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Sunday, January 31, 2010

In My Mailbox (Jan 31)


"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren!



Purchased:

Library:

► I did get a third book this week, but I'm not going to tell you what it is. Turns out a publisher sent me a second copy of a book I already received (not sure if it was a mistake or a contest win), so it looks like I have a surprise giveaway in the very near future. :)

So what did YOU receive in the mail? Anything good? Link me!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Award time! Woo-hoo!

The lovely Miss Cindy at Simple Life and Reading has recently awarded me with two very cool blog awards. So now it's my turn to pass them on!

The first one is:

Now I've received this award before but it's ALWAYS nice to get it again. :)

1) Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award and his or her blog link.

2) Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you have newly discovered.

3) Remember to contact the blogger's to let them know they have been chosen for this

15?! Wowsers, how about 10? Okay here we go:

The Book Vixen
Laura @ The Calico Critic
Morgan @ Books and Literature for Teens
Jessica @ Book Bound
Rachel @ Parajunkee's View
JuJu @ Tales of a Whimsy
Natalie @ Mindful Musings
Mel @ He Followed Me Home
Carolyn @ Book Chick City
Kate @ The Neverending Shelf


I know some of you guys have received this before but TOUGH. You're getting it again! :)

The second one is:

Which I am going to pass on to my top commentators! Thank you lovelies for constantly stopping by and leaving my blog some love. You guys are a great support and totally fantasmical!

Juju @ Tales of a Whimsy
Becky @ The Bookette
Alyssa @ Teens Read & Write
Jenn @ Books at Midnight
Marie @ Monster of Books
Jenn @ Book Crazy
Lisa @ Book Blab
Eleni @ La Femme Readers
Angel (ninefly) @ Story on a Page
And of course, Cindy


Many lovely thanks to all my followers, you each deserve these awards! I hope everyone has a great Saturday. ♥

Friday, January 29, 2010

Friday Finds (Jan 29) / Follow Friday (#10)

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. The idea is to share books that you recently came across, whether new or old, that you've never heard of before and added to your TBR pile.


Friday Finds:




7 Souls by Barnabas Miller
(discovered via around the blogosphere or Goodreads)
Genre: YA
Released: July 13, 2010

Mary expected her seventeenth birthday to be a blowout to remember, courtesy of her best friends, fellow New York City prepsters Amy and Joon, and her doting boyfriend, Trick.

Instead, the day starts badly and gets worse. After waking up in a mortifying place with a massive, unexplainable hangover, Mary soon discovers that nobody at school is even aware that it's her birthday. As evening approaches, paranoia sets in. Mary just can't shake the feeling that someone is out to get her—and, as it turns out, she's right. Before the night is over, she's been killed in cold blood.

But murder is just the beginning of Mary's ordeal. Her soul gets trapped in a strange limbo, and she must relive the day of her death through the eyes of seven people—each of whom, she finds, had plenty of reasons to hate her. As Mary explores the mysteries of her world, discovering secrets that were hidden in plain sight while she was alive, she clings desperately to the hope that she can solve her own murder, change the past, and—just maybe—save her own life.




Nomansland by Lesley Hauge
(discovered via Goodreads)
Genre: YA
Released: June 22, 2010

Sometime in the future, a lonely, windswept island is populated
solely by women.

Among these women is a group of teenaged Trackers — expert equestrians and archers — whose job is to protect their shores from the enemy. The enemy, they’ve been told, is men. When these girls come upon a partially buried home from the distant past, they are fascinated by the strange objects—high-heeled shoes, teen magazines, make-up found there. What are they to make of these mysterious things? And what does it mean for their strict society where friendship is forbidden and rules must be obeyed—at all costs?




Follow Friday:

Taking one from Twitter's books here and doing my own version of Follow Friday! Every Friday I will highlight 1-2 blogs that I follow or just discovered who I think are worth following around the bookish blogosphere. :)



Lily's Bookshelf
(Contest: Follower/Series Giveaway
- International - Ends January 31st.)

- Lily's Bookshelf is another blog I recently came across. She has a very chic site (another lovely design by Rachel) and definitely worth checking out. Stop by and follow!


► I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and Happy Reading!

