Ramblings of a Bibliophile

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: The Poison Throne (The Moorehawke Trilogy #1)
Author: Celine Kiernan
Genre: Fantasy
Published: This edition: April 7, 2010 (first published October 13, 2008)

Young Wynter Moorehaw returns to court with her dying father - but she finds her old home shadowed with fear. The king has become a violent despot, terrorizing those he once loved. His son and heir Alberon has fled into exile and now there are whispers everywhere of rebellion. Meanwhile, Alberon's half-brother Razi has been elevated to his throne. He struggles to meet his King's demands while remaining loyal to his beloved brother and to his friend-Wynter.

And at the heart of matters is a secret that no one dares speak of. A secret so large it could tear the kingdom in two and Wynter is the key. Her father lies dying. Her king is mad. Her friends are divided.

She must choose- her father or her dreams, her friend or her king, her duty... or her love.




Title: Hex Hall
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Genre: YA
Published: March 2, 2010

When Sophie Mercer turned thirteen, she discovered that she was a witch. It's gotten her into a few scrapes. Her non-Gifted mother has been as supportive as possible, consulting Sophie's estranged father - an elusive European warlock - only when necessary. But when Sophie attracts too much human attention for a prom-night spell gone horribly wrong, it's her dad who decides her punishment: exile to Hecate Hall, an isolated reform school for wayward prodigium, a.k.a. witches, fae, and shapeshifters.

By the end of her first day among fellow freak-teens, Sophie has quite a scorecard. Three powerful enemies who look like supermodels; a futile crush on a gorgeous warlock; a creepy, tag-along ghost; and a new roommate, who happens to be the most-hated person and only vampire on campus. Sophie soon learns that a mysterious predator has been attacking students, and her friend Jenna is the number one suspect.

Meanwhile, Sophie has a more personal shock to grapple with. Not only is her father the head of the prodigium council, he's the most powerful warlock in the world, and Sophie is his heir. As a series of blood-curdling mysteries starts to converge, Sophie prepares for the biggest threat of all: an ancient secret society determined to destroy all prodigium, especially her.

► Oh hey, long time no post. Life has been rather hectic lately but I thought it was time to pop in and share a few items on my wishlist. How fabulous do both of these sound? I mean really. WAAANT!

What's on YOUR wishlist? Tell/link me!

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!

Arson
by Estevan Vega

"Arson could feel the cold, could even remember the way everything sounded or how there was no sound at all. Until the night shattered. The weight of remembering dragged him down while he sucked in a filthy drag of water, his coffined body jerking."

► Love, love, LOVE this cover. Only 2 chapters in so far but I'm already diggin' it.

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!

Reviews:

★ By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead by Julie Anne Peters (3.5/5)
★ Fat Cat by Robin Brande (4.5/5)

Posts:

★ In My Mailbox (Feb 21)
★ On My Wishlist (13)
★ Waiting on Wednesday (Feb 17)
★ Teaser Tuesday (Feb 16)

Upcoming:

★ Review for and Falling, Fly plus an interview with the author!

Sites/Links to check out!:

★ I'm giving away The Maze Runner to one lucky participant! Open to US and Canada residents - Ends March 1st. Check out my review and sign up!

Cover of the Week:

Tempest Legacy (Jane True #3)
- I adore the covers for this series! Fabulous. I need to get my butt in gear and read the first one ASAP.

► Another slow week of reading and I have a feeling things will be that way for the next week or so. I may be going on a short hiatus, but we shall see. Too many things to do, and so little time. But amazingly enough I am ONE follower away from 250! Crazy. Do I sense another giveaway coming up? I think I do. :) Wishing all you lovelies another fabulous week!

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


Gifted:

• Mistborn: The Final Empire by Brandon Sanderson
• The Well of Ascension (Mistborn #2) by Brandon Sanderson
• The Hero Of Ages by (Mistborn #3) Brandon Sanderson
  (Many thanks to Marc!)

► I've heard some great things about The Mistborn series. Anyone read them yet?

