* * Jelly Loves Books * *

Frost by Marianna Baer

2012-01-23T15:38:00.001+08:00

Frost by Marianna Baer

Genre: Thriller
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Source: Won (Thanks Amanda!)
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 320
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Leena Thomas’s senior year at boarding school starts with a cruel shock: Frost House, the cozy Victorian dorm where she and her best friends live, has been assigned an unexpected roommate—eccentric Celeste Lazar.

As classes get under way, strange happenings begin to bedevil Frost House: frames falling off walls, doors locking themselves, furniture toppling over. Celeste blames the housemates, convinced they want to scare her into leaving. And although Leena strives to be the peacekeeper, soon the eerie happenings in the dorm, an intense romance between Leena and Celeste’s brother, David, and the reawakening of childhood fears all push Leena to take increasingly desperate measures to feel safe. But does the threat lie with her new roommate, within Leena’s own mind…or in Frost House itself?

THOUGHTS

My rating:

Wow... this book was strange! I mean that in a good way, of course. I had high expectations for Frost, and even though I've read some neutral reviews, it didn't stop me from thinking this will be a great read. And it was! I'm so glad I read it.

There was romance, but it didn't even bother me. If you read some of my reviews, I usually complain about how romantic scenes take up 3/4 of the book. Frost had a lot of these, but it wasn't annoying because the book also had A LOT of creepy scenes... which means it's balanced. Maybe it's also because they're not super cheesy.

What I liked in Frost

Writing
Characters
Plot
Setting
Ending

Frost is an eerie and mysterious read that features an old house, a great female lead character, and a very interesting plot. If you like psychological thrillers, you HAVE to pick this one up.

Cover reveal: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

2012-01-06T21:45:00.000+08:00

The cover for City of Lost Souls (Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare has been revealed!

In Book 5: City of Lost Souls, the Shadowhunters struggle to piece together their shattered world after a betrayal by one of their own leaves them reeling.

City of Lost Souls will be released on May 8, 2012.

Waiting on Wednesday: Life Is But A Dream

2012-01-04T19:00:00.000+08:00

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

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Life Is But A Dream by Brian James
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends

Alec and Sabrina are crazy in love. Problem is: Sabrina’s really crazy.

Sabrina, an artist, is diagnosed with schizophrenia, and her parents check her into the Wellness Center. There she meets Alec, who is convinced it's the world that's crazy, not the two of them. They are meant to be together; they are special. But when Alec starts to convince Sabrina that her treatment will wipe out everything that makes her creative, she worries that she'll lose hold of her dreams and herself. Should she listen to her doctor? Her decision may have fatal consequences.

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T00:01:00.002+08:00

To the followers and readers of this blog, thank you so much for making 2011 a wonderful blogging year. I wish you all a happy and prosperous 2012!

2011 End of Year Book Survey

2011-12-31T14:08:00.007+08:00

This is my first time to participate in the Year Ender Survey made by The Perpetual Page-Turner. I found this list from GReads and I thought it'd be fun to answer the questions. :) If you want to join and fill out the survey, check out The Perpetual Page-Turner and be sure to link up your post. :)

1. Best Book You Read In 2011?

(books)
I HAVE A LOT!!!

- Ashfall by Mike Mullin
- The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
- Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
- Psycho by Robert Bloch
- Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma
- Ang Mga Kaibigan ni Mama Susan by Bob Ong

2. Most Disappointing Book/Book You Wish You Loved More Than You Did?

- Fallen by Lauren Kate and Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon. After reading, I thought there was something wrong with me because I didn't like them so much. I mean, they received a lot of good reviews!
- The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff. :(

3. Most surprising (in a good way!) book of 2011?

- Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep. Honestly, I thought this was just going to be one of "those" novels set in a boarding school where students have special gifts. And maybe it is, but there is something about the author's writing that made me like the book and think this isn't just one of "them."
- Clarity by Kim Harrington
- The Name of the Star by Maureen Johnson
- Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

4. Book you recommended to people most in 2011?

Oh, The Hunger Games, definitely. I actually started lending my books to some of my friends and they all *loved* it. I feel like a proud mother or something.

5. Best series you discovered in 2011?

Err, I didn't read a lot of series this year. Or if I did, I didn't like them so much. >_< Most of the books I've read are either standalone or the sequels are not even out yet.

6. Favorite new authors you discovered in 2011?

- Michelle Hodkin

7. Best book that was out of your comfort zone or was a new genre for you?

- Chocolat by Joanne Harris

8. Most thrilling, unputdownable book in 2011?

- The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. I think I read it in a day or something.
- Ashfall by Mike Mullin
- Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

9. Book you most anticipated in 2011?

- The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
- Frost by Marianna Baer
- Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

10. Favorite cover of a book you read in 2011?

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

11. Most memorable character in 2011?

- Norman Bates from Psycho by Robert Bloch
- Teddy Daniels from Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
- R from Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

12. Most beautifully written book read in 2011?

- Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. The writing was one of the strongest points in the novel.

13. Book that had the greatest impact on you in 2011?

- Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. I still find myself re-reading the last few chapters and fighting the urge to cry. Man, it's a beautiful book.

14. Book you can't believe you waited UNTIL 2011 to finally read?

- I Am Legend and A Stir of Echoes by Richard Matheson. I'm so glad I didn't watch the movies first.
- Like Water for Chocolate by Laura Esquivel
- The Catcher in the Rye by JD Salinger

15. Favorite Passage/Quote From A Book You Read In 2011?

"A librarian can’t live by books alone, and I wouldn’t eat them if I could. Feel too much like cannibalism." - from Ashfall

“I might appear confident and chatty, but I spend most of my time laughing at jokes I don't find funny, saying things I don't really mean - because at the end of the day that's what we're all trying to do: fit in, one way or another, desperately trying to pretend we're all the same.” from Forbidden (I actually have quite a lot of favorite quotes from this book, but I'll just share this one)

16. Book That You Read In 2011 That Would Be Most Likely To Reread In 2012?

Probably The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong. I'll be getting the paperback version of The Gathering on May 2012 and I feel I needed to re-read the third book, even though the two might not be connected. Hehe.

17. Book That Had A Scene In It That Had You Reeling And Dying To Talk To Somebody About It? (a WTF moment, an epic revelation, a steamy kiss, etc. etc.) Be careful of spoilers!

- SHUTTER ISLAND BY DENNIS LEHANE. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT TWIST AND THAT ENDING. HOLY SH*T.
- Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan by Bob Ong. I discussed this several times with different people just to know what their theories are. So freakin' confusing.

*** I didn't answer the optional questions because this is already too long. I talk too much, I know. >_< LOL.

Follow Friday (14) New Years Blogging Resolution

2011-12-30T14:48:00.001+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: The New Year is here — and everyone wants to know your New Years Blogging Resolution! What are you going to try to revise, revamp and redo for 2012 on your blog?

Answer: I have three...

Update my "books reviewed" link. I've had that [not updated! i will update this SOON!] message for a few months now. o___O
Write a review as soon as I finish reading a book. I usually forget what I have to write when it's been weeks since I've read a certain book. Umm... or maybe I can get a notebook like this one.
Comment more.

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

2011-12-29T23:11:00.001+08:00

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: September 21, 2010
Source: Bought
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 352
Publisher: Razorbill
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Mackie Doyle is not one of us. Though he lives in the small town of Gentry, he comes from a world of tunnels and black murky water, a world of living dead girls ruled by a little tattooed princess. He is a Replacement, left in the crib of a human baby sixteen years ago. Now, because of fatal allergies to iron, blood, and consecrated ground, Mackie is fighting to survive in the human world.

Mackie would give anything to live among us, to practice on his bass or spend time with his crush, Tate. But when Tate's baby sister goes missing, Mackie is drawn irrevocably into the underworld of Gentry, known as Mayhem. He must face the dark creatures of the Slag Heaps and find his rightful place, in our world, or theirs.

THOUGHTS

My rating:

Reading The Replacement was like listening to those horror stories told by friends in sleepovers. That's how it felt like to me. Kind of creepy, but could sometimes sound a bit silly.

There were some confusing parts in this book that I guess I was supposed to know, but I didn't, so... my bad. For example, I only knew that these creatures who get kids at night are actually fairies. The author didn't use the term in the book and I don't read a lot of books with fairies in them so I found that a bit confusing. And I think I'm not the only one, based on some reviews I've read.

What I liked in The Replacement:

Creepy.
The cover.

I had a hard time reading this book because sometimes I get lost in the plot, and I don't know what's going on... mostly when I get confused over a book, it's a good thing (because I want to read MORE to find out what the heck is happening), but this one... I guess I just didn't know what was going on because I didn't pay attention. I felt like I was in a boring class listening to a boring teacher or something. :(

The characters are unlikable, too. Mackie whined a lot. A lot. He's like the male version of Bella Swan. And it wasn't just Mackie. Tate was almost always angry it was annoying. The Morringan was so weird she became annoying. Roswell was an a$$hole he was, you guessed it, annoying. Almost everyone was annoying.

I didn't really know what kind of book this was going to be when I bought it, but I gotta say I was kind of disappointed. This book just wasn't for me.

New Year Giveaway

2011-12-28T14:48:00.009+08:00

Since it's almost 2012, I decided to do a little giveaway. 2011 has been a great year for me (heh, just in blogging) - meeting bookish people, reading new books, and I think this is also the year I've been most active in terms of blogging. :) I hope 2012 will be even more awesome!

Giveaway button:

WHAT'S UP FOR GRABS?

(click to full view)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins paperback + swag (bookmarks & postcards - some signed)

All you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. The only required entry is to follow my blog via GFC or NetworkedBlogs, but there are extra entries to increase your chances of winning. :)

Please read the instructions carefully and enter all required information (such as usernames/links) so your entry will be valid. I don't want to disqualify entries, but that is only fair to those who took time to follow the blog or complete some of the extra entries.

This giveaway runs from 28 December 2011 to 18 January 2012 and is open to Philippine residents only.

May the odds be ever in your favor!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Wish Essay Contest for Aspiring YA Writers

2011-12-27T14:52:00.000+08:00

Win a literary agent or acclaimed author's feedback on your unpublished manuscript for young adult or middle grade readers. This rare opportunity is being offered to the six winners of an essay contest recently announced by the literacy charity Book Wish Foundation. See http://bookwish.org/contest for full details.

You could win a manuscript critique from:

Laura Langlie, literary agent for Meg Cabot

Nancy Gallt, literary agent for Jeanne DuPrau

Brenda Bowen, literary agent and editor of Karen Hesse's Newbery Medal winner Out of the Dust

Ann M. Martin, winner of the Newbery Honor for A Corner of the Universe

Francisco X. Stork, winner of the Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award for The Last Summer of the Death Warriors

Cynthia Voigt, winner of the Newbery Medal for Dicey's Song and the Newbery Honor for A Solitary Blue

All that separates you from this prize is a 500-word essay about a short story in Book Wish Foundation's new anthology, What You Wish For.

Essays are due Feb. 1, 2012 and winners will be announced around Mar. 1, 2012. If you win, you will have six months to submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript for critique (which means you can enter the contest even if you haven't finished, or started, your manuscript). You can even enter multiple times, with essays about more than one of the contest stories, for a chance to win up to six critiques.

If you dream of being a published author, this is an opportunity you should not miss. To enter, follow the instructions at http://bookwish.org/contest.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:01:00.015+08:00

Hey guys! I just want to wish you all a Merry Christmas. I hope you have a wonderful time celebrating Christmas with your loved ones! :)

While you're here, why don't you check out this awesome Christmas video made by our favorite YA authors?

(THIS IS A SCHEDULED POST)

Follow Friday (13)

2011-12-23T12:50:00.000+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: If you had to spend eternity inside the pages of a book which book would you choose and why?

Answer: Harry Potter, definitely! Wizarding world > Muggle world.

Cover reveal: IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson

2011-12-21T21:18:00.001+08:00

I am very excited to reveal the cover and summary for IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson. If I Lie's expected release date is August 28, 2012 from Simon Pulse.

If I Lie by Corrine Jackson

A powerful debut novel about the gray space between truth and perception.

Quinn’s done the unthinkable: she kissed a guy who is not Carey, her boyfriend. And she got caught. Being branded a cheater would be bad enough, but Quinn is deemed a traitor, and shunned by all of her friends. Because Carey’s not just any guy—he’s serving in Afghanistan and revered by everyone in their small, military town.

Quinn could clear her name, but that would mean revealing secrets that she’s vowed to keep—secrets that aren’t hers to share. And when Carey goes MIA, Quinn must decide how far she’ll go to protect her boyfriend…and her promise.

It's a simple cover, but looks as if it's also telling a story. :)

What do you think of this cover?

Be sure to add IF I LIE to your Goodreads shelf!

Waiting on Wednesday: Pure

2011-12-21T14:28:00.000+08:00

Pure by Julianna Baggott
Release Date: February 8, 2012
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

We know you are here, our brothers and sisters . . .
Pressia barely remembers the Detonations or much about life during the Before. In her sleeping cabinet behind the rubble of an old barbershop where she lives with her grandfather, she thinks about what is lost-how the world went from amusement parks, movie theaters, birthday parties, fathers and mothers . . . to ash and dust, scars, permanent burns, and fused, damaged bodies. And now, at an age when everyone is required to turn themselves over to the militia to either be trained as a soldier or, if they are too damaged and weak, to be used as live targets, Pressia can no longer pretend to be small. Pressia is on the run.

Burn a Pure and Breathe the Ash . . .
There are those who escaped the apocalypse unmarked. Pures. They are tucked safely inside the Dome that protects their healthy, superior bodies. Yet Partridge, whose father is one of the most influential men in the Dome, feels isolated and lonely. Different. He thinks about loss-maybe just because his family is broken; his father is emotionally distant; his brother killed himself; and his mother never made it inside their shelter. Or maybe it's his claustrophobia: his feeling that this Dome has become a swaddling of intensely rigid order. So when a slipped phrase suggests his mother might still be alive, Partridge risks his life to leave the Dome to find her.

