30 July 2012

(ARC) Review: Glitch - Heather Anastasiu

Release Date: August 7th, 2012
Paperback: 320 Pages
Publisher: St. Martin's Press


In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.


Glitch is a mavelous mix of dystopia and sci-fi with awesome paranormal aspects. Despite de slow beginning which was a bit hard to get by, the last few chapters were completely captivating. It's not a secret that my favorite genre is dystopia, so Glitch was a must-read for me and even though it wasn't as good as I was expecting, it was still an amazing read.

The sequence of events in Glitch were really different in comparison to other novels. Everything starts happening and then..BAM, everything changes and you start to wonder if what you thought about the characters and the story was wrong. I loved the many twists in the story because they weren't in any way predictable yet they were a bit confusing. One thing I really enjoyed about Glitch was that the author really did her homework while writing this novel, there were many scientific words and, overall, the science elements were impressive. Furthermore I really enjoyed the concept of evolution, with some characters developping powers (like X-Men!).

The characters were a bit hard to relate to, most of all Zoe, the main character. After living for so long under the power of the Link, when it starts to Glitch, she experiences feelings for the first time. This caused many unnecessary descriptions, while still understandable, were just TOO much. Adrien was an enjoyable love interest but sometimes I found him a bit dull. There were some awkward scenes in which Adrien and Zoe or Zoe and Max talk about love and sexuality, which were a bit hard to swallow!

Glitch was, regarless of the many faults, an amazing novel. The writing could use less descriptions and hopefully the characters will be more developped in the next installment. Nevertheless the plot was throughly enjoyable. A mix of a dystopian background, X-Men superpowers and sci-fi, Glitch couldn't not be incredible.



Heather Anastasiu is the author of the young adult sci-fi novel,GLITCH (St. Martin's Press/Spring 2012). She recently moved to Minneapolis with her family, and when she’s not busy getting lost exploring the new city, she spends most days writing at a cafĂ©. Website / Twitter

25 July 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (22)


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
 
 
This week I'm waiting on:
Unremembered by Jessica Brody
Expected publication: March 3rd, 2013 by Farrar, Straus, & Giroux


The only thing worse than forgetting her past... is remembering it.

When Freedom Airlines flight 121 went down over the Pacific Ocean, no one ever expected to find survivors. Which is why the sixteen-year-old girl discovered floating among the wreckage—alive—is making headlines across the globe.
Even more strange is that her body is miraculously unharmed and she has no memories of boarding the plane. She has no memories of her life before the crash. She has no memories period. No one knows how she survived. No one knows why she wasn’t on the passenger manifest. And no one can explain why her DNA and fingerprints can’t be found in a single database in the world.
Crippled by a world she doesn’t know, plagued by abilities she doesn’t understand, and haunted by a looming threat she can’t remember, Seraphina struggles to piece together her forgotten past and discover who she really is. But with every clue only comes more questions. And she’s running out of time to answer them.
Her only hope is a strangely alluring boy who claims to know her from before the crash. Who claims they were in love. But can she really trust him? And will he be able to protect her from the people who have been making her forget?

From popular young adult author, Jessica Brody comes a mesmerizing and suspenseful new series, set in a world where science knows no boundaries, memories are manipulated, and true love can never be forgotten.


Lovely cover and interesting summary, Unremembered sounds really promising! Will you be adding it to your TBR-pile? 
What are you gus waiting on this Wednesday? 

23 July 2012

Amelia Anne Tour Stop & Giveaway


Books to Consider is proud to be a part of the blog tour for "Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone" by Kat Rosenfield. And we have the great Mod Podge blog to thank for hosting this tour, so if you have the time, do check out Gabrielle's blog here to support future book tours.

Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone sounds like an amazing read. Unfortunately being on vacation hasn't given me much time to read it but I surely will get to it as soon as I get back. But one lucky person will have the opportunity to read it for free! Books to Consider is hosting a giveaway by courtesy of the author.

