Waiting on Wednesday (26)

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:

If I Should Die by Amy Plum
Expected publication: May 7th 2013 by HarperTeen

 

I will not lose another person I love. I will not let history repeat itself.

Vincent waited lifetimes to find me, but in an instant our future together was shattered. He was betrayed by someone we both called a friend, and I lost him. Now our enemy is determined to rule over France’s immortals, and willing to wage a war to get what they want.

It shouldn’t be possible, none of it should be, but this is my reality. I know Vincent is somewhere out there, I know he’s not completely gone, and I will do anything to save him.

After what we’ve already fought to achieve, a life without Vincent is unimaginable. He once swore to avoid dying—to go against his nature and forsake sacrificing himself for others—so that we could be together. How can I not risk everything to bring my love back to me?

ONE OF THE BEST YOUNG ADULT SERIES EVER. At least, in my opinion. Aren't you excited to see how things will turn out in the end?

What are you guys waiting on today?

 

 

Review: Days of Blood and Starlight - Laini Taylor

Release Date: November 6th 2012
Hardcover: 517 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.
This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.
 
In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope. But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

What an adventure! Taylor really knows how to write a novel that is completely unpredictable. The pace is right, the characters act realistically and the story, well, is utterly amazing! Days of Blood & Starlight is at least as good as its prequel and you certainly won't be disappointed!

The Plot: I loved how the beginning was written. It draws you in, makes you curious about Karou, where is she? Another great thing were the different perspectives from Zuzana's to Akiva's and then back to Karou. Karou and Akiva don't have many scenes together so it was great to know what both of them were up to. Akiva's side of the story was really interesting. I really liked the development of his relationship with his siblings and the steps they take towards a revolution. Of course, nothing comes easy. Karou also has to suffer a lot working with the White Wolf against her will because she feels so guilty and alone. It was amazing how everything fell into place and the ending will leave you eager for more.

The Characters: It's no surprise now that I like each and every character in this series. And it's no surprise that they are still as awesome in this one! Zuzana is so funny! I really enjoyed her character in this one. Karou is conflicted and confused, which is completely understandable but she is a strong and versatile character. I can't wait to see how great she will be in the sequel. Akiva is a strong character, as well. He has to deal with his guilt but he is still willing to start a revolution, to attain his and Karou's goal: peace. And I really enjoyed Akiva's siblings in this one.

Overall, I LOVED DAYS OF BLOOD AND STARLIGHT. Please give me the next one right now.

Hi there! I'm a writer of fantasy books for young people, but my books can be enjoyed by adults as well. My 'Dreamdark' books, Blackbringer (2007) and Silksinger (2009) are about faeries -- not dainty little flowery things, but warrior-faeries who battle devils. My first young adult book, Lips Touch, is a finalist for the 2009 National Book Award! It's creepy, sensual supernatural romance. . . about kissing. I am also an artist with a licensed gift product line called "Laini's Ladies." Website

Dreaming of Summer Giveaway Hop

With winter upon us, let's warm up by sharing some of our favorite beach/summer reads! Be it a book that takes place at the beach, or just one that has a great summer setting - share the warmth with the Dreaming of Summer Blog Hop hosted by Me, My Shelf and I & I Am A Reader Not A Writer!

From November 27th to December 2nd, here is your choice to win a novel that will leave you begging for summer! Here are some of my suggestions:

The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han (or one of the others in this series)
Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (this one just reminds me of summer!)
The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen or you'd like any other novel by Sarah Dessen (I mean, Sarah Dessen's novels are the perfect summer read!)
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver (Such a nice novel to read on the beach!)
The Disenchantments by Nina LaCour (The cover has enough of a "beachy-feeling")

Or of course, you could pick a a novel that has a summer feeling to it but be warned: I'll be checking if the novel fits the bill! :) 
a Rafflecopter giveaway Participate in more giveaways to have more chances to win!

Super Awesome Stacking the Shelves!

 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:

Taken by Erin Bowman

I'm so freaking excited to read this one! I know the release is in April but I may have to read it soon because I just can't wait! Taken sounds so AMAZING! I'm sure you will be adding this one to your TBR pile if you don't have it there already :)

Thanks a lot to HarperTEEN!!

Pivot Point by Kasie West 

Another eagerly-awaited book! This one is being released in January. Pivot Point sounds awesome, more than awesome even! 2013 does seems to be a great year for YA novels!

