The Sunday Story #23

Mailbox:

The books I got this week. 

Sunday Post hosted by Kimba at Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

The Gleaning (Spellspinners of Melas County #2) by Heidi R. Kling (ARC)

Thanks to Coliloquy, LLC

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

The book/s I have read the past week, and the book/s I plan to read throughout the week. 

hosted by Shiela at Book Journey

Last week, I finished:

• The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson

WOW. There are no words for The Crown of Embers. I have to say that this second installment is a definite and an absolute improvement from the first book. The first book, The Girl of Fire and Thorns, lacked so many things (like romance for instance). But The Crown of Embers more than compensated for it. It's an adventure/romance/action/fantasy/political book all rolled into one. It has a little something for everyone. I enjoyed reading it so much, especially the last few chapters. HERE is a link to my review.

This week, I plan to read:

• The Gleaning (Spellspinners of Melas County #2) by Heidi R. Kling (ARC)

I adored almost everything about Kling's Witch's Brew a.k.a. Sexy Magic Book, except the ending. There was a bad cliff hanger. 

And so there are three things you need to know about the ending:

• it ended in the middle of a chapter
• it felt like a big chunk of the story was cut off
• "huh? that's it? I can't believe this. Where's the rest?" 

BUT!!!

The book is well-written. And the story is VERY romantic. 

It just annoyed me that I had to wait for the next "episode." I was so excited (and thankful) to receive an advance copy of the second installment from Coliloquy. 

For those of you who don't know, the books published by Coliloquy is an interactive book. It's very much like the "choose your own adventure" books. It's available for Nook, Kindle, and Android devices.

Recent Reviews:

Lola and the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins
The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson
The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

Recent Blog Events:

Interview with Jay Kristoff, author of Stormdancer

Current Giveaways:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas. Int. Ends 10.29.

Book Recap: Lola & the Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Cover Inspection:
Like the story, the cover is so cute!

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit—more sparkly, more fun, more wild—the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket—a gifted inventor—steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	2.5
Writing	3.0
Characters	2.5
Ending	2.5
Overall Rating	2.5 Good! (85% to 88%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in modern day San Francisco.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The main character is Lola. She's seventeen and lives with her two fathers. She's quirky and carefree. She has a twenty-two year old boyfriend, whom her parents do not approve of. Then there's Cricket Graham Bell, Lola's next door neighbor. Cricket is freshman at Berkley. He's a handsome, hyper active genius!

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

This book is about Lola's struggle to fight her re-emerging feelings for her next door neighbor.

LOVE:

I love that this book embraced homosexuality. Lola has two fathers. Both are homosexuals, and both are love Lola unconditionally. They are fiercely protective of Lola, but they're also very understanding and open-minded when it comes to Lola's fashion sense.

I also liked that Anna and St. Clair were also present in this book! Anna is Lola's co-worker, and St. Clair lives in the same dorm as Cricket. The story didn't really focus on them as they're merely secondary characters, but we get a glimpse of how they are still very much in love and hot for each other!

Most of the time, I loved Lola's character. I love her because she isn't afraid to be different. She isn't afraid to show her true self. She's confident and has her own style. Of course, I also love Cricket. There is an amazing couply chemistry between Lola and Cricket. They are so connected to each other that there is no need for passionate kisses for the reader to feel their connection. A simple look would suffice.

NO LOVE:

Although I admire Lola's individuality, I didn't like the fact that Lola lied too much - from the beginning to the end of the story. Aside from the fact that it doesn't send a positive message, Lola could have prevented most of her problems by telling the truth. (But then again, there wouldn't be a story if Lola's life were that simple.) The lies piled up so high that by the end of the book everything tumbles down hitting Lola in the head. What's worse is that, the more Lola lies, the more she hurts that sweet boy Cricket. And Cricket deserves better treatment than that!

Another thing I disliked is that this book talks about clothes and fashion way too much. I love that Lola makes her own clothes and all, but the DETAILS as to how she makes them is just too much information. I don't need to know tracing patterns, refitting, etc.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

CRICKET! How can you not fall in love with a sweet, sweet guy like him??? He is sweet and geeky and nerdy and handsome and gentle and charming and honest and so on and so forth. It's so hard not to fall in love with a good boy. Cricket is perfect.

FAVORITE LINE:

Hmmm... although the story was entertaining, no particular line struck me.

MUSINGS:

I have to be honest, this book is the epitome of a predictable story. From page one, I knew how the book would end. But it cannot be denied that I enjoyed this book. It's very light and romantic. There's really not much to say about it. While I enjoyed reading it, I still think that Anna and the French Kiss is better for two reasons. First, Anna is set is Paris. And second, I don't remember Anna lying to everyone about everything. All in all, Lola is a cute read. It's the kind of read that makes you feel good and happy after turning the last page.

DOODLES:

no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Stephanie Perkins

SIMILAR READS:

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins
Catching Jordan by Miranda Kenneally

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild

violence: mild

sexual content: mild
mature themes: moderate
age recommendation: 13+

[The Last Year Series Blog Tour] 10 Facts About The Last Year Series

The Last Year Blog Tour stops by The Fairytale Nerd!

About The Last Year Series

Whispers in Autumn (The Last Year #1)

by Trisha Leigh

In 2015, a race of alien Others conquered Earth. They enslaved humanity not by force, but through an aggressive mind control that turned people into contented, unquestioning robots.

