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Sunday, June 30, 2013

Week of a Fiction Freak

HELLO HELLO. Yeah, I renamed this since it had such a BORING name. And made a banner. 
I like it! Anywho, DON'T FORGET TO VOTE TEAM PERRY TOMORROW IN THE YA CRUSH TOURNEY GUYS! Then head back to this link to enter to win a signed copy of UNDER THE NEVER SKY. 
It's been a great week for books!
Huh. They all look color-schemed.

Author
Venom by Fiona Paul
Thin Space by Jody Casella

Publisher
FML by Shaun Davis Hutchinson
(Not shown) Dirty Little Secret by Jennifer Echols

Giveaway
Truth or Dare by Jacqueline Green
When You were Here by Daisy Whitney

Bought
Ashes on the Waves by Mary Lindsey
and...
I GOT A NEW PHONE!



I traded with Fiona for the paperback of Venom (now I have the ARC, the hardback, and the paperback, ALL SIGNED!) and oh my gosh, you GUYS. It is SO gorgeous! I got Thin Space through Jody who was SUPER sweet and got me an ARC! You guys, I am extremely excited for this and I ADORE the cover!
FML was unsolicited and I'm not sure if I'll review it. It doesn't sound like my type of book and it's gotten a ton of negative/mixed reviews. I read Dirty Little Secret already and absolutely ADORED it. 
Okay, so I actually DON'T know how Truth or Dare got into my mailbox since I never remembered winning it and it was addressed to my mom...? But I'm not complaining! I got Where She Went from Kimberly Sabatini's blog and am SO excited! It definitely sounds like something I'll love!
YES I HAVE ASHES ON THE WAVES. I AM SUPER STOKED TO READ THIS. Gorgeous cover, loved Shattered souls, love any retellings, ugh. This is like it was written for me lol. AND OMG YES A NEW PHONE. I AM SO HAPPY. And I love my lock screen. Hopefully it creeps out some of my friends (gorgeous pic though.) 

Weekly Recap

Saturday, June 29, 2013

Mind Games by Kiersten White


Goodreads Blurb
Fia was born with flawless instincts. Her first impulse, her gut feeling, is always exactly right. Her sister, Annie, is blind to the world around her—except when her mind is gripped by strange visions of the future. 
Trapped in a school that uses girls with extraordinary powers as tools for corporate espionage, Annie and Fia are forced to choose over and over between using their abilities in twisted, unthinkable ways…or risking each other’s lives by refusing to obey.
In a stunning departure from her New York Times bestselling Paranormalcy trilogy, Kiersten White delivers a slick, edgy, heartstoppingly intense psychological thriller about two sisters determined to protect each other—no matter the cost.

I had absolutely no idea how much I absolutely loved this. Seriously. Look at my tweets.
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345205363882196994
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345204604650283008
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345200520987828227
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345197273782816768
https://twitter.com/Nikki_Wang/status/345190705213362176
And there were a ton more actually. But they're all pretty much the same.

Walking in, I was a bit skeptical since there were more than enough mixed reviews to make me a bit anxious. But I really shouldn't have worried! Mind Games absolutely blew my mind--and that's a complete understatement.

For a Sci-fi/Supernatural book, Mind Games definitely has some of the most broken characters I've met. They were all so fleshed out--though I do wish we met more "students" besides are heartbreaking sisters and Eden (Annie's friend).
Fia was by far my favorite of the two sisters. She was loyal, smart, and she didn't have to depend on her perfect instinct all the time. She knew what she had to do, when she had to do it, and knew what was unreasonable. I loved her stubborn nature, but her bitterness just broke my heart clean in two. She sacrificed so much for Annie and it definitely wasn't without consequences. She was the broken one, the one that needed saving--but how do you save someone who doesn't want to be saved?
Annie, while not a bad character, just didn't click with me as well as Fia. She was so much more...rude, I guess, and I don't think she fully understood exactly how much Fia was sacrificing and exactly what she needed.

