Entwined by Heather Dixon: review

Goodreads rating: 3.82

Hardcover, 480 pages

Published March 29th 2011 by Greenwillow Books 

Azalea is trapped. Just when she should feel that everything is before her . . . beautiful gowns, dashing suitors, balls filled with dancing . . . it's taken away. All of it.
The Keeper understands. He's trapped, too, held for centuries within the walls of the palace. And so he extends an invitation.
Every night, Azalea and her eleven sisters may step through the enchanted passage in their room to dance in his silver forest.
But there is a cost.
The Keeper likes to keep things.
Azalea may not realize how tangled she is in his web until it is too late.  

 

4/5

I didn’t have the best feelings going into Entwined. There were so many mixed reviews and I didn’t know what to think. But I started it and I realized three things: one, I love fairytale retellings; two, I find myself enjoying the older time periods when the original story took place; and three, I need a romance, no matter how small. Entwined surprised me with how good it was.

The sisters were hilarious. They barely go anywhere without each other, and if you think you’re alone, they’re probably waiting in the bushes to see what happens. I’ve never had any siblings, so it was a little difficult for me to relate to this aspect of the book. But the older sisters really added that element of not only responsibility for Azalea, but also the comedic relief. They also set the stage for Mr. Bradford and any other potential suitors, and if they don’t except the suitors then they usually don’t come back again Also, the father element was sweet. The author made it seem like he didn’t love the girls, but you could tell that he loved them but he was in mourning over his wife, their mother.

I loved the romance. There wasn’t just one sister that got her happy ending, although Azalea was the main focus. Mr. Bradford was utterly perfect for her, and I loved their slowly-budding relationship. While you could tell what they felt for each other, it was still so infuriating when everything—and especially Keeper—kept getting in the way. The magic was a lovely touch, and reminded me a little of Beauty and the Beast with the magical tea set. Everything stuck mostly close to the story. I would definitely suggest reading the story before reading the book. Let’s just say the endings are not quite the same.

I would definitely recommend this novel. As I said, I love fairytale retellings. The romance and the magic made it dark, but beautiful. There was some heartache, and a few surprises. Overall, a great read.

Wither (The Chemical Garden #1) by Lauren DeStefano: review

Goodreads rating: 3.94

Hardcover, 358 pages

Published March 22nd 2011 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

URL: http://thechemicalgardenbooks.com/

Series: The Chemical Garden #1

Characters: Rose, Jenna, Cecily, Linden Ashby, Gabriel Borelli

Setting: Florida (United States)

Obviously, something went terribly wrong. Genetic mutations have festered, reducing human longevity to twenty-five, even less for most women. To prevent extinction, young girls are kidnapped, mated in polygamous marriages with men eager to procreate. Sixteen-year-old Rhine Ellery, a recent victim of this breeding farm mentality, has vowed to break loose from its fetters; but finding allies and a safe way out is a challenge she can only hope she will survive.

4/5

Wither was an interesting read for me. I didn’t think I’d like it as much as I did to be honest. You know how I love my dystopians, but maybe it’s because the name of the series was disconcerting, or whatever it was. Needless to say, I was wrong to doubt it. Wither is like a fairytale gone horribly wrong, and all set in a dystopian and post-apocalyptic world. In this future version of earth, there was a cure found for cancer. Those that were given the vaccine ended up being completely healthy and living long natural lives. But their children turned out to be not so healthy. Girls die at 20, and boys die at 25 from a slow unknown disease. This makes life slightly more difficult.

I enjoyed everything about this story. Rhine was an amazing main character, and the other characters, no matter how minor, were not forgotten. I grew to love everyone of them, and while it was important that they were all locked away in this mansion far away from Rhine’s home and twin brother, it was the characters that really made this story. As I said, it felt like a fairytale gone wrong. Like Beauty and the Beast, but instead of the young man being the beast, his father was more of a beast (emotional one, anyway). Rhine is kidnapped, like so many girls of this time do. She has no idea where they’re taking her. Eventually, she is one of three girls to survive. One of the other three girls had two sisters in the truck they came in. And everyone else was shot.

Obviously, Rhine doesn’t like Linden. He’s the reason she’s even there in the first place, and now she’ll be forced to make children with this man she already loathes. She also grows not to hate him though. His first wife is dying of the disease, and he’s still in love with her when he marries Rhine and the other two girls. His wife insisted. This story is already heartbreaking. On top of Rhine, trying to avoid sleeping with Linden, she starts to develop feelings for one of the servants, Gabriel. I was sad that Gabriel basically disappeared in the middle of the book. More of Linden’s father’s doings. But the little romance that they did have was beautiful, and I can’t wait to see more of them in the next one.

This book is full of heartache and betrayal and I absolutely fell in love. If you’re into dystopians and haven’t read this one, definitely check it out. Even if you don’t like dystopians, think evil twisted fairy tale and you just can’t say no.

Die For Me (Revenants #1) by Amy Plum: review

Goodreads rating: 4.08

Hardcover, 341 pages

Published May 10th 2011 by HarperTeen (first published May 5th 2011)

URL: http://www.amyplumbooks.com

Series: Revenants #1

Characters: Kate Beaumont Mercier, Vincent Pierre Henri Delacroix, Georgia Frances Mercier, Jules Marchenoir, Ambrose Bates

Setting: Paris, 2010

Literary awards: Romance Times top pick for May (2011), Summer 2011 Indie Next List (2011)

My life had always been blissfully, wonderfully normal. But it only took one moment to change everything.


