In My Mailbox (5)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

Though high school doesn't pay enough for me to actually buy all of the books that I read, here's what I managed to snag from the library this week:

"Prism takes us to a slightly alternate universe in which medicine and health care do not exist, and in which sick people are allowed to die without any care. Set in New Mexico and California, the novel features three teens who fall through a cave at Carlsbad Caverns in New Mexico while on a field trip. They are plunged into a frightening parallel universe—seven weeks in the past, in which their "normal" worlds of family and high school remain the same…except for the fact that no medicine exists and when people die in the street they are picked up and disposed of."

"In James Patterson's blockbuster series, fourteen-year-old Maximum Ride, better known as Max, knows what it's like to soar above the world. She and all the members of the "flock"--Fang, Iggy, Nudge, Gasman and Angel--are just like ordinary kids--only they have wings and can fly. It may seem like a dream come true to some, but their lives can morph into a living nightmare at any time...like when Angel, the youngest member of the flock, is kidnapped and taken back to the "School" where she and the others were experimented on by a crew of wack jobs. Her friends brave a journey to blazing hot Death Valley, CA, to save Angel, but soon enough, they find themselves in yet another nightmare--this one involving fighting off the half-human, half-wolf "Erasers" in New York City. Whether in the treetops of Central Park or in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system, Max and her adopted family take the ride of their lives. Along the way Max discovers from her old friend and father-figure Jeb--now her betrayed and greatest enemy--that her purpose is save the world--but can she?"

"Even Zombie Settlers with Super Hot Boyfriends get the Blues...

A few months ago I was a normal girl with a normal life. But that was before my power to Settle the Undead returned and someone tried to kill me with zombies.

Now I work magic and practice kicking butt while trying to find time for pom squad and my boyfriend, Ethan, and trying NOT to think about how freaky my life has become. It can be tough. Still…things could be worse…

Oh yeah, right:

1. Feral new super-strong zombies. Check.

2. Undead psychic hottie predicting a zombie apocolypse. Check.

3. Earth-shattering secrets that could land me in Settler prison for life. Check.

4. Cheerleader vs. pom squad turf war threatening the end of the half time as we know it. Check.

I’m going to need therapy (and a cookie) if I live through the week. Unfortunately I’m learning that’s not something Zombie Queens can take for granted."

Where did it go?

A number of months ago, I remember reading about a new book from Melissa de la Cruz that wasn't part of her Blue Bloods series and that looked incredibly interesting. Naturally, I jotted it down onto my "to-read" list and then forgot about it for a while.

I know, the whole point of keeping track of the books you want to read on a list is so that you don't forget about them. But to be honest, there are so many books on the list that the ones not regularly mentioned around the blogosphere kind of fade into the background until I manage to drag them up again.

It's a book by Melissa de la Cruz, though. It shouldn't have been one to fade into the background. Especially not with this gorgeous cover:


"The Angels Practice, or TAP as it's known to its members is the kind of cult that doesn't exist. Not that anyone can see, anyway. It's not a religion, so there are no churches; it's not a science so there are no rules; it's not written in a book or on pamphlets and there are no preachers, salesmen, magicians or prophets.

All you need to know is that it will define who you are and what you will become, so you had better get it right. TAP can give you everything, but it wants everything in return: money, loyalty, absolute obedience.

Taj and Nick seem to be the only people who aren't buying into the TAP culture, and when the people closest to them start to disappear into its vortex, they discover something far more sinister. It appears that TAP has plans for its members, and like it or not, there's no way out.

As Taj and Nick frantically search for a way to reach the lost souls who have been tapped, the Angels Practice tightens its hold. Can they resist the lure of TAP's dark side and uncover the truth before they too disappear? TAP mythology began with Angels on Sunset Boulevard, and now this great new bind-up completes the edgy and compelling story." -From Goodreads.com

The synopsis defintiely sounds exciting enough, and Goodreads says that it came out back in October of 2009. And yet there are zero reviews for it and Amazon has nothing except an "out of print/limited availability" stamp on it.

Does anyone have any idea what happened?