Except sixteen-year-old Althea isn’t content at all, and she doesn’t need the mysterious note inside her locket to tell her she’s Something Else. It also warns her to trust no one, so she hides the pieces that make her different, even though it means being alone.

Then she meets Lucas, everything changes.

Althea and Lucas are immune to the alien mind control, and together they search for the reason why. What they uncover is a stunning truth the Others never anticipated, one with the potential to free the brainwashed human race.

It’s not who they are that makes them special, but what.

And what they are is a threat. One the Others are determined to eliminate for good.

Winter Omens (The Last Year #2)

by Trisha Leigh

Althea and Lucas barely escaped the Others’ clutches in the autumn, and were separated in the process. Alone and on the run from the cruel alien race determined to exterminate her, Althea struggles to adapt and survive in a world she never imagined.

When a boy named Pax appears out of nowhere, he quickly recognizes Althea for what she is – a human/Other hybrid just like him. Althea begs him to help her find Lucas, but Pax refuses, intent on following his own mysterious agenda.

The Others’ presence continues to devour the planet’s resources, and if history is an indication, they won’t leave until Earth is destroyed beyond repair. Althea and Pax sense the only way to save themselves – and maybe their home – is to understand the powers simmering inside them.

Together they push the limits of their capabilities in the quiet Wilds, but are soon confronted with a terrifying fact: no place is safe from the relentless pursuit of the Others.

Least of all their own minds.

10 Facts About The Last Year Series

1. The four cities the kids travel to were chosen because they encompass a certain season perfectly.

2. Althea has never eaten chocolate because the Others don’t provide any kind of drug - including caffeine.

3. The world outside of North America is completely abandoned.

4. Less than 300 Others exist. Their race was almost completely obliterated by the war that destroyed their planet.

5. Althea has never watched a television show, talked on the phone, or been on the internet. The humans older than thirty have, but they don’t remember it.

6. Althea’s favorite thing about Lucas’s appearance is his dimples.

7. The Others revere science and research. They need the power of knowledge on their side to continue to survive, which is why they’re so interested in genetic mutations.

8. Cadi and Ko have never hated anyone or anything – not even the beings who wiped out their ancestors and took them hostage.

9. When the Others conquered Earth, they removed all of the pets and banished them to the Wilds.

10. Once she learns about the existence of novels, Althea’s favorite book is Anne of Green Gables.

About Trisha

Avoider of reality. Writer of tales. Indiscriminate reader. Lover of history, film, tennis, Jude Law, and Hershey's Kisses.

Stalk: Goodreads | Website | Twitter

The Nerd's Word #21: Waiting On Poison Princess by Kresley Cole + Swooning over Cursed by Jennifer L. Armentrout

"Waiting On"

A book I cannot wait to get my hands on. 

hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine 

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)

by Kresley Cole

Expected publication: October 2nd 2012 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 

#1 New York Times bestselling author Kresley Cole introduces The Arcana Chronicles, post-apocalyptic tales filled with riveting action, the dark mysticism of Tarot cards, and breathtaking romance.She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

Why I'm waiting on Poison Princess:
I have to admit that I have never read a book written by Kresley Cole. But so many are saying they're good. So this is me jumping on the band wagon. 

What are you waiting on?

Swoon:

Lines and/or scenes from a book that made me swoon. 

hosted by the girls at YA Bound

Today's swoon comes from Cursed by the QUEEN of swoony scenes, Jennifer L. Armentrout:

I placed my hands on his chest, curling my fingers into his sweater. “Hayden,” I whispered.

He answered by clasping my hips and pulling me into his lap. I wanted nothing more than to kiss and touch him. I lowered my cheek to his shoulder, squeezing my eyes shut as his caress drifted from my hips to the small of my back. Fine shivers danced over my skin, making me ache for something I could never have.

His hands traveled up my back, fingers pressing into my spine, bunching the thin material of my tank top, then back down. My body arched into the motion, and his hands shook. Each time his hands came close to my bare skin, it felt like every cell came alive only to slowly burn out. His breathing turned ragged.

I don’t know how long we stayed like that, coming close to touching—to something—until Hayden drew in a heavy breath and lifted me off of him. “Enough,” he murmured. “God, but it’s not enough.”

That Tuesday Thingy #21: A Teaser from Splintered by A.G. Howard + Top Ten Series I Haven't Finished

Teaser Tuesday:

Teasers from the book I am reading.

hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

Splintered

by A.G. Howard

Expected publication: January 1st 2013 by Amulet Books 

“Figured they’d put you in a hat,” I tease.

“Nah. Those are reserved for worms with wings.” I laugh and nudge his shoulders, unspoken permission to put me down.

He sets me onto the floor. “You look amazing.”

The teaser comes from an advance copy. The final copy may contain some changes.