If you want to know more about Kat's amazing novel, here is the summary from Goodreads:

An arresting un-coming-of-age story, from a breathtaking talent

Becca has always longed to break free from her small, backwater hometown. But the discovery of an unidentified dead girl on the side of a dirt road sends the town--and Becca--into a tailspin. Unable to make sense of the violence of the outside world creeping into her backyard, Becca finds herself retreating inward, paralyzed from moving forward for the first time in her life.

Short chapters detailing the last days of Amelia Anne Richardson's life are intercut with Becca's own summer as the parallel stories of two young women struggling with self-identity and relationships on the edge twist the reader closer and closer to the truth about Amelia's death.



Now more a little bit about the author behind the novel:

Kat Rosenfield was born and raised in Coxsackie, New York, and worked as a production assistant, publicist and copywriter in New York City before finding her niche in writing for teenagers. Her first novel, AMELIA ANNE IS DEAD AND GONE, will be released by Dutton in July 2012.
When not writing fiction, she can be found contributing entertainment news and commentary to MTV's Hollywood Crush blog and lecturing on proper flirting techniques on Barnes & Noble's SparkLife. The name of her hometown is not pronounced the way you think it is.
 


To have a chance to win Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone fill out the Rafflecopter below. I'm so sorry but this is open to U.S. residents only

 a Rafflecopter giveaway


The schedule for the Amelia Anne is Dead and Gone tour:

7/9- Kick-off & Giveaway at The Mod Podge Bookshelf

7/10- Interview at Rescue Reads 

7/12- Review at The Story Siren

7/13- Guest Blog at author Kelsey Sutton's Blog

7/15- Debut Author Spotlight Interview & Giveaway at Page Turners Blog

7/16- Guest Blog at 365 Days of Reading

7/17- Guest Blog at Magnet For Books

7/18- Interview at Steph Su Reads

7/19- Giveaway at YA Bliss

7/20- Interview & Giveaway at Reading or Breathing

7/21- Review at The Mod Podge Bookshelf

7/22- Giveaway at Midnight Garden

7/23- Guest Blog and Giveaway at Reading Away the Days

7/24- Giveaway at Books to Consider

7/25- Guest Blog at Words Like Silver

7/26- Review at Making the Grade

7/27- Interview at Book Chic

7/28- Guest Blog at The Mod Podge Bookshelf 


For more info on future tours, as well as author info for being hosted on MPB, please check out the new Mod Podge Blog Tour Page on The Mod Podge Bookshelf.

17 July 2012

Review: Grasping at Eternity - Karen Hooper

Release Date: May 25th 2012
Publisher: Starry Sky Publishing

Leave it to Maryah Woodsen to break the one rule that will screw up eternity: Never erase your memories.
Before entering this life, Maryah did the unthinkable—she erased. Now, at seventeen years old, she’s clueless that her new adoptive family has known her for centuries, that they are perpetually reincarnated souls, and that they have supernatural abilities. Oh, and she's supposed to love (not despise) Nathan, the green-eyed daredevil who saved her life.
Nathan is convinced his family’s plan to spark Maryah's memory is hopeless, but his love for her is undying. After spending (and remembering) so many lifetimes together, being around an empty version of his soulmate is heart shattering. He hates acting like a stalker, but has no choice because the evil outcast who murdered Maryah in their last lifetime is still after her.
While Maryah’s hunter inches closer, she and Nathan make assumptions and hide secrets that rip them further apart. Maryah has to believe in the magic within her, Nathan must have faith in the power of their love, and both need to grasp onto the truth before they lose each other forever—and discover just how lonely eternity can be. 


I had my eyes on Grasping at Eternity for some time now and when I heard the author was searching some bloggers to review it, I couldn't let the opportunity go by. Hooper's novel was as good as I anticipated. I haven't read many novels about immortality and I'm sure you won't find another novel similar to this one. With such concepts as immortality and superpowers, Grasping at Eternity will certainly grasp your attention.


