Destined (Wings #4) by Aprilynne Pike: review

Goodreads rating: 4.42

Hardcover, 320 pages

Expected publication: May 1st 2012 by HarperCollins

Series: Wings #4

Source: ARC tour

Tamani looked at her gravely, and reached up to tuck her hair behind her ear.

He hesitated for an instant, then his hands found the sides of her face, pulling her to him. He didn't kiss her, just held her face close to his, their foreheads resting together, their noses almost touching.

She hated how much it felt like good-bye.

Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful—and deadly—of all, and Klea plans to use her to help conquer and destroy Avalon. But Klea's reach extends far beyond one wild Winter faerie. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares to face what may be Avalon's final days, in the stunning conclusion to the Wings series.

I'll be the first to admit that I didn't really enjoy the first book in the series. I was bored and the writing was okay, and I'm so NOT Team David (really, I don't know anyone that is). But Pike's writing style has truly grown throughout this series, and I'm surprised to say that I'm sad to see it go. This series isn't just about fae magic and the love triangle, but it's also about friendship and trust. It's about doing what's right, even if you end up getting hurt in the process. I may have been unsure about this series at first, but this final installment was non-stop action and I could not stop reading it!

I literally read this behind my backpack during my World Lit class because I had to know what happened. Destined begins right where Illusions leaves off, with finding out that innocent Yuki is in fact an all-powerful winter faerie who's being used by the even more dangerous Klea. But Klea is an outcast from Avalon, and a dang good potion maker. Needless to say, she's got some tricks up her sleeves, but so do Laurel, Tamani, and yes, even David. There was seriously no time to break in this book, whether it was with the romance or with trolls devastating the faery population. And not everyone comes out unscathed; even characters we've grown to love. There are a few twists that I really loved, but in the end, I got what I came for when I continued this series. You can interpret that however you'd like.

So of course I must speak about the romance! Like I said, I have never even considered being Team David. I mean, he's sweet and kind of a total dork (which I definitely get), but comparing him against the broody protective Tamani is just unfair. I think it's obvious that David and Laurel are over (especially after that scene in the cabin from Illusions...mmmmm), so I'll go on speaking as if they are over. I don't think you can quite comprehend how happy I was that she didn't end up with David. I think I would have stopped reading the book and simply sent it to the next reader because that would have been it for me. While I ended up caring about what happened to Avalon by the end, I may not have gotten to that point if Laurel was obviously going to end up with David. Luckily, Chelsea made a sort of move and squashed that. As a side note, the letter at the very end is so heartbreaking. As much as I knew David was never right for Laurel, I did fall in love with him a little and that letter made my heart ache.

If you're considering whether or not to read the final book in this series, you won't be disappointed. I'll hopefully be meeting Aprilynne again (this will be the 3rd time) some time in July with Veronica Roth, and I can't wait to tell her how much I loved this book!

Survival Blog Tour Stop: Review of Survival (The Guards of Vesturon #1) by AM Hargrove + Giveaway

I almost freaked out because when I looked at the tour schedule, I was scheduled for the 27th (I have an actual planner along with my phone now so hopefully this won't happen), but I fished through my e-mails and saw that I changed it to the 29th. Anyway, here we go!

Goodreads rating: 3.43

Kindle Edition

Published November 15th 2011 by Smashwords

Series: The Guardians of Vesturon #1

"Maybe I was caught between the two worlds. I was having serious trouble distinguishing fantasy from reality."

While on a backpacking trip in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, nineteen-year-old Maddie Pearce finds her world has been thrown into a vortex and is madly spinning toward the impossible. Abducted by a mad psychopath, Maddie narrowly escapes with her life. But that is only the beginning. Her mysterious rescuer introduces her to a world that Maddie has difficulty accepting as reality. Will this strikingly gorgeous stranger be the key to her future or will she return to her mundane world, scarred from her experience? Follow Maddie as she is forced to make difficult decisions that carry her to mysterious places.  

Okay, so, I'll begin with the good:

I love the premise. I'm starting to write a book about these kind of supernatural beings myself (in a completely different way, but still), and it was a mystery as to who these "people" were. I actually wasn't expecting them to be what they were (it's one of the last things you would expect), and so props for that. And while I thought the romance between Maddie and Rayn went a little too fast, there were a few moments where I definitely found my cheeks flushing. And all of these brothers sound sexy. I wonder if there will end up being a love triangle between Maddie, Rayn, and the other brother whose name also starts with an R that I can't remember. There were even times when I was turning the digital pages to find out what happened next.

And now... the bad:

It didn't flow quite right. We would read a scene from Maddie's POV and then read that same scene again (with a little extra) from Rayn's POV. It was really annoying and it almost felt like she was just trying to fill pages. But the first thing I would do to make this book flow a little better is change the beginning. I would have her in the killer's clutches to start off with and then flashing back to her life a few months before. And the other issue that I had with this one that was non-romance related was that she gets paralyzed from falling off a cliff and she learns to cope with it. Then, she agrees to go with Rayn to get it completely fixed and she doesn't even care that she could walk again. When something so precious like the ability to use your legs is taken from you when you've had 19 years with their use, and then to get that ability back would be the most amazing thing. Yet, she barely even cares. Not sure why, but this was one of the things that made me most angry about this book. Oh, and the dialogue was terrible; honestly, no one talks that way in real life.

