Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #105 - Alienated by Melissa Landers

Alienated
(Alienated #1)
by Melissa Landers

Publication Date: February 4, 2014
Publisher: Disney Hyperion



Interplanetary relations have never been more exciting! The first in a funny, romantic YA sci-fi series.

Two years ago, the aliens made contact. Now Cara Sweeney is going to be sharing a bathroom with one of them.

Handpicked to host the first-ever L’eihr exchange student, Cara thinks her future is set. Not only does she get a free ride to her dream college, she’ll have inside information about the mysterious L’eihrs that every journalist would kill for. Cara’s blog following is about to skyrocket.

Still, Cara isn’t sure what to think when she meets Aelyx. Humans and L’eihrs have nearly identical DNA, but cold, infuriatingly brilliant Aelyx couldn’t seem more alien. She’s certain about one thing, though: no human boy is this good-looking.

But when Cara's classmates get swept up by anti-L'eihr paranoia, Midtown High School suddenly isn't safe anymore. Threatening notes appear in Cara's locker, and a police officer has to escort her and Aelyx to class.

Cara finds support in the last person she expected. She realizes that Aelyx isn’t just her only friend; she's fallen hard for him. But Aelyx has been hiding the truth about the purpose of his exchange, and its potentially deadly consequences. Soon Cara will be in for the fight of her life—not just for herself and the boy she loves, but for the future of her planet. (Goodreads)

Sooo... I've had this book on my to-read list for a while now, but just recently discovered that the cover had been released. And what a stunning cover it is! It really drew my eye. The story sounds pretty awesome as well. Funny and romantic? Sign me up!

What are you Waiting for this week??


**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at
Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Friday, May 10, 2013

Review: Requiem by Lauren Oliver

Requiem
(Delirium #3)
by Lauren Oliver

Publication Date: March 5th 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 391
ISBN: 9780062014535

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

They have tried to squeeze us out, to stamp us into the past.

But we are still here.

And there are more of us every day.

Now an active member of the resistance, Lena has been transformed. The nascent rebellion that was under way in Pandemonium has ignited into an all-out revolution in Requiem, and Lena is at the center of the fight.

After rescuing Julian from a death sentence, Lena and her friends fled to the Wilds. But the Wilds are no longer a safe haven—pockets of rebellion have opened throughout the country, and the government cannot deny the existence of Invalids. Regulators now infiltrate the borderlands to stamp out the rebels, and as Lena navigates the increasingly dangerous terrain, her best friend, Hana, lives a safe, loveless life in Portland as the fiancĂ©e of the young mayor.

Maybe we are driven crazy by our feelings.

Maybe love is a disease, and we would be better off without it.

But we have chosen a different road.

And in the end, that is the point of escaping the cure: We are free to choose.

We are even free to choose the wrong thing.

Requiem is told from both Lena’s and Hana’s points of view. The two girls live side by side in a world that divides them until, at last, their stories converge. (Goodreads)
Requiem is the third and final novel in the Delirium series by the amazingly talented Lauren Oliver. While I was a bit late to start this series, it turned out to be one of my all time favorites. I’m sad to see the series end!

I was a little worried when starting the book, after that insane cliffhanger ending at the end of Pandemonium. (And what a major cliffhanger that was!) I didn’t know what to expect, and I was really worried about what was going to happen to my favorite characters. The direction that Mrs. Oliver took in this novel was completely unexpected, and I really enjoyed not knowing what to expect.

I love that the story is told from both Lena and Hana’s point of view. Lena, our fearless heroine, has done a complete 180 since we first met her in Delirium. She started off as such a meek and frightened young lady, but you wouldn’t recognize her that way at all when you meet her in Requiem.  With Hana, we watch her go through the motions of dealing with the consequences for the decisions that she has made. It was very interesting to see her point of view.