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Edition: ARC ; Other Shelf Tours
Page Count: 198
Pub. Date: January 5, 2010
Series: N/A

Reading Challenge: Young Adult

My Rating: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 4 stars
Goodreads: 4.07 (Average)

Recommended For: YA and Adult readers. Fans of books dealing with real life issues.

My Summary & Thoughts:

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead is about a 15-year old girl who is determined to commit suicide. This time for good.

It's been a year since Daelyn's last suicide attempt which rendered her speechless and living in a neck brace. And life continues to go in a downward spiral. So it's time to try again. She stumbles upon a website called "Through-the-Light", which is dedicated to helping people become complete in their attempts to end their lives. Using the forums on her newly discovered sanctuary, she reveals the torment and ridicule she endured as a child all because she was fat. The lies, the hate, the secrets - all unburdened so she can finally gain some peace.

Then one day while waiting for her mother on the stone bench outside of school, a boy named Santana with bleach blond hair makes every attempt to befriend her. And Daelyn does her best to ignore him. Until, somehow, someway, the boy begins to soften the fortified wall that Daelyn has surrounded herself in. But is it too little too late?

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead is a very thought-provoking book on many different levels. There's a lot of layers to peel back with this one.

Formulated mostly on dialogue, the words are both powerful and heartbreaking. At the beginning the prose is short and concise. But as the story progresses, and a little light begins to show in Daelyn's dark world, the sentence structure becomes more open, more revealing. I really grew to love Santana in all his unrelenting, pesky glory. The boy provided much needed humor in an otherwise sad and heavy tale. And the ending will be a personal choice. Some may love it, some may not, but I felt Julie did a wonderful job closing out the book.

Overall consensus: I didn't really know what to expect when I first started By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead. I expected it to be emotional, and it was, but it just didn't have the same affect on me that it did others. A heavy subject to be sure, with raw and real emotion, but I would have liked to have seen it expanded upon. There was just enough to make it a worthy read but not enough to fully satiate my reading appetite. And I won't lie, this book is a bit of a downer (I think the title kind of implies that) but there is a powerful message to relay - that words are indeed a powerful force and can cause some major damage if we aren't careful. This is definitely a book that should be read by both teens and adults.

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: Heart's Blood (Whistling Tor #1)
Author: Juliet Marillier
Genre: Fantasy
Published: October 2, 2009

Anluan has been crippled since childhood, part of a curse that has besieged his family and his home of Whistling Tor. But when the young scribe Caitrin is retained to sort through family documents, she brings about unexpected changes in the household, casting a hopeful light against the despairing shadows.

But to truly free Anluan’s burdened soul, Caitrin must unravel the web of sorcery woven by his ancestors before it claims his life—and their love…




Title: Dreamhunter (Dreamhunter Duet #1)
Author: Elizabeth Knox
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Published: This edition: February 21, 2006 ; First published in 2005

Laura comes from a world similar to our own except for one difference: It is next to the Place, an unfathomable land that fosters dreams of every kind and is inaccessible to all but a select few, the dreamhunters. These are individuals with the ability to catch larger-than-life dreams and relay them to audiences in the magnificent dream palace. People travel from all around to experience the benefits of the hunters’ unique visions.

Now, fifteen-year-old Laura and her cousin Rose, daughters of dreamhunters, are old enough to find out if they qualify to enter the Place. But nothing can prepare them for what they are about to discover. In the midst of a fascinating landscape, Laura’s dreamy childhood is ending, and a nightmare is beginning.

► Both of these sound fabulous. What's on YOUR wishlist? Tell/link me!

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Contemporary
Edition: Hardcover; Library
Page Count: 327
Pub. Date: October 13, 2009
Series: N/A

Reading Challenge: Young Adult, Local Library

My Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 5 stars
Goodreads: 4.11 (Average)

Recommended For: Young and old, tall and short, plump and skinny...basically, everyone.

Book Summary:

You are what you eat...

Cat smart, sassy, and funny — but thin, she’s not. Until her class science project. That’s when she winds up doing an experiment on herself. Before she knows it, Cat is living and eating like the hominids, our earliest human ancestors. True, no chips or TV is a bummer and no car is a pain, but healthful eating and walking everywhere do have their benefits.