The Plot: As mentioned, I haven't read many novels about immortality so I'm totally blown away by this novel. I loved the originality about people who get to choose to be born again and with time develop superpowers. But nothing can be so perfect, right? The main character, Maryah, chose to erase. And the story revolves around the reason she chose to erase (which no one knows) and the relationship with her soulmate. There is enough action, romance and mystery in Grasping at Eternity to satiate everyone's needs.


The Characters: Admittedly I didn't like Maryah that much. I can understand that is difficult for her to find out that she knows her new family for ages, literally, but can't remember it. Furthermore she has to cope with the idea that she has a soulmate. But I found her too dramatic sometimes, nevertheless she was a nice main character. Nathan was just plain sweet and swoon-worthy. The other characters complement the story really well and I could not see this novel working without them.


Grasping at Eternity was such an enjoyable read and I'm certain that I will be rereading it some time soon. I'm already eager to get my hands on the sequel and I hope it will be as good as this one. I recommend this one to anyone who enjoys great romances with superpowers!


Thanks to the author for providing me with a copy for review! 
 


I was born and bred in Baltimore, frolicked and froze in Colorado for a couple of years and I'm currently sunning and splashing around Florida with my two sweet and adorable dogs. I'm addicted to coffee, chocolate and complicated happily-ever-afters. Website



13 July 2012

Review: Arise - Tara Hudson

Release Date: June 5th 2012
Hardcover: 404 Pages
Publisher: HarperCollins
Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Amelia—still caught between life and death—must fight for every moment of her relationship with the human boy Joshua. They can hardly even kiss without Amelia accidentally dematerializing. Looking for answers, they go to visit some of Joshua’s Seer relatives in New Orleans. But even in a city so famously steeped in the supernatural, Amelia ends up with more questions than answers…and becomes increasingly convinced that she and Joshua can never have a future together.Wandering through the French Quarter, Amelia meets other in-between ghosts, and begins to seriously consider joining them. And then she meets Gabrielle. Somehow, against impossible odds, Gaby has found a way to live a sort of half-life...a half-life for which Amelia would pay any price. Torn between two worlds, Amelia must choose carefully, before the evil spirits of the netherworld choose for her.

Arise was a worthy sequel to Hereafter, every bit as unputdownable as the first one. Hudson really had an original idea with this series and it's always good to know that the author won't fall into the ordinary with the next novels. Arise had everything one looks for in a novel and I'm sure the next one will be just completely amazing.

The Plot: Arise begins right where Hereafter left off. I loved the concept of voodoo and that Amelia became half-alive. Furthermore I think that Hudson writes with the right amount of everything: romance, action and sad moments. There were many twists and turns that were, though predictable, really enjoyable. I never thought I would enjoy a ghost story so much! When I finished this novel, I was sure of one thing: Arise was completely enthralling. 

The Characters: Amelia still is this careful but brave person. She cares for everyone and tries to do the right thing, always, even if it would hurt her. I like her very much, and I liked her even more after she met Gabrielle. I think Gaby gave Amelia a new edge. The new characters were all really easy to welcome and I hope we will read more about them in the next and final installment. And we can't forget Joshua, the totally swoon-worthy and sweet love interest. He cares a lot about Amelia and their relationship seems to get more mature.


Overall, I really enjoyed this novel. I wasn't expecting it to be this good and I certainly wasn't expecting the voodoo aspects and the awesomeness of the new characters. I hope that Hudson will keep this up and that the third novel will be just as great as this one. If you haven't read Hereafter yet, you certainly should! 






Born and raised in Oklahoma, Tara Hudson graduated with a degree in law, mostly because she believed all the horror stories about English majors and their careers in the food-service industry. Luckily, she soon remembered how much she loved telling ghost stories, particularly to her girlfriends who liked visiting abandoned cemeteries as much as she did. Tara currently lives in Oklahoma with her husband, son, and a menagerie of ill-behaved pets.



