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[Update] - 12/28/2014

     I find I am doing these updates to let everyone know that I am still around. I know that I've not posted since the beginning of the month. While I wish I could say that I've been writing, reading a bunch of books, or working on something super amazing. But frankly, it's been more work than anything. The night lady that paginates our paper, up and quit so I'm working nights more starting now. I am not sure how tired/busy I will be in the upcoming weeks.

     I am working still on trying to get the B&N / Amazon wishlist up and whatnot, but I don't have a time frame on that yet. Further, I want to redo the layout a bit, I just don't like how this one lacks the control (how many posts show up at any given time) on my end. I am looking for something clean, looks good, and functions well. If you have any ideas let me know. As well, I will be putting up a bookhaul on my twitter and here later (as in, Today or Tomorrow). I hope you all had a great holiday, and drive safe over the New Years. Thanks!

[Book Review] - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Title: Gone Girl
   Author: Gillian Flynn
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 24th, 2012
   My Rating: 5.0 out of 5.0

     On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne's fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick's clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn't doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife's head, but passages from Amy's diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media--as well as Amy's fiercely doting parents--the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly evasive, and he's definitely bitter--but is he really a killer?

     As the cops close in, every couple in town is soon wondering how well they know the one that they love. With his twin sister, Margo, at his side, Nick stands by his innocence. Trouble is, if Nick didn't do it, where is that beautiful wife? And what was in that silvery gift box hidden in the back of her bedroom closet?

My Review:

     This book was one that blew my mind. There aren't many mystery books that I really get into, well okay this really isn't so much of a mystery as a psychological thriller. Nick and Amy are a gorgeous mess, and how you feel for the characters changes constantly. I found myself hating Nick and then feeling sorry for him then hating him again. This book just took my breath away and as many of you have read from my movie review, that won't be surprising.

     Nick is an unemployed magazine writer, and just after the collapse of the journalism field, him and his wife are left reeling. Now I am not saying that they are hurting for money, but they are left with a lot of free time they don't know what to do with. Each have their own way of dealing with it, but it causes a strain on their marriage and Amy is just victimized (or is she?). I don't want to explain much about the two but I will explain what I think their personalities are:

     Nick is used to being front and center, so he needs to be appreciated, and wants to be noticed. Time and time again he buys random things with Amy's credit cards. He isn't a womanizer, at least at first, I think as their marriage strains and pressure rises it rises into question. However what to take out of the whole bit is he loves Amy through their marriage, he just gets a bit bored. Nowadays that's common, but Nick doesn't go about it the moral or ethical way. Nick isn't perfect, and while he tries to appear perfect, I don't think he wants to be perfect.

     On the other hand we have Amy. She's the only child of an overly wealthy family whose parents have written some good children books. They leave her with a trust fund that will pretty much settle Amy's lifestyle for good. However, Amy is constantly compared to those books, and even if she isn't known for being perfect, I think she tries her best to be perfect. She wants people to notice her and not her books, which may be saying too much. I love Amy, she's great and while she's almost the near polar opposite of Nick they fit together.

     I wanted this book to be a mystery, but frankly it's pieces of a mystery that are thrown together around a thriller. How the story jumps between Nick and Amy's diary is fantastic at showing the present and the how Amy came up to being dead and resenting Nick. I love the story and while Nick isn't the best character, the way the story revolves around him, humanizing him makes the story so much better. There is a great twist, that I can't even touch, because it'd be a rather large thriller, I just hope you give the book a chance and read it.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #88

     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: Gathering Darkness
   Author: Morgan Rhodes
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: December 9th, 2014

     In GATHERING DARKNESS, book three of the New York Times bestselling Falling Kingdoms series, the stakes have never been higher as three teams push forward on a race to find the Kindred, the four elemental crystals possessing ancient all-powerful magic, first:

     Prince Magnus has just witnessed torture, death, and miracles during the bloody confrontation that decimated the rebel forces. Now he must choose between family and justice as his father, the cruel King Gaius, sets out to conquer all of Mytica. All Gaius needs now are the Kindred - the four elemental crystals that give godlike powers to their owner. But the King of Blood is not the only one hunting for this ancient, storied magic...