When Pressia meets Partridge, their worlds shatter all over again.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

2011-12-18T18:10:00.000+08:00

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Genre: Mystery
Release Date: September 6, 2011
Source: Publisher (Thanks!)
Format: Advance Reader's Copy
Pages: 354
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

Thoughts

My rating:

This is the first book of Gabrielle Zevin that I've read, and I'm pretty sure this won't be the last.

The world in All These Things I've Done is cleverly constructed, although sometimes I feel that chocolate and caffeine being treated like drugs (and alcohol isn't banned) was a bit ridiculous. Still, it is the future, and nobody really knows what's possible to be illegal 72 years from now. Apart from that bit, the world in 2083 is pretty much convincing.

Romance between the two lead characters was sweet, but not too sweet. Still, it's there, and covered most part of the story (which I didn't mind), but I neither loved nor hated it.

My Review: A List!

What I liked in All These Things I've Done

Anya
Portrayal of Anya's Family
Anya's friendship with Scarlet

What I didn't like in All These Things I've Done

Not very dystopian

Overall, I liked All These Things I've Done. I think I felt the same way for Divergent with this book, and I'm just going to repeat what I said in my Divergent review: Don't try to do some deep analysis about the book. Just enjoy the ride.

*** I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan), in exchange for an honest review.

Cover reveal: Embrace & The Immortal Rules

2011-12-11T16:13:00.001+08:00

Embrace by Jessica Shirvington
Release Date: March 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

I slowly opened my eyes. The sun speared its first bright rays of golden orange into the sky and I leapt from the cliff, with the sorrowful knowledge that no matter what the outcome, at least part of me would die that day...

Violet Eden is dreading her seventeenth birthday dinner. After all, it’s hard to get too excited about the day that marks the anniversary of your mother’s death. The one bright spot is that Lincoln will be there. Sexy, mature and aloof, he is Violet’s idea of perfection. But why does he seem so reluctant to be anything more than a friend?

After he gives her the world’s most incredible kiss – and then abandons her on her front doorstep – Violet is determined to get some answers. But nothing could have prepared her for Lincoln’s explanation: he is Grigori – part angel and part human – and Violet is his eternal partner.

Without warning, Violet’s world is turned upside down. She never believed in God, let alone angels. But there’s no denying the strange changes in her body ... and her feelings for Lincoln. Suddenly, she can’t stand to be around him. Luckily, Phoenix, an exiled angel, has come into her life. He’s intense and enigmatic, but at least he never lied to her.

As Violet gets caught up in an ancient battle between dark and light, she must choose her path. The wrong choice could cost not only her life, but her eternity...

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: April 24, 2012
Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

You will kill. The only question is when.

In the dark days since the insidious Red Lung virus decimated the human population, vampires have risen to rule the crumbling cities and suburbs. Uncontested Princes hold sway over diminished ranks of humans: their "pets." In exchange for their labor, loyalty and of course, their blood, these pets are registered, given food and shelter, permitted to survive.

Unregistered humans cling to fringes, scavenging for survival. Allison Sekemoto and her fellow Unregistereds are hunted, not only by vampires, but by rabids, the unholy result of Red Lung-infected vampires feeding on unwary humans. One night, Allie is attacked by a pack of rabids, saved by an unlikely hero...and turned vampire.

Uncomfortable in her undead skin, Allie falls in with a ragtag crew of humans seeking a cure, or cures: for Rabidism and for Vampirism. She's passing for human...for now. But the hunger is growing and will not be denied. Not for friendship—not even for love.

Follow Friday (12)

2011-12-02T22:59:00.003+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: What is your biggest pet peeve when it comes to books? Maybe you don’t like love triangles or thin plots? Tell us about it!!

Answer: I can't stand INSTA-LOVE. Especially in paranormal/fantasy books! Girl meets boy for the first time, she falls in loooovvee, and then the next hour/day/week or so they're somewhere, k-i-s-s-i-n-g. And then you turn another page, they're kissing again. Suddenly the entire book is all about kissing and cheesy stuff. ACK!!!

We Give Books

2011-12-01T22:22:00.000+08:00

I just found out about this great project by Penguin Group and Pearson Foundation while I was browsing some blogs. We Give Books works like this: You read a book, they donate a book. Most of the books are children's stories "to inspire children to become lifelong readers and lifelong givers." For more information, just click on the image and you will be directed to their site.

Waiting on Wednesday: Survive

2011-11-23T18:42:00.000+08:00

Survive by Alex Morel
Release Date: August 2, 2012
Publisher: Razorbill (Penguin)

Jane runs away from Life House, a facility for kids with mental health disorders and addictions. She boards a plane to Montclair, New Jersey, though her destination does not matter—she doesn’t plan to be alive when the plane lands. Jane has planned the perfect suicide: she’ll fall asleep on the plane and never wake up. As she’s reaching for her pills in the cabin’s bathroom, the plane hits turbulence. Another jolt, and the engine’s down. The plane crashes into the mountains of Montana, and Jane and a boy named Paul are the only two survivors.

What starts out as a death mission quickly becomes a fight for life.

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

2011-11-21T19:07:00.001+08:00

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Release Date: September 29, 2011
Source: Publisher (Thanks!)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 418
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Errand requiring immediate attention. Come.

The note was on vellum, pierced by the talons of the almost-crow that delivered it. Karou read the message. 'He never says please,' she sighed, but she gathered up her things. When Brimstone called, she always came.

In general, Karou has managed to keep her two lives in balance. One the one hand, she's a seventeen-year-old art student in Prague; on the other, errand-girl to a monstrous creature who is the closest thing she has to family. Raised half in our world, half in 'Elsewhere', she has never understood Brimstone's dark work - buying teeth from hunters and murderers - nor how she came into his keeping. She is a secret even to herself, plagued by the sensation that she isn't whole.

Now the doors of Elsewhere are closing, and Karou must choose between the safety of her human life and the dangers of a war-ravaged world that may hold the answers she has always sought.

Thoughts

My rating:

I was hooked with Daughter of Smoke and Bone from the very first page. Laini Taylor is an amazing storyteller. Her writing is beautiful, and the world she created is unique and enchanting. The details were also explained with such vividness and clarity that sometimes I feel like I am also experiencing everything, and not just reading them. Laini brought life to the characters, the world they were in, and their own stories. I love it. For me, the writing was definitely what stood out in this novel.

My Review: A List!

What I liked in Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Karou
Characters
Writing
Setting

What I didn't like in Daughter of Smoke and Bone

Last hundred or so pages

Reading Daughter of Smoke and Bone was a wonderful experience and I don't even think this review will do the book justice. Just go read it, okay? ;)

Note

I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Hodder & Stoughton, in exchange for an honest review.

Follow Friday (11)

2011-11-18T22:54:00.000+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: Letter to Santa: Tell Santa what books you want for Christmas!

Answer: Dear Santa, I would love to receive Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake and/or Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk. But if you're feeling generous, a personal library will be great. ;) lol.

The Hunger Games: Official Movie Trailer

2011-11-15T22:51:00.000+08:00

THIS.

Waiting on Wednesday: Shattered Souls

2011-11-09T17:51:00.000+08:00

Shattered Souls by Mary Lindsey
Release Date: December 8, 2011
Publisher: Penguin (Philomel)

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries.

Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Rapture & Fallen in Love

2011-11-08T20:50:00.000+08:00

The cover for Rapture (Fallen #4) by Lauren Kate has been revealed!

No description yet. Rapture comes out on June 2012.

The cover is gorgeous, alright, and like the first three books, it also looks like a photo manipulation/digital art you can find on deviantART.

Fallen In Love (Fallen #3.5) by Lauren Kate
To be released on January 24, 2012

Unexpected. Unrequited. Forbidden. Eternal. Everyone has their own love story.

And in a twist of fate, four extraordinary love stories combine over the course of a romantic Valentine's Day in Medieval England. Miles and Shelby find love where they least expect it. Roland learns a painful lesson about finding-and losing love. Arianne pays the price for a love so fierce it burns. And for the first -and last- time, Daniel and Luce will spend a night together like none other.

Lauren Kate's FALLEN IN LOVE is filled with love stories . . . the ones everyone has been waiting for.

True love never says goodbye . . .

Same goes with this cover.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

2011-11-06T13:38:00.002+08:00

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Source: Bought
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 452
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

Thoughts

My rating:

Mara wakes up in a hospital with no recollection of how she ended up there. Her friends who were with her at the accident are all dead, while she is unharmed. The readers get introduced to what kind of life she had after the accident, and the twisted events that started happening after it.

I didn't really know what kind of book it was going to be when I bought it. I mean, well... okay, I may have added this book to my wishlist two or three months ago, and I may have kept an eye to the author's twitter account and blog in case of giveaways, but I still didn't know what kind of book it was going to be. Psychological thriller? Horror? Mystery? I wasn't so sure about that.

When I started reading, though, I thought I've figured it out. I crossed one genre off my (mental) list and continued reading, trying to predict what will happen. I thought I knew who Mara Dyer was. But then as I reached the end I got it all wrong.

I'm still a little confused right now, but I'm pretty sure it was NOT the book I was expecting it to be. I'm not complaining, though. I enjoyed reading it very much.

My Review: A List!

What I liked in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

Mara.
The ending.
The writing.
The nightmares/flashbacks
Noah Shaw.
Mara's brothers.
The cover/title.

What I didn't like in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer:

The romance.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer is an edgy, unique and fantastic debut that will keep the reader guessing until the end. I definitely recommend this book. And I can't wait to read more about Mara.

Follow Friday (10)

2011-11-04T15:08:00.001+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: Today’s Question is something new, an activity. We want to see what you look like! Take a pic with you and your current read! Too shy? Boo! Just post a fun pic you want to share.

Photo:

LOL eww... Happy Halloween! :D

And yes, I'm reading Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. It's awesome so far!

Warm Bodies Promo Poster

2011-11-03T15:47:00.001+08:00

The Collider has recently posted a promotional movie poster for the film adaption of Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion. The movie opens August 2012 and stars Nicholas Hoult as R the zombie and Teresa Palmer as Julie.

And here's the full synopsis for Warm Bodies:

Zombies love people, especially their brains. But R (Nicholas Hoult) is different. He’s alive inside, unlike the hundreds of other grunting, drooling undead—all victims of a recent plague that drove the remaining survivors into a heavily guarded city. Now the Zombies roam about an airport terminal, searching for human prey and living in fear of the vicious Boneys, the next undead incarnation.

One day, R and his best friend M lumber toward the city in search of food. There, R first sets his eyes on JULIE (Teresa Palmer), a beautiful human. Determined to save her—first from the other Zombies and then from the Boneys—R hides her in his home, a cluttered 747 aircraft. Julie is terrified, and R’s grunted assurances of “Not…eat” do little to calm her. But when R begins to act more human than Zombie, coming to her defense, refusing to eat human flesh, and even speaking in full sentences, Julie realizes that R is special.

After a few close calls with the Boneys, and with her father mounting an armed search for her, Julie realizes she can’t hide forever. So she sneaks back home, leaving R broken-hearted. Desperate to see her, R decides to comb his hair, stand a little straighter, and impersonate a human long enough to get past the city guards. If only he can prove to the humans that Zombies can change, maybe R and Julie’s love might stand a chance. But with the rampaging Boneys heading toward the city and Julie’s father intent on killing R and his Zombie friends, the stage is set for an all-out battle between the living and the undead.

A genre-bending tale of love and transformation, WARM BODIES is a story about a boy who loves a girl…for more than just her body.

Waiting on Wednesday: A Temptation of Angels

2011-11-02T13:19:00.000+08:00

A Temptation of Angels by Michelle Zink
Release Date: March 20, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers

Even angels make mistakes in this page-turning epic romance...

When her parents are murdered before her eyes, sixteen-year-old Helen Cartwright finds herself launched into an underground London where a mysterious organization called the Dictata controls the balance of good and evil. Helen learns that she is one of three remaining angelic descendants charged with protecting the world's past, present, and future. Unbeknownst to her, she has been trained her whole life to accept this responsibility. Now, as she finds herself torn between the angelic brothers protecting her and the devastatingly handsome childhood friend who wants to destroy her, she must prepare to be brave, to be hunted, and above all to be strong, because temptation will be hard to resist, even for an angel.

Happy Halloween!

2011-10-31T14:39:00.002+08:00

Happy Halloween to all my amazing bookish friends and followers!

HAVE A SPOOK-TACULAR DAY! :)

What are you dressing up as for Halloween? :)

I'm not going to dress up this year so I'm just going to read some scary books and watch Paranormal Activity 2 and Wrong Turn 4. :)

By the way, check out this super scary (and hilarious) Halloween costume:

Credits: [Brush] ajk-original-stock | [Brush] tiffcali06 | [Fonts] Halloween Fonts | Cracked

In My Mailbox #4: October

2011-10-30T14:32:00.001+08:00

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that encourages bloggers to share books that they bought, won, received, or borrowed.

These are the books I got for the month of October:

Bought:

The Replacement by Brenna Yovanoff

Pugad Baboy #23 by Pol Medina Jr.

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

R.A.K.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

(Thanks, Kristen!)

For Review:

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

(Blog Tour) The Lens and the Looker by Lory Kaufman

(Blog Tour) The Bronze and the Brimstone by Lory Kaufman

Blog Tour:

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon (ARC)

Many thanks to: Kristen @ The Book Monsters, Hodder & Stoughton, Lory Kaufman & Pump Up Your Book, Pinoy Book Tours

What did you get in your mailbox? :)

Follow Friday (9)

2011-10-28T21:10:00.000+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: If you could have dinner with your favorite book character, who would you eat with and what would you serve?

Answer: Fred and George Weasley (let's just pretend Fred is still alive). I'm not sure what I'll serve, though... er, pizza, maybe?

[Pump Up Your Book] The Bronze and the Brimstone by Lory Kaufman

2011-10-26T23:04:00.000+08:00

The Bronze and the Brimstone by Lory Kaufman

Other titles in The Verona Trilogy: The Lens and the Looker (1)
Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Source: Author (Pump Up Your Book Tour)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Publisher: The Fiction Studio
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

What could go wrong in the 14th-century
for three time-traveling teens?
How about – EVERYTHING!

Hansum, Shamira and Lincoln, three teens from the 24th-century, are trapped in 14th-century Verona, Italy. They’ve survived many deadly experiences by keeping their wits about them and by introducing futuristic technology into the past. Principal among these inventions is the telescope, which brought them to the attention to the rich and powerful.