Suddenly, my sister, Georgia, and I were orphans. We put our lives into storage and moved to Paris to live with my grandparents. And I knew my shattered heart, my shattered life, would never feel normal again. Then I met Vincent. 

Mysterious, sexy, and unnervingly charming, Vincent Delacroix appeared out of nowhere and swept me off my feet. Just like that, I was in danger of losing my heart all over again. But I was ready to let it happen. 

Of course, nothing is ever that easy. Because Vincent is no normal human. He has a terrifying destiny, one that puts his life at risk every day. He also has enemies . . . immortal, murderous enemies who are determined to destroy him and all of his kind. 

While I'm fighting to piece together the remnants of my life, can I risk putting my heart—as well as my life and my family's—in jeopardy for a chance at love?

5/5

I’ve definitely fallen in love with books set in Paris. It started with Anna and the French Kiss and moved on from there. There’s just something about this city that’s magical, so it makes sense that it’s a setting for a paranormal novel. There was very little lull in this one, and I found myself enjoying it more than I thought I would. Kate was a very likeable character, and in the beginning I really fell in love with Vincent. To be honest, by the end, he was a little too obsessed with Kate. Not that she seemed to mind.

I really liked the idea of immortals. At first it made me think of Alyson Noel’s series, but I’m hoping this series turns out a lot better than Noel’s did. There’s not much about immortals in YA, and I enjoyed the spin Plum put on it. Vincent and his “family” are immortal, but that’s because when they died, they gave their lives for someone else. Now, somehow, this doesn’t work for everyone who gives their life for someone else, but their master or “father” or whatever he is has a keen sense for these immortals, and if he doesn’t wake them up then they truly die. But there are also bad immortals, those who kill people instead of saving them. And the two groups are literally immortal enemies

The romance was interesting. Cute, but a little too fast. I am satisfied though that “I love you” wasn’t said in the first book. I think that’s the only thing that really saved this romance for me. Kate and Vincent were moving really fast, and even though you could see the obvious connection between them, I could feel Vincent getting obsessive, especially when he was in his hibernation mode and couldn’t use his body. But besides that, I loved the cute moments between them and I can’t wait for more.

I’m happy I finally got to read this one. It’d been sitting on my shelf for a while, and when I saw I could read it during my Harper Imprint Challenge, I couldn’t wait. Now I can’t wait for the sequel!

Title Poison: Sequel to Daughter of Smoke and Bone

While Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor wasn't my favorite of this year, I cannot deny its total awesomeness. That said, the second book (estimated for Fall 2012) now has a name!

 

Sounds pretty awesome right? I wonder how creative they'll have to get for the third book. And straight from Laini Taylor's blog comes this teaser:

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a new way of living—one without massacres and torn throats and bonfires of the fallen, without revenants or bastard armies or children ripped from their mothers’ arms to take their turn in the killing and dying. 

Once, the lovers lay entwined in the moon’s secret temple and dreamed of a world that was a like a jewel-box without a jewel—a paradise waiting for them to find it and fill it with their happiness. 

This was not that world.

 What do you guys think of the title and the teaser? Let me know in the comments section! I personally can't wait for Fall now with that teaser!

Follow Friday (15)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

 

Question of the Week: Which book genre do you avoid at all costs and why?

Well to be honest I'm very picky about my books. I've read very few books that aren't YA, although I don't mind adult paranormal romance books now that I'm older. But there's really more than one genre that I avoid at all costs. The first is romance novels. I'm not a prude, but when they describe a man's... package in a million different ways, it gets to be ridiculous. I honestly sit there and laugh at how nearly every other chapter is someone having sex. I just can't handle it. I'm also not really into anything that doesn't have a romance, which usually includes science fiction and a few other genres. The romance means a lot to me, and when that element isn't in the story I don't find myself enjoying it.

Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodie Meadows: review

Goodreads rating: 4.17

Hardcover, 384 pages

Expected publication: January 31st 2012 by HarperCollins Children's Books

URL: http://www.jodimeadows.com/?page_id=12

Series: Newsoul #1

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all? 

4.5/5

 

I’m not sure what to say about this exactly. It’s not really a kind of book that you can put into a category. It seems dystopian as well as post-apocalyptic, but I can’t be sure if it’s just a completely different world from earth all together. And then there’s the whole reincarnation thing. To be honest, it made me think of The Host by Stephanie Meyer (though it feels like we’ll be getting the sequel to Incarnate before the second Host book comes out). All of these souls have been with each other for thousands of years. The only difference between this book and The Host is that these souls don’t travel from world to world. They remain on whatever planet it is. And it’s a planet filled with fantastical, evil monsters. And I don’t just mean the dragons and the burning, moaning sylphs.

Ana is the first newsoul, or as her horrible mother calls her, nosoul. Her mother has treated her like she’s worthless, because Ana is the first soul to replace an old soul, one named Ciana. And let’s just say the other souls aren’t too happy about that. Everyone has the same lifespan, but when they’re reborn they remember everything from their previous lives. Ana’s mother was meant to bear Ciana’s soul, but what she got was an entirely new soul. Ana’s mother lied to her, beat her, tricked her. So when Ana turns 18, she decides to leave home and her horrid mother for the main city called Heart.

