Last Rite Cover Reveal & Contest!

SO I have awesome stuff to share with you today so here we go!

Today, it's my honor to show you the last cover reveal i'll be coming for the Personal Demons Trilogy for Lisa, and it's the cover to the awesome Last Rite!

Isn't it awesome? Isn't Luc hot? You guys know how I feel about Luc! Anyway, so excited and sad that this trilogy is coming to a close, and Lisa has a lot of awesome stuff planned for you guys! 

She is currently having a scavenger hunt and here is my word for you:

HELL

go take that with you to her blog and enter the entire tagline to win a ipod nano with the playlist to the entire trilogy on it as well as all three books!

AND

she's offered up a galley of Last Rite for one lucky person here on the blog! The ARCs will be ready officially in November, so you'll be receiving them around that that.

• US/Canada only
• ends October fourteenth 
• the form is right below!

And that's all, folks! Happy Reading!

Top Ten Books I wish I could read for the first time again

And here we go! This hosted by the lovely ladies over at The Broke and Bookish.

1. Graceling by Kristin Cashore

You guys have noooooo idea how many times I've read this. Seriously, I think i'm on maybe my sixth or seventh time! It's just so amazing and I wish I could go back in time and read it over again to really savor the complete amazingness.

2. Brightly Woven by Alexandra Bracken

LOVE this book so bad. It's definitely not as popular as it should be, and I wish I could read it all over again and fall in love (again!)

3. Hourglass by Myra McEntire

I completely love this book and definitely want to be rereading it SOON. But it's so brilliant, I wish I could go back and read it over!

4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The first time I read it, I was kind of doing stuff at the same time and couldn't really focus on the sheer brilliance of it, so I wish I could reread it and savor every bit of her beautiful writing.

5. Ashes by Isla J. Bick

So brilliant. Read this one recently but man! Can I read it all over again?

6. Wondrous Strange by Lesley Livingston

I haven't read the third book due to just...not feeling like it. I wish I could go back now that I have all three books and reread them in succession! You know what i'm talking about: The Wait. Where you have to wait so long for a sequel or conclusion to a trilogy that you just...end up losing interest in reading it in the first place.

7. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Oh man...I want to swoon all over again. Please?

8. A Great And Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

Love...love...love. Wish I could read it all over again from the beginning.

And...I can't really think of any other ones, so i'm off!
Happy Reading!

Contest: Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's.

So I have this lovely book to giveaway! The occasion? Totally Booksessed has reached over 500 suscribors. We're all so excited you guys enjoy the videos, and wanted to have giveaways to celebrate it!

• the entry form is below
• giveaway ends OCTOBER 10TH
• US and Canada only
• you must be 13 or older to enter

AND

you have two chances to win! At 6PM EST my video for Totally Booksessed will go up and if you comment on that video, it's two different entries!

Legacy by Cayla Kluver

Who: Cayla Kluver

What: Legacy

When: June 21st, 2011
Where: Harlequin Teen

Why: High Fantasy!

How: Bought

In her seventeenth year, Princess Alera of Hytanica faces one duty: to marry the man who will be king. But her father's choice of suitor fills her with despair.
When the palace guard captures and intruder—a boy her age with steel-blue eyes, hailing from her kingdom's greatest enemy—Alera is alarmed…and intrigued. But she could not have guessed that their clandestine meetings would unveil the dark legacy shadowing both their lands.
In this mystical world of court conspiracies and blood magic, loyalties will be tested. Courage won't be enough. And as the battle begins for everything Alera holds dear, love may be the downfall of a kingdom.

Legacy captured me from the first page and sent me on a total whirlwind of an adventure with intelligent and curious Alera at the head!

High Fantasy is my favorite type of read, you guys know this, and Legacy was absolutely no exception! Ripe with intrigue, well-rounded characters, and court secrets that'll leave you begging for more. Princess Alera is expected to take the throne as queen soon, with cocky and patronizing Steldor as her best suitor. But the balance of their kingdom starts to shake when they catch a boy named Narian from enemy territory in their grounds, with no one knowing what the hell he's doing there or how he managed to go around unseen. But now that they have the boy, and his loyalties are tested, a war that ended long ago might be coming back to kill them all. 

Alera was a headstrong, awesome heroine and just the type of person fit to rule a kingdom! Her kingdom, though, does not consider women fit to rule and so she is forced to bow her head and play the submissive daughter of her father, which irritates her 'till no end. I love how, yes, sometimes she pissed her father off with the things she did, but she wasn't stupid enough to do something that would endanger not only herself, but her entire family. She was careful, and that's what's makes her an excellent princess! The writing is amazing and the book is paced just as a High Fantasy should be, with beautiful descriptions and a good 'ole journey of self-discovery!

