Fire by Kristin Cashore

Title: Fire

Author: Kristin Cashore

Publisher: Dial

Release Date: October 5, 2009

Received From:  Library

Fire, Graceling's prequel-ish companion book, takes place across the mountains to the east of the seven kingdoms, in a rocky, war-torn land called the Dells.

Beautiful creatures called monsters live in the Dells. Monsters have the shape of normal animals: mountain lions, dragonflies, horses, fish. But the hair or scales or feathers of monsters are gorgeously colored-- fuchsia, turquoise, sparkly bronze, iridescent green-- and their minds have the power to control the minds of humans.

Seventeen-year-old Fire is the last remaining human-shaped monster in the Dells. Gorgeously monstrous in body and mind but with a human appreciation of right and wrong, she is hated and mistrusted by just about everyone, and this book is her story.

This was another great book by Kristin Cashore! The visualization was wonderful and the characters were so different than anything I had ever read about before! I really think that Kristin grew a lot from when she wrote Graceling! 

Fire was a different character, she was unlike any character I have ever come across before. She was tormented by her father and his death, and we learn so much about her, and her torments through flashbacks, which normally I don't like but in Fire it was necessary. I like how Kristin kept us in suspense for most of the novel about Fire's past.


The plot flowed beautifully and was beautifully written. I enjoyed the level of political intrigue in this book. And Immiker drove me nuts, but I believe that it is important to read Graceling before you read Fire becasue if you don't the ending of Graceling will be ruined.


Even though Graceling is still my favorite of the two I have a new literary crush in Nash! Po and him are very close, and I love both of them! I cannot wait for Kristin's next installment in this series Bitterblue! This is definitely a series you need to read. And an author you need to keep your eyes on!

Check out my review of Graceling!


5/5

Featured Blogger!

I am the featured Blogger on The Bookologist's Tuesday Chatter! So check it out to learn some things about me, and to enter to win one of two books! Also make sure to check out her wonderful site while you are there!

Later,

Amazing Contest!

Steph Su from Steph Su Reads is having an awesome Blogoversary Contest!!! So go check it out and maybe you will win some awesome ARC's as well as some new books of your choice! At least go wish her a happy Blogoversary! http://stephsureads.blogspot.com/2010/01/my-blogoversary-giveaway.html

Fat Cat

Title: Fat Cat

Author: Robin Brande

Publisher: Knopf Books for Young Readers

Release Date: October 13, 2009

Received From:  Library


You are what you eat. . . .

Cat smart, sassy, and funny—but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment—on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living—and eating—like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this newfound male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice. . . .

This was a really powerful book. I felt that Robin poured herself into this novel, because you can't write a book about such a personal issue without having some back story. Maybe I am wrong but that is the impression I got.


Cat is a like-able character she is funny and unlike many other fat book main characters she does not really look down on herself. Because I am scientifically minded as well I enjoyed how she made changing her life into an experiment. All of the nutrition advice, while sometimes being too much, was informative, and interesting. This book really inspired me to get up and eat healthier.


Besides the nutrition aspect, the love story was really cute, while sometimes being obvious, i really loved Matt, and her other friends were so wonderful. I would love to be friends with any of these characters.


I enjoyed this book, it made me look at my eating choices through a good plot, and a cute love story. One of my favorite books I read in 2009.


5/5

Inside Out

Title: Inside Out

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Publisher: Luna

Release Date:  April 1, 2010

Received From:  Around the World Tours


I'm Trella. I'm a scrub. A nobody. One of thousands who work the lower levels, keeping Inside clean for the Uppers. I've got one friend, do my job and try to avoid the Pop Cops. So what if I occasionally use the pipes to sneak around the Upper levels? Not like it's all that dangerous - the only neck I risk is my own. Until I accidentally start a rebellion and become the go-to girl to lead a revolution. I should have just said no.

I received this book just as I was starting to read Maria's first novel Poison Study (Review of whole series to come). So I was kind of comparing the different styles of the different series. That was probably not very fair because I absolutely loved the Poison Study series, while I was not as enamored with this book.