Huge thanks to HarperTEEN!

Luminaire by Ciye Cho

After reading the prequel to Luminaire, Florence, I was wondering how the story would go on! Now I'll find out in Luminare how Florence will deal with living underwater. Hopefully we will find out more about her abilities!

Thanks to Ciye Cho!

If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

Saw many positive reviews to this one and I just had to request it!

Thanks to St. Martin's Griffin!

Bought:

Rebel Heart by Moira Young

Can't wait to read about Jack!

 

What did you guys get this week? Link me up and I'll take a look on your Stacking the Shelves :) 

Review: Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Release Date: July 3rd, 2012
Hardcover: 292 pages
Publisher: HarperTeen

Before Peter Pan belonged to Wendy, he belonged to the girl with the crow feather in her hair. . . .

Fifteen-year-old Tiger Lily doesn't believe in love stories or happy endings. Then she meets the alluring teenage Peter Pan in the forbidden woods of Neverland and immediately falls under his spell.

Peter is unlike anyone she's ever known. Impetuous and brave, he both scares and enthralls her. As the leader of the Lost Boys, the most fearsome of Neverland's inhabitants, Peter is an unthinkable match for Tiger Lily. Soon, she is risking everything--her family, her future--to be with him. When she is faced with marriage to a terrible man in her own tribe, she must choose between the life she's always known and running away to an uncertain future with Peter.

With enemies threatening to tear them apart, the lovers seem doomed. But it's the arrival of Wendy Darling, an English girl who's everything Tiger Lily is not, that leads Tiger Lily to discover that the most dangerous enemies can live inside even the most loyal and loving heart.

I love Peter Pan. I really loved reading the classic and the Disney movie is also sweet. So when I heard about Tiger Lily, I was instantly interested in it. I love such spin-offs that show more to the secondary characters. Of course, this one is also an adaptation to the classic, and this may or may not please readers. It really is a novel that readers will either love or hate.

The Plot: Tiger Lily's story is sad. So it is surely a sad story told from Tinker Bell's point of view about a girl who loves a boy who loves someone else. The story is believeable, although everyone who has read the classic will think that Anderson didn't do it justice. She does changes some important things but keep in mind that this is an adaptation. The writing is beautiful, though. It will certain break many hearts.

The Characters: Tiger Lily is an interesting character. She is strong and independent and because of it, she doesn't know how to show her feelings. Unfortunately she learns that if you wait too long, someone else won't wait. She learned it the hard way and I think people will be able to relate to her situation. Tinker Bell is the narrator and I think that gives a nice new spin to the story. Peter Pan is simply Peter Pan and I admittedly liked him the most in this novel. I really liked the relationship between Peter and Tiger Lily, which was turbulent to say the least.

Tiger Lily is a novel that you know from the beginning how it will end, but you can't help but hope that things will end differently. I was rooting for Tiger Lily and even saw Wendy as a threat. The writing will certainly captivate readers and leave them heartbroken in the end. If you enjoy fairy-tale adaptations and the changes won't bother you so much, you should certainly check this one out!

Jodi Lynn Anderson is the New York Times bestselling author of Peaches, The Secrets of Peaches, Love and Peaches, the popular May Bird trilogy, and Tiger Lily . She lives in Washington, D.C. with her husband and an endless parade of stray pets.

Waiting on Wednesday (25)

"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:

Mind Games by Kiersten White
Expected publication: February 19th 2013 by HarperTeen

Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future.

Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways… or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.

In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

Sounds amazing, right?! Are you adding this one to your TBR pile?  What are you guys waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: The Evolution of Mara Dyer - Michelle Hodkin

Release Date: October 23rd 2012
Hardcover: 544 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past.
She can’t.
She used to think her problems were all in her head.
They aren’t.
She couldn’t imagine that after everything she’s been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets.
She’s wrong.
In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?

Hodkin has the incomparable ability to leave readers dying, literally, for more. The writing grabs your attention in a way and you can't never be sure of anything. I mean, I still don't know why Mara can do what she did, if her allucinations were real, or were they?  Even though, this may cause some impatience in some people, I was completely hooked all the way through the novel.