The rest of my complaints are part of the romance. A minor surface thing that was only slightly agitating was how Rayn called Maddie "his female". Now I'm not a hardcore feminist, but if my boyfriend said that to me, that would not be okay. Yet, somehow, Maddie doesn't seem to care. I'm not sure if love has blinded her or if she gets off on being labeled as someone's female. Sorry, I'm trying hard not to get ranty here... This book also has a main problem that I actually find in a lot of YA books lately, and it's that they professed their love for each other just past the halfway point of the book, and you know how I feel about that. Lastly, there was this big scene where Rayn's father is making him leave to go back home, and he and Maddie may never see each other again, and they're making jokes the whole time before he leaves. It was so anticlimactic I wanted to pull my hair out!

Okay, enough ranting. It's not that this is a bad book per say, but you can just tell when books are self-published. There were so many times where I thought: "this is what editors are for, this is what editors are for". I may continue this series if I see that the second one gets higher praise. It's a wonderful idea and I wish I could have liked the book more, but it was difficult to get through at times.

And now, for the giveaway! You can actually read this book for FREE right now, so if you think you'll give this series a try, download Survival and COMMENT here to have a chance to win the next book in the series, Resurrection. Just comment and leave your name and e-mail so that I can contact you.

In My Mailbox (36)

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

~Where She Went (If I Stay #2) by Gayle Forman: I bought this at Children's Book World for the signing (the recap is in progress as we speak) and got it signed, along with my paperback copy of If I Stay. I'm actually pretty excited to read this. I will be reviewing this one.

~The Name of the Star (Shades of London #1) by Maureen Johnson: I feel so bad; I've only read one book by her and it was a compilation with Lauren Myracle and John Green. And I've heard mixed reviews of this book, but I knew I'd end up getting it eventually, so why not buy it where I can get it signed! My recap of the LA Times Festival of Books (where I met Maureen) is also on its way. I will be reviewing this one.

WON

~Bitterblue (Graceling Realm #3) by Kristin Cashore: I actually ended up winning this from by besty, Anna at Literary Exploration. And I'm really glad I don't have to spend money on this, because she didn't like it, and this coming from someone who liked Graceling, while I did not. Oh well, I'll get to it eventually! I will be reviewing this one.

FOR REVIEW

~Fated (The Soul Seekers #1) by Alyson Noel: If you didn't know before, Noel's Immortals series kind of started going down the drain for me slowly because there were just so many books and I began to lose interest. Luckily, I believe this series only has four books and I really love the premise. I received this for a blog tour so I'm really excited to be a part of that!

RELEASE DATE: May 22

The first book in a magnificent new series about a girl who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead by #1 New York Times bestselling author Alyson Noël.

Lately strange things have been happening to Daire Santos. Animals follow her, crows mock her, and glowing people appear out of nowhere. Worried that Daire is having a nervous breakdown, her mother packs her off to stay in the dusty plains of Enchantment, New Mexico with a grandmother she’s never met.

There she crosses paths with Dace, a gorgeous guy with unearthly blue eyes who she’s encountered before...but only in her dreams. And she’ll get to know her grandmother—a woman who recognizes Daire’s bizarre episodes for what they are. A call to her true destiny as a Soul Seeker, one who can navigate between the worlds of the living and the dead. Her grandmother immediately begins teaching her to harness her powers—but it’s an art that must be mastered quickly. Because Dace’s brother is an evil shape-shifter who’s out to steal her powers. Now Daire must embrace her fate as a Soul Seeker and find out if Dace is one guy she’s meant to be with...or if he’s allied with the enemy she’s destined to destroy.

~Endure (Need #4) by Carrie Jones: I'm not as sad to see this series go as much as I thought I would. I love all the characters, but Jones' writing is really annoying to me. I can't wait to see what happens though!

RELEASE DATE: May 8

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 . . .

Unexpected turns, surprising revelations, and one utterly satisfying romantic finale make Endure a thrilling end to this series of bestsellers.

~Tempest Unleashed (Tempest #2) by Tracey Deebs: I still have to read the first one in the series, but I love these covers and I've been interested by these books for some time. I love reading good mermaid books, so hopefully this is a good series to get into.

RELEASE DATE: June 5

Tempest Maguire is happy with her decision to embrace her mermaid nature and live among her mother’s clan within the ocean’s depths. Even though training to one day ascend the throne for the aging mermaid queen is rigorous, she finds refuge in the arms of Kona, the selkie who first opened her up to her mermaid side. But when word comes that one of her brothers has been gravely injured on land, Tempest immediately rushes to his side—which also brings her back to her old flame, Mark. And in her absence, a deadly battle begins raging at the hands of Tempest’s old nemesis, the sea witch Tiamat. As the dangerous war erupts, Tempest’s two loves—Kona and Mark, sea and land—will collide for the first time, both to protect her and to force her to choose.

~Transcendence by C.J. Omolulo: I really love the premise of this one. There are so many awesome books coming out this year, I can't wait!

RELEASE DATE: June 5

Love isn’t the only emotion to survive death . . .

When a visit to the Tower of London triggers an overwhelmingly real vision of a beheading that occurred centuries before, Cole Ryan fears she is losing her mind. A mysterious boy, Griffon Hall, comes to her aid, but the intensity of their immediate connection seems to open the floodgate of memories even wider.

