Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Review: Vanish by Sophie Jordan



VANISH
By: Sophie Jordan
Published By: Harper Teen
Release Date: Sept. 6, 2011
Series: Firelight (#2)
Pages: 304
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: ALA
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely-guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone.

Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

In bestselling author Sophie Jordan’s dramatic follow-up to Firelight, forbidden love burns brighter than ever.




Vanish was one of the books that I was eagerly awaiting this year, and I was beyond excited to not have to wait until September to read it. As good as Firelight was, Vanish was even better; all I could think when I finished this book was, "Wow...what a story."

Vanish begins exactly where Firelight ended; there is just a brief reminder of what happened at the conclusion of Firelight before we are plunged back into the action. This action doesn't stop for the rest of the book, though Jacinda's internal conflict is prominent as well. While in Firelight she escapes the pride, in Vanish she finds herself back in the midst of it again, but all is not well. Not only do things begin to change with Tamra, but also the pride has lost their trust in her, and Severin (the pride leader) in particular seems determined to make things difficult for her. However, it was nice (or in some cases, not nice) to get to know Jacinda's extended family and learn more about Sophie's world of draki.

As if readjusting to pride life isn't difficult enough, Jacinda also has to contend with her longing for Will and her inexplicable, growing desire for Cassian. The steamy scenes from Firelight are certainly rivaled here. Normally with books I have a definitive favorite, but I can't actually decide between these two guys. Both have their own good qualities, and I have to say that both of them surprise me in this book. Given certain events of this book, it will be interesting to see if Jacinda can still be with Will or if she will end up with Cassian.

In Vanish, Sophie struck a great balance between suspense and respite, feelings and actions, pondering and decision. There were certainly twists that I did not expect as well as some very tender and touching moments. My only complaint is the ending: It's a major cliffhanger, and having to wait for another year will be cruel and unusual punishment...even though I'm sure it will be well worth it.

Be prepared to be immersed in the world of the draki, to forget time and place until the last word on the page has been read. I needed the final book of the trilogy the minute after I finished Vanish; given the ending, especially, I will be eagerly but impatiently awaiting its release!




"Waiting on" Wednesday


"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:



THE GATHERING STORM
By: Robin Bridges
Published By: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: Jan. 10, 2012


Goodreads Summary: St. Petersburg, Russia, 1888. As she attends a whirl of glittering balls, royal debutante Katerina Alexandrovna, Duchess of Oldenburg, tries to hide a dark secret: she can raise the dead. No one knows. Not her family. Not the girls at her finishing school. Not the tsar or anyone in her aristocratic circle. Katerina considers her talent a curse, not a gift. But when she uses her special skill to protect a member of the Imperial Family, she finds herself caught in a web of intrigue.

An evil presence is growing within Europe's royal bloodlines—and those aligned with the darkness threaten to topple the tsar. Suddenly Katerina's strength as a necromancer attracts attention from unwelcome sources . . . including two young men—George Alexandrovich, the tsar's standoffish middle son, who needs Katerina's help to safeguard Russia, even if he's repelled by her secret, and the dashing Prince Danilo, heir to the throne of Montenegro, to whom Katerina feels inexplicably drawn.

The time has come for Katerina to embrace her power, but which side will she choose—and to whom will she give her heart?




Why it's wanted:

I love historical fiction, and I love paranormal books. A Gathering Storm sounds like a great blend of the two! I'm also excited to read something set in Russia.

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Teaser Tuesday (6)



I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:

They were close enough that she saw the throb of his pulse in his neck. 'Yes,' she said. 'I mean it.'

'Then I want you to promise me something,' he said.

She heard the wild, hard drum of her heart. 'What?'

'Promise me that if I change,' Tom said, 'you'll kill me.'"


p. 217 (ARC) from Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick


Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Monday, August 29, 2011

Review: The Unwanteds by Lisa McMann



THE UNWANTEDS
By: Lisa McMann
Published By: Aladdin
Release Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Series:
Pages: 390
Genre: Dystopian / Fantasy
Reading Level: Middle Grades
Source: BEA
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: Every year in Quill, thirteen-year-olds are sorted into categories: the strong, intelligent Wanteds go to university, and the artistic Unwanteds are sent to their deaths.

