Hope everyone had a wonderful and blessed Christmas Day yesterday. While I have not been blogging much lately, I have a good reason. Our family of four is now a family of five with Sophia Rachel joining her big brothers Noah and Jonah on December 18! Needless to say, she is the best early Christmas present that we could ever ask for!
I have some giveaways to do in the next few days and will start reviewing books again in the next few weeks. I’m looking forward to another happy, healthy and bookish year in 2013!
Welcome to the Gratitude Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. This hop runs from Nov. 15-25. 
For this hop, I’m giving away the first three books in Jennifer Estep’s Mythos Academy series, Touch of Frost, Kiss of Frost and an ARC of Dark Frost. These books are full of mythology and action and since the next book in the series (Crimson Frost) comes out on December 24, this is a great time to get caught up on the series! Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below and good luck. Also, have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday with your loved ones!Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: KTeen/Kensington
Publish Date: May 2013
Genre: Paranormal
Goodreads Summary: With power comes enemies. Lots of them.
Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He’s learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can’t seem to afford any allies.
He’s up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.
Then there’s Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She’s not hostile. She’s bold. Funny. Hot. But she’s got an agenda, too.
With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he’ll have to find someone he can trust…
Why am I waiting on Spirit? The first book (Storm) in this Elemental series was good, the second (Spark) was even better! Seriously guys, if you have not read these books, you have to get them! Love this series and can’t wait to read the next installment. What books are you waiting on?
I am thrilled to welcome J.A. Souders, debut author of the new YA novel, Renegade. Welcome J.A.!Goodreads Summary: Since the age of three, sixteen-year-old Evelyn Winters has been trained to be Daughter of the People in the underwater utopia known as Elysium. Selected from hundreds of children for her ideal genes, all her life she’s thought that everything was perfect; her world. Her people. The Law.
But when Gavin Hunter, a Surface Dweller, accidentally stumbles into their secluded little world, she’s forced to come to a startling realization: everything she knows is a lie.
Her memories have been altered.
Her mind and body aren’t under her own control.
And the person she knows as Mother is a monster.
Together with Gavin she plans her escape, only to learn that her own mind is a ticking time bomb... and Mother has one last secret that will destroy them all
Congrats to Sherry, the winner of the Spooktacular Giveaway Hop! The winner was chosen by Random.org and has been contacted. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 352 pages
Release Date: Aug. 28, 2012
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy
Goodreads Summary: Mason Starling is a champion fencer on the Gosforth Academy team, but she's never had to fight for her life. Not until the night a ferocious, otherworldly storm rips through Manhattan, trapping Mason and her teammates inside the school.
Mason is besieged by nightmarish creatures more terrifying than the thunder and lightning as the raging tempest also brings a dangerous stranger into her life: a young man who remembers nothing but his name--the Fennrys Wolf. His arrival tears Mason's world apart, even as she feels an undeniable connection to him. Together, they seek to unravel the secrets of Fenn's identity as strange and supernatural forces gather around them.
When they discover Mason's family--with its dark allegiance to ancient Norse gods--is at the heart of the mystery, Fennrys and Mason are suddenly faced with a terrifying future.
Set against the gritty, shadowed back-drop of New York City, this first novel in award-winning author Lesley Livingston's epic Starling Saga is an intoxicating blend of sweeping romance and pulse-pounding action.
I really liked Lesley Livingston’s Wondrous Strange series and the Fennrys Wolf was one of my favorite characters in the books. I was not a fan of Fenn’s fate at the end of the series so I was really excited when I found out that Livingston’s new series was going to be about him and Norse mythology. I love myth in any form and since there are not enough YA books around with Norse myth, I really wanted this one to be good and it is!
I’m a very character driven reader and Starling is a very plot driven book. Regardless, I still enjoyed it. Mason is a great character: a girl who knows how to fight but is not overly or unrealistically kick-buttish. She is a great love interest for Fenn who is even more likable in this book than he was in Wondrous Strange.
As much as I liked the characters, the plot is really the highlight of this book. Livingston takes not so well known (for me anyway) Norse mythology and combines it with myth from other cultures, including Egyptian, and creates a really cool story.
I love the start of this series and am looking forward to the next book which will hopefully be coming out next year.If you love mythology like I do, this is definitely a book you should pick up.
Content: Kissing, some profanity.
My Rating: Really Good!