Steldor has me confused. In the beginning, I completely hated him. He was pompous, arrogant, and had complete disregard for Alera and what she wanted to do with her life. But towards the end...I got conflicted. He really shows a new side of himself and I can't wait to see it more in Book 2! But then we have Narian, and he is so fantastic. He's sweet and caring, but has such a respect for Alera that really surprised me! He never pushed her, but instead acted like a strong companion and love to her throughout the novel. I can't wait to see more of him! 

Finally, something I felt like touching on, her sister? DID NOT LIKE. Seriously, she annoyed the hell out of me! The only downside, and it definitely wasn't enough to affect my life for the book!

Happy Reading!

Character Book Picks: Zak from Shattered Souls

So today I have Mary Lindsey on the blog today telling us about Zak and what he reads! 

Lenzi hears voices and has visions - gravestones, floods, a boy with steel gray eyes. Her boyfriend, Zak, can't help, and everything keeps getting louder and more intense. Then Lenzi meets Alden, the boy from her dreams, who reveals that she's a reincarnated Speaker - someone who can talk to and help lost souls - and that he has been her Protector for centuries. Now Lenzi must choose between her life with Zak and the life she is destined to lead with Alden. But time is running out: a malevolent spirit is out to destroy Lenzi, and he will kill her if she doesn't make a decision soon.

Zak isn’t much of a fiction reader. He subscribes to Rolling Stone Magazine and loves music-related books including non-fiction and biographies.

His mom and dad weren’t readers, so that might be why it was never a favorite activity.

Since high school, he hasn’t read any novels. In school, he read and loved Hatchet and Wolf Rider, but most of the things he read in class didn’t appeal.

Music is his real love. He can tell you almost everything about rock and roll from the 1960’s to modern time in addition to being able to play classical guitar.

Zak is an auditory learner. Movies and music hit that part of him that books reach for many others. Give him a guitar and he’s set for hours.

Thank you so much for hosting this stop on the Shattered Souls blog tour, Harmony!

_________________________________________________________________________________

About the Author

Mary Lindsey's debut young adult novel, SHATTERED SOULS, is scheduled for release December 8, 2011 from Philomel/Penguin.

Having received a B.A. in English literature with a minor in drama from the University of Houston, she currently teaches acting to children and teens at a private studio in Houston, Texas.

Mary lives with her husband, three kids, two dogs, her daughter's pet rats, an Australian Bearded Dragon, and dozens of Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches.

She is represented by Ammi-Joan Paquette from the Erin Murphy Literary Agency.

Happy Reading!

Waiting On Wednesday (10)

Who: Marissa Meyer
What: Cinder
When: January 3rd, 2011
Where: Macmillan (Feiwel & Friends)
Why: Premise!

Humans and androids crowd theraucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plagueravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunarpeople watch, waiting to make their move. No oneknows that Earth’s fate hinges on one girl. . . .Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She’s asecond-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviledby her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister’sillness. But when her life becomes intertwined with thehandsome Prince Kai’s, she suddenly finds herself atthe center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbiddenattraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyaltyand betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her pastin order to protect her world’s future.In this thrilling young adult debut novel, the firstof a quartet, Marissa Meyer introduces readers to anunforgettable heroine and a masterfully crafted newworld that’s enthralling.

Oh my god, this sounds so EPIC. It's one of those premises that tell you it's either gonna be super lame or super amazing! Can't wait to see which one it is!

Happy Reading!
-Harmony

Drink, Slay, Love by Sarah Beth Durst

Who: Sarah Beth Durst
What: Drink, Slay, Love
When: September, 2011
Where: Simon and Schuster
Why: Premise
How: For Review

Pearl is a sixteen-year-old vampire... fond of blood, allergic to sunlight, and mostly evil... until the night a sparkly unicorn stabs her through the heart with his horn. Oops.
Her family thinks she was attacked by a vampire hunter (because, obviously, unicorns don't exist), and they're shocked she survived. They're even more shocked when Pearl discovers she can now withstand the sun. But they quickly find a way to make use of her new talent. The Vampire King of New England has chosen Pearl's family to host his feast. If Pearl enrolls in high school, she can make lots of human friends and lure them to the King's feast -- as the entrees.
The only problem? Pearl's starting to feel the twinges of a conscience. How can she serve up her new friends—especially the cute guy who makes her fangs ache—to be slaughtered? Then again, she's definitely dead if she lets down her family. What's a sunlight-loving vamp to do?

