End of Year Book Survey

This is my first year participating in the End of Year Survey and I am veru excited to look back my year of books!

Best In Books 2012

 

1. Best Book You Read In 2012? (You can break it down by genre if you want)
  

• Adult Fiction: Flight of Gemma Hardy by Margo Livesey

• Contemporary YA: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

• Dystopian YA: Insurgent by Veronica Roth 

• Science Fiction/Fantasy: Defiance by C.J Redwine & Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes

• Paranormal:   Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brenna & The Evolution of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

• Historical : Venom by Fiona Paul & The Diviners by Libba Bray

2. Book You Were Excited About & Thought You Were Going To Love More But Didn’t?

I would have to say The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater. I had heard so many great things about this book but I just felt it fell flat. I wanted so much more out of it and it did not hold my interest. I would also say Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson- I was hoping for such great things out of this one because it was a retelling of a classic tale and I love that kind of thing. But it just didn't grab me the way I wanted it to. 

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2012?  

Embrace/Entice by Jessica Shrivington- I was reluctant to read this series because I was getting sick of Angels but I am soo glad I did! This series has become one of my new favourites! Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry- I am not usually a fan of contemporary YA but this one blew me out of the water. I was not expecting to cry let alone feel so much for the characters.


4. Book you recommended to people most in 2012?

The Diviners by Libba Bray, Every day by David Leviathan and Venom by Fiona Paul. All of these books were surprises for me and I absolutely could not put them down! So naturally I wanted everyone else to read them too!


5. Best series you discovered in 2012?

The Pledge series by Kimberly Derting- Such an amazing Fantasy/Dystopian series! I cannot believe it took me this long to get into it! Embrace series by Jessica Shrivington- this series blew me away and I cannot wait to read more of it!

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2012?

Sarah Rees Brenna (Unspoken) is amazingly talented and will make you cry! Marissa Meyer (Cinder) I am so glad I finally read Cinder! Soo amazing. AND FINALLY Libba Bray (The Diviners) the books is huge, but trust it is worth EVERY WORD.


7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

Since I don't read Contemporary YA often I have to say that Pushing the Limits was a bog shock for me. It made me reconsider the genre and made me want to read more of it in the future!


8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2012?

The Evolution of Mara Dyrer- I was dying for this sequel and it did not dissapoint! This is not a Test by Courtney Summers- this was a different kind of genre for her, but it still was classic Courtney (making me hurt for EVERYONE and making me love her writing even more)


9. Book You Read In 2012 That You Are Most Likely To Re-Read Next Year:

Altered by Jennifer Rush- I got an advanced epub version and I will definitely buy one when it comes out in January. I need to read it again, just to make sure I didn't miss anything the first time I read it!


10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2012?

While I loved the new cover of Shatter Me, I would have to say Timepiece by Myra Macintyre

I have always loved this photographer and she does amazing work so I am glad to see her work out in the world of books :)

11. Most memorable character in 2012? 

Noah from Pushing the Limits- he was just so damaged and broken and all I wanted to do was hug him. He stayed with me days after I finsihed the book. Also A from Every day- such an inspirational character that makes you believe in the power of love.

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2012?

This is not a Test by Courtney Summers- the way she grabs hold of you and does not let go until the last page is incredible. She has the ability to create a world that is vivid and so real you believe it is actually happening in real life. Plus she always makes me cry at some point!

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2012? 

Unpsoken by Sarah Rees Brenna- I don't really know how to explain what impact this book had on me. It was the characters and their relationships to one another and the way that the end surprised the hell out of me and made me want to cry. I just couldn't stop thinking about this book after I finished reading it.

14. Book you can’t believe you waited UNTIL 2012 to finally read? 

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington! It was an amazing book and it make me fall in love with angels all over again!

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2012? 

“The soul is the only part that is eternal, that transcends the fabric and goes beyond, into the tiniest fibers of our very existence.”—Violet from Entice by Jessica Shirvington

I totally agree with this quote and I have loved it ever since I read the book!

16.Shortest & Longest Book You Read In 2012? 

Longest: The Diviners by Libba Bray which came to 592 pages which was surprising to me because it didn't seem this long while reading it.

Shortest: The Dirt by Lori Culwell which came to 205 pages and to be honest I was a little glad hat this book wasn't that long. It was hard enough getting through the 205 :S

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

There was a certain death scene in Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes that made me go WTH!!! and I couldn't wait for one of my friends to read it so I would talk about it!

