Home of the YA Crush Tournament, Heroine Tournament, and the future Villains Tourney
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Top Ten Tuesday: Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy A Book
Top Ten Tuesday is an original meme hosted and created by The Broke and the Bookish
This Week: The Top Words/Topics That Instantly Make Me Buy A Book
1.) Mythology
I am a huge fan of mythology, whether it be Greek, Norse, Egyptian, etc. There is just so much to do with all the different gods and creatures.
2.) Bad Boy
Oh, how I love me some bad boy. I love the broody, dark, mysterious, angry guy--I can't get enough of this character.
3.) Macabre
I love when ya books take a turn to the gothic and macabre. There just aren't enough dark ya books out there!
4.) Horror
This is something that I have recently started loving. Normally, I am a fraidy-cat, and I don't go near anything that might scare me. But, since Anna Dressed in Blood, I am always on the look out for the next ya horror book.
5.) Retelling
I am a huge fan of retellings, like the Persephone/Hades myth, or Edgar Allan Poe stories, or fairy tles. I love when authors modernize these old stories.
6.) Spies
I've just recently started loving spy books, and there are so many older series that I need to catch up on that focus on spies!
7.) Different paranormal creature
Okay, so those aren't the exact words, but if I find a book that focuses on a new paranormal creature, or one that isn't done much, then I jump for it.
8.) Other worlds
I love when settings are something other than our reality. New worlds, alternate realities, outer space--I find all these settings intriguing.
9.) Dystopian with a flare of paranormal
I'm a huge fan of paranormal romance books, but I get tired of the same old, same old. So, when an author adds the element of a dystopian society to the paranormal, then it's definitely a book I am going to try out.
10.) Light-hearted contemporary romance
I am not a fan of the contemporary novels that focus on tough issues such as suicide, abuse, rape, etc. But, I do love the light-hearted, feel-good romances like the ones Stephanie Perkins writes. If a book is the cheerful, summery type of read; then it's one that will definitely end up in my collection.
Monday, April 29, 2013
The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe
The Sweetest Dark by Shana Abe
ARC received from Bantam Dell via Edelweiss
On Shelves Now
Reviewed by: Middle Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Compelling
and full of intrigue, The Sweetest Dark will open your eyes to a new world of
fantasy creatures.
For fans of Lauren Kate and Libba Bray, The Sweetest Dark is filled with thrilling romance, exciting adventure, and ancient magic. Shana AbĂ© brilliantly captures the drama of post-Victorian England, while unfolding a passionate love story that defies time.“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”
Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.
England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.
Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.
Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.
The Sweetest Dark is rich in imagery and fantasy, and Shana
Abe succeeds brilliantly in turning creatures of nightmare into something
beautiful and seductive.
The story follows Lora, an orphan with no memory of her
past, as she finds herself being given an exclusive scholarship to boarding
school for the rich. Lora is different
from the other girls in so many ways—she is poor, she is an orphan, and she
hears music and voices inside her head.
When she arrives at the boarding school, she immediately gains the
attention of two very opposite guys—Jesse, the groundskeeper, and Armand, the
wealthy aristocrat; but their attentions are not entirely truthful. They each hold the key to a part of her past,
but who holds the key to her future?
Although I found this story slow at times, I will say that
Shana Abe has a way with words. There
are times when the words seem to float off the page the perfect
picture—complete with background music!
I saw her world develop around me, and I desperately wanted to be a part
of it. However, there were times when
her words got in the way of the story. I
love imagery, but there is a point where there is too much description, and at
several times throughout the novel, I found myself skipping over whole
paragraphs.
You can tell that this is a set-up novel because there was
very little plot development until the last 20% of the book, and at that point,
it spend up incredibly when I wanted it to slow down. Shana has created a fantastical world with
creatures straight from mythology—creatures that you don’t see in many other
books. I loved that her world was new
and interesting, but I wanted there to be more action that could guide us into
the next books. I felt like the story
ended too abruptly, and instead of that satisfied
I-can’t-wait-for-the-next-book feeling, I was left with a that’s-it feeling. Don’t get me wrong—I am definitely in for the
next installment, but I wish I could see a direction for the story to take.
From reading the blurb, I thought this book was going to be
full to the brim with romance—I love books that have steamy romance! However, for all the nakedness in the book
(yes, I said nakedness), there is surprisingly little descriptive romance. You a kiss here and a kiss there, or an
embrace here and embrace there, but there was very little detail describing
those interactions. I wanted scenes
where I was jealous of Lora—where I wished I could pluck her out of the book
and put myself in her place, but those scenes never showed up; and there were
tons of opportunities where these scenes could have been added or
developed. I hope in the next
installment we see more romance and passion.
