Showing posts with label RAZORBILL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label RAZORBILL. Show all posts

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Don't Fail Me Now by Una LaMarche


Title: Don't Fail Me Now
Author: Una LaMarche
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: September 1, 2015
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo
Michelle and her little siblings Cass and Denny are African-American and living on the poverty line in urban Baltimore, struggling to keep it together with their mom in jail and only Michelle’s part-time job at the Taco Bell to sustain them.

Leah and her stepbrother Tim are white and middle class from suburban Maryland, with few worries beyond winning across games and getting college applications in on time.

Michelle and Leah only have one thing in common: Buck Devereaux, the biological father who abandoned them when they were little.

After news trickles back to them that Buck is dying, they make the uneasy decision to drive across country to his hospice in California. Leah hopes for closure; Michelle just wants to give him a piece of her mind.

Five people in a failing, old station wagon, living off free samples at food courts across America, and the most pressing question on Michelle’s mind is: Who will break down first—herself or the car? All the signs tell her they won’t make it. But Michelle has heard that her whole life, and it’s never stopped her before…

Una LaMarche triumphs once again with this rare and compassionate look at how racial and social privilege affects one family in crisis in both subtle and astonishing ways.

I first read a book by Una LaMarche last year and immediately knew after I finished that I would be reading anything and everything she writes. So when I heard about Don’t Fail Me Now, it was a no-brainer: of course I would read it. And, unsurprisingly, I loved it.

Michelle is used to taking care of Cass and Denny, her younger sister and brother. It’s what she’s had to do for most her life. It’s never been easy, but this time, with her mom in jail once again, Michelle isn’t sure what she’s going to do to keep them all afloat. That is until Tim and Leah walk into her life. With them comes the news that Michelle’s deadbeat of a dad is also Leah’s father and now he’s dying and wants to see his girls before it’s too late. And so the five of them cram into Michelle’s old station wagon, hoping that the car will make it all the way to California from Maryland. And even if the car does make it, there’s no guarantee everyone in it will still be sane by the time they get there.

Last summer, I loved Una LaMarche’s Like No Other. To make the same horrible joke I did at the time, the book really was unlike any other that I had read or had been reading around that time. And after reading it, I made the unsurprising decision that I would simply have to read whatever Una LaMarche wrote next. And Don’t Fail Me Now absolutely did not fail me (I really need to stop with the bad jokes/puns based off the titles) when it came to being an engaging and touching story. I loved this story, the way it shows how two people who share DNA can grow up in completely different circumstances. Uma LaMarche really succeeded in showing this by contrasting Michelle and Leah’s lives. Sure, they shared a father, but they had completely different lives, in large part because of their skin colour. Una LaMarche simply does a fantastic job showcasing diverse characters and it’s something I’ve loved about both books of hers that I’ve read. And though I love me some romance, one of the things I loved most about Don’t Fail Me Now was that the focus wasn’t really on the romance. Yes, there was a bit of a romance going between Tim and Michelle, but that wasn’t the point of the story nor was it the focus of the story. 

I have so much respect for Michelle. I mean, this girl has had it rough. More than rough, even. But through it all, she still did her best and made sure that her younger siblings were okay and that there family was going to make it through. There were times when it definitely wasn’t easy reading her story. Like when they all had to go stay with a certain aunt who I very much wanted to punch. So for pretty much the whole book, I wanted her to finally catch a break. But at a certain point, it started to seriously feel like that wasn’t going to happen. Pretty much everything that could go wrong for her was, and though at times there were situations that made me laugh, I just wanted Michelle to get through it all in one piece. Outside of Michelle’s struggles, I loved the family dynamics at play in Don’t Fail Me Now, whether it was between Michelle and the siblings she’d had her whole life, or with her newfound half-sister and said half-sister’s stepbrother who she really had no relation to. Put five people under the age of 18 in a car for a cross-country road trip and it’s bound to get interesting. 

Una LaMarche’s Don’t Fail Me Now absolutely was the engrossing and touching read I had hoped and thought it would be. With this book, LaMarche has just reaffirmed the fact that I’m willing to read pretty much anything she writes in the future.

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Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Silver Shadows by Richelle Mead


Title: Silver Shadows (Bloodlines #5)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive. 

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity an the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to phone in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle process daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him…

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off. 

If you’ve been following this blog since the beginning then you know that I’m a HUGE Richelle Mead fangirl, and an EVEN BIGGER Bloodlines series fangirl. I had been waiting what felt like FOREVER for Silver Shadows. Once I got my hands on my copy of the book, I absolutely devoured it.

Sydney has always been told to follow the rules. And for an Alchemist, following the rules means no fraternizing with vampires. But now, she has risked everything to do what she thinks is right, even if it meant alienating herself from the people who have always taken care of her. Now stuck and surrounded by Alchemists who are determined to change her, Sydney does everything she can in order to hold on to who she is and the people she loves. If she keeps holding on, Sydney knows that Adrian will find a way to get to her. He has to. If he doesn’t Sydney may not be able to come back from it all.