08 July 2012

Review and Guest Post: Any Love But Mine - Debbie Davies

Release Date: March 3rd, 2012
Kindle Edition: 290 Pages
Publisher: Night Publishing

Look but don't touch has never been more true...
The gods forbade her to love, but love is a powerful force. Acacia has been created purely for Eros' pleasure but discovers within moments of being summoned into his presence that he has no interest in her whatsoever. Rejected, she is banished to Earth to serve as Eros' minion with the task of promoting the blissful state of love among all those around her, a state she must never indulge in with a human being herself on pain of immediate destruction. And then comes Josh, someone whose power of attraction over Acacia is so intense she will find it utterly impossible to resist him. But is he human? Is he a god? Or is he a trick of the gods? And what would happen should they kiss?


I'm a huge fan of Greek mythology so it was almost a given that I would enjoy reading Any Love But Mine. Certainly there were certain things that bothered me in this novel yet there many that utterly pleased me. Any Love But Mine is an enjoyable and light read that would fit in your summer read pile.


The plot: I really enjoyed the concept of the story: the three girls created for Eros now have to help him do his job on Earth. I was pleasantly surprised that Davies portrayed gods as they should be: strong and ruthless. It was an original idea but that could have been better executed. The author focus too much on the romance and I would have loved to know more about the gods and Acacia's "sisters". 

The characters: I didn't like the main character very much. I understand that her sisters only told her the necessary and that she was left in the dark about many things but if you don't know anything about your origin, wouldn't you try harder to find out more? Anyway, the problem was that she was too focused on Josh. (slight spoiler ahead!) And later she even falls in love again in record time. The other characters were a lot more interesting, like Allana and her relationship with Hercules, or even Amora. Furthermore I was curious about Eros and I would love to see more of him in the sequel.

Overall, I really enjoyed the mythological aspects of this novel and the side characters were more to my liking than the protagonists. The ending was a small cliffhanger and I certainly would pick the sequel to know how everything will turn out! I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys new twists in Greek mythology and also anyone who won't have a problem with exaggerated romance.



And now we have the author Debbie Davies here for a guest post! We get to know more about Eros before Any Love But Mine (awesome!) and find out why he is the way he is in the novel.