As the pounds drop off, the guys pile on. All this new found male attention is enough to drive a girl crazy! If only she weren’t too busy hating Matt McKinney to notice...

My Thoughts:

There are so many great things I could say about this novel! In short, I loved it. Fat Cat is a rich tale combining morals, science, humor, and romance that mixes together to form an immensely enjoyable read. It provides laughter in all the right places and gives the brain some much needed food for thought. While the title suggests that the main focus will be on the "fat girl" and weight issues, it is so much more than that. It's also about friendship, loving people for who they are on the inside, and just being true to yourself.

I loved reading Cat's daily notes as she keeps track of her progress not only for her research project, but for herself. Cat's determination and transition as a character is inspiring. The constant bit of humor, provided by both Cat and friends, is a refreshing aspect that keeps the novel light, all while focusing on some real and important issues. Cat's voice and the secondary characters (her family, best friend, and romantic interest) really drive the book to a new level of authenticity.

On a more personal note, Fat Cat really got me thinking about the kind of food I've been including in my diet and the changes that need to be made (and have been made). It's very rare when a book makes such an impact on me long after I read it. But this novel made an impression not only as a quality read, but in my life as well.

Overall consensus: Fat Cat is a sweetly rich book in all the right ways. It's as real as you can get in contemporary fiction. I felt like I knew the characters, that I could relate to them in many different ways, and that just fueled my enjoyment as a reader. It's refreshing to read about a young female protagonist who enjoys science and things considered "uncool". And what truly makes this book shine is the quality and honesty with which it is written. I have a feeling it'll be a novel I will long remember and recommend to anyone of all shapes and sizes. A book worthy of seconds! ;)

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



Title: Wintercraft
Author: Jenna Burtenshaw
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Published: May 13, 2010

Ten years ago Kate Winters' parents were taken by the High Council's wardens to help with the country's war effort. Now the wardens are back...and prisoners, including Kate's uncle Artemis, are taken south on the terrifying Night Train. Kate and her friend Edgar are hunted by a far more dangerous enemy. Silas Dane -- the High Council's most feared man -- recognizes Kate as one of the Skilled; a rare group of people able to see through the veil between the living and the dead. His spirit was damaged by the High Council's experiments into the veil, and he's convinced that Kate can undo the damage and allow him to find peace. The knowledge Kate needs lies within Wintercraft -- a book thought to be hidden deep beneath the graveyard city of Fume. But the Night of Souls, when the veil between life and death is at its thinnest, is just days away and the High Council have their own sinister plans for Kate and Wintercraft. To help Artemis, Edgar and herself, Kate must honour her pact with a murderer and come face to face with the true nature of death.

Title: A Blue So Dark
Author: Holly Schindler
Genre: Young Adult
Published: May 1st, 2010

Terrified that her mother, a schizophrenic and an artist, is a mirror that reflects her own future, sixteen-year-old Aura struggles with her overwhelming desires to both chase artistic pursuits and keep madness at bay.

As her mother sinks deeper into the darkness of mental illness, the hunger for a creative outlet keeps drawing Aura toward the depths of her own imagination—the shadows of make-believe that she finds frighteningly similar to her mother’s hallucinations.

Convinced that creative equals crazy, Aura shuns her art, and her life unravels in the process.

► What are you waiting on? Feel free to link me to your WoW posts!

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!

And Falling, Fly
by Skyler White

"I am primed to kill. My faith in loopholes is the only poorly buried attempt at supernatural sleight of hand. I had cloaked Adam in my hope, but men no longer wrestles angels, and the cheap magician's cape falls to the dust."

► The prose in this book is truly fantastic! Still a good ways to go, but I am enjoying what I've read so far.

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!

Reviews:

★ The Maze Runner by James Dashner (4.5/5)
★ Girl In The Arena by Lise Haines (3/5)

Posts:

★ In My Mailbox (Feb 14)
★ On My Wishlist (13)
★ Waiting on Wednesday (Feb 10)
★ Teaser Tuesday (Feb 9)

Upcoming:

★ Reviews for Fat Cat and By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead!
★ Want to participate in my upcoming graphic novel/comic book appreciation month? Read HERE or shoot me an e-mail at book.izzle[at]yahoo[dot]com if you would like to participate!