18. Favorite Relationship From A Book You Read In 2012 (be it romantic, friendship, etc).

The relationship between Logan and Rachel in Defiance by C.J Redwine was one of my all time favourites of the year. It wasn't rushed and it did not come out of nowhere. Their feelings for each other seems reliable and real and I loved that. Also, their relationship was not perfect and did not get tied up in a bow like some others out there. 

19. Favorite Book You Read in 2012 From An Author You Read Previously

Dreamless by Josephine Angelini- I absolutely loved her first book Starcrossed and I was soo happy with her second! I will be a fan forever now I think!

20. Best Book You Read That You Read Based SOLELY On A Recommendation From Somebody Else:

Either Venom by Fiona Paul that was recommended by Giselle at Booknerd Canada or Unspoken by Sarah Rees Brenna which was recommended to me by EVERYONE.

Book Blogging/Reading Life in 2012 (optional)

1. New favorite book blog you discovered in 2012? 

I would have to say Booknerd Canada because Giselle was the one that helped me more than anyone when I started blogging earlier this year and I could not have thanked her enough. She has also become one of my best blogger friends and I don't know what I would do without her.

2. Favorite review that you wrote in 2012? 

I loved writing the review for Venom because I loved it so much and there were aspects of the story that I thought many other reviews took to a level that was unnecessary and I wanted to state my opinion on them. And thankfully the author agreed! which was amazing to see!

3. Best discussion you had on your blog?

I would have to say my struggles with finding a job in publishing and how hard it is to be an intern in the business. I loved this discussion because it allowed me to see that I was not alone and that there are a lot of other people out there struggling the same as me and it was very comforting to hear all the kind words. 

4. Most thought-provoking review or discussion you read on somebody else’s blog?

This is a very hard question! I really don't have an answer for this but I will say that my favourite aspect of someone else's blog was Giselle from Booknerd Canada's Blogging guide. It was such a great resource for me and I was glad she did all of that work to help others. 


5. Best event that you participated in (author signings, festivals, virtual events, memes, etc.)?

I would have to say the Blog Ontario meetup! It was so much fun meeting everyone and having an afternoon of bookish fun!


6. Best moment of book blogging in 2012?

Probably getting to meet Tahera Mafi at the HarperCollins Canada Blogger night! It was an amazing night that made me love her even more!

7. Most Popular Post This Year On Your Blog (whether it be by comments or views)?

It was actually the post that I wrote about being in the publishing industry that got the most views for me, it was over 200 unique page views in a months so I was really happy to see that, and to see that other people found my post helpful in some way was very gratifying.

8. Post You Wished Got A Little More Love?

I really wish more people would have related to my review of The Evolution of Mara Dyer because it was such an amazing book and I wanted more people to get excited about it!


9. Best bookish discover (book related sites, book stores, etc.)?

Bookcloseouts.com!!! soo many books for low prices haha made my shelves explode!


10.  Did you complete any reading challenges or goals that you had set for yourself at the beginning of this year?

I made a goal for myself that I would read 65 books this year and as of today I am at 76! WOOT! so maybe next year I will up my goal to 100...maybe I will be able to read more even though i now have a FULL TIME JOB (YAY) but it will be a challenge right?

Looking Ahead…

1. One Book You Didn’t Get To In 2012 But Will Be Your Number 1 Priority in 2013?

Fever by Lauren DeStefano. I got an ARC of Sever so now I need to read Fever extra fast!


2. Book You Are Most Anticipating For 2013?

There are really too many to put here, but in the new year I will make a list! I promise!


3. One Thing You Hope To Accomplish Or Do In Your Reading/Blogging In 2013?

I really hope to read more adult fiction next year. I am and always will be a YA junkie, but I really think I should expand a read some soo fiction and maybe gather some more readers along the way!

Thanks so much for hanging with me all year! And here is to an amazing 2013!!!! 

 

 

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[Review] The Dirt

 

Title: The Dirt
Author: Lori Culwell
Format: eBook, 205 pages
Genre: YA, Contemporary
Publication Date: November 22, 2012
Published by: Booktrope Editions
Source: ARC received from Author for honest review

Purchase
Kindle| Nook Book

Visit her Website!
www.loriculwell.com/

Description

Lucy Whitley cannot wait to get out of Palm Desert. It’s not a place for a frizzy-haired science nerd, particularly when her fashion-obsessed older sister Sloane is the head of a clique of pretty girls who rule the school—and practically the whole town.Fortunately, life is about to change forever. Lucy’s dad is getting re-married, and then she can transfer to a boarding school in Connecticut, escaping all the mean girls and the endless whispers about the Whitley family scandal. Everything is going to be perfect—as long as the wedding goes smoothly.

