Georgetown Academy by Alyssa Schwartz and Jessica Etting Review

Title: Georgetown Academy Book One   
Author:  Alyssa Embree Schwartz, Jessica Koosed Etting  
Publisher: Coliloquy, LLC  
Release Date: October 24, 2012  
Received: For review

Review:   
Gossip Girl meets Politics: that is the basic gist of the Georgetown Academy series. Everyone is watched and their parents and their political exploits are the talk of the town and dictate the student's every move. And don't forget, the media is always there to catch it all. 

 Georgetown Academy is an "active fiction series" which basically means it is similar to choose your own adventure. Because it is only available as an e-book it makes the digital contest come to life easier than it could in a  traditional book. And while I was happy with the way the "active fiction" made the story more interesting there was only one point in which I could choose which girl I wanted to follow. I wish there had been at least one more. That being said seeing the world through all the girls' eyes was fun and added depth to  the story. And trust me after reading one choice you will want to read the rest.

I liked the political side of the book as well. While it may be fiction I can see the lives of prominent political people being similar to this so I liked experiencing what it might be like.

While the main characters are sort of stereotypical as the story progressed they became more fleshed out which i was really glad to see.

So if you are looking for a quick read to fill your new e-reader or to use your gift card on I recommend Georgetown Academy! Oh, and the second one is already out so you don't have to wait!

 

2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt Question 45

Looking for this, hunters? I have today's trivia questions from Fiction Fervor's 2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt here for you. 2012YASSH challenges you with your knowledge of young adult books published this year, and if you enter, you might win a prize! Check out it here for more info. And be sure to read the rules!

Without further ado, today's questions come from Reached by Ally Condie.

Easy: What department’s insignia looks like a blood-red circle?

Medium: What is the most common symptom of the Plague?

Hard: What did Cassia trade to pay for one of the Hundred Dresses?

Enter your answers in the form below!

Good Luck!

2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt Question 31

Looking for this, hunters? I have today's trivia questions from Fiction Fervor's 2012 YA Story Scavenger Hunt here for you. 2012YASSH challenges you with your knowledge of young adult books published this year, and if you enter, you might win a prize! Check out it here for more info. And be sure to read the rules! Have fun! And if this is the first you've heard of it, it is not too late to get started!

Without further ado, today's questions come from Destined by Aprilynne Pike.

Easy: What close friend of Tamani died to protect Avalon?

Medium: What is the name of the weapon David yielded in battle in Avalon?

Hard: What is David’s final request of Chelsea at the end of the book?

Enter your answers in the form below!

Good luck!

Why I love YA

There are many reasons why I love YA. 

Contrary to what many may believe there are amazing books that fall under the YA category. Some of the best books I have ever read are YA and I think many people miss out on them because they are YA. 

YA books as a whole are awesome. They tell such great stories that draw you in and never let you go. The characters are so relate able and make you fall in love with them with every book you read.

All of the YA authors I have met are so nice, and they are so funny and awesome. It is great to have a chance to chat with them on twitter. I think that YA would not be as great if the authors weren't so great.

The blogging community is great (most of the time). I have met so many people who love YA just as much as me through blogging and I would never trade that. 

Basically I love YA and I wish everyone would give it a shot, so they could experience the wonderfulness that it is!

If you want to share why you love YA and have a chance to win lots of books check out Beth Revis' contest (another awesome YA author)

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Title: The Scorpio Races  

Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press 

Release Date: October 18, 2011 
Received: Library

Summary:  It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.  


Review:  I listened to The Scorpio Races on audio and it was so beautiful. If you have the chance to listen it rather than read it I would definitely recommend it. But even if you can't you really need to read it.

I had read all of Maggie Stiefvater's other books and had fallen in love with her style and voice. Her Shiver series while good, was not as amazing of a fit for her voice as her first two books, Linger and Ballad. But The Scorpio Races was the perfect fit for her lyricism and style. The minute I started listening I knew I was in for a treat.

