All my review indexes are out of date. I hope to get caught up on those by the end of May. Until then check out my WWW Wednesday posts for what I'm currently reading.
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Hello everyone thanks for again for stopping my my little home in the blogosphere. Today I would like to take some time away from reviewing books in order to bring you an interview with the fabulous Julie Kagawa who is the author of the recent release The Iron King, which if you've been paying attention I gushed over lots yesterday. Julie is an up and coming new author she has lots of talent and I highly suggest that you run out and buy her book.
I wish I could say I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but that’s not the case. For years I wanted to be a veterinarian. This dream sort of crashed when I discovered the endless amounts of science and math I had to do to become said vet. So around my teen years, I decided I would become an author instead. (I had this ridiculous notion that I would write a book and get it published before I went to collage. Yes, you can stop laughing now.) What is your writing process like?
Writing process: Get up. Get dressed. Check email. Brush teeth. Check email again, just to make sure I didn’t miss anything. Check Twitter (curse you, Tweetdeck). Check OTHER email account. Visit various blogs. Open WIP document. Stare at it for awhile. Check email again. Wander down to kitchen for food and Mt. Dew. Come back to computer and check email, twitter, blogs, ect. Add empty Mt. Dew can to the dozen or so on the table. Finally feel guilty enough to actually sit down to WIP. Get started on WIP.
Check email.
If we were able to take a peek at your nightstand, what book(s) might we find there?
At the moment (let me check), I have Shannon Hale’s Book of a Thousand Days (fabulous), Amy Huntley’s The Everafter(wonderful), and Diana Peterfreund’s Rampant(killer unicorns!) And several empty Mt. Dew cans.
What sort of foods do you like to eat when you are sick?
Mt. Dew (this will be a theme) and soup. Also, lots of medicine that makes me unconscious. I hate being sick.
Book you most want to read again for the first time?
Poison Study, by Maria V. Snyder. I remember I got this at the library and I’d never heard of it before, so I thought I’d give it a shot. Little did I know I’d discover my perfect literary crush within its pages, Valek, whom no one has been able to topple from his spot at #1. Of course, I’ve had to fight off many Valek admirers since then, as they mistakenly believe Valek is theirs. (Valek is still mine, Gail!)
Julie - no he isn't!! He's mine....so back off! *glares and prepares to glomp*
Are there any books that you might have lied about reading (we promise we won’t judge)?
I have never actually read Moby Dick (Oxford World's Classics), because it was long and boring (to me), and I could get all the test answers from the cliff notes.
If it makes you feel any better Julie, I haven't read Moby Dick either. Has never appealed to me.
What’s a book you’ve been a book bully for? (ie one you’ve liked so much that you practically beat people over the head just to get them to read it)
Ha! I think you already know the answer to this question. ;-) I’ve harassed many a blogger on twitter about Poison Study, which is strange because it only adds to the teeming throng of Valek lovers, and then I just have to beat them off with a stick when they try to claim him. :P
Which came first title, plot or character(s)?
With The Iron King, the story began with one character, the heroine. Meghan actually started out as a full faery, then evolved to what she is today. After I had her character down, the plot started forming around her, and Ash, Puck, and Grimalkin emerged for the first time. When I finally knew what the story was about, the title took care of itself.
One thing that I love about The Iron King is that it’s a new twist on the world of Faerie, how did you come up with the idea for your spin on these old myths?
The idea for the Iron Fey came to me when I was researching different kinds of faeries. In all the old legends, faeries are allergic to iron. They are also (mostly) creatures of nature, so naturally they could have a hard time with the amount of iron and steel and progress we’ve made over the years. So I thought, what if there were a new type of faery, one that evolved with progress and technology, one that was immune to iron? Then I remembered we already have “creatures” lurking in machines: gremlins and bugs and worms and viruses, and from that thought, the Iron Fey were born.
There are a lot of great characters in your book, which one was your favorite to create? My faves by far are Ash, Grim and Puck (in that order….but I’ve gushed over them all lots on twitter so I am sure that is no surprise to you, lol.)
My personal favorite would have to be Ash, but Grimalkin runs a very close second and I’ve had a lot of fun with him. He says things people wish they could say but are too polite. Grimalkin has no such reservations. What sort of books do you think your main characters (Meghan, Ash & Puck) like to read? If they had a favorite book or author what do you think it is?
Meghan, surprisingly, likes all things horror; her favorite author by far is Stephen King. With Puck, it’s hard to say, but he does like Shakespeare, just because he likes seeing himself in AA Midsummer Night's Dream. Ash favors books about history, weapons or (oddly enough) poetry. His favorite book is The Art of Warby Sun Tsu.
If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in The Iron King (without being spoilery of course)?
I’m fairly happy with the way everything turned out. Meghan isn’t perfect, but she has two more books to grow and change, and the story is pretty much how I imagined it. I don’t think I would change anything. (except maybe more scenes involving Grim, from one early review, lol.)
If Ash (from Iron King) and Valek (from Maria Snyder’s Study series) were to meet in a dual, who would you bet on and why?
That’s a tough question. I would have to bet on Ash, though, because 1). I’m biased, and 2). He’s a lot older than Valek (being an immortal faery) and has had more time to perfect his sword skills. And he has magic, but Valek has his anti-magic aura going all the time, so I don’t know. Would it work against faery glamour?
From early reviews, Grimalkin seems to be the breakout star of the books. Are you surprised by this? And has his role in the story changed at all because of his increasing popularity?
Hahaha, I kind of had the feeling Grimalkin would steal the show. He’s the favorite of everyone in my publishing house, too. But no, Grimalkin hasn’t changed. He has been and always will be what he is, and actually finds all this attention rather amusing.
The Zombie Apocalypse has started, what is your zombie plan? And if you could have one of your characters assist you in the fight against the undead…who would it be and why?
My plan would first be to run next door to Wal-Mart to grab all the unperishables I could, as well as some skull-crushing weapons, guns, and ammo. Then me and my family would go to the Louisville Mega Caverns right underneath the zoo. It was a nuclear bunker at one time, with thick lead doors that can be sealed up for years. We’d be perfectly safe there; the Caverns are several acres big, and there are even rations and beds left behind, in case the nuclear holocaust came. Once the doors are sealed, we’d be all set to wait out the Zombie Apocalypse. (And no, I haven’t thought about this plan in great detail, why do you ask?)
Of course, I’d have to take Ash. He’s fearless, overprotective, and good at slicing zombie heads from shoulders. Easy pick.
Hmm....your zombie plan is much more thought out than mine. Which is pretty much just to high tale it up to Canada and hole up with Courtney Summers - as she is a zombie expert and all quizzes say that my survival rate is only 62%. Maybe instead of Canada I should head toward Kentucky instead. Wonder which is closer to Massachusetts...
Can you share a little of your current work with us?
At the moment, I’m working on edits for The Iron Queen, the last in the Iron Fey trilogy. After that … who knows? Okay, I do have one secret project, but it would be spoilery to tell.