Because of all of the amazing dystopian books that are available, this one needed to be amazing to really stand out in such a large market. And while I enjoyed it, it kind of fell flat. The premise was good and overall it was ok, but the middle was really boring, I trudged through it because I wanted to know what would happen.

The characters, well there weren't very many of them until the end, when they showed up one after the other, so I did not feel that I was able to understand more than Trella and a few others, at the end all of the unknown characters were confusing.

While this book could have been fantastic, it was ok, and I will be reading the next book to find out what happens, but the middle was monotonous and the ending was rushed. Overall an ok book. It did not really stand out like in needed to. Hopefully the next book will be better.

Adventuring tip: Bring a notebook to remember all of the names!

3/5

Lonely Hearts Twitter Party

 So you've probably heard about this but I want to invite you to come, I am going to try to be there and I am sure it will be a blast! See you there!

Join Lonely Hearts Club author Elizabeth Eulberg and Amy of MyFriendAmy for a Twitter party Wednesday, January 20, between 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. EST!

 

• Be sure to follow Elizabeth @ElizEulberg and Amy @MyFriendAmy before the party!

 

• Join the fun! No one expects you or your tweets to be perfect; we’re just happy you made it to the party!

 

• Anyone who tweets during this hour using #LonelyHeartsClub is entered to win a limited edition Lonely Hearts Club t-shirt!

 

• Watch for questions from @MyFriendAmy and win awesome prizes including an iPod shuffle, $50 iTunes gift card or $25 VISA gift card!

 

• To join the party, you can use our official party tweetgrid or just search #LonelyHeartsClub on Twitter.

 

• Ask Elizabeth questions or chat with other partygoers about how excited you are to read LHC—just use the tag #LonelyHeartsClub in all of your party tweets! (This is added automatically in TweetGrid.)

 

• Please don’t post any spoilers and don’t forget to pay attention to the time zones, the party starts at 8:30pm EST.

Captivate

Title: Captivate

Author:Carrie Jones

Publisher: Bloomsbury USA

Release Date: January 10, 2010

Received From:  Around the World Tours


Zara and her friends knew they hadn't solved the pixie problem for good. Far from it. The king's needs grow deeper every day he's stuck in captivity, while his control over his people gets weaker. It's made him vulnerable. And now there's a new king in town.

A turf war is imminent, since the new pixie king, Astley, is moving in quickly. Nick nearly killed him in the woods on day one, but Zara came to his rescue. Astley swears that he and Zara are destined to be together, that he's one of the good guys. Nick isn't buying it, though Zara isn't as sure -- despite herself, she wants to trust the new king. But it's a lot more than her relationship with Nick that is at stake. It's her life -- and his.

(Warning: Spoilers if you haven't read Need, something you need to do)


Captivate, captivated me! I was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy so soon after I read Need, because I don't think I could have waited that long to read it!


While not as good as Need it was fantastic! Carrie Jones has created a world of characters that I have fallen in love with! I mean during this book there was a part that made me tear up. (You know you did too if you have read it) and that is definitely a sign of great storytelling abilities. The characters grew some which I appreciated, and the plot moved forward, and I cannot wait until the next book!!!! If you have not read this series you definitely need to!


Overall a great book! I cannot wait for the next book and I definitely recommend this series!


Check out my review for Need.


5/5

Of All the Stupid Things

Title: Of All the Stupid Things

Author: Alexandra Diaz

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: December 22, 2009

Received From:  Around the World Tours


It really was a stupid thing that Brent Staple did – doing it (so the rumour goes) with Chris Sanchez, one of the guy cheerleaders. Who’d have thought that Brent, the school’s hottest jock, could be gay? But the doubt about Brent doesn’t just hurt Tara – it’s the beginning of the end for an inseparable trio of friends. Tara’s training for the marathon, but also running from her father and her fear of ever being abandoned again. Beautiful Whitney Blaire’s got everything and nothing, because her parents have never had time for her. And Pinkie has a compulsive need to mother everyone to make up for the mom she never stops missing. The girls couldn’t be more different, but doesn’t that just prove the strength of their friendship?

