WOW: Lola and the Boy Next Door

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Title: Lola and the Boy Next Door

Author: Stephanie Perkins

Pub Date: September 29, 2011

Publisher: Dutton

Summary:
Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.
When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door

 

Why I can’t wait!: I absolutely adored Anna and the French Kiss and so I am super excited to read this companion novel! Also Stephanie Perkins is one of my favorite writers and I need to read everything she writes! And the premise sounds good.

 

 

Enna Isilee Birthday Bash Contest!

  I'm hosting a contest as part of Enna Isilee's Birthday Bash 2011 Presented by Squeaky Books 

From August 22nd until September 22nd Enna Isilee at Squeaky Books is having a HUGE bash to celebrate her birthday! There’s a giveaway nearly EVERY DAY, tons of author interviews, and guest posts from a bunch different YA book bloggers. And I get to host a contest! I get to give away a copy of The Swan Maiden by Heather Tomlinson! Entering is simple, just fill out the form (with optional bonus entries). You have until September 21st at 11:59 MST to enter. All winners will be announced on Enna Isilee's birthday (September 22nd) on Enna Isilee's blog (Squeaky Books). And today, Enna Isilee interviewed Heather at Squeaky Books. You should totally go check it out.

Want to know more about The Swan Maiden? Click here! Without further ado, click below to win!

 Click here to enter 

Mariah

Sweet Venom Title II Hunt!

Welcome to the Sweet Venom Title II Hunt!!!

Participating in this hunt will enter you into a chance to win five signed copies of Sweet Venom and a grand prize of a $50 bookstore giftcard! This is international so get entering! You can enter via Tera Lynn Childs’ blog!

The letter you are looking for on my blog is W

Here is more about Sweet Venom:

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 by myth, must reunite and embrace their fates in this unique paranormal world where monsters lurk in plain sight.

Sounds good right?

Mariah

Here Lies Bridget This or That

Today I have with me Paige Harbison the author of Here Lies Bridget! She is going to answer some this or that questions so you can learn a little more about her!

Pick your preference. You can explain your answers if you want.

Paper or ebook?
I reallllly prefer having the books accumulate. Books are the one thing that—in large quantities—never look like clutter. (I totally agree!)

If paper hardback or paperback?
Hardback. They’re harder to ruin.

Manuscripts handwritten or typed?
Oh god, absolutely typed. I can hardly read my handwriting as it is. I used to try to keep a diary but my hand would get tired so I gave up.

Summer or winter?
Summer. It’s always okay to me when summer lasts forever. But when it’s April and still winter, I could just shoot myself.

Chocolate or fruit flavored candies?
Fruit, but only if it’s sour. I hate chocolate.

Fantasy or paranormal?
I kind of like contemporary/real world better. I like the magic of real life. Even if it’s historical.

Mac or windows?

Oh god I can barely operate a PC now. I’m all about mac.

Desert, Lake,  or Mountains?
Lake. It’d be nice to have a house that backed up on a lake.

Cake or Pie?
Neither. I don’t like desserts. Unless it’s coconut cream pie.

Thanks for joining me Paige!

Here is more about Here Lies Bridget:

What if the five people you meet in limbo all want you to go to hell?
Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved--Liam Ward--can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she’s wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she’s inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget’s about to learn that, sometimes, saying you’re sorry just isn’t enough

 

Mariah

Contest Reminder!

This is a reminder that if you fill out my survey by 11:59 CST on the 27th you will be entered to win a $10 (UPDATE: $13) book from the Book Depositry as long as they ship to your country! So don't forget! Also if you don't want to be entered you can just fill it out and not put your e-mail.

Thank you to all of you who have filled it out already and thanks to all of you who are going to!

Outside In Review

Title: Outside In (Insider #2)

Author: Maria V. Snyder

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: March 1, 2011
Received From: NetGalley

Summary: 

Me? A Leader? Okay, I did prove that there's more to Inside than we knew. That a whole world exists beyond this cube we live in. And finding that led to a major rebellion - between worker scrubs like me and the snobby uppers who rule our world. Make that ruled. Because of me, we're free. I thought that meant I was off the hook, and could go off on my own again - while still touching base with Riley, of course. He's the one upper I think I can trust. But then we learned that there's outside and then there is Outside. And something from Outside wants In.

Review:

Ok, I was not enamored with the first book, but I did enjoy it especially the end. But this book was AMAZING, so much better than the first book.

