Waiting on Wednesday #1

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by breakingthespine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's most anticipated book is:

 Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo 

 Release Date: June 19th 2012

Here is the summary from Leigh's blog:

Surrounded by enemies, the once-great nation of Ravka has been torn in two by the Shadow Fold, a swath of near-impenetrable darkness crawling with monsters who feast on human flesh. Now its fate may rest on the shoulders of one unlikely refugee. Alina Starkov has never been good at anything. But when her regiment is attacked on the Fold and her best friend is brutally injured, Alina reveals a dormant power that saves his life– a power that could be the key to setting her war-ravaged country free. Wrenched from everything she knows, Alina is whisked away to the royal court to be trained as a member of the Grisha, the magical elite led by the mysterious Darkling.
Yet nothing in this lavish world is what it seems. With darkness looming and an entire kingdom depending on her untamed power, Alina will have to confront the secrets of the Grisha… and the secrets of her heart.

What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

The Deepest Cut - J.A. Templeton

Release Date: October 1st 2011
Number of Pages: 304 Pages

Sixteen-year-old Riley Williams has been able to see ghosts since the car crash that took her mother’s life and shattered her family. Guilt-ridden over the belief that she’s somehow responsible for her mom’s death, Riley is desperate to see her mother’s elusive spirit to gain her forgiveness.

When her father moves the family to Scotland so they can all start over, Riley believes her life couldn’t get worse––that is until the ghost of nineteen-year-old Ian MacKinnon catches her purposely cutting herself. An uneasy truce quickly turns into friendship, and soon Riley’s falling hard for Ian.

Riley believes her gift could help Ian end the curse that has kept him tied to the land for centuries, but that would mean letting him go forever and she’s not sure she is strong enough to do that. As if her life wasn’t complicated enough, the spirit of the woman who killed Ian returns and she’ll stop at nothing to keep Riley from helping Ian find eternal peace.

I HAVE NO WORDS! I mean I even took one day to sort my feelings and thoughts on this book before writing a review, and I still can't describe how good this book was. The book takes place in Scotland, which just gives the story more charm. J.A. Templeton picked the best place for this book, Scotland's old cities fits perfectly with the story. I mean, ghosts and old castles and inns = perfect match.

Riley could be a real person, she was so well-written and genuine. Sometimes I felt like she was coming out of the book, yes she felt really that real. After the car crash, which killed her mother, Riley went through a hard phase. She believes it is her fault that her mother died, so she starts to cut herself to take away the pain inside. Oh and to top it all she can see ghosts after the accident. The worst part is that her mother never comes to visit. Riley then has to move to Scotland with her family so they can have a chance to start over. There she meets the ghost of nineteen-year-old (plus 200 years roaming the earth) and hottie, Ian. After such a long time being alone and having no one to talk to, Riley finds in Ian a good friend. Well until she falls head over heels in love with him, that is. But could this relationship have a future?

In the beginning I kind of hated Riley's brother Shane, but with time he grew on me. Whereas in the beginning he was a pain in the *butt*, in the end he was one of the sweetest guys in the book. He blamed Riley for moving their family to Scotland and treated her badly. But after some events (read the book!) he changes and is really sweet. One of my favorite scenes in the book is when Shane opens up to Riley about his feelings towards the accident and Riley's guilt. So sweet, I wished I had a brother so that he could be that nice to me!

Riley's and Shane's friends were also real and typical characters. You could meet any of those types of people in your school. I loved reading this book and thinking: wow this characters is really like this person I know. I think when a writer writes such genuine characters, you can connect better to the story, and this book is totally the case. You can associate with any of the characters, especially Riley.

Now to the bad girl. Laria is completely crazy! She is a ghost too, but in life she was in love with Ian. Unfortunately for her he was promised to another girl and only saw Laria as a friend and maid. She worked for his family in the castle and knew she didn't have a chance with him, but that didn't stop her. She got involved with the Dark Arts and poisoned Ian because she couldn't get her way. And only poisoning was not enough for her, she cursed him too so that he had to roam the earth forever. Until Riley came to ruin her revenge, which only got her madder. She torments Riley and her family to get Riley to give up helping Ian and prevent them from being together. Oh and she will provide some nightmares !

I have to admit that at first I thought this book would be like The Mediator by Meg Cabot. I don't know if you read this series but the story in Mediator is really similar, but the outcome totally different. And I must say I loved the difference! This book should totally get more attention, since it definitely made my list of best books this year. It's not like other books in which the romance is so obvious and going to end well no matter the obstacles in the way. The Deepest Cut has everything you want in a book: romance, supernatural aspects, genuine characters, great main characters, a hot love interest, amazing plot and good unfolding of events. It will make you deriously addicted to it and you will probably be up all night like me reading it!

