how to be tough, but she's not this superhuman girl. I don't like superhuman. It distances me from the protagonist, and I have a harder time connecting to her.

And really, when did it become not cool for a heroine to be girly? Why are there SO MANY tomboys in YA? I would like to know how many authors out there are tomboys and why they insist on creating a girl character in a paranormal or urban fantasy book that is inept with a mascara wand.

Related, I felt the plot of Alex being trained to become a daimon-killer, her overcoming a past trauma, and falling in love with the obvious boy really tired. I feel like this has been done ten million times. I wanted something a bit more original, more epic. There were lots and lots of scenes of her getting bruises and lusting after Aiden, but there was no real emotion behind anything. There's a thick layer of snark that glosses over a lack of true, human emotion that I found incredibly hollow.

Now, all that being said, I didn't hate the book. The pacing was good. The writing was clean. There weren't any logic flaws or other rookie mistakes. Armentrout managed to dodge a lot of debut author problems, which I can respect. And if you are a fan of kick-butt heroine-style urban fantasy in general, you'll enjoy this book.

Book Doppelgangers: Vampire Academy, by Rachelle Mead; Touch of Frost, by Jennifer Estep

In My Mailbox [38]

2012-01-07T21:11:00.000-05:00

"In My Mailbox" is a meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Another vlog this week! Hopefully, I'll have more of these in 2012 than I did in 2011!

Books Mentioned
1. Destiny's Fire, by Trisha Wolfe
2. Soulless, by Gail Carriger
3. Changeless, by Gail Carriger
4. Blameless, by Gail Carriger
5. Heartless, by Gail Carriger
6. Cinder, by Marissa Meyer
7. Bloodrose, by Andrea Cremer

What did you get in your mailbox?

New Year's Resolution: Giving Up the Love of My Life

2012-01-06T08:00:00.015-05:00

I'm not sure how many of you in the blogosphere have experienced the glorious amazingness that is Chick-fil-A. But it will pretty much change your life. I'm not kidding.

Tim Hawkins expresses it the best in this HILARIOUS song:

Those of you who live in the Southeast (and the few states up north and west) know what I'm talking about. Chick-fil-A is like no other fast food restaurant you have ever experienced. They serve you with a "It's been my pleasure serving you," their food is head and shoulders above everyone else's, and they have the best sweet tea on the face of the planet.

This, my friends, is the real nectar of the gods. And Chick-fil-A serves the best.

HOWEVER...

I have this nasty habit of consuming a great amount of said sweet tea, especially during the semester when I get stressed out. You know those girls who lose their appetites when something stressful happens?

That is not me.

You know those girls that stuff their faces with junk food when they get stressed?

That's sorta me.

When school or life gets me down, I resort to my blessed Chick-fil-A sweet tea. It's becoming an unhealthy coping mechanism. SO my New Year's resolution this year: STOP. DRINKING. SO. MUCH. TEA.

Seriously, you don't want to know how many calories are in one large Chick-fil-A sweet tea. (I mean, it's not any more than a Coke or Sprite or whatever, but still.) And no matter how good it tastes, it's not worth it.

...that's what I keep telling myself anyway.

So I'm thinking about adding counting widget on the blog to see how many sweet teas I drink throughout the year. Then in December, I can *hopefully* not be shamed by the number.

This will be difficult, as all my friends are obsessed. Also, the CEO of Chick-fil-A goes to my church, and we tend to get a ridiculous amount of coupons.

Let's see how this goes...

Review: Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

2012-01-05T09:00:00.027-05:00

Author: Marissa Meyer
Title: Cinder
Series: Lunar Chronicles #1
Genre: YA sci-fi
Released: Jan. 3, 2012
Publisher: Fiewel & Friends
Source: NetGalley
Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

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.

When I saw the blurb for this book, I knew I had to read it. And I've got to say that it definitely didn't disappoint! This is an action-packed debut that's really different than most of the YA sci-fi books out there. I literally read it in one day; I just couldn't get enough.

First, let's talk about the genre. Technically, this is a sci-fi novel. It's not dystopian, even though this is a new world that has been formed after the destruction of a fourth world war. There's a much more positive outlook on government here; I mean, one of the main characters is the leader of an entire empire, so that definitely makes it not dystopian. There are also people that live on the moon, which pushes it more toward the sci-fi category.

