Authors are Rockstars! Marissa Meyer!

Hey guys! I'm thrilled to be part of the Authors are Rockstars Tour and even more excited to have Marissa Meyer, author of Cinder and it's sequel, Scarlet, on! Cinder was absolutely amazing and I can NOT wait for Scarlet!!!

As for why she's a rockstar, it should be insanely obvious, but if you've been living under a rock...
Fist off, she wrote Cinder. You guys, that book was amazing!!! Wait. Redundance. But it really was! She creaed an awesome character, a...hmm...not sure if the world was great or creepy with the disease and the Lunars...huh. Also, she's a fan of anime. Seriously. tha multiplies her awesomness b, like, a million. *stares intently*

The Big, the Bad, and the Wolfish: My Top 10 Fictional Wolves

By Marissa Meyer

Hey everyone! I’m super excited to be rocking out during the Authors are Rockstars tour and want to thank all the awesome bloggers for hosting it!

When I told Jaime from Two Chicks on Books that I hadn’t decided what I was going to guest post about, her response was: “maybe a Wolf post” – followed by TWO winking emoticons. And I thought, well, the girl wants wolves, so let there be wolves!

Following are my Top 10 Favorite Wolves from pop culture. I realized in writing this list that it’s somewhat lacking in picks from the YA paranormal realm, so I’m hoping all you well-read readers will add your own favorites in the comments.

Note: I’ve tried to avoid spoilers where possible, but regarding #3—if you haven’t read Harry Potter yet, you deserve to be spoiled.

1. Brid (Hold Me Closer, Necromancer by Lish McBride)

Yes, I’m starting the list out with a chick, but in the world of kick-ass werewolves, she deserves to be right up top. She’s smart, feisty, proud, unapologetic, and has no problem talking smack to crazy necromancer Douglas, even after he locks her up in a cage made especially for her. I want to high-five the book every time she shows up.

2. Wolf (The 10th Kingdom miniseries)

I know I’m not the only one who remembers how totally awesome this miniseries was, with its epic fairy tale corniness, and Wolf stole the scene every time he appeared. He’s caught between true love and the whims of a wicked queen, and the way he struggles with hiding his wolfishness while also trying to woo Virginia makes for one of the most adorable romances (and proposals!) ever to hit the little screen.

3. Professor Remus Lupin (Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling)

He’s smart. He’s gentle. He’s patient. He’s noble. He’s a raving bloodthirsty werewolf every full moon. What’s not to love?

4. The Fenris (Sisters Red by Jackson Pearce)

Here I am, trying to make good on that promise to avoid spoilers. I love this book and how Jackson Pearce made Little Red Riding Hood into a modern, scarred, hatchet-wielding werewolf hunter. Much of the book revolves around the two March sisters, Scarlett and Rosie, trying to track down an unknown “Potential” before a pack of cruel Fenris finds him and turns him into one of their own, making for lots of exciting escapades… and there’s also a really swoon-worthy love story and… oh, you just have to read it.

5. Inuki (from X/1999 by CLAMP)

Although I don’t think I ever finished reading the entire X/1999 manga, one image from this series has stuck with me since I was a teenager and is probably responsible for 95% of my love for wolves and 100% responsible for my desperate desire for an invisible wolf pet. Inuki is an inugami (dog-spirit) who follows and protects young Yuzuriha Nekoi. He’s also a shape-shifter and turns into a sword in the middle of a battle. Ummmm, can I have one please?

6. The Big Bad Wolf #1 (“Li’l Red Riding Hood,” performed by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs)

I have adored this song since I can remember my grandparents playing it when I was itty-bitty, and now that I’ve written a Little Red retelling, I love it all the more. It gives such a sweet-yet-sultry account of the fairy tale, all from the Wolf’s POV. “What a big heart I have—the better to love you with. Little Red Riding Hood, even bad wolves can be good.” Awww! *melts*

7. The Big Bad Wolf #2 (from Liar by Justine Larbalestier)

Did you have any idea there was a werewolf in Liar when you picked it up? Me either!! But then {SPOILER} and I was like {SPOILER} and holy cow, what did {SPOILER} and did it just {SPOILER}?! Gosh, I loved this book.

8. The Big Bad Wolf #3 (from ABC’s Once Upon a Time)

If you’re not watching this show, why the heck not? It’s such a fun mix of fairy tales and folk tales, including, of course, “Little Red Riding Hood.” But oh, the twist they made to the classic tale was one I never saw coming and I can’t wait to see what they do with the Wolf next season—in both Storybrooke and the Fairy Tale world.