As their feelings grow, Griffon reveals their common bond as members of the Akhet—an elite group of people who can remember past lives and use their collected wisdom for the good of the world. But not all Akhet are altruistic, and a rogue is after Cole to avenge their shared past. Now in extreme danger, Cole must piece together clues from many lifetimes. What she finds could ruin her chance at a future with Griffon, but risking his love may be the only way to save them both.

Full of danger, romance, and intrigue, Transcendence breathes new life into a perpetually fascinating question: What would you do with another life to live? 

 That's all I got in my mailbox this week? What did you all get? Let me know in the comments!

Q&A with Aimee Carter, author of Goddess Interrupted + Giveaway

I'm sure you all have heard of The Goddess Test books by Aimee Carter. I finished the second book in a couple days during winter break and loved it! It's so much better than the first one. Here's my review of Goddess Interrupted. Want to know more about The Goddess Test series? Well here's an awesome Q&A with the author, Aimee Carter. Enjoy!

Q&A With Aimée Carter, Author of the Goddess Test Series

How familiar were you with Greek myths and folklore before writing the Goddess Test series?  Was a lot of research required?

 I first fell in love with Greek mythology when I was a kid learning how to read, and my infatuation only grew from there. I’ve studied various kinds of mythology for years, sometimes for class and always for fun, but even then I put a great deal of research into the Goddess Test series. Mostly as a refresher to make sure I was getting my facts right, but I also researched the various myths looking for ways to tie the plots and characters together in unexpected ways.

Was Goddess Interrupted any easier or harder to write than the first book in the series, The Goddess Test?

It was both easier and harder, in a strange way. I rewrote The Goddess Test multiple times, and I’ve never edited a book more heavily in my life. Goddess Interrupted did require some editing, of course, but it was much easier.

However, the pressure to deliver a sequel worthy of the series made the writing process for Goddess Interrupted more difficult than I’d anticipated. There’s something called the “sophomore slump”, where sequels or second books generally don’t quite match up to the second, and I wanted to avoid that at all cost. So that added a lot of stress, but in the end, I was very happy with the results.

You give the gods and goddesses in the series “ordinary names” – Zeus is named Walter, Aphrodite goes by Ava, Hermes is named James.  Why did you do that and do the more contemporary names have any significance?

This was something I went back and forth on multiple times. Initially the characters Kate encounters weren’t council members at all – I changed that very, very quickly though. By the second draft, I had a place for each of the Olympians, and I did some heavy rewriting to replace my first draft characters with the gods. I wanted to find a way to keep their names the same, but since they’re supposed to live among us in secret in the modern world, it didn’t really make sense. How many men named Zeus do you know, or women called Aphrodite? On top of that, keeping the council’s identities secret was incredibly important to the plot. So eventually I decided they would have changed their names when Western civilization stopped worshipping them as gods, allowing them to live freely among us.

I did choose each name for what it means, some more than others – Walter, for instance, means “army leader”, while James means “supplanter”. The exception is Calliope, which in the story was chosen by her counterpart for its Greek roots. The reason the gods changed their names – and why Artemis didn’t wind up with the name Diana – is explained throughout the series, but you get to actually see this happen in The Goddess Legacy (July 31).

Goddess Interrupted begins with the main character Kate Winters adjusting to her new life as an immortal.  Given Kate’s innate strength and stubbornness, was it difficult to switch gears to portray her as a bit more vulnerable and unsure of herself in her new role as goddess AND wife?

Not so much, to be honest – her progression felt natural to me. While Kate is very tough in certain ways, she’s extremely vulnerable as well. She’s emotionally dependent on the people around her (her mother in the first book, Henry in the second), and that in and of itself carves the path she takes in the sequel. She’s spent six months with Henry, falling in love with him and forming a relationship she thinks is going to last for eternity. But Henry is battling his own demons and isn’t ready to be the person she needs him to be, and because Kate is so stubborn, she has a hard time coming to terms with that. In the sequel, Kate really is her own worst enemy emotionally – her entire world has changed, after all, and that’s a lot for anyone to take – but it’s all part of her development into a goddess and queen.

Kate finds herself trying to work through her rather complicated relationship with James, as well as her relationship with her new husband, Henry (Hades).  Neither seems to be black and white, but rather varying shades of gray.   Were any of Kate’s feelings or situations based on any relationship struggles you’ve been through?

Not personally, no, but I did try to make Kate’s relationships with the people in her life as realistic as possible. She isn’t perfect, and neither are they, and that’s something they all have to work through at varying points in the series. None of the relationships in the books are based off of specific experiences I’ve been through though.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?  Least favorite?

Outlining is by far my favorite part of the process. I love the idea stage, where anything’s possible, and it’s such a shiny place. All of that comes crashing down when I write the first draft though, which is the hardest part for me. I tend to get mentally exhausted about two thirds to three quarters of the way into the manuscript, and it’s always a struggle for me to push through it, especially if I’m on a deadline. And inevitably there are a ton of problems I didn’t notice in the outline stage that have to be fixed for the story to work. I’m a perfectionist, so in order for me to continue writing the story, everything I’ve already written has to make sense.

Do you have a favorite quote or line from a poem or book?

I love so many quotes that I couldn’t possibly pick a favorite.

How did you get your first publishing deal and how did that feel?

My agent, Rosemary Stimola, sent the manuscript out to various publishers, and after a long submission process, Harlequin TEEN offered to publish it! I was stunned at first, but that quickly gave way to giddiness. It was an incredible feeling to know I’d be published, and to this day, I still can’t quite believe it.