All that being said, however, I've got to say that it has a steampunk feel to it, mostly because there are a lot of throwbacks to an older culture. Cinder lives in New Beijing, so there are lots of Chinese names and some mentions of Asian culture like chopsticks and pagodas. But I think what made it feel steampunk-ish was the robot and mechanical part of the story. Cinder is a cyborg, part human and part machine. There are lots of mentions of oil and the inner-workings of machines, and I think that's what reminded me of steampunk. Sure, it's not steam and clockwork, but it still has that vibe.

Although there definitely aren't many other YA books like this one, I've got to say that this book isn't totally original. I've got to say that I was CONSTANTLY reminded of "Star Wars" as I was reading. Here's a convenient little list of the similarities I noticed:

1. The androids (i.e. "droids") that do all the dirty work for people and have personalities and talk
2. The special [an]droid that holds a secret message
3. The lunars/jedi that can wield magic/the force to convince people to do things or influence the minds of weak people
4. The hovercrafts that are used instead of cars
5. The interplanetary relationships and politics
6. Cinder's personality's uncanny resemblance to that of Princess Leah's

Now, don't get me wrong. These similarities didn't really trip me up. I'm a "Star Wars" fan, so I just thought it was kind of interesting. By the time that I'd made it halfway through the book, it became a game - how many more connections could I find? It was kind of like when I read anything by Rick Riordan and try to figure out who the characters are from myth before he tells me.

Obviously, there were also similarities to Cinderella, as that's what the story is loosely based off of. It seemed a little weird to me at first that Meyer would set the story in China when Cinderella was European. However, I then learned that scholars believe the first version of the Cinderella story actually came from China, before it traveled to other parts of the world. Fascinating, right?

I actually REALLY liked the fact that the story took place in China. However, I've got to say that there wasn't really that much Chinese flavor to it. I mean, there were a few mentions here and there, but the Chinese characters didn't feel all that...Chinese. Granted, this is WAY in the future and globalization has been taking place, so maybe the country would have lost some of its flair. But not all. Pretty much all of the major characters are Chinese (with the exception of Cinder), including Prince Kai, yet they acted pretty much like a normal American would act...and that I didn't really like.

Speaking of Prince Kai, I liked him. But I didn't love him. We got some scenes from his POV, but I still feel like I don't know him. Of course, I never much liked the prince from the original Cinderella, so I guess that fits. I did like that he was nice, though. (Another point for the nice guys!) I also liked his flirtiness with Cinder. But I just didn't believe their romance. Why does he like her? We never really find out.

Now, all those negative comments aside, I REALLY liked this book. You're probably wondering why I gave this book such a high rating when all I've said are negative comments, but really, this story was really interesting! I was hooked on sheer concept alone. I was fascinated by this world of cyborgs and androids, of a new plague that's ravishing the world, of a queen from the moon that wants to become the new empress of the Eastern Commonwealth, and of the little cyborg girl who just wants to escape.

I figured the big twist about Cinder's identity on like page 30, but I didn't feel it detracted from my enjoyment. I thought the pacing of this novel was great - I was never bored! The worldbuilding was great, and I can't WAIT to read the sequel! Seriously, that ending was awesome.

The ending to this story isn't the happily ever after we're accustomed to with Cinderella. And while the next book is a continuation of Cinder's story, it's also based on Little Red Riding Hood. I'm curious to see how she mixes the previous bits of Cinderella story with this new one. And I also can't wait to see more of the dynamic between Cinder and Kai. While I like her character a lot, I still want to learn more about Kai before I decide whether I'm truly invested in him or not.

But now I have to wait A YEAR before the next one comes out. I suppose I'll just have to content myself with more 2012 debuts...

Book Doppelgangers: Any Star Wars book, Cinderella (obviously)

*And on a side note, Cinder would be a great choice for adding to your list of books for the 2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge! It's set in China, isn't it?! It counts!

Waiting on Wednesday: Kissing Shakespeare and Glamorous Illusions

2012-01-04T09:00:00.006-05:00

"Waiting on Wednesday" is a meme that features books that haven't been released but that we're really looking forward to. This week, my picks are...

Author: Pamela Mingle
Title: Kissing Shakespeare
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: Aug. 14, 2012
Publisher: Delacorte

Miranda has Shakespeare in her blood: she hopes one day to become a Shakespearean actor like her famous parents. At least, she does until her disastrous performance in her school’s staging of The Taming of the Shrew. Humiliated, Miranda skips the opening-night party. All she wants to do is hide.