Waiting on Wednesday: Runaway

"Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope. . .what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved--since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed--this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running."-From Goodreads.com

I love Meg Cabot's snarky writing style and particularly this series of hers. It's like a mix between one of the Violet books by Melissa Walker and a Scott Westerfeld novel. Cabot shocked me with the twists in the last one, Being Nikki, and I can't wait to see where she takes this one.

This title will be released on June 1, 2010

Betraying Season by Marissa Doyle

"Penelope (Pen) Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can’t help being distracted from her studies.

Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. But even if he halts his mother’s evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot? And what of Pen’s magic, which seems to be increasingly powerful?"- Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

Such a cute story! I love that Doyle has taken on this new story from Pen's point of view, rather than staying with Persy from Bewitching Season. She's a strong female protaganist, and I loved watching her defy the expectations set out for her and continue her magic studies despite the general disapproval, particularly among men. A constant mental You go, girl! cheer was in the back of my mind throughout the whole thing.

I was a little disappointed, though. In the first book, the magic had a very Harry Potter feel to it, where you pointed, whipped out some Latin, and magic happened. In this one, the magic took on more of a Wiccan tone, involving a goddess and fancy full-moon ceremonies and chanting. Honestly, I prefferred the Harry Potter-type magic.

But it was still good and defintiely worth the read.

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 5/5

Cover: 3/5

Other books by Marissa Doyle: Bewitching Season

In My Mailbox (4)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

While I'm too lacking in funds to actually buy all the books that I read, here is what I managed to snag from the library this week:

"As if trying to fit in at a new school isn't stressful enough, sixteen-year-old Nikki Donovan just found out that her long-lost father is, in fact, the demon king of the Shadowlands—the world that separates and protects us from the Underworld. When she is brought there by the mysterious—and surprisingly cute—messenger Michael, she learns that her father is dying, and he wants her to assume the throne. To complicate matters, a war is brewing between the Shadowlands and the Underworld, her half-demon qualities are manifesting, and her growing feelings for Michael are completely forbidden. Ruling a kingdom, navigating a secret crush, and still making it home by curfew—what's a teenage demon princess to do?"

"Madison Stanton doesn't know where she is or how she got there. But she does know this—she is dead. And alone, in a vast, dark space. The only company she has in this place are luminescent objects that turn out to be all the things Maddy lost while she was alive. And soon she discovers that with these artifacts, she can reexperience—and sometimes even change—moments from her life.

Her first kiss.

A trip to Disney World.

Her sister's wedding.

A disastrous sleepover.

In reliving these moments, Maddy learns illuminating and sometimes frightening truths about her life—and death.

This is a haunting and ultimately hopeful novel about the beauty of even the most insignificant moments—and the strength of true love even beyond death."

Wicked Lovely Movie!

Okay, I'm a little behind on the news wagon, but this is so exciting! Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr is being made into a movie by Universal Studios!

And to make it all even better, the screenplay is being written by Caroline Thompson, who wrote Nightmare Before Christmas, Corspe Bride, and Edward Scissorhands. Now, I will admit that I've never actually seen Nightmare Before Christmas or Edward Scissorhands, but I've heard they're both incredible and dark. And someone good at writing dark will definitely do well with Wicked Lovely.

You can read all the details on Melissa Marr's Livejournal here.

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

"There were no surprises in Gatlin County.
We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere.
At least, that's what I thought.
Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.
There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end, there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met. When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything." - Goodreads.com

Overall: 3/5

Please don't hate me for this review. I know that just about everyone else that I've heard from absolutely adores this book. And they should. It was a wonderful story and I could find almost nothing wrong with it at all. The plot was exciting and the characters very 3D. It was an icedible story and the writing was exquisit. There was no reason what-so-ever that I should not like this book. But I didn't.

And I think I know why, too. Call me sexist, but I can rarely get into a story with a male protagonist, particularly one told in first person. I just can't connect with it like I can with a female one. As terrible as this sounds, I think I would have loved this book if only it had been told form Lena's point of view.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who does not have this issue that I have with male protags. It was an excellent story, and I really wish I could have enjoyed it.