     • THE KRAESHIANS join the hunt. Ashur and Amara, the royal siblings from the wealthy kingdom across the Silver Sea, charm and manipulate their way to the Kindred, proving to be more ruthless than perhaps even the King of Blood himself.

     • THE REBELS forge ahead. Princess Cleo and vengeful Jonas lead them, slaying with sweetness, skill, and a secret that can control Lucia's overpowering magic - all so they can use the Kindred to win back their fallen kingdoms.

     • THE WATCHERS follow Melenia out of the Sanctuary. They ally in the flesh with King Gaius, who vows to use Lucia's powers to unveil the Kindred.

     The only certainty in the dark times is that whoever finds the magic first will control the fate of Mytica... but fate can be fickle when magic is involved.

My Stance:

     The third installment in The Falling Kingdoms series is coming out next week and while I have only read the first book. That book got me into fantasy faster than any other book prior. I love Melina Marchetta but Morgan Rhodes just does such a great job managing multiple groups and allowing the reader to understand what their culture/lifestyle is like, and why they act in certain ways. How the three integrated together and how they all were part of a war brewing just drove me insane int hat world, I loved it.

     I highly anticipate this book to do well, I love how she's on the same track and the second book is high on my TBR list. In fact, I think I think it's next after the book I am on. I honestly can't wait to binge the two together so I may hold off till it comes out. If you want a fantasy book that's just spectacular, this would be the one.

[Book Review] - Skylark by Meagan Spooner

Title: Skylark
   Author: Meagan Spooner
   Series: #1 - Skylark
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: August 1st, 2012
   My Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

     Sixteen-year-old Lark Ainsley has never seen the sky.

     Her world ends at the edge of the vast domed barrier of energy enclosing all that’s left of humanity. For two hundred years the city has sustained this barrier by harvesting its children's innate magical energy when they reach adolescence. When it’s Lark’s turn to be harvested, she finds herself trapped in a nightmarish web of experiments and learns she is something out of legend itself: a Renewable, able to regenerate her own power after it’s been stripped.

     Forced to flee the only home she knows to avoid life as a human battery, Lark must fight her way through the terrible wilderness beyond the edge of the world. With the city’s clockwork creations close on her heels and a strange wild boy stalking her in the countryside, she must move quickly if she is to have any hope of survival. She’s heard the stories that somewhere to the west are others like her, hidden in secret—but can she stay alive long enough to find them?

My Review:

    Skylark wasn't really what I thought I was reading when I started. However it was one of those books that made me angry to a point. Truth is this book could have been better, could have expanded more; the originality was there. I love how the author almost made it, almost picked up what I thought would be there, but frankly just wasn't. The characters were a bit lacking, and while I don't completely understand what was going on with Lark, it was only slight.

     The world is far different. The old style world was refreshing and I enjoyed it, however the city is encased in a magic barrier that keeps the evils out. Once someone leaves they can't come back in. The barrier is powered by the children. Everyone is born with this energy that at a mature age they are stripped to help power the barrier and given a place to work in the city, rite of passage. However, Lark is the exception and  proves to change how the world works.

     Lark is energetic and realistic. However sometimes her actions and feelings are a bit different from what I thought would be norm. She is a Renewable, a person who can regenerate their energy, but there is just something more to her being able to renew herself. Her ideal and dreams of being normal are quickly shattered when the realization of what the city does with Renewables leaves her with no choice but to run.

     This is the part of the book that I found slightly boring. Yea the premise and the whole setup (wrapping) is original, but the general plot and theme is so straight forward it's borderline sleep inducing. I wanted something that added depth, but this just seemed to guide you to the inevitable. The outside world wasn't all that original, aside the other barriers that held time locked worlds to other places. There were parts of the book that I just feel in love with and at others I literally fell asleep with the book in my hands.

     In the outside world there are these wild cannibal type humans who are almost like zombies. Oren finds her along the way and helps her, but there is more to him than meets the eye. Nix is another little creature, a flying steampunk sort of robot that tends to aid in Lark's personality more than anything. Nix is great for enlightenment and just getting a good joke/comical moment in. Neither of these characters really brought the life to the book that I was looking for.

     I will say this, the book will hinge completely on your style of book. This book wasn't my entire pace or what I would normally be into, and I tried to look past that and give it a honest review aside my personal preference. It's a bit slower and tends to build more, but I just couldn't get into the style/pace of this. I would be a bit hesitant and look thoroughly through some of it before really diving headfirst into it. 