When is the next book in the series due out? Any hints on what will happen in book 3?

Goddess Interrupted, the sequel to The Goddess Test, came out in late March. The next book in the series, The Goddess Legacy, will be out July 31. It’s a collection of five novellas told in the perspectives of Calliope, Ava, Persephone, James, and Henry, and together they form one story.

The third book in the series, The Goddess Inheritance, is currently scheduled to be released in March 2013. Unfortunately I can’t say too much about it, but the challenges that Kate will face are pretty clear by the end of the sequel!

After the huge success of The Goddess Test, Goddess Interrupted is on many, many TBR lists for this summer.  What’s on your TBR list?

I’m so excited for a slew of books coming out – The Girl in the Clockwork Collar, Grave Mercy, The Selection, The Serpent’s Shadow, Philippa Gregory’s YA novel, and a ton of others. I never have as much time to read as I want, but I’m definitely making time for all of those and more!

Yearbook Superlatives! If you went to high school with the Greek gods and goddesses, who would you vote for?

·         Most likely to succeed? - Hera

·         Class clown? - Hermes

·         Nicest? – Demeter or Hephaestus

·         Best dressed? - Aphrodite

·         Best dancer? - Apollo

·         Most school spirit? - Iris

·         Most likely to attend summer school? - Ares

·         Teachers pet? - Athena

Also, check out the book trailer for Goddess Interrupted!!

Want to purchase this book? Check out these vendors:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

 Harlequin

Indiebound

     

     I love these answers! Especially the high school voting thing. And now, for the giveaway! Win one paperback copy of Goddess Interrupted, the second book in The Goddess Test series. This giveaway is US/Canada only (sorry international followers) and ends 5/19. Good luck!

<center><a border="0" href="http://nicoleyalover.blogspot.com/2012/04/q-with-aimee-carter-author-of-goddess.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x479/nicoleyalover/interruptedgiveaway.jpg/></a></center>

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Until Next Time Blog Tour Stop: Review of Until Next Time (The Angel Chronicles #1) by Amy Lignor

Goodreads rating: 3.76

ebook, 1st Edtion, 255 pages

Published February 1st 2012 by Tribute Books

Series: The Angel Chronicles #1 

Source: Blog tour

 How does a girl choose between the one who steals her heart and the one who owns her soul?

Matt and Emily were created for a specific job. Raised and trained as the ultimate angel/warrior team, they are sent down to save, defend, judge and forgive, depending on the 'life' they've been assigned. What they don't realize is that the power of human emotions, such as love, anger, passion and fear can take over even the best of souls, causing them to make mistakes and follow paths that lead to confusion and heartache.

When the reason for their training is finally revealed, the angel/warrior team find themselves thrust into a world they know nothing about. Matt takes over the life of Daniel, a young man with a great deal of baggage. Emily becomes Liz, a girl living in a remote village who relies on nothing more than her own strength to survive. A violent storm erupts one night, and framed in the window of Liz's establishment is a frightening face. Let in by the soul of a Good Samaritan, the two visitors bring with them a past full of secrets that could literally change an angel's path and a warrior's plans.

From murder to redemption, this angel/warrior team must find a way to keep the faith they have in each other in a world that's ripping them apart.

I really enjoyed the idea, and the fact that a lot of it took place in Ireland was awesome (I'm half Irish and have been dying to go there). But I find when I read these Indie books that the romance is all in. What I mean is: the main characters are both madly in love with each other within the first meeting. And it's never explained why. I guess the best excuse is that they're simply soul mates (which was why it wasn't a big deal for me in this one, as that was the explanation), but I'm still so skeptical when they fall so quickly in love. Although, I did love the tete-a-tete between the four main "earth" characters. Liz (aka Emily) was a great heroine and she didn't always need Jason (the love interest) or Daniel (aka Matt, it's so obvious) to always bail her out. She took charge on earth, which is why it annoyed me when Emily lost so much drive when she got back up to heaven. I guess it makes sense, but she completely changed in the blink of an eye.

The only characters that really bothered me were the saints in heaven. Their voices sounded slightly awkward and to be honest I usually skipped through the parts in heaven to get back to earth. That's where all the action was. Again, it was an interesting concept. I think one of my issues with this (and one I've been finding a lot lately in these Indie books I do for blog tours) is the religious aspect. There are a lot of angel books out there that don't preach about believing in god, and I think they're better for it. This book wasn't exactly preachy, because she does question her faith in god some times but I wasn't prepared for how much religion was actually used in this book. Another thing that turns me off to a book is dialogue. With this book, it was a lot of hit and miss. Some things were funny, some weren't, some phrases worked and some didn't.

I'll probably continue with this series, only because I want to see Emily fall in love again with not-Matt (who knows what his name will be in the future - or past). They were some tender moments between her and Jason that I really enjoyed. If you're looking for a more religious-based angel book, you should definitely give this one a try!

Blogger Confessions (1)

Hi everyone! This is my first time doing the new meme, Blogger Confessions. Most people do a variation of these kind of posts, and it's mostly to give other book bloggers insight to certain aspects of the "job". Today is more about any book reviewer, not specifically only about book bloggers.