Top Ten Tuesday:

hosted by The Broke & The Bookish

Top Ten Series I Haven't Finished 

1. The Vampire Diaries Series by L.J. Smith. Stopped at book 3. Although I am a huge fan of the TV series, I found the books lacking and ordinary. This is probably because I have read so many fang books that it feels like one is merely a copy of all the others. It seemed repetitive. And this series just wont end... 
2. Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver. Stopped at book 1. I am truly sorry to all you Oliver fans out there. I was so bored with Delirium that I found myself skimming just so I could finish the story. Skimming is not good.
3. Hush, Hush Series by Becca Fitzpatrick. Stopped at book 2. Again, I am sorry if you are a Fitzpatrick fan. While I think that Patch is one of the hottest literary boys ever, the plot just didn't do it for me. This is probably due to my aversion to angel stories.
4. Chicagoland Vampires by Chloe Neill. Stopped at book 3. I like this series, actually. The plot was very entertaining, and the characters are likable. But somehow, I lost interest in the story. Probably because I found out that a fourth and fifth book was going to be released. So, I lost the love.
5. Evermore Series by Alyson Noel. Stopped at book 1. I never really liked reincarnation stories. I have yet to find a reincarnation book that I like.
6. Wings Series by Aprilynne Pike. Stopped at book 2. Ugh. Laurel annoys me. 
7. Théâtre Illuminata Series by Lisa Manchev. Stopped at book 2. It feels like a middle grade read. 
8. Drake Chronicles by Alyxandra Harvey. Stopped at book 2. Another vampire series. (But this is actually one of the better ones.)
9. Dead Beautiful Series by Yvonne Woon. Stopped at book 1. I didn't like the story. Not really a fan of Zombies and the like.
10. Fallen Series by Lauren Kate. Stopped at book 1. Fallen is one of those books where I am still figuring out why it's so popular. 

And before I say ta ta, let me just say that I am a firm believer that a series should have an ending. I applaud authors who put an end to their stories. Just because the first few books are so popular, it does not mean that it should go on indefinitely. It doesn't matter how a story ends - happy ending, heartbreaking ending, or a bittersweet ending. Like all things, good stories must come to an end.

Book Recap: The Crown of Embers by Rae Carson

Cover Inspection:
Ugh.
This is probably the only thing I dislike about the book.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

In the sequel to the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns, a seventeen-year-old princess turned war queen faces sorcery, adventure, untold power, and romance as she fulfills her epic destiny.

Elisa is the hero of her country. She led her people to victory against a terrifying enemy, and now she is their queen. But she is only seventeen years old. Her rivals may have simply retreated, choosing stealth over battle. And no one within her court trusts her-except Hector, the commander of the royal guard, and her companions. As the country begins to crumble beneath her and her enemies emerge from the shadows, Elisa will take another journey. With a one-eyed warrior, a loyal friend, an enemy defector, and the man she is falling in love with, Elisa crosses the ocean in search of the perilous, uncharted, and mythical source of the Godstone's power. That is not all she finds. A breathtaking, romantic, and dangerous second volume in the Fire and Thorns trilogy.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	2.0
Plot	4.0
Writing	3.5
Characters	4.0
Ending	4.0
Overall Rating	4.0 Excellent (97% to 100%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in a fantasy world.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

The main character is Elisa, the bearer of the Godstone and now, a queen. Elisa rules with both her heart and head. She is intelligent and well-studied. Although only in her teenage years, she commands respect. She's a natural leader.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

Queen Elisa's story continues as she searches for the source of the Godstone's power.

LOVE:

I absolutely loved the fact that the story has a Hispanic influence - names, customs, and others. It gave the story an uncommon and exotic atmosphere. Plus, the story is an adventure. Elisa and her friends journey to search for the source of the power of the Godstone. They fought assassins. They braved hurricanes and tornadoes. They faced so many challenges. There were also some amazing political scenes in this book. It's actually entwined with governance as Elisa dealt with taxes and skirmishes. Being a young queen, she is new to it all. But she attempts, always in good faith to do what she thinks is proper.

The story is narrated in the first person in Elisa's POV. With this, we get a view of how Elisa's mind works. Elisa matured in this second book. Gone is the Elisa who is insecure about the way she views herself. She developed confidence as she dealt with her life as queen and the bearer of the Godstone. Truly, she uses her intelligence and her power to negotiate to rule. She thinks before she acts. Interestingly, she is well-versed in the Belleza Guerra (a book quite similar to Sun Tzu's Art of War) and the Scriptura (equivalent to the Bible). And she uses the knowledge from both books to govern. She is one amazing character, and I love her. 

The first part may be all politics, but the second half is pure adventure. It's pretty much like the desert adventure in the first book, only with more romance and... more Hector!

Speaking of Hector... hmmm... 

Suffice it to say that I want one for myself. Heh. 

Hector is so sexy. Like Elisa, he is a natural leader, a natural strategist. What's more is that his men love and respect him. Hector may exude power, but what stands out the most is his humility. Moreover. I loved Elisa and Hector's relationship. Elisa has a number of allies, but Hector is the greatest. Humberto is Elisa's first love, but Hector is her true love. In this story, Hector stepped up from being just a king's guard to being the queen's confidant, friend, and sweetheart. There were a few scenes of the two of them that are so cute.

Hector turns to me, his gaze fierce. “Majesty, if I sense danger, I’ll hustle you away, against your will if necessary.”

“And if that happens, I promise to be only temporarily enraged.”

And another one...

“I’ll look into it, Majesty.”

“And please stop calling me Majesty in private. It makes me grit my teeth.”

He nods with exaggerated solemnity. “I’d hate for you to ruin your teeth on my behalf.”

But there were also scenes, where the heat and the chemistry between the two is just... smoldering.

NO LOVE:

I just can't name a thing! 

Okay, there's one.