But standing out can get you into unexpected and dangerous situations. The nobles of Verona now believe Hansum is a savant, a genius inventor, especially after he brings them plans for advanced cannons and black powder. Being the center of attention is great, but the potential for trouble is now exponentially greater because people are watching Hansum’s every move.

Meanwhile, artistic genius Shamira has fallen for a Florentine artist with bloody and disasterous consequences. Lincoln, considered an incompetent back home in the 24th-century, has blossomed – at least until he’s shot in the head with an arrow. And Hansum, after secretly marrying his new master’s beautiful daughter, Guilietta, is offered the hand in marriage of lady Beatrice, daughter of the ruler of Verona. To refuse could mean calamity for all the teens.

Amazingly, none of this is their biggest challenge. Because a rash illness is spreading across Verona – and it is threatening to consume everyone.

Do they have a future in this past?

Thoughts

My rating:

The Bronze and the Brimstone picks up right where The Lens and the Looker left off. This sequel, like the first book, is very entertaining and the way the author described 14th century Verona is captivating. But then, for me, I think Bronze and the Brimstone is even better than its predecessor. There was adventure, intrigue and romance that exposed the teens to more dangerous situations.

My Review: A List!

What I liked in The Bronze and the Brimstone

Brief recap
Historical detail

What I didn't like in The Bronze and the Brimstone

A bit slow

I thoroughly enjoyed this sequel and I cannot wait for the third book. If you have read the Lens and the Looker, you should definitely read this one. If you haven't, what are you waiting for? ;) I have a giveaway going on right now, so if you're interested, you are very welcome to join.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the author, Lory Kaufman, in exchange for an honest review.

Waiting on Wednesday: On a Dark Wing

2011-10-26T13:45:00.000+08:00

On A Dark Wing by Jordan Dane
Release Date: December 27, 2011
Publisher: Harlequin Teen

"The choices I had made led to the moment when fate took over. I would learn a lesson I wasn’t prepared for.
And Death would be my willing teacher."

Five years ago Abbey Chandler cheated Death. She survived a horrific car accident, but her lucky break came at the expense of her mother’s life and changed everything. After she crossed paths with Death—by taking the hand of an ethereal boy made of clouds and sky—she would never be normal again.

Now she’s the target of Death’s Ravens and an innocent boy’s life is on the line. When Nate Holden—Abbey’s secret crush—starts to climb Alaska’s Denali, the Angel of Death is with him because of her.

Abbey finds out the hard way that Death never forgets.

[Pump Up Your Book] Author Guest Post: Lory Kaufman + Giveaway

2011-10-25T22:28:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to the World

Lory Kaufman

Okay, okay, I’m being sarcastic.

This month marks an auspicious occasion for human beings. To the best abilities of our statisticians, this is the month the human population of the world reaches 7 billion. That’s 7,000,000,000.

As a writer of futuristic books, I choose to work into my stories the theme of world population. In fact, in preparation for writing my first stories, I wrote essays about the future world I was creating. I took some of these essays and rewrote them into a link on my website, called BACK STORY. To mark this population milestone, I’ve taken part of one of the essay and rewrote it into this blog. It has to do with people truly understanding what our population numbers mean. Here goes.

The first books of my History Camp series, The Lens and the Looker and The Bronze and the Brimstone, start in 2347, the 24th-century. At that time I have the population of the Earth at 300,000,000, or 300 million. When you compare that with the population of humans alive as of this writing, October 2011, the population of “Spaceship Earth” is reaching toward 7,000,000,000. That’s seven billion.

I work into my fictional tale that the future population was not just a number that happened by accident or circumstance. It was a deliberate number chosen by a planetary committee of elders. To understand how much our species has overpopulated our home, I think a simple visualizing exercise of the numbers above is in order, and will surprise you. I know it did me.

First, let’s compare by just writing them out.

Three hundred million

300,000,000.

then

Seven Billion

7,000,000,000

This doesn’t really illuminate the difference in size for me.

How about doing it as a percentage?

300 million is only about 4.5% of 7 billion. That means, for every 100 people alive today, only 4 or 5 people are alive in the History Camp world of 2347. Still not making very much of a visual impression?

How about drawing a mental picture this way . . .

If you take a package of common computer paper and agree that the thickness of one page is equal to one person, then stack up 300 million sheets, that pile of paper would be 100,000 feet high or over 18.9 miles. (30,400 metres or 30.4 km). Wow, that’s high, you say.(*I’m calculating an average computer paper at about 250 pages per inch or almost 1,000 sheets per 100 cm)

But what about the population of today, the planet you live on, right now? If you piled one piece of paper on top of another for every human alive in October 2011, the pile you would get would be over 2,300,000 feet or an amazing 550 miles high. (701,040 meters or over 700 KM) The space shuttles orbited at less than half that altitude. Getting the picture? At this point I am hoping that your mind is boggled and being stretched like taffy.

Here’s another thought that stretches my mind, not only with population numbers but also regarding time. Until as little as 10,000 years ago, when humankind stopped being hunter-gathers and started rudimentary farming, it is estimated that the natural population for humans for the 100,000 years before that was only 1,000,000 planet-wide. That’s only 1 million. That puny paper stack would only be 333 feet high (101.5 meters), about the height of a 30 storied building. The space shuttle was higher than that when it’s on its launch pad.

Many people think that science fiction or futuristic writers are writing fantasy. On the contrary, although you don’t want to ‘preach’ in fiction, we are writing stories with serious themes. In fact, one could say that futuristic sf is the only form of literature that talks seriously about where the world is going.

If you are interested to learn more about the back story of the History Camp series, click on the following link; http://www.history-camp.com/?page_id=42

About Lory Kaufman
“I write Post-Dystopian fiction. After society’s collapse, which is imagined in so many great dystopian stories, humans will either fade into history, with the dinosaurs, or, if it learns the right lessons, society will go on to construct a civilization to last tens of thousands of years. The LENS and the LOOKER, and all my History Camp stories, are the exciting adventures of young people doing the latter.”

On the artistic side of Lory’s career, he’s written, acted and directed children’s theatre and musical theatre. He enjoys art, especially sculpture. He loves science fiction and historical fiction and he has been deeply involved in the green movement all across North America. All this shows through when you read his work. Lory has three grown children and works and lives in Kingston, Canada.

Books: Lens and the Looker • Bronze and the Brimstone

Website • Twitter • Facebook

About Lens and the Looker

There's hope for the future, but what about the past?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

Giveaway time!

Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for joining!

[Pump Up Your Book] The Lens and the Looker by Lory Kaufman

2011-10-24T21:42:00.001+08:00

The Lens and the Looker by Lory Kaufman

Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: March 16, 2011
Source: Author (Pump Up Your Book Tour)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Publisher: The Fiction Studio
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

There's hope for the future, but what about the past?

It’s the 24th century and humans, with the help of artificial intelligences (A.I.s) have finally created the perfect post-dystopian society. To make equally perfect citizens for this world, the elders have created History Camps, full sized recreations of cities from Earth’s distant pasts. Here teens live the way their ancestors did, doing the same dirty jobs and experiencing the same degradations. History Camps teach youths not to repeat the mistakes that almost caused the planet to die. But not everything goes to plan.

In this first of a trilogy, we meet three spoiled teens in the year 2347. Hansum almost 17, is good looking and athletic. Shamira, 15, is sassy, independent and an artistic genius. Lincoln, 14, is the smart-aleck. But you don’t have to scratch too far beneath the surface to find his insecurities.

These three “hard cases” refuse the valuable lessons History Camps teach. But when they are kidnapped and taken back in time to 1347 Verona, Italy, they only have two choices; adapt to the harsh medieval ways or die. The dangers are many, their enemies are powerful, and safety is a long way away. It’s hardly the ideal environment to fall in love – but that’s exactly what happens. In an attempt to survive, the trio risks introducing technology from the future. It could save them – or it could change history.

Thoughts

My rating:

Lens and the Looker was quite enjoyable. Although this promises to be a "post-dystopia" novel set in the future, it was mostly focused on the life in the past. I know a lot of readers had an issue with this from the reviews I've read, but I think it was just okay for me. The "future" element wasn't really taken away from the book; there was Pan and they have those futuristic gadgets with them as well.

I had a hard time categorizing this book, though... is it historical fiction? Science fiction? Romance? I mean, they lived in the future and the past, too. This book has a little bit of everything and that just makes it even cooler.

My review: A List!

What I liked in Lens and the Looker

Characters
The idea of History Camps

What I didn't like in Lens and the Looker

A bit slow

Although I still don't know what has become of the future after what the kids did, I understand that this is just the first in a trilogy and I'm truly looking forward to reading the sequel, The Bronze and the Brimstone. I'd recommend Lens and the Looker to teens as well as middle grade readers.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the author, Lory Kaufman, in exchange for an honest review.

[Pinoy Book Tours] Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

2011-10-24T21:18:00.004+08:00

Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: October 4, 2011
Source: Pinoy Book Tours
Format: Advanced Reader's Copy
Pages: 342
Publisher: HarperCollins
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

Thoughts

My rating:

So... I judged a book by its cover. I. Never. Learn.

This is just disappointing. Sure, it has both romance and fantasy, but I got sick of the "fantasy" part. Usually, a book is tolerable for me when it has a fair share of romance and fantasy/paranormal, but this one... ugh. Sorry. To me, it feels too much and the information could definitely be delivered in a better way. Sometimes the plot gets lost with all the talk about Megan's true identity. Le sigh.

I kept on reading just to see if it somehow picks up, but when I finished the book, all I could think was, haven't I read something like this before?

My Review: A List!

What I liked in Carrier of the Mark

Cover
Elements

What I didn't like in Carrier of the Mark

Megan/Adam
TMI
Romance

Feels like everything happened instantly

I really, really want to love this book, but I guess it's just not for me. It reminded me so much of Twilight, which I didn't like. If you like Twilight, I guess you can give this one a shot and maybe end up liking it.

Relatively Honest by Molly Ringle (+ Giveaway)

2011-10-22T14:32:00.003+08:00

Relatively Honest by Molly Ringle

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: September 15, 2011
Source: Author/Publisher (Thanks!)
Format: E-book
Pages: 195
Publisher: ireadiwrite
Purchase: Amazon | All Romance Ebooks

Eighteen year-old womanizer Daniel Revelstoke leaves his native London to study at the University of Oregon, dreaming of seducing one American girl after another. But he soon meets a new kind of woman in classmate Julie French. Her cleverness and resistance land Daniel in love for the first time in his life, to his deep confusion.

However, Julie's long-distance boyfriend and a bizarre family secret stand in Daniel's way to winning her. Since he can't quit obsessing over her, he decides to hide a few truths in order to draw closer to her, hoping that maybe she'll return his love and, when she finds out his devious path, forgive him. It's a gamble, but all's fair in love and college.

Thoughts

My rating:

Relatively Honest is about an English womanizer, Daniel Revelstoke, who moves to America to study, and to have exciting adventures with American girls. And then he meets Julie French, who's different from the girls he had met before... sounds like your sweet and typical love story, right? Except there are some secrets involved that might keep them apart and which they cannot escape from.

I think Daniel is a tame womanizer. Reading the summary, I thought he was going to be wild, and maybe a bit rebellious to his family. It was actually kind of hard to believe that he had kissed 50 girls; he just doesn't seem like the type. Still, he was a very charming character. Judging by his background, though, I think we can say that his character developed well.

My Review: A List!

What I liked in Relatively Honest:

The characters
It was written from a male's perspective
Daniel and Julie's relationship

What I didn't like in Relatively Honest:

The "twist."

Relatively Honest is a fantastic contemporary YA read that lets us see what's going on inside the head of a womanizer who falls in love, and not just lust, with a girl.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the publisher, ireadiwrite, in exchange for an honest review.

* * *

Giveaway time!

Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for joining!

Author Guest Post: Molly Ringle

2011-10-21T20:34:00.002+08:00

Favorite Romantic Pairings from Books

Molly Ringle

For a writer of love stories, it's a treat as delightful as Halloween candy to be asked to pick my favorite romantic pairings from books. There are hundreds I've enjoyed, whose authors have taught me something about writing and love, but here are my biggest contenders (for now):

1. From JANE EYRE by Charlotte Bronte: Jane Eyre and Edward Rochester. This one is a slam-dunk for me, and for zillions of others. Everywhere I go, I find people (usually women) who, like me, list JANE EYRE as one of their favorite books. The young, quiet, steel-nerved governess who meets her love-match in the figure of her moody but charismatic employer, in the setting of a mysterious manor house on the moors--it has inspired thousands of imitators, and totally captured my heart when I first read it as a teenager. Jane proves to us all that even a lowly, poor, plain woman can win the hero; and Rochester shows us that even the darkest of secrets can eventually be overcome, and you can find true love.

QUOTE TO SAVOR:

"I love Thornfield--I love it, because I have lived in it a full and delightful life--momentarily at least. I have not been trampled on. I have not been petrified. I have not been buried with inferior minds, and excluded from every glimpse of communion with what is bright, and energetic, and high. I have talked, face to face, with what I reverence, with what I delight in--with an original, a vigorous, an expanded mind. I have known you, Mr. Rochester; and it strikes me with terror and anguish to feel I absolutely must be torn from you for ever. I see the necessity of departure; and it is like looking on the necessity of death."

2. From A ROOM WITH A VIEW by E.M. Forster: Lucy Honeychurch and George Emerson. Compared to Bronte, Forster is subtle, understated, even whimsical. But there's something so charming and timelessly beautiful about this novel--and, as a fan of humor, I love its many moments of wit. George is odd, gentle, and quietly passionate, and quite "unsuitable" for a young lady like Lucy, by Edwardian society's standards. But she can't help being drawn to him--that spontaneous kiss in the violets in Italy is the kind of thing you never forget--and by the end of the book, she learns to throw propriety to the winds and follow her heart.

QUOTE TO SAVOR:

"This desire to govern a woman--it lies very deep, and men and women must fight it together before they shall enter the garden. But I do love you--surely in a better way than he does." He thought. "Yes--really in a better way. I want you to have your own thoughts even when I hold you in my arms."