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Publish Date: June 11, 2013
Genre: Historical
Goodreads Summary: Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City.
Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?
Born of Illusion is the first book in a new series. Each book in the series will introduce a new historical figure, whose legend is shrouded in magic, along with the young woman whose fate is irrevocably tied to his. The through line in each of the books will be The Ghost Club, the real life secret society that was founded in 1862 by the likes of Charles Dickens, Sir Conan Doyle, and W. B. Yeats to advance mankind’s knowledge of the paranormal. The first three books in the series will deal with Houdini, Aleister Crowley and Rasputin.
Why am I waiting on Born of Illusion? I love historical novels and have never read a YA historical about Houdini. Throw in the touch of paranormal and this is a must read for me! What books are you waiting on?
Title: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa Summary: Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them. That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he'd dare to fall for.I was so sad when The Iron Fey series ended. Julie Kagawa is a brilliant world builder and after I read the last book in the series, I felt like I was saying goodbye to well loved characters. Oh how I love Ms. Kagawa for bringing them back!!!
Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myth and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
![ashesonwaves_thumb[2]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUZIiEu_4KRtpYWSRSuoQzrw5houbtzhj-1EEMLAEajemva0yzA46KKYiS8gKUeiYI2gl9i7lVsF77drKi6dHq52eXbGyyl97lVnby69tB6JhW7lkmoavyMkaZiDNQuijGOKT1-c7GShf-/s1600-h/ashesonwaves_thumb%25255B2%25255D%25255B3%25255D.jpg "ashesonwaves_thumb[2]")
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin
Publish Date: June 27, 2013
Genre: Horror
Goodreads Summary: Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.
With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.
Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem Annabel Lee, Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.
Why am I waiting on Ashes on the Waves? Lately, I’ve become a bit fascinated by YA books based on stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe and this sounds like a good one. What books are you waiting on?
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: G.P. Putnam
Publish Date: Nov. 13, 2012
Genre: Dystopia, Paranormal
Goodreads Summary: A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.
In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love.
Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.
When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.
Why am I waiting on Black City? 2012 seems to be the year for the dystopian/post apocalyptic vampire novel and I am loving it! Plus, the boy’s name is Ash and I cannot resist a YA novel with a boy named Ash :-). What books are you waiting on?
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publish Date: June 5, 2013
Genre: Mythology, Fantasy
Goodreads Summary: I looked down at the paper, still touching the tip of my shoe. I reached for it, flipping the page over to look.
Scrawls of ink outlined a drawing of girl lying on a bench.
A sick feeling started to twist in my stomach, like motion sickness.
And then the girl in the drawing turned her head, and her inky eyes glared straight into mine.
On the heels of a family tragedy, the last thing Katie Greene wants to do is move halfway across the world. Stuck with her aunt in Shizuoka, Japan, Katie feels lost. Alone. She doesn’t know the language, she can barely hold a pair of chopsticks, and she can’t seem to get the hang of taking her shoes off whenever she enters a building.
Then there’s gorgeous but aloof Tomohiro, star of the school’s kendo team. How did he really get the scar on his arm? Katie isn’t prepared for the answer. But when she sees the things he draws start moving, there’s no denying the truth: Tomo has a connection to the ancient gods of Japan, and being near Katie is causing his abilities to spiral out of control. If the wrong people notice, they'll both be targets.
Katie never wanted to move to Japan—now she may not make it out of the country alive.
Why am I waiting on Ink? You guys know that I love mythology and there isn’t nearly enough Japanese mythology in YA books these days. This book sounds awesome and I am VERY excited about it. What books are you waiting on?
Congrats to Erika Anderson Williams, the winner of the Stuck In A Good Book Giveaway Hop! The winner was chosen by Random.org and has been contacted. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Lately, I have been slow with reviews and mailing out giveaways. We are currently expecting baby #3 very soon and I have been working to get everything ready for our new addition so the post office has been getting neglected. However, I will be making a trip this week so all outstanding giveaways will be mailed!
Publisher: Bethany House
Pages: 365 pages
Release Date: June 1, 2012
Genre: Christian Fiction, Historical
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Goodreads Summary: No one steps on Archer land. Not if they value their life. But when Meredith Hayes overhears a lethal plot to burn the Archer brothers off their ranch, a twelve-year-old debt compels her to take the risk.
