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[Teaser Tuesday] - #50

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
  1. Take your Current Read.
  2. Grab 2 Teaser sentences from the book (please be sure to avoid spoilers)
  3. Post it on your blog with the title and author, so other Teasing Tuesday participants can add it to their To Be Read list.
  4. When visiting other Teasing Tuesday participants, leave a link with your current TT in their comments.

Title: Scorpion Shards
   Author: Neal Shusterman
   Release Date: May 7th, 2013

     Quote: " 'You figured something out, didn't you?' asked Lourdes. 'Tell us.'

     Tory began to shake and tried to control it. 'I'm afraid to tell you,' she said, 'cause what I'm thinking is crazy.'


     'We won't think you're crazy,' said Lourdes."

--- Page 89


[Stacking the Shelves] - #95

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

All That Burns
Truth or Dare
(Don't You) Forget About Me
The Lost Hero
Hollow City
Archetype
Fire and Flood
The Star Thief

Shelf Additions:

Title: All That Burns
   Author: Ryan Graudin
   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: February 10th, 2015

     In this thrilling sequel to All That Glows, the worlds of magic and mortal are colliding as London celebrates its new king, marking an era of unity between the Faery realm and the human one. Emrys, the Faery guard to the British royal family, sacrificed her powers to be with King Richard, choosing love over immortality. But now, as Emrys struggles to navigate her place between the Faery queen’s court and London’s lavish galas, danger looms beyond the Thames.When a prisoner with dark, strange magic breaks out of Queen Titania’s labyrinthine prison, endangering Emrys's king and sparking an uprising, Emrys must make the hardest decision of all.

     Will she reclaim her magic to save Richard’s life and lose him forever? Or stay powerless as the kingdom goes down in flames?






Title:  Truth or Dare
   Author: Jacqueline Green
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 14th, 2013

     When a simple round of truth or dare spins out of control, three girls find it’s no longer a party game. It’s do or die.

     It all started on a whim: the game was a way for Tenley Reed to reclaim her popularity, a chance for perfect Caitlin “Angel” Thomas to prove she’s more than her Harvard application. Loner Sydney Morgan wasn’t even there; she was hiding behind her camera like usual. But when all three start receiving mysterious dares long after the party has ended, they’re forced to play along—or risk exposing their darkest secrets.

     How far will Tenley, Caitlin and Sydney go to keep the truth from surfacing? And who’s behind this twisted game?

     Set against the backdrop of Echo Bay, an isolated beach town haunted by misfortune, Truth or Dare is a highly charged debut that will keep readers in suspense from beginning to end.






Title: (Don't You) Forget About Me
   Author: Kate Karyus Quinn
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: June 10th, 2014

     Welcome to Gardnerville.

     A place where no one gets sick. And no one ever dies.

     Except...
     There’s a price to pay for paradise. Every fourth year, the strange power that fuels the town exacts its payment by infecting teens with deadly urges. In a normal year in Gardnerville, teens might stop talking to their best friends. In a fourth year, they’d kill them.

     Four years ago, Skylar’s sister, Piper, was locked away after leading sixteen of her classmates to a watery grave. Since then, Skylar has lived in a numb haze, struggling to forget her past and dull the pain of losing her sister. But the secrets and memories Piper left behind keep taunting Skylar—whispering that the only way to get her sister back is to stop Gardnerville’s murderous cycle once and for all.






Title: The Lost Hero
   Author: Rick Riordan
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: October 10th, 2010

     Jason has a problem. He doesn’t remember anything before waking up in a bus full of kids on a field trip. Apparently he has a girlfriend named Piper and a best friend named Leo. They’re all students at a boarding school for “bad kids.” What did Jason do to end up here? And where is here, exactly?

     Piper has a secret. Her father has been missing for three days, ever since she had that terrifying nightmare. Piper doesn’t understand her dream, or why her boyfriend suddenly doesn’t recognize her. When a freak storm hits, unleashing strange creatures and whisking her, Jason, and Leo away to someplace called Camp Half-Blood, she has a feeling she’s going to find out.

     Leo has a way with tools. When he sees his cabin at Camp Half-Blood, filled with power tools and machine parts, he feels right at home. But there’s weird stuff, too—like the curse everyone keeps talking about. Weirdest of all, his bunkmates insist that each of them—including Leo—is related to a god.






Title: Hollow City
   Author: Ransom Riggs
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: January 14th, 2014

     This sequel to the first novel, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, begins in 1940, immediately after the first book ended.

     Having escaped Miss Peregrine’s island by the skin of their teeth, Jacob and his new friends must journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. Along the way, they encounter new allies, a menagerie of peculiar animals, and other unexpected surprises.

     Complete with dozens of newly discovered vintage photographs.






Title: Archetype
   Author: M.D. Waters
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: January 7th, 2014

     Introducing a breathtakingly inventive futuristic suspense novel about one woman who rebels against everything she is told to believe.

     Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

     Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

     In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which. . . .

     The first novel in a two-part series, Archetype heralds the arrival of a truly memorable character—and the talented author who created her. Look for Prototype, the second novel from M.D. Waters, coming July 2014.






Title: Fire and Flood
   Author: Victoria Scott
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: February 24th, 2014

     Time is slipping away....

     Tella Holloway is losing it. Her brother is sick, and when a dozen doctors can't determine what's wrong, her parents decide to move to Montana for the fresh air. She's lost her friends, her parents are driving her crazy, her brother is dying—and she's helpless to change anything.