Fellow cast member, Stephen Langford, has other plans for Miranda. When he steps out of the backstage shadows and asks if she’d like to meet Shakespeare, Miranda thinks he’s a total nutcase. But before she can object, Stephen whisks her back to 16th century England—the world Stephen’s really from. He wants Miranda use her acting talents and modern-day charms on the young Will Shakespeare. Without her help, Stephen claims, the world will lost its greatest playwright.

Miranda isn’t convinced she’s the girl for the job. Why would Shakespeare care about her? And just who is this infuriating time traveler, Stephen Langford? Reluctantly, she agrees to help, knowing that it’s her only chance of getting back to the present and her “real” life. What Miranda doesn’t bargain for is finding true love…with no acting required.

Sounds awesome, right? I love anything to do with great pieces of literature, so I'm pumped about this one! And time travel? Yes, please!

Also, the cover? GORGEOUS!

Author: Lisa T. Bergren
Title: Glamorous Illusions
Genre: Historical
Released: June 1, 2012
Publisher: David C. Cook

When Cora Kensington learns she is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, her life changes forever. Even as she explores Europe with her new family, she discovers that the most valuable journey is within. The first book in the Grand Tour series takes you from the farms of Montana through England and France on an adventure of forgiveness, spiritual awakening, and self-discovery.

So not much on this blurb. Also, this technically isn't a YA book, but the main character is about the same age as a YA protag. Plus, it's a Lisa T. Bergren book! I adored her Rivers of Time series, and I seriously need some more of her awesomeness in my life. AND it's set in one of my most favorite time periods - the turn of the century. MUST. READ.

What books are you looking forward to?

Book Discussion: Why I Blog, or Why I Read Lots of Books that Suck

2012-01-03T08:00:00.078-05:00

I have to tell you all that I have been a little disappointed lately. I've been really getting down on blogging. Why? Because I've read so many crappy books in a row.

Or better put, I've read so many mediocre books in a row. And really, looking back at 2011, and 31 of the roughly 75 books that I read received a 3 star rating or below.

Now, 3 stars doesn't sound that bad, right? But I'll be honest - I tend to be pretty generous with ratings, especially if the book didn't offend me in any way. I'll give an author a more positive rating just because they obviously worked hard on it. I can respect that.

So 3 stars is sort of my fall-back rating. That means it was okay, but I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to anyone. And it certainly isn't why I read so many books and why I blog.

But what really upset me was how many books I had given 1 or 2 stars to or those that I didn't even finish. It was surprisingly high (for me, anyway). I read a lot of books this year that I did not like in the slightest. This category includes but is not limited to the following...

But mostly, I've just read a lot of mediocre books that were neither here nor there, like these...

And the thing that bugs me is that a lot of these came highly recommended by a lot of people, especially books like Wildefire and Under the Never Sky. But for some reason, I just didn't connect with them.

Recently, it feels like I've had a string of books that just didn't do it for me. I try to remember the ones like Clockwork Prince, Tiger's Quest, Lola & the Boy Next Door, and all the others that I loved last year. But then I remember THIS book, and I get depressed all over again...

I begin to wonder why in the world I blog at all, when there is only so much time in my life to read books. Am I wasting that time with books like Julie Cross's Tempest or Elizabeth Miles's Fury? Sometimes I wonder.

But then I remember that you have to kiss a lot of frogs to find a prince. And even though I've had to read a ridiculous about of mediocre and just plain bad books while blogging, I've also gotten to read some incredible ones, especially ones I've gotten for review, which I might not ever have read otherwise, like...

And I realize it's worth it.

All these books I read that are no good only bring me closer to finding awesome ones. And honestly, sometimes it's more fun to talk about the books you hate than the books you love. Plus, I love interacting with everyone on the blogosphere and talking about said books that we hated (or loved).

A lot of people wonder why I blog. They think it's strange that I spend so much time reading and reviewing. They also think it's a little weird that I read so many YA books when I am no longer a teen. (But that topic is for another post!) What they don't understand is that the YA blogosphere is sort of like its own little, self-contained community of book lovers who are passionate about the topic and love to share it with anyone and everyone.

