Starling Launch!

Last night was the Book Launch for the adorable and hilarious Lesley Livingston, who was celebrating the first book in a brand new series; Starling!

It was an amazing night filled with amazing people and hilarity at every turn. I got there a little after 7pm and my god! there were tones of people there already! I was so happy that all of these people were there to celebrate a book that I absolutely loved reading!

The night started off with the Children's Editor at HarperCollins Canada, Hadley Dyer, introducing Lesley and praising her skills as a YA author (which I totally agree with!). Then to everyone's delight Hadley gave the floor to the amazing David Hayter! 

It became apparent VERY quickly that Lesley and David are very good friends and his introduction was filled with heartfelt remarks and hilarity from their years together. It was an amazing introduction and Lesley is very lucky to have a friend like David.

After David's introduction, Lesley finally took to the stage and delighted the crown with her amazing sense of humor and her ability to make everyone in the room feel like the most special person there.

Not only did Lesley do a speech and thank all the people that made Starling possible, but she did not one, but TWO passage readings! I have to say that I would read Starling again if only Lesley's voice was in my head. Her ability to make her characters come to life with only her voice was amazing to hear and I loved every second of it!

Now it was signing time! The line was steady for over an hour, and I kept thinking of pour Lesley and her poor hand that much be cramping, but she toughed it out and was amazing with every person that came up to get their book signed.

Our lovely group of Blogesses waited in line, and I had a great time with these lovely ladies last night, talking books, books and more books!
AND THEN we ran into the lovely Adrienne Kress who was there tweeting the whole night!

Finally here is the moment when we finally made it to the front of the line and got to meet and talk with Lesley!

I had an amazing time at the event and I want to thank Michele(@justalillost), Gwenyth(@gwenythlove), Andrea(@Book_lover1988), and Alina(@AjKitKat) for great conversations and company during that long line!

I would also like to thank Lesley and the HarperCollins Canada crew (including Vikki Vansickle and Hadley Dyer) for the lovely event. It was a g

Go and pick up your copy of Starling today! Its an amazing book, and if you don't believe me check out my review here, that might change your mind ;)

Read More

Waiting on Wednesday [5]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, it highlights upcoming books that we cannot wait to read!

This week my pick is....

I am very excited about this book. Not only because the cover is absolutely GORGEOUS but also because the plot sounds extremely interesting and right up my ally.
Gravity will be released on October 16, 2012 and I know I will be hitting the stores wanting to read this one!






Goodreads Synopsis
In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

Read More

Pushing the Limits

Title: Pushing the Limits
Author: Katie McGarry
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Format: Hardcover, 384 pages
Publication Date: July 31, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Rating: 5/5





Goodreads Synopsis
No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

My Thoughts
I really don't know where to start with this book. I loved so much about it that I just want to talk about all of it at the same time. The main reason why I think I liked it so much was its realism and the emotions that played out throughout the book. Pushing the Limits was the first book I've read in a long time that hasn't included something paranormal or sci-fi/fantasy, and I have to say it was a lovely change of pace.

The book was told in two narrative voices, Noah and Echo, and that aspect gave an already emotional story and gave it another dimension. Noah and Echo are two very different characters, yet their lives seem to intertwine in a way that neither thought possible. They brought the best, and worst, out of each other. I loved that both main characters had believable and real issues that made me feel for them and hurt for them. Noah's family situation was heartbreaking at some points, and I always wished that he would calm his emotions so he could see the whole picture.

I very much admire Katie McGarry's technique of writing Noah's character, he is flawed in many ways, but the more time he spent with Echo, the more amazing he became. Noah is a typical teenage boy, obsessed with Echos body parts and the way she moved, and told us exactly how he felt and what he wanted to do. This was a very interesting way of showing a characters personality and I especially liked that Noah grew as a man throughout the book and eventually realized his potential.

Echo on the other hand had a whole other set of worries on top of her very interesting and frustrating family situation. Her so called "Deformity" was something I actually loved about Echos character. It separated her from her friends and showcased her real personality. Throughout the book I found it very frustrating that Echo continued to hang out with her old friends, because they never accepted her for who she became after the accident, and it hurt me to see that she didn't see it sooner. I just wanted her to love herself the way Noah did.