Fourteen years of constant vigilance hardens a man. Yet when Travis Archer confronts a female trespasser with the same vivid blue eyes as the courageous young girl he once aided, he can't bring himself to send her away. And when an act of sacrifice leaves her injured and her reputation in shreds, gratitude and guilt send him riding to her rescue once again.
Four brothers. Four straws. One bride. Despite the fact that Travis is no longer the gallant youth Meredith once dreamed about, she determines to stand by his side against the enemy that threatens them both. But will love ever be hers? Or will Travis always see her merely as a short-straw bride?
I loved the beautiful, fun cover of this book the instant I saw it and was hoping it would be good. I’m happy to say that Karen Witemeyer did not disappoint!
Meredith (Meri) Hayes has had a crush on the reclusive Travis Archer since he rescued her when she hurt herself on his land when she was 10 years old. Twelve years later, she gets the opportunity to repay him for his kindness and ends up with much more than she bargained for.
I love historical romances where the main characters are thrown into a situation where they are compelled to get married and then get to know each other afterwards. This one is even more fun since Meri already has a major crush on Travis and he is extremely lacking in the dating and courtship department.
Meri is a great main character! She is smart, spunky, brave and very likable. I also love the relationship she has with her cousin Cassie and the high road she takes with people who treat her poorly because she limps from an old injury. The dynamics with Travis and his three younger brothers is also great.
I’m a huge fan or well developed relationships and love the way Meri and Travis slowly fall for each other. There is also a really great message throughout the book about loyalty to family, friends and completely relying on God even when the circumstances look dire. This book is not all romance, however. There is some action in it as well as you would expect from a historical novel set on a ranch in Texas.
If you are in the mood for a really sweet, clean and romantic read, Short-Straw Bride is definitely the book for you! It’s well written and thoroughly enjoyable. I’ll definitely be looking out for more books from this author.
Content: Kissing and some violence
My Rating: Really Good!
Publisher: Harper Audio
Narrator: Amy Rubinate
Duration: 8 hours, 7 mins
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Genre: Dystopian, Fantasy
Goodreads Summary: For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself--and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.
I know there has been crazy drama on Goodreads about this book/the author/her agent BUT I was intrigued by the summary and still wanted to read it. It reminded me of a cross between The Bachelor (a TV show I dislike) and the biblical story of Esther (a story I absolutely adore) so I figured I would either love it or hate it. Turns out my feelings are in the middle: this is an OK book for me.
Even though The Selection is billed as dystopia, I would consider it more of fantasy novel. It’s set in a future where the US has been through several wars, has been renamed Illea and the people are subjected to a caste system. America Singer (ridiculous name, by the way), our main character, is in love with Aspen but his lower caste prevents them from being together.
As far as characters go, America really annoyed me. She was whiny, selfish and complained her way through the book. I was never very invested in the relationship between her and Aspen (which was already established when the story started) so it didn’t bother me when he broke up with her. If he had manned up and joined the resistance to fight the repulsive caste system that kept him and his family down for generations, maybe then I could get on board with him as a swoony love interest but The Selection is not that kind of story.
On the other hand, I loved Prince Maxon and all the effort he made to really build a relationship with America. Maxon was sweet and such a gentleman. The choice between Maxon and Aspen seems obvious but America annoyingly vacillates between them both. I’m not always a fan of love triangles and did not like this one at all.
The plot of the story is all fluff, which is not a bad thing because sometimes you need fluff books in your life. There is a secondary plot involving rebels trying to overthrow the government and I found myself very interested in it but it was not extensively explored but hopefully it will be in the next book.
Cass’s writing is just OK, she does a lot of telling rather than showing and reuses certain phases a bit too much. I didn’t need to hear about Aspen smelling like his mom’s homemade soap over and over again.
Since I listened to The Selection as an audiobook, I will take a minute to talk about that aspect of it. Amy Rubinate’s narration was decent but since the last audio I listened to was Clockwork Prince (which was EPIC!), her reading had a lot to live up to. I thought the narration started out a bit monotone but got better as the story went on.
I heard that The Selection was being made into a TV series on the CW and I think this story would make a really cool TV show. I think America would make a better TV character than book character. Like I said before, it’s fluff so if you want something more profound, this may not be the book for you. Personally, I’m OK with a book about princes and pretty dresses every once in a while.
Content: Kissing and teenage girls drinking wine.