Any love but mine...how it all began

“Eros, you are charged with the murder of over ten thousand innocent mortals and with planning to annihilate the mortal race, how do you plead?”
“Not guilty” Eros’s lips form the words slowly and he makes sure to enunciate each syllable so even the smaller gods, who have snuck into the court and are now crouching behind the twelve immortal Olympians desperately trying to hear Zeus’s punishment for the troubled young god of love. 
Zeus ignores the collective gasp around him, everyone here knows Eros is guilty they had all been witness to his acts of destruction. They’d all watched in the Fates portal as he tore through the mortal world causing the wrong people to fall in love resulting in the mortals murdering the ones they initially embraced.
“Would you care to explain your plea?” Zeus assesses him curiously.
Eros nods as Zeus lowers himself slowly back into his throne and motions for Eros to begin. Eros who had been standing alone in the centre of the court takes a deep breath and turns himself to face his mother, Aphrodite.
“I'm not the one here who is guilty, you are mother. You are guilty of jealousy, deception and betrayal. You forced the one person I have ever loved besides you from my life because you were resentful of her and of my feelings for her. Despite your plan Psyche is still the most beautiful creature in every world - even more beautiful than you! You are just a shell of attractiveness inside you are empty. She glows inside, bright and magical, she is pure and wonderful and even though you have stolen her from my life you have still lost what you feared you would. You have lost me. The moment you told me that she was going to kill you if I gave into my feelings for her and brought her here to Olympus, the moment that lie crossed your lips you lost your son!”
Eros clenches and unclenches his fists; he takes a deep breath in and rolls his lips back baring his teeth. An angry growl emanates from deep within his soul; he lowers his eyes to the floor searching for some sort of strength to restrain himself and go on.
“My heart has been torn from my body because you made me give her to another man who she will now love until death. A man I cannot kill to release her from my spell and if I cannot have love why should anyone else!”
Eros looks at his mother expectantly but she has not changed her demeanour throughout the whole confrontation. Everyone’s eyes are now upon her, some look at her in disgust while others, those who do not care for the mortal race much just look bored. None of them receive an answer though instead she angles herself towards Zeus ignoring her child completely. Eros shakes his head and laughs lowly but he too turns himself back to Zeus to await his fate.
“Aphrodite is this true” Zeus demands as he rises to his feet now the focus is back on him. The clear stones on his wrist cuffs spark the way they always do when he becomes angry. The Olympians hold their composure but the smaller gods turn from crouching figures into mere shadows.
Aphrodite only nods revealing no emotion.
“Eros you are the victim here but you cannot be fully excused of your crimes, you need to return to the mortal realms and make amends for what you have done. You need to give back to the mortals the gift of love”
Eros shakes his head, his movements becoming rapidly more violent his whole body shakes as his rage breaks through.
“No!” his cry bellows throughout the hall “No I won’t do it! Why should I, my one love has been stolen from me why should I allow your precious race to feel something I will never again experience, why should I allow any of you to either! I could make you all now fall in love with the wrong person, I could make you love another so badly you would want to give yourself to them in every physical way no matter how wrong it is” his eyes trail to the virgin Olympians who look horrified at the thought of losing their immaculate state.
“Enough! Eros, you need to make amends for what you have done and then I will see what I can do about returning Psyche to you. I'm sure I will be able to find away” Zeus pleads with Eros but he shows no sign of relenting. Zeus exhales loudly; looking resigned he turns to the guards waiting at the base of his throne.
“Bring her in” Zeus instructs his guards. Everyone turns to stare at the large gilded doors that seal them in this arena.
“What is this” Eros snarls in fear he is about to be tricked again.
“I wanted to wait and give her to you after you had done what I have requested but well, here, this is your love” Zeus motions for the doors to be opened and there stands a beauty so immense everyone forgets how to breath. Eros’s body melts and he rushes to be at her side, the tears pool at the corner of his eyes but he stops short when Zeus’s voice breaks through his haze of happiness.
“This is Allana, your Erosian”


06 July 2012

(ARC) Review: Something Strange and Deadly - Susan Dennard

Release Date: July 24th, 2012
Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen
Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

The year is 1876, and there’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance.


I haven't had so much fun with a novel for quite some time now. Something Strange and Deadly was a dark, funny, romantic and even sad novel and I enjoyed EVERY single minute of reading it! The thing that I enjoyed most about Dennard's novel was that nothing is superfluous in this novel: there is the exact amount of romance so that it's not the most important thing and the suspense and action scenes always fit the moment perfectly.


The plot: There was a bit of a mystery surrounding the creator of the zombies but it was unfortunately a bit predictable. Yet Something Strange and Deadly was a most enjoyable read and I certainly found some twists in the story to be completely unexpected! The author certainly knows how to write a heart-breaking scene! The novel ends in a really sad note but I utterly enjoyed it and I wouldn't have this novel ending any other way.


The characters: Now, the characters were my favorite thing about this book. Eleanor certainly makes my list of favorite heroines ever! She was strong, determined, curious and, well, just plain amazing! The romance wasn't overdone. The relationship between Eleanor and Daniel develops rather slowly and sweetly, just how I like it. And I can't even start on Daniel, he was just so swoon-worthy but I would love to know more about him and his past in the next installment. The other characters really complemented the story and I can't see the novel being this awesome without Joseph and Jie. 


