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!