My Rating: Just Fine
Our current Multi-Cultural Book Challenge guest post and giveaway is being hosted by KM at One Page At A Time. Click on over there to read the awesome guest post by Cindy Pon, author of Silver Phoenix and Fury of The Phoenix, and enter the giveaway to win a signed copy of Silver Phoenix!
Publisher: KTeen/Kensington
Pages: 432
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Genre: Paranormal
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Goodreads Summary: Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can’t. Like the fire that killed his parents.
Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he’s not doing it.More than Gabriel’s pride is at stake -- this could cost him his family, maybe his life. And no one seems to hear him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Layne understands family problems, and she understands secrets. She has a few of her own.
Gabriel can’t let her guess about his brothers, about his abilities, about the danger that’s right at his heels. But there are some risks he can’t help taking.
The fuse is lit…
A few months ago, I raved about Brigid Kemmerer’s debut novel, Storm. I loved the characters and the cool Outsiders vibe I got from this book and have been really looking forward to the second book in the Elemental series, Spark. Guess what guys, Spark is even better than Storm!
I am a very character driven reader and the characters in Spark are fantastic. The plot centers around the four brothers who can control the elements: fire, air, water and earth, and a fifth boy who controls all four elements plus spirit. I love how Kemmerer keeps the focus on the boys’ family dynamics and their friendships. Some of my favorite parts of this book were Gabriel’s interactions with his brothers.
And speaking of characters, I love Gabriel! True to his fire element, Gabriel is a sarcastic hot head with major issues but Kemmerer makes it work so well. Gabriel is officially one of my favorite book boys for the year! There is romance in Spark and it is sweet, perfect and like everything else about this book, very well developed. While I thought Becca was a decent female lead in Storm, I love Layne in Spark!
Spark is fast paced and with a different enough focus from Storm to make it fresh even though it is the second book in the series. If you are looking for a paranormal novel that’s fresh, funny, fun, well written with awesome character development and a great plot, Spark (and the Elemental series) is for you.
I cannot wait to read Spirit, the next book in the series which comes out in May 2013, and pretty much anything else Brigid Kemmerer writes!
Content: Heavy profanity, underage drinking, bullying, sexual assault, kissing and violence. More appropriate for older/more mature teens and adults.
My Rating: The Best!
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: Tor Teen/MacMillan
Publish Date: June 21, 2013
Genre: Mythology, Dystopia
Goodreads Summary: Piper's world is dying. Each day brings hotter temperatures and heat bubbles that threaten to destroy the earth. Amid this global heating crisis, Piper lives under the oppressive rule of her mother, who suffocates her even more than the weather does. Everything changes on her eighteenth birthday, when her mother is called away on a mysterious errand and Piper seizes her first opportunity for freedom.
Piper discovers a universe she never knew existed—a sphere of gods and monsters—and realizes that her world is not the only one in crisis. While gods battle for control of the Underworld, Piper’s life spirals out of control as she struggles to find the answer to the secret that has been kept from her since birth.
An imaginative melding of mythology and dystopia, Solstice is the first YA novel by talented newcomer P. J. Hoover.
Why am I waiting on Solstice? It combines two of my favorite genres: Greek mythology and dystopia, plus I love the cover! I believe this book was self published last year and is now being traditionally published by Tor Teen. Current reviews for it are very good and I can’t wait to read it. What books are you waiting on?
In case you are not a rabid fan like myself, J.J. Abrams co-created Lost, one of the best shows ever and one that I was totally addicted to a few years ago when it was on. See the promo poster on the left? Yep, that’s Billy Burke (from the Twilight movies) on the left, Elizabeth Mitchell (Lost alum), Giancarlo Esposito (fresh from one of my husband’s favorite shows, Breaking Bad) and Tracy Spiridakos (Being Human).
Here is how NBC describes Revolution:
What would you do without it all? In this epic adventure from J.J. Abrams' Bad Robot Productions and "Supernatural's" Eric Kripke, a family struggles to reunite in an American landscape where every single piece of technology - computers, planes, cars, phones, even lights - has mysteriously blacked out forever. A drama with sweeping scope and intimate focus, "Revolution" is also about family - both the family you're born into and the family you choose. This is a swashbuckling journey of hope and rebirth seen through the eyes of one strong-willed young woman, Charlie Matheson (Tracy Spiridakos, "Being Human"), and her brother Danny (Graham Rogers, "Memphis Beat"). When Danny is kidnapped by militia leaders for a darker purpose, Charlie must reconnect with her estranged uncle Miles (Billy Burke, "The Twilight Saga"), a former U.S. Marine living a reclusive life. Together, with a rogue band of survivors, they set out to rescue Danny, overthrow the militia and ultimately re-establish the United States of America. All the while, they explore the enduring mystery of why the power failed, and if - or how - it will ever return.