Puck and Sean are awesome main characters, their stories were seamlessly wound together and I loved the dual POV, it made the story richer and more beautiful. Puck is such a strong female character and even though she was not out saving the world, but she was out doing whatever she could to save her family. Sean on the other hand is alone and is doing all he can to get what he wants and needs but is not selfish about it which is not seen very much in books.

Finn, Puck's brother was one of my favorite characters. He was so sweet and awesome I loved his personality and wanted him to be my little brother. Also he was always surprising me and I love that about him.

Thisby the island that The Scorpio Races takes place on it almost a character in itself. It could not take place in any other place. Maggie Stiefvater brought it to life and I felt like I was there. I really want Thisby to be real so I can experience it. But because it isn't I feel like I have been there.

The audio narration is awesome. There are two narrators, one for Puck and one for Sean and they are the perfect voices for them. Especially the man who voiced Sean, I fell in love with his voice and I would listen to him read the phone book if I had the chance. But I also loved the voice of Puck, she was sassy and fit Puck's personality perfectly!

You need to read this book. I am mad at myself for waiting this long to read it. Also it is a stand alone so if you are tired of all the series' and need a break, or if you just want an awesome book to read I recommend The Scorpio Races.

Grave Mercy by Robin LaFevers Review

Title: Grave Mercy (His Fair Assassin #1)   
Author: Robin LaFevers   
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt  
Release Date: April 3, 2012  
Received: Library  

Summary:  Seventeen-year-old Ismae escapes from the brutality of an arranged marriage into the sanctuary of the convent of St. Mortain, where the sisters still serve the gods of old. Here she learns that the god of Death Himself has blessed her with dangerous gifts—and a violent destiny. If she chooses to stay at the convent, she will be trained as an assassin and serve as a handmaiden to Death. To claim her new life, she must destroy the lives of others.

Ismae’s most important assignment takes her straight into the high court of Brittany—where she finds herself woefully under prepared—not only for the deadly games of intrigue and treason, but for the impossible choices she must make. For how can she deliver Death’s vengeance upon a target who, against her will, has stolen her heart?

Review:   
Assassin Nuns. That was all I needed to hear in order to persuade me to pick Grave Mercy. 

Assassin Nuns who serve the god of Death. What an interesting and original premise. Grave Mercy is a cross between historical fantasy and fantasy. Which are two of my favorite genres, so I was super excited and I was not disappointed at all.

Ismae is a girl who was taken from a very hard situation and put in a very different but also hard situation. She was such a strong character but she had her flaws and insecurities that made her feel real. Also her transformation from a girl who just blindly follows the guide of others into a woman who makes her own decisions and judgment was really fascinating to me. This is because I think it is a transformation that many people have to go through before they can come into their own. 

Duval oh Duval. I loved Duval he added so much mystery and intrigue and like Ismae I never quite knew whether to trust him or not. 

Being that Grave Mercy is historical fantasy there was tons of intrigue and back-stabbing to keep you interested even if you aren't the biggest fan of historical fiction (why not?) all the court politics were tinged with treason and yearning for political gain. I loved how seamlessly the assassin nuns storyline went along with that. 

Basically Grave Mercy was romantic, intriguing, and just all around awesome. I cannot wait for the next book!

  

November Comment Contest!

During November I will be having a comment contest! The winner will receive a signed copy of The Diviners by Libba Bray!

Rules:
The contest will run from Nov 1 through Nov 30
Only people with US and Canada addresses can win (Sorry next time!)
Only new comments on posts after October 15 will count
Each meaningful comment left on a post posted after October 15 throughout the month of November will be counted as one entry into the giveaway.

Leave a comment with your email on this post so that if you win I can contact you. You only need to leave your email address on this post!Good Luck!