Then new-girl Riley arrives in school, wafting her long black hair and a scent of lilacs. Suddenly, Tara starts to feel things she’s never felt before for a girl - and to reassess her feelings about Brent and what he may/may not have done. Is Tara gay – or does she just love Riley? And can the map of her deepest friendships ever be redrawn in a post-Riley world? 

I enjoy reading books that are told from all different perspectives, so my view is not so jaded by 1 person's opinion. So I really liked that about this book. Many YA books are now dealing with same-sex relationships and while I don't do that, I appreciate this new level of YA lit.

This book had a good premise, maybe a little overdone, but the same-sex relationship part really saved it from being just another breakup book. Some of the characters were a little stereotypical but they were not really whiny which I appreciated. While the middle was really kind of boring this was a pretty good debut and I cannot wait for more from this author.

This is not by any means the best book I have read but it was ok, I recommend it for anyone who is struggling to find themselves because the main character does a lot of finding herself and not letting others' judgment cloud her decisions.

3.5/5

Need

Title: Need

Author:Carrie Jones

Publisher: Bloomsbury Children's

Release Date: December 23, 2008

Received From: Library

 Zara collects phobias the way other high school girls collect lipsticks. Little wonder, since life’s been pretty rough so far. Her father left, her stepfather just died, and her mother’s pretty much checked out. Now Zara’s living with her grandmother in sleepy, cold Maine so that she stays “safe.” Zara doesn’t think she’s in danger; she thinks her mother can’t deal.

Wrong. Turns out that guy she sees everywhere, the one leaving trails of gold glitter, isn’t a figment of her imagination. He’s a pixie—and not the cute, lovable kind with wings. He’s the kind who has dreadful, uncontrollable needs. And he’s trailing Zara.

I cannot believe that I waited this long to read this fabulous book! I mean the premise is so different and I read so many excellent reviews about it. But I am so glad I finally read it!

Carrie Jones has written a book that defy's description. All of the characters are beautifully written, and life-like. Their wants and needs are relate-able (besides wanting to escape from a pixie, but we would too if we were being followed). The plot was beautifully written, I was drawn in and not let go even after the book was over.

I have never read a book about pixies before and I am so glad Carrie wrote about them because she portrayed them in a way that is completely opposite from the traditional view of pixies and I really enjoyed that. Also Zara deals with some real life problems which make her really easy to understand.

Overall a fabulous book and I cannot wait for more from this incredible author!

5/5

 

Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires

Title: Call Me Kate: Meeting the Molly Maguires

Author: Molly Roe

Publisher:Tribute Books

Release Date: November 24, 2008

Received From: Publisher

Coming of age amidst the seething unrest of the Civil War era, feisty fourteen-year-old Katie McCafferty infiltrates the Molly Maguires, a secret Irish organization, to rescue a lifelong friend. Under the guise of Dominick, a draft resister, Katie volunteers for a dangerous mission in hopes of preventing bloodshed. Katie risks job, family, and ultimately her very life to intervene. A series of tragedies challenge Katie's strength and ingenuity, and she faces a crisis of conscience. Can she balance her sense of justice with the law?

This book was very interesting, while it started slow the action quickly picked up and I was thoroughly immersed in a story that was very, very cool for me. I love Irish culture and history so this was a great book for me.

The characters were written well and I enjoyed getting to know them, Katie was a wonderful heroine and she really pulled me into the story! I was surprised where the story took me, but it was very believable which I liked. Overall a good example of historical fiction!

4/5

In a Heartbeat

Title: In a Heartbeat

Author: Loretta Ellsworth

Publisher: Walker Books for Young Readers

Release Date: February 2, 2010

Received From: Around the World Tours


When a small mistake costs sixteen-year-old Eagan her life during a figure-skating competition, she leaves many things unreconciled, including her troubled relationship with her mother. From her vantage point in the afterlife, Eagan reflects back on her memories, and what she could have done differently, through her still-beating heart.