While I don’t have time to watch a lot of TV, I will be watching this. It totally sounds like the plot to a book that I would read! Revolution premiers on Monday, Sept. 17 on NBC. Will you be watching Revolution? What other shows are you looking forward to this fall? Let me know in the comments!
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Publish Date: May 7, 2013
Genre: Fantasy, Historical Fiction
Goodreads Summary: Sing and the darkness will find you.
Shipwrecked on an island seven years ago, Lucy has been warned she must never sing, or disaster will strike. But on All Hallows Eve, Lucy hears tantalizing music in the air. When she sings it, she unlocks a terrible secret: She is a Chantress, a spell-singer, brought to the island not by shipwreck but by a desperate enchantment gone wrong.
Her song lands her back in England — and in mortal peril, for the kingdom lies in the cruel grasp of a powerful Lord Protector and his mind-reading hunters, the Shadowgrims. The Protector has killed all Chantresses, for they alone can destroy the Shadowgrims. Only Lucy has survived.
In terrible danger, Lucy takes shelter with Nat, a spy who turns her heart upside-down. Nat has been working with his fellow scholars of the Invisible College to overthrow the Lord Protector, and they have long hoped to find a living Chantress to help them. But Lucy is completely untrained, and Nat deeply distrusts her magic. If Lucy cannot master the songspells, how long can she even stay alive?
Why am I waiting on Chantress? This book sounds so good! Plus, this combination of historical fiction and fantasy wrapped up in this pretty cover is hard for me to resist. What books are you waiting on?
Narrator: Jennifer Ehle
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Release Date: August 31, 2012
Duration: 15 hours, 30 mins
Genre: Steampunk, Paranormal
Goodreads Summary: Magic is dangerous—but love is more dangerous still.
When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.
Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What’s more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.
Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by—and torn between—two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length . . . everyone, that is, but Tessa.
As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world. . . . and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.
I’ve seen tons of readers praise both Cassandra Clare’s Mortal Instruments and Infernal Devices series, but since I’m not really into angel/demon books, I’ve always passed on them. More recently, however, I’ve gotten recommendations from some bloggy friends that the angel mythology is these books is a little bit different and encourage me to try them, specifically Clockwork Angel. I am so glad I did!
This first book in the Infernal Devices series, Clockwork Angel, is wonderfully written, has well rounded characters and is filled with action, betrayal, cool paranormal creatures, mystery and a beginnings of a love triangle that I think I will be OK with. The plotting is tightly done and the pacing is perfect. The main thing that stands out for me, however, is Clare’s excellent world building. The world of the Shadowhunters with its Victorian London setting is so well developed, I slipped right into it. The steampunk elements are awesome and I will admit that Clockwork Angel has me a little bit obsessed with steampunk books right now.
Tessa is a great character. She is strong and brave without being some ridiculous kick-butt character and I can tell that her relationships with both Will and Jem will get really interesting in upcoming books. And speaking of boys, I love Jem! He is so swoony and gentlemanly. He is the ‘good’ boy of the two and so I don’t hold out much hope of him being victorious in this love triangle, but you never know.
I listened to Clockwork Angel as an audiobook, so I must take some time to tell you about Jennifer Ehle as a narrator: she is absolutely fantastic! There are several characters in this book and Ehle voices them all pitch perfectly. She switches easily between American and British accents, never skipping a beat. While I’m sort of new at audiobooks, Clockwork Angel is the best one I’ve listened to and has set a new standard for all other audios. Yep, it’s that good.
I loved this book and while I recommend it for a great read, I HIGHLY recommend that you listen to it on audiobook! I own a printed copy of the next book in the series, Clockwork Prince, so I’m a little sad that I will be reading it instead of listening to it but I’m sure that Clare’s awesome writing will be more than enough to make me love the second book as well.
Content: Kissing and violence.
My Rating: The Best!