     Until she receives mysterious instructions on how to become a Contender in the Brimstone Bleed. It's an epic race across jungle, desert, ocean, and mountain that could win her the prize she desperately desires: the Cure for her brother's illness. But all the Contenders are after the Cure for people they love, and there's no guarantee that Tella (or any of them) will survive the race.

     The jungle is terrifying, the clock is ticking, and Tella knows she can't trust the allies she makes. And one big question emerges: Why have so many fallen sick in the first place?






Title: The Star Thief
   Author: Jamie Grey
   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: February 1st, 2014

     Stealing another galactic secret will get her arrested, but playing by the rules might just get her killed.

     At twenty-three, Renna Carrizal is the most notorious thief in the galaxy. There's just one problem - all she wants is to get out of the business.

     But after Renna rescues an injured boy on her final job, she finds herself on the run from the mob instead of enjoying retirement. She unwittingly becomes ensnared by MYTH, a top-secret galactic protection agency who offer her a choice - either help them on their latest mission, or spend the rest of her life on a prison ship.

     Forced to work under the watchful eye of handsome but arrogant Captain Finn, Renna learns the former mercenary-turned-hero has a few dirty secrets himself. As Renna works to discover the truth about Finn's past and keep the tantalizing man at arm's length, she unearths a plot to create an unstoppable army. The target? The human star fleet.

     Now Renna must pull off the biggest job of her career - saving the galaxy. And maybe even herself.

[Movie Review] - Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Insurgent


Title: Insurgent
   Director: Robert Schwentke
   Author: Veronica Roth
   Release Date: March 20, 2015
   Rating: 8.5 Out of 10

     Beatrice Prior must confront her inner demons and continue her fight against a powerful alliance which threatens to tear her society apart with the help from others on her side.

From the Book:
     One choice can transform you-- or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves--and herself--while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

     Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable--and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

My Review:

    Now I was shocked at this movie. If you were to tell me that taking liberties with the movie where the book seemed to drag on and dangle the ending plot twist would actually succeed, I would have laughed at you and more or less disregarded your entire argument before it even began. Than to tell you the movie cut one big component of Allegiant and the rising war, and a big influence to Tris in this movie as well, out almost entirely, I again would have been insulted or thought of blasphemy to the series. However, I have to give the story writers for this movie an applause, a bow, and frankly my salute to proving me utterly wrong.

     Now for everyone who knows me and read my Divergent movie review knows I hated Theo James for Four (Tobias) in the first movie. However, in this one he fits completely. There is this romantic side to him that wasn't there, but he remained strong and dependable as well. There were parts of the movie that showed just how much he grew, and the choices that weigh on his mind. This Tobias is what I envisioned in the first movie and I love how it all got brought back around and he works to support and comfort Tris. This needed to happen in the first movie; great job on the transition.

     Tris is Tris. We already know she's the poster girl for Divergents, and what I didn't get was the need to hammer that home for her. Foreshadowing the whole Abnegation thing over and over seemed a bit much, I got it you ruined the plot twist. However, I did enjoy how emotional she is in this movie. Shailene Woodley nailed her emotional scenes, and maybe a bit too much. I honestly bought her representation, however I didn't see her anger or desire for change. She just seemed to nonchalantly want to kill Jeanine, which didn't seem at all hatred or anger filled, it was more of a, "lets kill her because we can."

     The rest of the supporting characters Caleb, Christina, and even Peter just seemed to fall wayside. Peter and Caleb never really made a scene until the end. I wish there was more of them. Caleb watching his sister suffer and go through what she did, was great and made me want more, but it was too late to crave more. Peter's betrayal was a bit lackluster, how he flip-flops sides was more of a joke and easily bought than some top-secret spy mission. However they did help boost Tris to the limelight, in what can best be described as a "dystopian movie featuring: Tris and Four."

     Now the movie is fast past, it drives the story along and cuts out nearly every useless dialogue it can to make the movie move. It was done well, and the liberties they took were flawless. I love how Marcus made one scene and left, however I will admit I hope there's an extended edition with some more his dialogue with Tris. The best part is the ending and how the graphics department seemed to take the reigns and just go crazy with what is there. It took that twist and seemed to just run with the rest, I just wish some of it could have been cut down to give a little more build-up to Allegiant.

     I am curious how the following Allegiant will fair, with what they left with the movie. There is an endless possibility and figuring there are two movies, I hope the next isn't some drawn out dialogue and introduction. I am hoping for a rebirth of Divergent and building up to a grand finale.

     So in the end I am happy with what they did, it's not the book, and I may eat my own words here, I am more partial to this version of the story than the books. I am happy they took the liberties they did, because it told a better story that was seamless and well thought through. I wish they could have done this with the first movie, but I will admit this surprised me. It wasn't what I had thought of, and when I went to see it, I had heard that the last portion was different and helped define the movie. It not only gave the movie life, but set it apart from other young adult or dystopian movies. Congratulations, on succeed on a great risk with the liberties and pulling off a fantastic interpretation of the movie.

[Teaser Tuesday] - #49

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
  1. Take your Current Read.
  2. Grab 2 Teaser sentences from the book (please be sure to avoid spoilers)
  3. Post it on your blog with the title and author, so other Teasing Tuesday participants can add it to their To Be Read list.
  4. When visiting other Teasing Tuesday participants, leave a link with your current TT in their comments.

Title: Burned
   Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
   Release Date: April 27th, 2010

     Quote: " 'Tell me everything you know.' He'd only just laid Zoey's body on the bed in the suit assigned to them when Stark confronted Aphrodite.

nbsp;    'Well, it's not much, but it's enough to make me think the vamps are wrong,' Aprhodite said, snuggling into a big velvet chair beside Darius."