As for the romance, we don't really focus on it, but I adored James so much. He cared so much about Fia and knew exactly what to do and say to comfort her. He may have been an asshole, but he's a sweet one who has all the traits of an arrogant, swoony, love interest.
There's no romance for Annie yet, but I'm pretty sure Adam is her guy. We don't really learn much about him, but he's a very...interesting character.
Kiersten  White did a brilliant job creating characters who matched our heroines personality perfectly. Fia had someone who she could find comfort in, but could understand her pain, while I feel like Adam's cheery personality would definitely help Annie start accepting the fact that she couldn't protect her sister 24/7 and that her little sister's already so much more grown up than herself.

The plot was wonderfully paced and while, I realized suddenly, nothing much happens, you just can't help but get addicted to the pages, and just keep on reading. There's something about the way White writes that just pulls you straight in until the end--where you're still going to be begging for more. What does happen keeps me on my toes though and it definitely sets up the sequel wonderfully! I can absolutely NOT wait!

I absolutely loved how Kiersten White chose to tell this story too. We alternate between the past and the present so that we get to fall in love with our characters from the beginning as well as understand them a bit more. It really is heartbreaking how they evolved into the people they were now.

My only complaint is that I would've loved more plot and more focus on their gifts and how they got them, but that's really about it--it didn't affect my reading enjoyment at all!

Stunning, beautiful, and absolutely breathtaking, Kiersten White lives up to her expectations with Mind Games! Heartbreaking characters, a kickass plot, and enchanting writing, I'm not quite sure how this book isn't loved by everyone!

Pages: 237
Genre: Sci-fi/Supernatural
Series: Mind Games #1
Publisher: HarperTeen
Release Date: Feb 19, 2013
Rating: 7/5 Stars



Friday, June 28, 2013

Born of Illusion by Teri Brown


Goodreads Blurb
Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?

So when Annabelle from Sparkles and Lightning recommended this to me, I was a bit unsure about it. I mean, it reminded me a lot, a LOT, of DIVINERS by Libba Bray and I wasn't the biggest fan of it. But she did convince me so I requested it via Edelweiss...and WOW.

Seeing things from a "charlatan's" point of view was interesting--seeing how Anna did her tricks and how her lifestyle was like. She made for an interesting character and I found it interesting how she was pulled between wanting to lead a normal life and wanting to show off her magic tricks, wanting to do both, but knowing that was almost impossible.

The biggest part of this book, really, was the relationship between herself and her mother. It seemed to be a mix of love, hate, jealousy, and greed, but it turned out to be so much more than that. It's definitely something a lot of readers can relate to, that love/hate relationship. I enjoyed it and it definitely came to play near the end and I have a feeling that it'll be a very significant part of the sequel! (Not sure if there is one, but if there isn't, my my, that's a lot of unanswered questions!)

The romance bit definitely was a bit disappointing. It felt much like insta-love, the way the two meet and their reaction. There's literally an electrical charge between them too. Literally. When the l-word came into play, I honestly just rolled my eyes a bit, I'll say that. Otherwise it was pretty sweet! And I loved Cole.

The plot was perfectly paced and I was instantly drawn to this world of conmen and magic. The plot was thick with distrust and there were so many things that just shocked me! ESPECIALLY that ending! While I expected part of it, the other part pretty much blew my mind. There are a lot of subplots that capture your interest and they just built up the suspense until the ending scene. Which I loved!

We don't really learn much about the Society for Physical Research and I found that a tad disappointing, but the way that this story is told fully makes up for that. Born of Illusion is a tale of magic, mystery, and intrigue that will keep you on your toes until the very end! I'd recommend it for fans of Mysteries and HisFics! Especially if you're a fan of In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters!

P.S. while reading this, we were talking about the Roaring Twenties and Reconstruction. Perfect timing!

Pages: 352
Genre: Historical/Paranormal
Series:Born ofIllusion #1
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Release Date: June 11, 2013
Rating: 3.5--->4 stars




Thursday, June 27, 2013

Nameless by Lili St. Crow


Goodreads Blurb
When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.
Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.
New York Times bestselling author Lili St. Crow thrilled legions of fans with her dark paranormal series Strange Angels. Now she has crafted an evocative update of Snow White, set in a vividly imagined world and populated by unforgettable new characters.

Nameless was so disappointing for me. It sounded absolutely fascinating and I imagined a stunning world filled with intrigue and danger. What I got was actually a pretty typical YA world with shoddy worldbuilding and not much originality. And that was actually one of the better parts.