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 5/5

Writing: 5/5

Ending: 5/5

Cover: 5/5

This is the first book for both Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Waiting on Wednesday: Shadow of the Moon

"Dark Guardian is a sexy werewolf series sure to appeal to the many teen readers of paranormal romances. In this fourth book, the werewolves debate whether to emerge from hiding on their own terms. But one of their own, Daniel, is struggling with something much more immediate—his search for the girl who will be his lifelong mate. He hasn’t connected with her yet and he’s starting to lose hope. If he can’t find her before her first transformation, she will die." -From Goodreads.com

I know that by now, you all are probably sick of me going on and on about Rachel Hawthorne and her Dark Guardians series. But I am completely smitten with them right now. And how cool is it that this fourth book sounds like it's going to be told from one of the guys' perspectives? I'm super excited!

This book will be released on March 23, 2010

Again?!?

Many of you, I'm sure, heard about the huge controversy over the cover of Justine Larbalestier's Liar, on which Bloomsbury, the publisher, used a white model when the character was very distinctly described as black. There was a huge outrage over this headed up by Justine Larbalestier herself, that quickly and forcefully spread throughout the bologosphere. Eventually, Bloomsbury caved to the pressure and changed the cover.

Here's the result:

(First cover and then the second one )

So, having already been through this whole process once before, you would think that Bloomsbury would have learned. But apparently not. Because they've done it again.

Magic Under Glass by Jaclyn Dolamore looks to be in a similar predicament:

This is another book with a dark-skinned protaganist that has a white model on the cover. It hasn't been blown up quite as much as Liar was, but it's still causing quite a stink. The Story Siren has a great post about it, as does Reading in Color and GAL Novelty.

Rampant by Diana Peterfreund

"Forget everything you ever knew about unicorns . . .

Real unicorns are venomous, man-eating monsters with huge fangs and razor-sharp horns. Fortunately, they've been extinct for a hundred and fifty years.
Or not.

Astrid had always scoffed at her eccentric mother's stories about killer unicorns. But when one of the monsters attacks her boyfriend—thereby ruining any chance of him taking her to the prom—Astrid finds herself headed to Rome to train as a unicorn hunter at the ancient cloisters the hunters have used for centuries.

However, at the cloisters all is not what it seems. Outside, the unicorns wait to attack. And within, Astrid faces other, unexpected threats: from the crumbling, bone-covered walls that vibrate with a terrible power to the hidden agendas of her fellow hunters to—perhaps most dangerously of all—her growing attraction to a handsome art student . . . an attraction that could jeopardize everything." -From Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

The cover of this book really put me off, the first time I saw it. That picture of the unicorn prancing in the reflection of the sword.....it just wasn't doing it for me. In my mind, I've always associated unicorns with My Little Pony or some such ridiculousness. But when I read the flap and discovered that it was less about rainbow hearts and pink fluffy tails, and more about man-eating mythical monsters....then it caught my interest.

And I loved the way that Peterfreund portrayed them! I mean, how cool is a creature walking around with a sword on its head? My view of unicorns has been forever changed.

And the actual storyline wasn't half bad either. Gorgeous writing and great historical references. I can't even imagine the kind of research that would have had to go into a novel like this, but it was well worth the effort.

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Cover: 3/5

Other titles by this author: The Ivy Leauge Novels

In My Mailbox (3)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

While I'm too lacking in funds to actually buy all the books that I read, here is what I managed to snag from the library this week:


"Penelope (Pen) Leland has come to Ireland to study magic and prove to herself that she is as good a witch as her twin sister, Persy. But when the dashing Niall Keating begins to pay her court, she can’t help being distracted from her studies.

Little does Pen know, Niall is acting upon orders from his sorceress mother. And although it starts as a sham, Niall actually falls deeply in love with Pen, and she with him. But even if he halts his mother’s evil plan, will Pen be able to forgive him for trying to seduce her into a plot? And what of Pen’s magic, which seems to be increasingly powerful?"

"In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else... "

The Hourglass Door by Lisa Mangum

"His past. Her future. Can love bring them together in time? Abby s senior year of high school is going according to plan: good friends, cute boyfriend, and college applications in the mail. But when Dante Alexander, foreign-exchange student from Italy, steps into her life, he turns it upside down. He's mysterious, and interesting, and unlike anyone she's ever met before. Abby can't deny the growing attraction she feels for him. Nor can she deny the unusual things that seem to happen when Dante is around. Soon Abby finds herself drawn into a mystery whose roots reach into sixteenth-century Florence, and she uncovers a dangerous truth that threatens not only her future but the lives of those she loves." - From Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

I didn't reallyknow what to expect with this one, but it blew me away. It was such an incredible story and I really enjoyed just about every aspect. The idea itself was just so original and, while the plot was a little predictable at points, there were just enough surprises thrown into the mix that I didn't care. The characers, the writing, the story...all of it was beautiful and I applaud Mangum for managing to pull it off with such grace.