HOLY CRAP this book guys. When I got home to find that my pre-ordered copy had arrived, the only thing I considered doing what drop everything and start reading. And that’s what I did. How could I not? After everything that happened in The Fiery Heart, it felt like I had been waiting forever for Silver Shadows. But knowing what was going to be happening in this book, I was also afraid of what it would do to my emotions. And I definitely felt a lot of emotions while reading. This book brought on ALL THE FEELS, in the way that very few books can. There were parts of this book that were downright difficult to read. What the Alchemists put Sydney through is beyond awful. And seeing everyone else torture themselves over what had happened to Sydney was just as painful. But as weird as it might be to say, that pain was worth it for what came in the last third or so of the book. If I thought the first two thirds of the book had given me a lot of feelings, it was NOTHING compared to ALL THE FEELS I got in that last part. It’s hard for me to say much of anything about that part of the book though, without ruining it for everyone who hasn’t read it. So just go read it, and then come talk to me about it. If you’re anything like me, you will NEED to get your feelings out. 

Silver Shadows is the fifth book in the Bloodlines series, and at this point I feel like I keep saying the same thing about Sydney, Adrian and their friends in each of these reviews. So I apologize in advance if I’m starting to sound like a broken record where these characters are concerned. It’s no secret that I love Sydney and Adrian, and I love that with every book you get to see a different side of them. In Silver Shadows, I got to see Sydney’s strength. Before this book, I knew she was strong, but didn’t know the extent of that strength. With Adrian, I hated seeing him fall back in his old ways, but at the same time I loved his determination when he got his act together. I’ve said it before, but there’s so much more to him than people give him credit for, and the lengths he will go to for the people he cares about, it just warms my heart. And just because it needs mentioning for the billionth time, Adrian and Sydney belong together, no matter what people think. I would be happy reading books about those two until the end of times. And that’s only a SLIGHT exaggeration. 

If you think that I ADORED Silver Shadows, then you absolutely guessed right. At this point, Richelle Mead can write anything, and I mean ANYTHING, that features Sydney and Adrian together and I would read it. It goes without saying that I’m now DYING to read The Ruby Circle. And if you haven’t already read Richelle Mead’s books, you are missing out in a big way.

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Saturday, August 2, 2014

Blog Tour - Like No Other by Una LaMarche


Title: Like No Other
Author: Una LaMarche
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: July 24, 2014
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo
Fate brought them together. Will life tear them apart?

Devorah is a consummate good girl who has never challenged the ways of her strict Hasidic upbringing. 

Jaxo is a fun-loving, book-smart nerd who has never been comfortable around girls (unless you count his four younger sisters).

They’ve spent their entire lives in Brooklyn, on opposite sides of the same street. Their paths never crossed…until one day, they did.

When a hurricane strikes the Northeast, the pair becomes stranded in an elevator together, where fate leaves them no choice but to make an otherwise risky connection.

Thought heir relation is strictly forbidden, Devorah and Jax arrange secret meetings and risk everything to be together. But how far can they go? Just how much are they willing to give up?

In the timeless tradition of West Side Story and Crossing Delancey, this thoroughly modern take on romance will inspire laughter, tears, and the belief that love can happen when and where you least expect it.

Sometimes there are some books that sound really interesting and make me want to read them, without necessarily seeming like they are something extraordinary. But then I read those books and find myself being completely blown away by what I read. Una LaMarche’s Like No Other is one of those books. It completely blew me away.

Devorah has always been seen as a good girl. And most of the time, it’s not just appearances. Never in her sixteen years has she set foot out of line. She has always followed her parents’ rules and lived following the strict Hasidic values of her community. But when she gets trapped in an elevator with Jaxon, things start to change for Devorah. She finds herself wanting to know more about this boy, even though doing so would be going against everything she is and what her family stands for. When he finds himself in an elevator with Devorah, Jaxon wants to make her feel safe. Where he normally gets tongue-tied around girls, Jaxon finds himself talking to Devorah like talking to girls is something he does all the time. The two feel a connection, but can that connection survive outside a stalled elevator? Everything is working against them, but Jaxon and Devorah can’t deny that they want to be together. But will they be able to make it through everything that is standing in their way?

To make a really bad joke, the title kinda says it all when it comes to this book. Una LaMarche’s Like No Other is unlike any other book I’ve read recently. Sure, when your first look at it, it sounds like any other story about teenaged star-crossed lovers—two people who are fighting to be together when everything is trying to stop them from doing just that. But Like No Other is about so much more than that. For starters, this story is about people who don’t often get the spotlight when it comes to YA romance novels. Devorah is form a strict Hasidic Jew community. Jaxon is from a West Indian family. That alone makes the story interesting. But what makes the story so captivating is how well-written it is, and how both cultures are weaved into the story in a way that makes it seems like it’s nothing out of the ordinary. When I was reading, I knew that Devorah was Hasidic and that she lived in a Hasidic community, but it didn’t feel like that was her defining character. It was just part of the bigger story. The same goes for Jaxon being West Indian. What I appreciated was all the elements of the Hasidic culture that were weaved into the story. I am not Jewish (or much of any religion for that matter) and I don’t claim to know much of anything about Hasidic Judaism, but I could tell as I was reading that Una LaMarche really did her research in order to present as realistic a portrayal of that world. Those elements of the story were interesting to read about and even made me seek out more information on that culture. Beyond that, Like No Other was a love story and we all know that I can’t resist a good story. I loved seeing this story play out and though I understand why it had to end the way it did and even if that ending was satisfying and felt right, the hopeless romantic in me couldn’t help but want a different outcome. I love where the characters ended up at the end of the story, but I wanted more. 