Giveaway on The Paperplanes Blog

The Paperplanes blog is doing an amazing giveaway! You have the chance to win 2 awesome books there, and some of them have not been released yet. The giveaway will end January 28th, so there is still plenty of time to go participate and maybe win two book to read in January! And if the blog reaches 250 followers, you will have the chance to win 3 books..so don't waste time and go participate!

Vote for your favorite heroine!

The YA Sisterhood blog is trying to find out the ultimate favorite heroine!

I'm going to vote for Izzy and for Karou! You should too!




If Izzy wins, Cassie Clare will post a teaser for City of Lost Souls!! That's enough for me! And anyway Izzy is such a great character. She is tough and can hold her own against anything, but still has a feminine side. She shows that she can feel like any other girl at her age. I totally think she deserves to win after everything she went through in COG and COFA! #TEAM IZZY!

Karou should also win. She is such a great heroine! She has blue hair, hello?! That's so cool. And wants peace in her world between the angels and the Chimaera. And I believe completely that she will do it! She loves the Chimaera and Akiva, but she doesn't let her feelings come between her better judgement. And she lives in Prague, she is so refreshing! Daughter of Smoke and Bone was one of my favorite books in 2011, and Karou one of the best heroines. Mara is great too, but Karou is more of a heroine! #TEAM KAROU!

Eternal Starling - Angela Corbett

Release Date: 
Number of Pages: December 6h 2011


A love so strong, even eternity can’t separate them.

Evie Starling has lived a relatively uneventful life hanging out with friends, gossiping about boys, and driving her 1966 Mustang. All of that changes when she moves to Gunnison, Colorado, to start college and meets two mysterious men.

For centuries, Alex Night and Emil Stone have yearned for Evie—but they each have their own reasons for wanting to be with her. When both men claim to be her soul mate and tell her about an unbelievable past, Evie learns that she’s not the person she thought she was. Soon, Evie finds herself in the middle of an age-old battle between the Amaranthine Society—the soul protectors, and the Daevos Resistance—the soul destroyers. With a past she doesn’t understand, and a future rife with danger, Evie has to decide who she can trust. But Alex and Emil aren’t the only ones who want Evie, and her soul is about to become the rope in an eternal tug-of-war


There were so many things I loved about this book that I don't even know where to start.  I loved the cover, and I guess at first only bought it because of it, but fortunately Eternal Starling wasn't one of those books with a pretty cover and awful plot.  The story also got me deliriously addicted. 


Evie just moved to Gunnison, Colorado. She always had bad luck in relationships, and after a specially bad one she decides to go to college in another city. She enjoys hiking and one day she gets lost, but of course she is found by none other than a beautiful boy. Evie falls almost instantly in love with Alex and she can't help but think he feels somehow familiar to her.  They start dating, but soon after that they break-up (I won't tell you what happens, you have to read the book!). Then Emil comes along. Another gorgeous boy, who also claims to be her soulmate. But I have to say I had a hard time getting past the instant romance. Everything went so fast from the moment Evie met Alex (by the way it happened in chapter one!)


I find it so rare to read a book, in which both male characters in a love triangle are lovable. Emil actually was in my black list when he came along, but now after finishing the book I can't choose! I totally understand Evie's struggle to pick one of them. And she can't pick one of them for centuries, so you get that it really is kind of difficult to pick one. They are both gorgeous, sweet and funny but also jealous of one another. Who will Evie pick? Unfortunately we will have to wait for the sequel. It is a trilogy by the way :) 


Evie was also a *awesome* main character.  She is pretty independent, has a 1966 GT Ford Mustang  (I love Mustangs) and she totally can hold her own. She had a hard time believing in that soul mate stuff at first, but then accepted it not making a lot of drama. Her parents were really nice, and I really enjoyed getting to know them a bit better. I thought they would only appear as background characters. And when both Emil and Alex turn up in their family trip, well that was a situation I would not want to be in! But her parents supported her and took it easy when both boys appeared. 


Evie's friends Jas and Zach were also great characters. They were a nice change from the whole romantic side of the book. Zach was funny and so sweet to Evie, and Jas was such a great friend! I had to laugh every time she acted like my best friend would in that situation. 


I really really enjoyed reading this book. Sure it had some flaws, but they were easy to forget after reading the awesomeness of this book! The plot was different from many soul mate stories and I found it refreshing that it was difficult to decide who was better between Alex and Emil. I can't recommend this book enough and can't wait for the next one! So tell me, if you have read this book, are you Team Emil or Team Alex? 