Now just because there wasn’t as much romance as I would
have liked, doesn’t mean the guys did not take my breath away. I loved the guys! Jesse is the groundskeeper who immediately
recognizes Lora for who she really is, and I must say, his directness about his
feelings and intentions was pretty steamy!
(If only we could have seen more).
And then there’s Armand—I’ll admit, I’m Team Armand—he’s broody, dark, arrogant,
and definitely has a way with the cut-downs.
One many occasions Armand had me smiling and yelling, “Kiss him,
Lora!” I won’t tell you how the love
triangle turns out, but I will say I didn’t see it coming.
So…my final conclusions:
This is a debut young adult novel, and it does have its
flaws. Sadly, I do think the lack of
romance and action will make some not want to read the next novel, but I will
remain optimistic that we will see more desire in the next. It is an intriguing world, and if you’re
looking for a new type of fantasy creature (no angels, demons, werewolves, or
vampires here!), then you should give this book a try.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield
Chantress by Amy Butler Greenfield
eARC received from Margaret K. McElderry Books
Release Date:
5-7-2013
Reveiwed by: Middle Sis
Jenn
The Sisters Say: Amazing
new idea, but needs more world building
“Sing, and the darkness will find you.” This warning has haunted fifteen-year-old Lucy ever since she was eight and shipwrecked on a lonely island. Lucy’s guardian, Norrie, has lots of rules, but the most important is that Lucy must never sing. Not ever. Now it is 1667, Lucy is fifteen, and on All Hallows’ Eve, Lucy hears a tantalizing melody on the wind. She can’t help but sing—and she is swept into darkness.
When she awakes in England, Lucy hears powerful men discussing Chantresses—women who can sing magic into the world. They are hunting her, but she escapes and finds sanctuary with the Invisible College, an organization plotting to overthrow the nefarious Lord Protector. The only person powerful enough to bring about his downfall is a Chantress. And Lucy is the last one in England.
Lucy struggles to master the song-spells and harness her power, but the Lord Protector is moving quickly. And her feelings for Nat, an Invisible College apprentice and scientist who deeply distrusts her magic, only add to her confusion…
Time is running out, and the fate of England hangs in the balance in this entrancing novel that is atmospheric and lyrical, dangerous and romantic.
I was so happy to be approved to read an early copy of Chantress! I’m always looking for something new in the
ya paranormal genre, and women who wield magic through song is definitely
something different. I’m a music lover—I
love how a melody or a chorus can take hold of your heart and embed itself into
your world. I love how it can flow
around you melding your moods and your desires, and mostly, I love how it is
music that can so thoroughly describe the nature of man. So, it only seems fitting that music could
contain hidden power. I loved how Amy
Butler Greenfield gave everything a song in her world, and how those songs
could be used to wield unimaginable power.
This story starts off with a bang when Lucy unknowingly
sings herself across the seas to London.
She is immediately thrust into a dangerous and duplicitous world where
everyone and everything can betray you.
The intensity of Amy’s story held me tight, and I could feel the
treachery flying on the wind. But it
wasn’t just the tension and danger that made Amy’s world unique and beautiful;
I loved that it was set in the late 1600s when the fear or witchcraft was
already rampant. It felt fitting that
this story was set so long ago instead of in modern times, and it really added
to the fear that controlled the people in London in Amy’s world. I just wish there would have been more focus
on the world building, as we truthfully didn’t get to see much of it.
For the most part the action was well placed, although
somewhere in the middle the action did start to lull. When Lucy starts to practice the magic of a
Chantress, she is locked up underground for months, and it was here that I
began to want the plotline to move along.
I felt like we saw too many of the basic lessons, when just a few
paragraphs about her struggle would have sufficed. I wanted to see more happen outside, and we
didn’t see any of this because the story is written in Lucy’s pov. I wish there would have been dual
perspectives or something done so we could see through another’s eyes out into the
word that is ravaged by the dangerous Shadowgrims (magical ravens who can read
minds and destroy you from the inside out).
I like Nat, the scientist who eventually becomes Lucy’s
relationship interest (although nothing really happens at all). However, he didn’t really blow me away, but
again, if we could have seen his perspective, I think I might have been more
drawn to him. He holds horrible secrets
about his past, and seeing glimpses into this would have informed his character
more, and would have added to the desperate tone of the book.