Sites/Links to check out!:

★ I'm giving away The Maze Runner to one lucky participant! Open to US and Canada residents - Ends March 1st. Check out my review and sign up!

Cover of the Week:

Mockingjay (Hunger Games #3)
- So who DIDN'T see this coming? I mean really, how could I resist after it's been posted about a frillion times. Honestly, I'm not too enthusiastic about the cover, but I just can't wait to have this book in my hands. That trumps aesthetic appeal (although I do love the color blue). Is it August yet?

► A really slow week for reading and reviews. I've been dealing with family issues (including a funeral) over the past 2 weeks and it's been rough, to say the least. :( I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things but life and the Olympics are throwing plenty of distractions my way. Here's hoping that lazy days and lots of book reading will come again soon. Wishing you all a fantabulous upcoming week!

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


For Review:

• • Thyme In A Flask by Glen Quarry
• • Arson by Estevan Vega
  Signed! Thanks Estevan!
• • And Falling, Fly by Skyler White

Won:

• • Struts & Frets by Jon Skovron (Review)
  Thanks YABC!
• • Fallen ARC by Lauren Kate
  Thanks Meg O'brien at Random House!

► I'm so excited to have received all 3 of the books for review and I look forward to bustin' these babies open. And, because it is indeed February 14th, I wanted to wish you all a very love filled Valentine's Day! Eat lots of chocolate for me. :)

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: Poison Study (Study #1)
Author: Maria V Snyder
Genre: YA, Fantasy
Published: November 21st 2008 ; first published in 2004

About to be executed for murder, Yelena is offered an extraordinary reprieve. She'll eat the best meals, have rooms in the palace-- and risk assassination by anyone trying to kill the Commander of Ixia.

And so Yelena chooses to become a food taster. But the chief of security, leaving nothing to chance, deliberately feeds her Butterfly's Dust and only by appearing for her daily antidote will she delay an agonizing death from the poison. As Yelena tries to escape her new dilemma, disasters keep mounting. Rebels plot to seize Ixia and Yelena develops magical powers she can't control. Her life is threatened again and choices must be made. But this time the outcomes aren't so clear...

- I've heard great things about this one.




Title: House of Dark Shadows (Dreamhouse Kings #1)
Author: Robert Liparulo
Genre: YA
Published: May 6, 2008

Dream house . . . or bad dream?

When the Kings move from L.A. to a secluded small town, fifteen-year-old Xander is beyond disappointed. He and his friends loved to create amateur films...but the tiny town of Pinedale is the last place a movie buff and future filmmaker wants to land.

But he, David, and Toria are captivated by the many rooms in the old Victorian fixer-upper they moved into - as well as the heavy woods surrounding the house.

They soon discover there's something odd about the house. Sounds come from the wrong directions. Prints of giant, bare feet appear in the dust. And when David tries to hide in the linen closet, he winds up in locker 119 at his new school.

Then the really weird stuff kicks in: they find a hidden hallway with portals leading off to far-off places - in long-ago times. Xander is starting to wonder if this kind of travel is a teen's dream come true...or his worst nightmare.

► I really want both of these. They sound so good! What's on YOUR wishlist? Tell/link me!

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Speculative Fiction - Dystopia
Edition: Hardcover; (Won) Publisher
Page Count: 374
Pub. Date: October 6, 2009
Series: The Maze Runner Trilogy, Book 1

Reading Challenge: Young Adult, Speculative Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 4.5 stars
Goodreads: 4.03 (Average)

Recommended For: YA readers. Fans of high adrenaline dystopian novels with plenty of twists and excitement.

My Summary & Thoughts:

Thomas wakes up surrounded by nothing but his breath and cold darkness. Suddenly, after what feels like hours of a slow ascension, he sees the light. (No, not THAT light.) A cold metal box is taking him up to a place so vastly different from anything he's ever experienced - that is if he could actually remember anything besides his name. He can remember vague images, people, and items but they quickly slip away like his brain matter is leaking out of his head. Hands grab him and soon he is standing in the middle of what is called The Glade, surrounded by a mass of boys.