The writing was super confusing and just horrible. It was all over the place and I was always confused as to what the HECK was going on. The sentences were awkward and choppy at best sometimes and I just wanted to take a red pen to the entire thing. The fact that it was written in third person made it even harder to connect to the story and the character. Then there are several elements mentioned, but we never really understand exactly what the Waste is, what Potential was and why it could be described, etc. We also never really learned much about the world.

Nameless was so slow too. I couldn't get into it at all and it was, as much as I hate to insult, pure willpower that made me finish the book. It didn't get interesting until at least 75% in and I also had only a vague understanding of what was going on.  The last 25% was rather enrapturing, but it didn't make up half of the negative stuff. It was also rather predictable.

Cami was a pretty emotionless character for me, but whiny and not that smart otherwise. She did the most stupid things sometimes and I wanted to whack her over the head. Our other characters weren't so good either, but her friends Ruby and Ellie definitely had more defined personalities than Cami. I also loved how Ruby was the Red Riding Hood in the story and Ellie was Cinderella. Well, I guess we know what the companion novels will be about (I think.)

The romance...was...I'm confused as to whether or not ___ had a romantic attraction because then it'd be incest, but I'm still unsure whether it was romantic or familial. Heh. 
Anyways, I'm on Team Nico (love triangle, yep. Annoying one too) because Tor was just so random. Cami just couldn't stop thinking about Tor, Tor showed up in the most random of places...it was all typical YA. Not to mention a betrayal. somewhere in the love triangle. A predictable one.

Also, what did the apples represent besides the fact that it was a Snow White retelling?


Pages: 304
Genre: Retelling/Fantasy
Series: A Tale of Beauty and Madness #1
Publisher: Razorbill 
Release Date: April 4, 2013
Rating: 1.5--->1


Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday

3:59 by Gretchen McNeil

Josie Byrne's life is spiraling out of control. Her parents are divorcing, her boyfriend Nick has grown distant, and her physics teacher has it in for her. When she's betrayed by the two people she trusts most, Josie thinks things can't get worse.

Until she starts having dreams about a girl named Jo. Every night at the same time—3:59 a.m.

Jo's life is everything Josie wants: she's popular, her parents are happily married, and Nick adores her. It all seems real, but they're just dreams, right? Josie thinks so, until she wakes one night to a shadowy image of herself in the bedroom mirror – Jo. 

Josie and Jo realize that they are doppelgängers living in parallel universes that overlap every twelve hours at exactly 3:59. Fascinated by Jo's perfect world, Josie jumps at the chance to jump through the portal and switch places for a day.

But Jo’s world is far from perfect. Not only is Nick not Jo's boyfriend, he hates her. Jo's mom is missing, possibly insane. And at night, shadowy creatures feed on human flesh.
By the end of the day, Josie is desperate to return to her own life. But there’s a problem: Jo has sealed the portal, trapping Josie in this dangerous world. Can she figure out a way home before it’s too late?

I haven't read any of Gretchen McNeil's books yet (I mean, I have an ARC of Ten on my shelf...but...) but this one definitely sounds interesting! Trapped in a parallel world by your other self? Ummm...well. It has to be interesting! Plus I love the cover in it's simplicity!

Also, I love how it's 3:59 instead of midnight or dawn or twilight or something. There's something fascinating about the random time!!! (Yes, 3 "!"'s. It was needed) 

Monday, June 24, 2013

What's Left of Me by Kat Zhang


Goodreads Blurb
I should not exist. But I do.
Eva and Addie started out the same way as everyone else—two souls woven together in one body, taking turns controlling their movements as they learned how to walk, how to sing, how to dance. But as they grew, so did the worried whispers. Why aren’t they settling? Why isn’t one of them fading? The doctors ran tests, the neighbors shied away, and their parents begged for more time. Finally Addie was pronounced healthy and Eva was declared gone. Except, she wasn’t . . .
For the past three years, Eva has clung to the remnants of her life. Only Addie knows she’s still there, trapped inside their body. Then one day, they discover there may be a way for Eva to move again. The risks are unimaginable-hybrids are considered a threat to society, so if they are caught, Addie and Eva will be locked away with the others. And yet . . . for a chance to smile, to twirl, to speak, Eva will do anything.

What's Left of Me was...well, it was good, but it was disappointing in a lot of ways, actually.
I think What's Left of Me is one of those 2 way books where either you completely loved it or it was just disappointing. I definitely went down road number two.