The book cover.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

Storm, the Invierne. He's a minor character, but I liked him. He speaks his mind about everything without regard as to who he is speaking to. Don't get me wrong, he isn't exactly rude. He has manners when he thinks you deserve it. He's very frank with Elisa. He tells her what she needs to hear, not what she wants to hear. Plus, Storm provides some comic relief. I was amused by his quick retorts.

MUSINGS:

I have to admit that I didn't like the first book as much. It was just an average fantasy read for me. The first book lacked magic and romance. But this book compensated for that. It's filled with magic. It's filled with romance (filled with Hector, really). The Crown of Embers just blew me away. I have nothing more to say except that I loved this book. If you didn't like the first book, set that thought aside, and give this book a chance. It might just surprise you.

DOODLES:

Haven't found a trailer.

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Rae Carson

SIMILAR READS:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild
violence: moderate
sexual content: moderate
mature themes: moderate (talk of birth control, a beheading scene - no details)
age recommendation: 14+

The Sunday Story #22

Mailbox:

The books I got this week.

Sunday Post hosted by Kimba at Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

Conjure (The Hoodoo Apprentice #1) (ARC)

by Lea Nolan

Thanks to Entangled for the review copy!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

The book/s I have read the past week, and the book/s I plan to read throughout the week. 

hosted by Shiela at Book Journey

Last week, I finished reading:

• The Girl of Fire and Thorns (Fire and Thorns #1) by Rae Carson

All I can say is WOW. I was blown away by this book. (I know it's been out last year, but I haven't had the chance to read it until last week.) It's got a complicated story line and a likable main character. Speaking of the main character, Princess Elisa is unique in the young adult genre. First of all, she isn't depicted as skinny and anorexic. She's on the large side and has a unhealthy obsession with pastries. Second, although she's a princess, she isn't whiny when exposed to the harsh way of life. (But she's really very insecure about her weight.) So refreshing! There's only one thing I didn't like about this book; and that is the fact that the romance didn't really develop. There were hints and few kisses, but it was such as small part of the story that it may be considered negligible. 

This week, I plan to finish:

• The Crown of Embers (Fire and Thorns #2) by Rae Carson

Because I fell in love with The Girl of Fire and Thorns, I absolutely have to continue reading Elisa's story. And it's MORE AMAZING than the first. Elisa is evolving as a character. She's a queen now, and is making very important decisions in the area of politics and governance. Nevertheless, she is also a girl who is slowly, but surely falling in love. The second book made up for the lack of romance in the first book. The is an amazing chemistry between Elisa and the love interest. It's one that shouldn't be missed.

Recently Reviewed:

The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa (ARC)

Rift by Andrea Cremer

Current Giveaways:

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins SIGNED Bookmark

[Stormdancer Blog Tour] Fill-In-The-Blanks Interview with Jay Kristoff

Jay Kristoff stops by my blog for a fill-in-the-blanks interview!

About Jay

Jay Kristoff grew up in the most isolated capital city on earth and fled at his earliest convenience, although he’s been known to trek back for weddings of the particularly nice and funerals of the particularly wealthy. He spent most of his formative years locked in his bedroom with piles of books, or gathered around dimly-lit tables rolling polyhedral dice. Being the holder of an Arts degree, he has no education to speak of.

Jay’s debut novel, STORMDANCER, a Japanese-inspired steampunk fantasy, will be published by Thomas Dunne/St Martin's Press, Tor UK & PanMacMillan in September 2012 as the first installment of THE LOTUS WAR trilogy.

Jay is 6’7 and has approximately 13870 days to live. He abides in Melbourne with his secret agent kung-fu assassin wife, and the world’s laziest Jack Russell.

He does not believe in happy endings.

Stalk: Blog | Twitter | Amazon

Fill-In-The-Blanks Interview with Jay Kristoff

Jay's answers are in GREEN

1. I am Jay Kristoff, author of STORMDANCER, international billionaire playboy philanthropist and part-time pathological liar.

2. Embarrassingly ancient in dog years.

3. I just finished the Book Thief by Markus Zusak a while ago (it was very good).

4. I am too tall to buy my jeans off the shelf (which sucks).

5. In high school, I used to think about how awesome things would be when I wasn’t in high school anymore.

6. My brain sometimes fails when I am presented fill in the blanks questions.

7. I love it when people tell me my book made them cry.

8. I can parla a little italiano.

9. I have a deadline for book 3, which is looming like a big, scary… looming…. thing.

10. I believe good luck is mostly hard work in a ninja disguise.

11. Where the Wild Things Are is my favorite book of all time.

12. Wilful ignorance annoys me the most.

13. I tried to think of a clever answer to this question, and failed miserably, but I am the best at erm… Cheetos?

14. I prefer bittersweet endings rather than happy ones.

15. The only reason I keep using the word “inconceivable” is because it does not mean what I think it means.

16. Star Trek is still quite good, but Star Wars is a lumbering headless goliath being driven into a smoking hole in the ground by a pants-on-head crazy person intent on raping my childhood.

17. Kissing is difficult underwater.

18. I secretly wish I was a rock star.

19. Being a rock star is probably overrated anyways…

20. Thanks for having me here, being awesome, and I really hope you enjoy STORMDANCER!!!

About Stormdancer

Stormdancer (The Lotus War #1)

by Jay Kristoff

A DYING LAND
The Shima Imperium verges on the brink of environmental collapse; an island nation once rich in tradition and myth, now decimated by clockwork industrialization and the machine-worshipers of the Lotus Guild. The skies are red as blood, the land is choked with toxic pollution, and the great spirit animals that once roamed its wilds have departed forever.