Sapphire Blue by Kerstin Gier Review

Title: Sapphire Blue   
Author: Kerstin Gier, Anthea Bell (Translator)  

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) 

Release Date: October 30, 2012 

Received: For review from publisher 


Summary:  Gwen’s life has been a rollercoaster since she discovered she was the Ruby, the final member of the secret time-traveling Circle of Twelve. In between searching through history for the other time-travelers and asking for a bit of their blood (gross!), she’s been trying to figure out what all the mysteries and prophecies surrounding the Circle really mean.

At least Gwen has plenty of help. Her best friend Lesley follows every lead diligently on the Internet. James the ghost teaches Gwen how to fit in at an eighteenth century party. And Xemerius, the gargoyle demon who has been following Gwen since he caught her kissing Gideon in a church, offers advice on everything. Oh, yes. And of course there is Gideon, the Diamond. One minute he’s very warm indeed; the next he’s freezing cold. Gwen’s not sure what’s going on there, but she’s pretty much destined to find out.

Review: 
Sapphire Blue is the second book in the Ruby Red trilogy. If you have not read Ruby Red and like time travel or secret societies then get on that. 

Sapphire Blue starts where Ruby Red ends and so this is a series where you really need to read the series in order. In Sapphire Blue we learn even more about the Circle but there is still quite a bit of unanswered questions. I personally wish that a few more questions had been answered rather than things just getting complicated but the intrigue level was definitely raised.

Xemerius was my favorite character! He was awesome and his snark brought some much needed comic relief but he was also very helpful to Gwen and Leslie. Speaking of Leslie I love how she is not jealous of Gwen and is genuinely interested in helping her navigate her new life. I think many other books would not have had Leslie be so supportive. 

Basically all the rest of the main characters were annoying. But they are supposed to be so I guess that's good. Gideon was actually the most aggravating but I can't wait to see what will happen with that in Emerald Green.

The Ruby Red trilogy is definitely one you should check out. I personally cannot wait to find out all the the secrets in the third book Emerald Green. So check out Ruby Red and then read Sapphire Blue when it comes out on October 30!

P.S. I do not like the cover change. The other covers were gorgeous and while the dresses are relevant to the story I absolutely loved the old covers and am sad to see them go.

Dear Teen Me Review

Title: Dear Teen Me: Authors Write Letters to Their Teen Selves 
Author: Anthology 

Publisher: Zest Books 

Release Date: October 30, 2012 

Received: From publisher for Dear Teen Me Tour 


Summary:  Dear Teen Me includes advice from over 70 YA authors (including Lauren Oliver, Ellen Hopkins, and Nancy Holder, to name a few) to their teenage selves. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including physical abuse, body issues, bullying, friendship, love, and enough insecurities to fill an auditorium. So pick a page, and find out which of your favorite authors had a really bad first kiss? Who found true love at 18? Who wishes he’d had more fun in high school instead of studying so hard? Some authors write diary entries, some write letters, and a few graphic novelists turn their stories into visual art. And whether you hang out with the theater kids, the band geeks, the bad boys, the loners, the class presidents, the delinquents, the jocks, or the nerds, you’ll find friends--and a lot of familiar faces--in the course of Dear Teen Me. 


Review:  I have been reading more and more anthology's lately and I am really liking them. Dear Teen Me isn't your typical anthology. It is filled with letters that authors have written to their teen selves. 

Dear Teen Me was awesome. Each story touched me and gave me insight not only to these fabulous authors but into people I come across every day. Especially people I went to high school with that may have been going through similar things as these authors did.

One of the best things about Dear Teen Me is that I think almost everyone can find a story they relate to. Maybe not 100% but finding even a small connection with these letters is easy. The letters are all so varied and deal with a multitude of different topics. Each letter is encouraging and I can see teens getting encouragement from them, because the letters were written to the authors' teen selves so they are personal and real. 

I would definitely recommend this anthology. Because whether you are a teen or have not been a teen for quite some time I think you will be able to connect to at least one of these letters.

Check out the rest of the tour here!