Funny, well-written, and entirely entertaining, I totally loved Drink, Slay, Love!

Drink, Slay, Love is about a girl named Pearl who is a badass, blood-sucking, no remorse vampire. She roams around town, sucking some blood out with her boyfriend, until a unicorn stabs her through the heart (or almost.) Suddenly, she can walk in the sunlight and even worse, she's actually starting to have a conscience! So when the king of vampires announces that her family must provide the party with it's main course, they put Pearl in High School to get the victims to invite them into their homes (which I love, that old traditional vampire lore!) But she's actually making friends -- and crushes -- so what the hell is she going to do?

This is totally brilliant. Pearl has a voice that is funny yet serious at the same time. She's genuinely confused about what's she gonna do with not only herself, but these "feelings" she's been acquiring, and her sarcastic quips and dialogue really keep the story from going too intense and keeping it light and upbeat! The plot is fantastic, and the entire concept of "vampire families" and how complicated a web they weave inside people was fascinating to read about! Pearl was an independent, kickass girl, before and after she got stabbed.

All the side characters in this novel are funny and engaging. Our two "teen vampire hunters" watch a little too much TV, but funnily enough, it served them well! Bethany was so adorable and funny and the relationship they form throughout the book is heartfelt and so sincere (especially for a vamp!) that it was no shock to me that by the end of the novel, Pearl had found herself a best friend.

Evan was so sweet! And while I found his plot point HILARIOUS (but at the same time, it explained SO MUCH), he was totally awesome! I loved the flow of him and Pearl's relationship and how it progressed from Pearl wanting a bite to Pearl actually wanting to know him. Jadrien sounded arrogant, cocky, and...well, hot and the conversations between him and Pearl were seriously hilarious. Case in point:

“To you,” he said, “I surrender my heart and soul.” She rolled her eyes. “Very romantic, considering you have neither.” 

Overall, an awesome book for fans of books such as Hex Hall and Paranormalcy! Has that same humor and great storyline!


Happy Reading!
-harmony

In My Mailbox (51)

Hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

Lots of awesome stuff this week!

For Review:
Sweet Venom by Tera Lynn Childs
Incarnate by Jodi Meadows
Everneath by Brodi Ashton

What did YOU get in your mailbox?
Happy Reading!
-Harmony

Best Friends: You're Doing It Wrong

So it means to have become a trend in YA where the best friends, generally, SUCK. Whether it's back-stabbing, or betrayal, or suddenly ignoring them just because they can do some crazy ass things, where have all the good people gone? Here are some examples of bad best friends that seriously need to step up their game:


1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

UM -- alright, Anna's best friend completely and absolutely sucked. I don't care how far away Anna moved, there are some things you do not do because they are AGAINST THE GIRL CODE. Which doesn't exist, because rule one of the girl code is not to talk about the girl code ;)

2. Sanna from Dark Parties by Sara Grant

If you saw my review, you know I do not like this girl at all. Seriously, one of the worst best friends ever. She would be willing to forgive her boyfriend for something he STARTED but was completely unwilling to forgive her best friend as if she was some harlot. If you're gonna not forgive someone, don't forgive either of them! But don't pick the boy over your best friend since kindergarten when it was something HE instigated. Unbelievable.

3. Zenn from Possession by Elana Johnson

You suck. NO, seriously, Zenn sucks. He's one of those types who does things "for the main character's own good" even if it's something the heroine doesn't want AT ALL. None of your business, don't butt your head into things! I just wanted to strangle him by the end.

4. Lorriane from Vixen by Jillian Larkin

Again, snotty little jealous best friend who will do anything to raise her social standing, even if it means crushing her best friend in the process. She's hysterical and crazy and deserved what she got!

5. Lissa from Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Not gonna lie...never really liked her. I feel like she thought Rose's entire life revolved around her and when Rose started getting her own life and her own problems, she became super bratty and stupid and Rose had to pull her out of trouble again and again.




And then, to balance out the negativity of this post, some AWESOME best friends in books!

1. Hanna from Delirium by Lauren Oliver

She really is a catalyst for everything that happens inside Delirium, which I appreciated. Usually, the adventure never begins because of something the best friend does that spills over into the MC's life, so it was a nice change! Plus, she genuinely cared about Lena and was super supportive of everything she did.