Thursday, January 28, 2010

2010 Debut Author Challenge



2010 Debut Author Challenge hosted by The Story Siren


  • The objective is to read a set number of YA (Young Adult) or MG (Middle Grade) novels from debut authors published this year. I'm going to challenge everyone to read at least 12 debut novels! I’m hoping to read at least 30! You don’t have to list your choices right away, but if you do feel free to change them throughout the year. I will also be focusing on mostly Young Adult novels.
  • ♣ Anyone can join, you don’t need a blog to participate. If you don’t have a blog you can always share your views by posting a review on Amazon.com/BarnesandNoble.com/GoodReads/Shelfari, or any other bookish site.
  • ♣ The challenge will run from January 1, 2010- December 31, 2010. You can join at anytime!

If you sign up, make sure to link your post in the Mr. Linky!

My goal: 20 books

01. The Dark Divine (Review)
02. Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey (Review)
03. The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg (Review)
04. The Rise of Renegade X by Chelsea Campbell

Possible books: (subject to change)

The Mark - Jen Nadol
The Body Finder - Kimberly Derting
13 To Life - Shannon Delaney
Firespell - Chloe Neill
Shadow Hills - Anastacia Hopcus
Bleeding Violet - Dia Reeves
Guardian of the Dead - Karen Healey
Harmonic Feedback - Tara Kelly
Voices of Dragons - Carrie Vaughn
Feed - Mira Grant
Nomansland - Lesley Hauge
Prophecy of Days - Christy Raedeke
A Blue So Dark - Holly Schindler

► Alright, alright, I caved! So much for limiting myself to 3 reading challenges. I couldn't resist.

Review: The Lonely Hearts Club by Elizabeth Eulberg

Lonely Hearts Club


Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary - Teen
Edition: Hardcover
Page Count: 320
Pub. Date: December 29, 2009
Series: N/A

Reading Challenge: 2010 YA

My Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 4.5 stars
Goodreads: 4.04 (Average)

Recommended For: Teenage girls, any Young Adult/Teen readers, Fans of The Beatles

Book Summary: (inside cover)
Penny is sick of boys and sick of dating, so she vows: No more. She's had one too many bad dates, and has been hurt by one too many boys.
It's a personal choice...and soon everybody wants to know about it. It seems that Penny's not the only girl who's tired of the way girls change themselves (most of the time for the worst) in order to get their guys...or the way their guys don't really care.
Girls are soon thronging to The Lonely Hearts Club, and Penny finds herself near legendary for her nondating ways - which is too bad, since the leader of The Lonely Hearts Club has found a boy she can't help but like.

My Thoughts:

Boys suck. (Okay, maybe not ALL the time). And our leading lady, Penny Lane, has had it with them. Especially the boys at school with their fake personas and childish behavior. As it turns out, Penny wasn't the only one. What started as a club of three, soon blossoms into a club consisting of forty-plus girls all feeling the same way. And that turns into a bit of a fiasco at McKinley High School with the opposite gender. With Penny's lifelong crush pleading for reconciliation after breaking her heart, the school's principle breathing down her neck demanding that the club shut down, and a new boy on the horizon, Penny begins to understand that you CAN get by with a little help from your friends.

And that was my favorite aspect of this novel. While the story begins with a broken heart and a feeling of hopelessness, the theme matures to a tale of independence and self-discovery. We see the rise of friendship through many differences and all odds. A group of girls coming together through hardships to stand by one another. And the great characters just kept coming. I loved the vast array of personalities that contributed to the story. Even the boys.

Another thing I enjoyed was the Beatles undertones, which played very nicely with the rest of the content. (The inclusion of The Beatles is actually one of the first reasons I decided to read this book.) Penny's parents are a riot in the fact that they would probably put most Beatles fans to shame. Naming all three of their daughters after Beatles songs (Lucy, Rita, & Penny Lane), swearing against Beatles cover-bands, taking yearly trips to Liverpool, AND being vegetarians to follow Paul's beliefs - they would make most children cringe at their obsession. But for Penny, the Beatles were her vice - the 4 boys who never let her down.