 

Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brennan Review

Title: Unspoken (The Lynburn Legacy #1)   
Author: Sarah Rees Brennan    
Publisher: Random House 

Release Date: September 11, 2012
Received: Bought 


Summary:  Kami Glass loves someone she’s never met . . . a boy she’s talked to in her head ever since she was born. She wasn’t silent about her imaginary friend during her childhood, and is thus a bit of an outsider in her sleepy English town of Sorry-in-the-Vale. Still, Kami hasn’t suffered too much from not fitting in. She has a best friend, runs the school newspaper, and is only occasionally caught talking to herself. Her life is in order, just the way she likes it, despite the voice in her head.

But all that changes when the Lynburns return.

The Lynburn family has owned the spectacular and sinister manor that overlooks Sorry-in-the-Vale for centuries. The mysterious twin sisters who abandoned their ancestral home a generation ago are back, along with their teenage sons, Jared and Ash, one of whom is eerily familiar to Kami. Kami is not one to shy away from the unknown—in fact, she’s determined to find answers for all the questions Sorry-in-the-Vale is suddenly posing. Who is responsible for the bloody deeds in the depths of the woods? What is her own mother hiding? And now that her imaginary friend has become a real boy, does she still love him? Does she hate him? Can she trust him? 


Review:  I've been having trouble writing this review. Not because Unspoken was sub-par or just okay. Which is when I usually have trouble writing reviews. No the reason I am having trouble is just the opposite. Unspoken is amazing and I don't know if I can adequately convince you of its awesomeness.

Let me just get it out there that Unspoken is AWESOME and I cannot be held responsible for the amount of fangirlyness that will be in this post.

Kami is a great main character. She is resourceful, loyal, and curious, all things I look for in a good protagonist. As for the rest of the characters they are awesome as well. Each one brings their own brand of snark and hilarity that really made me feel as if they could be real people from a real town. Holly and Angela are my particular favorites especially because they don't have that girl-on-girl tension with Kami that is a central point of antagonism in many other books. They are Kami's friends and they are willing to put up with her eccentricities because they love her. Unspoken has a rather large cast of characters but Sarah Rees Brennan had made it so you will fall in love with all of them and yearn to know more about them.

Speaking of the town, Sorry-in-the-vale is gorgeously written. I want to book a trip and go, Sarah Rees Brennan has created a place that while filled with magic is a place that I can totally see existing. It is almost a character in of itself, it adds so much to the story and I cannot image Unspoken taking place anywhere other than Sorry-in-the-Vale.

I really liked how the whole voice in her head thing was handled, I think it was mature and not ridiculous like it could have been. It was central to the conflict without taking it over. There were other people involved and how it came about was really interesting to me. 

The plot of Unspoken is great. It is paced well and Sarah Rees Brennan constantly brings up little things that seem insignificant but are really very important. As for the climax, I was pleasantly surprised. It was not completely what I thought it was going to be and I cannot wait for the next book.

As for the ending... It is terrible and not okay by any stretch of the imagination. But it is not a cliffhanger so that is good.

Basically you should go buy Unspoken. And if you ever have the chance to meet Sarah Rees Brennan DO IT. She is hilarious and so nice. I had the chance to meet her at the Austin Teen Book Festival and she was one of the nicest authors I met that day. Even if she takes pleasure in making people cry at her books. Also the odds that she will stand on a chair are high.

Lets be honest it is a 6/5

Fathomless by Jackson Pearce Review

Title: Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings #3)   
Author: Jackson Pearce   
Publisher: Little Brown Books for Young Readers
Release Date: September 4, 2012  
Received: For review from publisher  

Summary:  Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.  


Review:  I love a good fairytale retelling. Seeing a well known story reimagined is so fun and interesting. So naturally I love Jackson Pearce's Fairytale Retellings series. 

The first two books in this series were very good. I like how all three books go together in small ways but they are completely different stories. The ways they go together are surprising and not like anything I would expect. 

Fathomless is a retelling of The Little Mermaid. I enjoyed seeing the homages to the classic story and I enjoyed how Jackson Pearce worked them into her existing world. The multiple POV's were also nice because it let me get to know all the characters better and gave more depth to the story. 