It might be obvious given everything I’ve already said about Like No Other, but Devorah and Jaxon were unlike any other characters I’ve read about in YA recently. Beyond being a girl who lives in a Hasidic community, Devorah is a just a girl trying to figure out where she fits in the world, trying to figure out how to make her faith and her desires for her future line up with one another. I loved how she started challenging and questioning everything she had ever been told after she met Jaxon. It made her seem like a real person. And Jaxon was just a hopeless romantic. I loved reading this story from his perspective, seeing the lengths he would go to try and make things better for him and Devorah even if everything seemed to be standing in their way. At the end of the day, I loved that these characters were good for each other. They helped the other realize what they wanted and do something about it. They may not have had the easiest time being together, but when they were, they were good for each other. 

Una LaMarche’s Like No Other was a very different read than what I thought it was going to be. It has the romance that I love in all the contemporary stories I read but it also made me think about everything that can stand in the way of two people who want nothing more than to be together. Like No Other is simply one of those books that everyone should read.

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Friday, April 18, 2014

The Museum of Intangible Things by Wendy Wunder


Title: The Museum of Intangible Things
Author: Wendy Wunder
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: April 10, 2014
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo
Loyalty. Envy. Obligation. Dreams. Disappointment. Fear. Negligence. Coping. Elation. Lust. Nature. Freedom. heartbreak. Insouciance. Audacity. Gluttony. Belief. God. Karma. Knowing what you want (there is probably a French word for it). Saying Yes. Truth. Devotion. Forgiveness. Life. Happiness (ever after).

Hannah and Zoe haven’t had much in their lives, but they’ve always had each other. So when Zoe tells Hannah she needs to get out of their down-and-out New Jersey town, they pile into Hannah’s beat-up old Le Mans and head west, putting everything—their deadbeat parents, their disappointing love lives, their inevitable enrollment at community college—behind them.

As they chase storms and make new friends, Zoe tells Hannah she wants more for her. She wants her to live bigger, dream grander, aim higher. And so Zoe begins teaching Hannah all about life’s intangible things, concepts sadly missing from her existence—things like audacity, insouciance, karma, and even happiness.

An unforgettable read from the acclaimed author of The Probability of Miracles, The Museum of Intangible Things sparkles with the humor and heartbreak of true friendships and first love. 

I am so excited to have finally entered what appears to be “Contemporary Season.” Looking at my TBR pile recently, it seems like all the books I have coming up are contemporary reads and that makes me so unbelievably happy. And I was even more excited when I saw that Wendy Wunder’s The Museum of Intangible Things was going to be my next read. And as excited as I was, I was also not in the least bit disappointed by this story.

Hannah has always had relatively low expectations, this way she doesn’t get disappointed. In her small town in New Jersey, everyone is that way. The one person with ideas of grandeur is Zoe, Hannah’s best friend. But Zoe’s over the top feelings may be what will bring her down. So when Zoe suggests that they get out of New Jersey, Hannah goes along with the plan, knowing that eventually she will be able to talk down Zoe. But the further west they get, the more Hannah begins to think that there might be no coming back for Zoe this time around. While out on the road, Zoe makes it her mission to teach Hannah all about the things in life that will better her existence, all in the hope of getting Hannah ready for when she won’t be around anymore.

Though it’s been sitting on my shelves for the last two years, I still haven’t read Wendy Wunder’s debut, The Probability of Miracles (I know, bad), but after having read The Museum of Intangible Things, you can bet that I will be picking up the other one soon. Keeping up with a recent theme (or so it would seem), the Museum of Intangible Things wasn’t what I thought it would be, but I loved it. I loved that this was a story that focused on friendship, on how Hannah and Zoe have always been there for each other but how they also need to learn how to get on without each other. And of course I loved the road trip aspect, though it wasn’t always the sanest road trip. Though what I loved the most about that the ending didn’t really go in the direction I thought it would. Sure, stuff happened that I had guessed would happen or hoped would happen, but there was also a lot I didn’t necessarily see coming. And like I said, that made me love the story even more, because I love it when stories take me by surprise. But more than that, I just found the characters, especially Hannah and Zoe, endearing.

Hannah and Zoe couldn’t have been more different, but they worked perfectly as friends. Being what looked like complete opposites, they balanced each other out. Where Zoe was outgoing and adventurous, Hannah was more reserved and cautious, always thinking things out before acting. Zoe was the rule breaker, while Hannah was the rule follower. But this was a great friendship. I loved the dynamic between Zoe and Hannah, and how each girl could be exactly who she was around the other. But at the same time, they pushed each other to be better, to want more for themselves and for each other. Throughout the story, I really felt for Hannah though. Being that the story was told from her perspective, I got to know a lot more about her and her life than I did about Zoe. In that respect, I found that I could relate to many aspects of Hannah’s personality, especially her more cautious and thought-out side. And in some ways, I could also relate to what it feels like to have a very exuberant best friend, granted mine isn’t quite as extreme as Zoe, but still. Though what I loved the most about Hannah, was seeing her growth over the course of the book, how she really came into her own and started to get a better idea not just of who she was, but of who she wanted to be in the future. But to sound like a broken record, the friendship is what really did for me in this book.