3. From LES MISERABLES by Victor Hugo: Cosette and Marius. Okay, I know what people will say: "What?? He should've ended up with Eponine!!" I'm guessing such people have only seen the musical, not read the book. Yes, in the musical, Eponine gets most of the focus and Cosette gets short shrift. And in the book, Eponine is indeed a sympathetically suffering figure--but so is Cosette, and so is Marius, and so is Jean Valjean, and so is everyone, pretty much. It's part of Hugo's talent: he makes us feel for the humanity of the whole world. And the language he uses to describe the love that blossoms between Cosette and Marius is some of the most beautiful ever written. Also, the romance is just swooningly lovely: after Cosette and Marius gaze at each other shyly in the public gardens for a while, Marius takes to sneaking into the back garden at Cosette's house, where they meet and snuggle and talk for many an evening, all in secrecy--until larger events conspire to tear them apart, and your heart begins breaking for them. (And for Eponine, yes. And for everyone else. It is called LES MISERABLES, after all. But at least Cosette and Marius get a happily-ever-after.)

QUOTE TO SAVOR:

These two hearts poured themselves out to each other, so that at the end of an hour, it was the young man who had the young girl’s soul and the young girl who had the soul of the young man. They interpenetrated, they enchanted, they dazzled each other.
When they had finished, when they had told each other everything, she laid her head on his shoulder, and asked him: "What is your name?"
"My name is Marius," he said. "And yours?"
"My name is Cosette."

Honorable mentions:

From GONE WITH THE WIND by Margaret Mitchell: Rhett and Scarlett. How can I not give Rhett and Scarlett a mention? They're sassy, they're ruthless, and they're sincerely passionate about what they love, be it property or security or family--eventually--each other. He DOES come back for her, I tell you. No matter what Mitchell did or didn't say.

From LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES by Choderlos de Laclos: the Vicomte de Valmont and Madame de Tourvel. I love a good "rake falls in love" story, and though this one's brutal, it's also addictively juicy. Valmont does have awesome chemistry with his friend/rival the Marquise de Merteuil too, but it's sweet, honest Madame de Tourvel who helps him learn what real love is--and how devastating it is to lose it.

Now go, readers, and do something fun with those you love!

About Molly Ringle

Molly Ringle has been writing fiction for over twenty years, and her stories always include love and humor, as well as the occasional touch of tragedy and/or the paranormal. Her studies include a bachelor of arts in anthropology (University of Oregon, Clark Honors College), with a focus on Native North American culture; and a master of arts in linguistics (University of California, Davis) with a focus on sociolinguistics. Molly lives in Seattle with her husband and kids, and worships fragrances and chocolate.

Books: Relatively Honest • What Scotland Taught Me • The Ghost Downstairs • Summer Term • Of Ghosts and Geeks (short story) • My Writing Life (essay)

Website • Twitter • Facebook

About Relatively Honest by Molly Ringle

Eighteen year-old womanizer Daniel Revelstoke leaves his native London to study at the University of Oregon, dreaming of seducing one American girl after another. But he soon meets a new kind of woman in classmate Julie French. Her cleverness and resistance land Daniel in love for the first time in his life, to his deep confusion.

However, Julie's long-distance boyfriend and a bizarre family secret stand in Daniel's way to winning her. Since he can't quit obsessing over her, he decides to hide a few truths in order to draw closer to her, hoping that maybe she'll return his love and, when she finds out his devious path, forgive him. It's a gamble, but all's fair in love and college.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers

2011-10-19T15:11:00.000+08:00

The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten
Release Date: December 27, 2011
Publisher: HarperCollins

When her boyfriend breaks up with her on the first day of sophomore year, Lucy has no idea how she’s going to make it through homeroom, let alone the rest of her life. Enter three stunning girls with a magical offer Lucy can’t refuse. All she has to do is get a guy to fall in love with her in the next seven days, and then…break his heart and collect one of his brokenhearted tears. As the girls teach Lucy how to hook a guy (with the help of a little magic), she quickly discovers how far she is willing to go—and who she is willing to cross—to get what she wants.

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

2011-10-17T20:46:00.004+08:00

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

Genre: Dystopia
Release Date: October 11, 2011
Source: Publisher (Thanks Peggy!)
Format: Advanced Reader's Copy
Pages: 466
Publisher: Tanglewood Press
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

Ashfall is the story of Alex, a teenage boy left alone for the weekend while his parents visit relatives. When the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts unexpectedly, Alex is determined to reach his parents. He must travel over a hundred miles in a landscape transformed by a foot of ash and the destruction of every modern convenience that he has ever known, and through a new world in which disaster has brought out both the best and worst in people desperate for food, water, and warmth. With a combination of nonstop action, a little romance, and very real science, this is a story that is difficult to stop reading and even more difficult to forget.

Thoughts

My rating:

YOU HAD ME AT SUPERVOLCANO.

Wow. Ashfall is one of the best books I've read this year. I enjoyed every minute of it, really. I love dystopia, as I've said several times, because they are very entertaining to read and the "future" world the authors imagined are all very interesting. But Ashfall... wow. The world after the eruption felt so real, it's scary. And the author really knows how to tell a story!

Also, let me just say this: MIKE MULLIN, YOU ARE A GENIUS.

My Review: A List!

What I liked in Ashfall:

It was realistic.
Alex
Romance

perfect

Realizations
Everything.

What I didn't like in Ashfall:

That it had to end.

As you have noticed, I love, love, love this book. I would definitely recommend this to everyone. Ashfall is a wonderfully written debut, and an interesting take on a dystopian world. Oh, and it involves a supervolcano.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Tanglewood Press, in exchange for an honest review.

The Hunger Games: Adult Book Covers

2011-10-15T14:19:00.005+08:00

The new UK/adult book covers of The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins which will be released on December by Scholastic UK.

Source: Examiner.com

Follow Friday (8)

2011-10-14T15:42:00.000+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: If you could have characters from a particular book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a particular TV series, which would you choose and why?

Answer: Tough question! I don't watch a lot of TV shows. I usually don't finish the whole thing or just watch the first season. Anyway, I've seen the first season and some episodes from the second season of True Blood and I think it'd be interesting for the characters of True Blood to meet the sparkly vampires of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight. Just imagine what kind of reactions Eric and Pam will have when they meet the Cullens! OMG. It's probably going to be hilarious.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight

2011-10-12T13:18:00.000+08:00

The Statistical Probability of Love at First Sight by Jennifer E. Smith
Release Date: January 2, 2012
Publisher: Poppy

Who would have guessed that four minutes could change everything?

Today should be one of the worst days of seventeen-year-old Hadley Sullivan's life. She's stuck at JFK, late to her father's second wedding, which is taking place in London and involves a soon to be step-mother that Hadley's never even met. Then she meets the perfect boy in the airport's cramped waiting area. His name is Oliver, he's British, and he's in seat 18B. Hadley's in 18A.

Twists of fate and quirks of timing play out in this thoughtful novel about family connections, second chances and first loves. Set over a 24-hour-period, Hadley and Oliver's story will make you believe that true love finds you when you're least expecting it.

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

2011-10-10T13:28:00.004+08:00

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Genre: Dystopia
Release Date: September 2, 2011
Source: Publisher (Thanks!)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Publisher: Pan Macmillan
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Since mankind began, civilizations have always fallen: the Romans, the Greeks, the Aztecs…Now it’s our turn. Huge earthquakes rock the world. Cities are destroyed. But something even more awful is happening. An ancient evil has been unleashed, turning everday people into hunters, killers, crazies.

Mason's mother is dying after a terrible car accident. As he endures a last vigil at her hospital bed, his school is bombed and razed to the ground, and everyone he knows is killed.

Aries survives an earthquake aftershock on a bus, and thinks the worst is over when a mysterious stranger pulls her out of the wreckage, but she’s about to discover a world changed forever.

Clementine, the only survivor of an emergency town hall meeting that descends into murderous chaos, is on the run from savage strangers who used to be her friends and neighbors.

And Michael witnesses a brutal road rage incident that is made much worse by the arrival of the police--who gun down the guilty party and then turn on the bystanding crowd.

Where do you go for justice when even the lawmakers have turned bad?

These four teens are on the same road in a world gone mad. Struggling to survive, clinging on to love and meaning wherever it can be found, this is a journey into the heart of darkness – but also a journey to find each other and a place of safety.

Thoughts

My rating:

Dark Inside follows the lives of four teenagers as they struggle to survive after an earthquake that seemed to have a strange effect to some people, causing them to be violent.

While it is understood that these are violent creatures and the four kids need to make a run from them, sometimes I still don't know what's going on. Little was given in this book that it would leave the reader quite confused. Only one guy seems to know what is going on, but he won't tell anything. And why does he always disappear?

The book gets a bit gory too, so I don't know if I'd consider this as an easy read. Many innocent people die, and there are a lot of blood and killings. There were so many horrific moments. Basically, it's not about pretty things like rainbows or unicorns.

My Review: A List!

What I liked in Dark Inside:

It was fast-paced.
It was unpredictable.

The creepiness.
"Trust No One - Not Even Yourself"
The cover!

What I didn't like in Dark Inside:

The ending.
(4) Alternating POVs.

Dark Inside is a creepy, action-packed book that will leave the readers breathless and wanting more. While it isn't a zombie book, I think this will still appeal to zombie fans. Also, I agree that Dark Inside is not for the fainthearted.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Pan Macmillan, in exchange for an honest review.

[Book Trailer] Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

2011-10-06T11:00:00.005+08:00

Dark and scary! I like it. Kind of like a zombie movie or video game, right?

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts
Published September 2nd 2011 by Macmillan Children's Books

In a world gone mad

4 will fight to survive

Something bad is about to happen. A lot of people are going to die and it's only the beginning.

A murderous rage has been unleashed. Moments after earthquakes rock the world, people start to change in the most terrifying ways. Friends turn in on friends, girlfriends on boyfriends, brothers on sisters. Nobody can be trusted.

For those who survive the first wave of killing, the world is a different, deadlier place. Michael, Aries, Mason and Clementine must battle to stay alive in a world determined to kill them. All they have is one another... but can they even be sure of that?

About Jeyn Roberts

Jeyn Roberts grew up in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and started writing at an early age, having her first story published when she was 16 in a middle-grade anthology called LET ME TELL YOU.

When she was 21, she moved to Vancouver with dreams of being a rock star, graduating from the University of British Columbia with a degree in Writing and Psychology. For the next few years she played in an alternative/punk band called Missing Mile before moving to England where she received her MA from the prestigious Creative Writing graduate course at Bath Spa University. Jeyn is a former singer, songwriter, actress, bicycle courier and tree planter.

An avid traveler, she’s been around the world, most recently, teaching high school in South Korea.

A lover of animals, Jeyn volunteers regularly with helping abandoned and abused animals, especially cats.

Nicholas Sparks: Live In Manila

2011-10-04T17:34:00.000+08:00

Nicholas Sparks will be in Manila for a book signing!

Join us on October 28, 2011 at 5 PM at The Podium for the rare opportunity to meet Nicholas Sparks!!! One of the world's best selling authors, he has written some of our most beloved bestsellers such as "The Notebook," "A Walk to Remember" and "The Last Song".

Visit the Facebook account of National Bookstore for the mechanics: National Bookstore

Temporarily Closed [Oct. 3-9]

2011-10-03T11:00:00.002+08:00

Hi, book-lovers!

I won't be able to post reviews from 3 October to 8 October due to final exams. I need to do good on my exams because I don't want to take summer classes! NO TO SUMMER CLASSES. I'm really worried about my grades; this sem isn't exactly the *best* sem, academically-speaking.

If anyone would want to do a guest review/post anything book-related on this blog while I'm not around, that'd be very appreciated. Please send your guest post to jellylovesbooks at yahoo dot com and I'll schedule it for this week.

There we go! Hope you guys have an amazing book-week.

See you next Sunday!
Pam

In My Mailbox #3: September

2011-10-02T14:02:00.002+08:00

Bought: Ligo na U, Lapit na Me by Eros Atalia

For review:

All These Things I've Done (ARC) by Gabrielle Zevin

The Veil (ARC) by Cory Putman Oakes

Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts

Blog Tour: The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Swag:

The Fairie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Dearly, Departed by Lia Habel

Many thanks to: Farrar, Straus, Giroux (Macmillan US), Cory Oakes & Octane Press, Macmillan UK, Pinoy Book Tours & Harlequin Teen, Kiki Hamilton, Lia Habel

Follow Friday (7)

2011-09-30T18:33:00.001+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: What book that hasn't been turned into a movie (yet) would you most like to see make it to the big screen, and who would you like cast as your favorite character?

Answer: Dark Inside by Jeyn Roberts. I'm currently reading it, and it's just so action-packed (so far) that I think I'll enjoy watching the movie version. It'll probably be gory too, but I don't mind. :D

Another book is Ang Mga Kaibigan Ni Mama Susan by Bob Ong, a local author. This will probably scare the $#1T out of me. I mean, the back cover of the book is already freaking me out, what more if I see the whole thing on the big screen? But then, I love horror books and movies, so... ;)

I'm not sure who I'd choose as actors, though!

Waiting on Wednesday: Fantasy

2011-09-28T12:21:00.001+08:00

When The Sea Is Rising Red by Cat Hellisen
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

In sixteen-year-old Felicita’s world, magic is strictly controlled—or so those in power like to believe. After her dearest friend, Ilven, kills herself to escape an arranged marriage, Felicita chooses freedom over privilege. She fakes her own death and leaves her sheltered life as one of Pelimburg’s magical elite behind. Living in the slums, scrubbing dishes for a living, she falls for charismatic Dash while also becoming fascinated with vampire Jannik. Then something shocking washes up on the beach: Ilven’s death has called out of the sea a dangerous, wild magic. Felicita must decide whether her loyalties lie with the family she abandoned . . . or with those who would twist this dark power to destroy Pelimburg’s caste system, and the whole city along with it.

The Vicious Deep by Zoraida Cordova
Release Date: April 1, 2012
Publisher: Sourcebooks

Set against the backdrop of a Coney Island summer comes The Vicious Deep, the story of sixteen year old Tristan Hart whose life is turned upside down when the mermaids make an unscheduled return to land in search of their new king.