The Plot: I am blown away by the awesomeness that The Evolution of Mara Dyer provided me. I was up the whole night to finish it because I was unable to put it down, even for a second. The story picks up where it lefts off and Mara's life couldn't be more complicated. Someone is trying to make her life difficult and could this person be Jude? And not just that, her powers are still a mystery. However we do receive some new information about Mara's grandmother. It was interesting to read some chapters in her grandmother's perspective. The plot won't let you down, mystery and action walk hand in hand, not to forget the sweet romance between Mara and Noah that has its share of obstacles.

The Characters: What more can I say? I love every character in this series. I must admit that, in my opinion, everyone was a suspect. I found myself doubting every single character in this novel and that was completely amazing! I can only praise Hodkin's way of writing. Furthermore I enjoy reading from Mara's point of view so much, she really is an amazing yet complicated character. The new characters showed us some new aspects of the story that admittedly, I was really not expecting. Nonetheless it was a nice surprise.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer is a must-read. Actually, the whole series is a must-read, even though the last book is not out yet. I can only guess that it will be as amazing. The cliffhanger at the end is a killer, really. I may not survive until the release of the third installment next year. Certainly this novel changed my perspective of this novel but it didn't let me down, at all (I'm sure after reading it, you may get what I mean!) and now I totally get why Hodkin named the next novel "The Retribution of Mara Dyer".

At the age of sixteen, I lost the rights to my soul in a poker game with pirates just south of Natchez. Shortly thereafter, I joined an acting troupe and traveled the world performing feats of wonder and mischief before writing my first novel, THE UNBECOMING OF MARA DYER (Simon & Schuster BFYR), which is available now. Its sequel, THE EVOLUTION OF MARA DYER, hits shelves October 23, 2012, and the third book in the trilogy, THE RETRIBUTION OF MARA DYER, will be out Fall 2013. Website

ARC Review: Renegade - J.A. Souders

Release Date: November 13th 2012
Hardcover: 364 pages
Publisher: Tor Teen

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.
But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.
Her memories have been altered.
Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.
And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.
Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all.

It's UNDERWATER! I really enjoyed the setting in this novel, it's really original, probably the first YA dystopian novel that I've read that takes place in a city underwater and I really liked this idea. Souders surely writes an intriguing and original story that will leave you begging for more, even though the ending is only cliffhanger-ish.

The Plot: The plot goes smoothly and it's a quick read if you have time to read it in one sitting. The world-building really surprised me since I wasn't expecting to enjoy the city-underwater-thing that much. It totally suits the story and the author really developed the setting really well. The story felt a bit calculated to me since every little things leads to this ending and it was a bit predictable. The insta-love was something I really didn't enjoy, it was a bit too fast and felt unrealistic to me.

The Characters: Here the things get a bit complicated. I did enjoy the characters but not that much. Evelyn was a strong and determined character but because of certain experiments done on her, it was difficult to characterize her and identify myself with her. Gavin was the typical perfect YA boy but he was just too perfect! It's not realistic that a boy will discover a city underwater, be treated badly by the people there but will trust the girl blindly and fall in love with her in a day. Mother, the villain, was crazy but I guess, I really did enjoyed this aspect. She was simply mad, no better way to describe her, actually.

Renegade was an enjoyable read and it also brought some original aspects to the young adult genre. It certainly felt a bit too unrealistic and predictable to me but overall, I liked the novel. The ending is very different from the beginning, ending in a very different note. I can't wait to see what Souders will do to these characters and how she will develop the story further.

Huge thanks to Tor Teen for providing me with a copy of Renegade for review!

J.A. Souders lives in Florida with her husband and their two children and is an active member of RWA, DFRW, YARWA, SCBWI, and SFWA. RENEGADE is her first novel. Website / Twitter

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:

Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Huge thanks to Bloomsbury UK!

After stabbing and killing her boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Mallory, who has no memory of the event, is sent away to a boarding school to escape the gossip and threats, but someone or something is following her.

Renegade by J.A. Souders

Huge thanks to Macmillan-Tor!

Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.
But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie. 

Small pile this time but awesome all the same! Leave your Stacking the Shelves link and I'll be checking it out!

 

Review: Entice - Jessica Shirvington

Release Date: September 4th, 2012
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.
Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.
The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.

I had really high hopes for Entice. I really enjoy reading novels with angel mythology and this series actually has an original storyline which is difficult to have in this popular genre. And I'm so happy to say that, it didn't disappoint at all! What an amazing adventure it was reading it!