Julie - has anyone every told you what a tease you are? Why mention a sekrit project at all if you can't mention it. You're mean! *pouts*
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
Just a few words of appreciation. Authors are nothing without readers. You guys are why I write, and if my books were never read if would all be for nothing. So, thank you. Love the book or hate it, thank you for reading it.
And thank you for writing it Julie! We readers are nothing if we don't have authors to write for us. So thanks. Also, a quick note to everyone who reads my blog, if you read a book and love it then be sure to find the authors website and let them know. As I blogger I can tell you that I still get a bit giddy every time someone leaves a comment on my page and from my conversations with authors I know that they feel the same. =) Ok, off of my soap box. Thanks again Julie for taking the time to answer all of my questions. Its been great fun and I now know the way into your heart seems to be with Mt. Dew so will keep that in mind if I insert myself into your Zombie Plan instead of Courtney's. ;-)
MEGHAN CHASE HAS A SECRET DESTINY— ONE SHE COULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED…
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan’s life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school…or at home.
When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she’s known is about to change.
But she could never have guessed the truth—that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she’ll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face…and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.
To say that I love faeries is an understatement. I have also loved the magic and mischief of them and so I love when I hear about a new book dealing with this mythology because I am always curious to see new takes on the old stories. Some authors don't do such a good job while others knock the old stories on their butts and really breath new life into them. Julie Kagawa'sThe Iron King falls into the second category. With The Iron King she creates this magical world that fits so seamlessly with the world that we exist in. Meghan is a believable character and for the most part I liked her. But she wasn't my favorite character as the girl never seemed to learn the rules of faery. Yes its great that you are willing to risk all for someone you love, but there does come a point when you can be too careless. After all how much can you do to help if you've given away everything that you are? I applaud her love of her friends and family but she just seemed a bit too reckless for me at times.
Fortunately for Meghan the cast of characters that surround her more then make up for her personality flaws. Her best friend, Robin Goodfell, is filled with mischief and fun. Then there is Ash, the swoon worthy youngest sun of the Queen Mab of the Winter Fey. I loved loved loved the interactions between Robin and and Ash. These two frenemies were a delight to watch and it was always hard to decided which one to cheer for since they are both so loveble. And then of course there is Grimalkin, a cait sith, who is willing to help out....so long as the helpee doesn't mind giving him a small favor in return. There were also lots of fun little faeries that you meet along the way that really flesh out this world, like the dryads, Twig, and the pack rats.
I became so absorbed in this book that the ending came as an abrupt shock. I kept hitting the page flip button on Anne the eReader in the vain hopes that more words would appear. But they never did and if it wasn't for the fact that my train was pulling into my station stop I might have started the whole book over again. It was just that much fun. Kagawa is a gifted story teller and I am so glad that I don't have to wait a year for the next book to come out. Harlequin Teen plans on publishing all 3 books in the series at 6 month intervals. And between Book 1 and 2 there will be a short story that will help tide one over until August. At least if I keep telling myself it won't be hard to wait then it really won't be....but gah! I so could have kept reading for another 300 pages and not been bored! I want more. Now!
I want to say more but don't know where to find the words. Iron King was just such a wonderful twist on the mytholoy that I've been reading about for years. There were so many old faces like Oberon, Tatiana and Mab and yet they weren't the same old faeries of yore. Their is new life in them, more defined personalities and I look forward to seeing what Kagawa will do with them next. There are also many new faeries...and have I mentioned the swoon worthy Ash? If not then he's one to look out for.
Interested in learning more? You can learn some faery terms here and be sure to check out the excerpt here or better yet just head out to your nearest book store tomorrow, 01 Feb, and pick up a copy for yourself! I think that you're going to love the world that Kagawa has created.
For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without. Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human ... until the cold makes him shift back again.
Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human--or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever.
So my book bully has been telling me to read Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater almost since she first read it last May. But the arm twisting didn't fully start until after she read an Advance Reading Copy (ARC) of Linger, which is the followup book that is due to hit shelves this July. I've heard mixed things about Shiver so wasn't entirely sold on it but not one to resist my book bully for long I decided to pack it on the plane with me for my trip to New Mexico. My first thoughts on Shiver was that the storyline was a little slow. I kept waiting for something bigger to happen but it never came. At about 1/2 way through I was texting my book bully asking what the deal was with the werewolves staying in MN. I mean if the change is triggered by cold then why not move south? Seems logical to me. Her response was to just wait. And so wait I did. And an answer did eventually come but I can't say its one that makes any sense to me. I don't agree with it on many levels, but its the answer that I am stuck with as that is what Stiefvater came up with. Though my initial response when I did read Stiefvater's answer was "WTF? Seriously?" and that is still what I think when it comes to it.
Overall the story wasn't bad but I am not one of the hundreds of Shiver lovers out there. The writing was solid but the world building was just so-so. Grace and Sam often came off as pretty two dimensional. I also hated the utter lack of presence of Grace's parents who were like cardboard cutouts staged just to show that she had parents but they didn't add any depth to the story. I'd be amazed if they had though as they had absolutely no depth at all. Saying all that though I didn't hate the story. I'm kind of ambivalent to the whole thing with no strong emotions either way. If I didn't pick up a copy of Linger at ALA then I'm not sure if this would be a book series that I would continue. But since I do have Linger I feel as though I should give it a shot....eventually.
Twelve-year-old Julie has grown up hearing about the dangerous world of fairy tales, “The Wild,” from which her mother, Rapunzel, escaped.
Now The Wild wants its characters back. Julie comes home from school to find her mother gone and a deep, dark forest swallowing her hometown. Julie must fight wicked witches, avoid glass slippers and fairy godmothers, fly griffins, and outwit ogres in order to rescue her mom and save her Massachusetts town from becoming a fairy-tale kingdom.
Sarah Beth Durst weaves a postmodern fairy tale that's fresh, funny, and sweetly poignant.
In Into the Wild Sarah Beth Durst brings to life all those fairy tale characters that we all grew up with. Only they aren't the way that we remember them. For one thing, these fairy tale characters have escaped their stories and are now living among us. They have also captured The Wild - which is the mythical forest which had held them for centuries. The Wild is a vine like thing that is currently being kept under Julie's bed and kept under control by Julie's mother, Rapunzel or Zel for short.
Only The Wild is tired of being contained and somehow manages to escape, growing quickly and devouring up the town that Julie has grown up in and reclaiming not just the fairy tale characters that escaped but claiming new ones in the town residents. It is then left to Julie and her brother Boots, that's Puss in Boots, to try and rescuing her mother, the other characters and her town.
Overall, this was a story that I enjoyed. I have always been a fan of fairy tales and this was a new take on them. Though at times its hard to image the characters that I knew and loved as a child living ordinary lives with jobs, bills and divorce. There were times when the pacing was a little slow but once the Julie really started to travel in the Wild things did pick up. I think the thing that kept me from loving this novel is that it falls more on the younger side of the young adult spectrum. That side the writing was solid and the world building was creative and interesting. This is a series that all those who enjoy fairy tales will probably enjoy and I will definitely be checking out the follow up to this titles, Out of the Wild.