I wish we could have seen more of the evil characters,
too. I felt like most of the story, the
evil and dangers were just described, not experienced. I wanted more close calls and out of breath
moments as a result of living on the edge of danger. Unfortunately, these only came at the beginning
and at the end. This might have added to
the lulls in action I was frustrated with in the middle. The evil characters had such potential, and I
just wish they would have been explored more.
Overall, Chantress
was a great read, and I am definitely looking forward to reading the next
one. I loved the musical aspect that the
power was centered around, and I love that everything in the world has its own
unique song, and it is just floating on the wind, waiting to be discovered. I’m excited to see what new magic awaits Lucy
in the future.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday: Frozen by Melissa De La Cruz
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is FROZEN by Melissa de la Cruz. FROZEN releases on September 17, 2013 from Putnam Juvenile.
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Set in 111 C.D., one hundred and eleven years after a Catastrophic Disaster has wiped out 99% of humanity and left the earth covered in ice, this new series introduces readers to a ragtag group of friends and the dawning of a new time. The world of reason, of mathematics and science, is ending, and a new civilization is being born from the ice: a world of magic and mayhem, sorcerers and spellcraft.
FROZEN is the first in a trilogy and is set to release in September of 2013.
FROZEN is the first in a trilogy and is set to release in September of 2013.
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A world of magic-SOLD!!! That's all I needed to hear to want to read this one!!
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Teaser Tuesday: If I Should Die by Amy Plum
Teaser Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading!
To participate all you have to do is:
•Grab your current read
•Open to a random page
•Share "teaser" sentences from somewhere on that page
•BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others!)
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If I Should Die by Amy Plum
Published by Harper Teen
Release Date: 5-7-2013
"He was like the ghost lover in one of those tragic Victorian stories. But unlike the swooning, fainting heroines of those tales, I felt empowered by my resolve that tragedy would not be our fate." ARC, pg 98
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I hate endings because that means it's over. No more Vincent, no more Jules, no more Kate. I'm going to miss them so much!!! I'm just 100 pages in, but I hope this one doesn't break my heart!
If I Should Die by Amy Plum
Published by Harper Teen
Release Date: 5-7-2013
"He was like the ghost lover in one of those tragic Victorian stories. But unlike the swooning, fainting heroines of those tales, I felt empowered by my resolve that tragedy would not be our fate." ARC, pg 98
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
I hate endings because that means it's over. No more Vincent, no more Jules, no more Kate. I'm going to miss them so much!!! I'm just 100 pages in, but I hope this one doesn't break my heart!
Monday, April 22, 2013
Sweet Peril Blog Tour: Review and Deleted Scene!!!!!! OH, and Plus a GIVEAWAY!
Today is the kick off for the Sweet Peril Blog Tour!!!! We love Wendy Higgins so much for this amazing book, and of course, the amazingly sexy Kaidan. So many great things to share with you today!
First off, we have a Deleted Scene to share! Whoop Whoop!
Then, it's Review time! (Squeal)
And Finally, Giveaway Time! You definitely do not want to miss out on this amazing giveaway!
This post is long, but it's well worth it!
Shout out to Rockstar Book Tours for hosting this great tour and to the lovely Wendy Higgins for creating some amazing posts for the next two weeks!
Here's the rest of the Tour Stops:
Week One
Apr. 22nd - YA Sisterhood
- Guest Post
Apr. 23rd - Tater's Tall Tails
- Kaiden Interview
Apr. 24th - Supernatural Snark
- Review + Excerpts
Apr. 25th - Books with Bite
- Anna Interview
Week Two
May 3rd - Fiktshun -
Guest Post
**********************************
Okay, so are you ready for the deleted scene???? Yay! Here's a few words from Wendy first.
My Writing Process and
Cutting Scenes
I tend to be an “overwriter.” I
write WAY more than I need to when I first draft, and then I end up cutting
scenes and even whole chapters. It’s a crazy mess. Every now and then there are
scenes that hurt to cut, and this is one of them. When I decided Anna would be
traveling to the Damascus, Syria in the Middle East with Kopano in Sweet Peril, I did a ton of research. Tons.