9. The Boys from Teen Wolf

I’m cheating a little now because I’m running out of favorite wolves. But after months and months of hearing that I must watch this show, I was finally able to see an episode, like, two nights ago. And it seemed really good even though I had no idea what was going on. So for help, I asked the Twitterbrain who their favorite werewolf is in this new paranormal drama and here’s what they said:

@laboyden: come on it's Scott. He's awkward, headstrong and knows what's right. And he's smokin' #sorrynotsorry

@aisazia: LOL Can I say my favorite non-werewolf? I love Stiles! I love his wit and humor. Otherwise I suppose Scott. He's normal. :) I might like Derek if they ever show why he's the way he is. Dark and moody. XD

@novelsounds: not a wolf but Stiles is GREAT! love Lydia because she's a secret genius. Scott is dumb but his heart is in the right place.

@rklipman: DEREK! Because he has an epic bitch face and I'm pretty sure he is secretly in love with Stiles, which = good taste.

@RegicidalDwarf: probably Derek? ...the why being that he fails at everything and his face is beautiful.

 

Cinder Synopsis

Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless Lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .

Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’s illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world’s future.

Short Author Bio

Marissa Meyer lives in Tacoma, Washington, with her husband and three cats. She’s a fan of most things geeky (Sailor Moon, Firefly, color-coordinating her bookshelf . . .), and has been in love with fairy tales since she was given a small book of them when she was a child. She may or may not be a cyborg. Cinder is her first novel.

Contact

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Marissa Meyer's Website

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Marissa Meyer's Facebook

School Update!

Hey guys! So today WA y first day of school (went pretty well but it IS just the first day!) and since basically all my classes are PRE-AP (Except for my electives) I'm going to have MASSIVE amounts of homework! So I'm set for a month so that should keep me zOMG schedule for now. I have thus EPIC author thing planned for the next two weeks I'm calling GYDO. It starts on MONDAY and there'll be a *proper* introduction then!

I'll try to read at least 3-5 books per week and hopefully get some reviews done too! But if my reviews dwindle to 2 instead of 3 reviews I'm SINCERELY sorry! I'll try to stay ahead...hopefully my teachers wont give me much homework!

Wish me luck with school! Hopefully it'll be a good year in books, blogging, and school!

-Nikki

(P.S. Scroll down to see my review of Monstrous Beauty!)

Monstrous Beauty by Elizabeth Fama

Goodreads Blurb

Fierce, seductive mermaid Syrenka falls in love with Ezra, a young naturalist. When she abandons her life underwater for a chance at happiness on land, she is unaware that this decision comes with horrific and deadly consequences.

Almost one hundred forty years later, seventeen-year-old Hester meets a mysterious stranger named Ezra and feels overwhelmingly, inexplicably drawn to him. For generations, love has resulted in death for the women in her family. Is it an undiagnosed genetic defect . . . or a curse? With Ezra’s help, Hester investigates her family’s strange, sad history. The answers she seeks are waiting in the graveyard, the crypt, and at the bottom of the ocean—but powerful forces will do anything to keep her from uncovering her connection to Syrenka and to the tragedy of so long ago.

I am completely stunned with Monstrous Beauty! It wasn’t a mermaid tale in the way that the current ones are. Yes, killer mermaid, but it seemed like Elizabeth Fama used the old legends to create her story. She didn’t try to make it into a modern fish tale, she worked on the legend and created a spectacular story.

There were two story lines entwined and I loved both. But you knew what had happened, you knew what caused this, and you knew what caused that. You knew what would happen, but instead of making this book boring and predictable, it made it even more amazing and it made me even more antsy, waiting for the characters to realize what was happening. You guys have no idea how much I wanted to scream out “I know what happened!” to the characters! My anxiety kept growing until finally, finally they discovered everything. And hey. That’s totally a good thing! But there were a lot of surprising twists as well, and a lot of times, the outcome wasn’t as clear as I thought.

And a YA book isn’t a YA book without romance right? I loved the romance! It was definitely different from the rest, but why, you’ll have to read it for yourself! Let’s just say it’s a tragedy, not a HEA. Trying not to spoil anything, I’ll just say that it’s definitely not insta-love despite what you’d think and that history repeats…sadly. The romance is definitely a key point and is definitely something special.