Book Trailer Monday is where once a week I feature a trailer for a book that has captured my attention. This trailer might be for a book that is about to be published, or maybe its for a book that has already been released. There won't be any rhyme or reason to the trailer that I choose....the only common denominator will be that I liked it. That it made me stop or made me think or maybe it made me laugh. I do this mainly for my own enjoyment because I love book trailers. I find them fascinating and I hope that you enjoy the ones that I show here each week as well.
This weeks trailer is for Island Sting by Bonnie J. Doerr which was released by Leap Books on 07 Jan 2010. I haven't read this yet but it is on my list...I mean how can it not be? Its set in the super amazing Florida Keys (which everyone should see at least once!), there is romance, there is mystery and most importantly there is science!! And you can all stop groaning now over the word science. I was a Biology major in school and have been a science geek for as long as I can remember so I love books that can appeal to that side of my nature. And if all that wasn't enough to sell me, one of the main characters is named Angelo. I once had a major crush on a kid name Angelo way back in Jr High....so here's hoping theis MC is blond and blue eyed!
What did you think of this weeks selection? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
If you know of a book trailer that you would like to see featured on Book Trailer Monday then please send me an email with a link to irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com.
Hello readers today I interrupt my normal review post to bring you a list of some of my lesser known YA faves. This was an idea that sprung from the mind of Kelly as a way to put a spot light on some titles that bloggers have read and loved but aren't as widely recognized as say Hunger Games or Twilight. When I first heard of Kelly's idea I was immediately sold. So now here I am to talk a little bit about some of my top lesser known YA books as taken from my LibraryThing account.
First up is a series of books that I loved as a kid, The Young Astronauts by Rick North. These books were first published in the mid 80's and really fed into my love of the space program. They were about a group of seven kids from all over the globe who were all really smart and were part of a program to colonize Mars. The premise was that it takes so long to travel to Mars and that its a long term project to set up a colony there that kids were the best route to train along with some adults for the ultimate success of the project. I remember really enjoying the story and found it to be believable. Its a series of books that I wish I still owned as they are long out of print. But unfortunately I gave them away in the 90s to a kid I babysat for. He was a reluctant reader and so his mom and I were always on the hunt for something to peak his interest. These books fit the bill. He was up way past his bed time with the first one but I didn't have the heart to tell him to turn off the light as he was reading! Coming downstairs every so often to ask how to say a word and what it meant. So I just told his parents to be easy on him the next day if he was cranky.
Next up is Enthusiasm by Polly Shulman. I picked this book up as an audio last year at the suggestion of a friend and LOVED it. I was cracking up constantly with it. This is one of those books that has the feel of being an old friend so I immediately ran out and bought a copy of my own. Since then I've re-read it several times and it never ceases to delight. I love the main characters and the premise. If you are a fan of Jane Austen then this is a must read for you. My full review can be found here.
Another YA book that I loved is Daphne Grab's Alive and Well in Prague, NY this was one of the first ARCs that I received and I was so excited when it came in the mail. I opened it up to read just the first page and before I knew it I was hooked. I fell in love with the writing and the story that I found myself sneak reading it in my cube at work. Its such a beautiful story that is both heartbreaking and so uplifting. Grab is a very talented writing and I hope that she publishes again soon. My full review of Alive and Well is here and the trailer for it is here.
Water Keep is the first book in J. Scott Savage's Farworld series. Its a book about a disabled boy who discovers a portal to another dimension where he seems to be linked to a girl there. I really enjoyed this book it was fast paced and it held my interest. I liked the idea of a world parallel with Earth. Savage does a good job with world building and I really need to read the next book in the series. The only thing stopping me is time and my the height of Mt TBR - which is currently very frightening as it looks a tad bit unstable! My full review of Water Keep can be found here.
And last by not least is The Shadow Within by Jenine Wilson. I received this book through LibraryThing and was immediately drawn to the premise. It started a little slow but I was soon immersed in the world and its characters. Wilson does a great job with plotting and world building and her writing really flows well. I enjoyed this story a lot and Wilson is definitely an author to look out for. You can read my full review here.
And that is my list of books that you might not have heard of. Be sure to head over to Kelly's blog now and see what other lesser known books people are talking about.
Internet I have a story to tell you. A story about making the best out of a bad situation. Because you see Internet life doesn't always go as planned. Case in point, at this very moment I am supposed to be here:
That's right Internet I should be off spending time with my sister, bro in law and meeting my new baby niece. But instead I am still in snowy MA. Life sometimes tosses some you some curve balls though and work kept me in town for a little longer than planned. Do not worry though Internet I'm still gonna be holding that baby girl and as I said while a curve ball may have been thrown there was something good that came out of it. You know what they say every cloud has a silver lining, right? Well my silver lining came in my being able to attend the ALA Midwinter Conference that was going on this past Saturday right here in Boston.
On the day of the ALA I decided to drive into Boston and thanks to my handy dandy GPS I made it to the convention center no problem, parked in their ample parking lot and before I knew it I was all registered and getting my first site of the floor.
Oh Internet...I felt chills. It reminded me a lot of BEA last year....just on a wee bit smaller scale. After snapping this pick I rushed down the escalator and saw this beautiful site luring me with its siren song.
I was a little shy at first Internet but then one rep in a booth started to chat me up and I began to come out of my shell. Soon I was taping them on the shoulder telling them about my blog and the ones that I am a contributor to (dystopian and debut author promotions). I also ran into some good friends: Andrea, Mitali, Laura, TiffanyE and Kim. We all had a lot of fun talking with the representatives at all the booths and meeting with bloggers and librarians and just having fun. And the books Internet....so many lovely books lying around begging to be stared at. There were many good times to be had Internet...and yes...I admit there was a close call with security over at the Egmont booth but I couldn't help myself from talking up this book. So you see Internet if I flown out to New Mexico I would have missed out on this great event. Its all about the silver lining.
And now Internet I know you are curious to see what books followed me home and so just for you here is a list of titles. I am overwhelmed and don't know what to read first...there are so many great sounding books! And Internet....until I made this list I didn't know just how many books were in my bag. I feel guilty for having so many...so don't be shocked if I start holding contests so that I can share them with you.