--- Page 150


[Stacking the Shelves] - #94

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

Unleashed
Seeker
Blackbird
In a Handful of Dust
Wanderers
Raven Flight
The Paris Mysteries
Scorpion Shards

Shelf Additions:

Title: Unleashed
   Author: Sophie Jordan
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: February 24th, 2015

     Unleashed, the romantic, high-stakes sequel to New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's Uninvited, is perfect for fans of James Patterson's Confessions of a Murder Suspect.

     Davy has spent the last few months trying to come to terms with the fact that she tested positive for the kill gene HTS (also known as Homicidal Tendency Syndrome). She swore she would not let it change her, and that her DNA did not define her . . . but then she killed a man.

     Now on the run, Davy must decide whether she'll be ruled by the kill gene or if she'll follow her heart and fight for her right to live free. But with her own potential for violence lying right beneath the surface, Davy doesn't even know if she can trust herself.






Title:  Seeker
   Author: Arwen Elys Dayton
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: February 10th, 2015

     Quin Kincaid has been put through years of brutal training for what she thinks is the noble purpose of becoming a revered ‘Seeker’.

     Only when it’s too late does she discover she will be using her new-found knowledge and training to become an assassin. Quin's new role will take her around the globe, from a remote estate in Scotland to a bustling, futuristic Hong Kong where the past she thought she had escaped will finally catch up with her.






Title: Blackbird
   Author: Anna Carey
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: September 16th, 2014

     This twisty, breathless cat-and-mouse thrill ride, told in the second person, follows a girl with amnesia in present-day Los Angeles who is being pursued by mysterious and terrifying assailants.

     A girl wakes up on the train tracks, a subway car barreling down on her. With only minutes to react, she hunches down and the train speeds over her. She doesn’t remember her name, where she is, or how she got there. She has a tattoo on the inside of her right wrist of a blackbird inside a box, letters and numbers printed just below: FNV02198. There is only one thing she knows for sure: people are trying to kill her.

     On the run for her life, she tries to untangle who she is and what happened to the girl she used to be. Nothing and no one are what they appear to be. But the truth is more disturbing than she ever imagined.

     The Maze Runner series meets Code Name Verity, Blackbird is relentless and action-packed, filled with surprising twists.






Title: In a Handful of Dust
   Author: Mindy McGinnis
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: September 23rd, 2014

     The only thing bigger than the world is fear.

     Lucy’s life by the pond has always been full. She has water and friends, laughter and the love of her adoptive mother, Lynn, who has made sure that Lucy’s childhood was very different from her own. Yet it seems Lucy’s future is settled already—a house, a man, children, and a water source—and anything beyond their life by the pond is beyond reach.

     When disease burns through their community, the once life-saving water of the pond might be the source of what’s killing them now. Rumors of desalinization plants in California have lingered in Lynn’s mind, and the prospect of a “normal” life for Lucy sets the two of them on an epic journey west to face new dangers: hunger, mountains, deserts, betrayal, and the perils of a world so vast that Lucy fears she could be lost forever, only to disappear in a handful of dust.

     In this companion to Not a Drop to Drink, Mindy McGinnis thrillingly combines the heart-swelling hope of a journey, the challenges of establishing your own place in the world, and the gripping physical danger of nature in a futuristic frontier.






Title: Uninvited
   Author: Sophie Jordan
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: January 28th, 2014

     The Scarlet Letter meets Minority Report in bestselling author Sophie Jordan's chilling new novel about a teenage girl who is ostracized when her genetic test proves she's destined to become a murderer.

     When Davy Hamilton's tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome (HTS)-aka the kill gene-she loses everything. Her boyfriend ditches her, her parents are scared of her, and she can forget about her bright future at Juilliard. Davy doesn't feel any different, but genes don't lie. One day she will kill someone.

     Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life. Davy wants to trust him; maybe he's not as dangerous as he seems. Or maybe Davy is just as deadly.

     The first in a two-book series, Uninvited tackles intriguing questions about free will, identity, and human nature. Steeped in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's trademark mix of gripping action and breathless romance, this suspenseful tale is perfect for fans of James Patterson, Michelle Hodkin, and Lisa McMann.






Title: Passionaries
   Author: Tonya Hurley
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: January 7th, 2014

     Agnes, Cecelia, and Lucy watched as Sebastian sacrificed himself for what he believed in. Will the girls trust that their destiny as saints and martyrs and perform the miracles as Sebastian instructed? Or lose faith in themselves and each other in his absence? Time is running out for them to make a decision, and the fate of the world lies in the balance.






Title: Ignite Me
   Author: Tahereh Mafi
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: February 4th, 2014

     The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, called “a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love.”

     With Omega Point destroyed, Juliette doesn’t know if the rebels, her friends, or even Adam are alive. But that won’t keep her from trying to take down The Reestablishment once and for all. Now she must rely on Warner, the handsome commander of Sector 45. The one person she never thought she could trust. The same person who saved her life. He promises to help Juliette master her powers and save their dying world . . . but that’s not all he wants with her.

     The Shatter Me series is perfect for fans who crave action-packed young adult novels with tantalizing romance like Divergent by Veronica Roth, The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, and Legend by Marie Lu. Tahereh Mafi has created a captivating and original story that combines the best of dystopian and paranormal, and was praised by Publishers Weekly as “a gripping read from an author who’s not afraid to take risks.” Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and satisfying end.






Title: Elusion
   Author: Claudia Gabel and Cheryl Klam
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 18th, 2014

     Soon, Elusion® will change the world and life as we know it.