Wendy Wunder’s The Museum of Intangible Things was a fantastic read, showing just how powerful friendships can be, how much they can mould and change you. If you are looking for a great story with a focus on friendships, then The Museum of Intangible Things is perfect for you.

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Wednesday, November 27, 2013

The Fiery Heart by Richelle Mead


Title: The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines #4)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: November 19, 2013
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her…

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure--and re-education--looms larger than ever.

Pulses will race throughout this thrilling fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

I love Richelle Mead. I loved her Vampire Academy series. And I absolutely love her Bloodlines series. So as you can imagine, I have been waiting for The Fiery Heart since the moment I finished The Indigo Spell. But I was kinda scared of what The Fiery Heart would do to my heart. And I was right to be scared, but I also absolutely loved the story.

Sydney Sage always thought that the hardest part of her life as an Alchemist would be living and working with vampires. But the moment she met Adrian Ivashkov, a Moroi prince, that started to chance. Now, Sydney is ready to turn her back on the Alchemist way of life. But first she has to find a way to protect her sister Zoe from being brainwashed by their father and the Alchemists. And she has to find a way to protect her relationship with Adrian. Because if anyone were to fin out, the Alchemists would send Sydney straight to re-education.

Have I mentioned that I was absolutely terrified of The Fiery Heart? As excited as I was to read the book, I was cared of what it would do to my poor heart. Long before the book was released, Richelle Mead has teased that The Fiery Heart would do for this series what Shadow Kiss did for the Vampire Academy series. And you have no idea how much that scared me. The whole time I was reading, I was also waiting for that crucial moment, the moment that would change everything and break my heart in the process. But as much as that moment hurt, I loved everything that came beforehand. I loved finally seeing the romance between Sydney and Adrian. It felt like I had waited for so long for this to happen and it just warmed my heart to read about the two of them together. What was an interesting new addition to the story this time around was the dual perspectives. The story had previously only been told from Sydney's perspective, but this time I was able to also get inside Adrian's head and I loved it. If anything, my love for Adrian only grew as a result of this.

I've always loved Sydney and I love how much she's changed and evolved since I first person. I love the person's she's become. She no longer lets the Alchemist beliefs dictate her life, choosing instead to rely on her own beliefs. And I love the person Sydney becomes when she's with Adrian. It's almost life when she's with Adrian, it's the only time Sydney gets to really be herself. And that's the side of her I really love: the Sydney who gets to let go and be who she wants to be, not who everyone expects her to be. And now here's the thing about Adrian: in the Vampire Academy books, I fully believed that Rose belonged with Dimitri, but I still loved Adrian. And now I pretty much adore Adrian. Getting into his head has only made me love him more. There's so much more to him than people tend to give him credit for. Everything he does for the people he cares about, no matter how crazy that can sometimes be, just warms my heart. If only he could believe in himself as much as Sydney does, he might be able to be a little easier on himself. But I still love Adrian either way.

Richelle Mead's The Fiery Heart was just what I had hoped it would be. This story may have broken my heart at the end, but it also made me beyond happy and warmed my heart. Though I will admit that it has left me absolutely desperate to read Silver Shadows. July 2014 can't come soon enough!

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Monday, July 29, 2013

Blog Tour - Earthbound by Aprilynne Pike


Title: Earthbound (Earthbound #1)
Author: Aprilynne Pike
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: July 30, 2013
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
Tavia Michaels is the sole survivor of the plane crash that killed her parents. When she starts to see strange visions of a boy she's never spoken with in real life, she begins to suspect that there's much about her past that she isn't being told. 

Tavie immediately searches for answers, desperate to determine why she feels so drawn to a boy she hardly knows. But when Tavia discovers that the aunt and uncle who took her in after her parents' death may have actually been responsible for the plant crash that killed them--and that she may have been the true intended victim--she flees for the safety of Camden, Maine, where the boy she sees in her visions instructs her to go.

Now, Tavia is on the run with no one to trust. No one, that is, except for her best friend and longtime crush, Benson.

Tavia feels torn between the boy who mysteriously comes to her at night and the boy who has been by her side every step of the way. But what Tavia doesn't know is that the world is literally falling apart and that to save it she will have to unite with the boy in her visions. Only problem? To do so would mean rejecting Benson's love. And that's the one thing Tavia Michaels swore she'd never do.

So this is the part where I admit that until I read Earthbound, I hadn't read anything by Aprilynne Pike. And now that I've read one of her books, I realise that I may have been missing out. Though Earthbound wasn't exactly what I thought it was going to be, I found myself enjoying the book more and more as I read it. 

There is nothing Tavia wants more than to move on from the plane crash that killed her parents and left her a mess. Almost a year later, she is only starting to have a handle on her life again. And just when she thinks she finally has everything under control, weird things start happening around her. A strange boy only she can see starts appearing and she can suddenly make objects out of thin air. As things start unravelling, Tavia discovers that everything she has known since the crash has been a lie, and so she goes on the run with the one person she thinks can trust. But even then, everything may not be quite as it seems.

