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[Stacking the Shelves] - #12

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!


      Well the book scene hasn't really grown, but what has grown, in the weeks that I was off I picked up a few sets of books. I even went to Chicago and headed into Anderson's Bookshop and picked up a few new autographed books they had. I love that shop and I'd recommend anyone in the Naperville area to stop in and take a look around. Anyways, I am going to make a dent here breifly and try to catch up on the books I have gotten. I won't be buying anything New for a while 

The Edge of Nowhere
Shelter
Seconds Away
Mystic City
What’s Left of Me

Mailbox Pickup:



   Author: Elizabeth George
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 4th, 2012

     Whidbey Island may be only a ferry ride from Seattle, but it's a world apart. When Becca King arrives there, she doesn't suspect the island will become her home for the next four years. Put at risk by her ability to hear "whispers"--the thoughts of others--Becca is on the run from her stepfather, whose criminal activities she has discovered. Stranded and alone, Becca is soon befriended by Derric, a Ugandon orphan adopted by a local family; Seth, a kindhearted musician and high school dropout; Debbie, a recovering alcoholic who takes her in; and Diana, with whom Becca shares a mysterious psychic connection.

     This compelling coming-of-age story, the first of an ongoing sequence of books set on Whidbey Island, has elements of mystery, the paranormal, and romance. Elizabeth George, bestselling author of the Inspector Lynley crime novels, brings her elegant style, intricate plotting, incisive characterization, and top-notch storytelling to her first book for teens.

      I love good coming of age tales, and The Edge of Nowhere sounds a bit like one. Widbey Island just sounds like an island filled with children all with some sort of paranormal powers. I think of the British TV show Misfits for those of you who have seen it. All these children seem to have powers or abilities to do certain things, but the motives and what they do with those powers is what I'm curious on. Becca's ability to hear thoughts is pretty generic and frankly I'm more interested in seeing if I am right about the others having similar abilities.

      Becca's story sounds rather intriguing. She comes form a father who apparently is into some crime, however I just wish we knew what sort of crime he was involved in; robbery, heists, murder? I am curious to see his thoughts from her perspective, like does she translate them for us, or will they be his actual thoughts translated? There is so much more to the family and the story she has with her father, than what is being told here. As well, the story with the friends. I am curious to see all of her, and the sides of her.







Title: Shelter
   Author: Harlan Coben
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 6th, 2011

     Mickey Bolitar's year can't get much worse. After witnessing his father's death and sending his mom to rehab, he's forced to live with his estranged uncle Myron and switch high schools.

     A new school comes with new friends and new enemies, and lucky for Mickey, it also comes with a great new girlfriend, Ashley. For a while, it seems like Mickey's train-wreck of a life is finally improving - until Ashley vanishes without a trace. Unwilling to let another person walk out of his life, Mickey follows Ashley's trail into a seedy underworld that reveals that this seemingly sweet, shy girl isn't who she claimed to be. And neither was Mickey's father. Soon, Mickey learns about a conspiracy so shocking that it makes high school drama seem like a luxury - and leaves him questioning everything about the life he thought he knew.

     First introduced to readers in Harlan Coben's latest adult novel, Live Wire, Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, and eager to go to any length to save the people he cares about. With this new series, Coben introduces an entirely new generation of fans to the masterful plotting and wry humor that have made him an award-winning, internationally bestselling, and beloved author.

     Shelter surrounds a good bit of mystery and investigation bit that Harlan Coben is known for. I was first shown Seconds Away (which is following this book), I sought out Shelter to start the series. Mickey sounds like a character and I wish I would have read Live Wire now, just to be introduced to the character.

      In Shelter Mickey is supposedly calming down after a series of horrendous events, which took place in the adult book Live Wire I am assuming. However the new life with Myron seems to take a turn, and the girlfriend he thought he knew, leads him on a chase of his life. Not only will Mickey learn who his girlfriend really is in an underground world, but what secrets his father had as well. It's this type of genre that leads me into plot twists, a mystery of the world around the corner, and character deceptions. I cannot wait to get into this book and read it thoroughly.







   Author: Harlan Coben
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 18th, 2012

     This action-packed second book in international bestseller Harlan Coben’s Mickey Bolitar young adult series follows Mickey as he continues to hunt for clues about the Abeona Shelter and the mysterious death of his father—all while trying to navigate the challenges of a new high school.

     When tragedy strikes close to home, Mickey and his loyal new friends—sharp-witted Ema and the adorkably charming Spoon—find themselves at the center of a terrifying mystery involving the shooting of their classmate Rachel. Now, not only does Mickey need to keep himself and his friends safe from the Butcher of Lodz, but he needs to figure out who shot Rachel—no matter what it takes.