[Teaser Tuesday] - #38

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: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight
   Author: Jennifer E. Smith
   Release Date: January 2nd, 2012

     Quote: "Hadley in sleep: drifting, dreaming. In the small, faraway corners of her mind - humming, even as the rest of her has gone limp with exhaustion - she's on another flight, the one she missed, three hours farther along and seated beside a middle-aged man with a twitching mustache who sneezes and flinches his way across the Atlantic, never saying a word to her as she grows ever more anxious, her hand pressed against the window, where beyond the glass there is nothing but nothing but nothing."

--- Page 69


[Stacking the Shelves] - #82

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!

The Retribution of Mara Dyer
Snow Like Ashes
A Thousand Pieces of You
Forbidden
Sometimes It Happens
Fragile Eternity
Possess
Spells

Shelf Additions:

Title: The Retribution of Mara Dyer
   Author: Michelle Hodkin
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: November 4th, 2014

     Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
     There is.

     She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
     She should.

     She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
     She will now.

     Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.

     Retribution has arrived.






Title:  Snow Like Ashes
   Author: Sara Raasch
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: October 14th, 2014

     A heartbroken girl. A fierce warrior. A hero in the making.

     Sixteen years ago the Kingdom of Winter was conquered and its citizens enslaved, leaving them without magic or a monarch. Now, the Winterians’ only hope for freedom is the eight survivors who managed to escape, and who have been waiting for the opportunity to steal back Winter’s magic and rebuild the kingdom ever since.

     Orphaned as an infant during Winter’s defeat, Meira has lived her whole life as a refugee, raised by the Winterians’ general, Sir. Training to be a warrior—and desperately in love with her best friend, and future king, Mather — she would do anything to help her kingdom rise to power again.

     So when scouts discover the location of the ancient locket that can restore Winter’s magic, Meira decides to go after it herself. Finally, she’s scaling towers, fighting enemy soldiers, and serving her kingdom just as she’s always dreamed she would. But the mission doesn’t go as planned, and Meira soon finds herself thrust into a world of evil magic and dangerous politics – and ultimately comes to realize that her destiny is not, never has been, her own.






Title: A Thousand Pieces of You
   Author: Claudia Gray
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: November 4th, 2014

     Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.

     Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.

     Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.

     A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.






Title: Forbidden
   Author: Kimberly Griffiths Little
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: June 11th, 2013

     In the unforgiving Mesopotamian desert where Jayden’s tribe lives, betrothal celebrations abound, and tonight it is Jayden’s turn to be honored. But while this union with Horeb, the son of her tribe’s leader, will bring a life of riches and restore her family’s position within the tribe, it will come at the price of Jayden’s heart.

     Then a shadowy boy from the Southern Lands appears. Handsome and mysterious, Kadesh fills Jayden’s heart with a passion she never knew possible. But with Horeb’s increasingly violent threats haunting Jayden’s every move, she knows she must find a way to escape—or die trying.

     With a forbidden romance blossoming in her heart and her family’s survival on the line, Jayden must embark on a deadly journey to save the ones she loves—and find a true love for herself.

     Set against the brilliant backdrop of the sprawling desert, the story of Jayden and Kadesh will leave readers absolutely breathless as they defy the odds and risk it all to be together.






Title: Sometimes It Happens
   Author: Lauren Barnholdt
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: July 11th, 2011

     This novel opens on the first day of Hannah's senior year, but the story really starts on the last day of her junior year. That's when Hannah not only gets dumped by her boyfriend, Ryan, but she also finds out her best friend, Ava, is going to be gone for the entire summer. But Ava's boyfriend, Noah, is definitely around--and such a good guy that he snags Hannah a job at the diner where he works. Hannah and Noah move from coworkers, to friends....and one night, to something more.

     Now it's back to school, where Hannah will see Ryan, Ava, and Noah all in one place. Over the course of the day secrets and betrayals are revealed, and alliances are broken and reformed. In the end, Hannah will learn a lot about love, friendship...and herself.