Character-wise, I felt like the characters weren’t very dimensional. They did have separate personalities, but they just felt…unreal. And no, not because Syrenka was a mermaid and Ezra was…well, anyways. I enjoyed reading about them, but I felt like if I met them, I would feel as if they were fake. Hester resembles a lot of other characters and I couldn’t find anything very likeable about her. I just couldn’t connect with them, but it wasn’t very obvious, and honestly, I almost didn’t notice!

The tag line on the back of the ARC fits perfectly—Scary, Sexy, Soulful. Chilling and Dark, Monstrous Beauty was an incredible read that made me shiver and stare. Beautiful prose, amazing plot, and stunning twists, this is definitely one to add to your TBR!

Pages: 304

Series: Stand-alone

Genre: Paranormal/Fantasy/Romance/

Publisher: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux

Release Date: September 4, 2012

Rating: 4.5 ---> 4

"She screamed underwater, a high-pitched wail with a rapid burst of clicks that caused the sea life around her to scatter. It was as Noo'kas had foreseen. She had dared to love, and she had lost everything."

Blog Tour: Shift by Raine Thomas

Hey guys! As part of the Shift tour, I'm doing an Excerpt-Promo post. Since Shift is book 2, here's book 1 first! (Scroll down to see the excerpt and giveaway)

DEFY

Book 1 in the Firstborn Series.

 Seventeen-year-old Tate is about to make her parents’ dreams come true. Unfortunately for her, their dreams foretell her death.

Eager to explore more of the Estilorian plane and prove her abilities, Tate goes against her parents’ wishes and leaves the area of protection surrounding her home. Her choice puts her on a deadly path…one that leaves her alone, severely injured and battling for her life.

Her possible savior arrives in the form of Zachariah, a male who has removed himself from Estilorian society for more than fifty years. Fighting an unexpected connection to Tate, he must decide whether saving her life is worth destroying his.

As Tate struggles to find a way home, she ends up drawn into a dark Mercesti plot involving multiple murders and a powerful ancient artifact. With the unpredictable Zachariah as her only source for aid, she’ll soon find out if her abilities are strong enough to help her defy her Fate.

 Add it on Goodreads! | Buy it from Amazon!

SHIFT

Book 2 in the Firstborn Series

Having the ability to shapeshift, Sophia is familiar with change. But even she feels the rising tension in her homeland.

A shadowy male and deadly beast reside in their midst. The births of the newest Kynzesti loom. Hostile Mercesti continue to hunt for the Elder Scroll, and a traumatized female is too afraid to use her abilities to stop them.

Topping off Sophia’s stress is Quincy, the male she’s convinced can’t stand her. She rues the loss of their friendship, but can’t figure out how to move past it. She’ll soon learn, however, that mending that rift bears more significance than she ever imagined.

The search for the Elder Scroll takes on unexpected urgency, and Sophia finds herself in a race across the mainland. To stop the Mercesti led by Eirik, she and her companions must get past their differences and unite against them. If they don’t, Eirik will acquire the immense power he seeks, and two of the beings Sophia loves most will die.

Add it on Goodreads 

SHIFT Excerpt #1
There was a time when Sophia would have come to Quincy regarding one of her experiments. They had spent hours together in her laboratory or in his medical lab. Of course, it had been a number of years since the last time he felt that he had enough self-control to be alone with her for very long.
Zachariah was quiet for a moment, his gaze considering. “With the right equipment,” he said at last, “it could probably be done.”
Sophia smiled. The sight of it had Quincy’s gut clenching. She used to smile at him that way.
“Great,” she said. “Would you be willing to work with me on it? I’ll need to retrace what you did and see how we can adapt it to be effective on full Estilorians and those of us who are mixed with human DNA.”
“Ooo…sounds fun!” Tate said. “I love watching Soph in action during her experiments.” She gave her cousin a wink.
Zachariah shrugged. “I can work with you on it.”
Quincy waited for Sophia to turn to him, figuring she would surely ask him for his assistance, too. After all, no one knew the properties of human, Estilorian and combined DNA structures like he did.
But she didn’t. She thanked Zachariah and then moved up to continue her conversation with Clara Kate. She never even looked at Quincy, a fact that brutally pained him.
He couldn’t help but feel in that moment that her heart would be forever beyond his reach.

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GIVEAWAY

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Book Haul?