Dystopians Birthmarked by Carah O'Brien The Gardener by S.A. Bodeen No Mans Land by Lesley Hauge The Passage by Justin Cronin The Line by Teri Hall The Dead Tossed Waves by Carrie Ryan This World We Live in by Susan Beth Pfeffer Fire Will Fall by Carol Plum-Ucci (ok not really dystopian per say, but its bioterrorism and so its a bit of a fringe category to Dytopia) Other Books Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan How to Grow up and Rule the World by Vordak the Incomprehensible (given to me at tweet up by Elizabeth Law...says its wicked funny) Compromised by Heidi Ayarbe Happyface by Stephen Emond (Came highly recommended by Andrea) The Returners by Gemma Malley Guardian of the Dead by Karen Healey The Agency by Y.S. Lee Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta Guardian of the Gate by Michelle Zink The Bride Collector by Ted Dekker Conspiracy 365 - January by Gabrielle Lord Somebody Everybody Listens to by Suzanne Supplee Thirteen Days to Midnight by Patrick Carman Faithful by Janet Fox Blood Feud by Alyxandra Harvey The Thin Executioner by Darren Shan The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong Radiant Shadows by Melissa Marr A Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner A Love Story Starring my Dead Best Friend by Emily HOrner The Sky is Everywhere by Jandy Nelson Boys, Bears, and a serious pair of hiking boots by Abby Mcdonald Three Rivers Rising by Jame Richards The Fool's Girl by Celia Rees Mistwood by Leah Cypress 13 to Life by Shannon Delany Perchance to Dream by Lisa Mantchev Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly Linger by Maggie Stiefvater Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins Heist Society by Ally Carter
I have a confession to make. I have to tell you that when I first heard about Chelsea Campbell's Rise of Renegade X I wasn't entirely sold on it. I read that it dealt with superheroes and supervillians and I was like. hmmm...
But then internet...I saw this trailer and I was sold. Go. Watch it. I will wait.
***waits***
But internet. I was sad after watching the trailer because I did not have a copy. And so I started to plot my breaking of EgmontUSA's offices. Had the whole dark suit and everything all ready....but apparently they upped the security and so my plains were foiled. I then thought that I might steal Khyrinthia's copy but she too heard of my plotting and went into hiding. It seemed that I would never get my hands on an advanced copy....until...Chelsea mentioned she wanted a book. A book that I had. If you were near my shack in the woods that day Internet you would have seen a bright and shining light as the light bulb went off.
So after offering up the book that I had...and quite possibly my first born as well....a deal was made. And soon....my friends at the post office delivered me a very pretty ARC of The Rise of Renegade X. I am not ashamed to admit that there were squeals. I then immediately sat down and started to read.
I was in love from the first page...there was wit, there were amazing characters, and awesome world building. This was a book that I didn't want to end. I loved the book so much that when I was at the ALA midwinter convention this past Saturday I practically beat people over the heads telling them about this book. People would come to the booth and want to ask the Egmont Rep about the books but I would jump in, grab the display copy of Renegade and say "this one people, you want this one"....when I spied security coming out of the corner of my eye I would dart into the crowd until I could circle back and do it again. So believe me when I tell you internet....this is a book you want to own. You know I would not lead you astray. Go forth and preorder you won't regret it!
Book Trailer Monday is where once a week I feature a trailer for a book that has captured my attention. This trailer might be for a book that is about to be published, or maybe its for a book that has already been released. There won't be any rhyme or reason to the trailer that I choose....the only common denominator will be that I liked it. That it made me stop or made me think or maybe it made me laugh. I do this mainly for my own enjoyment because I love book trailers. I find them fascinating and I hope that you enjoy the ones that I show here each week as well.
This weeks trailer is for Incarceron by Catherine Fisher which will be published in the US by Dial Books on 26 Jan 2010. I haven't read this yet but I do have a copy of the UK version sitting on Mt TBR. This trailer is short but it does make the book sound even more interesting. What did you think of this weeks selection? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
If you know of a book trailer that you would like to see featured on Book Trailer Monday then please send me an email with a link to irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com.
**Caution: this review may contain spoilers as it is the second book in a series. Proceed at your own risk**
Synopsis: Rose loves Dimitri, Dimitri might love Tasha, and Mason would die to be with Rose...
It's winter break at St. Vladimir's, but Rose is feeling anything but festive. A massive Strigoi attack has put the school on high alert, and now the Academy's crawling with Guardians--including Rose's hard-hitting mother, Janine Hathaway. And if handto- hand combat with her mom wasn't bad enough, Rose's tutor Dimitri has his eye on someone else, her friend Mason's got a huge crush on her, and Rose keeps getting stuck in Lissa's head while she's making out with her boyfriend, Christian! The Strigoi are closing in, and the Academy's not taking any risks....This year, St. Vlad's annual holiday ski trip is mandatory.
But the glittering winter landscape and the posh Idaho resort only create the illusion of safety. When three friends run away in an offensive move against the deadly Strigoi, Rose must join forces with Christian to rescue them. But heroism rarely comes without a price...
**Caution: this review may contain spoilers as it is the second book in a series. Proceed at your own risk**
I was never more happy to own an eReader as I was after finishing up Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead. I finished that book during Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-Thon and immediately wanted to move into the next book in the series. As the stores were closed that wasn't a possibility but thanks to the power of the internet I was able to download a copy on to Anne the eReader. Praise be for the digital age!
Frostbite picks up shortly after Vampire Academy ends this time though the story takes us from Montana to a ski lodge in Idaho. Rose again takes the narration of the story and I think that it was a good choice. Rose is such a strong character she really brings the world that Mead has built to life. Lissa, the maori princess who Rose guards, often comes across as a bit of milkmaid and I don't think she'd be able to carry the story. Rose is flawed and unapologetic. If she believes in something she'll do what ever it takes to do what she thinks needs to be done. This is both a strength and a weakness of hers that I cherish. The tension between her and Dimitri, her teacher, is palpable and grows stronger with each turn of the page.
Mead is a gifted story teller and her world springs up around you as you read. I was immersed in this story from the first page. There was mystery, adventure and romance. I cheered for Rose during her successes and yelled at her when I saw she was making a bad choice. I've said it before but I'll say it again. I love Rose for her strengths and her flaws. She is so very real and I completely captivated by her story. I am so glad that I picked up this story and can't wait to see where the series takes us next.
Synopsis: St. Vladimir’s Academy isn’t just any boarding school—it’s a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They’ve been on the run, but now they’re being dragged back to St. Vladimir’s—the very place where they’re most in danger. . . .
Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy’s ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world’s fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.
I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy. I knew that it would deal with vampires but when I wasn't sure if it was something that I was going to like. Don't get me wrong I love vampires but the market is becoming so over saturated with them that I wasn't sure that this would be a series that I was going to like. I was unprepared for just how much I was going to love the world that Mead had created. Hers was not your typical vampire story and I loved her take on the myths. I loved how this was a book purely about vampires and that humans weren't involved. I was getting tired of all the vampire/human hookups most of which strain believability since vampires typically need human blood to survive.
What I loved about Mead's version of the story was the different types of vampires, the maroi and strifori and the societies of each. I loved that there was a vampire school and dhampir training facility. I loved the main character of Rose who was strong and so very kick ass. She was flawed and made mistakes but she tried her best. She didn't always succeed but she tried. What I didn't like was how she would make huge, life altering choices and then wouldn't have to suffer much for them. She ran away from school with her friend and vampire princess, Lissa, and was allowed back in with virtually no punishment when they were discovered. Lissa also wasn't a character that I liked very much. I found her to be pretty vanilla compared to the other characters in the story and seemed to lack depth and purpose. But I did really love Christian and Dimitri.