Overall consensus: The Lonely Hearts Club is a genuinely good read. Slightly predictable in some parts but I completely felt for Penny and enjoyed the camaraderie within the story. A book flowing with teenage issues, self-discovery, and love - it will have you smiling and cheering on Penny and The Lonely Hearts Club. Oh and one last thing, make sure you have a Beatles album lying around because I guarantee you'll want to listen to them when you're finished. :)

I get by with a little help from my friends...

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

On My Wishlist (10) / Waiting on Wednesday (Jan 27)


On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City that allows us to share the books we haven't bought yet but are waiting to be bought and devoured.


Title: Malice
Author: Chris Wooding
Genre: YA, Graphic Novel
Published: February 2, 2009

Everyone's heard of it, but nobody's read it...Seth and Kady have heard all the stories about MALICE - a secret comic about a strange and awful world full of traps and tricks, overseen by a sinister master of ceremonies, Tall Jake. But if rumors are to be believed, the children in this comic are real...

- This is getting me pumped up for my graphic novel/comic book appreciation month!





Title: Daughter of the Flames
Author: Zoƫ Marriott
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Published: February 10, 2008

What if your deadliest enemy were the only one who could save you?

Inside an ancient temple in the mountains, fifteen-year-old Zira trains in the martial arts to become a warrior priestess who can defend the faith of the Ruan people. Bearing a scar on her face from the fire that killed her parents, the orphaned Zira is taught to distrust the occupying Sedornes. Terror strikes when the forces of the tyrannical Sedorne king destroy the only home she knows. To survive, Zira must unravel the secrets of her identity, decide her people’s fate — and accept her growing feelings for a man who should be her enemy.


- How awesome is that cover? Fantastic.





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



Title: Possessed
Author: Kate Cann
Genre: Young Adult, Speculative Fiction - Ghost/Horror
Published: February 1, 2010


Rayne can't wait to start her summer job at a remote country mansion, far from the crowded, noisy London she so desperately wants to escape. But the retreat soon turns into a nightmare -- the mansion is creepy, the legends of ghosts keep Rayne up at night, and she doesn't feel safe anywhere.

Can Rayne figure out why she's so freaked -- before she becomes a ghost story herself?


How about you, what is on YOUR wishlist?

► Just to let you all know, as of next week "On My Wishlist" will be moving to Saturday per Book Chick City's changes to her blog. Not going to lie, I'm actually kind of excited because I'll finally have something to post every Saturday, haha. Happy Wednesday everyone! Expect my review for The Lonely Hearts Club tomorrow. :)

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (Jan 26)


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • - Grab your current read
  • - Open to a random page
  • - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • - BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder

"When I fall asleep for real,
I'm a butterfly,
floating from flower to flower.
There's no color but I still feel
peaceful and happy.
At home.

A nice dream
until a shadow comes,
and swallows the warm sunshine."


► I actually just finished this the other day, but seeing as I am still undecided about what book to read next, I figured I might as well use it for today's Teaser Tuesday. Such a fantastic read! Review is in the works. :)

Feel free to leave a comment with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your 2 ‘teasers’ in a comment here!

Monday, January 25, 2010

Review: Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron

Struts & Frets


Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary - Music
Edition: Hardcover; Library
Page Count: 304
Pub. Date: November 1, 2009
Series: N/A

Reading Challenge: 2010 YA + 2010 Support Your Local Library

My Rating: 5 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 5 stars
Goodreads: 3.87 (Average)

Recommended For: Everyone - especially YA readers, anyone who loves music.

Book Summary:
Music is in Sammy’s blood. His grandfather was a jazz musician, and Sammy’s indie rock band could be huge one day—if they don’t self-destruct first. Winning the upcoming Battle of the Bands would justify all the band’s compromises and reassure Sammy that his life’s dream could become a reality. But practices are hard to schedule when Sammy’s grandfather is sick and getting worse, his mother is too busy to help either of them, and his best friend may want to be his girlfriend.

When everything in Sammy’s life seems to be headed for major catastrophe, will his music be enough to keep him together?


My Thoughts:

Forewarning: major musical geeking out is about to take place. I kind of feel like a babbling baboon (say that 5x fast, I dare you) Anyway!