     A new technology called Elusion is sweeping the country. An app, visor and wristband will virtually transport you to an exotic destination where adventure can be pursued without the complications—or consequences—of real life.

     Regan is an Elusion insider. Or at least she used to be. Her father invented the program, and her best friend, Patrick, heir to the tech giant Orexis, is about to release it nationwide. But ever since her father’s unexpected death, Regan can’t bear to Escape, especially since waking up from the dream means crashing back to her grim reality.

     Still, when there are rumors of trouble in Elusion—accusations that it’s addictive and dangerous— Regan is determined to defend it. But the critics of Elusion come from surprising sources, including Josh, the handsome skeptic with his own personal stakes. As Regan investigates the claims, she discovers a disturbing web of secrets. She will soon have to choose between love and loyalty…a decision that will affect the lives of millions.

     Suspense, thrills, and romance fuel this near-future story about the seductive nature of a perfect virtual world, and how far one girl will go to uncover the truth behind the illusions.

[Flashback Friday] - #88

Flashback Friday is a weekly event, hosted here, that highlights a past release that we're dying to get our hands on...

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!



Title: A Little Something Different
   Author: Sandy Hall
   Release Date: August 26th, 2014

     The distinctive new crowdsourced publishing imprint Swoon Reads proudly presents its first published novel—an irresistibly sweet romance between two college students told from 14 different viewpoints.

     The creative writing teacher, the delivery guy, the local Starbucks baristas, his best friend, her roommate, and the squirrel in the park all have one thing in common—they believe that Gabe and Lea should get together. Lea and Gabe are in the same creative writing class. They get the same pop culture references, order the same Chinese food, and hang out in the same places. Unfortunately, Lea is reserved, Gabe has issues, and despite their initial mutual crush, it looks like they are never going to work things out.

     But somehow even when nothing is going on, something is happening between them, and everyone can see it. Their creative writing teacher pushes them together. The baristas at Starbucks watch their relationship like a TV show. Their bus driver tells his wife about them. The waitress at the diner automatically seats them together. Even the squirrel who lives on the college green believes in their relationship.

     Surely Gabe and Lea will figure out that they are meant to be together....

My Stance:

     I am looking at this book and I'm wondering exactly how I feel completely about it. The contemporary romance of the whole bit sounds great, and while the novel seems to be more about focusing on the supporting characters rather than the main it seems different. I am not sure how deep the book will be, I mean it seems more of a light-hearted fun romance than something that makes you ponder the meaning if life on. I could use a book like this when I go on vacation, and more than likely I will pick it up.

[Book Review] - Chosen by P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast

Title: Chosen
   Author: P.C. Cast and Kristin Cast
   Series: #3 - House of Night
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: September 29th, 2009
   My Rating: 2.5 out of 5.0

     Bloodlust and dark forces are at work at the House of Night…

     Fledgling vampyre Zoey Redbird’s adventures at the school are about to take a mysterious turn. Those who appear to be her friends are turning out to be enemies. And oddly enough, sworn enemies are also turning into friends. So begins the gripping third installment of this “highly addictive series” (Romantic Times), in which Zoey’s mettle will be tested like never before. Her best friend, Stevie Rae, is undead and struggling to maintain a grip on her humanity. Zoey doesn’t have a clue how to help her, but she does know that anything she and Stevie Rae discover about the secretive and sinister power that’s turning dead fledglings into bloodsucking monsters must be kept secret from everyone else at the House of Night, where trust has become a rare commodity.

     Speaking of rare: Zoey finds herself in the very unexpected position of having three boyfriends. Mix in more than a little forbidden desire to the equation and the situation has the potential to spell social disaster of massive proportions. Then, vampyres start turning up dead. Really dead. It looks like the People of Faith, and Zoey’s horrid step-loser in particular, are tired of living side-by-side with vampyres. But, as Zoey and her friends find out, things are not always what they seem…

My Review:

     "I think I'm turning into a Ho." Zoey Redbird (pg. 82). 

     That sums the major issue I had with this book, the amount of boys that are interested in her are staggering and Zoey is just too whiney and gullible that it's laughable. Although the story was slightly better then the first there was still the underlying issue that the plot could move faster or it could be done differently. Don't get me wrong, I am not saying I could do it better it's just how the story or the main character acted that drove me nuts. So while the story was better and the character growth seems to falter, I enjoyed this book better than the last.

     Zoey grows a bit in this book, but it's in a completely different direction. In past novels she is a whiney little high school girl who is worried about boyfriend issues and whatnot. However in this novel I think she becomes what she had hoped she wouldn't be. She gets tangled between three guys, two nearly the same age, and one who knows how old he is. The relationship with Loren was just wrong, and frankly she almost knew it and fell into his seduction. It was easy to catch on to, and was distasteful and wrong. Zoey falls hard in her character growth (almost growing backwards) but its a subplot to the whole story and Neferet.

     Now my big problem with this book is the representation of men in this book. What I don't understand is Health and Erik know about each other. When Loren shows up and Erik questions her about it, she points the finger at him calling him jealous. Most guys wouldn't do that, they know she's with another but to throw a possible third into the mix, like or not, they would drop her like a rock. I wouldn't ask, I would just be done and move on. No name calling, no arguing, just drop it and move on, it's not worth the time and effort if she isn't going to choose. It's almost hard to read for this reason alone, I couldn't stand it. Guys won't always be there to pick you up, dust you off, and wipe your tears, if you keep pushing them aside and saying their attitude is the problem.