     Mickey Bolitar is as quick-witted and clever as his uncle Myron, but with danger just seconds away, it is going to take all of his determination and help from his friends to protect the people he loves, even if he does not know who—or what—he is protecting them from.


     Harlan Coben comes back again with Seconds Away. I haven't read the first one, and while I was turned to this book first. I am wondering if he finds his girlfriend or what happens to her in the first book. However, at the same time I guess that would be a good reason to read the first book. Harlan Coben is a great author of mystery, and I just hope Mickey Bolitar can keep my interests!






Title: Mystic City
   Author: Theo Lawrence
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: October 9th, 2009

     For fans of Matched, The Hunger Games, X-Men, and Blade Runner comes a tale of a magical city divided, a political rebellion ignited, and a love that was meant to last forever. Book One of the Mystic City Novels.

     Aria Rose, youngest scion of one of Mystic City's two ruling rival families, finds herself betrothed to Thomas Foster, the son of her parents' sworn enemies. The union of the two will end the generations-long political feud—and unite all those living in the Aeries, the privileged upper reaches of the city, against the banished mystics who dwell below in the Depths. But Aria doesn't remember falling in love with Thomas; in fact, she wakes one day with huge gaps in her memory. And she can't conceive why her parents would have agreed to unite with the Fosters in the first place. Only when Aria meets Hunter, a gorgeous rebel mystic from the Depths, does she start to have glimmers of recollection—and to understand that he holds the key to unlocking her past. The choices she makes can save or doom the city—including herself.

     Mystic City is one of those books that when I read the synopsis, I thought of the same thing that the first  paragraph said. It reminds of Matched and The Hunger Games a lot. How the city is setup and the complete dystopia of how the world is working. Two worlds, the Depths and Aeries, separate the world into two different types of financial classes.

     Aria is a Mystic that lives in the Depths and her family has betrothed her to Thomas Foster who lives in Aeries. This part reminds me of Matched a lot. The lack of choice int he matter, and to make it worst, Aria wakes up with gaps in her memory and can't remember why her parents would do anything of the sort. I have a feeling when she meets Hunter she'll realize that the Aeries people are trying to fight for power, and her. Thus, she's going to have to "fight" a war with them. I am curious to see how this book pans out!






   Author: Kat Zhang
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 18th, 2012

     I should not exist. But I do.

     Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .

     For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.


     What's Left of Me has been talked about rather heavily and I have looked forward to this book for a long time. It plays along the same lines that my book that I'm writing does. Eva and Addie seem to be in the same body, and people are born as hybrids. However, as they grow one seems to fade away. My question is what happens to those who stay as hybrids? I guess that's what we'd find out if they are caught right.

     Anyways, I was curious to see how the interaction between the two Eva and Addie was done. Because they are the same body, same vocal cords; but there are two different distinguished people in there. The interaction and how the dialogue is conveyed will be a good indicator of how good this book will be, and if the book will confuse me on who is speaking and when.

     The other thing is why do they conduct hybrids this way? Wouldn't it be better to have clones? I mean at least this way if one wasn't supposed to live longer than the other, you could quarantine one, or kill one. However, I do see where the humane bit would play into this, and that will be my guess as to why hybrids exist.  I am very curious to get into the book and just view the dialogue.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #11

          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?
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Title: Cold Days
Author: Jim Butcher
Date: November 27th, 2012

     HARRY DRESDEN LIVES!!!

     After being murdered by a mystery assailant, navigating his way through the realm between life and death, and being brought back to the mortal world, Harry realizes that maybe death wasn’t all that bad. Because he is no longer Harry Dresden, Chicago’s only professional wizard.

     He is now Harry Dresden, Winter Knight to Mab, the Queen of Air and Darkness. After Harry had no choice but to swear his fealty, Mab wasn’t about to let something as petty as death steal away the prize she had sought for so long. And now, her word is his command, no matter what she wants him to do, no matter where she wants him to go, and no matter who she wants him to kill.

     Guess which Mab wants first?

     Of course, it won’t be an ordinary, everyday assassination. Mab wants her newest minion to pull off the impossible: kill an immortal. No problem there, right? And to make matters worse, there exists a growing threat to an unfathomable source of magic that could land Harry in the sort of trouble that will make death look like a holiday.

     Beset by enemies new and old, Harry must gather his friends and allies, prevent the annihilation of countless innocents, and find a way out of his eternal subservience before his newfound powers claim the only thing he has left to call his own…

     His soul.

     A friend of mine has gotten me into the Dresden Files series, and I have to say; The series is amazing. For anyone who likes wizards and sorcery this is the best detective and wizardry series I have gotten my hands on. This isn't your Harry Potter novel, there is far more gore, emotion, lust, and death in this series, and I will suggest that most teens this won't be your style of book. These books tend to be more on the bridge of adult oriented, and teen.