I love writing about different cultures, but my biggest fear is getting
something wrong and accidentally offending someone. During my studies of
Damascus I came across many blogs of travelers who shared heartwarming stories
of people they’d met. It was those true stories that inspired this scene. Anna
is trying to fit in by wearing a hijjab covering on her head as she goes in
search of a fellow Nephilim girl, Zania. This particular scene was too light,
and it took away from the tension of the chapter, so it had to go. But it makes
me happy. I hope you enjoy. :-)
DELETED
SCENE FROM SWEET
PERIL BY WENDY
HIGGINS
I set out through the
side road that our hotel was on, heading for a busier street that I’d need to
pass through to get to Zania’s area. The main streets were roughly paved, but
worn and crumbling in places, which added to the old-world appeal for me. I
couldn’t keep a smile from my lips as I made my way into the Souk, a bustling
open-air market. Children ran rampant, laughing and hollering.
I planned to keep my head down, but I found myself hit
with exotic, mouth-watering scents and brilliant sights begging to be seen.
Shopkeepers called out in exuberant voices and used grand hand gestures,
laughing or looking serious as they haggled prices. Unlike many crowded cities,
the auras in this Souk were pleasant and content.
I hadn’t eaten yet. There was a stand up ahead with a
sign for hummus. An older woman dressed in an ornately embroidered flowing
dress and hijjab was working it, and as I approached her, I suddenly felt shy.
I only knew a small spattering of Arabic that I’d learned in the past week. I
ordered hummus and flatbread in my broken Arabic while she brazenly looked me
over. She said something to me in Arabic and gestured to my headscarf as a puff
of orange excitement filled her aura.
“Do I have it wrong?” I asked in English. She elatedly
said something else, then called over her shoulder into the room behind her. A
preteen girl came out, and other women peeked their dark heads through the
door. None of the younger ones wore head coverings.
“Ah,” said the young girl, smiling. “Yellow hair, she
says. You are blonde, no? Like in Hollywood?”
“Oh!” I felt somewhat relieved, pushing the hijjab
forward a little more, since it must have slipped back to show my hair. “Yes, I
have blonde hair, but I’m not from Hollywood.”
The girl continued to smile, relaying the conversation to
the older woman, who turned to me and clapped her hands, beaming to reveal a
missing tooth on bottom.
“Come, come!” She grabbed my arm.
“She would like you to have tea,” explained the girl.
“Oh, thank you.” I was flattered by the invite. I shot a
quick look over my shoulder at Kope as the woman pulled me past the food cart
and racks of throw rugs. He gave a shrug and grinned.
The room was small and simple. The older woman spoke to
the girls, waving her arms as she gave them orders. I stayed still when she
turned to me and took the liberty of removing my headscarf and examining my
hair, running her fingers through it with appreciative noises.
“Very beautiful,” she said, emphasizing each syllable
with a slight roll of her tongue.
The
room filled with more females, each commenting on my hair and sometimes feeling
it. Someone brought me a plate of soft, warm flatbread and spiced hummus. It was
honest-to-goodness one of the best things I’d ever tasted. They laughed when I
closed my eyes and said, “Mmm.” The preteen set a tray of tiny glasses on the
table, each filled with steaming tea. She handed me one and I took it, nodding
and giving my thanks. It was hot and sweet with a sprig of mint.
A group of children rushed in, crowding around me and
bringing a sea of noise and yellow auras.
“You have sweets?” asked a boy missing his two front
teeth. His mother mussed the top of his floppy, black hair and berated him.
“It’s okay.” I laughed, swinging my book bag down and pulling
out a handful of snack-sized M&Ms and Skittles. “May I?” I asked his
mother. She nodded. The entire room was lit up with orange and yellow aura
swirls.
Little hands eagerly grabbed the offered candies before
the older woman shooed them all out.
After a humorous conversation in broken English, the
oldest woman rewrapped my hijjab super tight. I regrettably wished them all
good-bye, thanking them for the food and tea, and receiving very loud kisses on
both of my cheeks. I couldn’t wait to tell Patti about the hospitality of the
Syrian women.
Once I’d made sure Kope was behind me, I started down the
street again, staring ahead at the distant views of dry mountains.
**********************************
Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins
ARC received from HarperTeen
Release Date:
4-30-2013
Reviewed by: Middle
Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:
There Are No Words…Nope, None.
It’s that dang good!