Title: Fragile Eternity
   Author: Melissa Marr
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: April 21st, 2009

     Seth never expected he would want to settle down with anyone - but that was before Aislinn. She is everything he'd ever dreamed of, and he wants to be with her forever. Forever takes on new meaning, though, when your girlfriend is an immortal faery queen.

     Aislinn never expected to rule the very creatures who'd always terrified her - but that was before Keenan. He stole her mortality to make her a monarch, and now she faces challenges and enticements beyond any she'd ever imagined.


     In Melissa Marr's third mesmerizing tale of Faerie, Seth and Aislinn struggle to stay true to themselves and each other in a milieu of shadowy rules and shifting allegiances, where old friends become new enemies and one wrong move could plunge the Earth into chaos.






Title: Possess
   Author: Gretchen McNeil
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: August 23rd, 2011

     Rule #1: Do not show fear.
     Rule #2: Do not show pity.
     Rule #3: Do not engage.
     Rule #4: Do not let your guard down.
     Rule #5: They lie.


     Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from.

     Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king.






Title: Spells
   Author: Aprilynne Pike
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: May 4th, 2010

     "I can't just storm in and proclaim my intentions. I can't 'steal' you away. I just have to wait and hope that, someday, you'll ask," Tamani said.

     "And if I don't?" Laurel said, her voice barely above a whisper.

     "Then I guess I'll be waiting forever."


     Although Laurel has come to accept her true identity as a faerie, she refuses to turn her back on her human life - and especially her boyfriend, David - to return to the faerie world.

     But when she is summoned to Avalon, Laurel's feelings for the charismatic faerie sentry Tamani are undeniable. She is forced to make a choice - a choice that could break her heart.

[Update] - 12/1/2014

     I want to first say to everyone, "I am indeed still alive." Two weeks ago I kinda stopped blogging mid-week. I got the flu and just slept for most of the remaining week. I am better now and I had a great Thanksgiving. Which brings me to last week, I took it off to be be with my family and have a good time. I appreciate everyone who still stopped by to see if anything new popped up. I apologize for not having an update sooner, I just needed some time away. Thanks.

     So December is finally here. I am working on putting Amazon and B&N wishlist links up, just need to figure out where to go. I don't expect anyone to send me anything, and I strongly suggest you just comment, or leave me a message. I am looking at redoing the template again, I have a bug I can't fix with this one (free template), and it's slowly driving me crazy. I have updated my pinterest today with all the new books on my shelf, I will do a Book Haul whenever BookOutlet sends me my books, we'll see. So Thank You everyone.

[Movie Review] - The Mockingjay: Part 1 by Suzanne Collins

The Hunger Games: Mockingjay: Part 1 by Suzanne Collins


Title: The Hunger Games: Mockingjay - Part 1
   Director: Francis Lawrence
   Author: Suzanne Collins
   Release Date: November 21st, 2014
   Rating: 8.0 Out of 10

     When Katniss destroys the games, she goes to District 13 after District 12 is destroyed. She meets President Coin who convinces her to be the symbol of rebellion, while trying to save Peeta from the Capitol.

From the Book:
     My name is Katniss Everdeen.
     Why am I not dead?
     I should be dead.


     Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

     It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans--except Katniss.

     The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay--no matter what the personal cost.

My Review:

    I was rather surprised at this movie and while the rating is rather low compared to how well it could have done I don't think it's misplaced. I love how well Katniss swaps roles in this movie. She is just one of those characters that even as the broken leader for the rebels. However there is more to her in this movie than meets the eye, which shows through in this movie.

     First, I want to come straight out and explain why I gave it an 8.0 out of 10. I hate two part movies. However, in this case I think it works with the exception is it builds up the second part entirely. So if you don't see this one, chances are you won't understand any of the next movie. I really wished this would be a one part movie, mainly because of where the cut would happen and I was a bit too far ahead really to get that right, but it was close. The cut works great though, but I am worried about the content in the second half.

     Now Jennifer Lawrence shows her acting range in this movie. She is strong and courageous, and has this natural leader trait that shows up more so in this movie than the others; however, at times in this whole weak and estranged personas. I love the whole dichotomy of her character in this movie and it makes her character believable and lovable. She's the one that stands out, but it's through the help and support of the other characters.