Trella is an awesome character! She is strong but she has her insecurities, and must learn to figure out who she can trust.

I really liked how the world wasn’t perfect after the rebellion, it was fractured and in need of a serious overload, that tension combined with the fear of the outside made for a action-filled book!

There was so much intrigue in Outside In! Like Trella I never knew who to trust or what was going to happen next!

I really, really enjoyed this book, it was that rare book that is better than the prequel!

Go BZRK!

Hey guys!

Author Michael Grant of the Gone series (http://www.harperteen.com/ feature/gone/) is going to be doing an interactive book thing! I thought it sounded interesting and so I wanted to share it with you.

Premise: The missing son of a U.N. diplomat... the reemergence of a strange organization... a pair of society twins caught in the middle... this is just the beginning of "Go BZRK," a new transmedia experience from author Michael Grant.
If you're ready to take the plunge in an interactive story like you've never experienced before, visit societytwins.com and register with nexushumanus.com to take your first steps in a strange and compelling universe.
Filled with video, puzzles, community collaboration, and more, "Go BZRK" put YOU the player right in the middle of the action as you join Nexus Humanus and unravel a mystery that may hold the key to the fate of all mankind.

Sounds really cool right?

Here is a Q&A with Michael Grant to learn more about it!

What is “Go BZRK”? Is this a book or some kind of interactive story?

Both. The book comes out this winter, but the interactive part starts now. One leads up to the other, but they're part of a complete package.

Why “transmedia”?

There are different approaches to transmedia. Most people take a single story and reproduce it on various platforms. My philosophy has been to make each element - ARG, app, web, book - a thing unto itself, each revealing some aspect of the world of BZRK. I've been fascinated with this is as a new way to tell stories. The book remains central, but now I can reach beyond the book and create a much more complete world. I can tell stories that enhance the book, and stories that parallel the book, and stories that are offshoots of backstory. I guess the answer to "why" is "because it's fun."

Is this the future of publishing?

I began a few years ago reaching out to publishers and saying we collectively needed to understand that the old models were dead or dying. I want publishing to survive, and of course I'd like my own career to thrive. So Egmont Publishing and my partners and I certainly hope this is a part of the future of publishing.

How long is this running? Is this part of a larger picture?

We'll be running this in several chunks between now and the book release this winter. Because these things have a hard start/stop point, August is a ramp-up phase. There'll be a lot of content coming out, but the experience really gets underway at the end of the month… just in time to distract the kids from their schoolwork.

What if someone wants to follow the story but doesn’t want to participate?

You don't have to do anything. You can do one thing and not another. But the deeper you plunge the wetter you get. I think every part of this is fun, I think people will enjoy the ARG, the app, the site and the books.

App? You've mentioned that a couple times now.

Just wait and see.

What can you tell us about the story? What is “BZRK”?

It's a battle for the soul and freedom of the human race carried out simultaneously in the world we know, and in a world that you're not going to expect. It's a world where if you make a false move, you're going to lose your mind.

Insanity… is this something you have a personal familiarity with?

The line between writer and crazy person is very thin. Both go around holding long, involved conversations with people who aren't there.

What’s this other world thing all about?

Do you really want spoilers? I'll tell you this. We'll be going "down in the meat." It's going to be vast, bloody, and beautiful.

Wait… isn’t this supposed to be for kids?

Adults like to flatter themselves that kids won't get, won't understand, won't be able to handle, more intense, more complex stories. That's nonsense. It's the adults who are easy to creep out or scare. Say the word "biopsy" in a room full of adults. Or "audit." See? Easy to scare. Kids are a tougher audience because kids think they're immortal.

Sounds really cool right?

What do you think, do you think you will participate?

Trial by Fire Review

Title: Trial by Fire (Raised by Wolves #2)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date: June 14, 2011
Received From: Publisher in exchange for a honest review

Summary: 

There can only be one alpha.
Bryn is finally settling into her position as alpha of the Cedar Ridge Pack—or at least, her own version of what it means to be alpha when you’re a human leading a band of werewolves. Then she finds a teenage boy bleeding on her front porch. Before collapsing, he tells her his name is Lucas, he’s a Were, and Bryn’s protection is his only hope.
But Lucas isn’t part of Bryn’s pack, and she has no right to claim another alpha’s Were.  With threats—old and new—looming, and danger closing in from all sides, Bryn will have to accept what her guardian Callum knew all along. To be alpha, she will have to give in to her own animal instincts and become less human. And, she’s going to have to do it alone.
Bryn faces both the costs, and the rewards, of love and loyalty, in this thrilling sequel to Raised by Wolves.