When she nearly dies from drowning in a frozen lake after sylphs chase her, a young man named Sam saves her. Ana isn’t used to human contact, or anyone treating her more than a nothing nosoul. But Sam sees something in her, and he has some secrets of his own. I loved the romance between these two. There was so instalove, which was such a relief. That’s become a pet peeve of mine recently. It was slow and unsure, but it’s absolute magic when they finally get together. I read that scene over and over. They are perfect for each other, and I can’t wait to see where everything goes from here.

This world Meadows has created for her readers is so vivid and different from anything I’ve read in YA for a very long time. I’m still not sure what to think about the pulsing temple or why these souls are reincarnated. But I get the feeling Ana won’t be the only newsoul in Heart. If you’re looking for something completely different and vivid and heartbreaking, this book is for you. Besides, the cover is gorgeous!

Megan Miranda signing at Vroman's in Pasadena: recap

Tonight I had the pleasure of meeting the amazing and sweet Megan Miranda, who's debut novel Fracture I literally just finished earlier today. And I really enjoyed it! The cover is also much more beautiful in person. I ended up being late because I thought it was at 7, but apparently Megan was late as well so I didn't miss much.  She was great to talk to and I met some fellow bloggers as well. While I didn't get to spend as much time there as I liked, I'm really glad I got to meet Megan in person.

I don't know who it was that brought Megan to the signing, but she was sweet enough to take a picture of me and her. And look at her hugging that cover. I would to if it were the preface to my book! She also gave me some cool bookmarks and signed them. So there will be a giveaway for those soon.

And finally, her beautiful signature!

Tomorrow she's going to San Francisco at Books Inc. and signing along with Daisy Whitney and Marissa Meyer.

Carrier of the Mark (Carrier Trilogy #1) by Leigh Fallon: review

Goodreads rating: 3.55

Paperback, 342 pages

Published October 4th 2011 by HarperTeen

Series: Carrier Trilogy #1

Characters: Megan Rosenberg, Adam DeRis, Rian DeRis, Aine DeRis, Caleb Rosenberg ...more

Setting: Kinsale, 2011 (Ireland)

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

2.5/5

 

I just did not like this. I know it’s never good to start a review off with those words, but in this case, it’s necessary. I think it was a pretty good tipoff when Harper Collins published this in paperback first print instead of hardcover. The greatest books coming from this publishing company are all hardcover, and while I considered this before buying the book, I was sucked in by the cover. Sadly, that was the only cool thing about it. I am still totally obsessed with the cover, which I think got awarded that .5 after the 2.

What I DID like: The idea. I love mythology as much as the next person. And the fact that I’m half Irish and am really into the Celtic myths played a part as well. The use of the four elements was. I’m not sure whether they’re witches or what, but you can’t really categorize this one, and in a good way when it comes to the uniqueness of the idea.

What I DIDN’T like (a much longer, ranty list): Whenever I give a “bad” rating for a book, I always mention how great the idea is, while the execution of the idea was the killer. Same thing here. But that really isn’t my beef with this book. That is in three parts, meaning the three most important (to me) parts of a YA paranormal romance novel: Instalove, sucky dialogue, and plot mishaps.

Instalove: The sudden random attraction between Megan and Adam was completely unexplained. This was just ridiculous, and so like the beginning of the relationship between Bella and Edward from Twilight (almost down to the exact words) that I wanted to throw up on this book so I didn’t have to read it anymore. I could see then why people were comparing it to Twilight, in the worst way possible of course. I LOVE Twilight (the books, not the movies), and seeing one of my favorite series being used like that did not make me want to read it. But I don’t think I’ve ever not finished a book, so I kept truckin’. I was hoping it would get better, but sadly, the beginning held the best writing. They were already saying I love you just past half way through the book. Just horrible.

Sucky dialogue: This is one of my biggest pet peeves and it’s why I work so hard on my own dialogue for my novel. Everything coming out of everyone’s mouth was utter crap and awkward as heck! I think my favorite character was Rian, but even his dialogue was a little off by the end. I want to go up to this author and say, “Learn how people talk in real life,” *points to Carrier of the Mark* “This is not it!” I cringed every time someone spoke, and that’s why this was so hard for me to finish. The dialogue was my biggest issue with this one.

Plot mishaps: As an author, you really have to choose wisely what plot points to keep in and what to throw away. That did not happen here. I can’t think of single examples, but some scenes were just unnecessary and ended up being just fluff. Annoying fluff; the worst kind. The ending was anticlimactic, and to be honest I was confused about what was happening with Megan right then. And on top of that, the bad guy that was following her is already dead! Seriously?

I wanted to like this book so badly. But I found myself putting it down and simply not wanting to pick it back up. I ended up sort of speeding through the last third of it. I just wasn’t emotionally invested in the characters. I may continue this series if I hear that it’s better than the first one. I’m hoping that Fallon’s writing will mature and that she fixes her effing dialogue. Otherwise, I will not be continuing this series.