The only part I can complain about (and even this, I can't really complain because of course the reader's frustration and anticipation is the whole reason that they do it) was the completely cliff-hanger ending! I con't wait for The Golden Spiral, the next on the series, to come out. I'm not even sure when exactly that is, except for that it's sometime the summer.

Character: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 5/5

Ending: 4/5

Cover: 3/5

Thisis Lisa Mangum's first book

Forest Born by Shannon Hale

"Rin is sure that something is wrong with her…something really bad. Something that is keeping her from feeling at home in the Forest homestead where she’s lived all her life. Something that is keeping her from trusting herself with anyone at all. When her brother Razo returns from the city for a visit, she accompanies him to the palace, hoping that she can find peace away from home. But war has come to Bayern again, and Rin is compelled to join the queen and her closest allies—magical girls Rin thinks of as the Fire Sisters—as they venture into the Forest toward Kel, the land where someone seems to want them all dead. Many beloved Bayern characters reappear in this story, but it is Rin’s own journey of discovering how to balance the good and the bad in herself that drives this compelling adventure." -From Amazon.com

Overall: 3/5

As a huge fan of Shannon Hale's other work, particularly the first three Books of Bayern, I had high expectations of this book. Which is prabably the main reason I was disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the book was good. Just not as good as I thought it would be.

All the favorite characters from previous books in the series were there, continuing their own stories as Rin told hers. It was a cute story, though pretty depressing at times. I felt like threre were still loose ends that hadn't been wrapped up by the end of the story, and I was a little disappointed with how, by the finish, it seemed that not a whole lot had changed for Rin.

Maybe she's plannin on going further into some of those details in a later book. I hope that's it. And I do look forward to that next book, whatever it turns out to be.

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 3/5

Writing: 3/5

Ending: 3/5

Cover: 2/5

Other titles by this author: The Goose Girl, Enna Burning, River Secrets, Austenland

Dark of the Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

"I've loved him forever, but he can never be mine.

Brittany is determined to prove herself to the Dark Guardians. And yet she's been keeping a devastating secret: She hasn't experienced any of the intense, early signs of change that mark a Dark Guardian's transformation. The only intense feelings she has are for Connor—and she's kept that a secret, too. But she knows she'll never truly have Connor's love if she's not a Shifter like him.

At the first full moon after her birthday, her greatest fear is realized: She doesn't transform. Brittany is so desperate to become a wolf that she'll go to extremes she never thought possible . . . and put all the Dark Guardians in incredible danger." -From Amazon.com

Overall: 5/5

I can't even say how much I love this series. Before I start reading each one, I have doubts and assumptions about them. And each and every time, I'm astounded by how incredible the stories that Hawthorne manages to weave are.

From the previous books, I've never been a huge fan of Brittany. To me, she comes off as the sullen, determined, overly-serious type. It gave me pause before starting this one because I didn't think I could like a book where I didn't like the protaganist. Well, that may still be true, but it wasn't a problem in this case. By telling the story from Brittany's perspective, Hawthorne allows the reader to delve into her character and understand her better. I ended up actually liking Brittany and I have a lot more respect for her character now that I know some of her background and the reasoning behind her actions.

I loved it. It's full of action and suspence, and also tells a great love story, which I'm a total sucker for. I simply cannot wait for the next one to come out!

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 5/5

Cover: 4/5

Other titles by this author: Moonlight, Snowed In, Labor of Love, Caribbean Cruising, Suite Dreams

Reprints...?

Okay, I've never actually read Beige by Cecil Castellucci. But I noticed this while cruising the web:

This is the cover of the first edition of Beige, published in 2007:





And this is the cover of the second edition, re-released in March of 2009:

Now, I don't now about you, but I've never seen a second edition of a book that comes out only two years after the first one. And personally, I kind of like the first cover better.