AN IMPOSSIBLE QUEST
The hunters of Shima’s imperial court are charged by their Shōgun to capture a thunder tiger—a legendary creature, half-eagle, half-tiger. But any fool knows the beasts have been extinct for more than a century, and the price of failing the Shōgun is death.

A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD GIRL
Yukiko is a child of the Fox clan, possessed of a talent that if discovered, would see her executed by the Lotus Guild. Accompanying her father on the Shōgun’s hunt, she finds herself stranded: a young woman alone in Shima’s last wilderness, with only a furious, crippled thunder tiger for company. Even though she can hear his thoughts, even though she saved his life, all she knows for certain is he’d rather see her dead than help her.

But together, the pair will form an indomitable friendship, and rise to challenge the might of an empire.

Book Recap: The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

Cover Inspection:
Looks like a raunchy romance novel, doesn't it?
Well... you're WRONG.

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Mia is torn between two guys—and two worlds—in this epic, romantic fantasy.Mysterious lights have flickered above Crownsville for as long as Mia can remember. And as far as she’s concerned, that’s about the only interesting thing to happen in her small town.

That is, until Sol arrives. Mia’s not one to fall for just any guy, but she can’t get Sol—or the brilliant tattoo on his back—out of her mind.

Then Mia’s brother goes missing, and Mia’s convinced that Sol knows more than he’s sharing. But getting closer to Sol means reevaluating everything Mia once believed to be true. Because Sol’s not who Mia thought he was—and neither is she.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.5
Plot	2.5
Writing	2.5
Characters	2.5
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:

The story is set in modern day Crownsville, Nebraska. Then. the main character travels to another dimension called Brakaland. In Brakaland, magic and magical creatures exist.

MAIN CHARACTERS:

Mia is the main character in The Dark Light. She is hardworking, determined, smart. She's mature beyond her years. She lives with her uncle (who, according to her, is irresponsible) and her younger brother, Jay.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:

There have been "light shows" in the town of Crownsville, and kids have been disappearing whenever it appears. One night, Mia's brother disappeared! Sol, the new kid at school, seems to know why her brother disappeared. So, together, they travel to another dimension to rescue Mia's brother.

LOVE:

I love the fact that Sol kept his mystery until the very end of the book. It kept me guessing as to who or what Sol actually is. Come to think of it, his mystery and evasiveness is the main thing that kept me glued to this book.

I also loved Sol's character. He is such a mysterious guy. The broody and tormented works for him just fine. This is the kind of story where the reader would just have to figure out (along with the character) just who (or what) the love interest is. Why does he have a tattoo that big? Why the broad shoulders? Why act like a man when a guy is just in high school? Sol is a sexy mystery any girl reader would be thrilled to unravel.

There is a VERY slow, yet simmering romance in this book. Actually, there wasn't much romance as I expected. From the looks of the book cover, it is safe to assume that this is a sort of book that is bordering on raunchy. This is not the case. This book is far from being raunchy. This is a fantasy book. If you are looking for action and adventure, then you will enjoy this book. The entire book consisted of travels and facing terrifying creatures. There was a good amount of action, especially near the end of the book.

There is an Alice in Wonderland concept in this book - a headstrong girl enters a world filled with creatures and magic. In truth, I am amazed by the author's imagination. She was able to create a world where:

• barriers absorb living creatures,
• mines can be opened to unleash demons in order to breed them,
• human like creatures with not one, but two, hearts.

NO LOVE:

This book started out very slowly. It took a while for the story to pick up and for things to make sense. Also, there were too many paragraphs on too many chapters dedicated on Sol's appearance - wide shoulders, long arms, muscled chest. I get it. He's hot and sexy and has the capability to make any girl hot and bothered. No need to repeat that fact every now and then. In addition, the story seemed repetitive, especially in the middle part - demons attack, Sol saves the day. Were it not for my curiosity to find out what Sol really is and to find out if Mia and Sol will end up together at the end of the book, I would have set this book aside.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:

I like Mia's character. (This is one of the very few books where I liked the main character.) She's simple and honest. Most of all, she's sensible and hardworking. She knows her priorities, probably because she was forced to grow up very early in life. Also, she is very relatable - she thinks the way an ordinary teen would think.

MUSINGS:

The first part of the book does not read like a fantasy book at all. It reads like a mystery book. The fantasy element presented itself only when Mia entered the otherwolrd. So don't expect magic and fantasy as soon as you turn the first page.

Yes, the book may be likened to the Iron Fey, particularly The Iron King - a girl traversing a magical world with the help of hunky guys. Nevertheless, this one is darker and more dreary, with less humor and more ogling at a magical broad-shouldered boy.

The writing was very easy to understand and to get into. No nonsense and direct to the point! There's not much description in the book, but it works given that the story is driven by the mystery surrounding the disappearances and Sol's role in everything.

All in all, it was a fairly good read. It has good parts, and bad ones, like most books. Its not one of the best I've read this year, but its one of the good ones out in YA jungle. For sure, lovers of fantasy books with hunky guys accompanying the female lead would devour The Dark Light.

