Waiting on Wednesday

Phoenix by Elizabeth Richards

Weeks after his crucifixion and rebirth as Phoenix, Ash Fisher believes his troubles are far behind him. He and Natalie are engaged and life seems good. But his happiness is short-lived when he receives a threatening visit from Purian Rose, who gives Ash an ultimatum: vote in favor of Rose’s Law permanently relegating Darklings to the wrong side of the wall or Natalie will be killed.

The decision seems obvious to Ash; he must save Natalie. But when Ash learns about The Tenth, a new and deadly concentration camp where the Darklings would be sent, the choice doesn’t seem so simple. Unable to ignore his conscience, Ash votes against Rose’s Law, signing Natalie’s death warrant and putting a troubled nation back into the throes of bloody battle.

E-excuse me? Did you say I needed to EXPLAIN why I wanted this? I'm sorry, must have heard wrong. I just LOVED Black City last year and hello? This sequel? That synopsis? THERE IS NO QUESTION. Plus apparently there's like, a love square with Elijah, so other slut  woman, Ash, and Natalie. And then this. THINGS ARE GETTING EVEN MORE INTERESTING! SQUEE!

EDIT: Hee. I may have actually gotten this. But like, I needed to tell everyone my feelings beforehand. So, like...yeah

It's Nikki's birthday & SHE'S BEEN HIJACKED!

Yes it is Nikki! It's your AWESOME-SAUCE BIRTHDAY! 

Hey! I'm Inky [also known as the BLOG HIJACK ALIEN] and I'll be your fabtastique blog host for the day. It's Nikki's birthday if you haven't already gathered, and all her Bloggy Buds have it out to get her all happied up on this joyous day. [see HERE & HERE] By the end of the day she's gonna be like this...if she isn't already: 

Now, this post is gonna be short, sweet and to the point. NIKKI IS AWESOME. She protested all the birthday fun she's getting like MAD. But let's face it. She's worth it. Lisseth (the second link above) will tell you why. I'm just here to bring gifs, balloons, cake, and a little letter. :D So....first up, our traditional party decor...BALLOONS! 

And of course it's not a birthday without a cake and lots of candles. Especially if they do this....

and YOU can do this.....

............before giving up and doing this..........

SO. We've have our happy gifs and all our birthday essentials shared with everyone. Now, it's my turn to share a little more blogger love. I wrote this random poem for Nikki's birthday! Hope you all enjoy it.  Believe me it's random.

Hahaha. As I'm re-reading it, I'm amazed I even pulled it off. But Nikki is worth it, and with that, there is only one last thing to say. And I've got GIFS here to help me:

Thanks for being one of the COOLEST BLOGGERS AROUND! Keep being awesome!!! 

XOXOXO, Inky

Book Haul + Weekly Recap

So I made a video. I know. My voice sounds weird. Have fun. And I realized after I filmed that nothing was backwards. IGNORE ME.
Also, I forgot. I got an arc If You Find Me. Also, the poem was NOT by Eileen. O_o Hmmmm

Hannah @ Book Haven Extroadanaire

Montana @ Book Belles

Eileen @ Singing and Reading in the Rain

eARCs
Art of Wishing by Lindsay Ribar
Stung by Bethany Wiggins
The Prince by Kiera Cass
Undone by Elizabeth Norris

Pub
Money Run by Jack Heath
Summer Prince by Alaya Dawn Johnson (2 copies)
That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard
Orleans by Sherri L. Smith
White Lines by Jennifer Banash
If You Find Me by Emily Murdoch

Bought
Shards and Ashes
Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen
Spirit and Dust by Rosemary Moore

Gifted
Every Other Day by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
Bake Sale by Sara Varon
The Elite by Kiera Cass
Requiem by Lauren Oliver

EILEEN'S GIFT OF EPIC
Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo
Crewel by Gennifer Albin
Through To You by Emily Hainsworth
Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone
3 epic letters
A giant fluffy teddy bear
A BFF teddy bear
A BR signed poster
Swag


Weekly Recap
Senshi by Cole Gibson
How to Lead a Lifeof Crime by Kirsten Miller
Waiting on Wednesday
Infatuated by Aimee Agresti
Orleans by Sherri L. Smith

Orleans by Sherri. L. Smith

Goodreads Blurb

First came the storms.
Then came the Fever.
And the Wall.
After a string of devastating hurricanes and a severe outbreak of Delta Fever, the Gulf Coast has been quarantined. Years later, residents of the Outer States are under the assumption that life in the Delta is all but extinct… but in reality, a new primitive society has been born.
Fen de la Guerre is living with the O-Positive blood tribe in the Delta when they are ambushed. Left with her tribe leader’s newborn, Fen is determined to get the baby to a better life over the wall before her blood becomes tainted. Fen meets Daniel, a scientist from the Outer States who has snuck into the Delta illegally. Brought together by chance, kept together by danger, Fen and Daniel navigate the wasteland of Orleans. In the end, they are each other’s last hope for survival.
Sherri L. Smith delivers an expertly crafted story about a fierce heroine whose powerful voice and firm determination will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page.

Orleans was definitely different from the normal things I read and definitely different from…everything.

In the best way of course!