My Thoughts

After reading this book, I remembered why I stopped reading only contemporary books. I really wanted to like this book more than I did, the concept seemed interesting; A family that was left to deal with the scandal of their mother leaving then come to find their long lost sister has returned. But I found this book to lack many of the elements that I love in a book.

I could not get into the story whatsoever. I found it to be a quick read because I skimmed over most of the boring parts and went straight to the dialogue because that was where I thought the story was the most interesting. The characters themselves could not have been more one dimensional. There was the sister who hated everyone and was popular and hated by all. Then there was the main character who just wanted to get away from it all and finally there was the long lost sister who dressed all in black and carried a secret with her. There was no mystery here and I really just wanted the secret to come out early.

I really don't like bashing a book, because I feel like authors put so much time and effort into their books that bashing it would seem mean. But I am really having a hard time finding something good to say about it. The writing was very simple and very juvenile and I felt myself rolling my eyes at what certain characters said. Maybe another reader will find the good in this story, and I hope they do. But for me, this book was just too simple and not my style.

1/5 Stars

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[Review] Carnival of Souls

Title: Carnival of Souls
Series: Carnival of Souls #1
Author: Melissa Marr
Format: Harcover, 306 pages
Genre:  YA, Fantasy
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
Published by: HarperTeen, HarperCollins Canada
Source: ARC received from Publisher for honest review
Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | Book Depository

Visit her Website!
www.melissa-marr.com/

Description

In a city of daimons, rigid class lines separate the powerful from the power-hungry. And at the heart of The City is the Carnival of Souls, where both murder and pleasure are offered up for sale. Once in a generation, the carnival hosts a deadly competition that allows every daimon a chance to join the ruling elite. Without the competition, Aya and Kaleb would both face bleak futures--if for different reasons. For each of them, fighting to the death is the only way to try to live.

All Mallory knows of The City is that her father--and every other witch there--fled it for a life in exile in the human world. Instead of a typical teenage life full of friends and maybe even a little romance, Mallory scans quiet streets for threats, hides herself away, and trains to be lethal. She knows it's only a matter of time until a daimon finds her and her father, so she readies herself for the inevitable. While Mallory possesses little knowledge of The City, every inhabitant of The City knows of her. There are plans for Mallory, and soon she, too, will be drawn into the decadence and danger that is the Carnival of Souls.

From Melissa Marr, bestselling author of the Wicked Lovely series and "Graveminder," comes a brand-new tale of lush secrets, dark love, and the struggle to forge one's own destiny.

My Thoughts

  -->

Melissa Marr’s newest novel Carnival of Souls delves deep into the fantastical world of The City, where daimons and witches coexists, and where power is determined by strength and resilience. Like many countries around the world, The City has its elite, and it is through The Carnival of Souls that the underprivileged are allowed to get the chance to join this group of royals. The Carnival of Souls allows for residence at the bottom of the food chain a beacon of hope in order to escape the dirty “black mask” work, which involves fighting and killing, in order to survive. 

Throughout the novel we follow multiple characters told in the first person perspective. We meet Aya, who is desperately trying to escape the female conventions that are thrown upon her, such as marriage and breeding. Then we meet Kaleb, a lower class daimon who can shift forms at will and has a need to create a pack with anyone he trusts. And then we meet Mallory, a teenage girl who lives in the human world and is trained to fight daimons by a witch. All of these characters are unique and memorable, they are surrounded by secondary characters that make this story stand out among the masses. 

Of all of Melissa Marr’s novels, this one is by far my favorite. In Carnival of Souls, Marr has the ability to interweave storylines and create a very complex, dark fantasy. She has the ability to communicate the politics between daimons and witches extremely well, and is able to directly compare the human world with The City, which was very nice to see. One might think that having multiple characters’ point of view might get confusing and taxing the longer you read, but that is not the case here. I thought that the multiple viewpoints added a lot of character and dimension to an already complex storyline. It also blew me away how some of these characters intersected at certain points in the novel, and I thought that was done exceptionally well. 