Thoughts?

In My Mailbox (2)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

While I'm too lacking in funds to actually buy all the books that I read, here is what I managed to snag from the library this week:

"She’s no angel . . .

Poor Dru Anderson. Her parents are long gone, her best friend is a werewolf, and she’s just learned that the blood flowing through her veins isn’t entirely human. (So what else is new?)

Now Dru is stuck at a secret New England School for other teens like her, and there’s a big problem— she’s the only girl in the place. A school full of cute boys wouldn’t be so bad, but Dru’s killer instinct says that one of them wants her dead. And with all eyes on her, discovering a traitor within the Order could mean a lot more than social suicide. . .

Can Dru survive long enough to find out who has betrayed her trust—and maybe even her heart?"

(Note: I think there are two covers for this book, and I'm not actually sure which one I have, since I'm much too lazy to get up and look. But this one was my favorite of the two...)

"Forget everything you think you know about faeries. . . .

Creatures full of magic and whimsy?

Not in the Oakenwyld. Not anymore.

Deep inside the great Oak lies a dying faery realm, bursting with secrets instead of magic. Long ago the faeries mysteriously lost their magic. Robbed of their powers, they have become selfish and dull-witted. Now their numbers are dwindling and their very survival is at stake.

Only one young faery—Knife—is determined to find out where her people's magic has gone and try to get it back. Unlike her sisters, Knife is fierce and independent. She's not afraid of anything—not the vicious crows, the strict Faery Queen, or the fascinating humans living nearby. But when Knife disobeys the Faery Queen and befriends a human named Paul, her quest becomes more dangerous than she realizes. Can Knife trust Paul to help, or has she brought the faeries even closer to the brink of destruction?"

"With the stunning revelation surrounding Bliss's true identity comes the growing threat of the sinister Silver Bloods. Once left to live the glamorous life in New York City, the Blue Bloods now find themselves in an epic battle for survival. Not to worry, love is still in the air for the young vampires of the Upper East Side. Or is it? Jack and Schuyler are over. Oliver's brokenhearted. And only the cunning Mimi seems to be happily engaged."

Full Moon by Rachel Hawthorne

"Lindsey has always known that Connor was her destined mate, but this summer as her full moon approaches, she finds herself dreaming about darkly handsome and silent Rafe. When the others are captured by their enemies, she and Rafe must work together to save them. As they spend time together, Lindsey will come to realize that some dangers come from within as she is forced to face her true feelings for Connor and Rafe. One is a friend. The other is her true love. But listening to her heart could cost her everything."

Overall: 5/5

I read Rachel Hawthorne's first Dark Guardian book almost a year ago, pretty much right when it came out. And I completely loved it. When I heard that the second in the series would be coming out about three months later, I was ecstatic! (Serioulsy, how many times can you say that you had that short of a wait between books in one series? I was beyond thrilled.) I was so excited to hear more of Kayla's story and how things were going with Lucas that I didn't even read the back of the book until it came out and I started the first page.

So you can imagine my shock when I find out that this book isn't about Kayla or Lucas at all; it's about Kayla's best friend, Lindsey.

I lost my enthusiasum immediately. It's not that I don't like Lindsey, cause I do. I just got it into my head that since Hawthorne had done such a splendid job with the first one, this new protaganist and her own set of problems were never going to be able to live up to it. My conviction of this made me put it aside for a few months.

Finally, about a week ago, I picked it up again. I figured, why not? My expectations were already low, not much harm could be done. And it was fantastic! Despite all my doubts, Hawthorne has done it again. She's taken a new perspective on a world that she's already introduced us to and turned it into a beautiful tale of secrecy and adventure, and love and friendship and the difference between the two.

The third in the series, Dark of the Moon, is also already out, and the fourth, Shadow of the Moon, is scheduled to come out in March.