I have to say, it made me really sad at the way Lena treated Julian in this book. While I didn’t think that Lena and he worked well together, I also didn’t really care to see him hurt. He was a good guy, one that also changed throughout the series. He’s a stronger character, hardened to the world that he has been thrust into. I also feel that things were kind of left hanging with him at the end of the novel.

I am really, really digging dystopian novels at the moment, and Mrs. Oliver definitely delivered with this awesome series. The world building was so insanely realistic. I could totally see something like this happening in real life, although maybe not the surgery, but the government part. It’s frightening!

Overall, this is a great series. It’s one of my go-to series for when I recommend books to people. It’s really great. If you haven’t checked it out, you should totally do so. Right now!

Happy Reading!
Books in this series:

   



Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #104 - The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Traitor
(The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)
by Julie Kagawa

Publication Date: October 29th, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen



After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as "normal" as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he's forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, "normal" simply isn't to be. For Ethan's nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan's and Keirran's fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan's next choice may decide the fate of them all. (Goodreads)

YAAAAAAAY!
I love this series.
I can't wait to read the next book!
Of course, I love anything that Julie Kagawa writes. :)
Hurry October!

What are you Waiting for this week???

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**

Monday, May 6, 2013

Review: Goddess by Josephine Angelini

Goddess
(Starcrossed #3)
by Josephine Angelini

Publication Date: May 28th, 2013
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780062012036

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

After accidentally unleashing the gods from their captivity on Olympus, Helen must find a way to re-imprison them without starting a devastating war. But the gods are angry, and their thirst for blood already has a body count.

To make matters worse, the Oracle reveals that a diabolical Tyrant is lurking among them, which drives a wedge between the once-solid group of friends. As the gods use the Scions against one another, Lucas’s life hangs in the balance. Still unsure whether she loves him or Orion, Helen is forced to make a terrifying decision, for war is coming to her shores.

In Josephine Angelini’s compelling conclusion to the masterfully woven Starcrossed trilogy, a goddess must rise above it all to change a destiny that’s been written in the stars. With worlds built just as fast as they crumble, love and war collide in an all-out battle that will leave no question unanswered and no heart untouched. (Goodreads)
Goddess is the third and final installment in the amazing Starcrossed series by Josephine Angelini. I’ve read Starcrossed and Dreamless in the past years, and have completely loved the series. So, of course, when a chance to review Goddess arrived, I jumped!

Goddess picks up right where Dreamless leaves off. Helen and crew have finally escaped the evilness that is Ares. But the danger doesn’t end there.  The gods are angry, and are turning people against each other. A tyrant is lurking among the group who has the ability to completely destroy everything. It’s up to Helen and her fabulous friends to save the world from a war that is imminent.

The characters in this series are so wonderfully written and thought out. Each of them holds a special place in my heart, Helen being one of the main ones. I loved watching her grow as a person; discovering more about herself and her abilities. She is a very strong and determined heroine, and will do whatever it takes to keep those that she loves safe.  Lucas is another character that I have loved since the beginning of the series. He cares for Helen so much. The rest of the secondary characters in the novel are wonderful as well; I could totally go on and on about each of them. There are a few that you will love to hate, but again, they are all so well written. I’m definitely going to miss all my favorite characters.

The storyline and world-building for this book was, as always, absolutely fascinating. I just can’t read enough about the Greek gods and goddesses. The storyline for the book is action packed and completely engrossing.  I was flying through the pages trying to see exactly what was going to happen next. A lot of the loose ends that we were left with in the previous books were tied up in Goddess.  Some things came to a shocking ending at that. But overall, everything was wrapped up nicely.

I must say, I really hate to see this series come to an end. It has been one of my most favorite series to read since I started blogging, and I have really enjoyed the adventure that Ms. Angelini has taken me on. If you haven’t read the Goddess series, I definitely recommend that you check it out as soon as possible. It is definitely worth the read!