 

I especially loved the subtle romances that emerged throughout the book, I love a good love story, and this book did not disappoint. I am not saying that it was the best romance I have ever read, but it was satisfying to read. It will be very interesting to see where these relationships go in the books to come, especially concerning Aya’s character. Aya’s point of view was my favorite to read, not just because she was an amazing fighter, and the scenes were very well written, but also because of the way her character presented herself. She was strong and independent young woman that wanted to stop at nothing to gain the freedom she thought was rightfully hers. 

Carnival of Souls’ fight scenes were very gruesome and disturbing at times and I thought they added a very good contrast to the human world. Marr’s descriptive details draw you in and make you feel every punch and see the blood spilled on the floor. Melissa Marr had created a world like no other and it will draw you in from the first page to the last! It was a great read!

3.5/5 Stars!

 

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Waiting on Wednesday [16]

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....

This week my pick is....

Omens

Written By: Kelley Armstrong

Publication Date: August 20th, 2013

Published By: Random House Canada

 

 

Description

Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.

I LOVE Kelley Armstrong, and I will definitely be going out and getting this one when it comes out! I am going to bet from experience that it will be AMAZING!

 

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[Review] Erasing Time

Title: Erasing Time
Series: Erasing Time #1
Author: C.J Hill
Format: Hardcover, 368 pages
Genre: YA, Science Fiction, Time Travel
Publication Date: August 28, 2012
Published by: HarperTeen, HarperCollins Canada
Source:  ARC from Giselle @ Booknerd Canada!

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | Book Depository

Visit her Website!
www.cjhillbooks.com/

Description

When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that's so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can't go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The same government has implanted tracking devices in the citizens, limiting and examining everything they do. Taylor and Sheridan have to find a way out of the city before the government discovers their secrets. To complicate matters, the moblike Dakine has interest in getting hold of them too. The only way for the girls to elude their pursuers is to put their trust in Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, "Erasing Time" explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.

My Thoughts

I was intrigued by this book because of the time travel aspect. I always love a good time travel book, and I always say that there are never enough in the YA genre. And I have to say I did enjoy this book. 

We are introduced to twin sisters Sheridan and Taylor who are completely opposite to each other. One is a physics genius and the other loves literature and wants to become a teacher, much to her sisters dismay.  

I am not one for science, I never liked it high school and therefore perused a career that veered far from it. But there was a lot of math and science in this book, a little too much for me. At times I felt very confused as to what was being explained and what was happening. At times I felt overwhelmed by all of the explanations and such and I really wanted to know more about the story and its characters.

I thought the premise of the story was quite interesting and that in the future both language and society was quite different from our world right now. I didn't particularity like the clothing and hair color changes but that was a minor thing that I just ignored.

The characters were very interesting, especially Echo who had a past of his own that was quite interesting. I wanted more of him and of his life before the girls arrived there. I will say that the end came out of nowhere and I really liked being surprised, especially when I am known for figuring out the end before it happens.

This book was entertaining and adventurous, but was a bit complicated at times and left me a little confused. But if you love Science Fiction and Time Travel this book will give you everything you want. Intrigue, love story, suspense and adventure.

3.5/5 Stars

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Book Haul: Stacking the Shelves #10

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Join the meme at Tynga's Reviews!

For the Week of December 16th to the 22nd

From EpicReads Newbie Program

 

A Touch Mortal | A Touch Morbid

Thanks soo much EpicReads!

Received from Work

 

This is a Love Story | The Gypsy King | A Taste of Heaven | Scarlet | Moonglow

Won from Jackie at Hardcover Obsession

Finale

Bought

 

The Essence | The Evolution of Mara Dyer | Such a Rush | Les Miserables

Don't forget to link to your Stacking the Shelves!

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99 Authors | 99 Books | 99 Cents!

These prices are available on Amazon only.

For a listing of books offered and to enter to win, click here!!

 

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Blog Tour: Falling Kingdoms- Review & Guest Post!

Title: Falling Kingdoms 
Series: Falling Kingdoms #1
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Format: Harcover, 412 pages
Genre: High Fantasy, YA
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
Published by: Penguin Canada, Razorbill Canada
Source: ARC received from Publisher for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | Book Depository

Visit her Website!
http://www.morganrhodes.net/

Description

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past--and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword...