To emphasize: I'm dying to get my hands on the sequel, literally. I can't wait to read more about the Spirit-Hunters and how Eleanor will fit in their future adventures. Most of all, I can't wait to see how Daniel and Eleanor's relationship will develop (this will make even more sense to you after you read this novel!). Something Strange and Deadly was just plain unputdownable and I had to pull an all-nighter to finish it. And after finishing it, my mind still wandered to Eleanor and her friends. I recommend this novel to Steampunk lovers and paranormal, specially zombie, fans! Actually, everybody should buy pre-order it now!

Thanks to HarperTeen for providing me with a copy via Edelweiss in exchange of an honest review




I’m a 28-year-old reader, writer, lover of animals, and eater of cookies. I used to be a marine biologist, but now I write novels. And not novels about fish either, but novels about kick-butt heroines and swoon-worthy rogues (I really like swoon-worthy rogues). I live in Germany with my French husband and Irish setter, and you can learn more about my crazy thoughts and crippling cookie-addiction on twitter, facebook, or Goodreads. My debut, Something Strange and Deadly, will be available from HarperCollins on July 24th, and you will never believe how happy this makes me! Website / Twitter / Something Strange and Deadly's Website (check out this beautiful website!)

04 July 2012

Waiting on Wednesday (21)

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

This week I'm waiting on:
Taken by Erin Bowman
Expected publication: April 16th, 2013 by HarperTeen

There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends...and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?


Taken sounds like an ĂśBERAWESOME read! Unfortunately there is still a long time till the publication but it will certainly be worth the wait! 
  
What are you guys waiting on this Wednesday? 

Review: Fever - Lauren DeStefano

Release Date: February 21st, 2012
Hardcover: 341 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing
Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but danger is never far behind.
Running away brings Rhine and Gabriel right into a trap, in the form of a twisted carnival whose ringmistress keeps watch over a menagerie of girls. Just as Rhine uncovers what plans await her, her fortune turns again. With Gabriel at her side, Rhine travels through an environment as grim as the one she left a year ago - surroundings that mirror her own feelings of fear and hopelessness.
The two are determined to get to Manhattan, to relative safety with Rhine’s twin brother, Rowan. But the road there is long and perilous - and in a world where young women only live to age twenty and young men die at twenty-five, time is precious. Worse still, they can’t seem to elude Rhine’s father-in-law, Vaughn, who is determined to bring Rhine back to the mansion...by any means necessary.


Fever was a worthy sequel to Wither. It certainly was captivating at times and it provided more action that Wither did. I'm not so sure why but Fever was a really slow read for me. I started reading over a month ago and only finished it this week, which never happens for me! Probably what bother me so much was the relationship between Gabriel and Rhine; they spent so much time together but nothing ever happened with the both of them, romance-wise.

The plot: The plot provided us with more action and suspense than Wither yet I found that the relationship between Gabriel and Rhine could have been better; their relationship didn't develop the way I thought it would, so I'm really not sure how their relationship will turn out in the end, it really could go either way. But I do understand that the difficulties along the way were a bit of an obstacle for the both of them. Overall, the plot was very satisfying, full of action and kill-me-now moments.


The characters: Rhine got to be a bit annoying in Fever. She was still very determined and sweet but I had a hard time relating to her. Gabriel showed us different sides to him; he is not just that sweet guy we got to know in Wither. The new characters were very memorable and different and they brought more life into this novel. Some old characters also made an appearance: Cecily, Linden and unfortunately Vaughn, too.


Fever was a good sequel to Wither. I'm not saying it couldn't have been better but I certainly enjoyed reading it and the cliffhanger is enormous, indeed. I can't wait to get my hands on Sever now! I am most curious about the results of Vaughn's experiments on Rhine - did he discover something?




Lauren DeStefano (pronounced: de STEFF ano) graduated Albertus Magnus College in New Haven, CT in 2007. Her debut novel, WITHER, the first in The Chemical Garden Trilogy, published by Simon & Schuster BFYR, is out now. Website / Twitter

02 July 2012

Stacking the Shelves (3)


Stacking The Shelves is hosted By Tynga's Reviews. This meme is about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be hard-back, paperback or ebook.
For review:


Stormdancer
by Jay Kristoff

I AM SO FREAKING EXCITED FOR THIS ONE!!! Thank you so much Thomas Dunnes Books/St. Martin's Press! 