I really did like Orleans, though I wasn’t as into the story as I wanted to be. I think it was the odd-yet-common dual points of view in both first and third person and the…diction, I guess (YAY for Eileen…even if it wasn’t the word I was looking for…) of our main main character (yes, that does make sense). I’ve always had a problem with that kind of thing, though I guess it does make sense for someone living in the conditions she was raised in, but I always hated the “He ain’t” or “He got” instead of “He has”. Yes, I am a Grammar Nazi. If you know me I DNF’d Blood Red Road because of that too.

But ignoring that (or getting used to it), Orleans was definitely a great read, though I can’t exactly say I loved it.

I did like the characters though! Fen was independent and strong and ingenious in her own way! She knew how to survive in the ruins of Orleans and she took her promises seriously, I’ll say that. She wasn’t a character I could connect with, but I found myself cheering for her (silently, of course…maybe) throughout most of the book! She’s an easy character to like and not frustrating at all, which is more than I can say for some!

Daniel…the way it was written and by what happened; I honestly feel as if Daniel wasn’t really a main character or needed in the story. Sure, he made things a bit edgier, but the main plot really could’ve done a bit without him.

And no, you guys, they do not fall in love, I’ll say that now! I dearly wish they would, but maybe in book two! (There is a sequel, right. There has to be! Goodreads HAS to be lying!)

This was definitely one of those adventure-type books I don’t usually read, but absolutely love! The plot honestly was a bit all over the place, but it was still enjoyable and I loved it.

The best thing about Orleans was, without a doubt, the worldbuilding! It was thorough (well, except for the one question of HOW DID THE FEVER START?!) and I loved learning about what had changed, the events that led up to the Wall and to Orleans and all about the fever and how life in Orleans was. There were tribes and hunting and lepers and so much more! It was an absolutely fascinating fantastically created world that definitely shows you what the words national epidemic mean. ;)

Pages: 336

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic

Series: Standalone (?)

Publisher: Putnam Juvenile

Release Date: March 7, 2013

Rating: 3.5--->4 stars

Infatuate by Aimee Agresti

Goodreads Blurb

Haven Terra is still recovering from an internship that brought her literally to the brink of hell when a trip to New Orleans leads to more trouble. Graduating early from high school leaves the spring semester free, so Haven and her friends Dante and Lance head to the Big Easy to volunteer with community service projects. But their true mission becomes clear when they run across an enclave of devils known as the Krewe. New Orleans is a free-for-all for these shape-shifting devils, who are more reckless and vicious than any Haven, Lance, and Dante have encountered. And they soon discover their French Quarter housemates are also angels-in-training, and together they must face off with the Krewe in their quest for wings. But Haven’s resolve is tested when Lucian, the repentant devil with whom she was infatuated, resurfaces and asks her for help escaping the underworld. Can he be trusted? Or will aiding him cost Haven her angel wings—and her life? Thrilling, romantic, and full of surprises, this gripping sequel to Illuminate takes the battle of good and evil to the next level.

*MAY HAVE SPOILERS FOR ILLUMINATE* 

This was so, so, so MUCH BETTER than Illuminate! Where Illuminate was incredibly monotonous and boring the first 2/3, Infatuate was action packed all the way! So much better than it's first installment! (But...this cover doesn't match the beauty of the first one!)

What I didn't like, though, was Lance and the predictability of some of the twists. Not spoiling, but what happens with Sabine was definitely something I was expecting. A character so thoroughly written was of course going to...well. I could see some things coming from a mile away, so I guess I was disappointed on that aspect, but anticipating it was incredibly frustrating...in a good way. IS there a good kind of frustration? No? Let's call it anticipation then!

As for Lance, I absolutely hated how he treated Haven and their entire romance. He wasn't the best boyfriend--in fact he didn't act the part of the boyfriend at all, except for one scene of jealousy and a few chaste kisses here and there. Not to mention him slobbering over another girl...it was just disappointing...well, not really!

As Team Lucian I was definitely pleased with what was happening! Lucian is back and as swoony as ever! He's a bit hard to trust, that's for sure, but after his sacrifice in Illuminate, I was ready to risk it. 

As for the plot, it alters between fast and slow, but it's enjoyable anyhow (even with the lags!) and definitely an exciting read! It's an original angel story, definitely different from all those other paranormal books, so I loved reading every page and discovering what happens and why it happened, etc. The voodoo shop and haunted mansion and cemetery (so many creepy places thrown at you!) were definitely some of my favorite places and the most...well, ominous scenes happen there! Any surprise? 

But I am going to say that for an angel book, it didn't have much lore, like where the angels came from, the way the angel world worked, etc. so I was a bit disappointed in that aspect...but the rest definitely made up for it!

Umm...hmm. Short review...

Pages: 416

Genre: Paranormal

Series: Gilded Wings #2

Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Rating: 3.5--->4 stars

Waiting on Wednesday

Of Triton by Anna Banks

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?


Hell yeah I want this. The ending of Of Poseidon (SPOILER) was completely SHOCKING. EMMA'S MOM  was Nalia? WTH. I CAN'T BELIEVE WE WERE CLIFFHANGED LIKE THAT. Oh my GOD I seriously wanted to at least read the FIRST CHAPTER of Of Triton. This...this...this is TORTURE. NEED people, NEED.