     The supporting characters, mainly Finnick and Heimick are the life of this movie. There really isn't much else to say. I want to comment more on them,but they hover around Katniss and build her character immensely. Prim is her own character and there are times in which she will touch your heart and at the same time stands up on her own feet and proves she's growing. These characters are worthy, but frankly they are not anything like they have in the past movies.

     This movie is a standing ovation to the series and how much it does build up the series. However, go into the movie knowing that it's just a simple build up to the next, otherwise it will let you down.

[Waiting on Wednesday] - #87

     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: Captive
   Author: Aimee Carter
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: November 25th, 2014

     For the past two months, Kitty Doe's life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister's niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever.

     But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she's accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape.

     As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she'll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?

My Stance:

     First of all what is with the whole bit of "are they willing to pay the ultimate price?" I see it everywhere now and everyone is asking the same question in nearly the same way. Of course if the reward is better than what the price is, the person will go for it, or just how they believe the reward would be. It's not hard, and rankly I find it rather annoying to see it; there has to be better ways to address a plot objective.

     Sequel to Pawn here is another book I haven't read. I want to don't get me wrong, but there are just too many books, and from looking at the cover I'm assuming Kitty is the girl on the cover who looks bald. The face just looks awkward and maybe it would have been hard to kind of convey the hair. Either way while I don't completely understand the whole gist of the story, there are parts of the book that to me don't make any sense. I am looking forward to the book.

     While I haven't read the book and it's not immediately on my TBR list, this book has me intrigued. I am not sure if it's going to be good or bad. I am more interested in seeing if either is that case. I look forward to diving into the novel and experiencing the story. I should really read Pawn before hand and make a better assessment there, but hey, this is half the fun.

[Book Review] - Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

Title: Insignia
   Author: S.J. Kincaid
   Series: #1 - Insignia
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: July 10th, 2012
   My Rating: 3.0 out of 5.0

     The earth is in the middle of WWIII in Insignia, the first entry in S. J. Kincaid's fast-paced sci-fi adventure trilogy perfect for fans of Ender's Game.

     The planet's natural resources are almost gone, and war is being fought to control the assets of the solar system. The enemy is winning. The salvation may be Tom Raines. Tom doesn't seem like a hero. He's a short fourteen-year-old with bad skin. But he has the virtual-reality gaming skills that make him a phenom behind the controls of the battle drones.

     As a new member of the Intrasolar Forces, Tom's life completely changes. Suddenly, he's someone important. He has new opportunities, friends, and a shot at having a girlfriend. But there's a price to pay...

My Review:

    Insignia is one of those books that rather surprised me. I thought it would be one of these great space/sci-fi novels that would have blown my mind years ago. Well while it may have done that years ago, this just didn't do so at all. I wanted to to, but frankly this book just had some over the top, almost want to be immortal assumptions that just just ruined the book for me. I wish it didn't, but there were too many liberties taken for me to enjoy the book.

     The world is realistic, sort of, the whole big corporations of the world are what hold everything together. In doing so most of the governments around the world have crumbled and the corporations are what divide and define regions for the most part. There are still countries, but that's almost irrelevant, almost. I can see that happening now that I am older, had I been younger that sort of dystopian would've been rather hard to follow and really just comprehend.

     Tom Raines being the protagonist isn't your typical hero-child, and that's what I enjoyed the most about the book. He's a rather nerdy-gamer whose appearance is rather lacking. He knows it and while it does bother him some, he's more of the kind of guy that tends to follow the flow However when he's sought out to be on some interstellar force in which the large corporations fight over resources in space, he takes it openly. I think it's mainly to escape his father and the needless gambling he does, but at the same time he wants to do what suites him and makes him happy to.

     Where I had issues with the book were the "soldiers." They were teenagers nearly all of them, but they go through a process in which a computer chip/processor is implanted in their brains. It allows them to connect to a network and download their "homework," but it also changes their appearance and ages them faster. They almost instantly go through puberty or the whole growth bit, but lack the mental capacity to fully understand what's going on. I found it hard to radically change the character that much in such a short time span. I like the notion and the whole idea, but it just seemed so radical.

     What the teens get out of the whole bit is they can than link into the computer and interface with some ship in space and use that to battle or command an entire fleet. The virtual world was rather great and probably brought the best part of Tom and his rival to the forefront. He's great and whatnot, but combine that with the Vikram is the best part of the whole book and how they're friendship works. I loved Tom and Vik's interactions together, and while there were times where they were a bit much, ti worked.