What's Left of Me definitely got off to a great start, but it went downhill after the first 2 or 3 chapters, becoming a long, boring introduction. It did show the strength of the bond between Eva and Addie, but I'm more of an action or cry girl where there a) has to be a giant action scene or b) has to be deep enough that I cry. So the first half definitely didn't go into my type of read, though I'm betting there are a lot of people who will enjoy the depth of the relationships between all these characters, and the way you can easily understand Eva's feelings of frustration and longing.

I'm not quite sure what genres to put this in, not really. Technically, it's a dystopia, but we never learn how we got 2 souls in our body--so it could also be a fantasy/sci-fi kind of book as well since this seemed to take place in a different world, still somewhat similar to ours. But, still, we don't learn much about this world. Worldbuilding is obviously not one of the main points in this book, so we never really got a feel for how harmless this world could be compared to others, or how horrible it could be. There are a lot of holes in the fabric of this world and plot so I was disappointed there as well.

Speaking of the hospital, things definitely picked up there. Suddenly it was fast paced and thrilling, escape plans and all. And the TWISTS? I so wasn't expecting that! I mean, the fading of one soul? That...I can't believe how that happens. It was just shocking and I definitely had a hard time getting over that. The cruelness...

Oh hey, I'm rambling.

The concept of this book was truly fascinating and unique and while this was a bit slow, I think it was mainly because it was the first book. No doubt the sequel will be as action packed as the second half of this and as amazing as I'd expected What's Left of Me to be! I'd definitely recommend this for people who love reading about relationships and understand the wanting of something you can never have.

Pages: 343
Genre: Dystopia/Sci-fi/Fantasy
Series: What's Left of Me #1
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: Sep 18, 2012
Rating: 2.5--->3 stars



Sunday, June 23, 2013

Things+ Book Haul + Weekly Recap

OKAY. This week has been absolutely exhausting. Here's what I've done

  • Schedule a ton of posts
  • Rearrange my schedule a dozen times
  • Start preparing for Bloggy Awards 2013
  • Talk blog tours
  • Start my 25 question/page 25 page packet
  • Find the perfect background for Merp Squad Blog Tours (You should totes sign up) 
  • Design the button and banner for Bloggy Awards 2013
  • REDESIGNEG MY BLOG (which, I know, isn't perfect. It's still in the works and if my blog is unavailable, it's because it's so hideous at this point that I want no one seeing it.)
So if you'll notice, there are a few changes around the blog. The background is definitely the most obvious one and I absolutely LOVE it. The banner has a new shape and a sort of border thing I really love. Eileen helped me put sparkles on the gadget/widget names and I have new contact buttons! I totally love it so far! 
Seriously, just compare them:

Bleck

ANYWHO. I didn't get anything this week, but I didn't do a book haul last week so here it is. Except I am way too exhausted to do the half an hour process of finding the books, taking a pic, etc. So NO PICS. SO SORRY. 

Bought
Linked by Imogen Howson
Another Little Piece by Kate Karyus Quinn
7 Year King by Kiki Hamilton

Blog Tour/Publisher
The Last Dance by Kiki Hamilton
The Weather Witch by Shannon Delany
Linked by Imogen Howson

Gifted
Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry
Dare You To by Katie McGarry

LOVED Linked, although the first part definitely wasn't it's best. Excited for Another Little Piece but with so many review books it's gone down my TBR! EEP! Sounds totally creepy though. I love the Faerie Ring series by Kiki Hamilton and can NOT wait to read the next installment!
Excited to read The Last Dance, although apparently few liked it. Hmm. Not going to read The Weather Witch because I can NOT fit the book anywhere in my reviewing schedule and it's gotten a ton of negative reviews which sucks since it sounded wonderful! And yes. Yes that is another copy of Linked. The day after my bought Linked came I got one from S&S. Sigh. Sending the bought one to a friend though! Hoping she loves it!
Awesome dude named Frodo on twitter bought these for me! LOVED Pushing the Limits and desperately wanted Dare You To. I had an ARC of PTL and I NEED matching formats, so after I went begging on twitter, he got me both! YAY!