Music is such a big part of my life, even considering the fact that I can't play an instrument to save my life. But reading this book reminded me why I love it so much. Like reading, it transports you to a different place. When nothing else can seem to get me grounded, music has what it takes to give me that push.

Struts & Frets reverberates in my brain; like listening to a song at maximum volume with the biggest headphones that eyes could ever see. I may not be able to tell you what cord-C or cord-D sounds like or looks like on paper, but the passion for music was just flowing as I was reading this. And it's always amazing when life combines two things I love, reading and music, and provides another outlet that I can get lost in. That is why I absolutely adore this book.

And then you add in everything in between. Sammy Bojar, the main character, is a 16 year-old boy who has a tendency to wear his heart on his sleeve and just wants to make music. So much so, that he is willing to keep his band, Tragedy of Wisdom, together despite the fact that the lead singer scares the crap out of him. But through the journey of surviving high school drama, family woes, dealing with a band made of opposites, taking risks, and finding love - he is discovering that life is messy and complicated, but it's also full of promise and potential.

In this tale of love, loss, and discovery, Sammy's adolescent voice rings true and honest. Complete with insecurities, doubt, and the awkwardness that comes with the territory of growing up. But never once does he cross that line into whiny, self-absorbed angst. And the other characters are just as easy to love. Jen5 (called such because all the other Jennifer nicknames were taken) is a fun, competent girl who provides Sammy with the solidity that his life is lacking and challenges him to break out if his shell. Jon Skovron really put authenticity and a well-versed sense of reality into his writing. Never once does he skirt the heavier issues of growing up, instead embraces it while adding that extra dose of humor that creates a very cool read.

And while I realize that not everyone will feel that same musical buzz that I did, I can only hope that you at least give it a chance. It may not be the best book ever written, but the impact it had on me is what made this book so great. Anyone who has ever felt that musical pang in their chest when listening to a song, or even those who have ever felt like an outsider because of a passion or an ideal, can - and will - take something away from this book. Or maybe you'll find that inner musical geek within yourself.

Overall consensus, Struts & Frets is a book to be enjoyed by everyone. And any book that can make The Pixies and Shakespeare work together to form a great story like this has my highest recommendation. Whether you're a music fiend or just looking to get lost in a good story, this is a book to read. Press play and enjoy the beat! :)

Links: Author's Website

Weekly Recap (Jan 18-24)


Reviews:

Thirst (No. 1) by Christopher Pike (3/5)
Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey (3.5/5)

Posts:

In My Mailbox (Jan. 24)
New Blogs on the Block @ Book Chick City
Friday Finds (Jan 23)/ Follow Friday (9)
On My Wishlist (9)/ Waiting on Wednesday (Jan. 20)
Teaser Tuesday (Jan. 19)
M.I.A - Computer Issues

Upcoming:

★ Reviews for Struts & Frets, The Lonely Hearts Club, and Hate List!
★ Getting some ideas together for my graphic novel/comic book appreciation month. No idea what I'm talk about? Read HERE!

Sites/Links to check out!:

YA Connection (January 16-22) @ The Story Siren
★ Want to win an Amazon Kindle? Check out YABC's Monthly Kindle Giveaway!
★ Love YA fiction? Stop by/sign up for TeenFire - a great new social networking site on the Ning network. Thanks Teens Read & Write for the heads-up!
★ Not a Sci-Fi fan? You should be. Check out Tor.com's article: What books are good for introducing non-SF readers to SF? - Some interesting suggestions in the comments!

Cover of the Week:

Siren
- Love it!


► A lot of good stuff this week and even more good stuff to come! Woo-hoo!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

In My Mailbox (Jan 24)


"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi The Story Siren!



LAST WEEK...

Won:

Purchased:

THIS WEEK...

Won:

Purchased:

Library:

► Phew! Got a double IMM today since I missed last week due to computer issues. I can't believe I've already read 4 of them. So many glorious books! *_* How was your loot this week? Tell me/Link me!

Saturday, January 23, 2010

New Blogs on the Block @ Book Chick City!


Hey guys, the lovely Book Chick City has interviewed me for her weekly feature, "New Blogs on the Block". Stop by and check it out! Hopefully I didn't embarrass myself too much, haha. ;) Many copious thanks to Carolyn for having me on her wonderful blog today!