When you're "one of those people"

Do you ever read a book and think that is was mediocre or didn't like it at all, but pretty much everyone LOVED it and can't stop praising it? I hate being one of those people. You can't find anyone to vent about it, because they're all like, "it was the best book ever and there was nothing wrong with it and there must be something wrong with you!" Yeah, there was a lot wrong with it, not me. The big problem is that it doesn't live up to my expectations and the insane hype, so I end up being let down. And because everyone loves it, I almost don't feel right about posting a bad review. To bring my point across, I'm going to put myself out there and tell you what books I did not like that everyone seemed to love.

Delirium by Lauren Oliver

This is one of the worst ones for me with hearing how great it was. I did not like it. I read it last summer just before my blog got started and I still haven't posted my review on it here from Goodreads. When I first started blogging I was afraid to write any bad reviews, because then people might think I'm a negative person and therefore not follow my blog. Her first novel, Before I Fall was amazing and I wanted to read it as soon as I finished, but I felt like with Delirium that she was trying too hard.

Graceling by Kristin Cashore

There isn't a lot of fantasy out there, and maybe if I read this now I would like it more, but this is one of the first young adult books I've read, and the fact that this strong heroine gave up her virginity in the first book (I assumed it was a normal series) was just too weird for me. Fire, the companion book to this one, was phenomenal to me because again there was a strong heroine but the romance was different. It's another reason I'm not excited for Bitterblue, since it's the sequel to Graceling.

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

I read this right after reading Divergent by Veronica Roth. I don't know if this had something to do with me not liking it, but I just could not get into it. I didn't like Helen. She was bland and boring and annoying and I didn't really buy her love story with Lucas. I admit that I love Greek mythology (although it's so overdone), and the story of Helen and Paris is a beautiful and heartbreaking story, but I just wasn't invested in the story. Luckily, Dreamless was better, and even Angelini said herself when I met her that she thought Dreamless was better as well. Although, I did put my review of this one up on my blog.

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Everyone loves Julie Kagawa. And I do now too. But when I read the first book in the Iron Fey series, I so did not like it and I couldn't understand why everyone thought it was totally amazing. I love faery books, especially when they're well done, but this first one was not as good as I'd hoped it'd be. Luckily, Kagawa's writing got better. I may even reread the series some time if I'm able to find time. But this first one was a pretty bog disappointment for me.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

A lot of people picked this one for their best book of last year. And while I didn't dislike it, I had this preconceived notion of awesomeness, and I was really let down. Her writing is brilliant and she is super sweet and funny and a little quirky. There was so much intrigue and romance, but that wasn't the problem. My main issue with this book was the going back in time part. I felt like it was too jolting. I was so invested in the first part of the story, and then like a third of the book is a flashback. While I enjoyed it, I couldn't wait to get back to the present, but by that time, I had kind of lost interest. Another review I posted on my blog.

Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

Okay, so this isn't really that big of a letdown. The only letdown of this first book was that, in my mind, Claire did not pick the right guy. I am Team Christian all the way (which is why I absolutely adored Hallowed) and so when she was with Tucker most of the book, it really affected my thoughts of this book. Cynthia is a sweetheart and this is series has definitely gotten better for me, but Unearthly was a disappointment in the love department. But, of course, everyone loved the first one and Tucker as well, so I was in the minority. If I had finished the review, I would have posted it, but it was before my blogging days.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

I will admit that I enjoyed the love story and there was a lot of mystery. But it came to a point where there was too much mystery, and I really had to idea what was going on. It couldn't hold my interest. This one isn't as big of a deal, because I really did enjoy the book, but by the end I really didn't know what had happened. I did post my review of this one, but I'm not sure if I brought up my confusion or not. Some things need time to sink in.

I guess the whole point of this post is don't be afraid to post up a "bad" review of a book just because everyone else out there loves it. People will appreciate your honesty, and while they might not agree with you, they respect your opinion. And if they don't, you don't want them as a blog follower anyway. I'm sure I've chased a few people away with my reviews, but it's worth getting your opinion out there. Publishers and authors, while I'm sure they love 5-star reviews, would rather hear what you really have to say.

Cover Poison/Waiting on Wednesday (20)

Look up! Another new button! 

First up is the cover for the first book in the Iron Fey spinoff series that features Ethan, called The Lost Prince:

And might I say shirtless Ethan is mighty fine! I'm going to have to think of him as a whole new character because I can't imagine this as my little Ethan. Definitely cannot wait for this one! Come quicker October!!

Next is the new cover for the second book in the Mara Dyer series, The Evolution of Mara Dyer:

I love this cover! Although you can already kind of guess what'll happen just by the way they're pulling apart. I've decided to make this book my Waiting on Wednesday as well.

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Breaking the Spine where you feature an upcoming release that you're highly anticipating.

The Evolution of Mara Dyer (Mara Dyer #2) by Michelle Hodkin

RELEASE DATE: October 3rd

Two days after Mara walks into a police station in Miami at the close of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, she is committed for psychiatric treatment for what her parents believe is a mental breakdown. But what seems like a hallucination to everyone else is a chilling reality for Mara. Someone from her past has discovered her strange, disturbing secret and that someone wants her to pay. But she's about to discover that the price is more than she can bear.

Dark and thrilling, suspenseful and passionate, The Evolution of Mara Dyer will have readers breathlessly turning pages to find out what will become of Mara Dyer next.

What do you guys think? Have you read the first in the series? Let me know in the comments!