Like Thomas, none of the boys remember how or why they are there. The only facts are these: every 30 days a new boy arrives, and every morning the stone doors leading into the maze open and every night, they close. And no one wants to be caught outside in the maze after dark.

Alliances are made, as well as enemies, and Thomas is kicked head first into an awful, yet fairly organized community, considering the circumstances. The basic rule being: Pull your weight and you survive. Every morning Thomas watches as the runners take off into the abyss of the maze - trying to find a means of escape - and every time they come back empty handed. That's assuming they survived the maze in the first place. Soon, Thomas gets a feeling that being a runner is a job he was destined to do.

But just when life starts to settle down, everything starts to change. Thomas and the Gladers realize that it's time to find a way out once and for all or they're going to be in deep klunk.

Oh man, as much as I want to keep going, I simply cannot reveal any more of the awesomeness ready to spring at you within the pages. James Dashner did a spectacular job at creating a scenario that just sucks you in. Just when you think it's safe to put the book down for the night (if you can) you are suddenly faced with dire situations and there is just no way you can stop reading. I loved all the characters created in this story. Even the nasty ones. They were easy to like (or dislike) in all their vitality and what they offered to the adventure. And the twists kept me flipping pages till my eyes hurt; all accompanied by the occasional whispered chorus of "OhMyGod".

Overall consensus: Bold and daring. The Maze Runner is one wild tale about perseverance and the will to survive. About coming together with a band of unknowns, despite all differences, and working together to solve the seemingly impossible puzzle of the maze. Once you think you have it all figured out, think again. Talk about one mad adrenaline rush from start to finish. I cannot wait for the next installment!



CLOSED

THE GIVEAWAY

Thanks to Random House, one lucky winner will receive a brand-new hardcover edition of The Maze Runner to read and enjoy!

To enter, all you have to do is:

► FILL OUT THE FORM ◄

Simple right? I decided to forgo extra entries this time. Open to US & CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY. GIVEAWAY ENDS MARCH 1ST!

Genre: Fiction, Young Adult, Speculative Fiction - Alternate Reality
Edition: Hardcover; Library
Page Count: 324
Pub. Date: October 13, 2009
Series: N/A

Reading Challenge: Young Adult, Local Library, Speculative Fiction

My Rating: 3 stars (out of 5)
Amazon.com: 3.5 stars
Goodreads: 3.15 (Average)

Recommended For: Fans of dystopian novels. YA readers.

Book Summary:

It’s a fight to the death—on live TV—when a gladiator’s daughter steps into the arena

Lyn is a neo-gladiator’s daughter, through and through. Her mother has made a career out of marrying into the high-profile world of televised blood sport, and the rules of the Gladiator Sports Association are second nature to their family. Always lend ineffable confidence to the gladiator. Remind him constantly of his victories. And most importantly: Never leave the stadium when your father is dying. The rules help the family survive, but rules—and the GSA—can also turn against you. When a gifted young fighter kills Lyn’s seventh father, he also captures Lyn’s dowry bracelet, which means she must marry him...

My Thoughts:

Girl in the Arena was mostly girl, without the arena. I have to be honest, the initial summary really grabbed my attention. Neo-Gladiators? In an alternate reality resembling contemporary times? Count me in!

But what it surprisingly lacked, was, in fact, gladiators and the action that came with the word - or at least what I was expecting. An intriguing story from the standpoint that the world Lise Haines created is truly bewildering with the super-advanced technology and twisted idea of entertainment (makes you wonder if something along these lines isn't too far off...) but most of the action that I was expecting was packed in towards the end.

Girl in the Arena is primarily about a girl whose life was always a gamble. Lyn never really had a choice in where her life was going and finally had enough of it. Always having to follow the rules laid out by the GSA (Gladiator Sports Association) because of a contract her mother signed to be a gladiator's wife. A future she too was destined to follow. But that wasn't the kind of future Lyn wanted. She wants to take back what is hers and live a life under her own terms. And that means fighting the man who murdered her father. The man she is required by law to marry.