I also loved the secondary characters, I thought they played a huge role in this book. They were extremely well developed and added a lot of depth to an already complex story. Noah's friends were always in direct comparison to Echo's friends and it was through this comparison that we see different sides of Noah and Echo. Out of all the secondary characters I have to say that my favorite would have to be Beth because even though her home life is nothing short of horrific, she still has the copacity for love and friendship, whch was a very big redemable quality in her character.

Overall this book blew me away, it encompassed everything I love about Contemporary YA Fiction. Drama, Romance, and a whole lot of amazing characters. This book is worth reading immediately, it will reinforce your view on love and its healing powers. Go read it now! Amazing read!

Read More

My Paranormal Giveaway!

Since I have been on a Paranormal kick these past few weeks, I thought I would spread the love, and share some of my favorite Paranormal reads! The rules are: You must chose which book that you would like to read the most, fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and comment on the giveaway.  Good Luck!

The first book up for grabs is....

Matthew has loved Ariel from the moment he found her in the tunnels, her bee’s wings falling away. They live in Safe, an underground refuge for those fleeing the city Above—like Whisper, who speaks to ghosts, and Jack Flash, who can shoot lightning from his fingers.

But one terrifying night, an old enemy invades Safe with an army of shadows, and only Matthew, Ariel, and a few friends escape Above. As Matthew unravels the mystery of Safe’s history and the shadows’ attack, he realizes he must find a way to remake his home—not just for himself, but for Ariel, who needs him more than ever before.


The second book up for grabs is...

Elizabeth Valchar-pretty, popular, and perfect-wakes up the morning after her eighteenth birthday party on her family's yacht, where she'd been celebrating with her six closest friends. A persistent thumping noise has roused her. When she goes to investigate, what she finds will change everything she thought she knew about her life, her friends, and everything in between. As Liz begins to unravel the circumstances surrounding her birthday night, she will find that no one around her, least of all Liz herself, was perfect-or innocent. Critically acclaimed author Jessica Warman brings readers along on a roller-coaster ride of a mystery, one that is also a heartbreaking character study, a touching romance, and ultimately a hopeful tale of redemption, love, and letting go.

And the LAST book up for grabs is....

As the youngest and only female member of the Knights Templar, Bilquis SanGreal grew up knowing she wasn't normal. Instead of hanging out at the mall or going on dates, she spends her time training as a soldier in her order's ancient battle against the Unholy.
One of the order's ancient enemies has resurfaced, searching for a treasure that the Templars have protected for hundreds of years -- a cursed mirror powerful enough to kill all of London's firstborn. To save her city from catastrophe, Billi will have to put her heart aside and make sacrifices greater than any of the Templars could have imagined. 


This Giveaway is open Internationally, so Good Luck everyone!
 
 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Stacking The Shelves [4]

 

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by  TYNGA'S REVIEWS and it showcases the new books received!

This week was a small week, went in to just browse and came out with 4 things! Here they are!

Rise of Nine by Pittacus Lore

All you Desire by Kirsten Miller

Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer

I also got a new planner so I can FINALLY get organized! 

Isn't it pretty? I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT :)

Don't forget to comment and let me know about your Stacking the Shelves!

Read More

Throne of Glass

Title: Throne of Glass
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #1
Genre: YA Fantasy, Medieval Fiction
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Publication Date: August 7, 2012
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's, Penguin Canada
Rating: 4/5





Goodreads Synopsis
After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin. Her opponents are men-thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the king's council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she'll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom. Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she's bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it's the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best. Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

My Thoughts
I am a little sad that I didn't love this book as much as I wanted to. Don't get me wrong, I was thoroughly entertained while reading it, and I would recommend it to anyone who loves Fantasy with a little bit of Medieval setting mixed in. There were many elements in this novel that I loved, and the biggest of them being the main protagonist. Celaena is a strong and independent young woman who will do anything to attain the freedom she has always wanted. I loved that she was a mystery throughout the entire novel. We never really understand her past or the reasons behind her becoming an assassin, although we are given clues. This mystery leaves some intrigue for the rest of the series. 

I also loved the contrast between Celaena and the other female characters in the novel. It is through these comparisons that we really see how different she is from the society that surrounds her. 