The dynamic between Celia and her sisters was very interesting and I liked how their bond was tested but not shattered. The mythology of the ocean girls was very interesting and getting to understand what was going on was one of my favorite parts of Fathomless. 

Jude kind of annoyed me, I know he was important and one of the main ties to the original Little Mermaid but his personality bugged me a little though not enough to ruin it for me.

Overall I really enjoyed Fathomless and I cannot wait to see where Jackson Pearce takes the world in the next book!

I'm not going to lie, while I don't hate the new covers I wish they had kept the old concept because they were gorgeous.

Check out my reviews for the first two books in the series Sisters Red and Sweetly.

 

Two and Twenty Dark Tales Review

Title: Two and Twenty Dark Tales  
Editors: Georgia McBride and Michelle Zink   
Publisher: Month 9 Books  
Release Date: October 16, 2012
Received: Netgalley  

Summary:  In this anthology, 20 authors explore the dark and hidden meanings behind some of the most beloved Mother Goose nursery rhymes through short story retellings. The dark twists on classic tales range from exploring whether Jack truly fell or if Jill pushed him instead to why Humpty Dumpty, fragile and alone, sat atop so high of a wall. The authors include Nina Berry, Sarwat Chadda, Leigh Fallon, Gretchen McNeil, and Suzanne Young.

Review:   
I love retellings. It is really interesting to see how different authors take classic stories and make them new and different. So I was super excited to read this anthology of Mother Goose nursery rhymes retold to make them darker and expanding them.

I enjoyed all of the stories but some of my favorite were by Leigh Fallon, Leah Cypess, Angie Frazier, Jessie Harrell, Lisa Mantchev, Michelle Zink, and Suzanne Lazear. I loved Leah Cypess' and Jessie Harrell's because when I read them I could totally see the stories as full novels that I would totally read. Leigh Fallon. Angie Frazier, Lisa Mantchev, Michelle Zink, and Suzanne Lazear had great stories as well because while I could not see them as full length novels the short stories were so awesome and expanded on their nursery rhyme so well that I could read them again and again. 

All the stories in Two and Twenty Dark Tales took these nursery rhymes and expanded on them in such varied and interesting ways that I never would have thought of. The authors that I had read books by before I see their styles and it was fun to see their takes on these nursery rhymes. I was also introduced to some authors that I had never heard of before that and I am totally going to pick up their books because I really enjoyed their retellings.

One of the coolest things about this anthology besides the awesome concept is that the proceeds of the first 5,000 books go to YALITCHAT.ORG which fosters the advancement, reading, writing and acceptance of young adult literature worldwide. 

 Two ad Twenty Dark Tales is an awesome anthology that will surprise you and enchant you with each new story.

Check out my interview with Jessie Harrell one of the authors in this anthology and enter to win a copy of Jessie's book.

2 & 20 Dark Tales Tour: Interview with Jessie Harrell

Today I have with me Jessie Harrell who is part of the 2 and 20 Dark Tales anthology which is a bunch of retellings of classic Mother Goose nursery rhymes

What is your favorite Mother Goose Rhyme besides the one you wrote about, and why?

I can remember back to being a little kid and singing Sing a Song of Sixpence, because what isn’t awesome about a pie full of blackbirds that end up snipping off the maid’s nose?  (Although I must say, Sarwat Chadda did an amazing job with this one!) She really did! But it would be cool to see your take on it.

Do you have any other favorite nursery rhymes that are not in this book that you would like to see re-imagined?

I can see Peter Pumpkin-eater being redone in a really creepy way. That sounds like spousal imprisonment to me.  And if you were locked inside a room with sticky, dripping walls?  Like I said, creepy. Oh, that would be cool!

If you could write a totally new nursery rhyme what would it be about?