Here's the thing about Earthbound, despite having read the synopsis and having a vague idea of what the book was going to be about, it still ended up being something completely different. Right from the start, I was dragged into the story. Aprilynne Pike wrote a great opening, capturing my attention and leaving me with the need to know exactly what was happening in Tavia's life. But as much as the story captured my attention at first, part of the way through, I found myself struggling to stay in the story and the world that Aprilynne Pike created. It just seemed like events were moving but there were moments where I wasn't entirely sure why they were moving the way they were. Even though the more I read those gaps ended up getting filled, it was still a little hard to keep up at times. But even then, that didn't stop me in still being interested in the story. The mystery that was there throughout is what really captured my attention. I wanted to know what was going on with the three groups that had been talked about throughout the story. I wanted to know how it all fit together and who was actually supposed to be trusted and who wasn't. And eventually, I think I sort of found out. But based on the way things turned out throughout the book, I could still be completely wrong. 

I'm not entirely sure how I feel about Tavia, both as a character and as a narrator. As a narrator, it felt like she sometimes forgot to explain, or at least allude to, how she got to certain conclusions. And that may have been why I felt like there were certain gaps in the story. Beyond her responsibilities as a narrator, I'm still not quite sure how I feel about Tavia. She definitely had a lot dumped on her plate and I don't know how I would have reacted if I had found myself in her position. I admit that what bothered me the most about Tavia is how she kept going back and forth between Benson and Quinn. Even though that eventually all got explained, it still made it difficult for me to appreciate Tavia. And the other characters, I'm also not entirely sure how I felt about them. I thought I had Benson figured out and I actually really liked him, but then that didn't exactly work out the way I had thought it would. And then with Quinn, well he was sort of what I expected him to be, but at the same time he was also a lot more complicated than just that. All that to say that I'm hoping that I'll be able to figure the characters out in future books. 

Overall, Aprilynne Pike's Earthbound was an entertaining read even if I did have some issues with the book as I was reading. The concept was definitely interesting and I'm hoping that some aspects of it will be explored some more in future books.

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Monday, March 18, 2013

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead


Title: The Indigo Spell (Bloodlines #3)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: February 12, 2013
Source: Purchased
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

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

If you've been following this blog for any length of time then you probably know by now that I absolutely love Richelle Mead's books. So I had been waiting for The Indigo Spell ever since I read the very last page of The Golden Lily last spring. So right when I got my hands on a copy of The Indigo Spell I couldn't help but start reading right away and I wasn't disappointed in the least.

Sydney Sage isn't sure where her allegiances lie anymore. After spending so much time int eh company of vampires, Sydney stars to think that maybe everything she's been told by the Alchemists isn't true. And after Adrian's declaration, Sydney really doesn't know what to do anymore. But she doesn't have time to think about that. Between worrying about her increased magic use an worrying about what the Alchemists might be hiding from her, Sydney barely has time to make sure Jill stays safe and hidden from those after her. But when Marcus Finch shows up in town, Sydney can't stay away, especially if it means finding out the truth about the Alchemists. But it might also mean turning her back on everything she knows and everyone she cares about. 

I had all kinds of ideas about what could happen in The Indigo Spell, especially since Richelle Mead is known for breaking her readers' hearts with the third book in her series. So I was prepared to pretty much have my heart wrenched out of my chest. And with every page I turned, I was afraid of what would happen next. But that didn't stop me from enjoying the story in the least. Right from the first page I was beyond thrilled to be back in this world I love, with the characters I have also come to love. There was so much happening in The Indigo Spell, with every page I turned something new was happening. And the romance was back in full force, leading to some majorly swoon-worthy moments. But I don't want to ruin those for anyone. As it turns out though, my heart wasn't completely ripped to pieces, but that only makes me that much more nervous for what's to come in The Fiery Heart.

I've said this before but I love Sydney Sage. I love how conflicted she is over everything because if I were in her shows I would be the same way. And I love who Sydney has become. She's changed so much since I first met her back in the Vampire Academy books and that change has mostly been for the best. And a lot of that chance has to do with Adrian. You really don't want me to get started on Adrian because as strongly as I believed Rose belonged with Dimitri, I always loved Adrian. And I absolutely love the person Adrian is becoming. he keeps on surprising me every time he does anything, especially if it's for Sydney. Let's just say if you weren't already, Adrian will make you swoon in The Indigo Spell. Marcus Finch on the other hand was a bit of a disappointment. He was so played up in the promotion for the book that I expected him to be so much more. He intrigued me for sure, but I thought he would be so much more than he ended up being. Who knows though, maybe he'll come back in future books.

Once again, Richelle Mead didn't disappoint me with The Indigo Spell. I loved the story from start to finish. And as is often the case with any book in this series, I was just begging for The Fiery Heart by the time I finished The Indigo Spell. And if you haven't picked up the Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series by this point, you really should. 

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Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Waiting on Wednesday (73)


Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine where book bloggers devote a post to an upcoming book release they are particularly looking forward to. This week I have two titles I am particularly looking forward to reading.


How My Summer Went Up in Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski
May 7, 2013
Simon Pulse
First she lost her heart. Then she lost her mind. And now she's on a road trip to win back her ex. This debut novel's packed with drama and romance!

Rosie's always been impulsive. She didn't intend to set her cheating ex-boyfriend's car on fire. And she never thought her attempts to make amends could be considered stalking. So whens she's served with a temporary restraining order on the first day of summer vacation, she's heartbroken--and furious.