There were a few anecdotes tossed in that contributed to the story on an emotional level, such as Lyn's struggle to be her own woman and keep her family together. That in itself conveys a strong message, but there was not much else. And it was a bit disappointing.

Overall consensus: Girl In The Arena started off well, continued in a mediocre stupor, and ended with a tiny bang. My complaints are few, in all honesty. A little on the slow side and the format was a bit confusing and choppy at times, but if you don't mind a fairly steady read with little action and some tension here and there, then this is just what you're looking for.

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



Title: The Clearing
Author: Heather Davis
Genre: Young Adult, Speculative Fiction - Time-Travel
Published: April 12, 2010

Amy, a sixteen-year-old recovering from an abusive relationship, moves to the country to start a new life with her aunt–all she wants is for everything to be different. In the clearing at the back of Aunt Mae’s property, she makes an amazing discovery—Henry, a boy stuck in the endless summer of 1944. Henry and his world become Amy’s refuge and she begins to learn that some moments are worth savoring. But when the past and present come crashing together, both of them must find the courage to face what is meant to be, even if it means losing each other forever.

Title: The Line
Author: Terri Hall
Genre: Young Adult
Published: March 4, 2010

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

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

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

► What are you waiting on? Feel free to link me to your WoW posts!

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!

By The Time You Read This, I'll Be Dead
by Julie Anne Peters (ARC)

"The home page is black and white. No frills. No flashing ads. That attracted me. When you enter, the monitor goes completely blank, then this white, burning light almost blinds you. If you look hard, and don't look away, you see the message:
Are you ready to pass Through-the-Light?
I've been ready my whole life."

► I received this book yesterday as a part of Other Shelf Tours. I'm only a few chapters in but I have a feeling this is going to be quite the emotional book.

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!

Reviews:

★ Hate List by Jennifer Brown (5/5)
★ Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder (5/5)

Posts:

★ In My Mailbox (Feb 7)
★ On My Wishlist (11)
★ Friday Finds (Feb 5)/ Follow Friday (11)
★ Waiting on Wednesday (Feb 3)
★ Teaser Tuesday (Feb 2)

Upcoming:

★ Reviews for Girl In The Arena and The Maze Runner!
★ Got a giveaway coming up for one of the books I've reviewed (or will be reviewing) so stay tuned! :)
★ Getting some ideas together for my graphic novel/comic book appreciation month. No idea what I'm talk about? Read HERE. Shoot me an e-mail if you would like to participate!

Sites/Links to check out!:

★ Want to win an Amazon Kindle? Check out YABC's Monthly Kindle Giveaway!
★ Hey Neil Gaiman fans, turns out the lovable author with be writing an episode of the BBC television show, Dr. Who. Now I don't know about you guys but this makes me incredibly excited! Read about it HERE!
★ As you all know, Valentine's Day (aka Single Awareness Day) is fast approaching. Carolyn over at Book Chick City is going to immerse herself for two whole days in all things lovey-dovey for the weekend. So go on, Be Her Valentine.
★ Win a book-a-day over at HarperTeen's huge giveaway: 28 Days of Winter Escapes. All you have to do is take the daily poll to be entered in to win the signed book for that day. And not only that, but they're offering an iPod touch ONCE A WEEK!

Cover of the Week:

The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
- This book was featured on "On My Wishlist" this weekend and I cannot get enough of this cover. Truly awesome.

► Had some great reading this week and got some even more good stuff coming up. I hope you all had a fantastic week. I know you Saints fans did. :) Make sure to keep an eye out for a giveaway in the very near future!

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


Purchased:

• • The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong
• • Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead
• • Cracked Up To Be by Courtney Summers

Library:

• • The Everafter by Amy Huntley
• • Fat Cat by Robin Brande

► Not a bad haul this week, if I do say so myself. I'm currently reading Fat Cat and so far I am loving it! Feel free to link to your IMM posts!