Authors Against Animal Abuse!

Some awesome authors are participating in this auction to help abused and neglected animals.
You can bid on signed books Cassandra Clare, Beth Revis, Carrie Ryan, Lauren Oliver, and many more!
Click Here! to go to Christine Johnson's website. She was the one who got the idea, and she has the links to the individual auctions on her website.
Buy books for a good cause!

Struck - Rhonda Stapleton

Release Date: December 6h 2011
Number of Pages: 741 Pages


Felicity Walker believes in true love. That's why she applies for a gig at the matchmaking company Cupid's Hollow. But when Felicity gets the job, she learns that she isn't just a matchmaker...she's a cupid! (There's more than one of them, you know.)
Armed with a hot pink, tricked-out PDA infused with the latest in cupid magic (love arrows shot through email), Felicity works to meet her quota of successful matches. But the path to love is not always a straight shot...


I was a bit alarmed by the number of pages of Struck, but then I found out that this book is actually 3 books in 1. That means that the whole trilogy was put together in one book. And I think that is awesome! I didn't have to wait to read what would happen next (sure, that takes a bit of the fun away), but the cliffhangers weren't that bad anyway. This book was what I needed after reading lots of paranormal books with lots of drama and romance. It is funny, sweet and easy to read. I finished it after only two days!

I loved all characters, they were real and genuine and sweet. The cupid touch also goes well with the story and its characters. It was funny how Felicity deals with her job as a cupid and sometimes makes a mess out of it. She goes through some really embarrassing moments, and I couldn't help being embarrassed with her, too! Her love interest, Derek, is so sweet and is even responsible for some of the biggest surprises in this book. Her best friends, Andy and Maya, were funny and good friends, I think their friendship was really well-written, realistic and even a bit enviable!

I would recommend this book for those of you who like Meg Cabot or Sophie Kinsella. There were some laugh-out-loud moments, while some of them were sweet and romantic. I had a great time reading it and I'll probably read it again sometime soon!

Shattered Souls - Mary Lindsey

Release Date : 8th December 2011
Number of Pages: 336 Pages


Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.



At the beginning of the book Lenzi starts to hear voices and see things. Having a dad who was a schizophrenic, she thinks the disease got her, too. And at first it seems that way, but after meeting Alden who says she isn not crazy and gives another explanation to this weird voices, she starts to believe it, too. She is a reincarnated Speaker, someone who can talk with the dead. 

I liked Alden, but I thought he was maybe too nice. He has been her Protector for centuries now, and a Protector never does anything wrong or something to annoy the Speaker. I just had the feeling he could have been better written. I just didn't like him as much as other love interests. Zak, her boyfriend, was an annoyance. I disliked him from the first time he made an appearance. He is jealous and has a temper and downright aggressive. Lenzi was the best character for me. But even she didn't manage to grab me. The only thing that go me going in this book was the plot. I enjoyed the story a lot, it has mystery, drama and romance, the things I like most in a book. 

The romance was well-buit. I liked how fate play a big part in this book. Lenzi was Rose in her part lives but she can't remember anything, which she actually should be able to. Alden loved Rose, but does he love Lenzi if she can't remember being Rose? Lenzi asks herself this question a lot in the book, and I think that is realistic that they don't jump in a relationship so early. I also liked that Lenzi sometimes has some visions about her life as Rose, and that we actually get to know why she has no recollection of her past life.


I would also like to know more about the organization that controls every Speaker and Protector. In Shattered Souls this organization was more in the background and we only get a glimpse of it in the last chapters. Hopefully we will find out more about it in the next book. 


I enjoyed this book, I won't lie that I expected more of it, but it was a good read. I think I would totally read the sequel if it has one, because I think the sequel will be more promising. People who enjoyed reading The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting or even The Mediator by Meg Cabot will enjoy reading this book.

Brightest Kind of Darkness - P.T. Michelle

Release Date: June 27th 2011
Kindle Edition

Summary:
Nara Collins is an average sixteen-year-old, with one exception: every night she dreams the events of the following day. Due to an incident in her past, Nara avoids using her special gift to change fate…until she dreams a future she can’t ignore.

After Nara prevents a bombing at Blue Ridge High, her ability to see the future starts to fade, while people at school are suddenly being injured at an unusually high rate.

Grappling with her diminishing powers and the need to prevent another disaster, Nara meets Ethan Harris, a mysterious loner who seems to understand her better than anyone. Ethan and Nara forge an irresistible connection, but as their relationship heats up, so do her questions about his dark past.