To put distance between Rosie and her ex, Rosie's parents send her on a cross-country road trip with responsible, reliable neighbor Matty and his two friends. Forget freedom of the road, Rosie wants to hitchhike home and win back her ex. But her determination starts to dwindle with each passing mile. Because Rosie's spark of anger? It may have just ignited a romance with someone new…
Right when I first heard about How My Summer Went Up in Flames I knew I had to read this book. This story just sounds like an incredible amount of fun but also like one where there might be something a little more serious going on. Also there's a road trip. That's all I really needed to know in order to know I have to read this book.



The Rules for Disappearing by Ashley Elston
May 14, 2013
Disney-Hyperion
She's been six different people in six different places: Madeline in Ohio, Isabelle in Missouri, Olivia in Kentucky…But now that she's been transplanted to rural Louisiana, she has decided that this fake identity will be her last. 

Witness Protection has taken nearly everything from her. But for now, they've given her a new name, Megan Rose Jones, and a horrible hair color. For the past eight months, Meg has begged her father to answer one question: What on earth did he do--or see--that landed them in this god-awful mess? Meg has just about had it with all the Suits' rules--and her dad's silence. If he won't help, it's time she got some answers for herself. 

But Meg isn't counting on Ethan Landry, an adorable Louisiana farm boy who's too smart for his own good. He knows Meg is hiding something big. And it just might get both of them killed. As they embark on a perilous journey to free her family once and for all, Meg discovers that there's only one rule that really matters--survival.
This story sounds like it has the potential to have the perfect mix of romance and mystery. The synopsis for The Rules for Disappearing truly has me intrigued. I want to know why this girl is in the Witness Protection Program and I want to know why she's in danger. I guess I'll have to wait until May to figure it out!



Five Summers by Una LaMarche
May 16, 2013
Razorbill
Four best friends, five summers of camp memories.

The summer we were nine: Emma was branded "Skylar's friend Emma" by the infamous Adam Loring…

The summer we were ten: Maddie realized she was too far into her lies to think about telling the truth…

The summer we were eleven: Johanna totally freaked out during her first game of Spin the Bottle…

The summer we were twelve: Skylar's love letters from her boyfriend back home were exciting to all of us--except Skylar…

Our last summer together: Emma and Adam almost kissed. Jo found out Maddie's secret. Skylar did something unthinkable…and whether we knew it then or not, I've summers of friendship began to fall apart.

Three years after the fateful last night of camp, the four of us are coming back to camp for reunion weekend--and for a second chance. 

Bittersweet, funny, and achingly honest, Five Summers is a story of friendship, love, and growing up that is perfect for fans of Anne Brashares and Judy Blume's Summer Sisters.
Anne Brashares' Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants were among the first YA books I ever read, so being told Five Summers is perfect for fans of that author just makes me want to read it even more. The synopsis also totally piqued my curiosity--I want to know what happened that last summer that changed everything. And any book about summer camp is a good book if you ask me.


If you couldn't tell from these books or a fair amount of my posts recently, I LOVE contemporary. If anything, contemporary is probably my favorite genre so I'm excited about all the great contemps that seem to be coming out this year. Maybe this is the year contemporary makes a comeback? Even if it doesn't quite make a comeback, I'm hoping these three books won't disappoint me. 

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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Blog Tour: The Ruining by Anna Collomore


Title: The Ruining
Author: Anna Collomore
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: February 7, 2013
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
Annie Phillips is thrilled to leave her past behind and begin a shiny new life on Belvedere Island, as a nanny for the picture-perfect Cohen family. In no time at all, she falls in love with the Cohens, especially with Libby, the beautiful young matriarch of the family. Life is better than she ever imagined. She even finds romance with the boy next door. 

All too soon cracks appear in Annie's seemingly perfect world. She's blamed for mistakes she doesn't remember making. Her bedroom door comes unhinged, and she feels like she's always being watched. Libby, who once felt like a big sister, is suddenly cold and unforgiving. As she struggles to keep up with the demands of her new life, Annie's fear gives way to frightening hallucinations. Is she tumbling into madness, or is something sinister at play?

The Ruining is a complex ride through first love, chilling manipulation, and the terrifying depths of insanity.

Right when I first heard about Anna Collomore's The Ruining I knew it was a story I just had to read. I'm a sucker for psychological thriller and I'm not sure what that says about me that I like people messing with my mind this much. But anyways, The Ruining was just as twisted as I thought it was going to be, though the last twenty pages or so kind of left me somewhat unsatisfied.

Annie hasn't had an easy life in Detroit, but now she is looking forward to moving to California, starting university, and becoming the Cohen family's new nanny. And at first, Annie can't help but be excited about all of it and it doesn't take long before she feels right at home with the Cohens. And if that wasn't great enough, there's also Owen, the boy next door, who seems to be quite interested in Annie. But what started out so great quickly takes a turn toward a nightmarish situation. Where Libby was once the older sister Annie never had, she is now blaming Annie for things Annie can't remember doing. And soon enough, Annie thinks she's starting to go crazy and there's nothing she can do about it.