DOODLES:

no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:

Sara Walsh

SIMILAR READS:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

CONTENT REVIEW:

profanity: mild
violence: moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

[Nerve Blog Tour] An Excerpt + Giveaway: SIGNED copy of Nerve by Jeanne Ryan

The Fairytale Nerd is the next stop on the Nerve Blog Tour!

About Nerve

Nerve

by Jeanne Ryan

A high-stakes online game of dares turns deadly.

When Vee is picked to be a player in NERVE, an anonymous game of dares broadcast live online, she discovers that the game knows her. They tempt her with prizes taken from her ThisIsMe page and team her up with the perfect boy, sizzling-hot Ian. At first it's exhilarating--Vee and Ian's fans cheer them on to riskier dares with higher stakes. But the game takes a twisted turn when they're directed to a secret location with five other players for the Grand Prize round. Suddenly they're playing all or nothing, with their lives on the line. Just how far will Vee go before she loses NERVE?

Debut author Jeanne Ryan delivers an un-putdownable suspense thriller.

An Excerpt

From chapter one, the first dare.

Tommy finds a seat at a community table near the center of the shop and sets our things down. He fiddles with his phone. “The NERVE site says I have to capture this on a live feed straight to them so we can’t edit the footage. I’ll start as soon as you’re ready.”

“Okay.” I creep to the back of the line, fighting the weird sensation that I’m losing control of my legs. It takes all of my concentration to place one leaden foot in front of the other, as if I’m wading across a swimming pool of syrup. Breathe, breathe, breathe. If only the coffee fumes weren’t so strong. The ventilation in here sucks. My hair and clothes will reek long after I leave. Will Mom notice?

A couple in front of me argues whether they should get chai tea at night, since it has caffeine, while a group of women in front of them pepper the barista with questions about calorie counts. Their chattering grates at my nerves. I want to yell that folks who are worried about calories shouldn’t hang out in places offering dozens of pastry options.

I wave at one of the baristas in an attempt to get his attention. He just smiles and continues pumping espresso. The clock on the wall says 9:37. Crap, twenty-three minutes until curfew and I just realized I’ll need to take Tommy back to his car before I can go home. I push my way toward the counter, causing a few angry comments. Once they see what I’m up to, maybe they’ll shut up. No one wants to mess with a nut job. At the corner of the counter stands a pitcher of ice water and a stack of plastic cups. I fill one up and move to a spot near Tommy, trying not to spill it despite my trembling arms and legs.

Nine thirty-nine. I take a breath and nod at Tommy, who points his phone and says something I can’t make out. A few people around us furrow their eyebrows, shooting me the stink eye. Tommy gives me a little smile and a thumbs-up, which causes a massive wave of gratitude to rise in my chest. This would be impossible alone. Maybe it still will be. My body won’t stop shaking, and I fight the urge to burst into tears. Geez, I’m such a wuss. No wonder I choked at play auditions.

I stare at the clock, suddenly feeling a sense of tunnel vision. Everything around me goes dark. All I see is the clock, pulsing like Edgar Allan Poe’s Tell-Tale Heart. This is ridiculous. It’s just one cup of water and one line to recite. Syd would pour a whole pitcher while singing her favorite number from Les Mis. Of course, I’m not her.

The racing of my heart progresses to pounding, and my head feels light. Every molecule in my body wants to run. Or scream. Or both. I tell myself to breathe. The dare will be over in a minute. Just a few moments more of enduring this terror. I wipe my cheek. As the clock on the wall moves to 9:40, I clear my parched throat.

Can I do this? The question repeats itself even as I raise the cup over my head. Amazingly, my arm still works. In a voice barely above a whisper, I say, “Cold water makes me hot.” I pour a few drops on my head.

Tommy squints like maybe he didn’t hear me.

I raise my voice, which comes out in a crackle and say, “Cold water makes me hot!” I pour the rest of the cup over my head. The icy shock clears my brain. Oh my God, I did it. And now I’m standing here soaked, wishing harder than I ever have for the ability to disappear.

A nearby woman yelps and jumps away. “What the heck?”

“Sorry,” I say as water drips from my nose. I know I should be doing something, but my body is paralyzed. Except for my eyes, which take in a million details at once, and all of them seem to mock me. With conscious effort, I break my immobility spell and wipe my face with the back of my hand while some guy nearby snaps my picture. I give him a dirty look and he snaps another.

Tommy puts the phone down, staring at me with wide eyes. “Uh, Vee, oh boy, your shirt—” He points at my chest with a look of horror.

About Jeanne 

I’ve lived all over the world, raised in a family with eleven brothers and sisters. I spent my early childhood in Hawaii and the rest of my growing-up years trying to figure out a way to get back there, with stops in South Korea, Michigan and Germany along the way. Before writing fiction, I tried my hand at many things, including war game simulation and youth development research. But I decided it was much more fun to work on stories than statistics.

These days, I still love Hawaii, but have found my home under the moody skies of the Pacific Northwest.

Stalk: Website | Twitter | Amazon

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The Nerd's Word #20: Waiting On The Blessed by Tonya Hurley + Swooning Over Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck

"Waiting On" 

A book I cannot wait to get my hands on. 

hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine 

The Blessed (The Blessed #1)

by Tonya Hurley

Expected publication: September 25th 2012 by Simon & Schuster 

From the author of the New York Times bestselling ghostgirl series, the start to a captivating and haunting teen trilogy about three girls who become entangled with an enigmatic boy—a boy who believes he is a saint.What if martyrs and saints lived among us? And what if you were told you were one of them?