Thirteen-year-old Alex tries his hardest to be stoic when his fate is announced as Unwanted, even while leaving behind his twin, Aaron, a Wanted. Upon arrival at the destination where he expected to be eliminated, however, Alex discovers a stunning secret—behind the mirage of the "death farm" there is instead a place called Artime.

In Artime, each child is taught to cultivate their creative abilities and learn how to use them magically, weaving spells through paintbrushes and musical instruments. Everything Alex has ever known changes before his eyes, and it's a wondrous transformation.

But it's a rare, unique occurence for twins to be separated between Wanted and Unwanted, and as Alex and Aaron's bond stretches across their separation, a threat arises for the survival of Artime that will pit brother against brother in an ultimate, magical battle.




I rarely read middle grade novels, but for a book in which creative, artistic children are sent to their deaths, I knew I had to make an exception. Although I have not read the Wake trilogy, I enjoyed Cryer's Cross and was excited to read another book by Lisa McMann.

Alex has known for three years that he would be declared Unwanted. Even so, it does not make the pronouncement and his ride to the Death Farm any easier. But when he arrives at the Great Lake of Boiling Oil, he discovers something he never imagined: the land of Artime, a land of feeling, creativity, and magic. Alex, along with his new friends, quickly adapts to this magical land, working with professors on their artistic talents and learning how to turn these talents into magic. But Alex is not perfectly happy, even in Artime. For one thing, his friends are all learning magic while he is told that he must wait. For another, he misses his twin Aaron, who was declared a Wanted, and he longs to bring Aaron to Artime. And then there is the constant worry of Mr. Today, the mage who created Artime: What will happen if the people of Quill discover their existence?

The Unwanteds is certainly unique in conception. It combines elements of both fantasy and dystopian novels, juxtaposing Alex's point of view in Artime with Aaron's life in Quill. I enjoyed following both brothers (even if Aaron was frustrating sometimes), and the dreariness of life in Quill only made life in Artime seem that much more exciting. One of my favorite things about this book was the different incantations the kids in Artime learned; each spell was based on one of the arts, so simple things like painting and dancing could become deadly weapons if combined with the right words or intent. With all of the magic, the unusual animals, and the preparation in case of battle, there was never a dull moment in this book. The surprises and intrigue last until the end of the book and kept me turning pages to see what happens.

Another thing that I loved about this book was the writing style. McMann's writing is both clear and descriptive, easy and pleasing to read. Once again the characters and setting really come alive, and I felt as though I was in Artime. Because of this, aside from some of the animal names, I often forgot I was reading a middle grade book. I do feel that a few explanations were missing and others glossed over; however, I think younger readers wouldn't have this same issue.

Pitched as "Hunger Games meets Harry Potter," fans of both series can find something to enjoy in this book. The Unwanteds offers a magical escape and one that can appeal to both younger and older readers. I will be looking forward to reading Lisa McMann's next book!




It's Monday! What are you reading?



It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Currently Reading:
Crossroads by Mary Ting

Planning To Read:
Ashes by Ilsa Bick
The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen




What are you reading this week?

Saturday, August 27, 2011

In My Mailbox (6)



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was started by Kristi at The Story Siren with some inspiration from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. It features books or book-related things that have been bought, borrowed, won, or received in the mail. Be sure to check out The Story Siren for a list of all the other blogs participating!



For Review:




Crossroads by Mary Ting

Received as part of a blog tour hosted by Late Bloomer Online




A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

Received courtesy of HarperTeen via Netgalley




Bought:




The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind




Weekly Recap:


Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini
Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Monday Reads
Teaser Tuesday: The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind
"Waiting on" Wednesday: Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Book Blog Hop & Follow Friday



What books did you get this week? Please leave a comment or link to your own IMM post!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Book Blogger Hop & Follow Friday (6)

Book Blogger Hop


Book Blogger Hop is a weekly meme hosted by Jennifer at Crazy-for-Books. In the spirit of the Twitter Friday Follow, the Book Blogger Hop is a place just for book bloggers and readers to connect and share our love of the written word! This weekly BOOK PARTY is an awesome opportunity for book bloggers to connect with other book lovers, make new friends, support each other, and generally just share our love of books! It will also give blog readers a chance to find other book blogs to read! So visit Crazy-for-Books to grab the logo, post about the Hop on your blog, and start HOPPING through the list of blogs that are posted in the Linky list there!