Review:

There are so many werewolf books on the market, so before I pick one up I try to figure out what makes this one different than the other ones on the shelf. That is one of the reasons I really like this series, it so different than the other werewolf books I have read.

I liked seeing Bryn step into her role as Alpha, while she had her doubts I really liked her drive and how she wasn’t afraid to work through problems and sacrifice herself. Bryn really matured in this book, she faced some really hard decisions and had to learn to step up and step down at times.

The new element that was brought into this book I really enjoyed. It made the plot more complex and the story even more thrilling and enjoyable.

You definitely need to read the first book to understand this one. Things that happened previously are alluded to and are important to the plot, but I didn’t think this was a bad thing because I made Bryn’s decisions more valid in my mind.

The one thing that was the best about this book was the fact that I was never sure if Bryn was going to survive. Especially at the end I really, really had my doubts. This fear kept me on the edge of my chair wanting to know what was going to happen.

The flaw with this book was that it was sort of slow sometimes, I had to set it down unless something very important was happening. It wasn’t too bad because the action parts made up for it, but there were times where I wanted the story to move along faster.

 

The Goddess Test Review

Title: The Goddess Test

Author: Aimee Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Release Date: April 19, 2011
Received From: Netgalley

Summary: 

It's always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate's going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won't live past the fall.
Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he'll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.
Kate is sure he's crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she'll become Henry's future bride, and a goddess.

Review:

As you know if you read my blog I love books that have mythology in them. The Goddess Test was no exception.

I really liked the prologue at the beginning of the book, I know some people don’t like them because they feel that they give too much away, but in this case I think it really added to the story, my mind would go back to that scene and try to tie it into what was going on. It was a great way to add some mystery and intrigue from the very beginning.

Kate was my kind of character, while she wasn’t super heroic or anything, I liked her devotion to her mother, and how she was willing to give up so much for some girl who hated her.

I also really liked Henry, but I wish we could have gotten to know him better. There were moments when it seemed like we might be let in, but we only got a glimpse. I guess that added to his mysteriousness. I would have liked to understand his motives and why he was the way he was more though.

The idea of the tests I felt was very original but I wish some of them had been more obvious, I mean I know they were supposed to be subtle but I had NO idea what  most of them could possibly be until the end when they were spelled out for me and Kate.

I had one main problem with this book, it was that for the first part of the book I had NO IDEA what was going on. It was very vague and I wish Aimee Carter had given the readers a little more background or something.

But besides that I really enjoyed this book and I am excited to see where the story goes in the next book. Goddess Interrupted (Jan 2012)

The Scorpio Races Trailer!

Have you guys seen the trailer for Maggie Stiefvater's new book The Scorpio Races?
Well here it is! I love it!



 You can pre-order a signed and doodled copy here!

All These Things I’ve Done Review

Title: All These Things I’ve Done 

Author: Gabrielle Zevin

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) (Macmillan)

Release Date: September 6, 2011

Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary: 

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Review:

I received this book in a red box with chocolate covered espresso beans which were AMAZING! It was really cute and a great idea for them to promote this book!

First of all a world were chocolate and coffee are illegal?!?!? And paper is hard to find???? I don’t think I could live in this world. No chocolate, no books? But I guess I would get use to it eventually maybe… But it was more than that, it was a story about a mafia, family, loyalty, and being willing to be who you are regardless of what people think.

I really liked Anya as a character, she was strong, and  was willing to step in and take care of her siblings (even if she was overbearing at times) she was resilient and never willing to give up.

I kind of wish there had been more of a mystery element to this book, I mean there was such a good set up for it, but regardless I really enjoyed it.

Win was real gentleman, he was willing to wait for Anya and respected her choice not to have sex. I really appreciate this because it seems like there are so many characters in books that basically have abusive/unhealthy relationships. I also just like Win in general.

There were a few things that I wish had been elaborated upon, but besides that I really liked this book, and thought it was very different than many dystopian fiction. It really has it’s own niche and sets it self apart from a genre that while everywhere I still really enjoy!

Love the cover!!!

Exile (Aurelia #2)

Title: Exile (Aurelia #2)

Author: Anne Osterlund

Publisher: Speak (Penguin)

Release Date: April 28, 2011
Received From: Author in exchange for a honest review

Summary: 

Crown princess Aurelia is a survivor. She survived attempted assassination. She survived the king's rejection. She survived her mother's abandonment. And now, in exile, she must survive her kingdom-from hostile crowds to raw frontier to desert sands. But even as unknown assailants track Aurelia and expedition guide Robert, she knows her greatest risk is falling in love...