So no matter how many paranormal romance angel books come out that I refuse to read or how many vampire love stories and the egregious historical inaccuracies of authors writing Victorian novels I have to suffer through, I still love blogging.

I just need to find some better books to read and review...

Do you ever get sick of blogging or daunted by all the mediocre books out there? What books have pulled you out of your slump?

Review: Sleepless, by Cyn Balog

2012-01-02T09:00:00.006-05:00

Author: Cyn Balog
Title: Sleepless
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: July 13, 2010
Publisher: Delacorte
Source: Traded
Rating: ★★★1/2

Eron DeMarchelle isn't supposed to feel this connection. He is a Sandman, a supernatural being whose purpose is to seduce his human charges to sleep. Though he can communicate with his charges in their dreams, he isn't encouraged to do so. After all, becoming too involved in one human's life could prevent him from helping others get their needed rest.

But he can't deny that he feels something for Julia, a lonely girl with fiery red hair and sad dreams. Just weeks ago, her boyfriend died in a car accident, and Eron can tell that she feels more alone than ever. Eron was human once too, many years ago, and he remembers how it felt to lose the one he loved. In the past, Eron has broken rules to protect Julia, but now, when she seems to need him more than ever, he can't reach her. Eron's time as a Sandman is coming to a close, and his replacement doesn't seem to care about his charges. Worse, Julia is facing dangers she doesn't recognize, and Eron, as he transitions back to being human, may be the only one who can save her. . . .

Even once they've become human again, Sandmen are forbidden to communicate with their charges. But Eron knows he won't be able to forget Julia. Will he risk everything for a chance to be with the girl he loves?

Cyn Balog's follow-up to Fairy Tale has more wit, more supernatural delights, and more star-crossed romance! Teen girls will love this story of a Sandman who falls in love with his human charge.

Maybe because this wasn't my first Cyn Balog book, but I really wasn't put off by the really short length, the rushed climax, or the odd characters. For me, these were all a part of the book's charm.

I've read a lot of negative reviews about this book (indeed, about most of Balog's books), but I have to say that I really enjoy her unique takes on fantasy elements. This book is centered around paranormal creatures called Sandmen that put us to sleep through means of "seduction," which is pretty much just coaxing people to sleep. Sandmen have certain "charges" that they take care of, and they're only assigned to people that they would find physically attractive in real life.

Our main Sandman is Eron, who was a really interesting protagonist. He's been a Sandman for 99 years, and he's about to be turned human again. Over the course of his time as a Sandman, he's fallen for one of his charges, Julia. He's risked a lot for her, but we're not told just how much until halfway through the book.

Eron was probably my favorite character. I liked his old-world values and way of talking, and the fact that he wore spats. (Umm...cool!)

(The things over his boots, btw.)

I enjoyed watching his return to being human. And I guess that maybe his interest in Julia was a little creepy since he had watched over since she was a little girl, but I never got a creeper vibe from him - he was too innocent. And I think that's why I really liked him; he was just a nice guy.

Julia was pretty average. She didn't really resonate with me, but I didn't dislike her either. I found her relationship with Griffin to be a little unhealthy, but I think that's dealt with well in the story. I did like, however, that she has a normal job and big aspirations. Her character felt very true to life.

In regards to the main criticisms of this book (namely, that it's too short and underdeveloped, and that the climax is rushed), I'll just say that I never felt the story rushed. But again, that could be because I've read a Balog book before and knew what to expect. Her pacing is very clipped, and there isn't a lot of lengthy conversations or much direct action. There are a lot of internal monologues and memories, but I thought they were really interesting.

I liked the length of this book. It's like a fun-size candy bar: short, sweet, and over before you know it. Sleepless was a lot like brain candy for me. There were quite a few funny bits, and I really enjoyed reading Eron's POV. I look forward to reading more of Cyn Balog's books in the future.

Book Doppelgangers: Honestly, I can't think of any except other Cyn Balog books! Really, it's quite original.

In My Mailbox [37] - Major Haul!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.010-05:00

"In My Mailbox" is a meme created by Kristi at The Story Siren.