This week's question:

"Non-book-related this week!! Do you have pets?"

Sadly, no, and I never have. My father is allergic to both cats and dogs, so I could never have one growing up. Now I've moved out, but I'm still in school and just don't have the time for a pet. I'd like to have a cat one day though.





Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee and Allison Can Read. Visit either of their blogs for complete rules of the following fun!

This week's question:

"In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real?"

I think it would depend on the situation. While there are some vampires I certainly wouldn't mind being real, there are some I would never want to meet. Actually, I think that's the case with most supernatural creatures - witches and wizards, shifters, and ghosts...even some angels. Even so, I think I would choose angels - the good kind - being able to know and see them on earth.



What are your answers? Please leave a comment or a link to your blog!

Review: Blood Red Road by Moira Young



BLOOD RED ROAD
By: Moira Young
Published By: Margaret K. McElderry
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Series: Dustlands (#1)
Pages: 459
Genre: Dystopian
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back.
Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

Blood Red Road has a searing pace, a poetically minimal writing style, violent action, and an epic love story. Moira Young is one of the most promising and startling new voices in teen fiction.




It's been a long time since I've read a dystopian novel, but Blood Red Road made for a great return to the genre. Full of surprises, obstacles to overcome, and a bit of romance, I was quickly drawn into the story and kept turning pages until the end.

Saba lives in Silverlake with her twin brother Lugh, her sister Emmi, and her father. Her mother died giving birth to Emmi, and Saba has always resented that fact. Because of this, Saba has clung to Lugh, following him wherever he goes and ignoring her younger sister. When Lugh is suddenly captured by four unknown horsemen, Saba vows to stop at nothing to get him back. This quest takes her far away from Silverlake, through the Dustlands and old Wrecker settlements. Saba finds herself facing obstacles and situations she never imagined, having to fight for both what she wants and for her life. In addition, she is forced to accept help from unlikely and unwanted sources and to confront her own nature and emotions. By doing so, she will learn a great deal about life, finding her heart's desire, friendship, and love.

Blood Red Road is very different from many other books I have read in its style; it is told in sparse prose, with all of the writing in dialect and no quotation marks for speech. At first I was taken aback by this, but I quickly adjusted, and I think that this style really enhanced the story. I loved watching Saba grow over the course of the story. Her initial resistance to help and anything that defied logic made for quite an interesting journey, both physically and emotionally. I also enjoyed seeing the ingenuity and resourcefulness that all of the characters displayed. The situations they face in their journey are tough, but these characters are determined to be tougher. And then there was the great tension between Saba and Jack. Their banter and increasing attraction was a wonderful addition to the story.

Though there were times of slow action, this book was certainly never dull. Even though a big thread of the plot is resolved at the end of the book, there is still more of Saba's story to be told. I cannot wait to see what the future holds for her, her world, and her relationship with Jack. I'm also hoping that some of the characters we come to know in this book, such as the Free Hawks and DeMalo, will come back in the sequel.

Blood Red Road might be a dystopian novel, but there is much more to the book than overthrowing a corrupt government. Moira Young has written a fabulous debut novel, and I am looking forward to reading more!




Wednesday, August 24, 2011

"Waiting on" Wednesday


"Waiting on" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.



This week's selection is:



EVERNEATH
By: Brodi Ashton
Published By: Harper Collins / Balzer + Bray
Release Date: Jan. 3, 2012


Goodreads Summary: Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...




Why it's wanted:

This book sounds like it has it all - paranormal elements, a promising love triangle, and an exploration of that age-old question of what you would do if you knew you were going to die. Plus, I think I would have to read it for that cover alone!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Teaser Tuesday (5)



I'm very excited to be one of the many blogs participating in Teaser Tuesdays! TT is a weekly meme hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading. To participate:

* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS!
(Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here is my teaser:



"She pressed herself into him. She couldn't believe that she really had him, that he was really hers, that he really and truly loved her.

She couldn't believe that she was going to lose him to darkness seeking darkness."


p. 126 from The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind


Please share your teasers - post them or link to your blog!