     Harry Dresden for those who haven't started the series is a Wizard in Chicago, IL. He is broadcast as a Wizard Personal Investigator for all things super natural. Now, before you ask what the public things of his office and his profession; let me say that I agree with Dresden on this, most people will ignore the super natural, because it's too hard to explain and understand. Dresden more often than not, is met with hostility, suspicion that he's lying, and sometimes worst.

     I'll be honest, I haven't read the synopsis cause the series is so good, that I can't imagine spoiling any of the in between bits and pieces of the series. This is book number fourteen in the series, I believe I am currently on book number seven; HALFWAY! I absolutely love the series, they are met with great appeal and love. Jim Butcher does a great job with the plot in each book, that I haven't found a book in the series that I would say is anything less than a fantastic read. Even if books that I would say are the lower points in the series manage to keep my attention, focus me on the goal, and guide me through the events of a twisting plot unlike any book I've ever read.

     If you haven't read this series, please go out and grab Storm Front by Jim Butcher (Dresden Files #1) and give it a whirl. I guarantee you won't put the book down, and will want to grab the next part of the series. As well in, you'll marvel in how the next few books are setup in the first book. How the mythical super natural world seems to come to live in just one book. As the series goes on, you'll understand just how good Jim Butcher is at his work. I can't wait to finish the series and see what happens to Dresden.

[Flashback Friday] - #11

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

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Title:  Eragon
   Author: Christopher Paolini
   Release Date: August 26, 2003

     Fifteen-year-old Eragon believes that he is merely a poor farm boy—until his destiny as a Dragon Rider is revealed. Gifted with only an ancient sword, a loyal dragon, and sage advice from an old storyteller, Eragon is soon swept into a dangerous tapestry of magic, glory, and power. Now his choices could save—or destroy—the Empire.





My Stance:

     While I have fallen behind a bit, the list of books that I want to read, has grown. More so than the books that have recently just came out. This Wednesday segment is getting harder and harder to do, and I find that I'm not really looking at older books that I want to get my hands on. I hope to change that with time.

     With Eragon, I was shown it by my girlfriend, and while I have been looking at it. It's not on my list of books that I need to pick up and read. Not because my girlfriend will more than likely gouge my eyes out if I don't attempt to read it, but that the book sounds rather good. Eragon's always got my attention, but it's the synopsis that has held me back. There just isn't a lot from the preview of the book to try to understand or grasp my head around and for that reason I have been hesitant on it for a long while.

     I have always been a fan of books on dragons and the lore behind the creature. One of the first few books I read back in high school was Dragon's Blood. It's a book that is similar to this, but there is a few differences that I can tell already. I want to get into this book, badly and hope that it lives up to my high expectations of the book as well.

[Book Review] - Rapture by Lauren Kate

Title: Rapture
   Author: Lauren Kate
   Series: #4 - Fallen
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: June 12nd, 2012
   My Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

     The sky is dark with wings....

     Like sand through an hourglass, time is running out for Luce and Daniel. To stop Lucifer from erasing the past, they must find the place where the angels fell to earth.

     Dark forces are after them, and Daniel doesn’t know if he can do this — live only to lose Luce again and again. Yet together they face an epic battle that will end with lifeless bodies...and angel dust. Great sacrifices are made. Hearts are destroyed.

     And suddenly Luce knows what must happen. For she was meant to be with someone other than Daniel. The curse they’ve borne has always and only been about her — and the love she cast aside. The choice she makes now is the only one that truly matters.

     In the fight for Luce, who will win?

     Rapture is the astonishing conclusion to the Fallen series. Heaven can’t wait any longer.

My Review:

     Rapture was the highlight of this series and saying that, was a let down. I had figured what Luce was, who she was, and pretty much everything about her and Lucifer. The plot was just so predictable that I find it rather distasteful and by the end was rather boring. The whole story reveals a lot about Luce and her past, who she is, and what she is capable of; and let me warn you, you should be able to figure out most of those details before they actually appear in the series.

     Luce comes out of the past and knows that the reckoning is coming, when Lucifer will close the gap from the past to the future and erase the time that would have occurred in between. It would rid all the memories, experiences, people, etc. of all the that would have happened in between. The need to find the source of the fall, and stop it before Lucifer can finish his plan.

     On the journey to find the place of the Fall, the group of morons have to split up and find three artifacts. Okay I have to say, they even mention that splitting up is a bad idea, and yet they manage to split up. Luce and Daniel of course get paired together, and through finding the artifacts they realize that splitting up was a bad idea. Well DUH, you mentioned it was a bad idea, what did you think would happen? There are groups of people that want to stop them from finding the Fall, finding the pieces, so why would it be a good idea to split up?