Meet Agnes, Cecilia, and Lucy. Three lost girls, each searching for something. But what they find is Beyond Belief.

Reason:
I am really not into books concerning religions, saints, and martyrdom, however I may have to set this book as an exception. I was captured by this line in the blurb: a boy who believes he is a saint. That line just piqued my interest. The concept of a saint just seems so original and new in a sea of vampires, shifters, and faeries. 

Swoon:

Lines and/or scenes from a book that made me swoon. 

hosted by the girls at YA Bound

Let me share with guys this swoonworthy scene from the second book of The Tiger Saga by Colleen Houck, The Tiger's Quest.

I pulled his head closer and kissed him softly. He broke away to study my face in surprise and then locked me tightly in his arms and kissed me back. His was no soft, sweet kiss. It was a hot, melty, smoldering one.

There are many different types of kisses. There’s a passionate kiss of farewell—like the kind Rhett gave Scarlett when he went off to war. The kiss of I-can’t-really-be-with-you-but-I-want-to-be—like with Superman and Lois Lane. There’s the first kiss—one that is gentle and hesitant, warm and vulnerable. Then there’s the kiss of possession—which was how Ren kissed me now.

It went beyond passion, beyond desire. His kiss was full of longing, need, and love, like all those other kisses. But, it was also filled with promises and pledges, some of which seemed sweet and tender while others seemed dangerous and exciting. Ren was taking me over. Staking a claim.

He seized me as boldly as a tiger captures his prey. There was no escape. And I didn’t want to. I would have happily died in his clutches. I was his, and he made sure I knew it. My heart burst with a thousand beautiful blooms, all tiger lilies. And I knew with a certainty more powerful than anything I’d ever felt before that we belonged together.

He finally lifted his head and murmured against my lips, “It’s about bloody time, woman.”

That Tuesday Thingy #20: A Teaser from Toxic by Jus Accardo + Top Ten Bookish People You Want To Meet

Teaser Tuesday:
Teasers from the book I am reading. 

hosted by MizB at Should Be Reading

Toxic (Denazen #2)

by Jus Accardo

Expected publication: October 2nd 2012 by Entangled Teen 

“Of course you will. But you said it was fun. I’d like to try.”

The teaser comes from an avance copy of Toxic. The final copy may contain changes.

Top Ten Tuesday:

hosted by The Broke & The Bookish

Top Ten Bookish People You Want To Meet 

One. Jane Austen
I would like to ask her what she thinks of all the adaptations and retellings of her love stories.

Two. John Green

One of my favorite authors...

Three. Cassandra Clare
Who wouldn't want to meet the creator of Jace???

Four. Mario Puzo, author of The Godfather
I would like to ask him where he gets all his mafia ideas. Are they based on an experience or something?

Five. Wendy of A Cupcake & A Latte Book Blog
She suddenly disappeard. I just realized this when I stopped receiving her blog updates on my RSS feed. I kind of miss her blog and her quality reviews.

Six. Sarah J. Mass, author of Throne of Glass
If you have read Throne of Glass, then you would want to meet its author too!

Seven and Eight. Suzanne Collins and Stephanie Meyer
I sometimes think about what they think of movie adaptations of their works. For sure, they are thrilled to see their characters on the big screen, but I sometimes wonder what parts of the movie they would change.

Nine. Colleen Houck, author of The Tiger Saga
There are no words to express just how much I adore her Tiger Series. Each book is set in an exotic place, and heaven knows how much I love those kinds of books. Plus, the romance is sweet and sexy in a completely un-steamy way.

Ten. Francine Pascal 
I was a Sweet Valley girl way back... then. The Sweet Valley books introduced me into the world of reading without being forced to. My love for reading (non-academic books, at least) is all due to Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield.

The Sunday Story #21

Mailbox:

The books I got this week. 

Sunday Post hosted by Kimba at Kimba The Caffeinated Book Reviewer, and Stacking the Shelves hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr (purchased)

The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna (purchased)

Splintered by A.G. Howard (ARC)

Thanks to Amulet Books for the review copy!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

The book/s I have read the past week, and the book/s I plan to read throughout the week. 

hosted by Shiela at Book Journey

Last week, I finished reading:

• The Dark Light by Sara Walsh

All I can say is that The Dark Light was... okay. Nothing really stood out for me. Plus, the plot sounds very much like The Iron King - big sister travels to another dimension to look for younger brother. The only thing that's special about it is the cover. I still can't get over how HAWT that cover is - too hot for YA! I love it! Also, the cover does not look like a a cover of a fantasy book. At first glance, it looks like a raunchy romance novel. And this book is anything but that.

This week, I plan to finish:

• Carnival of Souls by Melissa Marr
• The Lost Girl by Sangu Mandanna

These are two of my most anticipated 2012 releases. There are no words for just how much I am excited to have these two. I am a huge fan of Melissa Marr. I especially loved the last book in the Wicked Lovely Series. It was pure fantasy without being overly childish. So dark and decadent. Now with respect to The Lost Girl, I like books that are set in very exotic places. After having read reviews saying that the main character travels from England to India, I knew this book would make me very happy.