Jay Asher & Carolyn Mackler signing at Mrs. Nelson Toy and Book Shop: recap

Tonight I went to an amazing signing, featuring Jay Asher (author of Thirteen Reasons Why) and Carolyn Mackler (author of Tangled). To be honest it was a lot more fun than I was expecting. Also, there were many more people there than I had anticipated. It was one of the more hilarious signings that I've been to. You'd think since Jay's only solo book is about suicide and isn't exactly a happy, funny book, that he'd be slightly morbid. But Jay is absolutely HILARIOUS! Him and Carolyn were a perfect comedic team, and it made the signing that much more enjoyable. They shared a lot about the process of the book, and how Jay used to idolize Carolyn before he published his first book. They also went over some titles they were throwing around, and the one before they found The Future of Us was Us and the Future. I like this one better.

Also there were Slinkie Jims mentioned. It involves a Twinkie and Slimjim coming together. According to Jay, it was not as delicious as he had originally thought.

It was definitely worth it to make the trip out. I hope they come back to town again sometime soon! And here's their lovely signatures:

Check out Jay's blog to see if they're coming anywhere near you on this The Future of Us tour.

In My Mailbox (24)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren, where you create a post of the books you either received in the mail, bought at a bookstore, or borrowed from the library.

 

 NOTE: If you're unfamiliar with how I do things with my IMM, I basically give a little back story to the books I have pictured. Also, if there are ARC's, I'll give a synopsis and date published.

 

 WON

~Ashfall (Ashfall #1) by Mike Mullin:  I won this from the wonderful blogger of Books Like Stars. I actually think I have a review copy of this book, but I love physical books much better than the e-ARC I think I have. And it actually sounds very interesting. I will be reviewing this one.

~Wander Dust (The Seraphina Parrish Trilogy #1) by Michelle Warren [bookmark]: I've heard awesome things about this book, and although a bookmark isn't the real thing, I love anything that's signed by an author! Hopefully, I will get a copy of Wander Dust soon.

BORROWED

~Incarnate (Newsoul #1) by Jodie Meadows: I borrowed this from the lovely Anna at Literary Exploration. It's been one of her favorites of this year and I knew I had to read it. And I enjoyed it a lot more than I thought I would! I'll have a review posted up in the next few days.

PUBLICATION DATE: January 31st

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

GIFTED

  

~The Fault in Our Stars by John Green: I haven't read very much of John Green (horrid, I know), and to be honest I wasn't sure I was going to buy this one. But when I saw signed copy of it at Costco of all places for $10.59 I knew I had to get it. My dad bought it for me. And the signature is in green so that made me happy. I will be reviewing this one.

BOUGHT

~The Hidden (The Hollow #3) by Jessica Verday: Let me just say that I did not like the first book in this series very much. I like the idea of using the Sleepy Hollow legend, but there wasn't much of it and I wasn't particularly inclined to her writing style. Luckily, Verday really stepped it up in The Haunted, so I can't wait to see how this series ends now. I may be reviewing this one.

~A Million Suns (Across the Universe #2) by Beth Revis: I got this book for multiple reasons. One is that it's on my Sophomore Reading Challenge list, two is that I'm going to a signing of hers in February (check my signings tab), and three I really liked Across the Universe so naturally I'd buy the sequel. I will be reviewing this one.

~The Future of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler: The main reason I got this book is because I'm going to a signing with these two authors today! Also, the package from B&N just came today, so I was pretty relieved when I saw it sitting outside my door. I've heard great things about it. I will be reviewing this one.

FOR REVIEW

Cover Poison: The Goddess Hunt and Endure

Now I first saw the Endure cover on NetGalley, where Bloomsbury is offering an e-ARC of it. I don't think anyone has gotten approved for it yet, but I'm excited all the same. I've always loved these covers. The cover for The Goddess Hunt is beautiful, and I'm really liking the head-on shot of Kate. It makes sense with the title. Since I've already read Goddess Interrupted, it will interesting to see what Aimee Carter weaves between the two books. Enjoy!

Endure (Need #4) by Carrie Jones

PUBLICATION DATE: May 8th

It’s all-out war (and no-holds-barred romance) in the climactic conclusion to Carrie Jones’s bestselling series.

Zara is at the center of an impending apocalypse. True, she’s successfully rescued Nick from Valhalla, but it simply isn’t enough. Evil pixies are ravaging Bedford, and they need much more than one great warrior; they need an army. Zara isn’t sure what her role is anymore. She’s not just fighting for her friends; she’s also a pixie queen. And to align her team of pixies with the humans she loves will be one of her greatest battles yet. Especially since she can’t even reconcile her growing feelings for her pixie king . . .

 The Goddess Hunt (Goddess Test #1.5) by Aimee Carter

PUBLICATION DATE: May 1st

A Goddess Test e-novella

Angel Burn (Angel #1) by L.A. Weatherly: review

Goodreads rating: 4.04

Hardcover, 449 pages

Published May 24th 2011 by Candlewick Press

URL: http://candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763656526&pix=n

Series: Angel #1

They're out for your soul.
And they don't have heaven in mind...

Willow knows she's different from other girls, and not just because she loves tinkering with cars. Willow has a gift. She can look into the future and know people's dreams and hopes, their sorrows and regrets, just by touching them. she has no idea where this power comes from. But the assassin, Alex, does. Gorgeous, mysterious Alex knows more about Willow than Willow herself does. He knows that her powers link to dark and dangerous forces and that he's one of the few humans left who can fight them. When Alex finds himself falling in love with his sworn enemy, he discovers that nothing is as it seems, least of all good and evil.