     On another note, along the way Luce starts to has visions of her past, and realize who she is. I won't spoil this, but I knew who she was from book one and I hate to say, but when it was announced in this book, I was disappointed to find out I was right. As well, the history of the Angels is also told and that too was disappointing. I don't know why, but this book as much as it answered the questions everyone had, I had already figured everything out, and when there really wasn't a twist on that I felt let down. It was as if, something was missing from the book and I kept reading to find out more.

     Being a completionist I just had to finish the book, and while I gave it a 3.0, I plan on re-reading this series eventually and looking at the rating to see if this is justified. In this case I may be giving it too much credit. So I will state this rather openly, this may be an over inflated score on this book. Anyways, I hope this series doesn't ruin what I want out of the paranormal genre, because I just couldn't really understand with how hopeless Luce was throughout the series.

[Stacking the Shelves] - #11

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!


      I am back, I took some time off to catch up on reading, get somethings caught up and maybe have some more time to spend and inform everyone that, is still paying attention. I don't know why you are. In the time I was gone I went to chicago, I got a few new books in, and I really didn't get as much reading as I would have liked to have gotten done, done. Anyways, here we go!

Sweet Evil
Rage Within
Confessions of a
Murder Suspect
Fire
The Diviners

Mailbox Pickup:



   Author: Wendy Higgins
   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: May 1st, 2012

     Embrace the Forbidden

     What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

     This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

     Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

     Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

      Sweet Evil, when I first saw it seemed like a rather good paranormal romance novel, and I was intrigued with how it sounded and what it entailed in general. I am still curious to see what kind of person Anna is, and than Kaidan. The whole no one warned Anna about the bad boy Kaidan and some sort of rebellion or teenage angst, whatever; I am just not sure if I buy into this all the way yet or not.

     Sweet Evil, has some potential to be a good romance, I'm just not sure if I'll buy into this all the way. I love the concept and the whole precipice behind them. Going into this book with an Open mind is going to be rather difficult, but I'll try my best. There is just a lot of good paranormal romances out there, and I'm not sure if they are all for me.







Title: Rage Within
   Author: Jeyn Roberts
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 4th, 2012

     In this apocalyptic sequel to Dark Inside’s “well-balanced, realistic suspense" (Kirkus Reviews), four teens continue the struggle for survival as they face a world gone mad.

     Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael have survived the first wave of the apocalypse that wiped out most of the world’s population, and turned many of the rest into murderous Baggers. Now, they’re hiding out in an abandoned house in Vancouver with a ragtag group of surviving teens, and trying to figure out their next move.

     Aries is trying to lead, but it’s hard to be a leader when there are no easy answers, and every move feels wrong. Clementine is desperate to find her brother Heath, but it’s impossible to know where he’d be, even if he is still alive. Michael is still haunted by the memories of his actions during his harrowing struggle to survive. And Mason is struggling with something far worse: the fear that he may be a danger to his friends.

     As the Baggers begin to create a new world order, Aries, Clementine, Mason and Michael will have to trust and rely on each other in order to survive.

     Here comes a powerful book, Rage Within being the sequel to Dark Inside is going to keep me on the edge of my seat for the entire book, I hope. Dark Inside, I haven't gotten around to, and again I hate to say it I can't really testify to how good this will be. Its on my list soon, so I hope to get around to this book soon!







   Author: James Patterson
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 24th, 2012

     James Patterson returns to the genre that made him famous with a thrilling teen detective series about the mysterious and magnificently wealthy Angel family . . . and the dark secrets they're keeping from one another.

     On the night Malcolm and Maud Angel are murdered, Tandy Angel knows just three things: 1) She was the last person to see her parents alive. 2) The police have no suspects besides Tandy and her three siblings. 3) She can't trust anyone--maybe not even herself. Having grown up under Malcolm and Maud's intense perfectionist demands, no child comes away undamaged. Tandy decides that she will have to clear the family name, but digging deeper into her powerful parents' affairs is a dangerous-and revealing-game. Who knows what the Angels are truly capable of?


     James Patterson returns, The Angel family has suffered a rather large tragedy. When Tandy is suspected for the murder of her two parents and being one of the last few that have seen them. Tandy has to solve their person murder and who can she turn to, to trust.

     I am highly interested in cracking this book open. I have a few friends who are in police academy. This book focuses more on a teen vigilante that has to solve her parents murder. Not only does she have to clear her family name, but there is also risks to digging into her family past and what they are capable of.






Title: Fire
   Author: Kristin Cashore
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: October 5th, 2009

     It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

     This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

     Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

     If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

     This book is a companion to Graceling and was referred to me by a friend. Kristin Cashore was claimed to be a good fantasy and adventure author, and Graceling was a good start to get into the genre. Fire expands, where Graceling leaves off, and expands on the story. Fire is a monster who is monster who is faced with a dilemma on who she wants to be, and what she wants to be herself. She is forced with a coming of age story that fills the Graceling universe. 