Weekly Recap

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Clement-Moore

Goodreads Blurb
Daisy Goodnight can speak to the dead. It’s not the result of a head injury or some near-death experience. She was just born that way. And she’s really good at it. Good enough to help the police solve the occasional homicide.
But helping the local authorities clear cold cases is one thing. Being whisked out of chemistry class by the FBI and flown to the scene of a murder/kidnapping in Minnesota? That’s the real deal.
Before the promotion can go to Daisy’s head, she’s up to her neck in trouble. The spirits are talking, and they’re terrified. There’s a real living girl in danger. And when Daisy is kidnapped by a crime boss with no scruples about using magic—and Daisy—to get what he wants, it looks like hers is the next soul on the line.

Spirit and Dust is just an amazing book! Possibly one of my favorite paranormal/fantasy I've read in a while! It had...everything. Great worldbuilding, an ingenious plot, twists I couldn't imagine, a great main character, and a swoony love interest.

What surprised me about Spirit and Dust was that was that instead of just using regular paranormal elements, like magic, witchcraft, werewolves, vampires, etc., the main element was Egyptian mythology! Which I think tied a little perfectly with what we learn about the "paranormal" world Daisy introduces us to. The worldbuilding for this was spectacular, why shades were called "remnants" instead of "ghosts, the rules of the afterworld, all that! The only thing I had a complaint about was that we were told that the soul was cut into 3 parts, when I learned that it was 7. So that was a bit weird for me! 

Daisy was such a snarky character! I adored her! She was such a...well, teenager and it was relatively easy to connect with her, despite her freaky powers! She was hilarious and I adored reading from her POV! Not to mention, the Remnants also brought a bunch of humor to the story, as well as her little banters with Carson, our swoony love interest! He had a few secrets of his own, which, by the way, I did not expect at all. He was arrogant and sweet and everything in between! Made better with the fact that it was a pretty slow romance and wasn't all "we're completely destined to be together", thank goodness!

Crazy things that I never expected had already happened before the half mark of the book and I had no clue what could happen next! I read this in one sitting, in the middle of the night, and every time my eyelids would droop, some giant twist happened and I would be completely unable to put it down! It had me wide eyed and literally flipping through the pages! I was absolutely dying (pun intended) to find out what happened next! 

Pages: 304
Genre: Paranormal
Series: Standalone
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Rating: 4.5--->5 stars




Thursday, June 20, 2013

Summer Solstice Sequels Tour and Giveaway!

SUMMER SOLSTICE SEQUELS TOUR – 4 books, 4 authors, 4 days of prizes! 


It’s the final stop on the Summer Solstice Sequels tour (*sniff*), where authors Lili Peloquin (THE INNOCENTS), Jessica Spotswood (BORN WICKED), Elizabeth Richards (BLACK CITY), and Fiona Paul (VENOM) have joined forces to celebrate the launch of their summer sequels! 

Today we’re spotlighting Lili’s upcoming novel, THIS SIDE OF JEALOUSY (The Innocents, book #2), due out on August 20!

About the Book
Publisher: Razorbill
Release date: August 20, 2013

Alice and Charlie haven’t stopped fighting since they arrived in Serenity Point two weeks ago. Those two weeks changed their lives. And Serenity Point has changed them.

While the sisters grapple with the terrible truth about their family, the one-year memorial of Camilla’s death looms. The tension mounts and sparks fly as bright as July Fourth fireworks. Alice and Charlie are desperate to find out the truth that everyone seems to be hiding.

Is Camilla their enemy and rival—even six feet under? Or is she their sister, whose memory they have to protect? And what really happened to her that night on the bridge? In a town built on secrets and lies, can the truth stay buried for long? 



Bio
Lili Peloquin is the author of The Innocents. She grew up in New England, where the first breeze of summer still reminds her of a whispered secret.

Find her at: Twitter | Facebook


Giveaway 4: Quotables!
Each day the authors have come up with a fun quiz for you to play. Today’s game is Quotables!

Rules
Each author has selected a quote from their summer solstice sequels. All you have to do is match the quote with the correct book, and then enter your answers in the form below. Simple, huh?  (HINT: Check out each author’s book highlight for a clue. Links are under the ‘Follow the tour’ section)

The contest will close at 12pm EST, June 28. Any entries after this date will not be counted. Winners will be notified by email. US only. Entrants must be over 13 years old. Entrants under that age must have a parent or guardian enter on their behalf.

