Friday, February 28, 2014

Review: The Shadow Prince by Bree Despain

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16150914-the-shadow-prince
The Shadow Prince
(Into the Dark #1)
by Bree Despain
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: March 11th 2014
Publisher: EgmontUSA
Pages: 512
ISBN: 9781606842478
Genre: Young Adult | Mythology
Source: Edelweiss

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads


Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds. (Goodreads)
I’ve had a copy of The Shadow Prince for a while now, but I kept putting off reading it until closer to the release date. Now that I’ve read the book, I am kicking myself for having waited so long to read it! This book was a fun book to read. I really enjoyed it, and I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book!

Haden Lord has been chosen as Champion in the Underworld, and has been sent to the mortal world on a mission to find a girl, Daphne, who just may help restore the underworld back to the way it once was. With their fates intertwined, it’s up to Haden and Daphne to stop the war between the gods that is looming in the near future. 

Daphne was a great heroine in this story. This girl really knows what she wants in life, and she’s going after it, no matter what. She’s been sheltered by her mother in a small town all her life. All she wants to do is go out in the world and have a normal life, to become a famous singer with the amazing voice that she has. I envy her all of her determination. I also love her fascination with music. I always find that really relatable in a main character.

Haden was a very mysterious and determined character when we first met him in the book. He was willing to do whatever he had to do to have his honor restored by his father.  He was taught to always be strong, and to never show emotion, as that is a sign of humanness. He’s never had a chance to be himself before without being punished for being weak. All that changes when he meets Daphne. I enjoyed watching Haden try to act like a mortal boy, especially his using Youtube as a learning device.

I’ve read quite a few books that involved Greek mythology lately, and this book by far is the one I’ve enjoyed the most. All of the information about mythology, especially that of Orpheus and Eurydice, is so very fascinating to me. I could keep reading on and on about mythology. This subject is quickly becoming one of my favorites. 

This book was a pretty big read at 512 pages, but I still flew through it pretty quickly-- as time permitted. The storyline was very interesting, and it definitely kept me intrigued. I always enjoy reading books that include references to songs. I am a huge lover of music, and I always end up setting the book aside to go track down any song that is mentioned in the pages. (Then I end up associating the song with the book whenever I hear it, but that’s a whole other story. ;p)

Overall; I really enjoyed reading this book. If you’re into Greek mythology, and want to read a book that is interesting as well as fun, then you should definitely check out this book. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book, due out in 2015!

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Club: Endless Love Book / Movie Review


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61008.Endless_Love http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2318092/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Book Info:

Endless Love by Scott Spencer
Publication Date: January 1st 1999 (first published 1979)
Publisher: Harper Perennial
Pages: 432
ISBN: 9780880016285
Genre: Adult Fiction


I read this book as part of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Book Club with Kathy, Kelly & Kim. I originally picked this book to read because the new movie was coming out around the same time as our book club chat.  As a group, we all pretty much agreed that the main character in this book, David, has major issues, and parts of this book were severely messed up. (I’m talking to you, Chapter 14.) We had a great discussion trying to figure out exactly why David was so infatuated with Jade, and why Jade seemed so indifferent to David. There is definitely a like/dislike relationship amongst us with this book. Some of us ended up liking it, and some of us ended up not really caring for it.  I enjoy that with the book club I can ‘think outside the box’ with my reads, but next time I will definitely choose something less dark and disturbing.

Here is my short review for this book…

Endless Love is described as - “One of the most celebrated novels of its time, Endless Love remains perhaps the most powerful novel ever written about young love.” Unfortunately that is not what I took from this book at all. To me, this book was about an extremely unhealthy obsession and codependent relationship.  I went into this book expecting a somewhat obsessive love story, and instead got something so much deeper and darker than that. 

I had a really hard time understanding the relationship between the two main characters. While David seemed obsessed with Jade, Jade’s feelings came across as indifferent. I’m not sure if this is because we read the novel through David’s eyes, but we all pretty much agreed that we never really got to know Jade, and she never really seemed to care for David. David, on the other hand, has a strange fascination with Jade. While he says that she is the only person he will ever want and love, I still didn’t buy the relationship. The obsession was there, but I really didn’t know what about her he was obsessed with.