What is Ethan? I am still curious, and I read this book 4 days ago. P.T. Michelle has a way to keep you hanging and guessing long after you've finished this book. I was hooked from the moment I read this summary. I asked myself how I would feel like if I could see my future day every night. And after reading this book I realized it's no picnic. After dreaming something she couldn't ignore, she interferes with the natural order of things. Fate wasn't so happy about it and keeps trying to take Nara out of the picture. Maybe by interfering, she made everything worse, or did she? She meets Ethan, this beautiful but quiet boy. But he is not what he appears to be. By the end of the book, I still have no idea what he is and I can't wait to find out! The story was a bit slow and a bit confusing in the beginning but after a few chapters it picked up the pace and I couldn't stop reading to find out more. It's a perfect mix of romance, paranormal and mystery. I recommend this book for those of you who enjoyed reading The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, as I found some similarities between both books.
To get this book on amazon, click here!






 

Legend - Marie Lu

Release Date: November 29th
Number of Pages: 305 pages

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.

From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills.

I totally agree with this last sentence! This book was a pleasant surprise. I was just searching for something to read and I came across this book as a recommendation from amazon. I read the summary and I just had to read it. I'm addicted to dystopia and I asked myself how had I not read something about this book earlier! It was love at first page. I couldn't stop reading it, the story was so fresh, the characters so real and different. I loved how Marie Lu shows us both sides of the story. June is an extremely intelligent girl, who enjoys the perks of living in the rich side of the Republic. Day, on the other side, is a criminal, who tries to help his poor family and at the same time attempts to weaken the Republic. The story is told between Day's and June's point of view. One day at a mission, June's brother Metias gets killed. The government puts the blame on Day. A few days later Day and June meet. As the story unfolds, I couldn't keep myself from reading it at school or staying up so late at night. It makes you addicted! You see how June's feelings change towards her so beloved Republic throughout the book and the reader will feel it with her, too. I loved the romance, it was like a version of Romeo and Juliet (both being from different living standards and still falling in love) but the difference is: they were tricked into meeting each other. The Republic will really do anything to keep its horrible secrets. But I won't give away more details, you will have to read the book for yourself to find out more! The secundary characters were really well-written and they were easy to like. Day's little friend, Tess, is so sweet and I liked her a lot. I was a bit sad because of Ollie, June's dog. I can't believe he was left behind :( !! Hopefully he will make an appearance in future books.

Marie Lu's writing is amazing. I have no words. I loved how small things you really didn't waste a second thought about, turn out to be important pieces of evidence in the end. This book will surprise you constantly. Legend caught me off guard; for I really didn't think it would be such a great book and that I would enjoy it this much. This sentence really sums it all up: Full of nonstop action, suspense, and romance, this novel is sure to move readers as much as it thrills!
This book is without a doubt one of the best of 2011 for me. I can't wait to read the sequel, which will be released Fall 2012.

Trailer of The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

The trailer for The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers has been released. The book will only come out on December 27th. I can't wait to get my hands on it! Do you want to read this book after watching this trailer?

 

Ya Heroine Tournament

Heello! I just got some news today about a ya heroine tournament on the ya sisterhood blog. Lots of heroines are competing against each other to win as best young adult heroine. If you wish to cast a vote, go to:
http://ya-sisterhood.blogspot.com/p/summer-crushin-tournament.html

The finale will be on January 6th. The next match will be on December 3rd, so don't forget to vote for your favorite heroine!

ps: If you are a fan of the Mortal Instruments or the Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare, she promised to post a teaser for one of the her next books: City of Lost Souls or Clockwork Princess. For each mini-round won she will share a spoiler. If Clary or Isabelle win, she will write the greenhouse scene from Jace's point of view (I always wanted to read that!) and if Tessa wins she will give us options to choose from the Clockwork world! So let's cast some votes, please :)

Significance & Accordance - Shelly Crane

Significance:         Release Date: June 12th 2011                    
Accordance:         Release Date: September 15th 2011

A book that will keep you hooked from page one! Now to the summary:

Maggie is a seventeen year old girl who's had a bad year. Her mom left, her dad is depressed, she's graduating, barely, and her boyfriend of almost three years dumped her for a college football schalorship. Lately she thinks life is all about hanging on by a thread and is gripping tight with everything she has. Then she meets Caleb. She saves his life and instantly knows there's something about him that's intriguing but she is supposed to be on her way to a date with his cousin. But things change when they touch, sparks ignite. Literally. They imprint with each other and she sees their future life together flash before her eyes. She learns that not only is she his soul mate, and can feel his heartbeat in her chest, but there is a whole other world of people with gifts and abilities that she never knew existed. She herself is experiencing supernatural changes unlike anything she's ever felt before and she needs the touch of his skin to survive. Now, not only has her dad come out of his depression to be a father again, and a pain as well, but Caleb's enemies know he's imprinted and are after Maggie to stop them both from gaining their abilities and take her from him. Can Caleb save her or will they be forced to live without each other after just finding one another?