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 5/5

Cover: 3/5

Other titles by this author: Moonlight, Snowed In, Caribbean Cruising, The Boyfriend League, Love on the Lifts, Suite Dreams

Gateway by Sharon Shinn

"As a Chinese adoptee in St. Louis, teenage Daiyu often feels out of place. When an elderly Asian jewelry seller at a street fair shows her a black jade ring—and tells her that “black jade” translates to “Daiyu”—she buys it as a talisman of her heritage. But it’s more than that; it’s magic. It takes Daiyu through a gateway into a version of St. Louis much like 19th century China. Almost immediately she is recruited as a spy, which means hours of training in manners and niceties and sleight of hand. It also means stealing time to be with handsome Kalen, who is in on the plan. There’s only one problem. Once her task is done, she must go back to St. Louis and leave him behind forever. . . ." -From Amazon.com

Overall: 3.5/5

When I break this book down into pieces, there isn't a whole lot about it that I really liked. The characters were flat and a little too predictable. The plot, while unique, wasn't particularly enthralling. The writing was good, but not spectacular. The story all moved a little fast, making it pretty unbelievable. The ending was incredibly unsatisfying, especially since there's no word on a second book that might finish what this one failed to. Looking at it this way, the best thing about this book is the cover.

So you may wonder why I gave it a three and a half instead of, say, a two. It's because, despite all this, I like the book. I have no idea why. When I look at all the different aspects of it, at the different pieces I generally use to decide what's good about a book, there's not much to like.

I just did.

Characters: 2/5

Plot: 3/5

Writing: 3/5

Ending: 2/5

Cover: 4/5

Other titles by this author: Samaria Novels, The Safe-Seeker's Secret, General Winston's Daughter, Twelve Houses Novels

Waiting on Wednesday: Brightly Woven

"When Wayland North brings rain to a region that's been dry for over ten years, he's promised anything he'd like as a reward. He chooses the village elder's daughter, sixteen-year-old Sydelle Mirabel, who is a skilled weaver and has an unusual knack for repairing his magical cloaks. Though Sydelle has dreamt of escaping her home, she's hurt that her parents relinquish her so freely and finds herself awed and afraid of the slightly ragtag wizard who is unlike any of the men of magic in the tales she's heard. Still, she is drawn to this mysterious man who is fiercely protective of her and so reluctant to share his own past.

The pair rushes toward the capital, intent to stop an imminent war, pursued by Reuel Dorwan (a dark wizard who has taken a keen interest in Sydelle) and plagued by unusually wild weather. But the sudden earthquakes and freak snowstorms may not be a coincidence. As Sydelle discovers North's dark secret and the reason for his interest in her and learns to master her own mysterious power, it becomes increasingly clear that the fate of the kingdom rests in her fingertips. She will either be a savior, weaving together the frayed bonds between Saldorra and Auster, or the disastrous force that destroys both kingdoms forever." -From Amazon.com

This book looks so good! And even if you didn't read the synopsis, the cover is enough to make you at least pick it up off the shelf.

Alexandra Bracken, the author of Brightly Woven, has posted the first chapter of her book and you can read it here.

This title will be released March 23, 2010

Devoured by Amanda Marrone

"Megan’s twin sister Remy died in an accident nine years ago, and she’s been haunting her ever since. Knowing how crazy that sounds, Megan keeps this secret to herself and tries to lead a normal life. But when she takes a summer job at Land of Enchantment to keep an eye on her new boyfriend and his lovesick best friend, Samantha, she meets fellow employee Luke who can see Remy, too. Things get even twistier because Megan’s new friend Ari is sporting a massive crush on Luke, who seems to be developing a massive crush on Megan…making for a love triangle that’s positively possessed.

Megan wants to keep her distance from Luke, but when Remy’s visions get crazy violent; she knows she needs his help. Because someone’s definitely in danger...the only question is who?" -From Goodreads.com

Overall: 4/5

This story starts out with a prologue that goes back five hundred years to the story of Snow White. Upon reading it, I inwardly groaned, sure that I was in for another modern re-telling of the classic fairy tale.

But it wasn't a re-telling at all. If anything, it was almost a continuation of the tale, telling the story of the descendents of Snow White, who were all cursed to the same fate. I know I'm not doing a good job of explaining this, but read the book and it will all make sense.

The story was incredibly original and the plot, while a little predictable at points, was thoroughly enjoyable.

Characters: 4/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 4/5

Cover: 4/5

Other books by this author: Uninvited, Revealers

New Discoveries...

All right, so it's not really a "discovery". I mean, I'm sure I always knew it was there, it's just that I recently discovered how truly awesome it is.