I love psychological thrillers. And apparently that means I really love having my mind messed with…which might not be the healthiest thing ever but that's not really the point. With The Ruining everything started out relatively normal and the story made sense. But then some things just started changing and with them I wasn't exactly sure where the story would go. And for the most part I could figure out how things were going to turn out. Or so I thought. But then the more I read, the more I started doubting everything I knew, and I think that might have been what Annie was feeling as well. And I really loved the story for being as twisted as it was. But then I hit the last 20% of the book or so and things started getting strange. Not that they weren't strange before but it felt like the story took a turn and I kinda missed that turn. For the most part, it seemed like a logical progression of events, but then the end just felt a little rush and while it was the turnout I expected, it didn't happen in the way I thought it would.

So the characters in The Ruining. When I first started reading the story, I liked Annie. I could understand from her background why she wanted a fresh start and just how excited she was to be living in this completely new world. As the story moved on, I wasn't really sure what to think of her. I didn't believe she was going crazy, but at the same time I was getting increasingly annoyed with how easily she was letting herself get manipulated by the people around her, especially Libby. And Libby was the character that truly annoyed me and got on my nerves. Though I think that may have been the point when it came to her. But still, it sometimes felt like the woman suffered from split personality. And Libby's behaviour, I have to say is what messed with my mind the most because I just couldn't figure out when she wasn't being herself. And I also thing that's one of the main reasons I was unsatisfied with the way things ended. It just didn't feel like some aspects of Libby were explained enough.

Anna Collomore's The Ruining was interesting to say the least. And while the story didn't capture my attention for the majority of the book, the ending did leave me somewhat unsatisfied. Regardless, if you are looking for something a little different, you might want to give this psychological thriller a try.


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Sunday, December 23, 2012

Blog Tour: Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes


Title: Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1)
Author: Morgan Rhodes
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Source: Borrowed from fellow blogger
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined.

Cleo: A princess raised in luxury must embark on a rough and treacherous journey into enemy territory in search of a magic long thought extinct.

Jonas: Enraged at injustice, a rebel lashes out against the forces of oppression that have kept his country impoverished--and finds himself the leader of a people's revolution centuries in the making.

Lucia: A girl adopted at birth into a royal family discovers the truth about her past--and the supernatural legacy she is destined to wield.

Magnus: Bred for aggression and trained to conquer, a firstborn son begins to realize that the heart can be more lethal than the sword…

The only outcome that's certain is that kingdoms will fall. Who will emerge triumphant when all they know has collapsed?

Though I tend to enjoy it when I read it, I don't actually read all that much high fantasy. There's not real reason why, it's just not something that I will go and pick up on my own. But with how much I had heard about Morgan Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms, I figured I should probably read it. And I turned out to be just as good as everything I had heard about it.

For thousands of years, the three kingdoms of Auranos, Paelsia and Limeros have lived side by side without much conflict. But that doesn't mean that everyone is happy with the way things are. The Auranians have had no shortage of riches while the Paelsians are struggling to put food on the table and the Limerians are in the cold lands in the north. But things are about to change. Jonas wants to avenge his brother's death and take back what Auranos has been taking from Paelsia for hundreds of years. Prince Magnus has been trained to fight and wants nothing more than to help his father take over Auranos. And through it all Princess Cleo has to find a way to escape an arrange marriage all the while helping protect the fate of Auranos.

LIke I've said, high fantasy doesn't really tend to be my cup of tea. Typically it's not something I will pick up on my own but when it's recommended to me enough times I will pick up a high fantasy book. And Falling Kingdoms by Morgan Rhodes had come highly recommended by a number of people. And so I started reading, and it didn't take too long for me to get wrapped up in the story. Fantasy stories rely heavily on world building, and with Falling Kingdoms I could see it. All the time while reading, I could picture the world Morgan Rhodes was describing, whether it was the trend lawns of Auranos, the dry lands of Paelsia or the frozen ones of Limeros. The focus of the story itself was war but it felt like there was a lot more to it. There was also a strong focus on family and loyalty, even a little bit of romance, no matter how disturbing that romance could be at times. But primarily, this story was about the characters.

Like I've said this story was primarily about all the characters. At least those who didn't get killed. Because let me warn you if you plan on reading Falling Kingdoms there are characters dying left, right and center. Usually right as I started getting attached to a character, it got killed off, it almost got to the point where I started expecting characters to die. But for the characters that actually stayed alive for the duration of the book. They all had something that they were willing to fight for, whether it was their family, love or just something bigger and that was what kind of brought them all together in my mind. Though there were no clear alliances and the main characters by far did not all like each other, they were still all connected by what they were going through, and each of them was more than they let on. Jonas was more than just a young man trying to avenge his brother's death. Cleo was more than just a princess looking for love, and Magnus was more than the fighter his father had trained him to be. But no one really realized there was more to the people they were so dead set on hating and that just made the story more interesting for me.

Overall, Morgan Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms ended up being a fantastic read. Though I am not typically a big fantasy reader, you can be sure that I will be picking up the sequel, if only to see what happens to everyone after the major events of this first installment. 

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Monday, June 11, 2012

The Golden Lily by Richelle Mead


Title: The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: June 12, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. Alchemists protect vampire secrets--and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she's been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California--tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age-old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi--the fiercest vampires, the ones who don't die. But it's her fear of being just that--special, magical, powerful--that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else--someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney's loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists--or her heart?