When fourteen-year-old Amelia learns she will be getting a heart transplant, her fear and guilt battle with her joy at this new chance at life. And afterwards when she starts to feel different — dreaming about figure skating, craving grape candy —her need to learn about her donor leads her to discover and explore Eagan’s life,meeting her grieving loved ones and trying to bring the closure they all need to move on.

This really was a heartbreaking book, I had not heard much about it before but I think as more people read it, it will catch on. Learning about how hard it is to live with a heart disease almost broke my heart, to think about thousands of people having to deal with that each and everyday was heartbreaking.

The emotion in this book was incredible, I mean it is about a girl who dies and therefore saves another girl's life. This is a very interesting topic that I have never read about before, and I think it is important for things like this to be written about.

While this story was heartbreaking, I wish that there had been more of the girl's stories farther along after the surgery. It kind of just ended in my opinion, so I wish there had been more info, like where Eagan was ect.

Overall a powerful book!

4/5

IMM 6 + help

I have not done an IMM in a long time but I think this week warranted one!!!!

Around The World Tours

Captivate by Carrie Jones!!!!
Of all the Stupid Things by Alexandra Diaz
A Match Made in High School by Kristin Walker

Review
The Heights by Brian James

A great week!

In other news I got some gift cards for Christmas and I wanted to spend some of them on books! So if you have any suggestions please put them in the comments!

Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood*

Title: Three Rivers Rising: A Novel of the Johnstown Flood*

Author: Jame Richards

Publisher:Alfred A. Knopf

Release Date: April 10, 2010

Received From: 1 ARC Tours


Sixteen-year-old Celestia is a wealthy member of the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, where she meets and falls in love with Peter, a hired hand who lives in the valley below, and by the time of the torrential rains that lead to the disastrous Johnstown flood of 1889, she has been disowned by her family and is staying with him in Johnstown.

This book was obviously historical, but I really enjoyed it because it was a story of something I had never heard of before, and the story was so heart-breaking that I did not feel that I was learning. The story was fiction but the events were all real.

Celestia was a very like-able character, she fell in love with someone below her class, and decided to follow that love, regardless of what her parents thought. While this was reckless, it shows the strictness of that society, and how very few could get married for love. 


The Johnstown flood was massive and no one really saw it coming, because of this book I was introduced to the great flood, and astounded that it is never talked about. This book really brought it to life and showed that a historical story can be very interesting as well as informative. 


Overall a great book with great characters, and a great historical setting.

4.5/5

*ARC

Ballad by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: Ballad: The Gathering of Faerie

Author: Maggie Stiefvater

Publisher: Flux

Release Date: Already Available

Received From: Library

Summary from Goodreads

In this mesmerizing sequel to Lament: The Faerie Queen's Deception, music prodigy James Morgan and his best friend, Deirdre, join a private conservatory for musicians. James' musical talent attracts Nuala, a soul-snatching faerie muse who fosters and feeds on the creative energies of exceptional humans until they die. Composing beautiful music together unexpectedly leads to mutual admiration and love. Haunted by fiery visions of death, James realizes that Deirdre and Nuala are being hunted by the Fey and plunges into a soul-scorching battle with the Queen of the Fey to save their lives.

Lament was the first book I read by Maggie and I fell in love with her, and her writing! Ballad was no disappointment! With prose that went off the page and into reality Ballad was spellbinding and beautifully written!

I definitely recommend reading Lament first because if you don't it would make much sense. Since James' experience is not talked about much in Lament it was nice to see his experiences with Faeries. This book was fast paced and flowed elegantly. The new characters that were introduced were different and I enjoyed being able to see from a Faerie's point-of-view. While I would have liked to see more of Dee's POV I enjoyed the story the way it was told.

Overall a fantastic book that I would read again and again! 


Check out my Review for Lament!

5/5