Since I have children of my own, I tend to think I’d write much happier rhymes than good old Mother Goose.  Maybe something about a nighttime ballet between the moon and the stars at night. Something that feels magical and calming.  (But don’t ask me to actually write it - there’s a reason I write YA and not children’s books.)

Why did you decide to revisit the Mother Goose Rhyme that you did?

Actually, Hey, Diddle, Diddle was assigned to me by the editor, Georgia McBride.  And I must say, it worked out so well.  At first, I had no idea what do with a fiddle-playing cat, laughing dog and moon-jumping cow.  But I knew I wanted to tie the story into mythology somehow (since my novel, Destined, is a Greek myth retelling).  After doing some research and realizing that the Egyptians had gods represented by a cat, cow and jackal (close enough) - and they all had roles in the afterlife - I had the seeds for my retelling. It was a very cool take on Hey, Diddle, Diddle and unlike anything I would have thought of!

What is another childhood favorite (book or story) that you would like to revisit?

That’s hard to say. I’m thinking the Grimm tales lend themselves best to new interpretations, but so many of the good ones have already been taken (Jackson Pearce does a great job with these retellings).  Since I’m such a mythology nut, I would like to do more of these retellings.  My seven year old knows who Medusa is, so that counts, right?  I would love to paint her in a better light - in the time before she was a monster.  That would be cool! I would read it :)

What made you want to be part of this anthology?

Not only is the idea totally unique, but the proceeds from the first 5,000 sales go to charity.  It was definitely worth the opportunity to stretch myself as an author and give back to the community.

 

If you could be any Mother Goose Rhyme character who would you be and why?

Mary, Mary quite contrary -- I’m an attorney, need I say more? I can find a counter-point to about anything. 

Thank you so much to Jessie Harnell for doing this interview! And be sure to check out her story in 2 and 20 Dark Tales. You are definitely in for a treat with her story and all the other ones! 

Check out the next stop on the tour at Literary Escapism! 

Check out my review of 2 & 20 Dark Tales here
Enter to win a copy of Jessie Harrell's Destined by filling out this form:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Crewel by Gennifer Albin Review

Title: Crewel   
Author: Gennifer Albin 
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)  
Release Date: October 16,2012  
Received: For review from publisher

Summary:  Incapable. Awkward. Artless.

That’s what the other girls whisper behind her back. But sixteen year-old Adelice Lewys has a secret: she wants to fail.

Gifted with the ability to weave time with matter, she’s exactly what the Guild is looking for, and in the world of Arras, being chosen as a Spinster is everything a girl could want. It means privilege, eternal beauty, and being something other than a secretary. It also means the power to embroider the very fabric of life. But if controlling what people eat, where they live and how many children they have is the price of having it all, Adelice isn’t interested.

Not that her feelings matter, because she slipped and wove a moment at testing, and they’re coming for her—tonight.

Now she has one hour to eat her mom’s overcooked pot roast. One hour to listen to her sister’s academy gossip and laugh at her Dad’s stupid jokes. One hour to pretend everything’s okay. And one hour to escape.

Because once you become a Spinster, there’s no turning back.

Review: 
If you are tired of the distopian genre then Crewel is the book for you. While it is a distopian it is so original and different that it is almost like reading another genre. In fact, I got a fairy-tale like vibe off of it. 

I really liked Adelice as a protagonist. She was awesome and snarky. The supporting characters were also brilliant they were so vibrant and different. Though some of them had prejudices that I did not quite understand and unnerved me I liked how their stories slowly wove into the story.

Gennifer Albin is a great writer. She wove such a beautiful tale which was one of the reasons that it felt like a fantasy. She was also amazing at writing the villains. They were evil and totally a bunch of psychopaths but in some cases you could see why they did the things they did. 

I liked the mythology behind the Spinsters. I loved learning how the world was created and I cannot wait to find out more about it. The government system was so complex and I wish that we had gotten to find out more about it and gotten to understand it better but I am sure that we will learn more in the other books.

If you are a fan of distopian, science fiction, or fantasy Crewel is a book I totally recommend!