Release Date: Originally published in 1838
Pages: 554 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
Goodreads Summary: The story of the orphan Oliver, who runs away from the workhouse only to be taken in by a den of thieves, shocked readers when it was first published. Dickens's tale of childhood innocence beset by evil depicts the dark criminal underworld of a London peopled by vivid and memorable characters—the arch-villain Fagin, the artful Dodger, the menacing Bill Sikes and the prostitute Nancy. Combining elements of Gothic Romance, the Newgate Novel and popular melodrama, Dickens created an entirely new kind of fiction, scathing in its indictment of a cruel society, and pervaded by an unforgettable sense of threat and mystery.
I know most bookish types have read most of the classics but Oliver Twist somehow flew under my radar for all these years. I was recently given the opportunity to review it professionally and I jumped at the chance to read the story that I thought I knew through movies and popular culture. While I didn’t hate Oliver Twist, I didn’t like it that much either.
Oliver Twist is of course the story of the poor, starving orphan boy who has the audacity to ask for more food and feels the wrath of the workhouse administrators afterwards. He runs away, gets taken in by a gang of thieves and through a series of events, ends up with his own happily ever after.
It’s easy to see that Dickens used this story to highlight the injustices of England’s Poor Laws and his disdain for economically advantageous marriages. Admittedly, it is shocking to read how deplorably the poor and homeless people were treated and this aspect of the book I thought was very well done.
My issues with the novel involve the length, unnecessary plot lines and mostly importantly, the bigoted and highly stereotypical character, Fagin. This book is unnecessarily long. I had no idea until KM from One Page At A Time told me that Dickens was paid by the word and that explains a lot. The novel was also published in chapters so I guess Dickens had to have enough story for each chapter but this novel could really have been much shorter to get the point across. I also thought the entire story line of Rose and Harry was used to show us what a ‘good’ love marriage was supposed to be like as opposed to all the ‘bad’ arranged marriages in the novel. It could easily have been cut.
And of course, there is Fagin: the devilish, greedy, conniving leader of the gang of juvenile pickpockets. I’m not overly politically correct you guys. If Fagin was the villain who happened to be Jewish, I wouldn’t really be an issue for me. BUT, Fagin’s villainy and the fact that he is Jewish seem to be tied together and it did not sit well with me. The fact that he is referred to as “the Jew” bothered me every time I read it. I’m not sure what the reaction to this stereotype was in 1838, but it certainly would not be OK if this was written today.
Overall, I can see why this book was impactful at the time but it is also a bit fantasy like in the serendipitous way that Oliver, in the large city of London, just happens to connect with exactly the right people he needs to uncover the mystery of his identity and life. I know a lot of people adore this story but it was not for me.
Content: Kissing and violence.
My Rating: Just fine
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publish Date: March 5, 2013
Genre: Steampunk
Goodreads Summary: A teen girl unravels the mysteries of a secret society and their most dangerous invention in this adventure-swept romance set in Victorian London.
When a fire consumes Meg’s home, killing her parents and destroying both her fortune and her future, all she has left is the tarnished pocket watch she rescued from the ashes. But this is no ordinary timepiece. The clock turns out to be a mechanical key—a key that only Meg can use—that unlocks a series of deadly secrets and intricate clues that Meg is compelled to follow.
Meg has uncovered evidence of an elite secret society and a dangerous invention that some will stop at nothing to protect—and that Meg alone can destroy. Together with the handsome stable hand she barely knows but hopes she can trust, Meg is swept into a hidden world of deception, betrayal, and revenge. The clockwork key has unlocked her destiny in this captivating start to a trilogy.
Why am I waiting on Legacy of the Clockwork Key? I know I’m late getting on the steampunk train but since I recently listened to Clockwork Angel on audiobook, I am now just a teeny bit obsessed with the genre. I love the cover of Legacy of the Clockwork Key and the summary sounds so good! What books are you waiting on?
Release Date: August 28, 2012
Publisher: Atheneum
Pages: 421 pages
Genre: Horror, Paranormal
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review
Goodreads Summary: Varen Nethers is trapped in a perilous dream world -- a treacherous and desolate realm where the terrifying stories of Edgar Allan Poe come to life. Isobel Lanley, plagued by strange visions and haunted by the nightmares of Varen's creation, is the only one who can save him.