The writing style for the novel was very descriptive and elaborate, and the chapters were insanely long. There was so much information included in the book that I felt didn’t really need to be there, and I found myself skimming these parts more than actually reading them. There were some pretty creepy things going on in this novel, and they made me feel really weird. One chapter in the book was particularly disturbing, and no, I’m not even going to go there.

The 2014 version of Endless Love movie is so very different than the book. There are only a couple of things in the movie that are similar to the book. The movie more of a sweet love story, whereas the book was more dark and obsessive. It definitely felt like the movie was geared more toward teens, and that’s totally ok. I just hope that the people that see the movie and then want to read the book after are not completely surprised.

Overall; While I didn’t really care for this book, I know a lot of people really enjoyed it. Unfortunately for me, I just wasn’t able to connect with it.

Check out the other book club ladies review of this book!

Kelly's Review
Kim's Review

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #136 - Take Me On & Red At Night by Katie McGarry

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18333898-take-me-on
Take Me On
(Pushing the Limits #4)
by Katie McGarry
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 20th 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ISBN: 9780373211180

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18333898-take-me-on
Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for. (Goodreads)


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18808865-red-at-night
Red at Night
(Harlequin More Than Words)
by Katie McGarry
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date:
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
ASIN: B00GPDYL56

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18808865-red-at-night
In Red at Night, Stella and Jonah are total opposites. She's the girl with purple hair from the wrong part of town. He's a high school senior who hangs with the cool crowd. Until a car accident leaves him haunted by guilt, and Jonah starts spending time at Stella's favorite refuge…the local cemetery.

Stella knows she should keep her distance—after all, she spent her girlhood being bullied by Jonah's friends. Once he's sorted out his tangled emotions, Jonah won't have time for her anymore. Too bad she's already fallen for him…. (Goodreads)


AHHHHHHH!
Have I ever mentioned how much I love Katie McGarry's books???
I do. I love them.
SOOOOO excited to see the cover for Take Me On, 

and I'm thrilled to have just recently discovered her new novella, Red at Night.
I can't wait to read both of these books.
Squeeeeeeee!

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.**


Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Review: The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16069030-the-winner-s-curse
The Winner's Curse
(The Winner's Trilogy #1)
by Marie Rutkoski
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: March 4th 2014
Publisher: Macmillan
Pages: 355
ISBN: 9780374384685
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Netgalley

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart. (Goodreads)
I was super excited to finally start The Winner’s Curse, as I had seen so many great things about the book floating around the internet. This book definitely did not disappoint! It was an absolutely fascinating read.

The main character in the story is Kestrel, who is the daughter of a very influential general. When we first meet Kestrel in the book, I thought she was bit standoffish and somewhat snobby. Because of this, I didn’t actually think that I was going to like her. But thankfully we see throughout the book that she’s quite the opposite of a snob, she’s a very caring person, who only wants to do what’s right for not only her people, but for the Herrani people as well. I found Kestrel to be an extremely likeable character.

Arin is a slave that Kestrel purchases on instinct. (Of course, there is a reason for this purchase.) Arin is definitely a very complex and mysterious character. I couldn’t figure him out in the beginning, and even when I got to know him better, I still had mixed emotions about him. He was a man with many different sides. I liked his fierceness and determination to do what he thinks is right, even if it may not seem right to me or everyone else. And I loved his feelings for Kestrel. He definitely did not want to do her any harm. He just wanted what everyone wants, to be free. I’m really looking forward to getting to know him more as I continue this series.

Everything about this book was so creative to me. The characters names, the storyline, the world-building… EVERYTHING!  The author did a wonderful job of describing the world in which these characters lived. I was able to see it precisely in my mind, and the world was just beautiful. The storyline was creative and unique, I can honestly say that there is no other book that I’ve read that can compare to this one.The only thing that drove me crazy was that I had so many questions left at the end of the book, and I am hoping that we will get answers to them in the next book. I’m really curious as to what is going to happen next for these characters.

Can I also just add that the cover for this book is absolutely gorgeous? Major kudos to the designer that did this cover, it’s definitely stunning!

Overall; this book definitely lived up to all of the hype that it has been getting. I really enjoyed reading this book, and I can’t wait to check out the next book in the series.



Monday, February 24, 2014

Review: Death Sworn by Leah Cypess

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13549218-death-sworn
Death Sworn
(Death Sworn #1)
by Leah Cypess
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: March 4th 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 352
ISBN: 9780062221216
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy
Source: Edelweiss

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world. (Goodreads)
I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Death Sworn, but the story that I got was extremely fascinating and very unique as well. I really can’t compare it to any other book that I read recently, and I found it to be quite a refreshing read.