     Stevie Rae is back, and she is probably the main reason I enjoyed this book. Her death and undying of sorts makes the main plot of this book just amazing. Trying to figure out what is missing with Stevie Rae and what it means to choose a path in life is great. Stevie Rae is the life of this book, and with her comes of lot of mystery which again opens the story up for more. The whole lacking a soul bit was a bit over the top though, I like when they stepped back and said it was her humanity. It's the sense of right vs. wrong and what it means to be human, which Stevie Rae needs.

     Aphrodite again steps to the front in my mind in this novel, and it's mainly her spunk that makes her fit the space well. She doesn't put up with anything, and while she comes to Zoey's aid, she snaps at her friends. It's great to see Aphrodite change and grow into her role more, I love how she is transitioning, and her growth. She's the one character that I have found more relatable and likable than the rest of the characters. It's how the others turn on Zoey and question her instantly, Aphrodite is the one that sticks with her and has her back when no one else does. She was great.

     So while this book just falls short, it's still better than the last few books. That's not saying it's all that much to be proud or going home to tell everyone about. Zoey is by far one of the weakest representations of her character and she falls short is this novel hard. I almost stopped reading the series (the marathon) because of how bad she is in this one book. However Stevie Rae's dilemma and Aphrodite's great character transition that give this book some life. I will finish my marathon, I just hope I don't want to strangle Zoey or any of the close circle before the end.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #115

     Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!


Title: The Wicked Will Rise
   Author: Danielle Paige
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 31st, 2015

     In this dark, high-octane sequel to the New York Times bestselling Dorothy Must Die, Amy Gumm must do everything in her power to kill Dorothy and free Oz.


     To make Oz a free land again, Amy Gumm was given a mission: remove the Tin Woodman’s heart, steal the Scarecrow’s brain, take the Lion’s courage, and then Dorothy must die....

     But Dorothy still lives. Now the Revolutionary Order of the Wicked has vanished, and mysterious Princess Ozma might be Amy’s only ally. As Amy learns the truth about her mission, she realizes that she’s only just scratched the surface of Oz’s past—and that Kansas, the home she couldn't wait to leave behind, may also be in danger. In a place where the line between good and evil shifts with just a strong gust of wind, who can Amy trust—and who is really Wicked?

My Stance:

     This is an extra one this week, it's a bit further out and I don't normally post things this far out, but in this case it's one of those books that hit me in the chest. I was a bit of a fan of the whole Wizard of the Oz back when I was younger, now I'm not saying that I saw it over-abundantly, maybe two or three times. So, when Paige created something that twisted the old tale around. I liked the twist of the tale on how Dorothy actually doomed the land of Oz. It was one of the most unique styles of writing I have seen and the sequel doesn't stray far from it.

     Now the sequel takes off with Amy still on her mission so save Oz and kill Dorothy. The order has vanished and the princess is the only ally that's left, or so it seems. I would bet there are other allies or new characters that will appear, but that's for the story to tell. It's enjoyable watching how Amy takes the roll of a villain of sorts, and twists it a bit to make you want to read and find out what she's going to do and how she wants to save the bits. My question and maybe this is actually answered in the first book, why must Amy kill Dorothy. That's the grace I think both novels hinge on and will be what drives the stories further and further. I am curious and hope to get to the first book soon.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #114

     Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!


Title: Half Wild
   Author: Sally Green
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 24th, 2015

     "You will have a powerful Gift, but it’s how you use it that will show you to be good or bad."

     In a modern-day England where two warring factions of witches live amongst humans, seventeen-year-old Nathan is an abomination, the illegitimate son of the world's most powerful and violent witch. Nathan is hunted from all sides: nowhere is safe and no one can be trusted. Now, Nathan has come into his own unique magical Gift, and he's on the run--but the Hunters are close behind, and they will stop at nothing until they have captured Nathan and destroyed his father.

My Stance:

     So it's finally coming up, the release for one of the top - most talked about novel I've seen for a while, Half Bad. The covers are so shiny and I just didn't have time to get around to it, it is on my list and will probably be one of the books I take on my vacation to sit back on the beach and just relax with. I have always been a huge witch - sorcery fan, so when it comes to novels like that I tend to be a stickler and have high expectations of it. I just hope the first book is as good as it sounds, and from what I am hearing from the ARC reviews is a bit mixed and has me a bit worried. I have faith though.

     I don't really want to read the synopsis but I mistakenly did thinking I was on the first novel. However it really doesn't say much, I mean you get that Nathan is the son of an all-powerful witch and he's on the run from Hunters who want to do what with him? I like Nathan, he seems to be trying to find out who he is and what is is capable of, but at the same time can't trust anyone. How do you learn or try to survive without someone you trust, I mean if you were a witch/mage and didn't trust anyone, you would just try to blow up anyone that came near you. It's just so sad and lonely that I hope the story has something a bit different than what the synopsis suggests.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #113

     Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted over at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

See something you like here?
Click the book title to add it to your Goodreads TBR List!


Title: Catalyst
   Author: Lydia Kang
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 24th, 2015

     For fans of Uglies and The Maze Runner comes a complex, thrill-filled love story that will make you question exactly what it means to be human

     In the past year Zel lost her father, the boy she loves, her safety, and any future she might have imagined for herself. Now she, her sister, and the band of genetic outcasts they've come to call their family are forced on the run when their safe house is attacked by men with neural guns. But on the way to a rumored haven in Chicago, Zel hears something--a whisper from Cy, the boy who traded himself for her sister's safety. And when she veers off plan in order to search for him, what she finds is not what she expected. There's more to their genetic mutations than they ever imagined...aspects that make them wonder if they might be accepted by the outside world after all.