Title: The Diviners
   Author: Libba Bray
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 18th, 2012

     Evie O'Neill has been exiled from her boring old hometown and shipped off to the bustling streets of New York City--and she is pos-i-toot-ly thrilled. New York is the city of speakeasies, shopping, and movie palaces! Soon enough, Evie is running with glamorous Ziegfield girls and rakish pickpockets. The only catch is Evie has to live with her Uncle Will, curator of The Museum of American Folklore, Superstition, and the Occult--also known as "The Museum of the Creepy Crawlies."

     When a rash of occult-based murders comes to light, Evie and her uncle are right in the thick of the investigation. And through it all, Evie has a secret: a mysterious power that could help catch the killer--if he doesn't catch her first


     The Diviners is another book that I picked up the same time I got Confessions of a Murder Suspect. This book, has the same type of investigation type aspect to it and drew me into the book. As well, Evie is in a different position, than Tandy in Confessions of a Murder Suspect. Evie seems to want to help the investigator. As well, Evie seems to possess a secret that could help catch the killer.

     This book is rather large, and is very intimidating. I just hope the story and the plot has a decent. I just don't want to spend time getting involved into this book and abandon it halfway through it. As well, the biggest downfall to this book, is how the murders are committed, the types of murder, but the main concern is how the plot moves. I hope the plot moves along rather decently, if the plot moves too fast or too slow, the book will lose it's potential.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #10

          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!


     From one of my favorite strong female characters, Saba comes back this time in Rebel Heart. A book about a fierce girl who fights not only with the people around her and the support of her younger sister, but with her own life and heart on the line. Not many characters in book do you feel that raw need to push themselves to that limit and want more out of their pursuit. I encourage everyone to read Blood Red Road first before looking deeply into this book.



Title: Rebel Heart
Author: Moira Young
Date: October 30th, 2012

     It seemed so simple: Defeat the Tonton, rescue her kidnapped brother, Lugh, and then order would be restored to Saba’s world. Simplicity, however, has proved to be elusive. Now, Saba and her family travel west, headed for a better life and a longed-for reunion with Jack. But the fight for Lugh’s freedom has unleashed a new power in the dust lands, and a formidable new enemy is on the rise.

     What is the truth about Jack? And how far will Saba go to get what she wants? In this much-anticipated follow-up to the riveting Blood Red Road, a fierce heroine finds herself at the crossroads of danger and destiny, betrayal and passion.

     Blood Red Road held true with one of the fiercest and strongest female characters (Saba) since The Hunger Games for me. I loved Saba, and Jack had this mysteriousness about him that allured everyone to him. I am still curious about who Jack is and what Saba wants to do now that her brother is safe, her family is back together.

     From the look of everything there seems to be more to Jack this time around. And if I am correct, Saba goes after and seeks to get him back, which I'm sorry she shouldn't have left him in the first place. If she did care about him as much as she did in the first book, than there is no doubt in my mind what I would have done and what I believe the correct response should have been. On the other hand though, she does have her family to take care of, but couldn't they have came as well?

     Anyways, there is a slight rumor going around of a spoiler, how Saba sleeps with someone other than Jack. I'm not sure how valid that is, and frankly either way, there is just something about how that breaks my heart. There is just something wrong with how authors want to add drama into a book by involving infidelity or the lovely love triangle. Trust me, there is much more to a book and many other differing ways to create invoking and emotionally deep plot twists without involving those two ploys. It really pains me to see authors do that, and that's why I dearly hope that rumor is false.

     Either way, that rumor and that whole idea won't stop me from picking the book up. The cover is rather lame as compared to the last one, and I hope that this isn't the true final cover. I want something more substantial out of Jack. Jack is just too much of a mystery that this paints him too clear for me. GIVE ME MOAR!

[Special] - The Spindlers by Lauren Oliver

Special Posting:

     Well I don't do this often, but I wanted to reach out and thank those at Harper Collins, Lauren Oliver, and whoever else went into the giveaway over on Goodreads. I am a huge Lauren Oliver fan, and why this book (The Sprindlers) is well below my age range in books I would normally read; I just couldn't pass up the chance to pick up a book that was done by her, and open it's cover. I read the first page and it has her flair and finesse, I just can't wait to get into it. As well I would love to introduce this book, and author to any other young reader that hasn't stumbled upon her work yet. I find that Lauren Olivers creativity and her ability to appease not only to a young adult audience, but she also has a younger audience than that as well.