Ileni is a sorceress that has lost not only her magic, but everything that is dear to her as well. She is exiled from her home, and sent to be a tutor to a group of secret assassins -- young men that would kill her if they knew the secret about her lack of magic. What she discovers in this underground world with her new students may just change the future forever, not only for her, but for everyone as well.

Ileni was a very interesting character. She was a very strong, determined young lady. She wasn’t about to let anyone stand in her way of what she was sent to do. Not even the boy that she was falling in love with. She has her own set of beliefs and she sticks with them. I always find that very admirable in a main character. Sorin is another very headstrong character. Even though he questions them sometimes, he has his own beliefs that he will never sway from. I really enjoyed that the relationship between Ileni and Sorin is one that grew over time, and at a slow pace.  The secondary characters were interesting and mysterious; I hope that we get more info on them in the next book.

The world-building for this book was so unique. Who would have thought that an underground world could be so creative? The author did a great job of describing this world, and I had no problem visualizing it in my mind. It was very dark and mysterious, just the way one would expect in this world. The storyline was very creative as well. I really can’t think of a book at the moment that I could even compare this book to. I’m really looking forward to reading the next book in the series when it is released. There were a lot of questions that were unanswered for me at the end of the book, and I hope that those questions get answered in the next book.

Overall; I found this book to be a very enjoyable read. If you like reading great stories set in interesting worlds with really strong characters; I definitely suggest that you check this book out.



Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #135 - The Girl with the Windup Heart & The Queen of Zombie Hearts

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18513756-the-girl-with-the-windup-heart
The Girl with the Windup Heart
(Steampunk Chronicles #4)
by Kady Cross
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 20th 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
ISBN: 9780373211197

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18513756-the-girl-with-the-windup-heart
Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields. (Goodreads)


https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377617-the-queen-of-zombie-hearts
The Queen of Zombie Hearts
(White Rabbit Chronicles #3)
by Gena Showalter
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: September 30th 2014
Publisher: HarlequinTeen
ISBN: 9780373211319

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18377617-the-queen-of-zombie-hearts
Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice 'Ali' Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers; until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters; and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing and turning Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima even sacrificing her own life for those she loves. (Goodreads)

Does HarlequinTeen have some amazing books, or what???
I love Kady Cross' Steampunk series. I can't wait to dive back into her world!
I still need to read the second book in the
White Rabbit Chronicles series,
but I adored the first book!
I can't wait for both of these!!

What are you Waiting on 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.**

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Top Ten Tuesday: Reasons I Love Being A Blogger/Reader

February 18th 2014 :
Top Ten Reasons I Love Being A Blogger/Reader


Why I love Blogging:

1.Sharing my love of books: This is the whole reason I started blogging, to share my thoughts and spreading the word about books I've read.

2. The Book Blogging Community: I  just want to say that the Book Blogging/Reader Community is amazing? I've never loved a group of people as much as I love my fellow bloggers and readers. They get me, they really do.

3. Fangirling - Soooo... Apparently I've become a bit of a fangirl lately. Is this something that I can do in real life and have people still think I'm sane? NO. Can I do this on my blog and have people understand exactly what I mean? TOTALLY!!

4. Inspire Others: I really do hope that through my blog I am able to inspire others. Either to blog themselves, or to just check out books that I loved, so that they may love it as well!

5. Commenting: Reading comments that people have left on my blog and commenting on other peoples blogs is one of my favorite parts of blogging! I love that I can converse with others about my book obsession!


Why I love Reading:

6. Escape from Reality. Don't we all need a little escape sometimes? That's what books allow me to do. I can get away from my worries for just a bit. It's a great stress reliever!

7. Discovering new worlds: You really never know what you're going to find when you open the pages of a book!

8. Meeting new characters: I love meeting new characters and diving into their worlds. I get along better with book characters that I do with people in real life! hahaha!

9. Collecting Books: I love that I have my own little library with my most beloved books sitting on the shelves. Every book is a new story!

10. Reading is Fun! I totally enjoy reading more than I enjoy just about everything! I'd totally rather read than watch tv or go out. :)


What's on your Top Ten list this week?
Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish!