So I decided to review Significance and its sequel at once. I read the first one so fast and the second one starts right where the first one left off, so I didn't feel like they were two books and not a really long one ;). The story is really unique with a touch of supernatural in it. The love story will probrably fill your twilight withdrawl and you will be asking for more in no time! Maggie is a strong character and she shows her strength from the very beginning. She had a difficult year and went through some hard stuff, but she holds her own and doesn't mope. The romance starts really early in the story. But you shouldn't think that because the love story takes off in the beginning that the book will be boring. Crane did an awesome job with the plot. The characters are really well written and real. Leaving aside the paranormal side of the story, this book describes some everyday-life problems like getting your father to accept your boyfriend or deal with a parent that left you behind. The romance can be sometimer over the top, but you get used to it and understand why it must be like that. Caleb and Maggie imprinted, that means they are soulmates and are going to receive their new abilities real soon, much to the unhappiness of the other clans of Aces (people who can imprint). For sometime now no one has imprinted with another person, turning this new match between Maggie and Caleb into something really special. Throughout both books they must face a lot of problems and it seems like it will never stop, which keeps this book exciting instead of tedious. Maggie and her Significant share their thoughts and I couldn't help sometimes but think this was a good idea of Crane to keep us informed about both Maggie and Caleb thoughts on something. Albeit having imprinted on Caleb, Maggie still has some reservations about Caleb's feelings being fake or just because of the imprint. I found it interesting how she leads with that, not wanting to go to fast in a relationship they know will last forever.
I enjoyed this book a lot, I had some reservations of my own at first thinking that this book would only be about a girl and a guy handling their relationship problems, but this book is more than just their romance. However this book had some mistakes in it, but otherwise it was enthralling. The third book of the series will come out April 2012. Can't wait!

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: September 27th
Number of Pages: 452 Pages

So, I know this book has been out for a while now, but this book is simply terrific! I was searching for something to read this weekend and The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer was recommended to me. As I read the synopsis, I just knew I would fall in love with it!

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can.
She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.
There is.
She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.
She's wrong.

If I could, I would give Michelle Hodkin a big hug for writing this book. It has everything in it, all the components of a good book. I had a blast this weekend.
Mara is a great main character, for me one of the best. She is strong and decided, she knows what she wants to do and does it. I loved how her power is not something you would wish for yourself. So it was really refreshing that her power is actually something bad rather than something good like in other books. In the beginning of the book she was involved in an accident surrounded by mystery. It was great to find out little by little more about this accident and to be surprised by it. The flashbacks were also a great way to show what happened that night. I would totally recommend reading this book with the lights on! It's full of suspense and I must say I was afraid of looking into the mirror for a day haha! Hodkin confuses us a lot in the book. She leaves you guessing what is real or what is a hallucionation. Sometimes I couldn't tell one from the other! Kind of amazing. In Mara's first day at school she meets a new mysterious but obviously gorgeous. But her new friend, Jamie, warns her that Noah is bad news. Hodkin makes you wonder what secrets Noah is keeping from Mara and if he is really as trustworthy as it seems. Noah's secrets are surprising and mysterious, indeed.


On the whole it was such an amazing read. I loved this book and it certainly is on my list of the best of 2011. Hodkin's writing is wonderful and leaves you wanting more. I can't wait for the sequel, which will be released in fall 2012. See below the equally great trailer of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, I'm sure you will want to read this book just by watching this awesome trailer!

Clockwork Prince : Book Trailer!

Hey guys! With only 8 days to go, the full book trailer of Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare has been released! Here is the link, if you want to watch it:

http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/11/28/clockwork-prince-by-cassandra-clare-book-trailer-exclusive/#more-11749

Oh man, just by watching it, I feel like I should read it again ! Such an amazing book!

Shatter Me - Tahereh Mafi

Release Date: 15th November
Number of Pages: 342
Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color. The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now. Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior. In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.