Prizes
2 x ARCs of THIS SIDE OF JEALOUSY

Let’s play!
Quote 1:
Cass couldn't help herself. For a second, the two of them were back on San Domenico, kissing on a bench in her aunt's garden. For a second, desire budded and bloomed inside of her, as scarlet and fragrant as Agnese's roses. For a second, nothing had changed.
 Only everything had changed. 

Quote 2:
Alice could smell the blood even from more than a hundred yards away.  It hung on the air, sweet and sticky and faintly rotten.  And she could hear, above the din of the crowd, the roar of the ocean, the sharp crack of a fist on a face, bone colliding with bone, the dull thump of a knee in a midsection or groin, of a body crumpling in on itself.  In the distance, a police siren wailed, soft but growing louder.  Sickening sounds.

Quote 3:
That night, Elijah finds a bottle of spiced Shine hidden away in one of the cupboards. The boys drink—I haven’t the stomach for it—while we listen to music on the crackling radio, the stars glittering above us. Elijah shows us a traditional Bastet dance, which makes us giggle.
                “All right, your turn,” he says, disgruntled.
                Ash gets up and does a funny jig, which he claims is a Darkling folk dance, but I know he’s just making it up. I burst out laughing, as does Elijah.
                “You mocking my moves, blondie?” Ash teases.
                I nod.

Quote 4:
“I’m so glad to see you! What are you doing in New London?” I demand.
“We might ask you the same question, Sister,” Rory says.
Sachi’s dark eyes rest on my face. “What possessed you to join the Sisterhood, Cate?”
“I don’t know what you mean. I’m very happy here in New London,” I evade, glancing over my shoulder.                            
“Liar.” Rory isn’t one to mince words. “You’ve been crying, plain as day.”
“You don’t have to tell us now,” Sachi says, eyeing me sideways. “Father’s here for the duration of the council meeting. Finn, too. I take it you’ve seen him? Did he speak to you?”
I shake my head, unable to speak past the lump that’s reappeared in my throat.
“Oh, Cate, you look a mess.” She tosses me her bright pink lace handkerchief.
“Has he”—I wipe my eyes, battle my pride, and lose—“has he said anything about me?”

Entry form

Twitter Party! 
Don’t forget to join us tonight, Thursday June 20, for the Summer Solstice Sequels Twitter party at 6.30pm EST (follow along using #SSSequels). Penguin Teen will be giving away loads of ARCs, so you won’t want to miss out!

FOLLOW THE TOUR
17 June
 Spotlighting PHOENIX by Elizabeth Richards

18 June
Spotlighting STAR CURSED by Jessica Spotswood

19 June
Spotlighting BELLADONNA by Fiona Paul

20 June
Spotlighting THIS SIDE OF JEALOUSY by Lili Peloquin

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday



Deception by C.J. Redwine

Baalboden has been ravaged. The brutal Commander's whereabouts are unknown. And Rachel, grief stricken over her father's death, needs Logan more than ever. With their ragged group of survivors struggling to forge a future, it's up to Logan to become the leader they need—with Rachel by his side. Under constant threat from rival Carrington's army, who is after the device that controls the Cursed One, the group decides to abandon the ruins of their home and take their chances in the Wasteland.



But soon their problems intensify tenfold: someone—possibly inside their ranks—is sabotaging the survivors, picking them off one by one. The chaos and uncertainty of each day puts unbearable strain on Rachel and Logan, and it isn't long before they feel their love splintering. Even worse, as it becomes clear that the Commander will stop at nothing to destroy them, the band of survivors begins to question whether the price of freedom may be too great—and whether, hunted by their enemies and the murderous traitor in their midst, they can make it out of the Wasteland alive. 

In this daring sequel to Defiance, with the world they once loved forever destroyed, Rachel and Logan must decide between a life on the run and standing their ground to fight
.

I wasn't really the biggest fan of Defiance (giant fan of the cover though!) but I liked it enough that I'm definitely waiting on Deception! This one sounds so action packed and I do love the romance between these two! 