When a sudden storm pulls Tristan from lifeguard duty into a deadly riptide, he discovers what he really is—a prince of the Sea Court. Turns out, his girlfriend hopping and talents as a swimmer aren’t caused by his teenage prime hormones after all.

In this modern Arthurian tale with a twist, when all a guy wants to do is get The Girl and enjoy the freak show that is a Coney Island summer, Tristan has to fight for his life, the lives of his friends, and his humanity, if he still wants it, as he’s caught in a race for a throne that is as ancient as the gods.

[Pinoy Book Tours] The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

2011-09-26T19:30:00.002+08:00

The Juliet Spell by Douglas Rees

Genre: Romance
Release Date: September 27, 2011
Source: Pinoy Book Tours
Format: Paperback
Pages: 261
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Pre-order: Amazon

I wanted the role of Juliet more than anything. I studied hard. I gave a great reading for it—even with Bobby checking me out the whole time. I deserved the part.

I didn't get it. So I decided to level the playing field, though I actually might have leveled the whole play. You see, since there aren't any Success in Getting to Be Juliet in Your High School Play spells, I thought I'd cast the next best—a Fame spell. Good idea, right?

Yeah. Instead of bringing me a little fame, it brought me someone a little famous. Shakespeare. Well, Edmund Shakespeare. William's younger brother.

Good thing he's sweet and enthusiastic about helping me with the play...and—ahem—maybe a little bit hot. But he's from the past. Way past. Cars amaze him—cars! And cell phones? Ugh.

Still, there's something about him that's making my eyes go star-crossed....

Thoughts

My rating:

One word to describe The Juliet Spell: Cute!

It isn't the best book I've read this year, but I did like it. The story was light and enjoyable and the characters were entertaining. Plus I love the whole drama club thing. We get to see what the actors and all those involved in the production do to give the audience a good show.

Edmund's appearance in Miri's kitchen at the beginning of the book was pretty funny. I loved how he reacted when he first saw Miranda; I was probably smiling the whole time I was reading that part. His confusion about the modern world and all these new technology was also amusing to read.

The problem I had with the book, though, is how the characters reacted to some weird situations. It's unrealistic. If I were the mother, I wouldn't even let the kid sleep in my house, let alone be in my house. They accepted the whole thing as if it isn't much of a big deal.

Overall, The Juliet Spell is a cute quick read, and I think this would interest theater and Shakespeare nerds.

Follow Friday (6)

2011-09-23T12:53:00.001+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?

Answer: Right now, I can't find time to re-read my favorite series because of my huge TBR pile (and some of them need reviews), but I used to re-read Darkest Powers series by Kelley Armstrong. I love that series and re-read them before I can buy my own paperback copy of The Gathering so I don't miss some details.

I also used to re-read Harry Potter before a new movie comes out... it's like I'm reviewing for a big exam and I have to read the whole thing again so I don't have to miss important parts. :)

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

2011-09-22T21:26:00.000+08:00

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Genre: Paranormal
Release Date: April 1, 2007
Source: Bought
Format: Paperback
Pages: 302
Publisher: Hyperion
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Schuyler Van Alen is confused about what is happening to her. Her veins are starting to turn blue, and she's starting to crave raw meat. Soon, her world is thrust into an intricate maze of secret societies and bitter intrigue. Schuyler has never been a part of the trendy crowd at her prestigious New York private school. Now, all of a sudden, Jack Force, the most popular guy in school, is showing an interest in her. And when one of the popular girls is found dead, Schuyler and Jack are determined to get to the bottom of it.

Schuyler wants to find out the secrets of the mysterious Blue Bloods. But is she putting herself in danger?

Thoughts

My rating:

After a few months, I finally decided to pick up Blue Bloods again and re-read it. The first time I read the book, I didn't like it so much that I didn't finish it. This time around, I did! I don't know why I didn't like this book before. Maybe it was just the wrong time or I was in a bad mood?

Anyway, I don't even remember much about the review I wrote here months ago (had to take it down- I won't review unfinished books again! It just seems unfair), but I think it was a negative review.

I do remember writing about the too-detailed descriptions of what the characters wore, and adding that it was completely unnecessary. I think I understand why the author did that... after all, these kids are rich, spoiled and fashionable. However, there are parts where I think that the plot gets lost because of the author's description of their clothes. I do like the the author's vivid descriptions of the setting, though.

There were also some twists to our traditional vampires. There was the concept of never really dying... your memories go on forever; the only thing that will die is the "physical shell." That was interesting. I also liked that we get introduced to new creatures - the Silver Bloods.

Romance is also present, but it was tolerable. Schuyler didn't delve into details what she liked about Jack Force aside from his good looks (which is quite confusing, if you think about it), and they didn't really show anything too cheesy throughout the novel, so I thought the romance was quite nice.

However, the conversations and the reactions of the characters didn't seem natural to me. It was also hard to connect with the characters. I mean, they're okay, I guess, but I didn't *love* them to the point that I'll miss them after I finished reading the book.

The plot was quite unoriginal and predictable, but I liked Blue Bloods and would pick up the second book in the series... well, that is, if it's still on sale.

Waiting on Wednesday: Everneath

2011-09-21T18:42:00.000+08:00

Everneath by Brodi Ashton
Release Date: January 3, 2012

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

100 Most Popular YA Books - How many have you read?

2011-09-20T11:00:00.002+08:00

I saw this list on Bookish Brunette's blog, and decided to do it since I'm quite bored and I thought it'd be fun. Click "Read More" to see the list of YA books. Maybe you can do it on your blog too. :)

The books:

I've read will be in bold
I own but haven't read will be in italics
I haven't read will remain black

1. Alex Finn – Beastly
2. Alice Sebold – The Lovely Bones
3. Ally Carter – Callagher Girls (1, 2, 3, 4)
4. Ally Condie – Matched
5. Alyson Noel – The Immortals (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
6. Anastasia Hopcus – Shadow Hills
7. Angie Sage – Septimus Heap (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
8. Ann Brashares – The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (1, 2, 3, 4)
9. Anna Godbersen – Luxe (1, 2, 3, 4)
10. Anthony Horowitz – Alex Rider (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
11. Aprilynne Pike – Wings (1, 2, 3)
12. Becca Fitzpatrick – Hush, Hush (1, 2)
13. Brandon Mull – Fablehaven (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
14. Brian Selznick – The Invention of Hugo Cabret
15. Cassandra Clare – The Mortal Instruments (1, 2, 3, 4)
16. Carrie Jones – Need (1, 2, 3)
17. Carrie Ryan – The Forest of Hands and Teeth (1, 2, 3, 4)
18. Christopher Paolini – Inheritance (1, 2, 3, 4)
19. Cinda Williams Chima – The Heir Chronicles (1, 2, 3)
20. Colleen Houck – Tigers Saga (1, 2)
21. Cornelia Funke – Inkheart (1, 2, 3)
22. Ellen Hopkins – Impulse
23. Eoin Colfer – Artemis Fowl (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
24. Faraaz Kazi – Truly, Madly, Deeply
25. Frank Beddor – The Looking Glass Wars (1, 2, 3)
26. Gabrielle Zevin – Elsewhere
27. Gail Carson Levine – Fairest
28. Holly Black – Tithe (1, 2, 3)
29. J.K. Rowling – Harry Potter (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
30. James Dashner – The Maze Runner (1, 2)
31. James Patterson – Maximum Ride (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
32. Jay Asher – Thirteen Reasons Why
33. Jeanne DuPrau – Books of Ember (1, 2, 3, 4)
34. Jeff Kinney – Diary of a Wimpy Kid (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
35. John Boyne – The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
36. John Green – An Abundance of Katherines
37. John Green – Looking for Alaska
38. John Green – Paper Towns
39. Jonathan Stroud – Bartimaeus (1, 2, 3, 4)
40. Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl – Caster Chronicles (1, 2)
41. Kelley Armstrong – Darkest Powers (1, 2, 3)
42. Kristin Cashore – The Seven Kingdoms (1, 2)
43. Lauren Kate – Fallen (1, 2, 3)
44. Lemony Snicket – Series of Unfortunate Events (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
45. Libba Bray – Gemma Doyle (1, 2, 3)
46. Lisa McMann – Dream Catcher (1, 2, 3)
47. Louise Rennison – Confessions of Georgia Nicolson (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
48. M.T. Anderson – Feed
49. Maggie Stiefvater – The Wolves of Mercy Falls (1, 2, 3)
50. Margaret Peterson Haddix – Shadow Children (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
51. Maria V. Snyder – Study (1, 2, 3)
52. Markus Zusak – The Book Thief
53. Markus Zusak – I am the Messenger
54. Mark Haddon – The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time
55. Mary Ting – Crossroads
56. Maureen Johnson – Little Blue Envelope (1, 2)
57. Meg Cabot – All-American Girl (1, 2)
58. Meg Cabot – The Mediator (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
59. Meg Cabot – The Princess Diaries (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
60. Meg Rosoff – How I live now
61. Megan McCafferty – Jessica Darling (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
62. Megan Whalen Turner – The Queen’s Thief (1, 2, 3, 4)
63. Melina Marchetta – On the Jellicoe Road
64. Melissa de la Cruz – Blue Bloods (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
65. Melissa Marr – Wicked Lovely (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
66. Michael Grant – Gone (1, 2, 3, 4)
67. Nancy Farmer – The House of the Scorpion
68. Neal Shusterman – Unwind
69. Neil Gaiman – Coraline
70. Neil Gaiman – Stardust
71. Neil Gaiman – The Graveyard Book
72. P.C. Cast & Kristin Cast – House of Night (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
73. Philip Pullman – His Dark Materials (1, 2, 3)
74. Rachel Caine – The Morganville Vampires (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
75. Rachel Cohn & David Levithan – Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
76. Richelle Mead – Vampire Academy (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
77. Rick Riordan – Percy Jackson and the Olympians (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
78. Rom LcO’Feer – Somewhere carnal over 40 winks
79. S.L. Naeole – Grace (1, 2, 3, 4)
80. Sabrina Bryan & Julia DeVillers – Princess of Gossip
81. Sarah Dessen – Along for the Ride
82. Sarah Dessen – Lock and Key
83. Sarah Dessen – The Truth about Forever
84. Sara Shepard – Pretty Little Liars (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
85. Scott Westerfeld – Leviathan (1, 2)
86. Scott Westerfeld – Uglies (1, 2, 3)
87. Shannon Hale – Books of a Thousand Days
88. Shannon Hale – Princess Academy
89. Shannon Hale – The Books of Bayern (1, 2, 3, 4)
90. Sherman Alexie & Ellen Forney – The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
91. Simone Elkeles – Perfect Chemistry (1, 2, 3)
92. Stephanie Meyer – The Host
93. Stephanie Meyer – Twilight Saga (1, 2, 3, 4)
94. Sue Monk Kidd – The Secret Life of Bees
95. Susan Beth Pfeffer – Last Survivors (1, 2, 3)
96. Suzanne Collins – Hunger Games (1, 2, 3)
97. Suzanne Collins – Underland Chronicles (1, 2, 3, 4, 5)
98. Terry Pratchett – Tiffany Aching (1, 2, 3, 4)
99. Tonya Hurley – Ghost Girl (1, 2, 3)
100. Wendelin Van Draanen – Flipped

I'm obviously missing out! I REALLY need to catch up, I know. How about you? How many have you read?

Cover reveal: Insurgent

2011-09-18T13:40:00.000+08:00

The cover for Insurgent (sequel to Divergent) by Veronica Roth has been revealed!

Add Insurgent to your Goodreads shelf

One choice can transform you—or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris's initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable—and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Read Entertainment Weekly's interview with Veronica Roth here: Insurgent cover revealed

I love the colors! This looks so much better than the cover for Divergent. Tbh, I don't even like the cover for Divergent that much, but this... OMG. So. Cool.

Follow Friday (5) + Friday Finds

2011-09-16T18:49:00.002+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: It's that pesky magic book fairy again! She has another wish: What imaginary book world would you like to make a reality?

Answer: I'm gonna go with Mythos Academy (Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep), where "even the lowliest geek knows how to chop somebody's head with a sword." I think the world in this book is cool and intriguing, plus there's something about schools that I really like. I'm not very studious in real life, but when they are portrayed in books with "made up" subjects (especially in Hogwarts), studying seems less boring.

* * *

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

my finds

The Line by Teri Hall

An invisible, uncrossable physical barrier encloses the United States. The Line is the part of the border that lopped off part of the country, dooming the inhabitants to an unknown fate when the enemy used a banned weapon. It's said that bizarre creatures and superhumans live on the other side, in Away. Nobody except tough old Ms. Moore would ever live next to the Line.

Nobody but Rachel and her mother, who went to live there after Rachel's dad died in the last war. It's a safe, quiet life. Until Rachel finds a mysterious recorded message that can only have come from Away. The voice is asking for help.

Who sent the message? Why is her mother so protective? And to what lengths is Rachel willing to go in order to do what she thinks is right?

Unwind by Neal Shusterman

Connor, Risa, and Lev are running for their lives.

The Second Civil War was fought over reproductive rights. The chilling resolution: Life is inviolable from the moment of conception until age thirteen. Between the ages of thirteen and eighteen, however, parents can have their child "unwound," whereby all of the child's organs are transplanted into different donors, so life doesn't technically end. Connor is too difficult for his parents to control. Risa, a ward of the state is not enough to be kept alive. And Lev is a tithe, a child conceived and raised to be unwound. Together, they may have a chance to escape and to survive.

* * *

Giveaway: Eyes In The Mirror by Julia Mayer (Ends 9/25 - International)
Twitter: @jellylovesbooks

Eyes In The Mirror by Julia Mayer + Giveaway

2011-09-15T23:39:00.002+08:00

Eyes In The Mirror by Julia Mayer

Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: August 1, 2011
Source: Publisher (Thanks!)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 214
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Amazon

Every teen girl fantasizes about having a double and best friend rolled into one-an alter ego with whom she can trade places, allowing her to disappear. Samara is a troubled and lonely adolescent, prone to cutting, who desperately craves both intimacy and escape from her unfulfilled life...until she meets her reflection, Dee, the seeming answer to all her problems.