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

About the Author

Morgan Rhodes lives in Ontario, Canada. As a child, she always wanted to be a princess -- the kind that knows how to wield a sharp sword to help save both kingdoms and princes from fire-breathing dragons and dark wizards. Instead, she became a writer, which is just as good and much less dangerous. Along with writing, Morgan enjoys photography, travel, reality TV, and is an extremely picky, yet voracious reader of all kinds of books. Under another pen name, she’s a national bestselling author of many paranormal novels. Falling Kingdoms is her first high fantasy.

My Thoughts

High Fantasy is a genre that is very rarely present in Young Adult fiction, and I am very happy that Morgan Rhodes took the chance to share her world with us. Falling Kingdoms follows four characters each with their own set of problems and difficulties, that make their journey only that much chalenging. 

I loved the magic element, which is always something that I find fascinating in a novel because it can be used in so many different ways to get to so many different conclusions. And in this instance I could not get enough. It added suspense, intrigue and so much mystery that at times I just wanted to know what happens!

I also liked that the story did not focus on a specific love story in particular and that many character had that plot line linked to them. But I will say that I wished that there was more of a love interest than what was given. There was potential with two characters and was completely taken aback with what happened on page 299, because I did not see that coming! And I was a little mad. 

I loved that the story was somewhat predictable but left some twist and turns for the end to make me want more right away! I loved the fact that each world within the book were cohesive and made sense as a whole and that the fantasy elements were all there. I absolutely loved this book to the point that I will tell anyone who will listen to me how amazing this book is and that they should go out and get it right away! You will not be disappointing!

4.5 Stars

Guest Post!

The magic in Falling Kingdoms
Magic in the land of Mytica (comprised of the kingdoms of icy Limeros, dying Paelsia, and affluent Auranos)—and in the entire world of Falling Kingdoms—has seemingly faded away to nothing but silly stories told to children. For a millennium, there’s been no tangible proof shown to the masses that magic is real and not only myth.

This magic is called elementia, which is elemental magic—fire, air, earth, and water.
There are those who consider themselves witches, able to mildly channel one or two
elements. Witches are rumored to be the offspring of Watchers, immortal beings who live in a place called the Sanctuary, which is set apart from the mortal world. These mortal witches can strengthen their magic with blood sacrifice—the larger the sacrifice, the greater their power will be…for a short time.

There is now a prophecy of a sorceress reborn, the likes not seen for a thousand years. A powerful being who can easily channel all four elements to use at her whim.

And there is also the legend of the Kindred—four crystals that contain the very essence of elementia. Both Watchers and mortals (those who believe in such tales) are on the hunt for this omnipotent source of magic and power.




 

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Blog Tour: The Friday Society-Review & Guest Post!

Title: The Friday Society
Author: Adrienne Kress
Format: Harcover, 440 pages
Genre: YA, Steampunk
Publication Date: December 6, 2012
Published by: Penguin Canada, Razorbill Canada
Source: ARC received from Publisher for honest review

Purchase
Amazon | Chapters | Book Depository

Visit her Website!
www.adriennekress.com/

 

 

Description

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves.

Set in the past but with a modern irreverent flare, this Steampunk whodunit introduces three unforgettable and very ladylike–well, relatively ladylike–heroines poised for more dangerous adventures.

About the Author

Adrienne Kress is a Toronto born actor and author who loves to play make-believe. She also loves hot chocolate. And cheese. Not necessarily together.

She is the author of two children's novels: ALEX AND THE IRONIC GENTLEMAN and TIMOTHY AND THE DRAGON'S GATE (Scholastic). Her debut YA novel, THE FRIDAY SOCIETY, launches Fall 2012 from Dial, Penguin.

She is a theatre graduate of the Univeristy of Toronto and London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in the UK. Published around the world, ALEX was featured in the New York Post as a "Post Potter Pick," as well as on the CBS early show. It won the Heart of Hawick Children's Book Award in the UK and was nominated for the Red Cedar. The sequel, TIMOTHY, was nominated for the Audie, Red Cedar and Manitoba Young Readers Choice Awards, and was recently optioned for film. 

  My Thoughts

I have been wanting to read this book for a very long time. Adrienne Kress is a local author in my town and I have to say that I am very proud of her leap into the Young Adult genre. Originally she wrote a middle grade book called Alex and the Ironic Gentlemen which was followed by Timothy and the Dragon's Gate. 

The Friday Society starts off with introducing each main characters; Nellie, the Magicians Assistant; Cora, the Lab Assistant and Michiko, Japanese fight Assistant. These three girls become the center point for everything that happens within the story. 