Isobel knows that her only hope lies within a Baltimore cemetery. There, in the early morning hours of Edgar Allan Poe's birthday, a mysterious stranger known as the "Poe Toaster" will make his annual homage at the legendary poet's grave.
Only the Poe Toaster holds the key to the way between worlds. But even greater dangers lie ahead for Isobel. An ancient evil, draped in veils of white, is watching, challenging her for Varen's affections. When Isobel finally finds Varen, he is no longer the quiet and brooding boy who once captivated her, but a dark force, powerful and malevolent.
When I read Nevermore (the first book in this series) back in 2010, I was totally blown away by it. It was easily my favorite book of the year and, in my humble opinion, one of the most underrated books of the year as well. It has been torturous for me to wait two long years to read the sequel. To say I was excited when I received a review copy of Enshadowed is an understatement. Was Enshadowed worth the wait? More yes and a little bit no. Let me explain.
Nevermore rocked in character development and world building. The first portion of the book deals with the relationship between unpopular goth boy Varen Nethers and extremely popular cheerleader Isobel Lanley. These two are such an unlikely couple and Kelly Creagh writes the characters and the relationship brilliantly. While there are some creepy things happening in the first two-thirds of Nevermore, it’s not until the end of the book that things take a dark, crazy and creeptastic turn for the best and the cliffhanger ending of the book just left me reeling.
Enshadowed follows a similar formula in that the first portion of the book has some great paranormal bits to it but it’s not until the end that things really get exciting. The difference between the two books is that while Varen is integral to Nevermore, he is majorly absent in Enshadowed. I’m not going to lie, this was a downer for me. Varen is so awesome, he is the only swoon-worthy goth boy I have ever met in fiction and after waiting for two years, to ‘hang out’ with him again, I was disappointed and I missed him.
So after complaining about Varen’s absence, why am I still giving Enshadowed a ‘Really Good’ rating? Because the writing is awesome, the dream world that Creagh creates is creepy, eerie and perfect and the cliffhanger ending again has me begging for more.
While Enshadowed may not be a great as Nevermore, it is still a good book and this series is one of the most original out there. I highly recommend this series to anyone who loves Edgar Allan Poe, horror, gothic stories or anything wonderfully different from all the other paranormal YA books out there. I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book in this series!
Content: Kissing and violence.
My Rating: Really Good!
Congrats to Kimberly Lim, the winner of the Summer Giveaway Hop and Candace, the winner of Shadows on the Moon for the Multicultural Book Challenge for July. The winners were chosen by Random.org and have been contacted. Thank you to everyone who participated!
While I’m not back to my usual reading self, I am slowly but surely getting out of the dreaded reading slump so I will have some reviews up this week. How about you guys? How has it been going now that summer is winding down? Let me know in the comments!
While boy names are no where near as colorful as their female counterparts, I have noticed certain naming patterns very similar to ones I have been seeing in real life. Again, I not including odd names from high fantasy/sci-fi books because I expect those to be unusual.
Classic names: You can’t go wrong with a classic and both authors and new parents seem to share this sentiment as well. Some classic boy names I have been seeing in YA books include Noah (one of my favorites but I am biased :-), Alex, Michael, Nick, Daniel, Sam and Mark.
Since celebrities have taken up this granny chic baby naming trend of naming their daughters very old fashioned names, I’m including grandpa chic under classic names as well. Some of those include: Jasper, Emmett, Edward (no guys, I didn’t get all these names from Twilight, I found them in other books as well), Henry/Henri, Warren, William, James, Carl and Archie.
Popular names: I have noticed that these names are quite popular in real life and I have come across them again and again in YA books: Caleb/Kaleb, Daimon/Daemon, Logan and Lucas.
Trendy names: While the hubs was not into trendy boy names and would not consider them for our sons, I find them appealing. Some on my favorite fictional character names are Ash/Asher, Jace, Kai, Aiden, Kaiden, Nico, Devon, Chase, Adrian, Gray, Trent, Dace and Cade.
Unusual names: While these are not names you run across a lot, some are multi-cultural and some are just, well, different. Some unusual names I’ve come across in books recently include: Kona, Mirko, Jin, Boyce, Nero and Falco.
Made up names: In my previous post, I stated that I did not like made up girl names and shockingly, outside of high fantasy and sci-fi, I really have not come across many made-up boy names! There are tons of made up girl names in YA but authors don’t seem to extend the creative monikers to boys. Why do you think this is? Are they out there and I’ve just missed them?