One thing you must know before you start this book is that this book is more similar to X-Men than to The Hunger Games. At first I thought had more dystopia in it, but I was disappointed, because the The Reestablishment and the world's situation were more like a background story. Maybe we will find out more about the enemy in the next book. Shatter Me is actually a beatiful written love story. With superpowers! The first chapter really gives you the feeling of loneliness that the main character, Juliette, must feel all the time. I enjoyed Mafi's unique writing very much and I found funny how everytime Juliette thought something she didn't want to say outloud it would be strikethrough. One day in prison a mysterious but gorgeous guy called Adam appears in her cell. Adam is full of surprises. My feelings towards him changed frequently through the book and I still don't know if he is trustworthy, but I guess we will find out in future books (Shatter Me will be a trilogy). The secondary characters also caught my attention. The bad guy, Warner, was weird, but likable. Adam's friend from the military was also really enjoyable to read. I loved him from the time he appeared. Towards the end of the book his part in the story gets bigger and that made me happy. Hopefully we will learn more about him in the sequel, who knows, maybe he will even compete for Juliette's heart against Adam. I think the whole book was like a introduction for the ending. Because in the end I finally understood the connection between X-Men and Shatter Me. The sentences in the cover describe really well the transformation Juliette goes though. Seeing her ability as something lethal in the beginning to seeing it as a power in the end.

I was a bit skeptical before I started reading it, but the book grew in me. The beginning started slowly but in the end you just can't wait for the sequel. I would recommend reading it :)

Here is the book trailer for Shatter Me:



The Hunger Games - Trailer

Oh my god! I just found out that the theatrical trailer for The Hunger Games was released last week! I'm going to post the trailer here for those of you, who were as uninformed as I was :)

Daughter of Smoke and Bone - Laini Taylor

This must have been the most weirdly amazing book I've ever read. I know it's been out for about two monthts, but I just reread it last week and it still can't get out of my head. The cover got my attention first, but it wasn't long till the story got me addicted. Here is the synopsis according to Goodreads :

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.
In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.
And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.
When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

The first time I read what this book was about, I was intrigued. I couldn't imagine a story, in which teeth and handprints were something important. My curiosity won me over and I started reading it immediately. I was fascinated by it from page one. Karou is a great main character, she makes you like her from the beginning. She is also a mystery and I was captivated. I couldn't wait to know more about her.

Karou grew up with a few Chimaera, who she regardes them as her family. They are sweet and sympathetic, even if the angels don't have the same opinion as me.

There is a war between the angels and the Chimaera, but the demons have been winning for a long time. But now the angels are back with full force. In this war teeth play an important role. Unfortunately for Karou, she falls in love with an angel, Akiva. Akiva is so well-written. First I really thought he was bad, but his transformation in the end of the book is palpable. Zuzana, Karou's best friend, is a great character, too. She balances the supernatural and the normal sides of Karou. I like how Karou still tries to have a normal life and Zuzana is a big part of it.

The fact that Laini Taylor chose Prag as the main city of this book, also impressed me. The city gives the story a different touch, being small and romantic but still withholding secrets, this city would also be my first choice for this book. But Karou doesn't always stay in Prag, she travels a lot and I enjoyed reading about all the different places. I was even a bit jealous when she went to Paris, oh my.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone managed to surprise me more than other books have. There were stuff that I didn't even imagine happening in it, nevertheless they did. Which is kind of awesome!

Laini's writing is astonishing, and I'm not surprised that her book was nominated several times as one of the best books of the year. This book is dazzling and if you haven't read it yet, now is the time to start.

Here is the full book trailer for Daughter of Smoke and Bone :

Clockwork Prince - Cassandra Clare

Well, when I received my Clockwork Prince copy in the mail, I didn't imagine it would be such a journey reading it. This book was so enthralling that when I finished it, I just started reading it all over again. I'm a huge fan of Cassandra Clare and I didn't believe that she could outdo herself, but once again she proved me wrong and showed me why she is one of my favorite writers! This book will make you read all day and all night, hours straight and you won't even realise that time has passed you by. The mix of feelings in this book also made me wonder if Cassandra Clare has some secret power of her own, she just can make you feel for each character and each of their feelings. One minute I was laughing and the next I just wanted to cry with a big chocolate bar ( and of course sometimes I just wanted to hit my head against the wall and yell: Why, Ms. Clare, why?!) The book is really well-written and for me is her best book yet. I just love how she can make me empathise with all her characters, now I can't even make up my mind about Will and Jem (and I was in team Will! but now I just can't decide). I must also show love for Tessa. I didn't like her that much in Clockwork Angel, but after Clockwork Prince I think she found her way into my heart. Charlotte and Henry were so cute in this book, I was really happy for them and I hope it will stay that way in Clockwork Princess. The new characters also fit the story, though they didn't have big appearances. Jessamine kind of disappointed me in this book, I really thought she would improve and be a better person, but now I like her even less than before.
The hot scenes in this book are totally awesome! Cassandra Clare writes such scenes so well (and others too, of course) that I really jealous of Tessa. Why can she make out with totally hot guys in the course of few days and I'm just here laying on my bed?!! And I can't forget to mention Magnus Bane! He is one of my favorite characters ever, and everytime Magnus appeared I couldn't stop smiling to myself. He is funny, sweet and just a really well-written characters, can't wait to see more of him in future books!
 There were some events that really shocked me, but that is no surprise, Cassandra's writing is one that could give you a heart attack ;)! The only problem with this book is that it isn't a 500 pages longer! But I would equally happy if Clockwork Princess would be in my mail tomorrow (but I won't get my hopes up)!