Thoughts

My rating:

Eyes In The Mirror follows the lives of two girls, Samara and Dee. Although they both look alike, they are very much different when it comes to their personalities, thoughts, and lives. I thought this book will have a psychological storyline, but it actually had some fantasy/paranormal element.

The concept of the book was interesting enough, but it wasn't executed very well. At least the paranormal part. I'm not saying that it was bad, I just think it could be better. So many things were not explained in the novel and they left me quite confused. There were some intriguing bits that I would have loved to know more about, but they were neglected and remained as a mystery even when I finished reading.

The book tackled some teenage issues as well, and I think the author did a good job at capturing what these teenagers felt in those tough situations. Also, Eyes In The Mirror showed how the characters gain strength from unexpected events in their lives that they thought they will never overcome. That was what I really liked in this book.

If not for those unanswered questions in the paranormal side, I would have given this book a higher rating. Still, I'd recommend Eyes In The Mirror and would love to read more from the author in the future.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Sourcebooks, in exchange for an honest review.

Giveaway time!

Giveaway is now closed. Thanks for joining!

Waiting on Wednesday: Glimmer

2011-09-14T18:02:00.000+08:00

Glimmer by Phoebe Kitanidis
Release Date: April 17, 2012

What if you forgot your identity and had to rely on other people to tell you who you were?

And what if to discover your true self, you first had to unravel a mystery so big and terrifying you were not sure you’d survive solving it?

When Marshall and Elyse wake up in each other’s arms with zero memory of how they got there or who they are, it’s the start of a long journey through their separate pasts and shared future.

Terrified by their amnesia, the two make a pact to work together to find the answers that could jog their missing memories. As they piece together clues, they discover they’re in the idyllic mountain resort town of Summer Falls, where everyone seems mysteriously happy, but as Marshall and Elyse quickly learn, darkness lurks beneath the town’s perfect facade. Not only is the town haunted by sinister ghosts, but none of its living inhabitants retain bad memories of anything—not the death of Marshall’s mom, not the hidden shame in Elyse’s family, not even the day-to-day anguish of high school.

Lonely in this world of happy zombies, Marsh and Elyse fall into an intense relationship...but the secrets they uncover could be the death of this growing love—and the death of everyone, and everything, they love in Summer Falls.

Life of a Novelist with Samantha Sotto, Andy Mulligan & Alexander Yates

2011-09-10T14:26:00.004+08:00

National Bookstore presents:

LIFE OF A NOVELIST

How to Get Published by the World's Largest English Language Trade Publisher

With more than 11,000 new books issued a year and 500 million books sold annually, Random House is the world’s largest general-interest book publisher, churning out books from different genres and cultures that open the gates to new worlds and new insights.

Now we put the spotlight on three authors from the international publisher, whose books talked about the Philippines and its colorful people. Get a rare opportunity to join filipina Samantha Sotto (Before Ever After), Andy Mulligan (Trash) and Alexander Yates (Moondogs) for an afternoon set to pique the interest of writers and readers. Get tips and insights from these novelists as they share their experiences on the road to getting published.

A book signing will be held on September 18, 2011 (1:30 PM) at the National Book Store Booth, SMX Convention Center.

There will also be a panel discussion on September 18, 2011 (3:30 PM) at Meeting Rooms 5 & 6, SMX Convention Center.

Here is the Facebook event page created by National Bookstore: Samantha Sotto, Andy Mulligan & Alex Yates: Book Signing & Panel Discussion

New Releases: September 6 - 11, 2011

2011-09-10T14:03:00.000+08:00

New releases from September 6 to September 11

Vanish by Sophie Jordan

Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs

The Beginning of After by Jennifer Castle

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

The Hidden by Jessica Verday

Isle of Night by Veronica Wolff

Envy by Gregg Olsen

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Vengeance by Kate Brian

Shelter by Harlan Coben

End of Days by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey

Bloodborn by Karen Kincy

Damage by Anya Parrish

The Pearl Wars by Nick James

Pure Red by Danielle Joseph

The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson

2011-09-09T22:31:00.000+08:00

The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson

Genre: Thriller
Release Date: September 5, 2011
Source: Publisher (Thanks!)
Format: Advance Reader Copy
Number of Pages: 288
Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Could Martin Talbot's elderly, Alzheimer-stricken mother, Judy, really have been the Black Stiletto? When Martin discovers several volumes of her diaries hidden by his mother, he is stunned beyond all imagination. His mother, the underground heroine of yesteryear? The famed ,still unidentified woman who battled Communist spies, took on the Mafia, and preyed on common crooks? The woman who exacted punishment on evildoers without mercy?

But it is all described, in great detail, in the diaries. What caused her to begin her quest for justice. Her decision to act outside the law. Her feats as the famed and feared vigilante. How her reputation exploded. In short, how it all played out.

Could it be true? Talbot is filled with doubt and disbelief. But the reappearance of one of the Stiletto's old enemies with a thirst for merciless revenge makes the story more than real and could imperil the life of not only the Stiletto, but her son and granddaughter as well.

thoughts

My rating:

The Black Stiletto was an "okay" book.

The story was interesting and unique. I liked reading Judy's adventures as The Black Stiletto, because I love reading kick-ass characters who can get away with it. I think that the alternating POVs work for this novel. Present-day Martin, who just found out about his mother's true identity, Judy's entries in her diary when she was the Black Stiletto in the 1950s, and present-day Roberto, who just got out of jail and was in search for Judy.

I loved how the author described the scenes and the characters; he made all these things real. Judy made mistakes at some point too, so I guess she was somewhat believable. She wasn't perfect, even if she was clever and strong. Also, there was action, and these scenes were described in great detail. I really enjoyed that.

One thing I didn't like much about this book, though, is the ending. It felt a bit weird to me. Sure, she was able to accomplish some unfinished business, but there were still some unanswered questions. As I finished reading the last chapter, I thought, "That's it?" The ending just didn't feel right.

The Black Stiletto is a well-written, action-packed book with interesting characters and plot, so I'd definitely recommend this to anyone. I'm not sure if this is a book for adults, but I think teens will also enjoy the story of The Black Stiletto.

Waiting on Wednesday: This Is Not A Test

2011-09-07T16:03:00.000+08:00

This Is Not A Test by Courtney Summers
Release Date: June 2012

It’s the end of the world. Six students have taken cover in Cortege High but shelter is little comfort when the dead outside won’t stop pounding on the doors. One bite is all it takes to kill a person and bring them back as a monstrous version of their former self. To Sloane Price, that doesn’t sound so bad. Six months ago, her world collapsed and since then, she’s failed to find a reason to keep going. Now seems like the perfect time to give up.

As Sloane eagerly waits for the barricades to fall, she’s forced to witness the apocalypse through the eyes of five people who actually want to live. But as the days crawl by, everyone’s motivations to survive begin to change in startling ways and soon the group’s fate is determined less and less by what’s happening outside and more and more by the unpredictable and violent bids for life–and death–inside.

When everything is gone, what do you hold on to?

The Hunger Games sneak peek

2011-09-06T22:01:00.001+08:00

Here's the official teaser trailer of The Hunger Games movie, shown at the MTV VMAs:

I. LOVE. IT.

I am SO excited for this movie.

Follow Friday (4) and Friday Finds

2011-09-02T16:21:00.001+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: If you could change the ending of any book (or series), which book would you choose? Why and to what?

Answer: This is going to be yet another Harry Potter-related answer. I guess most of you know what happened in the last Harry Potter book/movie, right? Especially the characters' love lives? So.. if I could change the ending of Harry Potter, I'd totally make Harry and Hermione a pair. I've been a H/Hr shipper ever since.

Yep. Had to be done. ^

I'll also make some changes in Mockingjay and make the ending more detailed. And perhaps change the epilogue entirely... or I'll just remove it. That part was quite disappointing.

* * *

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

my finds

Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel

"Throughout all my histories, I found no one I loved more than you...no one."

Those were some of Rhode's last words to me. The last time he would pronounce his love. The last time I would see his face.

It was the first time in 592 years I could take a breath. Lay in the sun. Taste.

Rhode sacrificed himself so I, Lenah Beaudonte, could be human again. So I could stop the blood lust.
I never expected to fall in love with someone else that wasn't Rhode.
But Justin was...daring. Exciting. More beautiful than I could dream.
I never expected to be sixteen again...then again, I never expected my past to come back and haunt me...

Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Suma

Chloe's older sister, Ruby, is the girl everyone looks to and longs for, who can't be captured or caged. When a night with Ruby's friends goes horribly wrong and Chloe discovers the dead body of her classmate London Hayes left floating in the reservoir, Chloe is sent away from town and away from Ruby.

But Ruby will do anything to get her sister back, and when Chloe returns to town two years later, deadly surprises await. As Chloe flirts with the truth that Ruby has hidden deeply away, the fragile line between life and death is redrawn by the complex bonds of sisterhood.

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

2011-09-02T07:00:00.004+08:00

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Genre: Science Fiction
Release Date: September 1, 2011
Source: Publisher (Thanks!)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 342
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Your future is not your own...

"We wanted to know what makes a good kid good and a bad kid bad. Can you blame us for that? We found an astoundingly, marvelously simple answer: The brain isn't so much a complicated machine as it is a crystal ball. If you look into it, you will see everything you want to know."
-Dr. Mark Miliken, senior researcher at Utopia Laboratories

Who will it be?
Will the head cheerleader get pregnant?
Is the student council president a secret drug addict?

The whole school is freaking out about PROFILE, an experimental program that can predict students' future behavior.

The only question Daphne wants answered is whether Jesse will ask her out...but he's a Predicted, and there's something about his future he's not telling her.

Thoughts

My rating:

I really liked this book!

The Predicteds was both predictable and unpredictable. It didn't make me *gasp* when the revelations were made, but it was still quite confusing, especially at first. I felt like I was one of the characters. I don't know who to trust, and I don't know what will happen next. This was definitely not the story I was expecting. The book was not entirely dystopian... it actually feels like contemp/realistic fiction to me, with bits of sci-fi and mystery because of PROFILE.

Now, for the romance, I think Jesse and Daphne's relationship kind of bloomed quickly. I usually hate having to read about a girl falling in love with a guy that fast, but at least Daphne did not become blind when she fell in love. When there were things going around Jesse, she herself doubted her boyfriend. That made her seem realistic, for me. At one point, she also thought of her own safety.

The conversations were smooth, and Daphne was easy to relate to. Just Daphne. The other characters, especially her "friends," felt a bit dull me.

There were also some really interesting things that were discussed at the end, which I won't be mentioning in this review. After I read this book, I thought about it a lot and I badly wanted to discuss it with someone. I think I also have to mention the blurbs at each chapter introduction... those things made me want to read even if it's really late at night. I read chapter by chapter, and if I get to see an intriguing blurb at the start of each chapter... well then, "I can sleep by the time I finish this book."

Oh, and by the way, it also has some clever and funny one liners. Another reason why I liked it.

The Predicteds is so different from other YA books I've read. I mean that as a good thing, of course. Aside from the interesting storyline, this book brings up things that will get the reader thinking. Also, I think this is the kind of book that will keep you up all night even if you have school the next day. That's what it did for me.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the publisher, Sourcebooks, in exchange for an honest review.

New Releases: September 1-5, 2011

2011-09-01T21:21:00.000+08:00

New releases from September 1 to September 5:

Witch Song by Amber Argyle

Blood Song by Rhiannon Hart

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch

Torrent by Lisa Tawn Bergen

Brooklyn, Burning by Steve Brezenoff

Wasteland by Lynn Rush

Dear Bully by Various Authors

Shut Out by Kody Keplinger

The Shattering by Karen Healey

Midnight Frost by Kailin Gow

Blood by K.J. Wignall

Waiting on Wednesday: Sequels + New TWITTER

2011-08-31T10:00:00.003+08:00

Kiss of Frost by Jennifer Estep
First book: Touch of Frost
Release Date: November 29, 2011

I’m Gwen Frost, a second-year warrior-in-training at Mythos Academy, and I have no idea how I’m going to survive the rest of the semester. One day, I’m getting schooled in swordplay by the guy who broke my heart — the drop-dead gorgeous Logan who slays me every time. Then, an invisible archer in the Library of Antiquities decides to use me for target practice. And now, I find out that someone at the academy is really a Reaper bad guy who wants me dead. I’m afraid if I don’t learn how to live by the sword — with Logan’s help — I just might die by the sword …

Perception by Kim Harrington
First book: Clarity
Release Date: March 1, 2012

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

* * * * *

I made a new Twitter account, and it's @jellylovesbooks. I didn't abandon the other one, I just made a new account because my old Twitter acct was too messy. It contained all my school rants and other embarrassing things and I've been tweeting about them since 2008. I just felt I should make a new one.

So, let's be Twitter friends! I'll follow you back. :)

@jellylovesbooks

Crushed by K.C. Blake + Giveaway

2011-08-30T17:41:00.003+08:00

Crushed by K.C. Blake

Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: July 13, 2011
Source: Author (Thanks!)
Format: E-book
Purchase: Smashwords | Amazon
Read a sample chapter: Crushed

The Noah sisters rule Titan High with their beauty, brains, and magical powers.

Each year they play a secret game: Crushed. The girls pick their targets carefully and blow enchanted dust into the boy’s faces, charming them, but this year Kristen makes a grave mistake. She chooses the wrong boy and almost dies that same day. Coincidence? Maybe.

But something isn’t quite right about Zach Bevian. He doesn’t behave like a boy who’s been Crushed. He goes from hot to cold, from looking at her with contempt to asking her out on a date. She doesn’t know what to think. Does he hate her or is he truly falling for her? Is he trying to kill her, or is he trying to save her?

Thoughts

My rating:

When I read the synopsis of Crushed, I knew I had to read it because that time I wanted to read a fun and cute love story. I was pleasantly surprised when the book also introduced me to some mystery and action.

The first part started a bit slow, but I was still entertained because the characters were starting to get confused with their feelings. I thought it was quite cute. It eventually picked up, and then it became hard to put down. The plot became predictable after the suspense was introduced, though, but there were some twists and turns that kept the plot interesting.