I am a huge Richelle Mead fan and I love both her Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series. Because f that, The Golden Lily was pretty much the book I was looking forward to the most this year. And in true Richelle Mead fashion, The Golden Lily was amazing and left me begging for more.

Sidney Sage is a member of the Alchemists, a group dedicated to keeping the vampire world secret from humans. Her whole life, Sydney has been taught to hate vampires, but her latest assignment is making her doubt everything she has ever been taught. The more time she spends with Angeline, Jill, Eddie and especially Adrian, the more she realizes that vampires may not be as bad and awful as she has always been told. Despite all this doubt, Sydney is being held up as the model Alchemist and she couldn't feel like more of a fraud. But soon enough, a mysterious group threatens the vampire world, and more importantly, Sydney's friends. Suddenly, Sydney's loyalties are put to the test, but she isn't sur who she should trust anymore.

Before I say anything else, I will apologize for any gushing that may follow. I have so much love for both Richelle Mead and The Golden Lily. I had very high expectations for the book and they were more than met. The Golden Lily was incredible, and once I started reading, I just couldn't put the book down. I was completely drawn into the story, not wanting to ever leave. The story itself was fantastic and never even came close to dragging or being boring. And the ending, oh that ending. I sort of saw it coming but that doesn't mean it wasn't a killer. Even though I know things will probably work out, that's still not how I wanted things to go.

While she will never replace Rose in my heart, Sydney is still one of my favorite characters of all time. I am loving the person Sydney is becoming even though I know parts of becoming that person were definitely hard for her This time around, her academic approach to romance definitely had me smiling on more than one occasion. Sydney's just such an overall great character. Like with Bloodlines, I loved being able to see more of Jill, Eddie and Adrian. They are such great characters and finding out more about them just makes me love them even more. Especially Adrian. Because while I never thought he was right for Rose, I always had a major soft spot for Adrian. And with every page of The Golden Lily I read, I loved Adrian more. And of course, having Dimitri Belikov back wasn't so bad. 

The Golden Lily was even better than I expected it to be. Richelle Mead certainly knows how to toy with her readers' emotions, leaving them begging for more. And with that ending, I'm not entirely sure how I'm going to be able to wait for book three.

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Friday, March 16, 2012

Dark Eyes by William Richter


Title: Dark Eyes
Author: William Richter
Publisher: Razorbill
Release Date: March 15, 2012
Source: ARC from Publisher
Buy the Book: Amazon / Book Depository / Indigo
A vigilante would fight for justice at any cost. wally could be that fearless…

But for now, she is a runaway. Her identity is a mystery.

Wallis Stoneman was born in Russian and adopted by a wealthy family in New York City. Beautiful and rebellious, she trades a life of privilege for the gritty streets of Manhattan. She knows nothing of her childhood in Russia. Those years are lost forever.

Until she finds a vital clue to her past.

Now she's sixteen and hardened, and she's just stumbled across a harrowing secret that will change her life forever: Wally's roots are deadly. She's the daughter of Klesko, a notorious Russian gangster who's just broken out of prison.

Danger is her destiny.

Klesko is trailing the fortune Wally's mother stole from him long ago, and he'll stop at nothing to find it…even if it means killing his own blood.

Can Wally find--and save--her mother before Klesko destroys them both?

Despite having seen it floating around the blogosphere, I hadn't really heard that much about Dark Eyes by William Richter before reading it. I am glad I hadn't because nothing could have put into words exactly how awesome Dark Eyes ended up being. Even I may have trouble doing so in this review.

Wally Stoneman had everything she could have possibly wanted but instead she chose to join a crew and start living on the streets of New York City. Now Wally is trying to find information on her Russian birthmother, but that is proving to be more difficult and more dangerous than she ever could have thought. It seems that every new clue to discovering her mother's identity only brings with it more danger and more mystery. And to make things better, two dangerous men are hot on her trail, leaving a string of dead bodies in their wake. Now Wally is racing against time, trying to get to her mother before her birth father does. If she fails, she may never know who her mother was.

Dark Eyes was an absolutely fantastic read. I'll admit that at first I wasn't sure about the book but that was because there were a lot of back stories that needed to be established. But let me just say that once that was done, the story just took off and it was a crazy ride. It was packed with action and full of twists and turns. While there were some parts of the story that I was able to figure out, most of it I didn't see coming. But even when I did see things coming, it didn't stop me from enjoying every moment of the story. William Richter is also a screenwriter and that is definitely something I could see while reading, especially when reading all the action sequences. I definitely loved every part of this book.

One of the things I really liked about the book was the number of characters that were present. The nice thing about them is that they were actually all relevant to the story in some way or other, and at the end of the book they all ended up somehow being connected to one another. My favorite was definitely Wally because there was just so much to her. The was she appeared to the world wasn't everything, the more you peeled back the layers, the more you discovered there was to Wally. All the other characters were also very interesting, and much like with Wally, there was often more than meets the eye to them. The varie cast of characters was definitely one of the reasons I enjoyed the story as much as I did, especially since they really added to all the mystery in the book.

In Dark Eyes, William Richter wrote a fantastic story that was fast-paced, action packed and full of twists and turns. If you are looking for a read packed with action and mystery, then Dark Eyes is the book for you. 

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