The Plot: The story picks up from where Embrace left off. Everything is starting to get really complicated now that Violet knows she can't be together with Lincoln and that Phoenix is back and trying to kill her. Shirvington really has a great talent when it comes to writing a great plot. Everything fits perfectly in the story and action is one thing that you won't miss. Even though the story is complex and emotional, Shirvington still finds places to fill with some humor (I loved Spence!). And the mystery revolving Violet and her special powers couldn't have been developed better.

The Characters: The new characters were great additions to this series. Embrace already had an amazing set of characters, I even liked the bad guys, but the new ones add a great quality to Entice. Spence was by far my favorite, he was funny and yet could be a serious guy when needed. Salvatore and Zoe were great additions too. Violet and Lincoln are the same as always, although their relationship goes through some highs and lows that kept it interesting for us readers. I still don't know how it will end between those two. And that makes me even more eager to get my hands on Emblaze!

Entice was really an amazing read. Great in all aspects: humor, action, romance.. I can't wait to get my hands on the next one! If you are looking for an amazing novel to pass the time, this series certainly should be on your list. And if you like, also had high hopes for Entice after reading Embrace, worry not, Entice won't let you down.

Jessica Shirvington lives in Sydney with her husband of ten years, FOXTEL presenter and former Olympic sprinter Matt Shirvington, and their two daughters. She has previously founded and run a coffee distribution company, Stella Imports, in London, and been involved in managing the restaurants Fuel Bistro, Tow Bar and MG Garage in Sydney. She is currently a full-time mum, author and co-director in the company MPS Investments Pty Ltd.

Waiting on Wednesday (24)

"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:

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Expected publication: February 5th 2012 by Walker Childrens

After stabbing and killing her boyfriend, sixteen-year-old Mallory, who has no memory of the event, is sent away to a boarding school to escape the gossip and threats, but someone or something is following her.

 It's such a shame but I didn't read Miranda's another book "Fractured", even though I only heard good things about it. But "Hysteria" really caught my attention, I can't wait to get my hands on it! And maybe I'll read "Fractured" till then!

What are you guys waiting on this Wednesday?

Review: Candid - Michelle Pennington

Release Date: April 17th 2012
Kindle Edition
Self-published

Life is simple for high school senior, Sienna Whitfield. With a few good friends, a camera, and a dream, she has everything she needs to be happy. But when Jordan Rubio, the most popular girl at Haskins High, makes her mad, she decides to use the power of photography to right a few social wrongs. As if that doesn’t cause enough drama in her life, she realizes she’s falling for the new guy, Lee Franklin. Strong and protective, he’s just what she needs to survive the craziness she’s stirred up at school. If only she didn’t have to keep her feelings for Lee a secret from her mom…

 A great start to a promising contemporary series. Michelle writes realistically enough and you have the feeling that this could happen to you too! Certainly there was more than enough drama to keep readers hooked throughout the novel. Personally I'm not a big fan of contemporary novels but I devoured this novel in 3 hours!

The Plot: The story takes place in a typical high school and the drama is that usual popular vs the not popular crowd. But it wasn't in any way boring. Pennington adds a lot of great aspects like the photography (which I completely enjoyed!) and the really strict mother. I also enjoyed that even though there was a bit of insta-love, it didn't feel that way and I could enjoy the building of the relationship. The biggest obstacle being the strict mother, the relationship only blooms late in the novel. It was a refreshing idea, even though if it were happening to me, I'd be really mad with my mother! Great atmosphere and attention-grabbing plot with lots of juicy drama!

The Characters: I really loved the characters in this novel. The main character Sienna was amazing! I really enjoyed the change in her, becoming more fearless and self-assured. Furthermore she was a photographer and I really enjoyed the precise informations in the novel regarding photography. Lee was a bit too perfect for me, really, no flaws?! Marisol, the best friend, was really funny and I was really hoping she would play a bigger role and that her relationship with Will would be a bit on the spotlight, but no such luck. Nonetheless the characters were really great.

Candid is a great contemporary novel that you shouldn't miss. The second installment to this series has been released in September; however it doesn't focus on Sienna. I can't believe it took me such a long time to start reading Candid, I loved it!

Big thanks to Michelle Pennington for providing me with a copy for review!

 

Michelle Pennington has a BA in Liberal Arts from the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. To attain this degree, she studied Literature, Rhetoric, History, and Art. She married her sweetheart, Ethan, while still in college and developed a new penchant for skipping class to spend more time with him. Despite this distraction, she still managed to graduate Magna Cum-Laude.