I felt myself a little confused about Celaena's relationship with the Prince. I felt that the past that we were allowed to see didn't favor the Prince or his Father, and I guess I just thought her disgust for what they did to her people would have hindered her admiration for him a little more than it did. Although I liked that their relationship highlighted some of Celaena's character flaws, it in no way hindered or tarnished my view of her character as a whole. But I will say that I liked the other love interest a lot more than the Prince, and I am very excited to see where that relationship goes in future novels, because I have been routing for this person since the beginning :)

The writing in this novel was extremely vivid and enthralling, I felt myself emersed into the story on more than one occasion, to the point that I didn't realize how much time had passed. I loved the action scenes the most because Sarah Maas has a real talent for writing very intricate fighting scenes that seem very real when you read them. 
There was one writing technique that got under my skin a bit and that was when Celaena was refered to as "The Assassain." I felt that this was a little redundent because the entire novel was written in third person, and it would have been better to just call her by her name. We know that she is an assassin and the reference was a bit of a distraction for me as I read. 

Overall I really enjoyed this book, just simply for the fact that it was extremely entertaining from beginning to end.  

Read More

Something Strange and Deadly

Title: Something Strange and Deadly
Author: Susan Dennard
Series: Something Strange and Deadly #1
Genre: YA Fantasy, Victorian Fiction, Zombies
Format: Hardcover, 388 pages
Publication Date: July 24, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen, HarperCollins Canada
Rating: 4/5








Goodreads Synopsis
The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…

Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—

The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.

And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.

Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance



My Thoughts
Zombie novels are part of a genre that has a fine line between realistic and "out there" and Something Strange and Deadly has a very realistic element within its pages, and that element is the Necromancer. I have always loved the idea of the Necromancer in novels because they add a different aspect to the overall problem. Not only do you have to fight the living dead, but you also have to fight against their creator, who is always, more times than not, more powerful than human.

What separated this novel from other zombie novels was the setting. Being in Philadelphia in the Victorian era was amazing, it was the perfect backdrop for this story because of the limits of technology and the pressures of society that hang over each character. Also, Susan Dennard does a great job creating a world full of mystery and suspense that carried the reader from the first page to the last.

Eleanor was a great main protagonist. She was full of angst, love and a little bit of rebellion. Her questioning of society, and her desire to find her beloved brother propels this unlikely heroine into a world of the living dead and allows her to meet people that will change the way she views the world.

I loved everything about this book, the idea of the Necromancer was ingenious and I loved how his revelation at the end came about. I will admit that I figured out who the Necromancer was before the reveal, but it did not take away from the story at all. There were still many surprises that caught me off guard, especially in the last three chapters.

The one thing I would probably alter would be the inclusion of the secondary characters. I felt that some of them were used merely as devices to push the story forward and didn't really add anything to the main story line. For example, many of the secondary characters, especially the girls, were there as comparisons to Eleano'rs character, and I wish some of them had had a bigger role because they were quite interesting characters in themselves.

Overall this book was extremely entertaining and delivers a gruesome yet believable take on the zombie genre, and will satisfy any persons need to romance as well. A very well developed novel and very well written. Something Strange and Deadly is worth a read..or two :)

Read More

Cinder Review

Title: Cinder
Author: Marissa Meyer
Series: The Lunar Chronicles #1
Genre: YA Fantasy, Science Fiction
Format: Hardcover, 387 pages
Publication Date: January 3, 2012
Publisher: Macmillan: Feiwel & Friends
Rating: 4/5








Goodreads Synopsis
Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, the ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

My Thoughts
I have been wanting to read this book for months, and I have to say that I was soo happy I read it! For one, I am a sucker for adaptations of fairy tales, and Cinderella is one of my favorites. Secondly I am also a sucker for fantasy and science fiction elements in YA, and this book had all of the above. 

I loved the relationship between Cinder and her personal cyborg, Iko the best. It was the only real friendship she had even known, and you could tell through Cinders actions towards her and her concern for her saftely that Iko was almost like a sister to her. I also loved the Lunar colony par as well, it added an extra demesion to the book and made for a very good conflict at the end of the novel. 

The stepmother was extremely nasty and harsh, which was perfect, especially with the whole Cinderella theme going on throughout the book. I also loved that both step sisters weren't cruel, there was one who was more favorable than the other, and that made for an interesting relationship.  