Recently Reviewed:

• The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa (ARC)
• Rift by Andrea Cremer
• Defiance by C.J. Redwine (ARC)
• Losing Lila by Sarah Alderson
• Scarlet by A.C. Gaughen

Current Giveaway:

• Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins SIGNED Bookmark Giveaway

Book Recap: The Lost Prince by Julie Kagawa (ARC)

Cover Inspection: 
I still cannot believe that this guy is Ethan.
In my mind, he's still Meghan's baby brother!

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):

Don’t look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase’s unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he’s dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister’s world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.0
Characters	3.0
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
Thirteen years ago has passed since Meghan saved Ethan from the Iron King. Now, Ethan ventures to back to the Nevernever and Mag Turiedh to see his sister.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
This time, Ethan is the main character of the book. Like Meghan in The Iron King, Ethan is an outcast in his
school. Actually, he has been kicked out of his old school for allegedly burning the school. For this reason, Ethan stays away from people. He also sees Them (what he calls the fae) and he's very wary of them. Oh, and he acts like a complete jackass to keep people away.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
This is ethans adventure back into the nevernever. The story involves the Forgotten, skeletonlike, ghostlike faeries who are eating the glamour of normal fae.

LOVE:

Imagination
I am awed by Julies imagination and the fact that she is able to put it in writing effortlessly. Like her other works, the Nevernever is filled with terrifying and deadly creatures. She was still able to put those creatures to life. To me, that is just pure talent. Plus, the descriptions are vivid, and appeals to all the senses. Even the sounds of piskies were described - "chipmunk on speed." There were also creatures whose face is made up of with machines. There were all kinds of creatures attacking from all sides that kept the charcters on their toes and the reader glued to the pages.

Romance blooms. 

The thing I love the most about Julie's writing is the sweet and swoonworthy romance. One of the best! In the Iron Fey, we only have one set swoonworthy coupling, in this book, there are two, namely: Ethan and Kenzie, and another couple whose identities I will not disclose because they are spoilers. The romance between Ethan and Kenzie is slow and sweet. They started out as friends, hardly even that actually, but as they travelled and experienced the Nevernever together, they fell in love along the way. Very much like Ash and Meghan's romance - slow, sweet, and simmering. Another thing I love about Julie's fae books is that while there is romance, it does not take over the plot. There is a very good story behind the romance.

Humor
Like with the Iron Fey, the book has funny parts, and is also filled with snarky comments and witty comebacks.

Razor! 

That adorable, adorable gremlin! 

*me want a pet gremlin as cute and loyal as Razor*

NO LOVE:
It took a while for the story to pick up. First few chapters, and all Ethan did was act like a complete ass with the people around him. It was only in chapter 6 when things got really interesting.

Also, while most of the characters are back, there were hardly any scenes with Puck! I miss his pranks and wit, and I wish there was more of him.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
I like Kenzie (the love interest of Ethan). She's smart and beautiful. She's persistent and unfazed by Ethan's attitude.

FAVORITE LINE:
Withheld - the book I've read is an advance copy.

MUSINGS:
While reading, it made me realize just how much I love Julie Kagawas Nevernever and its denizens, most especially Grimalkin. I love Grim, especially the way he answers questions with "I am a cat," like that explains everything.

I think Ethan Chase is no ordinary character. He doesn't have Meghans happy, pleasant disposition. He has a certain darkness and sadness inside him. He is struggling to be his real kind self, but he has so many bad experiences about the fae that he is forced to push people away. He is one of the most conflicted and complicated characters I have ever read about. It's hard to love him as a character because he is just so mean to people, yet I found it harder to hate him because there is goodness in him too. I pitied him most of the time. My heart bled for him even.

All in all, I  enjoyed The Lost Prince. Its a happy combination of fantasy, adventure, and romance. While I still think the the third book in the Iron Fey series (The Iron Queen) is Julie's best book, her fans would still enjoy and devour The Lost Prince, and would be thrilled to revisit the Nevernever experience.

DOODLES:
no trailer found

AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
Julie Kagawa

SIMILAR READS:
The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: mild
violence: mild to moderate
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+

[Sweet Evil Blog Tour] Sweet Evil Dream Cast by Wendy Higgins + Giveaway

Today's guest is Wendy Higgins, author of Sweet Evil!

I loved Sweet Evil. It's one of those books that has the ability to be innocent and seductive at the same time. And it's all due to Kaiden. He's so hot, he deserves an extra T. Read my book review HERE.

About Wendy

After earning a Creative Writing degree from George Mason University and a Masters in Curriculum and Instruction from Radford, I taught high school English until becoming a mommy. I've always had a heart for teens, and writing YA stories gives me the opportunity to delve into the ambiguities of those pivotal years before adulthood.
I live in the D.C. area with my husband, daughter, and son.

Stalk: Website | Twitter

If Sweet Evil was being made into a movie, who would your dream cast be? 

A Guest Post by Wendy Higgins

I actually don’t have an entire dream cast...I know that’s kind of lame of me. But there are a few actors and actresses who could fit a few of the parts. My dream would be to have actual actors and actresses from those parts of the world (English Kai/Ginger/Marna, African Kopano, Filipino/Asian Blake—although he was raised in the US, so he needn’t have an accent).

Chloe Moretz for Anna

The Rock for Belial (haha—this one makes me laugh for some reason)

Michael Copon for Blake

Shawn Pyfrom for Jay

Ben Barnes for Kaidan

Lee Thompson for Kopano 

Alicia and Annie Sorrell for Ginger and Marna

About Sweet Evil

Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1)

by Wendy Higgins

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

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