I found the writing to be absorbing and I didn't want to put this one down. Fortunately I read this during last October's Read-a-Thon so I didn't have to. I also found then when I finished the book I immediately wanted to jump in and read the next one. I needed to know just what would happen to Rose next. I was totally caught up in her world that I didn't want it to be over. This book is a must read for all you vampire fans out there. These vampires aren't your wussy sparkling variety. They are a whole new breed and I completely hooked and sold on this mythology. I believe that they could be real and so you can be sure that Mead is a very talented world builder.
Synopsis: "Don't worry, Anna. I'll tell her, okay? Just let me think about the best way to do it." "Okay." "Promise me? Promise you won't say anything?" "Don't worry." I laughed. "It's our secret, right?"
According to her best friend Frankie, twenty days in Zanzibar Bay is the perfect opportunity to have a summer fling, and if they meet one boy ever day, there's a pretty good chance Anna will find her first summer romance. Anna lightheartedly agrees to the game, but there's something she hasn't told Frankie---she's already had that kind of romance, and it was with Frankie's older brother, Matt, just before his tragic death one year ago.
Beautifully written and emotionally honest, this is a debut novel that explores what it truly means to love someone and what it means to grieve, and ultimately, how to make the most of every single moment this world has to offer.
Last summer I started to hear a lot of buzz over a book called Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler. So I bought the book, and added it to Mt TBR not knowing when I would get to it. In August, I had the good fortune to meet Sarah Ockler at a signing at Books of Wonder and loved the passage that she read. But it wasn't until October that I was able to find time to read this story. A story which sucked me in from the beginning. I loved Anna's voice and I loved the setting of Zanzibar Bay. Growing up on the ocean I could almost smell the sea based on Ockler's writing.
Like Frankie, summers used to be a time to look forward to. Her family would travel to California for time at the beach and my sister and I would spend time in Newport with our grandmother. My gradmother's apartment looked out over the ocean as kids we would walk down the bluffs to the beach and feel like explorers. My grandmother lived above Second Beach and we used to spend hours combing the sands for sea glass. For those curious, below is a picture of my brother and grandmother taken from the beach with the house in the background.
Here is a better shot of the house where her apartment was and the bluffs that we used to climb down looking for fossils and sea glass.
Below is a view of Second Beach...which as I've said above is where my grandmother and I would walk looking for sea glass. She used to have a huge collection that she put into lamp bases. And my sister and I always wanted to find pretty pieces to add to it.
So summers at the beach were a tradition in my family and I could relate to Frankie and her family for doing something similar. My heart broke when at the start of this novel when Frankie's world was shattered. And it broke even more for Anna who was holding on to a promise made to Frankie's brother leaving her no way to fully express her grief over not just losing a friend but her boyfriend as well. When Frankie's parents decided to maintain the family tradition of going to California I was so glad when Anna was asked to go as well. I knew that trying to maintain traditions was an important part of moving forward...but that it would also be one of the hardest things for Frankie and her family to go through.
The scenes written at the beach were so beautiful and descriptive. I loved watching the girls begin the healing process and slowly start to come back to life after the devastating loss of Matt. Twenty Boy Summer starts out in tragedy and loss but it isn't the grief of that tragic moment that defines the story. Instead Twenty Boy Summer is about healing and moving forward. Its dealing with the loss of a loved one and knowing that while the hole left in ones heart will never be filled that the ache from it does lessen over time. Twenty Boy Summer is the sort of book that will break your heart, mend it and then break it again. Its a story that reflects life as it is. That the world isn't perfect, that life can be unfair and horrible and cruel. But that there is also so much good and beauty to be had to help carry you through those dark times.
The characters in this story start off as strangers, then they become your friends and by the time you close the back cover you've all become family. You feel their emotions as if they were your own. Twenty Boy Summer is a tremendously well written novel and I found that once I started I couldn't put it down. Ockler has a gift and a wonderful voice that comes across clear and her words are filled with amazing imagery. My one regret is that it took me so long to read this book from when I bought it. You can bet that I won't make the same mistake with her next book...which hopefully will be out soon!
Book Trailer Monday is where once a week I feature a trailer for a book that has captured my attention. This trailer might be for a book that is about to be published, or maybe its for a book that has already been released. There won't be any rhyme or reason to the trailer that I choose....the only common denominator will be that I liked it. That it made me stop or made me think or maybe it made me laugh. I do this mainly for my own enjoyment because I love book trailers. I find them fascinating and I hope that you enjoy the ones that I show here each week as well.
This weeks trailer is for Bad Girls Don't Dieby Katie Alender which was originally published by Hyperion Books on 21 April 2009. I haven't read this yet but I've heard only good things about it on the blogs. So many that there is a copy sitting on Mt TBR....and after watching this trailer I think that I might just have to move it up in the pile because....wow. Don't believe me, check it out for yourself:
Is that just great? It just lulled me in and had me nodding in agreement about the working with film bits...and the ending...well that just gave me goose bumps! How about you? What did you think of this weeks selection? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
If you know of a book trailer that you would like to see featured on Book Trailer Monday then please send me an email with a link to irisheyz_5 AT yahoo DOT com.
**Caution: this review my contain spoilers as it is the second book in a series. Proceed at your own risk**
Synopsis: Yelena is a survivor. Kidnapped as a child, held prisoner as a teen, then released to act as a poison taster, she is now a student of magic. But these magic skills place her in imminent danger, and with an execution order on her head, she has no choice but to escape to Sitia, the land of her birth.
But nothing in Sitia is familiar. As she struggles to understand where she belongs and how to control her powers, a rogue magician emerges—;and Yelena catches his eye. Suddenly she is embroiled in a situation not of her making. And once again her magical abilities will either save her life…or be her downfall.
With her greatest enemy dead, and on her way to be reunited with the family she'd been stolen from long ago, Yelena should be pleased. But though she has gained her freedom, she can't help feeling isolated in Sitia. Her Ixian background has changed her in many ways—and her new-found friends and relatives don't think it's for the better.
Despite the turmoil, she's eager to start her magic training—especially as she's been given one year to harness her power or be put to death. But her plans take a radical turn when she becomes involved with a plot to reclaim Ixia's throne for a lost prince—and gets entangled in powerful rivalries with her fellow magicians. If that wasn't bad enough, it appears her brother would love to see her dead. Luckily, Yelena has some old friends to help her with all her new enemies.
**Caution: this review my contain spoilers as it is the second book in a series. Proceed at your own risk**
Magic Study by Maria V Snyder is the second book in her Study Trilogy, the first being Poison Study (my review). I really won’t say too much about this book as it is the middle of a trilogy and I don’t want to give anything away. Magic Study takes place in the lands south of Ixia known as Sitia and picks up a few weeks after Poison Study concludes. With the change in setting comes a whole new batch of characters and some old friends are left behind. These new characters were all introduced seamlessly into Yelena’s story although I found that I couldn’t attach myself to them as I did in Ixia. Maybe in part because Snyder has chosen to transplant her lead character and in some ways making the strong secondary cast disposable. And because of this thought in the back of my head I didn’t want to form any attachments in case she does the same in Fire Study – which is the final book in this series.