I really wish that the relationship between Kai and Cinder was developed more throughout the book, I continuously felt the connection between the two of them, but I was left feeling a little disappointed at the end when really nothing happened, and all hell broke lose. But the end was fantastic. I am interested to see where Scarlet takes off from, and if it will continue the story of Kai and Cinder, or follow a different Fairy Tale character. All I know is that I would love to see where Cinder's life ends up, and I can't wait for Scarlet to come out next year!

Read More

Waiting on Wednesday [5]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, it highlights upcoming books that we cannot wait to read!

This week my pick is

Goodreads Synopsis

A broken past and a divided future can’t stop the electric connection of two teens in this “charged and romantic” (Becca Fitzpatrick), lush novel.  
Seventeen-year-old Vane Weston has no idea how he survived the category five tornado that killed his parents. And he has no idea if the beautiful, dark-haired girl who’s swept through his dreams every night since the storm is real. But he hopes she is.

Seventeen-year-old Audra is a sylph, an air elemental. She walks on the wind, can translate its alluring songs, and can even coax it into a weapon with a simple string of commands. She’s also a guardian—Vane’s guardian—and has sworn an oath to protect Vane at all costs. Even if it means sacrificing her own life.

When a hasty mistake reveals their location to the enemy who murdered both of their families, Audra’s forced to help Vane remember who he is. He has a power to claim—the secret language of the West Wind, which only he can understand. But unlocking his heritage will also unlock the memory Audra needs him to forget. And their greatest danger is not the warriors coming to destroy them—but the forbidden romance that’s grown between them.

Doesn't this book sound absolutely amazing? I think so! I love this genre of YA and have been really happy at its resurgence in the past few years. Shannon Messenger is hilarious especially on twitter, you can follow her here. But she also has a Middle Grade book coming out in the fall called Keeper of Lost Cities which sounds amazing as well. I think Shannon Messenger is one to watch on the YA/MG scene!

Read More

Stacking the Shelves [3]

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by  TYNGA'S REVIEWS and it showcases the new books received!
Also this is my first Stacking the Shelves with my new header! what do you guys think?

This week was a big week so lets get started! 

Bought for Review:













Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Struck by Jennifer Bosworth
The Dead I Know by Scot Gardner


Books Recieved from Publishers Via NetGalley:

Yesterday by C.K Kelly Martin
Refuge by Carole Rummage
After edited by Ellen Datlow




Books Received from Publisher for Review:

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard (Thanks HarperCollins Canada!)


Books Bought for pleasure, not for review:










Above All Things by Tanis Rideout
January First by Michael Schofield



What did you get this week? Let me know and I will come a visit!

Happy Reading!

Read More

Speechless Review

Title: Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
Genre: YA Contemporary
Format: Paperback, 288 pages
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
Source: EGalley received from Publisher via NetGalley for an honest review
Rating: 2/5









Goodreads Synopsis
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can't keep a secret.

Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast--and nearly got someone killed.

Now Chelsea's has taken a vow of silence--to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting everyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets if hard, not speaking up when she's ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.

But there's strength in silence, and in new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way. People she never noticed before. A boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she's done. If only she can forgive herself.

My Thoughts
First off I will say that the concept for this book was very original. The idea of a girl who runs her mouth off too much taking a vow of silence after her gossip took a bad turn, is quite good. But that is where my love for this book ends. 

I was not impressed with many of the characters in this book, especially at the beginning of the novel. I felt that they were models of stereotypical teenagers that you see everywhere, that are obsessed with shopping, their looks and boys. My first impression of the main character, Chelsea was not a good one. When we first meet her at a New Years Eve party she is dressed is a quite revealing dress, and is obsessed with drinking too much and trying to get with a guy. Not exactly a way to revere me to the character.

Once the vow of silence begins i found that the story got a little more interesting and we got a glimpse of a different side of Chelsea. But to be honest I still couldn't get around the writing style, and I kept hearing myself scoff at some of the lines that were written because they were so unnecessary and and borderline offensive. At times the writing was underwhelming and a little juvenile for this type of subject. 