I liked the idea of blowing magic dust and enchanting boys, and I think it is an interesting take on witches and wizards. It captured how young teenage witches have their fun... they get a little wild with their powers. The characters didn't strike me that much, so I'm a bit neutral on them. But then, I liked how they developed. The Noah sisters were very immature at first, but as the story progressed, they eventually learned their lessons.

There were some silly things (like how the witches/wizards lose their powers) in the book, but I won't be going through them, because I thought Crushed is already a delightful read. This is the first book from the author that I've read, but I do hope this won't be the last because I really enjoyed her writing.

Note

I received this book free of charge from the author, K.C. Blake, in exchange for an honest review.

* * *

Giveaway time!

K.C. has kindly offered to provide an e-copy of Crushed to give away to one lucky winner.

Details

International

Ends 9/13

Must be at least 13 years old

Extra entries

+1 for "spreading the word" (Twitter, Facebook, blog, etc.)

+2 for following my blog: http://jellylovesbooks.blogspot.com

+2 for following the author's blog: http://kasi-kcblake.blogspot.com/

GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED
Thanks for joining!

Cover Love

2011-08-29T15:05:00.000+08:00

Lookie, covers!!!

If I Stay by Gayle Forman
Editions: Indonesian, Portugese, Finnish

Forgotten by Cat Patrick
Editions: German, Australian, UK

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan
Editions: German, Polish

And some pre-pubs:

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Edition: Australian

Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi
Edition: UK

All photos are borrowed from Goodreads.com

In My Mailbox #2: August

2011-08-28T09:00:00.002+08:00

Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lundqvist - July R.A.K.

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane - Gifted

Touch of Frost (signed) by Jennifer Estep - Won

For Review:

Seeing Cinderella by Jenny Lundquist

The Predicteds by Christine Seifert

Eyes in the Mirror by Julia Mayer

I also got some bookmarks:

Letter + signed bookmarks of Elemental by Emily White

Bookmarks (some signed) of books by Jennifer Estep - Won

Many thanks to: Adam @ Roof Beam Reader, H. J. A., Kai @ Amaterasu Reads and Jennifer Estep, Jenny Lundquist, Sourcebooks, Emily White

Follow Friday (3)

2011-08-27T01:16:00.000+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: In books like the Sookie Stackhouse (True Blood) series the paranormal creature in question "comes out of the closet" and makes itself known to the world. Which mythical creature do you wish would come out of the closet, for real?

Answer: Vampires, definitely! Right now I can't imagine the world with blood-sucking vampires... it will probably be too dangerous to have them in real life, but because of True Blood (mostly Eric Northman), I think vampires are quite sexy.

* * *

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

my finds

The First Days: As The World Dies by Rhiannon Frater

The morning that the world ends, Katie is getting ready for court and housewife Jenni is taking care of her family. Less than two hours later, they are fleeing for their lives from a zombie horde.

Thrown together by circumstance, Jenni and Katie become a powerful zombie-killing partnership, mowing down zombies as they rescue Jenni's stepson, Jason, from an infected campground.

They find sanctuary in a tiny, roughly fortified Texas town. There Jenni and Katie find they are both attracted to Travis, leader of the survivors; and the refugees must slaughter people they know, who have returned in zombie form.

XVI by Julia Karr

Nina Oberon's life is pretty normal: she hangs out with her best friend, Sandy, and their crew, goes to school, plays with her little sister, Dee. But Nina is 15. And like all girls she'll receive a Governing Council-ordered tattoo on her 16th birthday. XVI. Those three letters will be branded on her wrist, announcing to all the world-even the most predatory of men-that she is ready for sex. Considered easy prey by some, portrayed by the Media as sluts who ask for attacks, becoming a "sex-teen" is Nina's worst fear. That is, until right before her birthday, when Nina's mom is brutally attacked. With her dying breaths, she reveals to Nina a shocking truth about her past-one that destroys everything Nina thought she knew. Now, alone but for her sister, Nina must try to discover who she really is, all the while staying one step ahead of her mother's killer.

The Hunger Games Collector's Edition

2011-08-27T00:54:00.001+08:00

Entertainment Weekly posted the cover and case for The Hunger Games Collector's Edition. This edition will be slipcovered and will feature the new mockingjay image.

The book will be on sale on November.

Here is a photo showing the front and back covers:

Read the full article on EW.com.

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

2011-08-25T22:37:00.000+08:00

Touch of Frost by Jennifer Estep

Genre: Fantasy
Release Date: July 26, 2011
Source: Won (Author)
Format: Paperback
Pages: 350
Publisher: Kensington
Purchase: Amazon

My name is Gwen Frost, and I go to Mythos Academy — a school of myths, magic and warrior whiz kids, where even the lowliest geek knows how to chop off somebody's head with a sword and Logan Quinn, the hottest Spartan guy in school, also happens to be the deadliest.

But lately, things have been weird, even for Mythos. First, mean girl Jasmine Ashton was murdered in the Library of Antiquities. Then, someone stole the Bowl of Tears, a magical artifact that can be used to bring about the second Chaos War. You know, death, destruction and lots of other bad, bad things. Freaky stuff like this goes on all the time at Mythos, but I'm determined to find out who killed Jasmine and why—especially since I should have been the one who died. . .

Thoughts

My rating:

I enjoyed reading Touch of Frost. This book is such a good start to a new series.

I loved the world Ms. Estep had created. It was very enchanting. She even made it more beautiful because of her descriptive writing. The flow of the story was smooth and seemed natural to me. And, I LOVE the mystery. I wasn't expecting that kind of ending. It got me hooked!

Gwen is very easy to relate to and it was fun reading about her, but if I had to choose who my favorite character is, I'd have to go with Daphne. She's such a cute character. I'd love to be friends with her! Oh, and Logan Quinn... wow. Logan Quinn. Sexy. I didn't like him at the end though. I thought the romance between Logan and Gwen wasn't going to be the usual "bad boy ignores you and treats you like crap but you love him anyway" because really, he was such a flirty guy (to Gwen) at first. And then in the end, he changed, but maybe he's going to do something on Kiss of Frost? Well, I'm so excited to read more about him. He has been added to my "Fictional Crushes" list.

Also, I think Mythos Academy is very interesting. It almost has a Hogwarts feel to it, maybe that's why I like it so much? Anyway, as I've said, the author's writing was descriptive, and it made the academy feel so alive and so real.

Because I had a blast reading Touch of Frost, I'd definitely recommend this book. Touch of Frost is an action-packed book with an intriguing world and great characters.

National Bookstore sale

2011-08-20T10:00:00.014+08:00

Pwede pang humabol!

Some books I saw that were on sale:

Wide Awake by David Levithan
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green
Extras by Scott Westerfeld
Lies by Michael Grant
Reckless by Cornelia Funke
Undead Much? by Stacey Jay
Just After Sunset by Stephen King
Room by Emma Donoghue
The Shack by William Young
Wintergirls by Laurie Halse Anderson

...and more! I went to the SM Fairview branch last Wednesday and those are the books that I remember. There are a lot more, so be sure to visit your nearest/favorite NBS branch. I think they are still offering 20% off sale for most titles.

I only bought one book from this sale and that's Room by Emma Donoghue. I have a huge tbr pile and I'm saving up so I didn't really take advantage of this sale. I'm looking for some familiar titles under 100php, but I didn't find any. :(

So! Sugod na, hindi pa huli ang lahat! :)

Follow Friday (2)

2011-08-19T16:59:00.000+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: If you could write yourself a part in a book, what book would it be and what role would you play in that book?

Answer: Probably as a witch in Harry Potter. I've always wanted to be a student in Hogwarts, learn all those spells and be able to do magic. That'd be awesome. :)

Waiting on Wednesday: Incarnate

2011-08-17T18:03:00.000+08:00

Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Release Date: January 31, 2012

NEWSOUL
Ana is new. For thousands of years in Range, a million souls have been reincarnated over and over, keeping their memories and experiences from previous lifetimes. When Ana was born, another soul vanished, and no one knows why.

NOSOUL
Even Ana’s own mother thinks she’s a nosoul, an omen of worse things to come, and has kept her away from society. To escape her seclusion and learn whether she’ll be reincarnated, Ana travels to the city of Heart, but its citizens are suspicious and afraid of what her presence means. When dragons and sylph attack the city, is Ana to blame?

HEART
Sam believes Ana’s new soul is good and worthwhile. When he stands up for her, their relationship blooms. But can he love someone who may live only once, and will Ana’s enemies—human and creature alike—let them be together? Ana needs to uncover the mistake that gave her someone else’s life, but will her quest threaten the peace of Heart and destroy the promise of reincarnation for all?

The cover looks beautiful! :)

What book(s) are you waiting for?

The Vampire Stalker by Alison van Diepen

2011-08-14T13:42:00.000+08:00

The Vampire Stalker by Alison van Diepen

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 1, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 272
Publisher: Point

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?

Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

Thoughts

My rating:

I wanted to have a copy of this book so bad because I thought I could relate to the main character and yes, I wanted to know what other book lovers go through... Admit it, at some point in our lives as book lovers, we developed some sort of a crush over a fictional character. Sad, but true. I'm not exactly like Amy, though. I only fangirl over boys and books, but I don't discuss it online with other fans. I don't even have a lot of friends who share the same interest in certain titles. I usually just keep my *fangirlism* to myself.

Anyway, I wasn't disappointed with this book. The story was something most (if not all) of us can relate to, and I liked Amy and Alexander. I think I can understand why Amy fell for him. Also, I liked that the male lead wasn't a vampire. It was quite fascinating to know what the male lead thinks of fans of the villain, the vampire.

The story could've been more developed, but I'm not really complaining. It was fun reading it. I also loved the idea of "literary physics." It was cool and the author made it so real. Of course, I wouldn't mind reading more about it in this book.

The Vampire Stalker is a light and fun read and I'd definitely recommend it to people who have fallen in love with a fictional character.

Follow Friday (1)

2011-08-12T17:47:00.000+08:00

Hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read

Question: How have your reading habits changed since you were a teen? or If you are still a teen what new genres are you in love with currently?

Answer: I'm still a teen. I'm currently in love with horror books. I just finished Psycho by Robert Bloch and I'm looking for books that are similar... something with psychotic and creepy killers. (any recommendation?) I also love humor books, and of course, dystopia.

R.A.K

2011-08-11T17:43:00.000+08:00

For the month of July, I received Let The Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist from Adam @ Roof Beam Reader

This is the first time I got a book from joining R.A.K. Thank you so much, Adam!

Random Acts of Kindness: August

Show off your participation by grabbing our RAK button :)
Create a wish list (on Amazon, Goodreads, or your blog etc) and post it in the Google Doc located in each R.A.K post for the month.
If you choose to do a R.A.K for someone, check out their wish list and contact that blogger for their address.
*NEW* Please, once you receive a RAK, email or tweet me {Vanessa} so that I can update the Google doc. There are a lot of requests for this!
*NEW* E-book participation is limited to files being gifted directly to a person from the e-book store. Amazon's Kindle Store is set up to allow this, as well as the Kobo store and we believe Barnes & Noble as well.
At the end of the month, SHOW US YOUR R.A.K! Make a post saying 'Thank You' to whoever granted one of your wishes and share it with us :)

OPEN TO EVERYONE!
Let's keep our International bloggers in mind and in our hearts.
Remember, there's always the Book Depository and they offer FREE shipping!

Easy peezy!!

LINKS YOU WILL NEED:
Sign up for August {HERE}
See who else is participating in August {HERE}

Here's my wishlist.

Waiting on Wednesday: Dystopia

2011-08-10T17:55:00.000+08:00

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

For this week, I'm going to feature dystopian books that I'm excited about.

The Eleventh Plague by Jeff Hirsch
Release Date: September 1, 2011

The wars that followed The Collapse nearly destroyed civilization. Now, twenty years later, the world is faced with a choice—rebuild what was or make something new.

Stephen Quinn, a quiet and dutiful fifteen-year-old scavenger, travels Post-Collapse America with his Dad and stern ex-Marine Grandfather. They travel light. They keep to themselves. Nothing ever changes. But when his Grandfather passes suddenly and Stephen and his Dad decide to risk it all to save the lives of two strangers, Stephen's life is turned upside down. With his father terribly injured, Stephen is left alone to make his own choices for the first time.

Stephen’s choices lead him to Settler's Landing, a lost slice of the Pre-Collapse world where he encounters a seemingly benign world of barbecues, baseball games and days spent in a one-room schoolhouse. Distrustful of such tranquility, Stephen quickly falls in with Jenny Tan, the beautiful town outcast. As his relationship with Jenny grows it brings him into violent conflict with the leaders of Settler's Landing who are determined to remake the world they grew up in, no matter what the cost.

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin
Release Date: September 6, 2011

In 2083, chocolate and coffee are illegal, paper is hard to find, water is carefully rationed, and New York City is rife with crime and poverty. And yet, for Anya Balanchine, the sixteen-year-old daughter of the city's most notorious (and dead) crime boss, life is fairly routine. It consists of going to school, taking care of her siblings and her dying grandmother, trying to avoid falling in love with the new assistant D.A.'s son, and avoiding her loser ex-boyfriend. That is until her ex is accidently poisoned by the chocolate her family manufactures and the police think she's to blame. Suddenly, Anya finds herself thrust unwillingly into the spotlight--at school, in the news, and most importantly, within her mafia family.

The Always War by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Release Date: November 15, 2011

For as long as Tessa can remember, her country has been at war. When local golden boy Gideon Thrall is awarded a medal for courage, it’s a rare bright spot for everyone in Tessa’s town—until Gideon refuses the award, claims he was a coward, and runs away. Tessa is bewildered, and can’t help but follow Gideon to find out the truth. But Tessa is in for more than she bargained for. Before she knows it, she has stowed away on a rogue airplane and is headed for enemy territory. But all that pales when she discovers a shocking truth that rocks the foundation of everything she’s ever believed—a truth that will change the world. But is Tessa strong enough to bring it into the light?

What books are you waiting for? :)

Better Book Titles

2011-08-07T16:55:00.000+08:00

Do you want to know something about a book, but do not have time to read blurbs or reviews? Or maybe you just want to be entertained? Well, Better Book Titles is the solution. According to the site, "I will cut through all the cryptic crap, and give you the meat of the story in one condensed image."