Throne of Glass
by Sarah J. Maas

I loved the first novella so I'm even MORE excited for Throne of Glass! Thank you so much Bloomsbury UK!






Confessions of an Angry Girl
by Louise Rozett

Thank you so much Harlequin Teen! Can't wait to read this one!







Silver
by Talia Vance


This one sounds so interesting and original! Can't wait to start reading it! Huge thanks to Flux Books!







 Bought:

Chosen Ones
by Tiffany Truitt


I've been dying to read this one for awhile now! I've read some great reviews and it sounds like one I will totally enjoy!








01 July 2012

(ARC) Review: Dark Companion - Marta Acosta

Release Date: July 3rd, 2012
Hardcover: 368 pages
Publisher: Tor/Macmillan

When foster teen Jane Williams is invited to attend elite Birch Grove Academy for Girls and escape her violent urban neighborhood, she thinks the offer is too good to be true. She's even offered her own living quarters, the groundskeeper's cottage in the center of the birch grove.
Something's not quite right about the school -- or is it Jane? She thinks she sees things in the birch grove at night. She's also beginning to suspect that the elegant headmistress and her sons are hiding secrets. Lucky is the gorgeous, golden son who is especially attentive to Jane, and Jack is the sardonic puzzling brother.
The school with its talented teachers and bright students is a dream for a science and math geek like Jane. She also loves her new friends, including hilarious poetry-spouting rich girl, Mary Violet. But the longer Jane stays at Birch Grove, the more questions she has about the disappearance of another scholarship girl and a missing faculty member.
Jane discovers one secret about Birch Grove, which only leads to more mysteries. What is she willing to sacrifice in order to stay at this school...and be bound to Birch Grove forever?



Dark Companion is a completely unique novel. Being a gothic novel, Dark Companion had a dark feeling to it that was equally amazing as chilling to the bone. Acosta did an amazing job writing such a Gothic novel, sometimes I even imagined this mysterious fog around me while reading this book. (I'm weird!).

The Plot: I had a bit of hard time getting used to the many mysterious twists and turns in this novel. I haven't read many novels in this genre, so sometimes I felt like I received to little information. But I guess that's the allure in such novels. Despite that, I thoroughly enjoyed the plot and after getting used to this different setting, I wanted more of it! The writing fits the mysterious and dark Birch Grove enabling us to imagine everything with ease.

The Characters: Jane was a difficult character to relate to. Growing up in such conditions, she was rather reserved and insecure. But by the end of the novel, she is more open to other people. Mary Violet, one of Jane's friend at the new school, was by far my favorite character; she was just TOO funny and every scene with her in it would standout for me. Jack was a peculiar love interest. He would always say the most peculiar things and I thought the romance would never come. Let's just say that Jane was a bit slow to figure out her feelings.

Dark Companion was, for me, a great read which takes some getting used to. Acosta's novel also surprised me because the paranormal aspects in this novel were about something entirely new to me; so if you think you know what this novel is about, you can scratch that thought! I'm certain this novel won't be for everyone, so I would recommend Dark Companion to those of you who like mysterious and dark novels and fans of slow-building romance!

Thanks to Tor/Forge and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of Dark Companion in exchange of an honest review!

Marta Acosta lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She was a feral reader, roaming the stacks of the public library. She received a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing from Stanford University and has written for the San Francisco Chronicle, the Contra Costa Times, and Spaces Magazine.Marta lives with her husband, spawn, and their crazy dogs. An avid gardener, she likes independent films, funny novels, loud music and lively conversations.She’s always happy to hear from readers, even the ones who point out typos.  Website  / Twitter

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