I felt that the story line as a whole was very predictable, there were no surprises at all in this books. There was one possibility for a plot twist but it was left in the air and never talked about after the first mention. I also felt that the "torment" that Chelsea received at school was not as harsh as the characters in the book made them out to be. I just wanted so much more out of this book, that it became very frustrating for me to read.

I will say that the message that this book tries to get across is a very good one, and one that is not normally addressed in YA literature. I commend the author on tackling a very sensitive subject that deserves more attention.

Read More

This Is Not A Test

Title: This Is Not A Test
Author: Courtney Summers
Genre: YA, Horror, Contemporary
Format: Paperback, 323 pages
Publication Date: June 19, 2012
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin, Raincoast Books
Rating: 5/5













Goodreads Synopsis
It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up. As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, the motivations for survival change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life—and death—inside. When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?


My Thoughts

This is not a Test is a lot more than a zombie book, it is a look into the lives of six desperate teenagers that are trying their hardest to survive in a world that is crumbling around them. And for Sloane her world was crumbling long before the zombie infection. What I loved most about this book, and all of Courtney Summers’ books, are their realism, and their ability to crush such strong emotions into the reader. Her style of writing infects you from the moment you start and doesn’t stop until after you have finished the book.

Sloane is broken in a way that breaks your heart, and we see this from the beginning when we get a glimpse into her life before the world ended. Courtney’s short and curt sentences have a way of stabbing you in the stomach. They are forced onto you and it seems harsh at times but necessary. I loved this way of getting the reader invested in the characters. I loved Sloane’s character because she was flawed, and selfish at times. She tended to say the wrong things at the wrong time, and she was the perfect example of real teenage emotions.

At times I felt that the zombie element of the story was more of a writing device rather than a necessary part of the plot. It was used as way to justify the segregation of these 6 teens away from the rest of society. I have heard from other reviews that they thought the zombie device didn’t really add to the story, but I don’t agree. In the end I thought that the zombies added a sense of unseen tension to the characters that really couldn’t have been visible had the zombies not been there. If you are a lover of gory zombie books, this book is not for you. There were only a handful of scenes that made me cringe while reading, but for the most part the zombies were more of an unseen threat.

Although I keep talking about how much I loved Sloane as a character, I also want to express my love for the secondary characters. I felt that their interactions with each other and their actions towards each other added so much more drama and suspense to the entire novel. Some hated each other, yet they all knew that they needed to stay together in order to survive. This is not a Test is like Lord of the Flies with more internal dialogue (and zombies of course).

Please go out and pick this book up, I have read every single novel written by Courtney Summers and my god she has gotten better with every one. This is not a Test will open your eyes to raw emotions that don’t always get the attention they deserve. It will stay with you long after the last page is turned.

Brilliance. 

Book Trailer

 

Read More

Waiting on Wednesday [4]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, it highlights upcoming books that we cannot wait to read!


This week my Waiting on Wednesday pick is....

Fan the flames: A teen goddess fires up her search for love and family in this sequel to Wildefire. Ashline Wilde may have needed school to learn that she is actually a reincarnated goddess, but she’s ready to move beyond books. She leaves her California boarding school behind and makes for Miami, where she meets a new group of deities and desperately seeks her sister Rose, the goddess of war. But she’s also looking for love—because even though her romance with Cole had to be snuffed, Ash is a volcano goddess—and she doesn’t get burned.

     This sequel to the edgy and action-packed Wildefire continues a fiery drama on an immortal scale.











I remember when I picked up Wildfire, the first book in the Wildfire series and I was blown away. I was in live with the cover, and still am, and the synopsis sounded really interesting. And Wildfire did not let me down. I was so taken in by Ashline and her witty and sarcastic humor, and at the time i had never met a character memorable as Ashilne. So I can't wait to read this next installment!

Read More

False Memory

Title: False Memory
Author: Dan Krokos
Series: False Memory #1
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Suspense
Format: Hardcover, 336 pages
Publication Date: August 14, 2012
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: Galley sent by Publisher through NetGalley
Rating: 3.5/5













Goodreads Synopsis
Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn't at all surprised by Miranda's shocking ability.
Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn't easy--especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving. Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn't seem to matter...when there may not be a future.