Have you ever been asked if you could switch places with any
literary character, who would it be? I’m
sure we all have (or we’ve at least wanted to) at some point in our lives. Now, normally, I would try to be all classy
and say someone like Elizabeth from Pride and Prejudice or Juliet from Romeo
and Juliet (except for the whole suicide thing) or some other girl from some
other great epic romance. But you know
what Elizabeth and Juliet? Meet my foot
as I kick you both to the curb so that I can switch places with Anna. Because, Mr. Darcy and Romeo—they don’t hold
a star compared to Kaidan Rowe.
Big build up, huh? I
just needed you to understand the epicness of this star-crossed romance. And one more thing:
WENDY
KNOWS ROMANCE.
SERIOUS.
JAW-DROPPING ROMANCE.
I don’t know how she does it, but she just knows exactly how
to write a guy that will sweep you off your feet, no matter what kind of guy
you normally go for. So, if you’re a
romance fan (or a Kaidan fan), then be prepared for every look, every word, and
every sound coming from Kaidan to drill its way permanently into your memory
(and womb).
I love that Wendy is a bit more daring in her romance,
too. The romance is much more steamy than
in your regular YA book, and I love that she chooses to dance around the
boundaries previously set. I mean, just
as much happens in Sweet Peril as does in many other YA books, but Wendy just
knows how to stage it where it’s revealing enough to drive you insane with
swooniness, but not so much to send those who prefer there to only be “fade to
black” scenes to start throwing temper tantrums. Trust me, you are definitely going to want to
re-read the swoony scenes.
When I first read this blurb, I was a little worried about
most of the book just following Anna and Kopano, fearing we would see very
little of the other characters I love so much.
But, that doesn’t happen at all.
We still get to see Patti, Kaidan, Blake, Ginger, and the other nephs;
and you get a little more background into their lives and hopes with each scene
they are in. However, much of the book is focused on the
relationship between Anna and Kopano. I
actually really enjoyed these scenes because I really got to see another side
of Kopano. And I love him so hard! He’s so torn and Wendy brings his struggle
alive throughout their trips around the world.
If you weren’t a fan of Kopano before, you definitely will be after
reading this.
We see an entirely new side to Anna in this installment,
too. She is being forced to work in
order to stay safe, and you can see how those actions are starting to chip away
at her strength and confidence. But she
still manages to stay strong in the face of temptation. But she’s not this uber-strong angelic
being. She is quite literally like the
cartoon character who has the devil on one shoulder and the angel on the
other. She is constantly fighting her
need for drugs on one side and her need to physically be with Kaidan on the
other. Her struggle shows her
weaknesses, and it makes her all the more believable.
One of the best things about Sweet Peril is it doesn’t fall
into that sequel slump that we see so often.
The action was fast-paced, and I never found myself bored. I did struggle at times because I wanted more
Kaidan (but that’s just me being selfish).
But other than that, I flew through this one, not being able to flip the
pages fast enough. Wendy’s angel/demon
world-building is beautiful, and her world and characters will leap off the
page straight into your heart of hearts.
Plus, I love that she manages to end it without killing us. It’s an ending that still makes you want to
jump in a time machine to find out what happens next, but it’s not an ending
that makes you want to research medieval torture devices to show the author
just how much pain you’re actually in.
Sweet Peril is brilliant and beautiful. Wendy manages to highlight both the light and
the dark sides of human nature, along with that grey middle ground where love
and hate, truth and deceit, right and wrong, and heaven and hell collide. I,
for one, would gladly dive head first into her broken and crumbling world.
***************************************
And GIVEAWAY TIME!!!!
All giveaways are US Only, and only one entry per household.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
Books will be sent directly from the publisher, while all other prizes will be sent separately.
The Rafflecopter is shared through all tour stops.
All giveaways are US Only, and only one entry per household.
Must be 13 or older to enter.
Books will be sent directly from the publisher, while all other prizes will be sent separately.
The Rafflecopter is shared through all tour stops.
The prizes:
1 Grand Prize Giveaway - engraved “Kaidan Rowe
Sweet Peril” drumsticks, fruity scented lip balms, a paperback copy of SWEET
PERIL and a signed SWEET PERIL bookplate
5 Winners for - a paperback copy of SWEET
PERIL and a signed SWEET PERIL bookplate.
Sunday, April 21, 2013
Will be back tomorrow!
Hey everyone!
This week has been tough! I'm been in bed with the flu all week. It had been so long since I've been sick that I forgot how miserable it feels! But I am all better now, so posts will resume tomorrow!
This week has been tough! I'm been in bed with the flu all week. It had been so long since I've been sick that I forgot how miserable it feels! But I am all better now, so posts will resume tomorrow!