Happy Reading!
Book in this series:

Friday, May 3, 2013

Review: The Girl with the Iron Touch by Kady Cross

The Girl with the Iron Touch
(Steampunk Chronicles #3)
by: Kady Cross

Publication Date: May 28th, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN
Pages: 384
ISBN: 9780373210855

Barnes & Noble | Amazon | Goodreads

In 1897 London, something not quite human is about to awaken

When mechanical genius Emily is kidnapped by rogue automatons, Finley Jayne and her fellow misfits fear the worst. What's left of their archenemy, The Machinist, hungers to be resurrected, and Emily must transplant his consciousness into one of his automatons—or forfeit her friends' lives.

With Griffin being mysteriously tormented by the Aether, the young duke's sanity is close to the breaking point. Seeking help, Finley turns to Jack Dandy, but trusting the master criminal is as dangerous as controlling her dark side. When Jack kisses her, Finley must finally confront her true feelings for him...and for Griffin.

Meanwhile, Sam is searching everywhere for Emily, from Whitechapel's desolate alleyways to Mayfair's elegant mansions. He would walk into hell for her, but the choice she must make will test them more than they could imagine.

To save those she cares about, Emily must confront The Machinist's ultimate creation—an automaton more human than machine. And if she's to have any chance at triumphing, she must summon a strength even she doesn't know she has.... (Goodreads)
The Girl with the Iron Touch is another fantastic addition to the Steampunk Chronicles series. I have really enjoyed reading The Girl in the Steel Corset and The Girl in the Clockwork Collar over the past two years, so I jumped to read this final installment in the series. It was definitely worth the read!

I must say, I absolutely love all of the characters in this series. Finley and Griffin are two of my most favorite couples ever. They are perfect for each other. Sam and Emily are a wonderful couple as well. I am so glad that Ms. Cross decided to write in such wonderful characters. I find Jasper and Jack Dandy to both be completely fascinating. The newest addition to the story, Mila, proved to be most fascinating as well. I would love to see her have a story of her own, maybe in the future. And it’s not just those to characters, but the rest of the characters in the story as well that are amazing. These are characters that I could read about again and again, Griffin and Jack Dandy especially. Wink, wink.

The thing I love most about this series, other than its amazing characters, is the world building that Ms. Cross creates. I adore all of the descriptions of the steampunk world that she created. I can envision them perfectly in my mind, and I find it completely fascinating.  It amazes me how completely engrossed I can become in these books. They are definite page turners, and I definitely can’t get enough from reading them.

Overall, I really enjoyed this series, and I hate to see it come to an end! But all good things must, unfortunately. If you haven’t checked out the series yet, I definitely recommend them for a good read. Check them out sometime!


Books in this series:

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday #103 - The Moon and More by Sarah Dessen

The Moon and More
by Sarah Dessen

Publication Date: June 4th, 2013
Publisher: Viking Juvenile



Luke is the perfect boyfriend: handsome, kind, fun. He and Emaline have been together all through high school in Colby, the beach town where they both grew up. But now, in the summer before college, Emaline wonders if perfect is good enough.

Enter Theo, a super-ambitious outsider, a New Yorker assisting on a documentary film about a reclusive local artist. Theo's sophisticated, exciting, and, best of all, he thinks Emaline is much too smart for Colby.

Emaline's mostly-absentee father, too, thinks Emaline should have a bigger life, and he's convinced that an Ivy League education is the only route to realizing her potential. Emaline is attracted to the bright future that Theo and her father promise. But she also clings to the deep roots of her loving mother, stepfather, and sisters. Can she ignore the pull of the happily familiar world of Colby?

Emaline wants the moon and more, but how can she balance where she comes from with where she's going?

Sarah Dessen's devoted fans will welcome this story of romance, yearning, and, finally, empowerment. It could only happen in the summer. (Goodreads)

Squeeeeee! I LOVE Sarah Dessen, and it's been too long since I have read one of her books. My daughter and I just happened to have bought a stack of them last week when we visited the book store, so that she could read them as well. I can't wait to add The Moon and More to our collection! I think it will make a great summer read. :)


What are you Waiting for this week???

**"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking The Spine,
that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.**