   Author: Lauren Oliver
   Format: ARC
   Release Date: October 2nd, 2012

     One night when Liza went to bed, Patrick was her chubby, stubby, candy-grubbing and pancake-loving younger brother, who irritated and amused her both, and the next morning, when she woke up, he was not. In fact, he was quite, quite different.

     When Liza's brother, Patrick, changes overnight, Liza knows exactly what has happened: The spindlers have gotten to him and stolen his soul.

     She knows, too, that she is the only one who can save him.

     To rescue Patrick, Liza must go Below, armed with little more than her wits and a broom. There, she uncovers a vast world populated with talking rats, music-loving moles, greedy troglods, and overexcitable nids . . . as well as terrible dangers. But she will face her greatest challenge at the spindlers' nests, where she encounters the evil queen and must pass a series of deadly tests--or else her soul, too, will remain Below forever.

     From "New York Times" best-selling author Lauren Oliver comes a bewitching story about the reaches of loyalty, the meaning of love, and the enduring power of hope.

[Flashback Friday] - #10


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

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   Author: Maggie Stiefvater
   Release Date: October 11th, 2011

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

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

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


My Stance:

     The Scorpio Races has this Hunger Games appeal that when I first read it I couldn't think of anything but how much it sounded similar. Even the whole entertainment, or sicking thought of people watching in enjoyment  as people died in the games, both of these books are so similar. I just hope this can live up to the comparison, however at the same time, the author behind this book is none other than Maggie Stiefvater.

     Many of you may know Maggie from the Wolves of Mercy series, which I want to get around to purchasing some time and delve into its pages. As well, I would love to get into this book. Maggie seems to have this eye for a good plot and a good sound story that people can't seem to get enough of. I'm not sure of the following Maggie has, but something tells me these books may make me one of them eventually.

     Enough about the author, lets talk about the book. Sean and Puck, I have this feeling there is going to be some alliance between these two competitors. Maybe even a relationship neither of them expect at the time going into the races, and much like Peeta and Katniss in The Hunger Games will be faced with a life or death situation. It all points to that based on the synopsis so far, and then there is the whole why does Puck go in? I mean she enters, but WHY? There is no reason, it's not like she wakes up and goes hey... I want to risk my life to win a race, just because.

     As well, the water horses sound intriguing. I mean who can come up with horses made of water or reside in water or something of the sort, and pull them into a ravenous race. I want to know more about these animals and what do they have to go through to race. Are these water horses similar to horses that we all think about? There is just so much potential, I just hope the book and the ideas don't weigh it down too much.

[Book Review] - Between Shades of Gray by Ruta Sepetys

   Author: Ruta Sepetys
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 22nd, 2011
   My Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

     Lina is just like any other fifteen-year-old Lithuanian girl in 1941. She paints, she draws, she gets crushes on boys. Until one night when Soviet officers barge into her home, tearing her family from the comfortable life they've known. Separated from her father, forced onto a crowded and dirty train car, Lina, her mother, and her young brother slowly make their way north, crossing the Arctic Circle, to a work camp in the coldest reaches of Siberia. Here they are forced, under Stalin's orders, to dig for beets and fight for their lives under the cruelest of conditions.

     Lina finds solace in her art, meticulously--and at great risk--documenting events by drawing, hoping these messages will make their way to her father's prison camp to let him know they are still alive. It is a long and harrowing journey, spanning years and covering 6,500 miles, but it is through incredible strength, love, and hope that Lina ultimately survives. Between Shades of Gray is a novel that will steal your breath and capture your heart.

My Review:

     Between Shades of Gray is one of those books that will not only tear into your heart, but devour it. When I started this book I kind of understood what I was getting into, but there was no preparing for what was coming. Ruta Sepetys, you created a beast with this book, and what I mean by that is there is history and some truth in this book, however, there is enough indulgence and intriguing facts and bemusing twists that keep my eyes wet.

     Lina coming from Lithuania in 1941, is ripped from her home by the SKVD, the Soviet Union army. A world where she never knew would exist, she is forced from her boy chasing life. Into the world of a slavery, she's trucked off to a camp where a world of men and cruelty in ways I could only have imagined happen to her. There is something about this book that tears into the heart, and if there's not a compassionate heart in the reader this may not be the best pick, but it will enlighten.

     Lina's goal of reaching her father, the driving force in every young women's life. It drives her, but not only in her need to reach him, but her desire for art. The work she creates, the need to believe is conveyed through everything she draws. With Ruta's help there's a world conveyed in her words, an art of themselves and I would go so far as to say that Lina lives within her.

     Along the way there is a love that grows between Lina and Andruis. A love that I found myself pulled into, a love that even through all the hard times, you wish would keep going, wish would grow and live on and make it through everything. I found myself yearning for more of these love affairs, wanting to see more. And yet when there seemed to be more on the way, the Soviet had other things to say.