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

The Beautiful and Cursed by Page Morgan


Goodreads Blurb
After a bizarre accident, Ingrid Waverly is forced to leave London with her mother and younger sister, Gabby, trading a world full of fancy dresses and society events for the unfamiliar city of Paris.
In Paris there are no grand balls or glittering parties, and, disturbingly, the house Ingrid’s twin brother, Grayson, found for them isn’t a house at all. It’s an abandoned abbey, its roof lined with stone gargoyles that could almost be mistaken for living, breathing creatures.
And Grayson has gone missing.
No one seems to know of his whereabouts but Luc, a devastatingly handsome servant at their new home.
Ingrid is sure her twin isn’t dead—she can feel it deep in her soul—but she knows he’s in grave danger. It will be up to her and Gabby to navigate the twisted path to Grayson, a path that will lead Ingrid on a discovery of dark secrets and otherworldly truths. And she’ll learn that once they are uncovered, they can never again be buried.

The Beautiful and Cursed was definitely a book I was looking forward to--Gargoyles? In Paris? With that gorgeous cover? How could I not be intrigued?

Oh the atmosphere! It was haunting and chilling and had an absolutely dark tone to it that I had to fall in love with. It had such a gritty feel to it and was absolutely wonderful. This was so much darker that I thought it'd be! It's mysterious and a bit gory, but completely enticing. The mystery is definitely one of the best parts about the story--and the gargoyles? They added a sense of grim allure that just drew me in. Especially in Paris!

Speaking of gargoyles--hello? Who's written about that before! Learning the lore behind gargoyles was absolutely fascinating and I loved Morgan's twist on these old tales! It did seem a bit typical at first, but that's quickly overlooked by, well, the gargoyles. 

With YA you can make pretty much any creature sexy and enticing, huh?

The plot was definitely one of the better parts of the book! It was shocking and twisted, surprising me until the very end. It's a complicated mess--and we all know those are the best when it comes to the plot! The Beautiful and Cursed was definitely at it's strongest in the second half though! Because that's pretty much where a chain of events unfold and where everything just explodes.

The POVs are something of a nuisance for me. I hate multiple POVs, but I loved Grayson's. It added even more of an air of mystery to our already thickening plot and made everything so much more...interesting. But at the same time, I'm no fan of multiple POVs, and this wasn't really an exception.

Now, I should've stopped and thought about the romance when it said "a devastatingly handsome servant". There were almost 2 love triangles (two and a half? Two halves? Does Chelle count? Vander? Ermm...), one for each sister. And the love interests (besides Luc) weren't my favorite. They seemed a bit bland to me in all honesty, and a bit too typical for a YA love interest. (And there were so many guys, I can't remember all their names!) And the insta love between Luc and Ingrid--that just ruined it completely. There was no support for their romance, no building up of chemistry really. It was just...there.

And I didn't even really understand how these two girls could attract so many guys! Ingrid was definitely my favorite of the sisters, but she seemed to...proper for my taste, though Morgan did a wonderful job of creating the perfect attitude for both of these girls! But I usually like my characters more wild--though Ingrid was still, most definitely kickass. But something about her struck me as annoying.
Gabby definitely struck a nerve. She was so naive and irritating--so impulsive too! I'm not sure if she ever really thought before she acted, but it didn't really seem like it. But I did admire her will to fight and to rescue her brother even in the face of doubt!

Just like the title suggests, this novel is truly beautiful and thrilling to its core. While I didn't completely enjoy it, The Beautiful and Cursed definitely had it's good moments and I'll be sitting here waiting for a sequel!

Pages: 352
Genre: Fantasy/Historical
Series: The Dispossessed #1
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Rating: 3.5-->3 stars

Monday, June 17, 2013

YA Crush Tourney: Vote Perry!

Tweet #TeamPerry and get your friends and family to vote for PERRY!
Y'ALL. I AM THE ADVOCATE FOR THIS HOTTIE RIGHT HERE:


Yeah him? Know him? I'll fill you in. 
Perry, our favorite Outsider, is perhaps one of the swooniest YA boys around. And, since I'm me, I'd rather show you than tell you. Be prepared to swoon at the quotes. 

Looks


I asked a few friends on why they love Perry.
"1. His tattoo & his markings bc every time I picture it, I pretty much swoon." -@ _extroadiMARY
Oh my. You mean these?
"He had tattoos, just like in the stories. Two patterned bands around each bicep. When he'd turned his back, she'd seen another design on his skin, some sort of hawk with wings spanning shoulder to shoulder."
Yeah, I would love to touch see them too.