Here are some images from the site:

Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

127 Hours: Between a Rock and a Hard Place by Aron Ralston

So... yep. This site is gold.

Friday Finds (08/05/2011)

2011-08-05T21:48:00.000+08:00

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

my find

I only have one this week...

My Life as A White-Trash Zombie by Diana Rowland
Release Date: July 5, 2011
Genre: Horror - Zombies

Teenage delinquent Angel Crawford lives with her redneck father in the swamps of southern Louisiana. She's a high school dropout, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and has a police record a mile long. But when she's made into a zombie after a car crash, her addictions disappear, except for her all-consuming need to stay "alive"...

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

2011-08-04T22:03:00.000+08:00

Bad Taste in Boys by Carrie Harris

Genre: Horror - Zombies / Humor
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 201 pages
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Someone's been a very bad zombie.

Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steroids are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate!

She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town. . . and stay hormonally human.

Thoughts

My rating:

Three words to describe Bad Taste in Boys: Cute, gory, and FUN.

I am so glad I read this book. It definitely exceeded my expectations. Yeah the cover looks pretty cool, but the summary sounded so simple, even unoriginal, but when I started reading it... I just couldn't stop! Okay, the "simple" part might be partly true, but the thing is, Harris made the book cool and funny on its own. However, if you're a hardcore zombie fan looking for a hardcore zombie book, this might not be for you. I don't mind reading about zombies and I'm just doing it for fun, so I still enjoyed it.

Kate was an awesome character. She was believable. I love her reactions and her funny conversations with her friends. I don't even mind reading about Kate's crush. She swoons over the cute quarterback, but she was NOT annoying. And she was able to show her heroine side. I absolutely love female leads who aren't so dependent on other people.

The characters were easy to relate to, and the descriptions of the events were not exaggerated, but still effective. And may I just repeat this - it's funny!

Don't be fooled by the cover- it's not as eerie as it looks like!

Waiting on Wednesday: The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer

2011-08-03T17:12:00.000+08:00

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
Release Date: September 27, 2011

Mara Dyer doesn't think life can get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.

It can.

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her mysteriously unharmed.

There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love.

She's wrong.

August 2011 New Releases

2011-08-01T18:13:00.000+08:00

AUGUST 2011 NEW RELEASES

Misfit by Jon Skovron
Release Date: August 1

Jael has always felt like a freak. She’s never kissed a boy, she never knew her mom, and her dad’s always been superstrict—but that’s probably because her mom was a demon, which makes Jael half demon and most definitely not a normal sophomore girl. On her sixteenth birthday, a mysterious present unlocks her family’s dangerous history and Jael’s untapped potential. What was merely an embarrassing secret before becomes a terrifying reality. Jael must learn to master her demon side in order to take on a vindictive Duke of Hell while also dealing with a twisted priest, best-friend drama, and a spacey blond skater boy who may have hidden depths.

Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
Release Date: August 23

The first book in Richelle Mead's brand-new teen fiction series - set in the same world as Vampire Academy.

When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive - this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone's out for blood.

The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
Release Date: August 23

I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.

Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?

They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.

I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.

And I'm ready to fight.

Possess by Gretchen Mcneil
Release Date: August 23

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from.

Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king.

Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendara Blake
Release Date: August 30

Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead.
So did his father before him, until he was gruesomely murdered by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay.
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: track, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, now stained red and dripping with blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home.
But she, for whatever reason, spares Cas's life.

In My Mailbox #1: July + New layout!

2011-07-31T16:29:00.000+08:00

NEW LAYOUT ALERT! It just looks like the layout I got months ago. Hope you guys like it, though. It's too girly, sorry about that! Haha!

* * *

Yay, this is my first In My Mailbox post! I will only do this on the last Sunday of every month because I don't receive many physical books. I read a lot of e-books but I won't be posting them here. Okay, enough of that.

In My Mailbox is a meme hosted by Kristi @ The Story Siren that encourages bloggers to share books that they bought, won, received, or borrowed.

Books I got for the month of July:

Bought:

Room by Emma Donoghue

Pugad Baboy #22 by Pol Medina Jr. (finally!)

For Review:

The Black Stiletto by Raymond Benson

Ashfall by Mike Mullin

What did you get in your mailbox? :)

Many thanks to: Oceanview Publishing, Peggy & Tanglewood Press

Friday Finds (07/29/2011)

2011-07-29T17:58:00.000+08:00

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

my find

I only have one this week...

A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young
Release Date: June 21, 2011

We all want to be remembered. Charlotte's destiny is to be Forgotten...

Charlotte’s best friend thinks Charlotte might be psychic. Her boyfriend thinks she’s cheating on him. But Charlotte knows what’s really wrong: She is one of the Forgotten, a kind of angel on earth, who feels the Need—a powerful, uncontrollable draw to help someone, usually a stranger.

But Charlotte never wanted this responsibility. What she wants is to help her best friend, whose life is spiraling out of control. She wants to lie in her boyfriend's arms forever. But as the Need grows stronger, it begins to take a dangerous toll on Charlotte. And who she was, is, and will become--her mark on this earth, her very existence--is in jeopardy of disappearing completely.

Charlotte will be forced to choose: Should she embrace her fate as a Forgotten, a fate that promises to rip her from the lives of those she loves forever? Or is she willing to fight against her destiny--no matter how dark the consequences.

Cover reveal: Fever by Lauren deStefano

2011-07-28T20:01:00.000+08:00

The cover for Fever, the second book of The Chemical Garden series by Lauren DeStefano, has been revealed!

Here's the official blurb:

Rhine and Gabriel have escaped the mansion, but they’re still in danger. Outside, they find a world even more disquieting than the one they left behind. Determined to get to Manhattan and to find Rhine’s twin brother Rowan, the two press forward, amidst threats of being captured again . . . or worse.

The road they are on is long and perilous—and in a world where young women only live to age 20 and men die at age 25, time is precious. In this sequel to Lauren DeStefano’s harrowing Wither, Rhine must decide if freedom is worth the price—now that she has more to lose than ever.

You can also read an excerpt on The Chemical Garden website: FEVER Excerpt

Fever is expected to be released on February 21, 2012 by Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing.

It's a beautiful cover, but I think I prefer the cover for Wither. It might look better in real life though, who knows, really...

Waiting on Wednesday: Witches!

2011-07-27T12:07:00.000+08:00

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

For this week's WoW, I'm going to feature two books about witches!

The Near Witch by Victoria Schwab
Release Date: August 2, 2011

The Near Witch is only an old story told to frighten children.

If the wind calls at night, you must not listen. The wind is lonely, and always looking for company.

And there are no strangers in the town of Near.

These are the truths that Lexi has heard all her life.

But when an actual stranger—a boy who seems to fade like smoke—appears outside her home on the moor at night, she knows that at least one of these sayings is no longer true.

The next night, the children of Near start disappearing from their beds, and the mysterious boy falls under suspicion. Still, he insists on helping Lexi search for them. Something tells her she can trust him.

As the hunt for the children intensifies, so does Lexi’s need to know—about the witch that just might be more than a bedtime story, about the wind that seems to speak through the walls at night, and about the history of this nameless boy.

Witchlanders by Lena Coakley
Release Date: August 30, 2011

High in their mountain covens, red witches pray to the Goddess, protecting the Witchlands by throwing the bones and foretelling the future.

It’s all a fake.

At least, that’s what Ryder thinks. He doubts the witches really deserve their tithes—one quarter of all the crops his village can produce. And even if they can predict the future, what danger is there to foretell, now that his people’s old enemy, the Baen, has been defeated?

But when a terrifying new magic threatens both his village and the coven, Ryder must confront the beautiful and silent witch who holds all the secrets. Everything he’s ever believed about witches, the Baen, magic and about himself will change, when he discovers that the prophecies he’s always scorned—
Are about him.

Both books have pretty covers and intriguing summaries, no? :)

What are you waiting for?

The Devouring by Simon Holt

2011-07-26T22:03:00.000+08:00

The Devouring by Simon Holt

Genre: Horror
Release Date: September 1, 2008
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 240 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers

"When dark creeps in and eats the light,
Bury your fears on Sorry Night.
For in the winter's blackest hours,
Comes the feasting of the Vours,
No one can see it, the life they stole,
Your body's here but not your soul..."

THE VOURS: Evil, demonic beings that inhabit human bodies on Sorry Night, the darkest hours of the winter solstice.
When Reggie reads about the Vours in a mysterious old journal, she assumes they are just the musings of an anonymous lunatic. But when her little brother, Henry, begins to act strangely, it's clear that these creatures exist beyond a madwoman's imagination, and Reggie finds out what happens when fears come to life.
To save the people she loves, Reggie must learn to survive in a world of nightmares. Can she devour her own fears before they devour her?

Thoughts

My rating:

The Devouring was an okay read.

The plot was original and exciting. It was also fast-paced, and had *pure* horror all throughout the book. I have to admit that I had a problem believing what was happening because it felt unreal. It just wasn't convincing enough. I think this may have been because the writing was targeted to a younger audience... or I don't know. It's quite confusing, because some parts in the book might freak kids out, but I felt the writing in this book was... childish. It might be better if the writing matched with the level of creepiness of the book.

Reggie also didn't strike me as a character. Same with Aaron and Henry. I think this has something to do (again) with the "realness" of the events. She was not a believable character, to be honest, and all that happened to her appeared a bit clean to me. That doesn't mean I don't like her, though. She was just okay, like the rest of the book.

Eben appeared to be an "extra" in the first part, but in the end he becomes interesting... and I hate that I didn't get to know his story before the book ended. :( I thought he was going to save the book for me, but his story wasn't told. Guess I'll have to read the second book to know what he has to say.

Can't say I'm disappointed. All in all, The Devouring isn't the best horror book I've read, but it's not completely bad either. I do like reading horror novels; this book just isn't for me.

Harry Potter

2011-07-24T12:07:00.000+08:00

Okay, I know this is a week late, but I was on hiatus last week so I didn't get to post a Harry Potter entry. I watched it last July 16th, and again, yesterday, so I thought... hey, I can still make a post about it! (LOLok)

If you haven't watched Harry Potter, watch it. Now. Yes, I AM FORCING YOU. It's just so freaking awesome, it brings tears to my eyes.

I wasn't able to re-read the whole book this year because I have so many things to finish, but I did "review" some parts of it. From what I remember when I re-read it last year, I think they pretty much got most things in the book correct. I loved how they did The Prince's Tale. I bawled. That was i-n-t-e-n-s-e.

I think I'm gonna have to watch it alone so I don't have to worry about the sounds I'm making. Hah.

What do you think of the new Harry Potter movie? :)

Friday Finds (07/22/2011)

2011-07-22T17:49:00.000+08:00

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

my finds

Pig Boy by J.C. Burke

On Damon Styles's eighteenth birthday, he is expelled from school. But it's what happens afterwards that changes everything.

Now Damon must come up with a plan. It's the only way he can think straight. First, get his firearms licence. Then, see if the Pigman will give him a job - pig hunting will teach Damon what he needs to know. And he’d better get a lock for his wardrobe so his mother won't find what he's hiding.

Damon’s taking matters into his own hands - but so is the town of Strathven.

* * *

Blood Red Road by Moira Young

Saba has spent her whole life in Silverlake, a dried-up wasteland ravaged by constant sandstorms. The Wrecker civilization has long been destroyed, leaving only landfills for Saba and her family to scavenge from. That's fine by her, as long as her beloved twin brother Lugh is around. But when a monster sandstorm arrives, along with four cloaked horsemen, Saba's world is shattered. Lugh is captured, and Saba embarks on an epic quest to get him back. Suddenly thrown into the lawless, ugly reality of the world outside of desolate Silverlake, Saba is lost without Lugh to guide her. So perhaps the most surprising thing of all is what Saba learns about herself: she's a fierce fighter, an unbeatable survivor, and a cunning opponent. And she has the power to take down a corrupt society from the inside. Teamed up with a handsome daredevil named Jack and a gang of girl revolutionaries called the Free Hawks, Saba stages a showdown that will change the course of her own civilization.

PERCEPTION cover!

2011-07-10T22:38:00.000+08:00

The cover for Kim Harrington's novel, Perception, has been revealed! Perception is the second book from Kim Harrington's Clarity series and is expected to be released on 2012.

It's so pretty!

About

This hotly anticipated sequel to CLARITY delivers another dark, paranormal mystery.

When you can see things others can't, what do you do when someone's watching you?

Everybody knows about Clarity "Clare" Fern. She's the psychic girl in school, the one who can place her hands on something and see hidden visions from the past.

Only Clare would rather not be a celebrity. She prefers hanging back, observing. Her gift is not a game to her.

But then someone starts playing with her head . . . and heart. Messages and gifts from a secret admirer crop up everywhere Clare turns. Could they be from Gabriel, the gorgeous boy who gets Clare's pulse racing? Or from Justin, Clare's hopeful ex-boyfriend who'd do anything to win her back?

One thing is certain. Clare needs to solve this mystery, and soon. Because the messages are becoming sinister, and a girl in town has suddenly disappeared.

Friday Finds (07/08/2011)

2011-07-08T17:11:00.000+08:00

What great books did you hear about / discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS!

my finds

The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson

Seventeen-year-old Jenna Fox has just awoken from a year-long coma — so she’s been told — and she is still recovering from the terrible accident that caused it. But what happened before that? She’s been given home movies chronicling her entire life, which spark memories to surface. But are the memories really hers? And why won’t anyone in her family talk about the accident? Jenna is becoming more curious. But she is also afraid of what she might find out if she ever gets up the courage to ask her questions. What happened to Jenna Fox? And who is she really?

* * *

The Bar Code Tattoo by Suzanne Weyn

Individuality vs. Conformity

Identity vs. Access

Freedom vs. Control

The bar code tattoo. Everybody's getting it. It will make your life easier, they say. It will hook you in. It will become your identity.

But what if you say no? What if you don't want to become a code? For Kayla, this one choice changes everything. She becomes an outcast in her high school. Dangerous things happen to her family. There's no option but to run...for her life.