My Stance:

     Catalyst is the sequel to Control and yet again there is a book that I haven't gotten around to reading it. This synopsis though makes me want to read it asap. I like how the premise and how the book is setup. It looks great and the comparison to Uglies and The Maze Runner just make it that much more tempting. I am a huge fan of James Dashner and Scott Westerfeld, so it has a bit of a hefty comparison in my opinion. This book and series just sounds great, so I doubt there is much to really worry about.

     Now I am looking at the novel and while I get Zel is with her sister and she has a group of genetically altered friends/family, what I don't understand is how they are altered, which is why I should read the first book. That's not that big of a deal anyways, what confuses me is how Zel hears a whisper from Cy on their journey. It's almost telepathic of some sort, maybe it is, but at the same time is he working against Zel now? There are so many angels Kang could take this and it all sounds terrific.

[Teaser Tuesday] - #48

Hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.
  1. Take your Current Read.
  2. Grab 2 Teaser sentences from the book (please be sure to avoid spoilers)
  3. Post it on your blog with the title and author, so other Teasing Tuesday participants can add it to their To Be Read list.
  4. When visiting other Teasing Tuesday participants, leave a link with your current TT in their comments.

Title: Eve
   Author: Anne Carey
   Release Date: October 4th, 2011

     Quote: " We stayed like that, with Arden's forehead on my shoulder, until Caleb called out from the piano. 'Come on you two,' he said. 'Stop being such... girls.' He shot me a mischievous grin, his eyes shining."

--- Page 181


[Update] - 3/10/15

     I am in the progress of moving to a normal shift at work. I understand that I took last week off, it was mainly a lot of work getting ready to train someone and doing my weekly blog events. While I took the week off, I managed to do a lot of reading and been moving around and working on other things. However, I didn't manage to get anything new in, so the Mailbox Monday is a compilation of some of the older books that have come in.

     This week I am hoping to keep things a bit more up to date, while I am still working on keeping things up to date. Further, the review "By Authors" and "By Series" need a bit updating and those are the list. I also need to work on updating my amazon review account. I am looking for more topic and events to do or something to switch out with some of my less popular ones. If there are any suggestions let me know.

     As a heads up the Teaser Tuesday may be a bit late, I am a bit busy tonight, I got this short little update. I hope to get it up quickly tomorrow. Also I am cutting the book reviews I am doing back to one a week instead of two. I am running low on the back log of books I have read that need to be reviewed. I still hope to catch up and then post as I read them, but that seems a bit distance at the moment. I hope you all don't mind.

     Thanks!

[Stacking the Shelves] - #93

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

Dreams of Gods and Monsters
The Last Forever
Red Rising
Talker 25
Wanderers
Raven Flight
The Paris Mysteries
Scorpion Shards

Shelf Additions:

Title: Dreams of Gods and Monsters
   Author: Laini Taylor
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: April 8th, 2014

     By way of a staggering deception, Karou has taken control of the chimaera rebellion and is intent on steering its course away from dead-end vengeance. The future rests on her, if there can even be a future for the chimaera in war-ravaged Eretz.

     Common enemy, common cause.

     When Jael's brutal seraph army trespasses into the human world, the unthinkable becomes essential, and Karou and Akiva must ally their enemy armies against the threat. It is a twisted version of their long-ago dream, and they begin to hope that it might forge a way forward for their people.

     And, perhaps, for themselves. Toward a new way of living, and maybe even love.

     But there are bigger threats than Jael in the offing. A vicious queen is hunting Akiva, and, in the skies of Eretz ... something is happening. Massive stains are spreading like bruises from horizon to horizon; the great winged stormhunters are gathering as if summoned, ceaselessly circling, and a deep sense of wrong pervades the world.

     What power can bruise the sky?

     From the streets of Rome to the caves of the Kirin and beyond, humans, chimaera and seraphim will fight, strive, love, and die in an epic theater that transcends good and evil, right and wrong, friend and enemy.

     At the very barriers of space and time, what do gods and monsters dream of? And does anything else matter?






Title:  The Last Forever
   Author: Deb Caletti
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: April 1st, 2014

     Endings and beginnings sit so close to each other that it’s sometimes impossible to tell which is which.

     Nothing lasts forever, and no one gets that more than Tessa. After her mother died, it’s all she can do to keep her friends, her boyfriend, her happiness from slipping away. And then there’s her dad. He’s stuck in his own daze, and it’s so hard to feel like a family when their house no longer seems like a home.

     Her father’s solution? An impromptu road trip that lands them in a small coastal town at Tessa’s grandmother’s. Despite all the warmth and beauty there, Tessa can’t help but feel even more lost.

     Enter Henry Lark. He understands the relationships that matter. And more importantly, he understands her. A secret stands between them, but Tessa’s willing to do anything to bring them together—because Henry may just be her one chance at forever.






Title: Red Rising
   Author: Pierce Brown
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: January 28th, 2014

     The Earth is dying. Darrow is a Red, a miner in the interior of Mars. His mission is to extract enough precious elements to one day tame the surface of the planet and allow humans to live on it. The Reds are humanity's last hope.

     Or so it appears, until the day Darrow discovers it's all a lie. That Mars has been habitable - and inhabited - for generations, by a class of people calling themselves the Golds. A class of people who look down on Darrow and his fellows as slave labour, to be exploited and worked to death without a second thought.

     Until the day that Darrow, with the help of a mysterious group of rebels, disguises himself as a Gold and infiltrates their command school, intent on taking down his oppressors from the inside. But the command school is a battlefield - and Darrow isn't the only student with an agenda.