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar
The Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar
ARC received from Penguin via LibraryThing
Release Date:
3-21-2013
Reviewed by: Middle
Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:
Sweet love story but missing the Wow factor
Margo McKenna has a plan for just about everything, from landing the lead in her high school play to getting into a good college. So when she finds herself in possession of a genie's ring and the chance to make three wishes, she doesn't know what to do. Why should she put her life into someone else's hands?
But Oliver is more than just a genie -- he's also a sophomore at Margo's high school, and he's on the run from a murderer. As he and Margo grow closer, she discovers that it will take more than three wishes to save him.
A whole lot more.
Thank you Penguin and LibraryThing for this ARC!
When I first read the blurb for this book, I was really
excited because…genies! I’m always a
sucker for a new paranormal type of character because the YA genre is overrun
with the same old, same old vampires, werewolves, and demon hunters. So, when I saw that this book was all about
genies (and a cute one at that), I jumped at the chance to review it. After reading it, I’m kind of in limbo
because it was cute and a quick read, but it was lacking that spice that makes
a book glow.
The Art of Wishing
has a contemporary feel to it with a little paranormal twist. I liked the contemporary aspect of it because
it was light-hearted and fun, and it’s nice to be able to read something that
is simple—something that is different from what I normally read. I really enjoyed the genie aspect, too. Oliver was full of fun facts, but I wish
there would have been more depth to the genie mythology. The book ended like there is going to be a
sequel, though, so maybe it will come in the next one.
I enjoyed Margo and Oliver, even though I wasn’t blown away
by either of them. They were fun
together, and they seemed to mesh well.
However, I had a difficult time believing their ages. Margo was supposed to be 18, but I felt like
she was closer to 15. I mean, at one
point, she calls Oliver her boyfriend, and they do this geeky, “Did you just
call me your boyfriend?” type scene that was straight out of a teeny bopper
movie. They were both old enough to act
mature and more socially aware, but their actions and dialogue at points just seemed
childish.
I kind of felt like the romance was bland, too. I have a hard time with romances where the “I
love you’s” come out of nowhere and they don’t match their actions. I wanted to feel Margo and Oliver’s love, not
just hear about it. I needed to believe
it, and while it got better near the end, I still didn’t feel like it was
real. I think that has a lot to do with
the immature dialogue between the two, though.
My favorite part of this story was the music aspect. Margo is an extremely talented singer, and I
loved when she was at play rehearsal.
The descriptions of her songs and how she became the character were
great, and I could really see Margo shine on the stage. I also loved when she was in her element
writing her own music. You could see the
real Margo so much better at these times, and I really felt her love and
passion for music in these scenes. Had
this same passion come across in her feelings for Oliver, then I would have
been sold on the romance in this book.
Overall, this was a cute read, and I’m glad to have read
it. It was a nice break from the angsty
ya romance novels I tend to gravitate towards, but at the same time, it kind of
made me miss those books. I think many
people will enjoy the carefree tone and the innocent romance, even if I didn’t
really jump for it.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Not So YA Friday: The Dark Heroine: Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs
The following review is recommended for Ages 17 and older.
The Dark Heroine (Dinner with a Vampire) by Abigail Gibbs
Received from Harper Collins via LibraryThing
Release Date: On
Shelves Now
Reviewed by: Middle
Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say: Macabre
and Interesting; But Too Long
One moment can change your life forever...
For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape...no matter how hard Violet tries.
Yet all the riches in the world can’t mask the darkness that lies beneath the gilded surface, embodied in the charismatic but dangerous Kaspar Varn.
Violet and Kaspar surrender to a passion that transcends their separate worlds – but it’s a passion that comes at a price...
When I won this book from Harper and LibraryThing, I had not
heard anything about it, which is great, because I didn’t realize the
controversy surrounding it. Supposedly
this was Twilight fanfiction before it made a deal, although, after reading the
story, I never would have guessed it.
The vampires in this story are gruesome and conniving. Many of them take pleasure in killing, and
even more so, they take pleasure in punishment.
One of the other controversies circling this book was that it was the
vampire equivalent of Fifty Shades. Now,
I have not read FS and never plan to, but I can say without a doubt (even
having not read it), that this book is not even close to the FS. There is one sex scene that doesn’t even
closely rival some of the ones I have read in recent NA and adult
literature. So, after debunking both of
those rumors, I will not jump into my actual review.