Monday, August 22, 2011

Review: Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini



STARCROSSED
By: Josephine Angelini
Published By: Harper Teen
Release Date: May 31, 2011
Series: Starcrossed (#1)
Pages: 496
Genre: Fantasy
Reading Level: Young Adult
Source: Bought
Buy the Book: Amazon


Goodreads Summary: How do you defy destiny?

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—no easy task on an island as small and sheltered as Nantucket. And it's getting harder. Nightmares of a desperate desert journey have Helen waking parched, only to find her sheets damaged by dirt and dust. At school she's haunted by hallucinations of three women weeping tears of blood . . . and when Helen first crosses paths with Lucas Delos, she has no way of knowing they're destined to play the leading roles in a tragedy the Fates insist on repeating throughout history.

As Helen unlocks the secrets of her ancestry, she realizes that some myths are more than just legend. But even demigod powers might not be enough to defy the forces that are both drawing her and Lucas together—and trying to tear them apart.




I was really looking forward to this book. First of all, the cover is gorgeous, the synopsis sounded interesting, and I love mythology. However, Starcrossed didn't turn out to be everything that I was expecting.

Helen Hamilton leads a fairly ordinary life. She goes through the motions of school and chores and tries to avoid attracting any unnecessary attention. But all of that changes when the Delos family moves to Nantucket. When Helen finally sees Lucas, she hates him instantly; so much, in fact, that she literally flies into a rage and attacks him. And that is only the beginning. She can't bear to be around any member of the Delos family, and the feeling is mutual. Yet with one near-death experience, everything changes. Soon Helen and Lucas don't know if they are destined to be mortal enemies or star-crossed lovers. Helen has a lot to learn from the Delos family, about herself and her history, but when she finally learns the truth, will it be too much to handle?

I really wanted to love this book. After hearing some of my friends talk about it, I thought I would love this book. But I couldn't. The mythology was interesting, and I enjoyed learning the truth about Helen's heritage and abilities along with her. Similarly, I liked getting to know the Delos family and their talents. The book was certainly never dull; there was always something new to discover or another sweet moment to experience.

Yet even though the book was good, but it didn't live up to my expectations. I rarely ever say this, because so many books have similar plots (and let's face it, I read similar stories because that's what I like), but this book reminded me of Twilight. It took me a long time to see past the similarities; it wasn't the overall story that had things in common, it was the details. I think I could have overlooked a lot of this if the mythology had been stronger, but instead I spent more time trying to figure out what was going on for the first part of the book than being drawn into the story.

That being said, I did enjoy this book. The second half of the book was much more engaging than the first. Aside from one of the last revelations, I felt that some important questions were finally answered. However, there is not much of a sense of closure; instead, a lot of threads are left to be addressed in the sequel. Even though it took a while to get into this book, I do plan to read the next in the series and see where Angelini takes this story.

In Starcrossed, Angelini gives a unique twist to Greek mythology and uses it as a backdrop to two teenagers caught in an ill-fated love. I'll be curious to see what happens next!




It's Monday! What are you reading?



It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly meme hosted by One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Each week we will share the books we have just finished reading, are currently reading, and are planning to read.



Just Finished Reading:
Between by Jessica Warman
Juliet Immortal by Stacy Jay

Currently Reading:
The Omen Machine by Terry Goodkind

Planning To Read:
Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake
The Mephisto Covenant by Trinity Faegen




What are you reading this week?

Sunday, August 21, 2011

In My Mailbox (5)



In My Mailbox is a weekly meme that was started by Kristi at The Story Siren with some inspiration from Alea at Pop Culture Junkie. It features books or book-related things that have been bought, borrowed, won, or received in the mail. Be sure to check out The Story Siren for a list of all the other blogs participating!



Bought:


Today I went to Rosemary Clement-Moore's signing. She is just as amusing as her books, and extremely nice! While I've already read Texas Gothic, I'm very much looking forward to reading The Splendor Falls.




Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
The Splendor Falls by Rosemary Clement-Moore




Weekly Recap:


Grand Opening Giveaway

Review: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
Review: The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab

Monday Reads
Teaser Tuesday: Between by Jessica Warman
"Waiting on" Wednesday: Illuminated by Erica Orloff
Book Blog Hop & Follow Friday



What books did you get this week? Please leave a comment or link to your own IMM post!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...