The Last Echo (The Body Finder #3) by Kimberly Derting

Goodreads: 4.31

Hardcover, 358 pages

Published April 17th 2012 by HarperCollins

Series: The Body Finder #3 

Source: ARC tour

In the end, all that's left is an echo...
Violet kept her morbid ability to sense dead bodies a secret from everyone except her family and her childhood-best-friend-turned-boyfriend, Jay Heaton. That is until forensic psychologist Sara Priest discovered Violet's talent and invited her to use her gift to track down murderers. Now, as she works with an eclectic group of individuals—including mysterious and dangerously attractive Rafe—it's Violet's job to help those who have been murdered by bringing their killers to justice. When Violet discovers the body of a college girl killed by "the girlfriend collector" she is determined to solve the case. But now the serial killer is on the lookout for a new "relationship" and Violet may have caught his eye...

I'm always surprised by how much I enjoy myself with this series. I love these kind of mystery thriller CSI-with-a-twist-of-supernatural YA books. And I actually liked this one better than Desires of the Dead, the second book in the series. Why, you ask? Because of the killer. This killer was by far the creepiest one of the series, and the creepiest villain I've read in YA. It's one thing to know when you're crazy or horrible and continue to be that way, but it's a whole other thing to not know you're crazy so you keep doing what you do.

Derting has a finely-honed skill of perfectly getting inside the killers head and succeeding in freaking her readers out! I don't know if she just reads about serial killers or is besties with one or what, but she is able to be the killer, and that is so creepy. You almost feel bad for this killer. Often these kind of serial killers (AKA "collectors") have had bad childhoods, and it's revealed to us that this is also true for this serial killer. He's trying to copy someone from his past into these girls so that he'll get approval from said person (though this person has no idea that he's a killer). It's insane and intricate and just amazing. Well done, Derting.

Another element that was really brought to light in this one (besides the killer) was the agency that Violet now works for (basically a league of psychics) and how this affects her relationship with Jay and also with Raffe. It's so obvious that there are some weird, but not altogether unpleasant, physical and mental feelings between Violet and Raffe. One of the things I loved about this "love triangle" is that Derting addresses how, although Violet wanted to think that Raffe only wanted to be friends, she finally understood that that's not all he wanted. Finally, a YA heroine not playing ignorant! I'm really interested to see where this triangle is going to go, although I would have liked to see a lot more of Jay. I am so team Jay.

There are so many new elements to this book, and although it's sort of moved from the small-town feeling of the first and even second book, it was done extremely well and not abruptly. Things have been slowly building in this series and I'm on pins and needles! I can't wait to see what kind of killer she comes up with next. Derting is the queen of YA thriller for me.

Building My Bookshelf (12)

 

If you want to know more about this meme, please refer to the tab labeled Building My Bookshelf.

This is a meme I've created here at The Reader's Antidote, which was inspired by the meme Dusty Reads from Giselle at .Xpresso Reads and the meme Books to Pine For from Kristi at The Story Siren. Here's what to do:

~ Feature two books I have on my shelf but haven't read yet. These are likely books that I would want to read if I had more free time.

~Feature two books that are on my Wishlist, one that is already released and another that will be released within the next year.

On my shelf:

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

RELEASE DATE: October 18th, 2011

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

 

The Storyteller by Antonia Michaelis

RELEASE DATE: January 1st, 2012

Anna and Abel couldn’t be more different. They are both seventeen and in their last year of school, but while Anna lives in a nice old town house and comes from a well-to-do family, Abel, the school drug dealer, lives in a big, prisonlike tower block at the edge of town. Anna is afraid of him until she realizes that he is caring for his six-year-old sister on his own. Fascinated, Anna follows the two and listens as Abel tells little Micha the story of a tiny queen assailed by dark forces. It’s a beautiful fairy tale that Anna comes to see has a basis in reality. Abel is in real danger of losing Micha to their abusive father and to his own inability to make ends meet. Anna gradually falls in love with Abel, but when his “enemies” begin to turn up dead, she fears she has fallen for a murderer. Has she?
Award-winning author Antonia Michaelis moves in a bold new direction with her latest novel: a dark, haunting, contemporary story that is part mystery, part romance, and part melodrama.

On my wishlist:

Enclave (Razorland #1) by Ann Aguirre

RELEASE DATE: April 12th, 2011

WELCOME TO THE APOCALYPSE

In Deuce’s world, people earn the right to a name only if they survive their first fifteen years. By that point, each unnamed ‘brat’ has trained into one of three groups–Breeders, Builders, or Hunters, identifiable by the number of scars they bear on their arms. Deuce has wanted to be a Huntress for as long as she can remember.

As a Huntress, her purpose is clear—to brave the dangerous tunnels outside the enclave and bring back meat to feed the group while evading ferocious monsters known as Freaks. She’s worked toward this goal her whole life, and nothing’s going to stop her, not even a beautiful, brooding Hunter named Fade. When the mysterious boy becomes her partner, Deuce’s troubles are just beginning.

Down below, deviation from the rules is punished swiftly and harshly, and Fade doesn’t like following orders. At first Deuce thinks he’s crazy, but as death stalks their sanctuary, and it becomes clear the elders don’t always know best, Deuce wonders if Fade might be telling the truth. Her partner confuses her; she’s never known a boy like him before, as prone to touching her gently as using his knives with feral grace.