When I first started reading this one, I was intrigued and
actually enjoying it. I liked that the
vampires were not all swoony. They were
dark and grotesque (not in looks but in actions), and the true nature of a
vampire was apparent in them. They weren’t
romanticized at all—even with their powers of seduction. This was great because in order to start to
like the vampires, you had to get to know them—to see past the bloodlust. I will admit, this was hard to do for me
because no matter how hot or sexy or charismatic a vampire might be, I still
have a hard time getting past the whole ripping out throats thing. Eventually, I was able to get past this and
see Kaspar and the other vampires as more than just evil, killing
machines. Now, will they ever make my
top 20 of swoony male characters?
Absolutely not. Just too much
gore for that.
Once I hit the middle of the book, though, things started to
drag. I felt like there was just too
much detail, and not details like the color of the trees, or the way the stones
were stacked on the mansion. There was
just too much of Violet sitting around pondering her existence and current
circumstances. I got bored with her, and
I wanted the book to hurry along. I
believe Abigail could have cut a good 100 pages from the book, making it flow
much quicker and making it a little less daunting (at the current 550 pages).
Near the end of the book, things got interesting again. The prophecy started to make more sense, and
betrayers and alliances were drawn out into the open. Once this happened, I couldn’t turn the pages
fast enough. Things happened quickly
near the end. We got to see more of the
vampires traditions and customs, and we were introduced to creatures and people
from the other realms (that the 2nd book will focus on). This gave a much needed depth to the novel,
and made it feel like there were more secrets and twists to be revealed in the
future.
I’m kind of wishy washy on whether or not I like
Violet. I like that she’s got a smart
mouth, yet knows when it’s safer to stay quiet, but I didn’t understand her
feelings for Kaspar. He’s more than just
a cocky jerk, he is truly violent, and on more than one occasion, he physically
harms her. But she just seems to look
past that and still fall head over heels for him. And with Kaspar, it seems like he hates her,
and that his feelings are all lust right up until the end when he bursts out
with his feelings. I just didn’t believe
either of them, and their relationship will definitely need to be explored more
in the next book.
So, overall, this was an interesting read. From the reviews, this seems like a love it
or hate it for most people, but for me, it’s just okay. I wasn’t blown away by it, but I still
enjoyed the quicker paced parts. I do
plan to read the sequel, though, just because I want to find out more about the
dark heroines and the other realms.
Content Warning: This
is a very gory book, so be prepared for bloodshed. There is one sex scene that is somewhat
explicit, although not nearly as explicit as many of the NA books out there.
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Blog Tour and GIVEAWAY!: Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Hey everyone! We are SO excited to be hosting the blog tour for Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout today. JLA is one of our favorite authors, and she never fails to deliver an amazing read. Apollyon is definitely one of those amazing reads. If you have not started reading this series, then I implore you to go buy them all RIGHT NOW! This series is one of my all-time favorites. It has everything--Greek Gods, Kick Butt Heroine, TWO super steamy guys, and an all-out, action-packed plot.
Want to check out the rest of the tour? Click here
AND ALSO! Be sure to enter the giveaway after my review! It's being hosted by Spencer Hill Press and it's international! The prize includes a signed copy of Apollyon, signed copy of Elixir, an Apollyon t-shirt and swag!!!
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Apollyon by Jennifer L. Armentrout
ARC received from Spencer Hill Press
Release Date: 4-9-2013
Reviewed by: Middle
Sis Jenn
The Sisters Say:
Ominous, Overwhelming, and Outright Awesome!
Alex. Aiden. Seth. Their
past is keeping them together; their present is holding them hostage; and their
future is hanging precariously in the balance.
Oh my gods, Apollyon is the
akasha of Covenant novels.
Darkness and danger have blanketed Alex and Aiden’s world—a darkness that pulls
at Alex from the inside out, and a danger that not even the gods saw
coming. As the shadows descend, everyone
will have to make a choice—a choice to stand and fight or turn and run. Allegiances will be frayed, powers will be
harnessed, and love will be tested.
So we have come to that point in this series…you know the
one. The point where you’re scared to
read how it all ends because you just don’t see how it can have a happy
ending. So I have this weight on my
heart because this is truly one of my favorite series. I feel like I know Aiden and Alex and Apollo
and Marcus and everyone else on a personal level, and it pains me to know what
darkness is coming in the fifth and final book.