I loved the way each story interconnected and hoe each girl seamlessly had her own voice, even though the story was written in three different points of view (which can be hard). I also loved that their points of view seemed to merge as the story progressed which gave a very good pace to the novel. 

The girls themselves were very entertaining as characters but I found myself liking certain characters over others. For instance, I liked Cora the best, just because she was funny and sarcastic yet extremely independant. While I liked Michiko the least, mostly because I did't feel any connection to her character. But all three girls possessed verything I loved in a lead female character: strength, drive and independance from men. They are great characters that young girls should be read about. 

I do wish that there was more background on the three men that taught these girls. They seemed very interesting in and of themselves and I really hope that we get to see more of them in the books to come. 

The writing style is simple yet fun. It allows the characters themselves to shine rather than describe a scene or place. I rather liked that in comparison to the recent books that I have read. 

3.5 Stars 

Guest Post

Why Steampunk, why now?

It’s interesting to observe Steampunk gaining . . . uh . . .steam. This time last year we had a Justin Bieber Steampunk music video, and Barney’s had a Steampunk Holiday window theme. And yet that wasn’t even the apex. This year we have more books than ever coming out in both the adult and YA markets. As well as several TV shows and movies, either wholly Steampunk or with delightful Steampunk flavouring. And the fashion industry has happily taken it onboard– heck Tyra Banks did a Steampunk photoshoot with her top model candidates this past cycle.

But why Steampunk now?

Sometimes things just gain momentum and that’s all there is to it. But I do believe that, in the case of Steampunk, its current popularity reflects the current state of our society. The popularity of the oldy-timey Steampunk actually is a very modern thing.

Here are some of my thoughts on why:
1. We live in an age of magic. Most of us don’t actually understand how the tools we use work. I have this flat rectangular box that allows me to call people, take pictures, communicate by typing, play games and music, watch videos, etc., and so forth. It’s a magic box. How does it work? I have no idea. I really don’t. And most of us don’t. We live in a magical world, not quite understanding why things happen the way they do, but we are grateful for it nonetheless.

Still, the not knowing can also be frustrating. Steampunk technology, on the other hand, is human-sized. Where modern technology in some cases needs magnifying glasses or even a microscope to interact with it, Steampunk tech consists of gears, levers, etc. Basically it’s a world of Rube Goldberg-y devices, one thing affecting another. We can see it happen. Further we can understand how it happens, which means we can make it ourselves. You can look at it and think . . . that makes sense. Things that make sense are enjoyable.

2. Making stuff has become a popular trend. I think this also stems from living in a magical world. Since everything is pre-packaged, pre-made, just press a button and the food is hot, people are starting to rebel slightly. Twenty-somethings, considered first adopters of any new technology, now are also getting into cooking, and knitting, and crafts. It’s like we’re going through another Arts and Crafts movement. This is what also draws people to Steampunk: making your own clothes, props, inventions.

3. Whatever you think of the Hipster dogma (the “it’s only cool if no one else knows about it” thing), you can’t deny its influence on fashion. Steampunk fashion has a great deal of crossover with it. Suspenders, button down shirts, hats and moustaches. It’s hard to know which came first, Steampunk or the Hipster (the Hipsters would say they did, of course), but each has contributed to the popularity of the other.

4. There is something of the slower pace of the past that people also enjoy in the present. It’s nothing new to say we live in a fast-paced world. If I don’t answer an email the day of, the sender worries something’s wrong. If I don’t answer a text almost instantly, I’m ignoring my friend. Obviously the Victorian/Edwardian period was much slower. Steampunk societies go for group outings that usually consist of walks. Steampunk creators take their time working on their projects. It’s a different tempo.

5. Manners. Whether or not we are less mannered now is a matter of opinion. Surely in some ways, definitely, but then again, I don’t think the lower classes from the Victorian period were necessarily all polite speech. Nor do I always see manners as being all positive. Sometimes the habit of tradition can get in the way of logic and progress. That being said, it’s nice to have a bit of formality. It’s nice for people to speak with some flare and a careful choice of words. It’s nice to be polite.