ALSO! In the interview I mentioned that in the very near future I planned on doing a graphic novel/comic book appreciation month...well, I've decided that it is definitely going to happen. The month is still undecided (I was thinking about either April or May) but I wanted to get the word out. And in doing so, I was wondering if any of you lovely bloggers would be interested in getting involved. Maybe posting about your favorite comics, answering some questions for an interview, and/or even sending me some comic news. The ideas are in motion and still in the beginning stages, but if you or anyone you know would like to be involved somehow, someway, please feel free to drop me a comment or an e-mail! (E-mail addy is in my sidebar) I have a few friends and fellow bloggers interested already, but I'd love to hear from you!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Friday Finds (Jan 23) / Follow Friday (#9)

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. The idea is to share books that you recently came across, whether new or old, that you've never heard of before and added to your TBR pile.


Friday Finds:




She Thief by Daniel Finn
(discovered via Goodreads)
Genre: YA
Released: April 13, 2010

The girl, Baz, and the boy, Demi, are master pickpockets. They weave through rich neighborhoods to slip bags off shoulders and wallets out of pockets before disappearing into the crowd. Their loot goes to Fay, who runs a gang of child thieves from her den in the Barrio. This sweltering slum—in a city that is imagined, but all too real—is what passes for home to the kids, and Fay is what passes for family.

That all changes the day Demi steals a magnificent blue ring. Soon, the police chief and the Barrio’s crime boss close in on Fay, and she begins to break under their pressure. Baz has never doubted Fay before. She’s never been apart from Demi, either. But soon, Baz is left alone to find her way through a world more corrupt than she’s ever realized. Here, the lives of children are thrown away without a moment’s hesitation. Here, the rich and powerful are just thieves on a larger scale. And somewhere in this wreck of a city, Baz must find the scraps of hope, the small acts of kindness, and the steely strength that will take her back to Demi and wash them both out of the Barrio for good.




Follow Friday:

Taking one from Twitter's books here and doing my own version of Follow Friday! Every Friday I will highlight 2-3 blogs that I follow or just discovered who I think are worth following around the bookish blogosphere. :)



Tales of Whimsy

Tales of a Whimsy
(Contest: There's 3 different contests going on right now for the following titles: Powers, Through The Triangle, and Split by a Kiss & Extreme Kissing. I highly encourage you to check em out!)

- Juju at Tales of a Whimsy was one of the first to ever welcome me into the blogging world and one of the first blogs I ever followed. She is such a sweetheart and continues to be one of my favorite bloggers around the blogosphere. :)



The Book Butterfly
(Contest: Kim has 5 contests going on right now, all of them for some up & coming (and rather popular) YA titles. Go check em out on her sidebar!)

- Kim at The Book Butterfly is another blogger I enjoy following with her fab reviews, smart interviews, and generous giveaways. She's got a great site with a lot of content to be enjoyed by all. Check her out!


► I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday and Happy Reading!

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Review: Hearts at Stake by Alyxandra Harvey

Hearts at Stake


Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal-Romance, Vampire
Edition: Softcover
Page Count: 249
Pub. Date: December 22, 2009
Series: Drake Chronicles, #1

Reading Challenge: 2010 YA Challenge

My Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 4 stars
Goodreads: 4.22 (Average)

Recommended For: YA readers, fans of paranormal romance and/or teen vampire books.

Book Summary: (back of the book)
Solange Drake always knew she was destined to become a vampire queen. And as the only female vampire ever born, not made, she is surrounded by danger on all sides - from vampire suitors, who want to join with her lineage to bounty hunters who are set on destroying her and her family. When she is kidnapped, it's up to her older brother Nicholas and her human best friend, Lucy, to save her. But can Lucy save herself from Nicholas, who tempts her with his every look? And what will be Solange's own fate if she surrenders her heart to the vampire hunter helping her survive the deadly intrigue at the royal court?


My Thoughts:

Hearts at Stake is another novel to be added to the ever-growing trend of teenage vampire books, but in all honesty, it's a nice addition to that humongous pile. Wit, adventure, and enjoyable writing are all terms that come to mind when I think about it. I surely had a good time while reading it. And I must say that Hearts At Stake was a nice reprieve from the violence induced novel that was Thirst by Christopher Pike. I needed the side of romance after reading that one, phew.