2. Puck from The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa

No matter how much he hated Meghan for the things she did or the mistakes she made, he never fails to bring her off her feet and help her, which is something I really admire about him!

3. Jenna from Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins

Sophie makes some complicated decisions but Jenna sticks it out with her! She even moves with the girl to figure out everything that's going on! She never fails to put a smile on Sophie's face when she's going through a  hard time and even when they get into a fight, they eventually put aside their arguments and forgive each other! Which is really what friendship is.

4. Kate from Angelfire by Courtney Allison Moulton

Super funny, awesome, and the type of girl you would want to be friends with! I love how she teases Ellie about Will and is not in any way magical, just a normal girl that gives her non-magical support!

5. Hale from Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Best friend, Love Interest, Sweet Guy. What's not to like? He helps Kat out in all their missions, and frequently provides comedic relief. His easy-going manner is a perfect match for how high-strung Kat can be sometimes, and they balance each other out not only romantically, but in friendship as well!

And there we go!
Happy Reading!
-Harmony

All These Things I've Done by Gabrielle Zevin

Who: Gabrielle Zevin
What: All These Things I've Done
Where: Macmillan Publishing
When: September 6th, 2011
Why: Premise Love!
How: For Review (BEA)

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

Masterfully written, realistic characters, and a kick-ass and mafia boss plot that'll leave you reeling!

All These Things I've Done is about a girl named Anya whose father is --was-- Chicago's number one crime boss when it comes to the sales of chocolate. Because, yeah, chocolate is major illegal. Anya is left as the sole caretaker of her barely alive grandmother, her mentally challenged older brother, and her sassy little sister. Anya has a distinct voice and I admired her for the sacrifices and things she was willing to do just to make sure her family was safe. She's not an idiot, and knew the consequences of all her actions, and I loved how her family went in front of everything else, as it should be! She's also smart, which is noted by much of The Family, especially when it comes to the fact that she's so savvy that it's unfortunate that she was born a girl (The Family making it clear they don't particularly enjoy female bosses).

The pacing and tone of the story is overall fantastic. This dystopian world that you get thrust into grips you from the first page, and Anya's voice carries you through all her experiences. All the things she does (And there are very little titles I love more than this one--it's SO DAMN appropriate!) that lead up to this fantastic climax were well-thought out and genuinely entertaining to read. I never once just wanted to skim.

All the side-characters were awesome. Everyone from her best friend to her little sister were funny, well-rounded, and consistent in personality. Especially her best friend, there was no back stab! No betrayal! She was just a genuinely good friend who cared and wanted to help Anya in what she needed, even when Anya was being completely complicated! Gable, i'm conflicted about. I totally like him from the start, especially since he tries to have sex with Anya on page like 10 even after she says no, but close to the end, I started to feel sympathetic. Win was a sweetheart and really respected Anya and what she wanted (and really, what she needed!), and was so in tune with her that I believed their romance from the start.

And that ending! It's just the right type of ending for a first book in a trilogy: catching enough to make you want a sequel, but not so much I cliffhanger that I want to smack you!

Happy Reading!
-Harmony

Recap: Lisa McMann Signing

So today I have a video of Lisa talking about her novel, The Unwanteds (which i'll be reviewing sometime in the next few weeks) and where exactly her inspiration came from!

The whole thing in general was fun! I hung out with the president of my indie's book club, who's a super sweet girl and then went to go meet Lisa! While I was waiting in line, I came into the awesome sister who are Saturday on the YA Rebels and totally introduced myself. They're my favorites so it was awesome to meet them!

I saw Lisa and she signed my copy of The Unwanteds (again, since I had already met her at Book Blogger Convention but she insisted on signing it again. Now I have to bring it every time I see her -- HA!) and we swapped some BEA experiences before I was asked by the lovely Kaylee and Sarah to get interviewed outside along with a blogger friend of mine, LiLi. It's not book-related questions or anything, SUPER random but if you want to watch, here it is!

And then I sat down to wait for my dad to pick me up and listened to Nancy Holder and Debbie Vaughn, authors of Crusade and Damned, talk about their books and religion and vampires and other awesome things. And then BAM! Went home :P

My next signing is Michelle Hodkin's launch party (information if you live in the South Florida area):

Sep 27 2011 8:00 pm

265 Aragon Ave
Coral Gables, Florida

33134-5008

United States

So you should definitely come! There will be food and Mara Dyer and Michelle and epic things!
Happy Reading!
-Harmony

Top Ten Tuesday: Books You Read Because of Blogging

So in honor of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, this is the topic: Books that you bought and read because of blogging! This is hosted by the lovely ladies over at Broke and Bookish. 