4/5

I was a little unsure starting this one. I’d read a few reviews where people mentioned putting the book down after the first few chapters. But after reading it, I couldn’t understand why. It’s like Alex Rider mixed with angels. Evil angels, by the way. I’m always interested in how an author spins angel books. There’s so many about angels being good, and I loved the fact that here angels were more like demons. They feed off of humans because their own world is slowly deteriorating. Also the thing I really liked about this one is that there aren’t a lot of half-angel-half-human beings walking around. As far as we know, it’s just Willow. And Alex, an AK (Angel Killer) CIA teenager, has been contracted to kill her. The problem: Willow doesn’t have a halo, the heart of an angel. So what can Alex do but follow her to figure out what the heck she is.

I really enjoyed the whole road trip idea. Okay maybe road trip isn’t the right word, but I can totally see Willow and Alex’s escape from the bad angels as an awesome movie plot. What girl wouldn’t want to go on a cross-country trip with a hot badass spy? Yeah, I thought so. It was interesting to me how Willow began to accept and even love the angel part of her when Alex decided he could do those things too. In the beginning, Alex pretty much hates anything to do with angels because they killed his family off one by one. That’s why he’s so cold to Willow at first, because even though half of her is human, she still has that half of her that’s the monster that killed everyone he’s ever loved.

I think the only thing here that sort of threw me off was how quickly they were basically saying “I love you.” In a way, I understand it. They’ve been through a lot together, but I don’t understand why they’re so attracted to each other to the point that by the end of the book they’re already saying “I love you” out loud to each other. Before that though, there were pages upon pages of scandalous sexual tension, and I knew they were eventually going to get together, but I love watching people get past their differences to realize how they feel about each other.

An interesting read, and if you’re into angel books or like to see angels as the bad guys instead of the good guys, then I recommend this one. It’s filled with spy adventure, a few slow parts with sexual tension, but overall a very enjoyable book.

Wings of the Wicked (Angelfire #2) by Courtney Allison Moulton: review

Goodreads rating: 4.48

528 pages (ARC edition)

Expected publication: January 31st 2012 by HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Books

Series: Angelfire #2
Source: Won ARC, Signed

Life as the Preliator is harder than Ellie ever imagined.
Balancing real life with the responsibility of being Heaven’s warrior is a challenge for Ellie. Her relationship with Will has become all business, though they both long for each other. And now that the secret of who she really is has come out, so have Hell’s strongest reapers. Grown bold and more vicious, the demonic threaten her in the light of day and stalk her in the night.

She’s been warned.
Cadan, a demonic reaper, comes to her with information about Bastian’s new plan to destroy Ellie’s soul and use an ancient relic to wake all the souls of the damned and unleash them upon humanity. As she fights to stay ahead of Bastian’s schemes , the revelations about those closest to her awaken a dark power within Ellie that threatens to destroy everything—including herself.

She’ll be betrayed.
Treachery comes even from those whom she loves, and Ellie is broken by the deaths of those who stood beside her in this Heavenly war. Still, she must find a way to save the world, herself, and her love for Will. If she fails, there will be hell to pay.  

If you haven’t started this series, there’s something seriously wrong with you. It’s one of my favorite series, and Wings of the Wicked is already on my list for my favorites of 2012.

I have been in love with this series since the beginning, and I’ve always been surprised by how many people haven’t read it. I actually got to meet the author in Lansing, MI on one of the Dark Days tour stops last summer. It wasn’t actually her tour stop, but since she lives so close to the bookstore, she and Aimee Carter (The Goddess Test) decided to stop by. It’s one of the best signings I’ve ever been to. But, back to the book. Angelfire really blew me away. Not much is written about Reapers and I felt like I could really connect with Ellie. And then of course there’s Will, who is as swoonworthy as they come. We get a lot of these two in Wings of the Wicked.

I won my copy of this book from the author by writing a story, starring a new vir reaper, and my story was one of the three that she picked. Needless to say, I can’t remember the last time I was so excited about getting a book. I feel like I have been waiting forever for it, and it was all I’d hoped it’d be and more. Moulton really knows how to break your heart, lovingly stitch it back together, and then shred it again. And believe me when I say that. My heart physically ached for Ellie. She fights for so much and gets little in return. Not everyone in Wings of the Wicked survives, and there are even a few unlikely heroes. Ellie nearly loses everything she’s ever known, and from that ending, it’s about to get worse.

Speaking of the ending, it’s totally unfair and I demand a rewrite! She can’t honestly expect us to wait for the next book to see what happens. It’s not even titled for god’s sake! After I finished this one, I stared at it with a mix of anger and disbelief, placed it carefully back on my shelf, and fought the urge to punch a wall. I can't wait for the final (?) book in the series!!

Follow Friday (14)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

 

Question of the Week: What's the craziest thing you've ever done to get your hands on any particular book?

Hmm interesting question... I guess the craziest thing I've done to get a book is to totally heckle the author that I won it from. I won an ARC of Wings of the Wicked (the second book in the Angelfire series) by Courtney Allison Moulton, and I was so excited that I refused to stop bothering her about it. She may hate me now, but I love her books and I just wanted to read this amazing sequel as soon as possible. Totally worth it. Also, I bought 2 copies of Clockwork Prince (yes, only 2), so that I could get the Barnes & Noble edition with the letter from Will to Tessa, and a signed copy from Books of Wonder.