Books Mentioned

1. Immortal Beloved, by Cate Tiernan
2. Darkness Falls, by Cate Tiernan
3. The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith

4. Magic Under Glass, by Jackie Dolamore

5. Exiled, by Rashelle Workman

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

7. Withering Tights, by Louise Rennison

8. Entwined, by Heather Dixon

9. Every Last Kiss, by Courtney Cole

10. First Date, by Krista McGee

11. The Knife and the Butterfly, by Ashley Hope Perez

12. After the Snow, by S.D. Crockett

13. Half-Blood, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

14. The Lost Hero, by Rick Riordan

15. Audition, by Stasia Ward Kehoe
16. Timeless, by Alexandra Monir

What did you get in your mailbox?

End of the Year Book Survey

2011-12-31T18:07:00.002-05:00

This is hosted by The Perpetual Page-Turner and it's another favorites of 2011 post! Really, I can't get enough of these. :) But this one is super fun!

1. Best Book You Read in 2011

I'll narrow it down to 3 because, really, I can't pick just one:

2. Most Disappointing Book

Hmm...I'd have to say it's a tie between

I adored the first two Tiger books, but Tiger's Voyage was a bit letdown. It didn't have the same spark as the first two. And Under the Never Sky started off incredible, but by the end, I wasn't happy with the way the author took the story.

3. Most Surprising Book (In a Good Way)

I legitimately thought I was finished with werewolf books, and I wasn't expecting much. I was planning on going to the Breathless Reads Tour and wanted to read Nightshade before I saw Andrea Cremer, and this book totally took me by surprise. It was AWESOME!

4. Book You Recommended to People the Most in 2011

Hard to say, but probably one of these two...

I feel like I raved about both of these for months and months. And I still think everyone should read them!

5. Best Series You Discovered in 2011

Easy.

This series totally blew my mind.

6. Favorite New Authors You Discovered

1. Elise Allen
2. Lisa T. Bergren
3. Colleen Houck

7. Best Book That Was Out of Your Comfort Zone

This book is all over the place! It's kind of like steampunk and kind of dystopian and kind of high fantasy. I don't normally read hardcore, high fantasy, so I wasn't too sure about Sapphique, but I had to know what happened with the rest of the story when I finished Incarceron. This is an incredible series!

8. Most Thrilling, Unputdownable Book You Read

This book legit messed me up. It was all kinds of crazy, and I loved every second of it!

9. Book You Most Anticipated in 2011

I'm a die-hard Cassie Clare fan, and Clockwork Angel was my favorite read of 2010. I can't even begin to tell you how excited I was to read this book!

10. Favorite Book Cover of 2011

Again, easy.

I think this is legitimately my favorite book cover ever.

11. Most Memorable Character in 2011

This is a hard one, it's tied between boys from these two books:

There was just something about Varen in Nevermore that stuck with me. I think it was his past and the darkness that he had to fight all the time just to exist. That boy was jacked up! Another seriously messed up character was Will, from Clockwork Prince. He totally stole my heart, and mostly because of all the suffering he had to go through.

12. Most Beautifully Written Book

Hands-down. I bow at Laini Taylor's greatness.

13. Book that Had the Greatest Impact on You

This is a hard question! I don't read a lot of "serious" books, but I think I've got to go with

I'd lost a lot of faith in the Christian publishing world, but Jenny B. Jones's incredible book really reminded me of how great it can be!

14. Book You Can't Believe You Waited Until 2011 to Read

Rick Riordan is one of my all-time favorite authors, and the Percy Jackson series is one of the greatest MG series there is. I held off reading this one because I was afraid of letting go of these books.

15. Favorite Quote from a Book in 2011

From Clockwork Prince...

Jem: "Whatever part you [Will] might act to the contrary, I see you as you really are, my blood brother. Not just better than you pretend to be, but better than most people could hope to be." (p. 481)

It makes me sad every time I read it because of the context - what's going on with Will and what Jem doesn't know. *sobs*

From Daughter of Smoke & Bone...

"She had been innocent once, a little girl playing with feathers on the floor of a devil's lair. She wasn't innocent now, but she didn't know what to do about it." (p.45)

Taylor had an amazing way of describing things!

16. New Favorite Book Blog You Discovered in 2011

Truly Bookish, of course! She's one of my best bloggie buddies :)

17. Favorite Review that You Wrote in 2011

Hard to say, but either Clockwork Prince because I put so much thought into it or Tempest because I enjoyed ranting. :)

18. Best Discussion You Had on Your Blog

This is another two-fold answer. I think one of the ones that got a lot of opinions expressed on it was "Why is Twilight So Popular?", which can be found here, but my favorite was about how you get ARCs as a book blogger, which can be found here.