This book is probably one of the most-awaited books of 2011 and one of the best, too. It won't disappoint and it's totally worth buying it, believe me. I'm rather sad that it ended and now I'll have to wait a long, long year. But let's find comfort in waiting for the release of City of Lost Souls, which will be released May 8th. Clockwork Prince will be released December 6th, so don't forget to pre-order it if you haven't done it already!

Here is one of my favorite sentences of Clockwork Prince:
" I feel myself dissolving, vanishing into nothingness, for if there is no one in the world who cares for you, do you really exist at all?"       - Page 183

The Pledge - Kimberly Derting

Hi guys! So here's is the review for the book I read this week! Let's start by recommending "The Body Finder" also by Kimberly Derting. It's about a girl, who has the power to sense dead bodies, and this ability is really useful when a serial killer comes to her town. It's a nice book and it has two sequels, so you can enjoy the story a little longer :)

The Pledge is also going to be a trilogy, and I already can't wait for the next one. The story is different and I think books are more enjoyable when the story is fresh, not similar to other book you have read. So here's the synopsis according to Goodreads:

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.

This book was a page-turner. I coudn't stop reading it and I found myself staying up late on a school night to finish it. The story is mysterious, so that I was really surprised when the secrets of Charlaina's power were revealed. The love story is also really nice, but maybe Kimberly could have waited a bit longer to develop the romance. But I totally enjoyed that Charlaina was a bit hard to get at the beggining. She is a strong female main character and does everything to protect her younger sister, Angelina, who by the way has her own mystery. I found every characters really interesting, because there were secrets envolving each character. 
There is also a mean queen in this book, but it was cool that in this book there are only queens and no kings. Only girls can rule the country: GIRL POWER! Other thing that make this book enthralling is that the story is not only told from Charlaina's point of view but also from other characters' POV, like from the Queen, Max,.. The only problem with this book was the ending. I thought the ending of this book was going to be the ending of the trilogy! But I guess that's not really a negative point, because that really surprised me and now I keep asking myself what's to come in the sequel.
It was a really enjoyable book and I would recommend for people, who are fans of dystopia.

What are you reading?

Hello guys! Just wanted to ask you all a quick question, what are you all reading? I just started reading The Pledge by Kimberly Derting, and I'm really enjoying it! If you aren't reading anything at the moment, I would totally recommend this book! I'm going to write a review of it soon, so if you rather wait and decide afterwards, come back soon for an update :) ! Leave a comment telling me what you are reading and if it's a good book, maybe I'll even read it myself! Can't wait to hear which book is getting your attention..

Inheritance - Christopher Paolini

Hello guys! Im so so sorry for the delay, I just had a lot to do for school so I didn't have much time to finish reading Inheritance. But I did end it today, finally. So let's get down to business ! First I would recommend reading the other books Eragon, Eldest and Brisingr, but if you think that it's too much at least read Brisingr. But if you don't have a lot of time in your hands, fear not, because in the beginning there is a brief summary about everything that happened till Inheritance. I must say now that I was never such a Eragon fan. I never could remember the characters' names and then I was for the most part confused, but then if you have a better memory than me this was never a problem. Nevertheless I read this book because I don't like not knowing how the story will end. But the outcome indeed surprised me.
I enjoyed this book immensely while the other three failed to grab my attention. Inheritance has everything the others lacked: enough mystery to make me want answers, romance (not enough though!), suspense and a lot of action, although the other ones did have action in them but not as this one. The war is really on this time and the different characters' point of view makes the book exciting. We can really imagine the battles they fight, as we get to watch it from every point of view. And Christopher Paolini's writing doesn't make it all that difficult to imagine; for he describes everything in details. I also enjoyed some nice surprises throughout the book. But the big surprise and a small disappointment (for me) was the ending. I was so sure about the ending of Inheritance before reading it, but the ending was totally different from what I imagined it! But it was nice ending, anyway. Another nice thing was that the book still goes on even after the war has ended. I love to know what will happen to the characters once something big happens. Most books end after a big event and you don't receive a lot of information about the characters' future. I'm sure a lot of you like it to imagine the future of your beloved characters, but I don't. I like to know what the author of the book imagines because he was the one who created in the first place. But anyway this book was great! And I'm glad I decided to read it even after not enjoying the other three. It was a nice ending for the long-awaited conclusion of the Inheritance cycle.
Ps.: For those of you, who haven't read Eragon I would strongly recommend thinking before buying the book. If you are a big fan of action then this book may just be what you are looking for. I guess fans of Lord of the Rings would enjoy this book, too.