But, I like that Jennifer has been able to make such an impression with
this series. I felt this way with Harry
Potter, too, because I just knew the death toll was going to be high and my
heart was going to break. After reading Apollyon, I have high hopes for Sentinel—and I know it will leave a
lasting impression.
Apollyon is much,
much darker than the first three books. I
mean, if you’ve read Elixir, then you know the anger and the madness that
plagues Alex. SLIGHT SPOILER: It’s brutal watching her
lose herself and slowly wither away, but fear not! For Fate has another plan, and she won’t
succumb to the madness for long. END SLIGHT SPOILER I liked
the darkness in this book because it was truthful. The world is at war, and in war, there are
casualties. I really dislike books where
there is some type of war and everyone survives (Twilight, cough, cough), and
so I was happy that Jennifer didn’t shy away from death. Her sight was truthful, and though
heart-breaking, it added to the tension and danger that was ever-present.
I’ve always liked Alex in the past books because she was
such a smart mouth. Her comebacks and
witty jokes always had me cracking a smile, and I love that she can crack the
Buffy-esque jokes when she is in danger.
It just gives her this spice that I think adds to the whole Apollyon
bit. Now, there were times when she
annoyed me in this book because she got overshadowed by thinking everything was
about her. She was a bit selfish in her
thinking that everyone was fighting to save her, not the millions of other
lives at stake. So for the first time in
this series, I was actually bothered a bit by her, but still her strengths
definitely outweighed the selfishness, and I still enjoy her more than most
heroines.
And of course you want to know about Aiden, right? Gosh, he is just the best! He is my absolute favorite book
boyfriend—strong and confident, jealous at just the right times, sexy as hell
and not afraid to act on his feelings, and genuinely over-protective to a
fault. He’s perfect. We get to see all these best parts of Aiden
in this one, and lots of steamy scenes that will have you blushing and envious! Hey Jennifer---I’m dying for some Aiden POV
scenes…pretty, pretty please! For Seth
fans out there…unfortunately there isn’t much of him in this one. That didn’t bother me, though, because I have
an insane urge to kick him really hard where it really hurts.
What surprised me in this book was that my favorite part was
APOLLO! I don’t know how many times I
laughed out loud at Apollo’s actions or words.
For example, at one point he calls Hermes a “punk ass bitch.” I could just see the gods getting in petty
fights where they call each other names and then get angry and start hurling
balls of fire and what not—all because someone was acting like a little
b***. Plus, he always shows up at the
most awkward of moments, and that just cracks me up even more. It’s like he’s chilling out in Invisible Land
and then right when he sees the most intimate or embarrassing of
moments—Poof! Hello Apollo. Be prepared to laugh your butt off at this
god!
Jennifer L. Armentrout is amazing. Her words glide effortlessly from page to
page, and you will feel as if you are catapulted right into the middle of the
raging war. Alex, Aiden, and Seth are
about to find themselves in a stand-off.
There will be no more sitting around waiting to die or waiting to live. The wait is over. The end is here. Worlds are about to collide.
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Waiting on Wednesday: Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea by April Genevieve Tucholke
Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill over at Breaking the Spine. It spotlights books that have not yet been released, but ones that you should pre-order today! This week's book that we are anxiously awaiting is BETWEEN THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA by April Genevieve Tucholke. BETWEEN TEH DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA releases on April 15, 2013 from Dial Books.
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You stop fearing the devil when you’re holding his hand…
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.
Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.
Nothing much exciting rolls through Violet White’s sleepy, seaside town…until River West comes along. River rents the guesthouse behind Violet’s crumbling estate, and as eerie, grim things start to happen, Violet begins to wonder about the boy living in her backyard. Is River just a crooked-smiling liar with pretty eyes and a mysterious past? Or could he be something more? Violet’s grandmother always warned her about the Devil, but she never said he could be a dark-haired boy who takes naps in the sun, who likes coffee, who kisses you in a cemetery...who makes you want to kiss back. Violet’s already so knee-deep in love, she can’t see straight. And that’s just how River likes it.
Blending faded decadence and the thrilling dread of gothic horror, April Genevieve Tucholke weaves a dreamy, twisting contemporary romance, as gorgeously told as it is terrifying—a debut to watch.
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Ah! This is one of my most anticipated books of 2013, and I've heard its the most requested book from Penguin. And there's a reason for that--it's gothic horror! I just love the idea of Violet falling for the devil. It sounds eerie and romantic, all rolled up with something sinister that could possibly give me nightmares! I am dying to get my hands on this one.
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