     Between Shades of Gray is a literary work of art. There is an eye opening expanse of history here, a world in which only few of us will ever know, and Ruta brings it to life. I applaud her, I give her far more than what she's given credit for. I wish her the best, and for her work in this book I encourage any History teacher or any English teacher to pick this book up, give if a read, and please pass it along to a classroom. It deserves it.

[Stacking the Shelves] - #10

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!


      I know I am a bit behind on what I've been trying to get done this week, and I apologize. Getting things around, and having other things keeping me busy have kept me away from the book land for a while. I am sincerely sorry for that, and I hope you forgive me. However, I haven't forgotten I am working on releasing all the same things I should have been, within the next twenty-four hours. So here is the first...

Angelfall
Cracked Up to Be
Origin
Entice
Ten

Mailbox Pickup:



Title:Angelfall
   Author: Susan Ee
   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: February 14th, 2012

     It’s been six weeks since angels of the apocalypse descended to demolish the modern world. Street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night. When warrior angels fly away with a helpless little girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back.

     Anything, including making a deal with an enemy angel.

     Raffe is a warrior who lies broken and wingless on the street. After eons of fighting his own battles, he finds himself being rescued from a desperate situation by a half-starved teenage girl.

     Traveling through a dark and twisted Northern California, they have only each other to rely on for survival. Together, they journey toward the angels’ stronghold in San Francisco where she’ll risk everything to rescue her sister and he’ll put himself at the mercy of his greatest enemies for the chance to be made whole again.

      Angelfall has been recommended to me time and time again, has been on my wishlist for ages, and when I finally had some spare cash there wasn't a stop. There was something about this book, something that told me the typical idea of Angels saving everyone that went out the window with this book. Angelfall presents Angels as kidnappers, dark and sinister, and possibly far worse. Which for most angel books, is far far different.

      The story doesn't end there. Raffe is a fallen Angel who wants to be made whole again, and then there is Penryn a girl who wants more than anything to get her sister back. Penryn's sister was taken by Angels. My question is why did they take Penryn's sister? There was something there, and when the two Raffe and Penryn meet up, they both are on a mission but to what ends will they go to see it to the end?







   Author: Courtney Summers
   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: December 23rd, 2008

     When "Perfect" Parker Fadley starts drinking at school and failing her classes, all of St. Peter's High goes on alert. How has the cheerleading captain, girlfriend of the most popular guy in school, consummate teacher's pet, and future valedictorian fallen so far from grace?

     Parker doesn't want to talk about it. She'd just like to be left alone, to disappear, to be ignored. But her parents have placed her on suicide watch and her counselors are demanding the truth. Worse, there's a nice guy falling in love with her and he's making her feel things again when she'd really rather not be feeling anything at all.

     Nobody would have guessed she'd turn out like this. But nobody knows the truth.

     Something horrible has happened, and it just might be her fault.

     Cracked Up to Be has me interested and was part of a monthly read from the book club I am part of. I haven't gotten around to it and just recently picked it up. I am a huge fan of Courtney Summers and after the book This is not a Test there is every reason to. Cracked Up to Be has this high school dilemma, the perfect girl goes through something that changes her forever. Instead of facing it head on, she wants to be ignored wants to fade away into nothingness. However everyone around her seems to have other plans for her.







Title:Origin
   Author: Jessica Khoury
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 4th, 2012

     Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

     Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

     Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.


     Origin appeared on the shelf of a local Walmart and when I read the inside cover I couldn't help myself. I want to know more about Pia and Eio. Pia coming from a jungle where her hole in laboratory, Eio from a nearby village. My inquiry into this book comes to Eio, where I wonder if he's from like a wild native indian-like tribe, or is it something like a city whose moved to the wild and has a village nearby this laboratory. And Pia, why was she left alone, this will more than likely be answered when I get to read the book.






Title: Entice
   Author: Jessica Shirvington
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 4th, 2012

     Violet Eden is Grigori - part angel, part human. Her destiny is to protect humans from the vengence of exiled angels.

     Knowing who to trust is key but, when Grigori reinforcements arrive, it becomes clear everyone is hiding something. Even Lincoln. The only thing Violet does know: Phoenix's hold over her is more dangerous than ever.

     The race to find the one thing that could tilt the balance of power brings them all to the sacred mountains of Jordan, where Violet's power will be pushed to the extreme. And the ultimate betrayal exposed.

     Entice was a book, that came more or less out of a spur of the moment. I have the first book, Embrace of the series. I was looking for it and was hoping to get around to it. The pull to this book, is it reminds me so much of the Fallen series. I can hope this passes the Fallen series, it's not that I dislike the fallen series at all; it's more of I am always hoping the best for books. The Embrace series pulls in a girl Violet as a Grigori, an angel/human who wants to protect and save humans.