Solstice - P.J. Hoover

Hello guys! Today I'm going to review this book called Solstice. This book came out on September 1, but I think it didn't get the attention it deserved. This book is really really good, that's why I thought I more people should know about it! I'm a huge fan of dystopia, as said before, but this book has something other dystopian book do not have: Greek Mythology! I know maybe some of you will be skeptical about this mix, but I found it refreshing. It's different than the other popular dystopian books you probably have read already. The book is also about Global Warming, a subject we've grown accostumed to nowadays. Tremedous heat threatens to destroy the Earth, and after eighteen years of this heat, Earth is suffering a slow death. And this is when Piper's story begins. She is regular girl, who has an overly overprotective mother and as far as she knows a bad guy for a father. Her best friend Chloe is also a cool character but she doesn't play such a big role in the book. So one day at school two gorgeous guys show up. Both want to have her, and both claim to know her, which is kind of weird and great for her. Both of them are really important to the story and they are the key to the whole mythical thing. The love triangle creates a good struggle for Piper, but in the end you just know who she will pick. For those of you wondering, the story is actually about Hades and Persephone and this book does justice to it. I also think it's great how the global warming and the myth are intertwined.  Overall this book makes a great read. It has action, romance, mystery..what more can you wish for in a book?! Read this book if you are searching for something different to read, it's really worth your time and money, believe me.

"Epic Contest of Epic" - Beth Revis

So Beth Revis, the author of Across the Universe, is doing a contest on her blog! You only have to write your name and adress to take part in it, and then wait and see! She will give a 100 prizes away and there's only one catch: she won't announce any winners, you will have to open your mailbox and hope something will be there! I think that's awesome, because then you will really be surprised!
Here is the link of the contest on her blog:

http://bethrevis.blogspot.com/2010/12/epic-contest-of-epic.html

Crossed - Ally Condie

The second book of the Matched trilogy is out! And it doesn't disappoint either.
 For those of you, who doesn't know about this book, here is the book description, according to amazon.com: In search of a future that may not exist and faced with the decision of who to share it with, Cassia journeys to the Outer Provinces in pursuit of Ky - taken by the Society to his certain death - only to find that he has escaped, leaving a series of clues in his wake.

Cassia's quest leads her to question much of what she holds dear, even as she finds glimmers of a different life across the border. But as Cassia nears resolve and certainty about her future with Ky, an invitation for rebellion, an unexpected betrayal, and a surprise visit from Xander - who may hold the key to the uprising and, still, to Cassia's heart - change the game once again. Nothing is as expected on the edge of Society, where crosses and double crosses make the path more twisted than ever.

Well, I must say I just loved this book! I read Matched a few months ago and I just couldn't wait to read the next one. I finished the book in a day and now I'm itching for the next one. This book is a must read for those, who enjoy dystopia and it has a lot of romance in it, too! I find this a great mix, love and dystopia. Of course, those of you, who love Xander may have to wait for the last book in the trilogy, because he doesn't make a big appearance. But those of you, who are big Ky fans (ME!) will really enjoy reading it. The history is told from both Cassia's and Ky's point of view, which makes the book even more enjoyable. I found myself reading a chapter written from Cassia's point of view and when it was finished, I would read Ky's chapter as quickly as possible to know what would happen to Cassia, and vice versa.
The Society doesn't make such big appearance as in Matched, but it's in the background of the whole book. We are introduced to new characters called Indie, Vick, Eli and Hunter. And for once I can't complain about any of them. They are really well written and they suit the story very well. I can't wait to know more about them!
I can't wait for the next book! This trilogy has caught my attention from the beginning and now I am hooked. This book is one I recommend. If you haven't read Matched yet, I would recommend reading it before starting to read this one.