     This book while was only decent, surprised me. I wasn't sure it what to really expect, but this wasn't it at all. Tom while he does seem to be a well rounded character, there was just parts of him that I couldn't get past. The whole soldier transformation was just too much too quick, I wanted to get to know the characters prior to the whole change. Further, the ending was a bit lackluster, I just got into the book and got into the characters, when the book ended. It was just a hard book to get into, I loved the small time I did get into the book though.

[Teaser Tuesday] - #37

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: Exquisite Captive
   Author: Heather Demetrios
   Release Date: October 7th, 2014

     Quote: "Jodif stared off into the distance. 'She was a cute little thing. Had this' - he waved his stubby fingers across his cheek - 'mark on her face, but I didn't care. She hated it, though. Didn't believe all that stuff about it being a sign of the gods' favor, but was too afraid to cover it up in case she was wrong about that.'"

--- Page 177


[Stacking the Shelves] - #81

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!

Exquisite Captive
Loop
Delirium Stories: Hana, Annabel, and Raven
Born of Illusion
Bewitching
The Thing About the Truth
A Temptation of Angels
Illuminate

Shelf Additions:

Title: Exquisite Captive
   Author: Heather Demetrios
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: October 7th, 2014

     Forced to obey her master.
     Compelled to help her enemy.
     Determined to free herself.

     Nalia is a jinni of tremendous ancient power, the only survivor of a coup that killed nearly everyone she loved. Stuffed into a bottle and sold by a slave trader, she’s now in hiding on the dark caravan, the lucrative jinni slave trade between Arjinna and Earth, where jinn are forced to grant wishes and obey their human masters’ every command. She’d give almost anything to be free of the golden shackles that bind her to Malek, her handsome, cruel master, and his lavish Hollywood lifestyle.

     Enter Raif, the enigmatic leader of Arjinna’s revolution and Nalia’s sworn enemy. He promises to free Nalia from her master so that she can return to her ravaged homeland and free her imprisoned brother—all for an unbearably high price. Nalia’s not sure she can trust him, but Raif’s her only hope of escape. With her enemies on the hunt, Earth has become more perilous than ever for Nalia. There’s just one catch: for Raif’s unbinding magic to work, Nalia must gain possession of her bottle…and convince the dangerously persuasive Malek that she truly loves him. Battling a dark past and harboring a terrible secret, Nalia soon realizes her freedom may come at a price too terrible to pay: but how far is she willing to go for it?

     Inspired by Arabian Nights, EXQUISITE CAPTIVE brings to life a deliciously seductive world where a wish can be a curse and shadows are sometimes safer than the light.






Title:  Loop
   Author: Karen Akins
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: October 21st, 2014

     At a school where Quantum Paradox 101 is a required course and history field trips are literal, sixteen year-old time traveler Bree Bennis excels…at screwing up.

     After Bree botches a solo midterm to the 21st century by accidentally taking a boy hostage (a teensy snafu), she stands to lose her scholarship. But when Bree sneaks back to talk the kid into keeping his yap shut, she doesn’t go back far enough. The boy, Finn, now three years older and hot as a solar flare, is convinced he’s in love with Bree, or rather, a future version of her that doesn’t think he’s a complete pain in the arse. To make matters worse, she inadvertently transports him back to the 23rd century with her.

     Once home, Bree discovers that a recent rash of accidents at her school are anything but accidental. Someone is attacking time travelers. As Bree and her temporal tagalong uncover seemingly unconnected clues—a broken bracelet, a missing data file, the art heist of the millennium—that lead to the person responsible, she alone has the knowledge to piece the puzzle together. Knowledge only one other person has. Her future self.

     But when those closest to her become the next victims, Bree realizes the attacker is willing to do anything to stop her. In the past, present, or future.






Title: Delirium Stories: Hana, Annabel, and Raven
   Author: Lauren Oliver
   Format: Paperback
   Release Date: March 5th, 2013

     For the first time, Lauren Oliver's short stories about characters in the Delirium world appear in print. Originally published as digital novellas, Hana, Annabel, and Raven each center around a fascinating and complex character who adds important information to the series and gives it greater depth. This collection also includes an excerpt from Requiem, the final novel in Oliver's New York Times bestselling series.