I know. I know. I’m a petty and fickle reader but I can’t help it! I loved the rich tapestry that Snyder wove in Poison Study and that same care and blend of colors seemed to be missing in Magic Study. The secondary characters didn’t shine as bright. Nor did the central story come across as clear as in Poison Study. In Poison Study I was on the edge of my seat, practically biting my knuckles as Yelena got into one scrape or another….all the while dealing with being the Commander’s food taster and dealing with being poisoned. That nail-biting edge was missing in Magic Study. There was no overall threat to Yelena and so while her character continued to grow and expanded that tension was missing. Also missing were some of my favorite characters, Janco and Ari….and most importantly….VALEK! When they did appear they weren’t in the story as much and I missed their wit and presence on the stage. They were often regulated to the background and didn’t really add much to the overall plot and I think that was a horrible misuse of them. Its almost as they were there just to be there so the reader wouldn’t be upset that they weren’t included. At least that is the impression I got but I think I would have rather if they weren’t there at all. After reading Poison Study I couldn’t wait for this book. Now that I am done with Magic Study I have no deep seeded need to run out and read Fire Study. Which is disappointing as the story is very well written but I would hate to see my favorite characters used so poorly again.
Seventeen-year-old Colt has been sneaking out at night to meet Julia, a girl from an upper-class neighborhood unlike his own. They’ve never told anyone else about their relationship: not their family or friends, and especially not Julia’s boyfriend.When Julia dies suddenly, Colt tries to cope with her death while pretending that he never even knew her. He discovers a journal she left behind. But he is not prepared for the truths he discovers about their intense relationship, nor to pay the price for the secrets he’s kept.
Well dear readers my brush with the morbid and death continues with The Secret Year by Jennifer Hubbard. For the life of me I don’t know why many of the books that I have been reading deal with the after effects and guilt of death. One point in favor of The Secret Year though is that the character who dies, Julia, didn’t commit suicide. Hubbard’s story deals with the effects when a loved one dies unexpectedly in a car accident. The story is told mainly through the eyes of Colt, a kid from the wrong side of the tracks who was deeply and madly in love with Julia. Julia belongs to the in crowd, her family has money and she grew up in a perfect house, with the perfect set of friends and dated the perfect guy. Only Julia never felt perfect but she didn’t know how to break the mold live any other way than what was expected of her. That is until she meets Colt late one night down by the river.
Julia and Colt begin to meet up secretly from that point on, pretending not to know each other at school as Julia deals with her conflicting emotions between people’s expectations of her and what she wants. Then the accident happens and Julia is ripped from away from everyone. Her friends, family and boyfriend, Austin, are all allowed to grieve openly at their loss while Colt has to continue to act as though he never knew her even though his heart has just been broken in half. Its not until Julia’s brother finds Colt and hands him a notebook that Julia kept that Colt can begin to heal. The notebook is filled with letters to him starting the night that they met at the river. In them Julia pours out all of her doubts, her hopes and conflicting emotions about what she should do.
Overall, I liked this story but I didn’t love it. Maybe because its too similar to other books that I’ve been reading over the last few weeks to really stand out as something original. At times I felt that Julia was a very selfish character because she had everything, Colt mostly just had her in the times that she allowed. I felt bad for Colt that he didn’t have much say in his relationship with Julia. But maybe that’s just a normal guy type reaction to sit back and let the chips fall where they will. I also feel that if Julia had been a living character that I’m not sure that I would have liked her very much. But it is hard to dislike the dead when you never “knew” them in life and so I was left not feeling much of anything about her. There were also times when Colt’s laid back attitude was too laid back and it felt like maybe he didn’t care about much of anything let alone Julia. But then he’d sort of snap out of this and you’d get this wave of emotions from him that was almost hard to deal with. The Secret Year is not one of those story’s that I can recommend based on the story alone but it is one that I can recommend based on the writing. And its because of this great writing that I ended up giving The Secret Year 4 stars. I really enjoyed Hubbard’s style and world building so while I may not have enjoyed The Secret Year as much as other readers she has definitely earned a spot on my authors to watch list.
First off I apologize for the length of this post but it just couldn't be any other way when I saw how many great books that everyone listed who entered my contest. Thank you all for taking the time to come up with such a diverse and amazing list! This contest was initially for a book light and finished copy of Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers. When I hit 50 entires I decided to up the stakes a bit and tossed in a surprise item. Knowing how much everyone LOVES sekrits I didn't mention anything about what this secret item was. Now that the contest is over I can tell you all.....the sekrit item is....the winner's copy of Some Girl's Are is going to be signed to them by Courtney. :-) Because what's better than a finished copy of a book? but a signed copy of that same book....well....at least I think so and I hope that you do as well. Now you've all been patient enough so without further ado the winner is (and thanks to all who entered)....*cues drum roll*
Jennifer M who said the Rachel Morgan series was the one that kept her up at night.
Congrats Jennife on your book light and signed copy of Some Girls Are!!! Please send me an email (irisheyz_5 at yahoo dot com) with your address and once I arrange to get your book signed I'll package everything up and mail it out to you. Please note that the book first has to travel deep into the woods of Canada to Courtney's ultra secret hermit cave...(there is talk of dogsleds & blind folds be worried for me people!) but as soon as the book is on its way to you then I will be sure to drop you a line. Also please remember to get in touch with me in 3 days otherwise I will redraw a winner.
Now that the formalities are out of the way I can blather on some more. ;-) When I first thought of hosting a contest for Courtney Summer's Some Girls Are I never expected to get the number of entires that I did. Not only that but I was amazed at the varity of books that have kept people up at night. Yes there were some that I expected (Hunger Games & Hush Hush) and others, like Twilight amazed me in that it took 75 entries before the book was named. There was such a great variety that I knew I just had to share them here with all of you along with a bit of what each person said about why the book they choose kept them up. These are all direct quotes from the Google Docs spreadsheet where I collected the data with some slight editing made whenever spoilers were given. Clicking on a person's name will direct you to their blog where available.
Some of these books I've read and you probably have as well....but there are just as many that I haven't but you can be sure that I'll be checking them out !
There was a tie for the top spot in getting suggestions between Suzanne Collin's Hunger Games and Becca Fitzpatrick's Hush Hush each endorsed by 7 people. Well there was until a last minute suggestion for Hunger Games came in making it the top book. So here's what people to say about Hunger Games:
Briana - "All of the action and romance kept me up." Jenny N - "It was very fast paced with never a dull moment. There was so much action and I just wanted to keep reading and find out what would happen next." Ursina - "It was so good. I had to find out what happend. Never mind the fact that I had to get up 5 hours later to milk goats. I must have looked like hell that morning, but the book was worth it." Ashley - "I couldn't put it down. I didn't expect to like The Hunger Games, but I got it from the library because I'd heard so much buzz about it. Next thing I knew it was 1 AM, and I had to get up at 7, but I just had to know what happens next!" Sheere - "I needed to know how it ended. It trapped me from the beginning." Sylvia - "I couldn't put it down, and I was really into the story the whole time, it felt like I was there too!" Kapri - "The suspense in The Hunger Games and Catching Fire killed me the entire time I was reading them. Even after finally put the books down and tried to go to sleep, i would lie awake wondering what happened next." LLehn - "The action just sucked me in that I had to find out what happened to the characters right to the end!"