Ally Carter's website. Or rather, her "Diary", also commonly known as her blog.

As a huge fan of the Gallagher Girl series and also very excited about her new book (series?) coming out in February, Heist Society, imagine how thrilled I was to learn that this lovely blog reveals....

Mini excerps from Heist Society....

And deleted scenes from the GG books....

And also a bunch of teaser info on the fourth book in the GG series....

Which just happens to include the new title and cover!

I'm not even done looking at it all yet, but I was too excited not to share this amazing discovery pretty much right on the spot.

Happy reading!

In My Mailbox (1)

Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting In My Mailbox every week!

While I'm too lacking in funds to actually buy all the books that I read, here is what I managed to snag from the library this week:

"It is the cusp of World War I, and all the European powers are arming up. The Austro-Hungarians and Germans have their Clankers, steam-driven iron machines loaded with guns and ammunition. The British Darwinists employ fabricated animals as their weaponry. Their Leviathan is a whale airship, and the most masterful beast in the British fleet.

Aleksandar Ferdinand, prince of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, is on the run. His own people have turned on him. His title is worthless. All he has is a battle-torn Stormwalker and a loyal crew of men.

Deryn Sharp is a commoner, a girl disguised as a boy in the British Air Service. She's a brilliant airman. But her secret is in constant danger of being discovered.

With the Great War brewing, Alek's and Deryn's paths cross in the most unexpected way...taking them both aboard the Leviathan on a fantastical, around-the-world adventure. One that will change both their lives forever."




"There were no surprises in Gatlin County. We were pretty much the epicenter of the middle of nowhere. At least, that's what I thought. Turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong.

There was a curse.
There was a girl.
And in the end,
there was a grave.

Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she's struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations.But even within the overgrown gardens, murky swamps and crumbling graveyards of the forgotten South, a secret cannot stay hidden forever.

Ethan Wate, who has been counting the months until he can escape from Gatlin, is haunted by dreams of a beautiful girl he has never met.

When Lena moves into the town's oldest and most infamous plantation, Ethan is inexplicably drawn to her and determined to uncover the connection between them.

In a town with no surprises, one secret could change everything."

Shadowland by Alyson Noel

"Ever and Damen have traveled through countless past lives—and fought off the world’s darkest enemies—so they could be together forever. But just when their long-awaited destiny is finally within reach, a powerful curse falls upon Damen…one that could destroy everything. Now a single touch of their hands or a soft brush of their lips could mean sudden death—plunging Damen into the Shadowland. Desperate to break the curse and save Damen, Ever immerses herself in magick—and gets help from an unexpected source…a surfer named Jude.

Although she and Jude have only just met, he feels startlingly familiar. Despite her fierce loyalty to Damen, Ever is drawn to Jude, a green-eyed golden boy with magical talents and a mysterious past. She’s always believed Damen to be her soulmate and one true love—and she still believes it to be true. But as Damen pulls away to save them, Ever’s connection with Jude grows stronger—and tests her love for Damen like never before…" -From Amazon.com

Overall: 4/5

To be honest, I'm not sure how to start this review. I started reading this book with the expectation that I wouldn't like as much as the first two in the series. And through the beginning, I was right. For the first eighty or so pages, nothing really happens. Noel uses an abundant amount of time and space to basically just summarize the first two books and explain to readers how the characters got to be where they are now. It took me some effort to make it through those pages and be able to continue on to the rest of the story.

But then the story picks up. Things start happening that I had no fore-warning of (though it might have helped if I had read the front flap before the actual book) and it pretty thoroughly hooked me. The plot was well thought out and full of twists and turns and the characters were full of spunk and personality (always a good thing). I ended up really enjoying the book.

The only real problem was the reason that I liked it: Jude. It's not that I don't like Damen. It's just that Damen is a little predictable at this point. He loves Ever and is willing to do just about anything for her; there's no challenge or uncertainty there. Jude, however, is new and mysterious. He makes things interesting.

So this leaves me with a new question: If Jude doesn't make a re-appearance in Noel's next book, will that kill it for me?

I really hope not, but I guess I'll eventually find out.

Characters: 5/5

Plot: 4/5

Writing: 4/5

Ending: 3/5

Cover: 5/5