Review:

I read Aurelia when it came out in 2008 but while I hoped for a sequel I didn’t know if there was going to be one, so I was pleasantly surprised when I found out that Exile was a sequel!
While you don’t have to read Aurelia to understand what is going on in Exile I really recommend it, since it had been so long since I had read Aurelia I had a little trouble remembering certain things and I would have enjoyed it more if I had re-read Aurelia first. (Also I really enjoyed Aurelia and so I highly recommend it!)
Aurelia is a great heroine even though she is not self sufficient, she doesn’t let the fear of failure or the fear of failing stop her from trying to reach her goals. I also liked how even though she was exiled, she still was trying to do what was best for her kingdom.
I really enjoyed seeing the different parts of the kingdom, I also liked the fact that I was seeing it for the first time with Aurelia, as well as with the more seasoned Robert. It added variety and different reactions to things that happened.
Exile is full of adventure, twists, and just a bit of romance! A great read. And from that ending I hope there is another one!!!!!

Touch of Frost Review

Title: Touch of Frost (Mythos Academy #1)

Author: Jennifer Estep

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Company

Release Date: July 26, 2011
Received From: Publisher via Teen {Book} Scene

Summary: 

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Review:

There are TONS of paranormal books coming out and I’ll be the first one to say that there are too many, but there are still some gems out there. Touch of Frost is one of them.

This paranormal book was really good because the paranormal characters in the book were so different than any other paranormal elements I’ve ever read about. There were Greek, Nordic, and Roman gods and creatures, which all worked together to create an interesting cast of creatures.

This book is similar to Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, so I recommend it to fans of that series.

I liked how Gwen was different, and how she was unsure about what exactly her powers completely entailed. I also liked how all the different groups be it Valkyries or Gypsies like Gwen and her family they had all different powers, which added suspense and an element of surprise as we figure it out throughout the book.

One thing I didn’t like was Logan and Gwen’s relationship, I mean I like how it developed, but I didn’t like how Gwen was so dull about it. “How could he like me?” “He can’t like me, can he?” “Oh my gosh I like him!” (These are not actual quotes from the book I am paraphrasing) I just seemed really juvenile and I wish it had been set up a little better or different. But it didn’t ruin it for me, it was just a small annoyance when it would come up. The rest of the book more than made up for it.

Overall I really, really enjoyed this book and I loved the twist toward the end. I also liked how there was a mystery element and I liked solving it along with Gwen (Even though I had my suspicions early) I am really excited for the next book to see where this story goes!!!

 

 

 

 

Monster Review-a-Thon Wrap-up

As you may know I participated in the Monster Review-a-Thon. While I didn’t get as many reviews done as I had hoped I am really happy with what I got done.

Reviews Published/Scheduled:

1. All These Things I’ve Done

2. Enclave

3. Exile

4, The False Princess

5. The Girl Who Navigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Invention

6. Trial by Fire

7. The Goddess Test

8. Touch of Frost

9.Outside In

10. The Twin’s Daughter

11. Ultraviolet

12. Angelfire

13. The Liar Society

14. The Absolute Value of Mike

Overall I am happy with what I accomplished!

The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making Review

Title: The Girl Who Circumnavigated Fairyland in a Ship of Her Own Making

Author: Catherynne M. Valente

Illustrator: Ana Juan

Publisher:  Feiwel & Friends

Release Date: May 10, 2011
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary: 

Twelve-year-old September lives in Omaha, and used to have an ordinary life, until her father went to war and her mother went to work. One day, September is met at her kitchen window by a Green Wind (taking the form of a gentleman in a green jacket), who invites her on an adventure, implying that her help is needed in Fairyland. The new Marquess is unpredictable and fickle, and also not much older than September. Only September can retrieve a talisman the Marquess wants from the enchanted woods, and if she doesn’t . . . then the Marquess will make life impossible for the inhabitants of Fairyland. September is already making new friends, including a book-loving Wyvern and a mysterious boy named Saturday.  With exquisite illustrations by acclaimed artist Ana Juan, Fairyland lives up to the sensation it created when the author first posted it online. For readers of all ages who love the charm of Alice in Wonderland and the soul of The Golden Compass, here is a reading experience unto itself: unforgettable, and so very beautiful.