6. Cosplay. This is something specifically geeky, and not about society at large. Cosplay is a form of geekdom where fans will dress up as their favourite character, etc., at a convention.While you’ve always had people dressing up in Star Trek uniforms, cosplay has really exploded in the last decade – thanks in no small part to women attending conventions in higher numbers (not saying that men don’t enjoy it too, but you definitely see a correlation). It is fantastic to see the skill and effort put into making these costumes, and more and more people are getting into it. Steampunk has become a staple of conventions, and there are cosplayers who, having never considered doing Steampunk before, think, “Oh, that’s neat!” I know a group of people who first were introduced to Steampunk when someone suggested they do a Steampunk Xmen.

7. Tea. Everyone loves tea. And high tea, with little sandwiches and cakes . . . so good. So these are some of my theories, and I’m sure others can add their own, so please do below! Ultimately, whatever the reason that Steampunk is so popular at this moment, I’m just happy that it is :)   
 

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Stacking the Shelves #9

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! Join the meme at Tynga's Reviews!

For the week of December 9th to December 15th, 2012

Requested from NetGalley

Dance of Shadows by Yelena Black

Dancing in the Dark by Robyn Bavati




 

Hooked by Liz Fichera

Shadowhunters and Downworlders Edited by Cassandra Clare

The Uninvited by Liz Jensen

A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso

What We Saw at Night by Jaquelyn Mitchard

Received at Work

Ink by Amanda Sun

Ordered from BookCloseOuts.com

Illuminate by Aimee Agresti

Partials by Dan Wells

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

The Casting Trilogy by Pamela Freeman

As always, let me know your Stacking the Shelves and what you are looking forward to reading this week!

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December New Release Giveaway Hop!

 Hosted by Book Twirps and Refracted Light Reviews!

 Its time time again!

Pick a book from the list below and you could win a copy!

As always, if there is a title that I have not listed, please just let me know and I will order it for you.

 

Rules and Regulations

• Contest ends on January 1, 2013 at 12:01AM (EST)
• Open Internationally
• I will be using TheBookDepository.com to ship the books
• Total Prize Value depends on the book chosen
• TheBookDepository.com will be shipping the prize. I will not be responsible for any lost or damaged packages that occur from the shipper
• The winner will be announced on Twitter and will also be emailed
• If emailed, the winner will have 2 days to respond or I will pick another winner

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Savage Blue | Blaze| Love & Other Perishable Items

Friday Society | Falling Kingdoms | All the Broken Pieces

The Almost Truth | Never Let You Go | The Farm

The Miracle Stealer | Enders* | Poison
I just realized that this book isn't published until next year. I will still leave it up because it was my mistake and will preorder it. 

Scandal | The Darkest Minds | Deadly Little Lessons

Scent of Magic | Crimson Frost

Blood-Kissed Sky | Full Moon Kisses

Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Waiting on Wednesday [15]

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....

This week my pick is....

Altered!

When you can’t trust yourself, who can you believe?

Everything about Anna’s life is a secret. Her father works for the Branch at the helm of its latest project: monitoring and administering treatments to the four genetically altered boys in the lab below their farmhouse. There’s Nick, Cas, Trev . . . and Sam, who’s stolen Anna’s heart. When the Branch decides it’s time to take the boys, Sam stages an escape, killing the agents sent to retrieve them.

Anna is torn between following Sam or staying behind in the safety of her everyday life. But her father pushes her to flee, making Sam promise to keep her away from the Branch, at all costs. There’s just one problem. Sam and the boys don’t remember anything before living in the lab—not even their true identities.

Now on the run, Anna soon discovers that she and Sam are connected in more ways than either of them expected. And if they’re both going to survive, they must piece together the clues of their past before the Branch catches up to them and steals it all away.

I have been waiting for this book for months and I can't believe its only a month away! I am very excited :)

As always let me know your WoW pick for this week! 

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Teaser Teusday [Dec. 10]

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Teaser

At first Sheridan felt nothing. The slowly, she heard voices, far away, filtering toward her.
'Two?' someone asked, and then she heard mumbling she couldn't understand. Sheridan shook her heard in an effort to rid herself of the drowsiness that clung to her. She had a sense that time had passed, but couldn't tell how luch. She opened her eyes, the immediately shut them. Colors blurred together in a kaleidoscope of shapes.
Mumble mumble...'Awake,' one of the voices said. Or perhaps he said, 'A Wake.' Wasn't that another word for a funeral? Was she dead?"

                                           pg. 12~ Erasing Time by C.J Hill 

Publication Date: August 28th, 2012

Published by: HarperCollins

 

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