19. Most Thought Provoking Review or Post You Read on Someone Else's Blog

I don't usually remember these sorts of things, but I definitely remember loving Andye's post about sex in YA on Reading Teen. I think it's really easy for people to just say that sex is fine, whatever, teens are having sex, BUT she questioned that notion and gave some really great insights!

20. Best Book Event You Participated In

In regards to virtual "events" that were held on the blog, I really loved co-hosting the Halloween Queen's Book Giveaway with NC from Truly Bookish! We had a lot of great posts and giveaways.

As for legitimate, REAL events, I of course loved the Decatur Book Festival! I got to meet tons of great authors, including Simone Elkeles, Stephanie Perkins, Vicky Alvear Shecter, Myra McEntire, and Jackson Pearce!

21. Best Moment of Blogging in 2011

I truly have no idea how to answer this! So many great moments! But honestly, I think having ridiculous Twitter chats with Kristin! They're more about writing than books, but whatever. She's awesome :)

22. Most Popular Post This Year

I was really shocked with how many views I got on my discussion about the popularity of Twilight! There weren't that many comments, but tons of people looked at it!

23. Post You Wish Got More Love

Hard to say, but maybe my k-drama for newbies post. This blog isn't about k-drama, but I like to post reviews and discussions about them anyway. And I spent a lot of time working on that post, deciding which I thought were the best and who would like them. It didn't get that much response.

24. Best Bookish Discovery

Little Shop of Stories in Decatur!!!! I love that place! It's one of the only good indie bookstores in my area.

25. Did You Complete Any Reading Challenges?

I did! The 2011 Debut Author Challenge! Unfortunately, I didn't make my goal for the Full Steampunk Ahead challenge, though.

26. One Book You Didn't Make It to in 2011 but Has Top Priority in 2012

I can't believe this is still on my TBR shelf!!!! I'm obsessed with anything about dancing, as I used to be a dancer, so this should have been read a LONG time ago!

27. Book You Are Most Anticipating in 2012

SO HARD! I'll narrow it down to the top three:

Plus, the new Colleen Houck book! Squeeeeeeeeee!

28. One Thing You Want to Accomplish with Blogging in 2012

Bump up my number of books read in a year. I got to 75 this year, but I'd really like to make it to 80 next year!

That's it for me, lovelies! So what do you think - how was 2011 for you?

Top 10 of 2011: Day #5, Most Highly Anticipated 2012 Releases

2011-12-30T00:01:00.010-05:00

This is the last day of the Top 10 of 2011 event, and I think this is the most exciting. It features 2012 releases that we're the most excited about. I've also included some stats from my 2011 reading, like what books I read and what not. This was the hardest list to make because there are just so many that I can't wait to read. Hope you find some new reads on this list that you'll add to your TBR list!

*P.S. Sorry for the ones that don't have covers yet! But I just couldn't resist including them.

In no particular order, here are my top 9 most anticipated books of 2012:

Author: Diana Renn
Title: Tokyo Heist
Genre: YA action/thriller
Released: June 14, 2012, from Penguin

Sixteen-year-old Violet loves reading manga and wearing scarves made from kimono fabric, so she’s thrilled that her father’s new painting commission means a summer trip to Japan. But what starts as an exotic vacation quickly turns into a dangerous treasure hunt. Her father’s client, the wealthy Yamada family, is the victim of a high-profile art robbery. Someone has stolen van Gogh sketches from the Yamadas’ Seattle mansion, and is holding them hostage until the Yamadas can produce the corresponding van Gogh painting. The problem is that nobody knows where this painting is hidden, and until they find it, all of their lives are in danger.

Violet’s search for the missing van Gogh takes her from the Seattle Art Museum, to the yakuza-infested streets of Tokyo, to a secluded inn in Kyoto. As the mystery deepens, Violet’s not sure whom she can trust. But she knows one thing: she has to find the painting and the criminals—before it’s too late.

Author: Trish Doller
Title: Something Like Normal
Genre: YA contemporary
Released: June 19, 2012, from Bloomsbury

A powerful debut novel about a young Marine's return home from Afghanistan and the new life and love he finds while fending off the ghosts of war.

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and a way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel.