What are your favorite boy names in YA? Which ones do you wish you could see more of and which do you think are over done? Let me know in the comments, I would love to know what you think.
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: Scholastic
Publish Date: March 2013
Genre: Science Fiction, Post Apocolyptic
Goodreads Summary: In a world ravaged by mutation, a teenage girl must travel into the forbidden Savage Zone to recover lost artifacts or her father’s life is forfeit.
America has been ravaged by a war that has left the eastern half of the country riddled with mutation. Many of the people there exhibit varying degrees of animal traits. Even the plantlife has gone feral.
Crossing from west to east is supposed to be forbidden, but sometimes it’s necessary. Some enter the Savage Zone to provide humanitarian relief. Sixteen-year-old Lane’s father goes there to retrieve lost artifacts—he is a Fetch. It’s a dangerous life, but rewarding—until he’s caught.
Desperate to save her father, Lane agrees to complete his latest job. That means leaving behind her life of comfort and risking life and limb—and her very DNA—in the Savage Zone. But she’s not alone. In order to complete her objective, Lane strikes a deal with handsome, roguish Rafe. In exchange for his help as a guide, Lane is supposed to sneak him back west. But though Rafe doesn’t exhibit any signs of “manimal” mutation, he’s hardly civilized . . . and he may not be trustworthy.
Why am I waiting on Inhuman? There are a ton of dystopian/post apocalyptic books out there vying for our attention but something about Inhuman intrigues me, possibly the mention of feral plant life? I’m definitely looking forward to reading this and I love the cover! What books are you waiting on?
I usually read approximately two books a week and while I’ve started no less than five books recently, I can’t seem to get into any of them (with the exception of a fantastic audiobook and even that has been a slow go for me) or finish even one. As a matter of fact, I haven’t finished a book in over two weeks! It’s not the books, they are just fine. This is all me.
While I can pinpoint a few reasons why I’m haven’t been reading lately (doing more summer activities with the kids, getting the house ready for the new baby, being distracted from reading by the Olympics), I feel my enthusiasm for reading waning right now which is scary because reading is how I relax, unwind and get away from it all.
I have a stack of library books, review books and books that I bought sitting here staring at me begging to be read. My books have never had to beg before :-). Since I know that most of you are voracious readers, I wanted to know if you have ever felt this way. If you have, how did you get over the blah reading feeling? Leave me a comment, I appreciate any advice I can get!
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming novels we can't wait to read. This week’s choice is:
Publisher: Philomel/Penguin
Publish Date: June 27, 2013
Genre: Horror
Goodreads Summary: Liam MacGregor is cursed. Haunted by the wails of fantastical Bean Sidhes and labeled a demon by the villagers of Dòchas, Liam has accepted that things will never get better for him—until a wealthy heiress named Annabel Leighton arrives on the island and Liam’s fate is changed forever.
With Anna, Liam finally finds the happiness he has always been denied; but, the violent, mythical Otherworlders, who inhabit the island and the sea around it, have other plans. They make a wager on the couple’s love, testing its strength through a series of cruel obstacles. But the tragedies draw Liam and Anna even closer. Frustrated, the creatures put the couple through one last trial—and this time it’s not only their love that’s in danger of being destroyed.
Based on Edgar Allan Poe’s chilling poem Annabel Lee, Mary Lindsey creates a frighteningly beautiful gothic novel that glorifies the power of true love.
Why am I waiting on Ashes on the Waves? Lately, I’ve become a bit fascinated by YA books based on stories and poems by Edgar Allan Poe and this sounds like a good one. What books are you waiting on?
For years, I have been working out and running while listening to music on my ancient MP3 player and it has worked just fine. Now that I’m crazy about audiobooks, my favorite ear buds go on the fritz and the MP3 player decides it won’t turn on any more. I was really annoyed, especially since my player broke the day we were leaving for a road trip and I had downloaded three audios from the library just for this trip (for some strange reason, Overdrive won’t allow me to download audios to my phone).
Happily, the hubs and my two wonderful boys gifted me with a new iPod 
In case you are interested, the cupcakes pictured above are from Misha’s Cupcakes in South Miami. If you love fantastic, yummy cupcakes and are ever in Miami, you should stop by and pick up a few. They are so worth the calories and definitely qualify as REALLY good cake.