Monday, February 17, 2014

Review: Maybe One Day by Melissa Kantor

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18053047-maybe-one-day
Maybe One Day
by Melissa Kantor
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 18th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 400
ISBN: 9780062279200
Genre: Young Adult | Contemporary
Source: Edelweiss

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Critically acclaimed author Melissa Kantor masterfully captures the joy of friendship, the agony of loss, and the unique experience of being a teenager in this poignant new novel about a girl grappling with her best friend's life-threatening illness.

Zoe and her best friend, Olivia, have always had big plans for the future, none of which included Olivia getting sick. Still, Zoe is determined to put on a brave face and be positive for her friend.

Even when she isn't sure what to say.

Even when Olivia misses months of school.

Even when Zoe starts falling for Calvin, Olivia's crush.

The one thing that keeps Zoe moving forward is knowing that Olivia will beat this, and everything will go back to the way it was before. It has to. Because the alternative is too terrifying for her to even imagine.

In this incandescent page-turner, which follows in the tradition of The Fault in Our Stars, Melissa Kantor artfully explores the idea that the worst thing to happen to you might not be something that is actually happening to you. Raw, irreverent, and honest, Zoe's unforgettable voice and story will stay with readers long after the last page is turned. (Goodreads)
I was a little torn when I first decided to read Maybe One Day. The story sounded interesting, but I knew the book was going to be sad, and I make it a point not to read sad books very often. I put the book off a few times, afraid to start it, but I’m so glad that I finally decided to read it. This book was an excellent story of friendship and loss, and how quickly life can change in an instant.

Zoe and Olivia had always been friends. The friendship that these girls have is not one that happens for just anyone, and you can tell throughout the book that there it is more than just an average friendship. These girls are more like sisters, and they care for each other so very much. Through the book we get to see the girls tackle all the challenges that come with cancer, and I admire Zoe for standing by her best friend through it all. I really felt like I was going through everything right along with them. The characters are definitely not perfect, but they were perfect for each other, and they were there for each other, and I guess that’s all that really matters in friendships.

I read this book a lot faster than I expected to. I figured that with the sad storyline, that it would be something I would have to muddle through. But that wasn’t the case at all. Even though most of the story was everyday life of living with cancer, the story was still interesting, and I flew through the pages. While not everything in the book was realistic, it didn’t really take away from the story for me. There were some parts in the book that made me super ugly cry; I just couldn’t help it. I couldn’t imagine what these girls and their families were going through, and I hope I never have to.

Overall; I really enjoyed reading this book, so much more than I expected to. You’ll definitely need some tissues available when you read it, because you definitely will feel the need to cry at some points. I’m definitely looking forward to reading more by this author!

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Review: Panic by Lauren Oliver

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17565845-panic
Panic
by Lauren Oliver
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Publication Date: March 4th 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780062014559
Genre: Young Adult
Source: Edelweiss

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most. (Goodreads)

I am a huge fan of Lauren Oliver, so I couldn’t wait to get my hands on Panic. After adoring Oliver’s Delirium series -- a series based on love being a disease -- I was looking forward to starting Panic, which is more a book about danger and fear.

Panic is a game based on fears, played by graduating high school seniors for the ultimate prize, a huge payoff for the winner. To continue playing in the game, you must pass the challenges that a group of judges give you. If you fail these challenges, you are out of the game for good. Heather is not the type of girl that would participate in Panic. But after being dumped by her boyfriend, she figures she has nothing to lose. Dodge has a secret, and that secret is what is going to get him through to the end of the game. Both of these players are determined to win the game, and at times they must even rely on each other. But will that be enough for either of them to win the game?

Heather was quite an interesting character. If it hadn’t been for her boyfriend breaking up with her, she probably wouldn’t have even entered the game. But once she started playing, and realized that winning would change her life for the better, she played with a vengeance. Who could blame her, really? She didn’t have the best of life, or the best of parents. She wanted better for herself. Seriously, no one can blame her for that. I found her to be a very and determined character. While she didn’t always make the best of decisions, she was still very determined, and she played to win.

Dodge had his reasons for playing the game, and they mostly revolved around revenge. His situation definitely wasn’t the best either. (While I’m thinking of it, it seems that most of the main characters in the novel didn’t have very great situations. All of these kids had some problems or another. Is that from growing up in a poor, small town?) Dodge was absolutely determined to win this game. Not for the money and prizes exactly, but so that he could claim his revenge once and for all. I thought that it was interesting that neither of these characters wanted to rely on anyone, but they each found someone to depend on, someone to help them through, for the most part.