I loved the characters, I enjoyed the storyline, but there just wasn't enough for me to get totally invested in the novel. The book was continuously moving but I guess a part of me would have liked it to be a bit darker and lengthier, but that's just my opinion. The continuous chapter switch from both Lucy and Solange's POV kinda threw me at first, but it didn't take long for me to get in the groove. The action kept me interested in seeing where the twists led, even if the ending was slightly predictable. But, all-in-all I had a great time getting involved in the story.

The characters themselves were very enjoyable, especially Lucy. I loved her feisty attitude and the loyalty she showed towards her best friend (and vampire princess) Solange. Their interactions were always entertaining and provided many laughs throughout the story. The secondary characters, mainly being The Drake family, also provided some great dialogue and kept the pace flowing. Although, I would love to see more interaction from the other Drake family members in the upcoming installments. Fingers crossed.

Overall consensus: Honestly, there really isn't anything bad that I have to say for Hearts at Stake, only that it was more of a "filler" read for me more than anything. Too light for my kind of vampire book, but I know that there are many readers out there who'll get a kick out of it. It comes with my recommendation for any YA paranormal/para-romance readers.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

On My Wishlist (9) / Waiting on Wednesday (Jan 20)


On My Wishlist is a weekly meme hosted by Book Chick City that allows us to share the books we haven't bought yet but are waiting to be bought and devoured.


Title: Rising Shadow
Author: Jacquelyn Wheeler
Genre: YA, Urban Fantasy
Published: September 10th, 2009

Ashlyn Woods just transferred to one of the most beautiful campuses on the west coast, where she can't wait to start her life over as a normal college student. But her plans take an unexpected turn when she discovers that she is a Soterian: a person who develops amazing powers when the balance of good and evil shifts too far in evil's favor. Soon she and the other Soterians are studying martial arts and learning to use their powers to prevent California from being plunged into chaos. But they quickly discover that they're up against a much more dangerous enemy than they anticipated. And when Ashlyn meets Kai, a devastatingly gorgeous guitar player, she realizes she must sacrifice more than she ever imagined.

- Ooh, cool!





Title: The Bookman
Author: Lavie Tidhar
Genre: Steampunk, Historical Fiction
Published: January 7th, 2010

A masked terrorist has brought London to its knees - there are bombs inside books, and nobody knows which ones. On the day of the launch of the first expedition to Mars, by giant cannon, he outdoes himself with an audacious attack. For young poet Orphan, trapped in the screaming audience, it seems his destiny is entwined with that of the shadowy terrorist, but how? Like a steam-powered take on V for Vendetta, rich with satire and slashed through with automatons, giant lizards, pirates, airships and wild adventure, The Bookman is the first of a series.

- Love the cover, love the summary!





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



Title: Voices of Dragons
Author: Carrie Vaughn
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Published: March 1, 2010


On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity’s deepest fears: dragons.

Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she’s breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she’d rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, a secret friendship grows between them—even though the fragile truce that has maintained peace between their two species is unraveling around them. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?


How about you, what is on YOUR wishlist?

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Teaser Tuesday (Jan 19)...better late than never!


Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
  • - Grab your current read
  • - Open to a random page
  • - Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
  • - BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
  • - Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!



Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron

"I pulled out my notebook and stared for a moment at the title I'd written down: Plastic Baby. I didn't know what it meant. It had just come bubbling out of my psyche or something during study hall. I tried to look at writing a song almost like solving a mystery. The song was there, buried somewhere in my brain. All I had to do was follow the clues until I figured it out."


► I'm such a sucker for a book about music. Just started it and I like it already.

Feel free to leave a comment with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your 2 ‘teasers’ in a comment here!

Review: Thirst (No. 1) by Christopher Pike

title or description


Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Paranormal, Vampire
Edition: Softcover
Page Count: 624
Pub. Date: August 4, 2009
Series: Book 1

Reading Challenge: 2010 YA Challenge

My Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 4 stars
Goodreads: 3.79 (Average)

Recommended For: Older Teens & Adults, Gritty vampire/paranormal readers

Book Summary:
Alisa has been in control of her urges for the five thousand years she has been a vampire. She feeds but does not kill, and she lives her life on the fringe to maintain her secret. But when her creator returns to hunt her, she must break her own rules in order to survive.