Title: Ten
   Author: Gretchen McNeil
   Format: Hardback
   Release Date: September 18th, 2012

     And their doom comes swiftly.

     It was supposed to be the weekend of their lives—an exclusive house party on Henry Island. Best friends Meg and Minnie each have their reasons for being there (which involve T.J., the school’s most eligible bachelor) and look forward to three glorious days of boys, booze and fun-filled luxury.

     But what they expect is definitely not what they get, and what starts out as fun turns dark and twisted after the discovery of a DVD with a sinister message: Vengeance is mine.

     Suddenly people are dying, and with a storm raging, the teens are cut off from the outside world. No electricity, no phones, no internet, and a ferry that isn’t scheduled to return for two days. As the deaths become more violent and the teens turn on each other, can Meg find the killer before more people die? Or is the killer closer to her than she could ever imagine?


     Ten has an appeal like any other, a story about a weekend in which Meg and Minnie are on vacation in hopes of more than just a good time. However, things drastically change. A mystery unravels around the whole boat as Vengeance wrecks havoc everyone. People dying all over the place with the two teens trying to figure out who is killing people, and why. My best inclination is that the book being told from Meg's perspective, there for me is only one possible solution to who the killer is. So here is my guess before opening the book, Minnie.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #9

               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?
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     The Casual Vacancy is done by a rather good author, and a lot of you may know her. J.K. Rowling. I want to get my hands on this book and devour it's pages! It has so much potential and such a great author behind it. The only downfall of it right now is the debut into the adult book genre. We'll see though!



Author: J.K. Rowling
Date: September 27th, 2012

     When Barry Fairbrother dies in his early forties, the town of Pagford is left in shock.

     Pagford is, seemingly, an English idyll, with a cobbled market square and an ancient abbey, but what lies behind the pretty façade is a town at war.

     Rich at war with poor, teenagers at war with their parents, wives at war with their husbands, teachers at war with their pupils...Pagford is not what it first seems.

     And the empty seat left by Barry on the parish council soon becomes the catalyst for the biggest war the town has yet seen. Who will triumph in an election fraught with passion, duplicity and unexpected revelations?

     The Casual Vacancy has all the power of a great author behind it, and I have extremely high hopes for this book. Coming from J.K. Rowling (creator of the Harry Potter series), this book just oozes with excellence. The synopsis of this book sounds amazing. A town that is completely split by war, a town that seems to struggle on every level, and no one seems to get along.

     I am wondering who the main character is in this book though. Is there one? There just doesn't seem to be any character information, who is involved in this series? We only have one name Barry Fairbrother, and I have to say that the last name is complete ridiculous. Maybe I was jumping the gun on this book, many there should be some doubts when placed on this book. I mean the Harry Potter series took off, and who knows maybe she had an "off" book and this is it. Who knows? But the lack of character information is rather bothersome.

[Flashback Friday] - #9

Flashback Friday is a weekly event, hosted here, that highlights a past released 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:  Ashes
   Author: Ilsa J. Bick
   Release Date: September 6th, 2011

     It could happen tomorrow . . .

     An electromagnetic pulse flashes across the sky, destroying every electronic device, wiping out every computerized system, and killing billions.

     Alex hiked into the woods to say good-bye to her dead parents and her personal demons. Now desperate to find out what happened after the pulse crushes her to the ground, Alex meets up with Tom—a young soldier—and Ellie, a girl whose grandfather was killed by the EMP.

     For this improvised family and the others who are spared, it’s now a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human.


My Stance:

     This week I have fallen behind, I apologize for that. I am in the process of trying to finish The Kill Order and get back on track of things, but I just haven't had the time. Anyways I know that Wednesday has gone and past, but I wanted to give you a look into a book that I've been dying to get my hands on, sorry for the pun.

     Ashes, is one of those books that has me a bit hyped up, there is so much potential in this book. In the process of reading The Kill Order there is a bit of similarity or sounds like there is. I hope that there is some government or group that caused the EMP. There would be a lot of drama and more questions to be answered if that was the case. Because right now it is just a simple question of what caused the EMP. I mean that's where the only starting point is, figure out what caused it and than who and why goes from there.

     Then there is this improvised family stuck in all this human / in-human things. I'm not sure if there is zombies, but this would be a good book to put them in. However, I don't want this to be a casual run-from-zombie book. I want the zombies to be feared, I want to feel afraid and shake while reading this book if that's the case. However, I get the feeling that won't be happening with this book. As well I hope that the improvised family knowingly fears the zombies, which will happen. I just want more out of the zombies or whatever it is out of this book than what will probably be there.
 
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