The plot for the book was very interesting and realistic. It’s something that I could see teenagers doing in real life. I was super curious all throughout the book to see what the next challenges would be, and to see who would end up winning the game. The book was a quick read, and definitely kept me turning the pages. Some parts of the book were super intense, and the tension almost drove me crazy. It was great!

Overall; this book was definitely not what I expected, but it was a pretty exciting ride nonetheless.
I really love reading Oliver’s writing. I still need to read Before I Fall, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with in the future.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Review: All That Glows by Ryan Graudin

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12711662-all-that-glows
All That Glows
by Ryan Graudin
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 11th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 480
ISBN: 9780062187413
Genre: Young Adult | Fantasy | Fairies
Source: Edelweiss

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

Emrys—a fiery, red-headed Fae—always embraced her life in the Highlands, far from the city’s draining technology, until she’s sent to London to rejoin the Faery Guard. But this isn’t any normal assignment—she’s sent to guard Prince Richard: Britain’s notorious, partying bad boy and soon-to-be King. The prince’s careless ways and royal blood make him the irresistible for the dark spirits that feed on mortals. Sweet, disheveled, and alive with adventure—Richard is one charge who will put Emrys’s magic and heart to the test.

When an ancient force begins preying on the monarchy, Emrys must hunt through the London’s magical underworld, facing down Banshees, Black Dogs and Green Women to find the one who threatens Richard’s life. In this chaos of dark magic, palace murders and paparazzi, Emrys finds herself facing an impossible choice. For despite all her powers, Emrys has discovered a force that burns brighter than magic: love. (Goodreads)
I was really looking forward to finally starting All That Glows. I had been swooning over the gorgeous cover for some time, and I couldn’t wait to check out the story.

Before I begin this review, I want to clarify that the characters of the royal family in this book are completely fictional. There are some references to actual kings and queens in history, but Prince Richard and his family are, in fact, fictional. This is not about any prince/king in history.

Emrys is a centuries old Fae, a member of the Faery Guard, a group of fae that are sworn to protect Britain’s Royal Blood at all costs. When Emrys is set with the task to discover who is threatening to kill her newest assignment, Prince Richard, party-boy extraordinaire, she discovers that things are not always what they seem, and that there is more to life than just magic.

Emrys was a very interesting character. I didn’t really think that I was going to like her when I first started the book. She seemed a little cold and guarded. But over time as she interacts with Richard more and more, we see her become a completely different person, and definitely a more likeable person. Richard was definitely a party-boy in the beginning of the book. But was he a party-boy, or was he just looking for a way to forget all of the responsibilities that were on his shoulders? All that changes when Emrys comes into his life, and see him become a much better person under her influence.

The storyline for the book was very interesting. I kind of like that the author mixed in some fiction with some facts. Books with historical natures are always interesting to me, and I always find myself researching what I’ve read in the book. I love reading about past kings and queens. I thought that the merging between the two worlds was pretty interesting; the fae world and the modern London. I read this book at a surprisingly quick pace; everything came together to make quite an interesting read.

Overall; I found this book to be a quick, enjoyable read! I’m really looking forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Happy Reading! 





Friday, February 7, 2014

Review: Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13188676-ignite-me
Ignite Me
(Shatter Me #3)
by Tahereh Mafi
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: February 4th 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 416
ISBN: 9780062085573
Genre: Young Adult | Dystopian
Source: Own

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads

The heart-stopping conclusion to the New York Times bestselling Shatter Me series, which Ransom Riggs, bestselling author of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, called "a thrilling, high-stakes saga of self-discovery and forbidden love"

Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew-about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam-was wrong.

In Shatter Me, Tahereh Mafi created a captivating and original story that combined the best of dystopian and paranormal and was praised by Publishers Weekly as "a gripping read from an author who's not afraid to take risks." The sequel, Unravel Me, blew readers away with heart-racing twists and turns, and New York Times bestselling author Kami Garcia said it was "dangerous, sexy, romantic, and intense." Now this final book brings the series to a shocking and climactic end. (Goodreads)
Ignite Me is the third and final book in the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. I waited so long for Ignite Me to be released, and now that I’ve read it, I’m incredibly sad to see the series end. Sigh. I have really enjoyed reading these books over the past few years. I’ve grown terribly attached to the characters, and I don’t want them to leave me. (Yes, I am totally pouting over this.) But, all great things must come to an end, right?