And just because it happens to be Superbowl Sunday...GO SAINTS! :)

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: The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
Author: N.K. Jemisin
Genre: YA, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Published: February 25, 2010

Yeine Darr is an outcast from the barbarian north. But when her mother dies under mysterious circumstances, she is summoned to the majestic city of Sky. There, to her shock, Yeine is named an heiress to the king. But the throne of the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms is not easily won, and Yeine is thrust into a vicious power struggle with a pair of cousins she never knew she had. As she fights for her life, she draws ever closer to the secrets of her mother's death and her family's bloody history.

With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Yeine will learn how perilous it can be when love and hate - and gods and mortals - are bound inseparably together.

- WANT!




Title: All Unquiet Things
Author: Anna Jarzab
Genre: YA
Published: January 12, 2010

Carly: She was sweet. Smart. Self-destructive. She knew the secrets of Brighton Day School’s most privileged students. Secrets that got her killed.

Neily: Dumped by Carly for a notorious bad boy, Neily didn’t answer the phone call she made before she died. If he had, maybe he could have helped her. Now he can’t get the image of her lifeless body out of his mind.

Audrey: She’s the reason Carly got tangled up with Brighton’s fast crowd in the first place, and now she regrets it — especially since she’s convinced the police have put the wrong person in jail. Audrey thinks the murderer is someone at Brighton, and she wants Neily to help her find out who it is.

As reluctant allies Neily and Audrey dig into their shared past with Carly, her involvement with Brighton’s dark goings-on comes to light. But figuring out how Carly and her killer fit into the twisted drama will force Audrey and Neily to face hard truths about themselves and the girl they couldn’t save.

► Both of these books sound AMAZING. I can't wait to get my hands on them. What's on YOUR wishlist? Tell/link me!

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:



★ Dead Girl Walking by Linda Joy Singleton
(discovered via Goodreads)
Genre: YA, Paranormal
Released: September 1, 2008

I am so dead. Now, was I supposed to go left or right at the Light? Seventeen-year-old Amber Borden has a lousy sense of direction - so lousy that she takes a wrong turn when returning from her near-death experience. She ends up in the body of the most popular girl in school, who has just tried to commit suicide.
Can a girl who can't even navigate the halls of Halsey High discover the secrets of her new identity and find her way back to her own life?

★ My Ridiculous, Romantic Obsessions by Becca Wilhite
(discovered via Steph Su Reads)
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance
Released: March 3, 2010

Sarah Howard's first year at the university is everything and nothing she expected especially when a very cute boy named Ben in her Art History class starts to show interest in her.

Sarah feels like she's an average, normal, everyday girl. So, when Ben (to whom she secretly refers as Adonis because she thinks he could be a Greek god) begins to take interest in her, Sarah is in denial. For one thing, last year she was deeply crushed and humiliated by Jesse James a guy who she thought liked her.

She's determined not to get burned again. But in her heart of hearts, what she really wants is a Jane Austen kind of romance. Ridiculous, right? That kind of romance doesn t exist anymore . . . or does it? Sarah is smart and fun to be around and even pretty, despite her Medusa-like red curls. She even plays the guitar. (So does Ben!) Yes, Sarah is everything Ben has wanted. He's crazy for her, but Sarah is just not getting it. She's playing hard to get, and if she s not careful, she s going to lose a real hot gentleman -- her 21st-century Mr. Darcy.

★ The Boneshaker by Kate Milford
(discovered via Goodreads)
Genre: YA, Speculative Fiction - Steampunk
Released: March 24, 2010

Thirteen year-old Natalie Minks loves machines, particularly automata—self operating mechanical devices, usually powered by clockwork. When Jake Limberleg and his traveling medicine show arrive in her small Missouri town with a mysterious vehicle under a tarp and an uncanny ability to make Natalie's half-built automaton move, she feels in her gut that something about this caravan of healers is a bit off. Her uneasiness leads her to investigate the intricate maze of the medicine show, where she discovers a horrible truth, and realizes that only she has the power to set things right.

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. :)


★ Monster of Books
(Contest: 100 Follower Giveaway
- International - Ends February 25)

- Monster of Books is yet another blog I've come across in recent weeks. Maura runs a fun, hip site chalk full of book reviews and weekly memes. Make sure you stop by and follow!

► A little late today due to sleeping through my alarm. x_x But I hope everyone has a wonderful Friday!