As Deuce’s perception shifts, so does the balance in the constant battle for survival. The mindless Freaks, once considered a threat only due to their sheer numbers, show signs of cunning and strategy… but the elders refuse to heed any warnings. Despite imminent disaster, the enclave puts their faith in strictures and sacrifice instead. No matter how she tries, Deuce cannot stem the dark tide that carries her far from the only world she’s ever known.

Hemlock (Hemlock #1) by Kathleen Peacock

RELEASE DATE: May 8th, 2012

 Mackenzie and Amy were best friends. Until Amy was brutally murdered.

Since then, Mac’s life has been turned upside down. She is being haunted by Amy in her dreams, and an extremist group called the Trackers has come to Mac’s hometown of Hemlock to hunt down Amy’s killer: A white werewolf.

Lupine syndrome—also known as the werewolf virus—is on the rise across the country. Many of the infected try to hide their symptoms, but bloodlust is not easy to control.

Wanting desperately to put an end to her nightmares, Mac decides to investigate Amy’s murder herself. She discovers secrets lurking in the shadows of Hemlock, secrets about Amy’s boyfriend, Jason, her good pal Kyle, and especially her late best friend. Mac is thrown into a maelstrom of violence and betrayal that puts her life at risk.

Kathleen Peacock’s thrilling novel is the first in the Hemlock trilogy, a spellbinding urban fantasy series filled with provocative questions about prejudice, trust, lies, and love.

What do you guys think of these? Have you read any of them? Let me know in the comments! 

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini: review

Goodreads rating: 4.40

Hardcover, 487 pages

Expected publication: May 29th 2012 by HarperTeen

Series: Starcrossed #2

Source: ARC Tour 

As the only Scion that can enter Hades at will, Helen descends to the Underworld in search of a way to overcome the Furies and end the cycle of revenge that has cursed the Scions. But she’s running out of time. Each descent weakens her both in mind and spirit. A mysterious stranger might be her only salvation, but the price may be her love for Lucas Delos.

As an unforgettable love triangle emerges, Josephine Angelini’s compelling saga becomes ever more intricate and spellbinding. The eagerly awaited sequel to the internationally bestselling Starcrossed, Dreamless delivers with a huge emotional impact that will leave readers satisfied—and longing for more.

NOTE: I've decided to put my ratings at the bottom of my reviews now. That way, I'm not starting you off with any preconceived notions (although you could just skip down to the bottom and see the rating, but that would not  be cool).

I was kind of surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Just like with Delirium, I'm one of "those people," AKA I didn't like Starcrossed as much as I wanted to but everyone loved it. I'd actually just finished reading Starcrossed right after Divergent, and while these were two totally different books, I wish I would have waited a couple days after the awesomeness that is Divergent or read Starcrossed before it. I didn't feel at all connected with Helen, and she was whiny and annoying and superficial. I didn't get what Lucas saw in her. But Helen was much stronger in Dreamless and I really felt like I connected with her. There was also a lot more at stake and the possibility of a love triangle...

This had much of the same mythology, but really focused this time on the Underworld, and I learned things I hadn't know before. I knew there were other rivers in the Underworld besides the River Styx, but I had no idea what6 they stood for. Angelini did a great job with this. As I said earlier, I felt more connected with Helen this time around, and her feelings in the Underworld always seemed to be amplified. This may have had something to do with Orion... And Ares was super creepy! Apparently he was trapped in the Underworld by the Scions (AKA Halfbloods) and has basically gone crazy. But he isn't the only one after Helen. Some pissed off ancient warrior is out to get her too, and is ordered by some unknown backer to kill her. Because there is a prophecy, and Helen isn't the one it involves.

I did not believe in this triangle. I couldn't see what Helen saw in Orion, and as she herself brought up, they barely knew each other. There are times where she said she could see herself with Orion, and then would later say how much she loved Lucas in gushing detail that greatly overshadowed an love (lust) she could have felt for Orion. I just didn't find myself falling in love with Orion from Helen's point of view, no matter how much of a sweetheart he is. I felt horrible for Lucas and Helen. There was one thing that still nags at me about this series, and that is that in the first book we're told that Lucas and Helen are first cousins, but then a scene later, we're told that they were lied to and the only other person that knows dies. It would have been so much better to have kept it from us, but my heart still ached for them.

This was a great second book compared to the first. Definitely worth the read!

In My Mailbox (35)

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.

GIFTED

~Once (Eve #2) by Anna Carey: When I went to the Spring Into the Future event at Vroman's, I got to hang out with Anna Carey. She was going to raffle off this ARC of Once that she had, but when I said that I'd been trying to get my hands on a copy she just gave it to me and even signed it! A special thanks to Anna for this ARC and just for being awesome. I will be reviewing this one.

RELEASE DATE: July 3rd

Sixteen years have passed since a deadly virus wiped out most of the Earth’s population. After learning of the terrifying part she and her classmates were fated to play in the rebuilding of New America, eighteen-year-old Eve fled to the wilds and Califia, a haven for women determined to live outside the oppressive rule of the king of New America. However, her freedom came at a price: she was forced to leave Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. Eve quickly learns that Califia may not be as safe as it seems and soon finds herself in the City of Sand and the palace of the king. There she uncovers the real reason he was so intent on her capture, and the unbelievable role he intends her to fill. When she is finally reunited with Caleb, they will enact a plan as daring as it is dangerous. But will Eve once again risk everything—her freedom, her life—for love?