There is hot. And then there is Perry. You don't resist Perry."-@Kami178xx
Truest words ever tweeted. Blond hair, bright green eyes, and one sexy athletic body of course. What's not to love?

Personality
"There're lots of adjectives to describe him but passionate sums it all up -- w his bow, Talon, Aria -- everything".-@LPofimagination

“Your voice sounds like a midnight fire. All warm and worn in and golden. I could listen to you talk forever." 
"I could never do that". 
She laughed at him. He brought his lips to her ear. 
"Your scent is like violets early in spring," he whispered. Then he laughed at himself because though it was true, he sounded like the worst kind of fool.” -Under the Never Sky

Perry responding to Roar (best friend) - "What do you think we are?" and "You're better than a brother."

"He didn't miss once. His name was never sharper than when his blood was up."

"Vale wouldn't fight for Talon, but he would. He was Talon's only hope now."

Oh yeah. Passionate is definitely something you can call Perry.
Ah, but he's not only passionate. He's loyal and strong and supportive. He'll fight for whatever he believes in and for his people and he'll do whatever he can to help.


The Swoon
Now. Another reason you should totally swoon? He's romantic and sweet. 
“In the afternoon, they stopped to eat on a rocky outcrop. Perry brushed a kiss on her cheek while she was chewing, and she learned that it was the loveliest thing to be kissed for no reason, even while chewing food. It brightened the woods, and the never sky, and everything.” 

"I miss you. I miss you. I miss you, I miss you. Be ready, because when I see you, I'll never let you go again”

"Should we try this again?" he asked. Aria smiled. "The right way," she said, and wove her fingers through his. "Together."

And then...his kisses. Can I have one?

“He kissed her slowly. Everything went slowly so he could follow her temper, and search into her eyes. When they joined, her scent was brave and strong and certain. Perry took it into himself, breathing her breath, feeling what she felt. He'd never known anything as right.” 

“Without thinking, he reached for her hand. Tucked it against her chest, feeling that was where it should be. Perry's heart slammed against his ribs. She had to feel it.” 


“Perry's hand settled on her hip, his grip firm. She felt his kiss settle into something deeper as his mouth moved with more urgency over hers. Suddenly there was more heat between them...” 


“His eyes were heavy with desire, but she saw something else. A gleam that made her suspicious.

"What?" she asked.
His hand slid to her hips. "You're incredible."
"That's not what you were thinking."

"Was so. I always think that." He leaned in, twisting a strand of her hair around his finger as he kissed her bottom lip. 

When the heck do I get to be Aria?

"He smiled and leaned down, kissing her softly, tenderly. She knew she should step away. This was a risk, but she didn't care about anything except him just then. She wove her arms around his neck and parted his lips with hers, stealing a taste of him. Tenderness could wait for another time. Perry went still for an instant; then he cinched her close, momentum sending them thudding into the door behind him. He sank against it, bringing himself closer to her height, kissing her with a sudden urgency. With a hunger she matched. His lips moved to her neck, trailed up to her ear, and the world fell away."

"There are other things I'd rather do when I'm alone with you."




Mmmmm. Perry is definitely the swooniest. Oh, but don't only take my word.

[I love him] because he is my baby. Or is he my baby because I love him? Hmmm-Ananbelle
Bows and arrows and blonds, oh my! Perry is my ideal male protagonist and swoony hero because he is survival strong :)-Alyssa
He is an awesome, protective sexy beast.-Tahereh
You broke me in half when you left sweet Perry-Ammie

Oh, and we have a giveaway by the way! Here it is.
First Round: 10 bookmarks
When Perry advances to the Second Round: 2 Signed Hardbacks of Under the Never Sky
When Perry advances to the Third Round: 2 signed hardbacks of Through the Ever Night 
When Perry advances to the Fourth Round: Signed hardback of UTNS AND Through the Ever Night, plus swag pack for one lucky winner

SO OMG GO VOTE FOR PERRY
HERE'S GIVEAWAY NUMBER TWO! Vote Team Perry and enter to win one of two signed Under the Never Skys! 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And here's the first giveaway!
OVER
a Rafflecopter giveaway
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