Now the things I've done to get signed books are different. I've driven miles upon miles through the worst L.A. traffic to go to book signings. I even asked my Fiction teacher to pick up a signed book for me because I couldn't make it the launch party (Legend by Marie Lu) and she lived near the bookstore. The farthest I've driven for a signature is over 2 1/2 hours away to the launch party for Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me. I met a few people from other signings I'd been to and there was Shatter Me cake, so definitely worth it. I also found a Dark Days tour stop in Lansing, MI when I was out there visiting family last summer. Again, so worth it to go. That was the best signing I've been to yet, because I got to have dinner with a few Midwest bloggers, Courtney Allison Moulton, Veronica Roth, Josephine Angelini, Aimee Carter, Aprilynne Pike, and Ellen Schreiber. It was insane to get to meet these authors whose books I love, and to really get to know them.

Hallowed (Unearthly #2) by Cynthia Hand: review

Goodreads rating: 4.42

Hardcover, 416 pages

Publication: January 17th 2012

Series: Unearthly #2

Characters: Clara Gardner, Jeffrey Gardner, Christian Prescott, Tucker Avery

For months part-angel Clara Gardner trained to face the raging forest fire from her visions and rescue the alluring and mysterious Christian Prescott from the blaze. But nothing could prepare her for the fateful decisions she would be forced to make that day, or the startling revelation that her purpose—the task she was put on earth to accomplish—is not as straightforward as she thought. 

Now, torn between her increasingly complicated feelings for Christian and her love for her boyfriend, Tucker, Clara struggles to make sense of what she was supposed to do the day of the fire. And, as she is drawn further into the world of part angels and the growing conflict between White Wings and Black Wings, Clara learns of the terrifying new reality that she must face: Someone close to her will die in a matter of months. With her future uncertain, the only thing Clara knows for sure is that the fire was just the beginning.

4.5/5

Recommendation: High, only if you've read Unearthly

I will be the first to admit that I gave Unearthly 4 stars because I felt like Clara had picked the wrong guy. I honestly skipped a good chunk of the book because I didn’t want to hear about Clara and Tucker. I wanted to hear about Clara and Christian. And boy, I got what I wanted in this one. Besides the Black Wings, the relationship between these three are my main focus. It’s the best for Tucker if he just stays away from Clara. I wish I could tell him.

I liked this one much better than Unearthly, solely for the reason stated above. But there was also a lot more mystery. We find out more about what and who Clara is. I was shocked at a few things, and there’s more heartache in this one book than I’ve read in a while. I didn’t cry, but there was definitely an ache in my heart. I think if I had a better relationship with my own mother, I’d feel differently. You’ll just have to read to find out.

I’m interested to see where this series is going. It’s become a lot about the love triangle. Despite this destiny that Clara seems to have, she still yearns for Tucker, who she knows she’s endangering by just being with him. Christian makes her stronger, and if you want my opinion Tucker just makes her weak. She can’t be her true self and her full glory with him, because he’s just a human and glory scares humans. It doesn’t scare Nephilim though, like Christian per say.

Hallowed exceeded by expectations. As I said, I wasn’t as into Unearthly as other people seemed to be because I thought Clara picked the wrong guy. Needless to say, Hallowed made me very happy despite the overall sadness of the novel. I can’t wait to see what happens in the third and final (?) Unearthly novel.

2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge

Yes, another challenge, but mostly because I'm going to read these books anyway, so I may as well make it part of a challenge. This challenge is hosted by Evie from Bookish. Here's the info:

Welcome to 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge!!!

We all have those books. We buy them, win them, they're gifted to us.. Then we put them up on a bookshelf and there they stay, collecting dust, waiting for the time when we'll finally decide to pick them up..

Join us on a quest to dust off your TBR Pile and read all the books you've been telling yourself you'll read next time you'll get a chance.. This is your chance! And we've got PRIZES!!! :D

Challenge guidelines: 

1. This challenge will run from Jan 1, 2012 - Dec 31, 2012.
2. As we would like to see quality reviews linked up to our monthly wrap-ups, only bloggers can enter. Sorry about that!
3. Any genre, length or format of book counts, as long as it is a book that's been sitting on your shelf for some time now. Only books released in 2011 and earlier! NO ARCs and 2012 fresh-off-the-press releases allowed!
   
4. You can list your books in advance or just put them in a wrap-up post. If you list them, feel free to change them as the mood takes you.
5. When you sign up in the linky, put the direct link to your post about joining the 2012 TBR PILE Reading Challenge (You need to include the info + host list + challenge button. You can also grab the button code and add it to your sidebar!)
   
6. You can move up levels, but no moving down.
7. Sign-ups will be open until Dec 15, 2012, so feel free to join at any time throughout the year.
8. At the end of each month one of the hosts will post a wrap-up. Every wrap-up will have it's unique theme, a mini-challenge, a giveaway and place for you to link up your reviews from this month. For each review you link up, you will get one entry in a drawing of one book of choice from Book Depository. It's open to INTERNATIONALS. For participating in the mini-challenge you will get +1 entry.
   
9. If you miss a wrap-up post + giveaway, you can link up your reviews next month. Do not, however, try to link up one review twice - we will be checking ;)
10. December is a wrap-up for the whole year. All the book reviews you linked up January-November + the ones you'll link up in December will be entered into a HUGE giveaway - 12 books, 12 winners, INTERNATIONAL. 
11. You don't have to follow all the hosts to join the challenge, but you do have to follow all of us to be entered in giveaways!