Title: Talker 25
   Author: Joshua McCune
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: April 22nd, 2014

     Debut author Joshua McCune's gritty and heart-pounding novel is a masterful reimagining of popular dragon fantasy lore, set in a militant future reminiscent of Paolo Bacigalupi's Ship Breaker and Ann Aguirre's Outpost.

     It's a high school prank gone horribly wrong-sneaking onto the rez to pose next to a sleeping dragon-and now senior Melissa Callahan has become an unsuspecting pawn in a war between Man and Monster, between family and friends and the dragons she has despised her whole life. Chilling, epic, and wholly original, this debut novel imagines a North America where dragons are kept on reservations, where strict blackout rules are obeyed no matter the cost, where the highly weaponized military operates in chilling secret, and where a gruesome television show called Kissing Dragons unites the population. Joshua McCune's debut novel offers action, adventure, fantasy, and a reimagining of popular dragon lore.






Title: Wanderers
   Author: Susan Kim and Laurence Klavan
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 25th, 2014

     The Emmy Award-nominee and Edgar Award-winning duo bring readers back to the Wasteland in this thrilling sequel.

     Karin Slaughter, bestselling author of Criminal, called Wasteland, "A Lord of the Flies for future generations. An irresistible page-turner."

     The former citizens of Prin are running out of time. The Source has been destroyed, so food is scarcer than ever. Tensions are rising…and then an earthquake hits.

     So Esther and Caleb hit the road, leading a ragtag caravan. Their destination? A mythical city where they hope to find food and shelter - not to mention a way to make it past age nineteen.

     On the way, alliances and romances blossom and fracture. Esther must rally to take charge with the help of a blind guide, Aras. He seems unbelievably cruel, but not everything is as it seems in the Wasteland.…

     In this sequel to Wasteland, the stakes are even higher for Esther, Caleb, and the rest of their clan. They're pinning all their hopes on the road...but what if it's the most dangerous place of all?






Title: Raven Flight
   Author: Juliet Marillier
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: July 9th, 2013

     After completing the long, weary journey to the rebel hiding ground at Shadowfell, Neryn is now a vital part of their plan to overthrow the tyrannical King Keldec. Every step she takes toward perfecting her skills as a powerful, once-in-a-generation Caller gets them closer to their goal. But first she must seek out the disparate leaders of the Good Folk to complete her training--and the time she has left is wearing thin.

     Meanwhile, Neryn's beloved, the double agent Flint, is summoned to the king's court. There the king's slipping confidence puts Flint in great danger. Yet his connection to Neryn is so strong that they reach each other in their dreams, sharing painful but precious glimpses into on another's lives. Their love is regarded warily by their rebel allies, for placing any emotion above the cold logic of the cause puts the entire movement at risk. But their bond also reveals valuable information, for the tide of the war may soon be turning...






Title: The Paris Mysteries
   Author: James Patterson and Maxine Paetro
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: October 6th, 2014

     The City of Lights sets the stage for romance, drama and intrigue in the latest Confessions novel from the world's bestselling mystery writer!

     After investigating multiple homicides and her family's decades-old skeletons in the closet, Tandy Angel is finally reunited with her lost love in Paris. But as he grows increasingly distant, Tandy is confronted with disturbing questions about him, as well as what really happened to her long-dead sister. With no way to tell anymore who in her life she can trust, how will Tandy ever get to the bottom of the countless secrets her parents kept from her? James Patterson leads this brilliant teenage detective through Paris on a trail of lies years in the making, with shocking revelations around every corner.






Title: Scorpion Shards
   Author: Neal Shusterman
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 7th, 2013

     Six teens struggle to discover the source of their strange and horrific abilities in this first book of The Star Shards Chronicles.

     Dillon has the terrifying power to create massive amounts of destruction with the slightest tweak of his will. Deanna is so consumed by fear, it has become like a black hole, drawing to her the very things that terrify her. Then, when the glare of a supernova sixteen light-years away illuminates the night sky, they have a vision: There are six of them out there, all teenagers, and all suffering from supernatural afflictions that disfigure their bodies and souls. Only by finding one another will the six ever be strong enough to defeat these mysterious forces that, bit by bit, are devouring their souls from the inside out.

     Acclaimed author Neal Shusterman “combines personal quest, horror, and science fiction into an absorbing exploration of good and evil, guilt, forgiveness and personal responsibility” (VOYA) in this thrilling start to a riveting trilogy.

[Stacking the Shelves] - #92

Stacking the Shelves is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your bookshelf, be it the physical one or your digital one!

Frostfire
Exposure
Chasing Before
The Half Life of Molly Pierce
Fuse
Rules of Summer
Beastly
Untold

Shelf Additions:

Title: Frostfire
   Author: Amanda Hocking
   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: January 6th, 2015

     Bryn Aven is an outcast among the Kanin, the most powerful of the troll tribes.

     Set apart by her heritage and her past, Bryn is a tracker who's determined to become a respected part of her world. She has just one goal: become a member of the elite King’s Guard to protect the royal family. She's not going to let anything stand in her way, not even a forbidden romance with her boss Ridley Dresden.

     But all her plans for the future are put on hold when Konstantin– a fallen hero she once loved – begins kidnapping changelings. Bryn is sent in to help stop him, but will she lose her heart in the process?






Title:  Exposure
   Author: Kathy Reichs and Brendan Reichs
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 4th, 2014

     If you like the TV show Bones (I do) or Maximum Ride, you’ll love Virals.”—James Patterson

     Another thrilling Virals adventure from New York Times bestsellers Kathy and Brendan Reichs.