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins (putting this one up here since its so closely related to Hunger Games) Jean - "The action and the suspense was too great to put down! And it left me breathless after reading the last part"
Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick Erica - "I was just so addictingly good! I loved it! And stayed up late into the night reading it, then fell asleep with it in my lap with 19 pages to go." Ella P - "Exciting, I had to know what'd happen next!" Melanie - "It was totally addicting! I couldn't wait to find out what would happen." Alicia - "couldn't put down." Mel - "one of my favs for 2009, I stayed up and read it in one night as I needed to find out just who did what!" Steff - "This book is so addicting and keeps you on your toes. It has the right amount of romance and horror to keep you turning the pages :D" Lucy - "I couldn't put it down. It was addicting! :D"
The following books are listed alphabetically by title. Amazonia by James Rollins Kelsey - "It was fast paced, adventurous, and wonderfully written. Rollins is one of my favorite authors."
Beautiful Creatures by Margaret Stohl and Kami Garcia Vania - "Ummm it's amazing and long and by Gosh darn it I couldn't stop till it was done ." Katie B. - "It was so good I just couldn't stop reading it. I was up til at least three in the morning. I was super tired the next day. =]"
Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell Jill - "suspense had me on the edge of the seat!"
Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver Staysi - "I received Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver through a blog tour. It's one of the best books I've read this year and I loved it. It kept me up at night for a lot of reasons. First, it's a heartbreaking story and it really made me cry. I couldn't sleep until I read more and once I read more I couldn't put it down. I stayed up really late on a school night just to finish it and it was definitely worth it. I can't wait till the book is released to buy my own copy! :) You should check it out."
Blood Promise by Richelle Mead Audrey C - "because I kept waiting for something amazing to happen and it did :)"
Candor by Pam Bachorz Liyana - "The ending was unsettling yet satisying at the same time."
A Certain Slant of Light by Laura Whitcomb Debra - "Not only was this book so good that it sucked me in and I couldn't put it down. But the ending had me crying so hard, I took a while to get it all out of my system after I was done. And I still randomly think of it, months after reading it."
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare Carrie - "I couldn't go to sleep until I knew how it ended!"
Columbine by Dave Cullen Robin - "It was a page turner, but also disturbing as I tried to figure out what would cause these kids to do such a thing."
Cracked up to Be by Courtney Summers Heather - "I just finished Cracked Up to Be and LOVED it! She is a great author and I can't wait to read this one. She really knows how to hook you in the story so you absolutely can't put it down." L.A - "Seriously though, that book was so good that I just couldn't put it down. Almost finished it in one night but had to force myself to put it away so I wouldn't be a zombie at work. Killed me to have to wait for work to be over to pick it up again."
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Ruby - "It was thrilling! I can't put it down because I can't wait to read what's next!"
Devoured by Amanda Marrone Aik - "A little bit scary and intriguing, and partly because I'm too anxious to know the ending of the story."
Fallen by Lauren Kate Faye - "I couldn't put i down. I'm still reading as i type lol :D"
Feeling Sorry For Celia by Jaclyn Moriarty Sasha - "This book was one of the hardest books to put down. EVER. Fact. It was probably just me and the way I completely fell in deep hearts with everything about the book. The characters were all amazing, the story was incredible, the typefaces were also so enticing and it all resulted in myself with sore eyes having stayed up until 4 (yup 4 a.m) to finish this off. It was probably also due to the fact that I kept re-reading bits just to devour its cuteness :)"
Flawed Dogs by Berkeley Breathed David - "His writing may not be for everyone, but I think Berkeley Breathed is hysterical and Flawed Dogs didn't let me down!"
The Gathering Storm by Robert Jordan & Brandon Sanderson Carol - "I wanted to get to the end because it was supposed to be the end of the Wheel of Time series and now there are another TWO to come!"
Generation Dead by Daniel Waters Rebecca - "It was really interesting so I didn't want to put it down until I finished it."
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson Shannon - "So intriguing! Tightly plotted, made me want more more more!"
Goose Girl by Shannon Hale Tiff - "I just remember dreaming about it...I should have just stayed up all night to read it but I was so exhausted. I finally made myself go to bed without finishing the book and then all night I dreamt about it! Needless to say I got up the next day and the first thing I did was finish the book! (and I've now read it two more times)"
Graceling by Kristin Cashore austenfan - "I was just so into the story, I couldn't put it down. I wanted to know what will happen to Katsa and Po. :) (I think I started it around 9pm and finished at around 3am.)"
Harry Potter Books by JK Rowling Lauren - "I just couldn't stop reading all night until it was finished since I got it at midnight!!" on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Munnaza - "This book kept me up because I wanted to find out what would happen to the main characters, read about the epic battle that the series had been leading up to since the very first one, and just because it was SO good. The plot, the intricate details, the adventures, the way JK Rowling can make her characters' fears and challenges resonate with the reader compelled me. I needed to read it start to finish in one setting because it was entertaining and in spite of it being fantasy and fiction, these characters were real to me." on Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Jill - "I HAD to know what happened! There was no way I was going to sleep until I had the thing finished." on Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Sara L - "I just couldn't put it down! It's actionpacked and full av mystery and events, but also romance and friendship"
The Host by Stephenie Meyer Heather - " The idea just hooked me and it was so long that it ended up being an all day and all night read."
It by Stephen King Tracee - "Well, it kept me up for a few different reasons. First of all, I literally couldn't put it down. It has been many years since I have read it but I know that I finished it in one sitting, not a small feat considering that it is over 1000 pages. But, it was also terrifying at points. The friendship forged by the friends to overcome the monster is so fantastic and the character development is some of the best I've ever read."
Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta Christy - "I couldn't put it down, I love Melina Marchetta!"
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side by Beth Fantaskey Missy - "What kept me reading was Lucius's wit and humor, most of all in his letter to his uncle. It was just one of those stories where, when I got to the end of a chapter, I *had* to know what happened next ... so, I continued to read until I had no more to read. =)"
Just Listen by Sarah Dessen. Munnaza - Like Paper Towns, there is an air of mystery and suspense in this book that just keeps the reader reading, but midway through, the mystery becomes solved and the drive to finish the book without stopping is really the 'aftermath of the mystery' (if that makes any sense). I wanted to know how Annabel would handle her situation, what would become of her and her offender and how she would finally find her voice. It was the mystery aspect and the realistic characters and the way Sarah Dessen can make a reader sympathize and empathize so well with these people is what compelled me to read this book without stopping. It is probably one of my favorite Dessen books because of how real it is for me.
Lament by Maggie Stiefvater Kate - "Oh my gosh, Lament was so addictive, I could not put it down until I read the entire thing! :) The plot was engaging and the characters were fantastic."
The Langoliers by Richard Bachman (Stephen King) Alissa - "It was one of those books that I couldn't put down, and then when I did, I couldn't go to sleep because I was so creeped out."