Her quest leads her to Ray. He is the only person who can help her; he also has every reason to fear her. Alisa must get closer to him to ensure her immortality. But as she begins to fall in love with Ray, suddenly there is more at stake than her own life....


My Thoughts:

First off, I know this claims to be a Young Adult read, but I'd recommend it for older teens. There are elements in the book that are for more mature readers. Now, for my review...

This one was a bit of a hit or miss with me. Sometimes I enjoyed it, other times I was ready to set the book aside and start reading something else. But, for the most part, I did like it. I bought this book on a whim, having only seen it once or twice around the blogosphere, and let me tell you - you won't find any sparkly vampires here.

The leading character, a Miss Alisa Perne, is a 5,000 year old vampire who befriended some of the most accomplished artists, scholars, and influential people of the centuries. I found her history to be a most intriguing plot point in the storyline. One thing Alisa doesn't lack is tenacity. And my, does she have it ten-fold. Her cruelty and cunning personality are both amazing and ruthless. She's not your average leading female protagonist who you can relate to and/or empathize with. But her unforgivable nature is what makes her such a memorable character. In a way, you kinda just want to hate her at times - not going to lie.

The writing was most interesting in the fact that the prose often reached a poetical plateau, in a sense, that I just wasn't expecting. Every chapter is very much too the point. At times it almost read like a journal entry - or like you were hearing Alisa speak the words from her own lips. It gives the reader(s) an interesting look at her thought process.

The aspect that threw me the most was the mythological part of the story. Krishna? Vashnu? Huh? More than once I had struggled with the idea of skipping those chapters entirely, but because they were so laced with Alisa's past, I couldn't - not without jeopardizing the story anyway. In the end, intrigue won out and I thought it was an interesting part of the book. Definitely a unique twist in a vampire story.

Overall consensus: Thirst is a dark and gritty vampire book with unique mythological aspects, some - yet very little romance, and plenty of violence. Not cutthroat by any means, but there are some explosions, copious amounts of fighting, and some folks losing their heads. If you're looking for a light read, look elsewhere. But if you want a book that deals with vampires like they should be (ruthless paranormal creatures) then this is a book to be added to your "TBR" pile. Although I won't go as far as saying it's a "must-read".

Sunday, January 17, 2010

M.I.A. - Computer issues and continued love/hate relationship with technology

As much as I love technology, it can be a REAL pain sometimes. Especially when my computer is hanging on by its last breath. I've been computer/internetless since January 11th, therefore, my blog has remained idle for about a week. I wanted to extend my sincere apologies for not being able to log on before then. I know a few people have tried to reach me by e-mail and I'm sorry that I was not able to reach you guys before then.

BUT, it seems the long and tiresome effort actually paid off and my computer is back up and running. *dances on the spot!* Seriously, for awhile I thought that I would have to invest in a new one, but thank God I don't have to spend that kind of money.

Anyways, during my extended leave of absence from the web, I did get some good reading time in. So look out for a couple reviews in the next few days. :)

I still have quite a few things to do yet, but it's just good to be back! Looks like I got a lot of catching up to do.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Weekly Recap (Jan 4 - Jan 10)


Reviews:

The Dark Divine by Bree Despain (4.5/5)

Posts:

In My Mailbox (Jan. 10)
Friday Finds (Jan 8)/ Follow Friday (8)
On My Wishlist (8)/ Waiting on Wednesday (Jan. 6)
Teaser Tuesday (Jan. 5)
2010 Book List

Upcoming:

★ Review for Thirst (No. 1) by Christopher Pike (About halfway through!)
★ Going to start delving into Graphic Novels soon. Although I'm debating if I want to dedicate an entire month (or couple weeks) to them. To be decided upon!