     Hana is told through the perspective of Lena's best friend, Hana Tate. Set during the tumultuous summer before Lena and Hana are supposed to be cured, this story is a poignant and revealing look at a moment when the girls' paths diverge and their futures are altered forever.

     Lena's mother, Annabel, has always been a mystery--a ghost from Lena's past--until now. Her journey from teenage runaway to prisoner of the state is a taut, gripping narrative that expands the Delirium world and illuminates events--and Lena--through a new point of view.

     And as the passionate, fierce leader of a rebel group in the Wilds, Raven plays an integral role in the resistance effort and comes into Lena's life at a crucial time. Crackling with intensity, Raven is a brilliant story told in the voice of one of the strongest and most tenacious characters in the Delirium world.






Title: Born of Illusion
   Author: Teri Brown
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: June 11th, 2013

     Anna Van Housen has a secret.

     A gifted illusionist, Anna assists her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums, and mentalists in 1920’s New York. As the illegitimate daughter of Harry Houdini—or so Marguerite claims—sleight of hand illusions have never been a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her own gifts secret from her opportunistic mother. Because while Marguerite’s own powers may be a sham, Anna possesses a true ability to sense people’s feelings and foretell the future.

     But as Anna’s powers intensify, she begins to experience frightening visions of her mother in peril, which leads her to explore the powers she’s tried so long to hide. And when a mysterious young man named Cole moves into the flat downstairs, introducing Anna to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, she is forced to confront her past and rethink everything she’s ever known. Is her mother truly in danger, or are Anna’s visions merely illusion? And could the great Houdini really be her father, or is it just another of Marguerite’s tricks?

     From Teri Brown comes a world bursting with magic, with romance, and the temptations of Jazz Age New York—and the story of a girl about to become the mistress of her own destiny.






Title: Bewitching
   Author: Alex Flinn
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: February 14th, 2012

     Kendra Hilferty, the witch who curses Kyle Kingsbury in Beastly, tells about her immortal existence-how she discovered she was a witch and the various ways she has used her powers to help people throughout the centuries. (Unfortunately her attempts have often backfired.) As it turns out, Kendra has actually had a hand in "Hansel and Gretel," "The Princess and the Pea," and "The Little Mermaid"-but these are not the fairy tales you think you know! Kendra's reminiscences are wrapped around a real-time version of "Cinderella," except the "ugly" stepsister is the good guy. With dark twists, hilarious turns, and unexpected endings, Bewitching is a contemporary read for fairy-tale lovers, fantasy fans, and anyone looking for more Alex Flinn.






Title: The Thing About the Truth
   Author: Lauren Barnholdt
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: July 10th, 2012

     In this humorous love story from the author of "Two-Way Street", an unlikely romance is the best sort of surprise—but the wrong secret can ruin everything. Kelsey’s not going to let one mistake ruin her life. Sure, she got kicked out of prep school and all her old friends are shutting her out. But Kelsey’s focused on her future, and she’s determined to get back on track at Concordia High.

     Isaac’s been kicked out of more schools than he can count. Since his father’s a state senator, Isaac’s life is under constant scrutiny—but Concordia High’s his last stop before boarding school, so Isaac’s hoping to fly under the radar and try to stay put for a change.

     When Kelsey and Isaac meet, it’s anything but love at first sight. She thinks he’s an entitled brat, and he thinks she’s a stuck-up snob. So it surprises them both when they start to fall for each other. Kelsey’s happy for the first time in months, and Isaac’s never felt this way about anyone before. But nothing’s ever completely perfect. Everyone has secrets, and Isaac and Kelsey are no exceptions. These two may have fallen hard, but there’s one thing that can ruin it all: the truth.






Title: A Temptation of Angels
   Author: Michelle Zink
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 20th, 2012

     Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance

     When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

     Michelle Zink masterfully weaves historical fantasy with paranormal romance to create a gripping tale of love and betrayal.






Title: Illuminate
   Author: Aimee Agresti
   Format: Hardcover
   Release Date: March 6th, 2012

     Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.


     As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel’s jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they’re in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set’s plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel?


     Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen’s first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.
 
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