Levels:

1-10 - A Firm Handshake
11-20 - A Friendly Hug
21-30 - A Sweet Kiss <-- this will be me, unless I can read more. As it says, you can go up, not down.
31-40 - Love At First Sight
41-50 - Married With Children

Check out my challenge page for all the books I'm planning on reading for this challenge and all my other great challenges. 

In My Mailbox (23)

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi over at The Story Siren, where you create a post of the books you either received in the mail, bought at a bookstore, or borrowed from the library.

NOTE: If you're unfamiliar with how I do things with my IMM, I basically give a little back story to the books I have pictured. Also, if there are ARC's, I'll give a synopsis and date published.

BOUGHT

~Deadly Cool (Deadly Cool #1) by Gemma Halliday: I've been hearing some pretty amazing things about this series, and since it's in paperback I thought I'd give it a try! Sounds like a YA murder-mystery, maybe? I will be reviewing this one.

~Winter's Kiss by Jennifer Echols and Catherine Hapka: I love Jennifer Echol's work, and one of the reasons I bought this is because I like to read one winter-themed contemporary per year. As much as I read paranormal, it's during the winter season that I feel the pull towards contemporary. I may be reviewing this one.

~Dragonswood by Janet Lee Carey: This one just sounded really interesting, and I still have a 50% off at Barnes and Noble, and so I used it! And, really, it was the cover that was calling to me. I may be reviewing this one.

~Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead: I LOVED Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series, and while Sydney wasn't my favorite, I'm interested to see what happens to her. I also hear that some of the hotter male characters from Vampire Academy make an appearance in this one, so that's my motivation. I will be reviewing this one.

GIFTED/WON

So I've been featuring the books pictured below through different IMM's, but now I've just gotten them all for my 21st birthday!

 

From top to bottom:

Grimm's Complete Fairy Tales

Shatter Me (Shatter Me #1) by Tahereh Mafi (signed)

The Iron Queen & The Iron Knight (Iron Fey #3, 4) by Julie Kagawa

Wake (Wake #1) by Lisa McMann

The Maze Runner Trilogy by James Dashner

Frozen (Cold Awakening #1) by Robin Wasserman

Void by Rhiannon Lassiter

Legend (Legend #1) by Marie Lu (signed)

Also from my parents, I got a $25 Amazon gift card! They must love me!

~Tempest (Tempest #1) by Julie Cross: This is actually an audiobook that I won from Tiffany over at For Those About to Read! I have very little experience with audio books, but to be honest, it'll be a good companion for me on those long drives to book signings when I can't get my boyfriend to come. Also, I've really been looking forward to this one. I will be reviewing the paper version of this for certain, and I'll let you know about my progress with the audio book.

FOR REVIEW

A Need So Beautiful (A Need So Beautiful #1) by Suzanne Young: review

Goodreads rating: 3.83

Hardcover, 267 pages

Published June 21st 2011 by Balzer & Bray

ISBN

0062008242 (ISBN13: 9780062008244)

series

A Need So Beautiful #1

  We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

5/5

Recommendation: High

I was surprised by how much I loved this book. I’d heard good things about it and even some raving recommendations from fellow bloggers, but I was still apprehensive. When I entered the Harper Imprint Challenge, I knew this would be my chance to read it. And I am so happy I did. It’s much shorter than most of the books I read, meaning I assumed that it would be lacking somehow. But Young’s writing is exquisite and before I knew it I was ensnared by this mysterious angel book. It was near perfection.

Another setback might have been that it was about angels. All YA readers have read their share of angel books because let’s face it, fallen angels are pretty dang sexy. But this was different. Angels in this book aren’t godlike with all these amazing powers. They’re even more vulnerable than humans, have less time on Earth, and when they leave, no one remembers them. Charlotte has no idea why she gets these sudden painful urges to go to places and eventually save someone. All she knows is that they’re getting worse, and her best friend and her boyfriend are starting to notice. On top of that, her skin is flaking off, revealing a glowing gold layer. It’s pretty weird at this point, but oddly exciting.

That ending! Just unfair. I have the sequel, A Want So Wicked, coming on an ARC Tour, and I’m really excited to see what happens next. I really don’t see how this series can continue, unless there’s another way for Charlotte’s soul to keep a human body. And then there’s Harlin. I fell in love with Harlin, and his reactions were completely justified and understandable, which made it even worse. This book is unforgettable and a very different and amazing take on angels. I can’t wait to see what Young comes up with next for this series.

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins: review

Goodreads rating: 4.21

Hardcover, 338 pages

Published September 29th 2011 by Dutton

Characters: Lola Nolan, Cricket Bell, Calliope Bell

Setting: San Francisco, California (United States)

 Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

 

5/5

 

Stephanie Perkins is one of the few contemporary authors I’ve read that I’ll read again. I don’t know why, contemporary always feels like “one and done” for me, which in a way this “series” is. It’s not exactly a series in the usual sense of the word: there isn’t a bigger story arc spread out over three books involving the same characters that are set on reaching a common goal. It’s a series in the way that three books are interconnected with some of the old characters showing up in the new story, but there’s a completely different plot line. I am in love with that idea.