Let's Get Lost by Sarra Manning Robert - "I'd had a really bad day, I remember. I can't really recall what happened, I just know it hadn't been a good day. I was about halfway done with Let's Get Lost, and I just sat down on my floor and started reading. It kept me up for many reasons, but mainly because I just couldn't stop crying.
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott Brandy - "Living Dead Girl kept me up because I was so afraid I wouldn't have the courage to pick it up again. This book covers some really disturbing and heart-wrenching material re: an issue that is close to my heart, and Scott is a brilliant writer that captured the situation and scenes with chilling honesty."
Looking for Alaska by John Green Allison - "I just couldn't put it down. I had to find out what happened!"
Lover Avenged by J.R. Ward Jamie - "Because that women is brilliant and I could not put it down!!"
The Maze Runner by James Dashner Dani - "So enthralling and captivating! I needed to find out what happens next! :)"
The Miles Between by Mary E. Pearson Shari - "Couldn't put it down! :)"
The Moonlit Cage by Linda Holeman Shel - "Well paced, couldn't put it down."
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck Callie - "Halfway through it just got very interesting and I wanted to know what would happen."
Paper Towns by John Green Munnaza - John Green is a brilliant writer. I read this book in one sitting because the mystery was so intriguing. Margo is one of those enigmatic characters--you don't really understand her, but she's so strange yet alluring that you are drawn to her. You wish you were as bold or as adventurous or as interesting as she is, and when she disappears, you seriously want to know what is going on. I got into Quentin's head in this book and his drive to find her is what kept me reading. I felt as if I needed to find her as well, and try to figure her out. The fact that John Green says some insightful things about never fully understanding people and the writing itself were a definite plus. Helen - "It was just damn good and I couldn't put it down."
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles book_worm127 - "I couldn't put it down. I had to literally FORCE myself to stop reading after telling myself "Just one more chapter" about ten times =P. Then I of course couldn't get to sleep after that because I was THINKING about it...=D" Jessica K - "It was just addicting. I had to know what was going to happen next. The relationship was a love hate, push pull scenario with the attraction between the two palpable. I needed to know!"
Perfect You by Elizabeth Scott Bianca - "Could not put it down after the second page. Dead serious."
Poison Study by Maria Snyder Steph - "The brilliant writing, falling head over heels in love with all the characters, the way each chapter always ended on a suspenseful note... AGHHH! How could I put it down?"
Rachel Morgan, The Hallows Series By Kim Harrison Jennifer - "Okay, so it's not technically a book. Really like a whole series of books, but honestly I don't think I could just pick one. These books are the best that I've read thus far, and I've yet to find anything even close. They are witty, funny, adventurous , and create characters that you just can't help but love. Anytime that I spent reading them I would come to the end of a chapter thinking that that would be a perfect stopping point, only to find when I got there that I just couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen to Jenks, Ivy, or Rachel. I cannot wait until the eighth one comes out next year. I will happily loose a coupe of z's for Rachel Morgan. :)"
Red by Jordan Summers Lisa - "It was amazingly written and also had some twists and scares"
The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon Alessandra - "Totally engaging. I had to find out how the mystery was solved and what happened to the characters before turning off the light :)"
Shelter by Beth Cooley Danette - "The story was so seamless and full of atmosphere, I just had to read "one more" chapter until I finished the book. Excellent middle-grade book, captured the feelings and environment perfectly."
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater Lisa A - "Couldn't put it down. After a bevvy of cut-and-paste paranormal teen novels, this one was fresh and the characters were layered in surprising ways and the language was just utterly beautiful. Meanwhile, there was a nice, steady suspense throughout." Wendy - "The relationship between Sam and Grace, it was so sweet and lovely and I also really wanted to know what was going to happen with the werewolf part. Uh.. can't say much without spoiling it! Just in case you haven't read it. :)" Raven - "I really could not put Shiver down. It made me shiver and every time I closed the book, I opened it back up again because the words were written beautifully and the love between Grace and Sam was so believable."
Small Favor by Jim Butcher Arantza - "I couldn't put it down, it was very exciting and I wanted to know how it ended."
Special Topics in Calamity Physics by Marisha Pessl Ronnica - "STCP is a thinker and a thriller, makes you want to know what's going to happen AND makes you ponder what they're saying. Definitely check it out!"
The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong Dahlia - "The plot had me hooked. To me it was one of those books that no matter how hard you try you just want to sneak and keep reading it. And, I really wanted to know what was going to happen next. Also, a little scary."
The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray Munnaza - This like Harry Potter, is the final book of a series (well, a trilogy). What drove me to read this book was mostly the characters. The plot was entertaining, but I wanted to see where Libba Bray was going with this book (and her entire trilogy) and with her characters. Kartik was such a significant character in this novel, but always shrouded in mystery in the earlier ones. Part of the suspense felt in the last two books is amplified here tenfold. He's suddenly interacting with Gemma more and making even more cryptic comments and in spite of that, you can't help but love him. This book, for me, is always about him, and once he started to appear regularly and become more actively involved with the plot, I knew I had to keep reading.
The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Jo - "It wasn't scary, I was just completely hooked by the plot and the little mysteries concerning the characters. I could not set the book aside until I found out exactly what had happened and would happen."
The Treasure Map of Boys by E. Lockhart Jessica - "I love E. Lockhart's writing and I wanted to find out what happened with Ruby and Noel"
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Stacie - "I couldn't put this book down and read it within 2 days."
Two Way Street by Lauren Barnholdt Justine - "I couldn't get enough of it! The relationship between the two main characters was intense (because they're broken up and are heading together to college) and you could tell that something was still sparking. Though I read it a month ago, I still really like it. I stayed up until 4 AM finishing it. And the ending was nice :)"
The Unwritten Rule by Elizabeth Scott Samantha LeAnne - "It was once again another beautiful piece of art by Elizabeth Scott. She created characters that were so real and so fleshed out in this rather quick, but beautiful novel. I was so engrossed in the story of Sarah, Ryan, and Brianna that I just couldn't stop. My plan to only get started on the book turned into staying up until 2:30 am to finish. That was one book that I will be adding to my shelf as soon as it's available."
, which if you've been paying attention I gushed over lots yesterday. Julie is an up and coming new author she has lots of talent and I highly suggest that you run out and buy her book.
ow.)
(fabulous), Amy Huntley’s The Everafter
(wonderful), and Diana Peterfreund’s Rampant
(killer unicorns!) And several empty Mt. Dew cans.
What sort of foods do you like to eat when you are sick?
, by Maria V. Snyder. I remember I got this at the library and I’d never heard of it before, so I thought I’d give it a shot. Little did I know I’d discover my perfect literary crush within its pages, Valek, whom no one has been able to topple from his spot at #1. Of course, I’ve had to fight off many Valek admirers since then, as they mistakenly believe Valek is theirs. (Valek is still mine, Gail!)
, because it was long and boring (to me), and I could get all the test answers from the cliff notes.
. Ash favors books about history, weapons or (oddly enough) poetry. His favorite book is The Art of War
by Sun Tsu.