Review: First of all this book has the cutest pictures scattered throughout the book! While there aren’t many of them they add so much to the story by letting you see/comprehend the mysterious creatures in the book!
This is definitely a middle grade book, but I think it can be appreciated and enjoyed by people of all ages. I also think boys will enjoy it because its not an overtly “girl” book. I have to agree with the synopsis, this is a good book for fans of Alice in Wonderland because it has that same charm as well as a strange host of characters that join September along the way.
The only small problem I had with this book was I found myself having to remind myself who all the characters were. Maybe because September and Saturday’s names are so similar? I don’t know… but besides that I really, really enjoyed it!
A cute book filled with child-like wonder and an adventure that will keep you guessing!

WOW Prized (Birthmarked #2)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I'm eagerly anticipating.

Title: Prized (Birthmarked #2)

Author: Caragh M. O’Brien

Pub Date: November 8, 2011

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan)

Review of First Book: HERE

Summary: SPOILERS FOR FIRST BOOK!
Striking out into the wasteland with nothing but her baby sister, a handful of supplies, and a rumor to guide her, sixteen-year-old midwife Gaia Stone survives only to be captured by the people of Sylum, a dystopian society where women rule the men who drastically outnumber them, and a kiss is a crime.  In order to see her sister again, Gaia must submit to their strict social code, but how can she deny her sense of justice, her curiosity, and everything in her heart that makes her whole?

Why I can’t wait!: I really, really liked the first book and I cannot wait to dive back into that wonderful world. Also I really like dystopian fiction and this is one of the best series for that!

 

 

Enclave

Title: Enclave (Razorland #1)

Author:  Ann Aguirre

Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Release Date:  April 12, 2011

Received From:  Publisher in exchange for a honest review

Summary: 

New York City has been decimated by war and plague, and most of civilization has migrated to underground enclaves, where life expectancy is no more than the early 20's. When Deuce turns 15, she takes on her role as a Huntress, and is paired with Fade, a teenage Hunter who lived Topside as a young boy. When she and Fade discover that the neighboring enclave has been decimated by the tunnel monsters—or Freaks—who seem to be growing more organized, the elders refuse to listen to warnings. And when Deuce and Fade are exiled from the enclave, the girl born in darkness must survive in daylight, in the ruins of a city whose population has dwindled to a few dangerous gangs. As the two are guided by Fade's long-ago memories, they face dangers, and feelings, unlike any they've ever known. (Summary from BN.com)

Review:

There were aspects of this book that I loved as well as aspects that really bugged me.

I loved the main character! She was spicy and amazing, very similar to Katniss from the Hunger Games and Katsa from Graceling. She was strong, and not willing to let people walk all over her.

I also liked the overall plot, and I enjoyed the way that their “jobs” were chosen. I felt that the going out into the tunnels outside of the enclaves. It was similar to The Maze Runner by James Dashner in that aspect.

Things that I didn’t like: the very, very odd love triangle. The way the story kind of stopped I think it would have been better if the book was longer because it seemed like the entire book was just a set up for the next books. And while I got somewhat connected I wish the next book was connected to this book so there would be some more story line.

Overall an ok book and I’m still interested in reading the next book, to see what happens next.

The False Princess

Title: The False Princess

Author: Eilis O’Neal

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Release Date:  January 25, 2011
Received From: Publisher in return for a honest review

Summary:  

Princess and heir to the throne of Thorvaldor, Nalia's led a privileged life at court. But everything changes when it's revealed, just after her sixteenth birthday, that she is a false princess, a stand-in for the real Nalia, who has been hidden away for her protection. Cast out with little more than the clothes on her back, the girl now called Sinda must leave behind the city of Vivaskari, her best friend, Keirnan, and the only life she's ever known.
Sinda is sent to live with her only surviving relative, an aunt who is a dyer in a distant village. She is a cold, scornful woman with little patience for her newfound niece, and Sinda proves inept at even the simplest tasks. But when Sinda discovers that magic runs through her veins - long-suppressed, dangerous magic that she must learn to control - she realizes that she can never learn to be a simple village girl.
Returning to Vivaskari for answers, Sinda finds her purpose as a wizard scribe, rediscovers the boy who saw her all along, and uncovers a secret that could change the course of Thorvaldor's history, forever.

Review:

I adore fantasy novels! I don’t think there are enough of them that are being published now days and I really, really wish there were more. A good  fantasy novel has three things, great world building, good and productive use of magic, and intrigue! This book has all of those things and more!