Hey guys! Sorry I didn't make one of these last week. I didn't get ANY books at all then remembered that I had a Weekly Wrap Up post to go along with it. Anyways, here are the books I got and my posts for the last two weeks! (I need to get used to this, geez!) ALSO! Voting for The Bloggy Awards is up. Please go vote for me? http://thebloggyawards.blogspot.com/2012/08/nicest-blogger-nominees.html

Bought
                    

Given

I'm officially on a contemporary kick. I blame you Eileen. But I've read all of these and GASP most of them are AMAZING!!! I love me some contemp.
DUDES, YES. THOSE ARE three finished hardcopies of The Innocents straight from the author. SHE'S SO NICE! :D I've been cooing over these for a while and am halfway through it! LOVING it so far! And yep. Some BR bookmarks were in there too!
What Happens Next, I've already read and WOW. My review is in about...2 weeks. I'm SORRY! But I've got something big planned for all of y'all next week.

August 12-18

Review: Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Waiting on Wednesday

Interview with Kaidan and Anna

Review: Dark Companion by Marta Acosta

August 19-25

Review: the Dark Light by Sara Walsh

Review: Origin by Jessica Khoury
Review: Burn for Burn

Burn for Burn by Siobhan Vivian and Jenny Han

Goodreads Blurb

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.
Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.
Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.
Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.
Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

The professional (ish) reaction: Burn for Burn is most definitely in my Top 5 books (of 2012)! It’s a sinister cotemporary that touches on a few paranormal aspects, making it an exciting new read! Dramatic, devious, and stunning, Burn for Burn met, and exceeded, all expectations!

MARY: Mary really does act like the kind of girl she’s portraying, shy and meek, but she’s got some anger and betrayal hidden in her and I loved that even though she was quiet, she had an undeniable spark in her that just makes you love her! Ever since she was betrayed by the one guy she trusted, Reeve, she’s been a bit on the don’t-notice-me side, but that’s about to change.

Something strange is happening too. Whenever she gets emotional, freaky things start to happen—a sudden wind storm, lights exploding. What, exactly, is happening to her? It’s just one of the questions raised and left unanswered. Hopefully we’ll find out why in book 2!

KAT: Kat has beef with Rennie, the Queen Bee of the school and also her ex-best friend. But now because of that same person, Kat is left out all because she got “boring” and got replaced by Lillia, out other narrator. Kat is incredibly rebellious and fiery and she was such an interesting character! She’s the “devious” one and came up with most of the revenge plans and man! They were evil! But the one thing about Kat was that she took so much glee from the hurt of others and that…kind of unnerved me. But otherwise, she was an amazing character!

LILLIA: Lillia was definitely my favorite character and no, not because she was Chinese. But I’m glad there was diversity! But a guy took advantage of Lillia and when she finds out that her sister may have…done it with her friend, she’s more than pissed. I loved how Lillia was so protective of her sister and how kind she was. I definitely think Lillia was the stronger character. In this revenge plan, she’s hurt 3 of her friends who’ve been with her since…almost forever. But she didn’t break and I loved her spunk!

I loved the way Han and Vivian wrote it. Written in all three POV’s, we still get a feel for all the narrators, each of them with their own separate personalities. The best thing is, none of them got blurred together. Even without them telling you, it would be extremely simple to figure out who was who! The voice was amazing and I think Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian are literally the perfect authors to write this story! I can’t think of anyone else writing it as awesomesaucely. Yes, that is a word.

The plot? Yes, it was insanely dramatic (and I doubt that anyone would actually do it) but that’s one of the best things about Burn for Burn. The drama and the cleverness! And the ending just about killed me. He..he…remembers her! ACK. Anyways, the supernatural element is a giant part of the ending, in the beginning not so much. I love how the plot unfolded and progressed with each act of revenge. And is it wrong to feel a tad gleeful when Rennie got her turn for revenge? On the other hand, the attacks on Alex and Reeve seemed a bit more malicious than the ones on Rennie…but anyways, I can’t wait to see what they have in store in book 2!

The unprofessional reaction: Holy craptastic! This is literally one of the best books I have ever read. And I can’t wait to get book 2! I’m seriously dying here and I can’t believe that Jenny Han and Siobhan Vivian could be so mean to make us wait! Y’all have got to read this AH-MAE-ZING book! People should line up to read this book and I bet that they will!

Pages: 368

Series: Burn for Burn #1

Genre: Contemporary/Spernatural

Publisher: Simon and Schuster BFYR

Release Date: September 18

Rating: 7/5 stars! (Not as good as Sweet Evil or Venom, but still AMAZINGLY awesome!)

 

"Reeve sprints over to her, grabs her, and practically throws her in the air. "Shit." I say."