My Thoughts
The concept of Dan Krokos' debut YA novel is a good one. It starts off quick and doesn't stop until the very end. Miranda is a well rounded character that sets up the rest of the cast from the very beginning. Because of her memory loss, we are forced to learn everything through her naive eyes. And that includes her friends and her once-upon-a-time boyfriend. Miranda was more often than not, confused about everything around her and that was a large part of her charm. 

What I liked: The pace of the story was fast and quick, especially at the beginning which helped me get into the story right away. I loved Miranda as a character, she is smart and witty, yet had am element of innocence that I loved. Her inability to differentiate from the past she can't remember and the present made for a very compelling love triangle that can compete with the best. 


What I did not like: The length of the fighting scenes seemed to drag on too long for my tastes, especially near the end of the novel. I found myself wanting more details concerning why they were fighting their creators and who they were exactly. I also found myself wanting more explanation on their condition and why they exist in the first place. Their ability to instil fear in anyone just by using their mind is an amazingly brilliant idea, but I was left with more questions than answers near the end of the book. But then again, there is a second book on the way and there will most likely be answers within its ages, and I can't wait to read it!

Read More

Such Wicked Intent Review + Giveaway!

Title: Such Wicked Intent
Author: Kenneth Oppel
Series: The Apprenticeship of Victor Frankenstein #2
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Suspense
Format: Hardcover, 310 pages
Publication Date: August 10, 2012
Published By: HarperCollins Canada, Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers
Rating: 4/5








Goodreads Synopsis:

When does obsession become madness? Tragedy has forced sixteen-year-old Victor Frankenstein to swear off alchemy forever. He burns the Dark Library. He vows he will never dabble in the dark sciences again, just as he vows he will no longer covet Elizabeth, his brother's betrothed. If only these things were not so tempting. When he and Elizabeth discover a portal into the spirit world, they cannot resist. Together with Victor's twin, Konrad, and their friend Henry, the four venture into a place of infinite possibilities where power and passion reign. But as they search for the knowledge to raise the dead, they unknowingly unlock a darkness from which they may never return.

My Thoughts:
When I first read the first novel in this series, This Dark Endeavor, I fell in love right away. The story was original and amazingly well written. When I saw that there would be a sequel I was just as excited, but I have to say that this one did not live up to my expectations. Sequels are tricky creatures that either blow you away, or leave you feeling a little flat, and I hate to say that for me it was the latter. 

I hated Viktor in this novel, he was selfish and a little whiny at times and I just wanted to smack him. I know that Viktor is not supposed to be a likable character, since in the original story by Mary Shelley he was just as unlikable, but I really wanted there to be a redeeming quality in there somewhere, and I didnt see until the very end of the book, and at that point I think it was too late. 

In this sequel, Viktor and his friends cross the barriers of the living a dead going in search of yet another way to bring Konrad back to life. Although the imagery and scene setting were absolutely stunning and well written, I felt like at times it went too far into the unknown, and I felt myself disbelieving the events that took place. 

The end was something that will stay with any reader, and I had to read it over a couple of times to actually grasp what was happening and wow was it a fantastic scene, filled to brim with fantastical elements and amazing imagery that has stayed with me even weeks after I finished reading it. If you have read the original Frankenstein the last line of this book will leave you giddy and wonder is there is another book in the works or if it will be left at 2. It is all left in the air at the end of Such Wicked Intent, but I loved the last line, It was fantastic.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Read More

Waiting on Wednesday [3]

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine, it highlights upcoming books that we cannot wait to read!


This week my Waiting on Wednesday pick is....

The truth about Mara Dyer's dangerous and mysterious abilities continues to unravel in this gripping sequel to the thrilling "The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer." One week after Mara walked into a police station in Miami at the close of "The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer," she has been committed to psychiatric treatment for what her parents believe was a mental breakdown. But what seems like a hallucination to everyone else is a chilling reality for Mara. Someone from her past has discovered her strange, deeply disturbing secret and that someone wants her to pay. But when no one believes the truth, Mara is totally helpless. The only person on her side is Noah Shaw, as sexy and handsome as he is loyal and cunning. Noah is the only person who can help Mara--as long as he doesn't get himself killed in the process.


I have read first in the series, and WOW I was blown away. I cannot wait for this book to come out so that I can spend all of my time reading and falling even more in love with Noah...oh Noah how I wish you real!

Thanks Guys and Happy Reading!

Read More