Brimming with danger and star-crossed romance, and featuring a vivid dystopian landscape, this electrifying follow-up to Eve, which bestselling author Lauren Kate called “a gripping, unforgettable adventure—and a fresh look at what it means to love” is sure to appeal to fans who crave the high-stakes adventure of The Hunger Games and the irresistible love story of Romeo and Juliet.

ARC TOUR

~Destined (Wings #4) by Aprilynne Pike: I have been so excited to read the final book in the Wings series. These books have gotten progressively better, and with the way Illusions left off, I can't wait! If you haven't started this series, you should. I will be reviewing this one.

RELEASE DATE: May 1st

Laurel now knows the truth: Yuki is a rare Winter faerie, the most powerful—and deadly—of all, and she is working with Klea to conquer and destroy Avalon. With Tamani, David, and Chelsea by her side, Laurel prepares for a fight she never thought she would have to face.

Filled with heart-pounding action, sweeping romance, and higher stakes at every turn, Destined is the series conclusion that readers have been clamoring for—with a twist that will leave them breathless. 

FOR REVIEW

~Sophie & Carter by Chelsea Fine: This book is so tiny! But it sounds great. I want to thank Karen, who (eventually) sent me the books. She's so cute; she forgot to send them and apologized profusely. Luckily, they just came today! And look, she gave me another copy of both, which means that I'm adding this to the growing giveaway pile. I will be reviewing this one.

~Anew (Archers of Avalon #1) by Chelsea Fine: I've been looking at this book for a while, and was really excited to hear back from Karen when I requested this. It's a hefty book compared to Sophie & Carter, and it's a paranormal romance, so I can't wait to get started. I will be reviewing this one.

That's it for me this week! What did you all get in your mailboxes? Let me know in the comments!

The Hunted Blog Tour Stop: Interview with the Author, Kristy Berridge

This is my second stop of this tour (you can find my review of The Hunted here), and I'm happy to feature the author of this awesome book, Kristy Berridge!
 

How did you come up with the idea for The Hunted?

I set myself a personal challenge about five years ago to write a vampire story that encompassed different types of supernatural characters, all of which didn’t apologize for who and what they were. I personally get sick of reading about tortured men and helpless heroines, so hopefully with The Hunted series I’ve achieved exactly what I set out to do – write something original and Moorish.

Did you have any issues or road blocks when you were writing Hunted?

The Hunted was a massive work in progress. It has been re-written and edited quite a few times, but once I figured out exactly where I wanted the series to end and the sort of journey I wanted the characters to take, the writing progressed quite quickly. I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of reading/writing about Elena, William, Lucas, and … Sebastian.

How many books are in The Hunted series and why did you decide to have this number for the series?

There are five books in The Hunted series. The second novel is called ‘The Damned’, due for release in the next few months. The third novel is called ‘The Aligned’, the forth ‘The Condemned’, and the fifth and final book is called ‘The Delivered’. I didn’t specifically set out to write five books, I just had a lot of depth within the plot that required further exploration. I wanted to keep my readers guessing all the way through the series, not just about the protagonist, but the supporting characters and the roles you may or may not assume they play …

When is book two coming out and what is it's title?

The Damned - it should be June/July, but don’t hold it against me if the editing takes a little more time. You can’t rush the spell check and grammar, we always miss something!!!!

I recently traveled to Cairns this last summer. Is there a reason you decided to set the book there, besides the fact that you're from Australia?

I read a lot of books and they are generally always set in the major capital cities well known and easily pictured by those who’ve visited or lived there. I figured, why not write about my home town? Why not assemble a thickening plot about my protagonist’s existence in this seemingly unsuspecting place and her reasons for constantly returning throughout the series despite her ventures overseas? The answer is simply … why not?

What kind of research did you have to do for The Hunted?

I didn’t have to do too much research for the first book as it is based in Cairns, Australia – a place I’m intimately familiar with. However, nearing thirty when I started writing the series, my much younger brothers quickly reminded me that I’m so not cool and that my choice of music references and sarcasm needed effort.

What's your experience with getting your novel published?

Writing a novel is easy, publishing is hard! I kid you not, I wrote The Hunted in six months and ploughed through the rest of the series in the following years. A part of me figured I’d submit my manuscript and someone would throw a briefcase of money at me. Um … yeah.
Well, truth be told, I got lucky. I did submit my manuscript to about twenty literary agents. I was knocked back by nearly all of them – too many authors currently on the books or something along those lines. Finally one of the agents contacted me, said she worked directly with a publishing house that was very interested in my novel. I sent it off to them for a manuscript assessment and it passed with flying colours. They signed me up straight away with the hopes of publishing all five of the novels within the next few years.

What are you working on now?

Right now I’m trying to get The Damned fully edited and ready for publication. After that, I’m planning on going back through book four and five and refine, refine, refine. Then if I’m lucky I can start working on the next series, possibly even a spin off.

What are your favorite books of 2012 so far?

Okay, I have no idea what books are newly released. I suck like that. But, I have been mad keen on a few Kindle reads at the moment by indie authors. I’ve enjoyed ‘Frost Arch’ by Kate Bloomfied and Ember by a friend of mine, Madison Daniel. Ooh and Richelle Mead’s ‘Bloodlines’ – I love pretty much anything she writes.

Thanks so much for the interview Kristy! You guys should definitely check this book out. It's totally worth it!