Sites/Links to check out!:

★ Have you read The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins? Want to discuss it with other enthusiastic readers? Well check out The January Book Talk post over at The Neverending Shelf for details. I know I'm down. :)

(I've been away from the blogosphere for the past day or so, meaning I need to do some major catching up. Expect this section to be updated - possibly - a little later)

Cover of the Week:

Harmonic Feedback
- Yep, still in love with this cover. I don't know what it is exactly - Probably a combination of the darkness + simplicity. It was featured on my "Friday Finds" post this past week. Love it!


► Oh hey, long time no see Weekly Recap post. Busy, busy, busy! Seems to be the theme of 2010 so far. Dear life, please to be knocking off with the shenanigans if you don't mind. I miss curling up with a book for hours on end. I'll hopefully get back to my hermit-ways soon. ;)

Sunday, January 10, 2010

In My Mailbox (Jan 10)


"In My Mailbox" is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren!


Won:

Purchased:
  • Thirst (No. 1) by Christopher Pike (Currently Reading)

A slow week bookwise in an otherwise completely busy week for my personal life. I was hoping with the new year that things would slow down after the holidays, but man, oh man, was I wrong. Fingers crossed that life starts to slow down so I can spend my time at home curled with a book for hours on end.

In other news, HOLY CRAP, I'm 3 followers from 200! Crazy!

How about YOU? Get anything good in the mail? Tell/link me!

Friday, January 8, 2010

Friday Finds (Jan 8) / Follow Friday (#8)

Friday Finds is a weekly meme hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading. The idea is to share books that you recently came across, whether new or old, that you've never heard of before and added to your TBR pile.


Friday Finds:




Faces In Time by Lewis Aleman
(discovered via Goodreads)
Genre: Speculative Fiction
Released: December 15, 2009

A 20-Year Race Through Time... In the near future, one man holds the key to our past. Chester Fuze lived a solitary life until he flung himself twenty years back in time. For years, he had loved movie star Rhonda Romero through television screens, movie theaters, and magazine covers. It wasn't until she had fallen so far as to sell her face for a cosmetic transplant that he knew he had to travel back and save her before her life headed down such a tragic and destructive path. Lunging backward through two decades in a flash, Chester races across country and enters the world of seedy gambling and the bizarre jungle of behind-the-scenes Hollywood, while being hunted down by a deranged bookie, an escaped convict, and even his past self, all of whom are determined to kill him. He had put aside the secret to time travel, daring not risk the world to test his theory. It had placed him in a straight jacket for several years of his life. It had estranged his own mother from him. He had let it go for his own sanity. Now, he'll pick it back up to save Rhonda. God help us all.

- Time traveling? Count me in!






Harmonic Feedback by Tara Kelly
(discovered via Page Turners Blog)
Genre: Young Adult
Released: May 2010

Sixteen-year-old music and sound design obsessed Drea doesn't have friends. She has, as she's often reminded, issues. Drea's mom and a rotating band of psychiatrists have settled on "a touch of Asperger's."

Having just moved to the latest in a string of new towns, Drea meets two other outsiders. And Naomi and Justin seem to actually like Drea. The three of them form a trip-hop band after an impromptu jam session. Justin swiftly challenges not only Drea's preference for Poe over Black Lab but also her perceived inability to connect with another person. Justin, against all odds, may even like Drea.

It's obvious that Drea can't hide behind her sound equipment anymore. But just when she's found not one but two true friends, can she stand to lose one of them?

- LOVE this cover. *_*


Follow Friday:

Taking one from Twitter's books here and doing my own version of Follow Friday! Every Friday I will highlight 2-3 blogs that I follow or just discovered who I think are worth following around the bookish blogosphere. :)


Books at Midnight
(Contest: 200 Followers - Ends 1/15)

- Books at Midnight was one of the first blogs I ever followed when I joined the blogging world and it still, to this day, remains one of my favs. Jenn has some cool discussions going on every week as well as great reviews. Pop on over and tell her I sent you. :)


Shut Up! I'm Reading
(Contest: 200 Follower Shin-dig - Ends 2/14)

- Shut Up! I'm Reading is a sweet blog I recently came across while surfing around the blogosphere. I love the title, btw! Jessica's site has a lot of great content from reviews and books meme's, to great contest that is currently underway. Check it out and follow!


► On a sidenote: One of these days I will make a button for my follow Friday posts. One day. Got your own Friday Finds post? Link me!