I’m going to try to write this without giving too much away, but please read at your own risk.

Juliette has been such an interesting main character to follow over the course of this series. We’ve watched her grow from a girl that only wanted to live in the deep recesses of her own mind, to a girl that wants to save the world. Not only does she accept what she is and what she can do, she embraces it and wants to use it for the good of the world. She really does become a completely different girl that who we very first met in the jail cell in the beginning of the book.

Warner has always been such an intriguing character to me. He’s mysterious and dangerous, and I seem to love that in some of my characters. (It’s much like my newfound love for Loki. *wink*).  I was determined not to like him in the beginning of the series, but even then, when I thought that he was nothing but pure evil, there was something about him that made me care for him. Now that the book has ended, I love him even more than ever. We get to see a completely different side of Warner in this novel, and it was lovely. All of the things that I questioned about him in the previous books were answered in Ignite Me, and we get to see the reasoning for why he did some of the things that he did, and some of the things that he actually didn’t do. I love Warner; I think I am going to miss his character the most.

If you’re Team Adam, you will be sorely disappointed with this book. Unfortunately, we see Adam become a bit of a jerk in the book. I can understand his reasoning, but I still hate to see him wrote off this way. He was a really great guy in the beginning of the series. I’ve always had a hard time choosing between Adam and Warner, I just really love them both so much, and for such different reasons. It’s hard seeing a character you care about act the way Adam did.

Kenji, as always, is the life of the book. I love him for all of his comedic relief, and I love the relationship between him and Juliette. They are definitely the best of friends, and they make one hell of a team together.

The storyline for the book stays true to the rest of the series. I love, love, love Mafi’s writing style. It’s so insanely creative and different than any other writer that I’ve read so far. I love that when I go to read one of her books, I know I will be completely hooked to the pages. That doesn’t happen for me very often. While I enjoyed the ending of the book, it all seemed a bit vague. I would have really loved an epilogue or something that let us know what happens with Juliette and company in the future. Actually if Mrs. Mafi wanted to keep writing books with these characters, I would totally keep buying them.

Overall, while there were some things that drove me completely crazy in this novel, I am happy and satisfied with the way the book ended. I know not everyone will love the ending, and to each their own, but I feel like I have a bit of closure after finishing the novel. However, I also feel like there is a gaping hole in my chest from this series ending, I loved the adventure and the characters so very much, and I’m going to miss them all. This series will definitely be a hard one to top. I can’t wait to see what Mrs. Mafi has in store for us in the future. I, for one, am ready for whatever she plans to send our way!

Happy Reading!


Books in this Series:



Shatter Me | Unravel Me | Ignite Me



Destroy Me | Fracture Me | Unite Me
(Novellas)




Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday #134 - Deep Blue by Jennifer Donnelly

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18601430-deep-blue
Deep Blue
(Waterfire Saga #1)
by Jennifer Donnelly
Website | Twitter | Facebook

Publication Date: May 6th 2014
Publisher: Disney Press
ISBN: 9781423133162

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18601430-deep-blue

Available for Pre-Order: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

The first in a series of four epic tales set in the depths of the ocean, where six mermaids seek to protect and save their hidden world.

Deep in the ocean, in a world not so different from our own, live the merpeople. Their communities are spread throughout the oceans, seas, and freshwaters all over the globe.

When Serafina, a mermaid of the Mediterranean Sea, awakens on the morning of her betrothal, her biggest worry should be winning the love of handsome Prince Mahdi. And yet Sera finds herself haunted by strange dreams that foretell the return of an ancient evil. Her dark premonitions are confirmed when an assassin's arrow poisons Sera's mother. Now, Serafina must embark on a quest to find the assassin's master and prevent a war between the Mer nations. Led only by her shadowy dreams, Sera searches for five other mermaid heroines who are scattered across the six seas. Together, they will form an unbreakable bond of sisterhood and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their world's very existence. (Goodreads)


Last week I received a lovely package in the mail that included this book in it.
This is a new book to me, and I was a bit surprised that I hadn't heard of it before.
But it definitely sounds interesting and I'm looking forward to checking it out!

What are you Waiting on 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.**