To be honest, I loved Anna and the French Kiss more than Lola and the Boy Next Door. And I think that’s due to the mystery of Etienne, while Cricket (ha!) was very forthcoming about his feelings for Lola. Also, the setting wasn’t Paris and Lola didn’t have the opportunity to botch up French words, so that took out part of the fun already. On that note, I was ecstatic to have Anna and Etienne there. You always wonder what happens to a couple after the book is over. And hence why I love Stephanie Perkins! She gave us a glimpse into the after of Anna and the French Kiss. And I really enjoyed it.

Don’t get me wrong, I adored this book right to the very end. And you know I went back to read the delicious kissing scenes about a billion times. I also realized reading this book that Perkins makes it very hard for guys to live up to fictional characters. We all want an Etienne, and believe me once you read this one you will be desperate for a Cricket (ha!). I think my “problem” with this one (which really isn’t a problem) is that I didn’t cry. Anna and the French Kiss legitimately made me cry. But not this one. That doesn’t mean though that it wasn’t amazing. Because it was. Stephanie is brilliant and romantic and I have no idea how much she has to be in love with her husband and vice versa to come up with these perfect situations. She is brilliant and I think we are all indebted to her for giving us what most of us will never get in real life. So thank you, Stephanie Perkins.

I also liked the family elements, like Lola's two fathers: her gay uncle and his partner. They love her, take care of her, and are much better parents than her deadbeat ones who she barely ever sees. Dear old Mommy does make an appearance though, something Lola does not like. I also liked the familial issues with Cricket (ha!) and his twin sister Calliope. They all used to be great friends, until the twins decided Lola wasn't their friend anymore and they moved away. And now, they're back. The kicker? Lola used to be in love with Cricket (ha!). But she's with Max now, and he's the one. Or so she keeps telling herself. But we all know the truth: you never forget your first love.

If you haven’t read Anna and the French Kiss or this book (even if you don’t like contemporary) please do. They’re brilliant and witty and beyond funny, while being romantic to the point of insanity.

Follow Friday (13)

Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read.

(anyone else think it's creepy that my 13th Follow Friday is on Friday the 13th of my birthday month? No?)

Question of the Week: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

Hmm well I do love music. I'm kind of particular when it comes to certain genres though. I only like a few select country songs, and I'm even pickier when it comes to rap and hip-hop (any song that's not defiling women and has a good beat is what I shoot for, which is why that list is pretty small). I really like old rock and current rock. I've gone to a lot of concerts for older bands, such as: Journey, Heart, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Billy Idol, Scorpions, Foreigner, Bryan Adams, George Thorogood, Judas Priest, The Eagles, and so many others. Sadly, I have yet to go to a concert of a newer band, but I love: The Foo Fighters, Foster the People (not Pumped Up Kicks anymore, because we all know how overplayed that song is), Mumford and Sons, The Killers, RHCP, Blink-182, The All-American Rejects, Cage the Elephant, Christina Perry, Katy Perry, Coldplay, Death Cab for Cutie, Eminem (may have to do with my Detroit roots, but he's the only rap I listen to "regularly"), Green Day, Kings of Leon, Linkin Park, MUSE, Taylor Swift, and The Wallflowers. A random assortment, but I like what I like. Also, classical music has always been a passion of mine.

Bloodrose (Nightshade #3) by Andrea Cremer: review

Goodreads rating: 3.94

Hardcover, 406 pages

Published January 3rd 2012 by Philomel

Series: Nightshade #3

 

 The Ultimate Sacrifice.

Calla has always welcomed war. But now that the final battle is upon her, there’s more at stake than fighting. There’s saving Ren, even if it incurs Shay’s wrath. There’s keeping Ansel safe, even if he’s been branded a traitor. There’s proving herself as the pack’s alpha, facing unnamable horrors, and ridding the world of the Keepers’ magic once and for all. And then there’s deciding what to do when the war ends. If Calla makes it out alive, that is.

In the final installment of the Nightshade trilogy, New York Times bestselling author Andrea Cremer creates a novel with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat until its final pages. A dynamic end to this breathtaking trilogy.

 

5/5

This final novel in the Nightshade series was one word: heartbreaking. I was admittedly dreading this. I wasn’t sure what I was going to get, because it was the last stand for everything. And I knew it would break my heart, I just didn’t know how. When a series comes to an end, every one of the big issues has to be solved. Like the war between the Searchers and the Keepers. Like the love triangle between Calla, Ren, and Shay.And it was, just not how I was expecting.

This entire book was action-packed, which I absolutely loved. I really felt let down by Wolfsbane, because there was too much talking and not enough action, which was the reason I fell in love with Nightshade. Many of the facts that we were supposed to understand (and Calla didn’t even understand) about the Searchers and the Keepers in Wolfsbane pretty much slipped through my attention, and that’s why the second book was mediocre to me. Luckily, Cremer really stepped it up in Bloodrose. It was less about the history of the enemies and more about finishing this war between them.

I want to say more. I’m DYING to say more. But anything else I say will be totally and completely spoilery. And while I’m glad the series is over and complete, Calla’s messed up world was one I enjoyed living in. Not everyone makes it out alive, but I think the addition of a death of a character is important. Life doesn’t happen without death and pain and heartbreak, and it’s important that authors make that a part of their stories. No one in life gets by unscathed.

Cremer ended it the best way she could. It’s not ideal by any stretch, but if you’ve stuck with the series and enjoy it, the ending will absolutely satisfy.