One of my favorite parts was the fact that even though Sinda was a strong heroine, she had believable reactions to things that happened to her. I mean I would not have enjoyed this book if she had been less traumatized by the things that happened her reactions to the things that happened are what made her feel more real.

The twists in The False Princess were my favorite part, I never knew what was going to happen next. Especially the last third of the book, it was shocking and action packed!

If you like fantasy or if you’ve never tried it I think this would be a good pick because its shorter than many other fantasy novels and it’s a standalone.

 

 

Sweetly Review

Title: Sweetly

Author: Jackson Pearce

Publisher: Little, Brown

Release Date:  August 23, 2011

Received From: ATWT

Summary: 

SWEETLY is a modernization of Hansel and Gretel and a companion book to SISTERS RED.
Twelve years ago, Gretchen, her twin sister, and her brother went looking for a witch in the forest. They found something. Maybe it was a witch, maybe a monster, they aren’t sure—they were running too fast to tell. Either way, Gretchen’s twin sister was never seen again.
Years later, after being thrown out of their house, Gretchen and Ansel find themselves in Live Oak, South Carolina, a place on the verge of becoming a ghost town. They move in with Sophia Kelly, a young and beautiful chocolatier owner who opens not only her home, but her heart to Gretchen and Ansel.
Yet the witch isn’t gone—it’s here, lurking in the forests of Live Oak, preying on Live Oak girls every year after Sophia Kelly’s infamous chocolate festival. But Gretchen is determined to stop running from witches in the forest, and start fighting back. Alongside Samuel Reynolds, a boy as quick with a gun as he is a sarcastic remark, Gretchen digs deeper into the mystery of not only what the witch is, but how it chooses its victims. Yet the further she investigates, the more she finds herself wondering who the real monster is, and if love can be as deadly as it is beautiful.

Review:

I love retellings! It is really cool to see how different authors interpret the same story and how they make it their own. I have also liked Jackson’s other books so I was really excited for this book!

I liked this take on the classic Hansel and Gretel story because of the differences  from the classic story. The story starts with Ansel, Gretchen, and her identical twin sister going into the woods, the sister is taken and that one even really shapes the rest of the book, because the different ways that Ansel and Gretchen deal with the grief are prevalent throughout the story and keep the plot going.

I really, really liked the characters in this retelling. Especially the character growth in Samuel and Gretchen.  All of the characters were very different and were products of their upbringing and lives which is sometimes neglected in today’s stories.

There were a lot of twists in Sweetly. I went in thinking one thing, and left with something completely different, I really liked that, books that I can figure out right away annoy me.

Only thing I didn’t like about Sweetly was Ansel and Sophie’s relationship, I get that it was vial to the storyline but it really annoyed me it was trivial (IMO) and childish. But it was important in the end so I can appreciate why it was in the story.

A really good book especially for fans of Sisters Red and fairytale retellings.

And that cover? Beautiful and creepy!

 

 

WOW Deadly Cool

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that I’m eagerly anticipating.

Title: Deadly Cool
Author: Gemma Halliday
Pub Date: October 11, 2011
Publisher: HarperTeen
Summary:
Hartley Grace Featherstone is having a very bad day. First she finds out that her boyfriend is cheating on her with the president of the Herbert Hoover High School Chastity Club. Then he's pegged as the #1 suspect in a murder. And if that weren't enough, now he's depending on Hartley to clear his name. Seriously? Not cool. But as much as Hartley wouldn't mind seeing him squirm, she knows he's innocent, and she's the only one who can help him. Along with her best friend, Sam, and the school's resident Bad Boy, Chase, Hartley starts investigating on her own. But as the dead bodies begin to pile up, the mystery deepens, the suspects multiply, and Hartley begins to fear that she may be the killer's next victim.

Why I can’t wait!:

I absolutely adore mysteries, I don’t think there are enough strictly mystery stories in YA, and mysteries with multiple dead bodies? Um… YES!!!

 

 

 

Monster Review-a-Thon

Ok, so I hate to admit it but I am super behind on writing reviews and I would love to have some that I could post at a moments notice so when I heard about this Review-a-Thon I knew I should participate.

Basically you review as many books as you can within that one week period. They will also be having mini-challenges and prizes so to find out more click on the picture above. (You can also participate if you don’t have a blog)

I think I will be able to review about 20 but I hope to be able to do more than that.