Author: Eve Marie Mont
Title: A Breath of Eyre
Genre: YA fantasy
Released: March 27, 2012, from Kensington

Get lost in a good book. Literally.

Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates in her head. Perhaps it’s because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn’t come close to filling the void left by her mother’s death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma’s confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre…

Reading of Jane’s isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane’s body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she’s never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane’s story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own…

Author: Kelly Creagh
Title: Enshadowed
Series: Nevermore #2
Released: Aug. 28, 2012, from Simon & Schuster

While Varen remains a prisoner in the dream-world, Isobel is haunted by his memory. He appears to her in her dreams and soon, even in her waking life. But is she just imagining it? Isobel knows she must find a way back to Varen. She makes plans to go to Baltimore. There, she confronts the figure known throughout the world as the Poe Toaster—the same dark man who once appeared to Isobel in her dreams, calling himself “Reynolds.”

Isobel succeeds in interrupting the Toaster’s ritual and, in doing so, discovers a way to return to the dream-world. Soon, she finds herself swept up in a realm which not only holds remnants of Poe’s presence, but has also now taken on the characteristics of Varen’s innermost self. It is a dark world comprised of fear, terror, and anger.

When Isobel once more encounters Varen, she finds him changed. With his mind poisoned by the dream world, he becomes a malevolent force, bent on destroying all—even himself. Now Isobel must face a new adversary, one who also happens to be her greatest love.

Author: Melissa Jensen
Title: The Fine Art of Truth or Dare
Genre: YA contemporary
Released: Feb. 16, 2012, from Speak

Pretty in Pink meets Anna and the French Kiss in this charming romantic comedy.

Ella is nearly invisible at the Willing School, and that's just fine by her. She's got her friends - the fabulous Frankie and their sweet cohort Sadie. She's got her art - and her idol, the unappreciated 19th-century painter Edward Willing. Still, it's hard being a nobody and having a crush on the biggest somebody in the school: Alex Bainbridge. Especially when he is your French tutor, and lessons have started becoming, well, certainly more interesting than French ever has been before. But can the invisible girl actually end up with a happily ever after with the golden boy, when no one even knows they're dating? And is Ella going to dare to be that girl?

Author: Bethany Griffin
Title: The Masque of the Red Death
Genre: YA historical fantasy/steampunk
Released: April 24, 2012, from HarperCollins

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

Author: Lauren Henderson
Title: Flirting in Italian
Genre: YA contemporary
Released: June 12, 2012, from Delacorte

Four girls. One magical, and possibly dangerous Italian summer. Family mysteries, ancient castles, long hot nights of dancing under the stars . . . and, of course, plenty of gorgeous Italian boys!

Author: Libba Bray
Title: The Diviners
Genre: YA historical fantasy
Released: Nov. 1, 2012, from Little, Brown

A supernatural series set in Manhattan during the 1920s that follows a teen heroine reminiscent of two of the era's most famous literary women—Zelda Fitzgerald and Dorothy Parker. The story will be a wild new ride full of dames and dapper dons, jazz babies and Prohibition-defying parties, conspiracy and prophecy—and all manner of things that go bump in the neon-drenched night.

Author: Cassandra Clare
Title: Clockwork Princess
Series: The Infernal Devices #3
Released: Dec. 1, 2012, from Margaret McElderry

In Clockwork Princess, Tessa and her companions travel all over the world as they race to stop the clockwork army before it's too late. As Jem's health worsens alarmingly and his friends search desperately for a cure, can Tessa choose between the two boys she loves — even if it means never seeing the other one again?

And my number one most anticipated book of 2012...

Author: Colleen Houck
Title: Tiger's Destiny
Series: Tiger Saga #4
Genre: YA fantasy/mythology
Released: 2012, from Splinter

With three of the goddess Durga's quests behind them, only one prophecy now stands in the way of Kelsey, Ren, and Kishan breaking the tiger's curse. But the trio's greatest challenge awaits them: A life-endangering pursuit in search of Durga's final gift, the Rope of Fire, on the Adaman Islands in the Bay of Bengal. It's a race against time--and the evil sorcerer Lokesh--in this eagerly anticipated fourth volume of the bestselling Tiger's Curseseries, which pits good against evil, tests the bonds of love and loyalty, and finally reveals the tiger's' true destiny once and for all.