     When twin classmates are abducted from Bolton Prep, Tory and the Virals decide there’s no one better equipped than them to investigate. But the gang has other problems to face. Their powers are growing wilder, and becoming harder to control. Chance Claybourne is investigating the disastrous medical experiment that twisted their DNA. The bonds that unite them are weakening, threatening the future of the pack itself.

     The Virals must decipher the clues and track down a ruthless criminal before he strikes again, all while protecting their secret from prying eyes. And everyone seems to be watching.






Title: Chasing Before
   Author: Lenore Appelhans
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: August 26th, 2014

     “I’m a ticking time bomb. And one day soon everything is going to explode.”

     Felicia and Neil have arrived in Level 3 and are supposed to prepare for their divine vocations.

     But during Felicia and Neil's training period, a series of explosions rips through Level 3. Tension is high, and casualties are mounting. A rift forms between the pair, one that grows wider when Felicia receives memories from the Morati. The memories cast doubt on the people she loves the most, but Felicia can't stop her curiosity. She has to know the truth about her life – even if it means putting at risk everything she’s worked for in her death.






Title: The Half Life of Molly Pierce
   Author: Katrina Leno
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: July 8th, 2014

     You take it for granted. Waking up. Going to school, talking to your friends. Watching a show on television or reading a book or going out to lunch.

     You take for granted going to sleep at night, getting up the next day, and remembering everything that happened to you before you closed your eyes.

     You live and you remember.

     Me, I live and I forget.

     But now—now I am remembering.


     For all of her seventeen years, Molly feels like she’s missed bits and pieces of her life. Now, she’s figuring out why. Now, she’s remembering her own secrets. And in doing so, Molly uncovers the separate life she seems to have led…and the love that she can’t let go.

     The Half Life of Molly Pierce is a suspenseful, evocative psychological mystery about uncovering the secrets of our pasts, facing the unknowns of our futures, and accepting our whole selves.






Title: Fuse
   Author: Julianna Baggott
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: February 19th, 2013

     We want our son returned. This girl is proof that we can save you all. If you ignore our plea, we will kill our hostages one at a time.

     To be a Pure is to be perfect, untouched by Detonations that scarred the earth and sheltered inside the paradise that is the Dome. But Partridge escaped to the outside world, where Wretches struggle to survive amid smoke and ash. Now, at the command of Partridge’s father, the Dome is unleashing nightmare after nightmare upon the Wretches in an effort to get him back.

     At Partridge’s side is a small band of those united against the Dome: Lyda, the warrior; Bradwell, the revolutionary; El Capitan, the guard; and Pressia, the young woman whose mysterious past ties her to Partridge in way she never could have imagined. Long ago a plan was hatched that could mean the earth’s ultimate doom. Now only Partridge and Pressia can set things right.

     To save millions of innocent lives, Partridge must risk his own by returning to the Dome and facing his most terrifying challenge. And Pressia, armed only with a mysterious Black Box, containing a set of cryptic clues, must travel to the very ends of the earth, to a place where no map can guide her. If they succeed, the world will be saved. But should they fail, humankind will pay a terrible price...






Title: Rules of Summer
   Author: Joanna Philbin
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: June 4th, 2013

     There are two sides to every summer.

     When seventeen-year-old Rory McShane steps off the bus in East Hampton, it's as if she's entered another universe, one populated by impossibly beautiful people wearing pressed khakis and driving expensive cars. She's signed on to be a summer errand girl for the Rules -- a wealthy family with an enormous beachfront mansion. Upon arrival, she's warned by other staff members to avoid socializing with the family, but Rory soon learns that may be easier said than done.

     Stifled by her friends and her family's country club scene, seventeen-year-old Isabel Rule, the youngest of the family, embarks on a breathless romance with a guy whom her parents would never approve of. It's the summer for taking chances, and Isabel is bringing Rory along for the ride. But will Rory's own summer romance jeopardize her friendship with Isabel? And, after long-hidden family secrets surface, will the Rules' picture-perfect world ever be the same?






Title: Beastly
   Author: Alex Flinn
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: October 2nd, 2007

     I am a beast.

     A beast. Not quite wolf or bear, gorilla or dog but a horrible new creature who walks upright—a creature with fangs and claws and hair springing from every pore. I am a monster.

     You think I'm talking fairy tales? No way. The place is New York City. The time is now. It's no deformity, no disease. And I'll stay this way forever—ruined—unless I can break the spell.

     Yes, the spell, the one the witch in my English class cast on me. Why did she turn me into a beast who hides by day and prowls by night? I'll tell you. I'll tell you how I used to be Kyle Kingsbury, the guy you wished you were, with money, perfect looks, and the perfect life. And then, I'll tell you how I became perfectly . . . beastly.






Title: Untold
   Author: Sarah Rees Brennan
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: September 24th, 2013

     It's time to choose sides....

     On the surface, Sorry-in-the-Vale is a sleepy English town. But Kami Glass knows the truth. Sorry-in-the-Vale is full of magic. In the old days, the Lynburn family ruled with fear, terrifying the people into submission in order to kill for blood and power. Now the Lynburns are back, and Rob Lynburn is gathering sorcerers so that the town can return to the old ways.

     But Rob and his followers aren’t the only sorcerers in town. A decision must be made: pay the blood sacrifice, or fight. For Kami, this means more than just choosing between good and evil. With her link to Jared Lynburn severed, she’s now free to love anyone she chooses. But who should that be?

     A darkly humorous take on Gothic romance, Sarah Rees Brennan's Lynburn Legacy weaves together the tale of a heroine desperate to protect those she loves, two boys hoping to be saved, and the magical forces that will shape their destiny.
 
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