*sputters* I can't even begin to tell you how excited I am for this book. Tiger's Voyage was a teensy bit of a letdown, but I have faith that this will restore my ~~obsession~~ love for this series.

Honorable Mentions

These are books that almost made the list but didn't quite. But I'm still really excited to read them!

1. Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2, by Laini Taylor
2. The Lucky Ones (Bright Young Things #3), by Anna Godbersen
3. Until I Die (The Revenants #2), by Amy Plum
4. Diva (Flappers #3), by Jillian Larkin
5. Arcadia Awakens, by Kai Meyer
6. Catherine, by April Lindner
7. Isla & the Happily Ever After, by Stephanie Perkins
8. Starling, by Lesley Livingston
9. Glamorous Illusions, by Lisa T. Bergren
10. The Garden Intrigue, by Lauren Willig (Not YA, but whatever!)

What 2012 books are you most excited for?

Happy New Year Giveaway Hop: Signed Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare

2011-12-30T00:01:00.003-05:00

Welcome to my giveaway for the Happy New Year Giveaway Hop, hosted by Kathy at I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Babs from Babs Book Bistro.

I went to Cassandra Clare's book signing a few weeks ago in Atlanta, and I snagged a signed copy of Clockwork Prince for one lucky winner!

If you're unfamiliar with this book, here are the deets:

Author: Cassandra Clare
Title: Clockwork Prince
Series: The Infernal Devices #2
Genre: Steampunk

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.

This was, by far, the best book I've read all year! If you don't want to win it, you should!

So just fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter. Easy, right? And remember, you have to be a follower of my blog to enter.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

One Page At a Time YA Book Reviews

Book Breakups: Books I Couldn't Finish [5] - The Knife and the Butterfly and Sweet Venom

Waiting on Wednesday: Wanderlove, Embers & Echoes, and Shadow and Bone

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I'd Give a Theme Song To

Cover Alert: SO MANY New Covers!

Review: Darkness Becomes Her, by Kelly Keaton

If You're Going to Read A Vampire Book, What to Choose

Review: Balthazar, by Claudia Gray

Dark Days of Winter Tour - Brace Yourself for the Pitch Dark Days!

Blog Tour & Author Interview: Ashley Hope Perez

Top Ten Tuesday: Books that Broke My Heart a Little

Why My Reading Life Sucks, And My Current Muse

In My Mailbox [41]

Interview: Sonia Gensler, Author of The Revenant + Giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday: Maggie Stiefvater, Jolene Perry, and Kassy Tayler

January in Review, And The Four-Star Slump

Most Anticipated KDrama of 2012 HAS AIRED!

Project Tell Taylor, Featuring Michelle Madow's Remembrance

Review: The Garden Intrigue, by Lauren Willig

If You're Going to Read A Steampunk Book, What to Choose

2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge *January Giveaway and Recap*

In My Mailbox [40]

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Review: Immortal Beloved, by Cate Tiernan

Waiting on Wednesday, Historical Edition: Wentworth Hall,Violins of Autumn, and The Academie

Book Discussion: What Is This "Creative Nonfiction" You Speak Of?

Cover Alert: Heidi R. Kling, Aimee Carter, Carrie Jones, and More!

Book Twins: Is There Another Book Reviewer Who Thinks Just Like You Do?

Review: Wolfsbane, by Andrea Cremer

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Would Recommend to People Who Don't Read YA

Review: Destiny's Fire, by Trisha Wolfe

In My Mailbox [39]

New Lisa T. Bergren Novella!!!

Review: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight, by Jennifer E. Smith

Upcoming 2012 YA Books with Mythological Goodness

Review: Half-Blood, by Jennifer L. Armentrout

In My Mailbox [38]

New Year's Resolution: Giving Up the Love of My Life

Review: Cinder, by Marissa Meyer

Waiting on Wednesday: Kissing Shakespeare and Glamorous Illusions

Book Discussion: Why I Blog, or Why I Read Lots of Books that Suck

Review: Sleepless, by Cyn Balog

In My Mailbox [37] - Major Haul!

End of the Year Book Survey

Top 10 of 2011: Day #5, Most Highly Anticipated 2012 Releases

Happy New Year Giveaway Hop: *Signed* Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare

2012 Multi-Cultural Book Challenge January Giveaway and Recap

Happy New Year Giveaway Hop: Signed Clockwork Prince, by Cassandra Clare