1. The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry

One of my most favorite historical, and if not for Julie, I wouldn't have read it in the first place!

2. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

This was recommended by me by almost EVERY blogger I knew before I finally picked up and read it. I was cover-judging and I'm so ridiculously glad I read it.

3. A Need So Beautiful by Suzanne Young

Kari was GUSHING about this for so long that how could I not have read it? And it's totally amazing!

4. Every Sarah Dessen Book

I don't think Brent could allow himself to be my friend if I hadn't started reading them :P

5. A Touch Mortal by Leah Clifford

Another book that Kari kept talking about so much, I just had to go and buy it.

6. Mistwood by Leah Cypress

Lauren really liked this book (as well as Nicole) so bam! Had to read it!

7. The Eternal Ones by Kristin Miller

Julie read this one before me and really liked it! And since we have pretty much the same taste, I had to get my hands on it!

8. The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

Donna loved this book and it's High Fantasy and WOO!

9. Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler

The twitter said I should read it, SO I DID. And Sarah Ockler is possibly my favorite contemporary writer (her and Stephanie) so good thing!

10. The Season by Sarah MacLean

Another Julie book...(nah, we don't talk a lot or anything...LOL) but it's super cute and funny and an amazing historical!

So I have a questions for you guys: have I ever made you buy something? I'm actually VERY curious to see the answer!
Happy Reading!
-Harmony

Ashes by Ilsa J. Bick

Who: Ilsa J. Bick
What: Ashes
Where: Egmont USA
When: September 6th, 2011
Why: Premise Love
How: For Review (BEA)

It could happen tomorrow... 
A cataclysmic event. An army of "The Changed." Can one teen really survive on her own? 
An electromagnetic pulse sweeps through the sky, destroying every electronic device and killing billions. For those spared, it's a question of who can be trusted and who is no longer human... 
Desperate to find out what happened and to avoid the Changed, Alex meets up with Tom---a young army veteran---and Ellie, a young girl whose grandfather was killed by the electromagnetic pulse. 
This improvised family will have to use every ounce of courage they have just to survive

This is one of those books where I just feel like saying: BUY IT. IT'S AMAZING. JUST DO IT. But alas, I must elaborate, right?

Ashes is beautiful, riveting, heart-breaking, and everything a post-apocalyptic should be plus 100 more doses of amazing. It's the story of Alex trying to survive after a major event causes people to start becoming zombies (and i'm not talking boring zombies here, people! I'm talking flesh-eating, scary ass EVOLVING zombies). Ilsa doesn't shy away from putting her characters in awful situations, and I love her for it. She pulls out all the stops and absolutely no character is safe when it comes to her world. They all have to make sacrifices to survive and sometimes even die trying. You're never sure who's safe and who isn't, and you'll constantly be needing to turn the page just to see who's lucky enough to survive.

Alex is one amazing heroine. She's gone through so much in her life and this journey is anything but easy. She makes sacrifices and has a patience I can't even imagine, especially with Ellie. I would've smacked that kid once or twice for all the times she screams at Alex. And still, she refuses to leave Ellie behind, and I completely admire her for it. She's headstrong and doesn't let anything get in her way, whether it's the zombies or even her own mind. Ellie was a seriously bratty child (and I know you may say: hell, she's scared but that's no excuse for  how awful she was sometimes) and Tom was beautiful. Isla writes with such a raw, beautiful grace that doesn't try to make everything end perfectly, which I loved and hated. Loved because it was so amazing in it's execution but hated because you will become so attached to all the characters, you won't be able to believe some of them die.

Romance isn't the focal point in the book, and I actually appreciated it (and for me, the sap of all saps, this is saying something). Yes, it's there but this isn't a story about a love trying to survive, it's simply people, normal, scared people who have been thrown into this insanity and are just trying to get out of it unscathed. Ilsa has a Stephen-King like approach to horror, and doesn't try to cover up the gore with flowery prose. Yet at the same time, it's subtle and not something that'll be making you cringe and want to put the book away.

Overall, an absolutely breathtaking story that i'll definitely be rereading again and again. This is what books should aspire to be: solid world-building, amazing and realistic characters that'll have you attached within pages, and completely gorgeous writing. A must-read.

In My Mailbox (50)

Hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

For Review:
Anna Dressed In Blood by Kendra Blake
The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Gifted:
Possession by Elana Johnson

Bought:
Cryer's Cross (Already read, super creepy!)

What did YOU get in your mailbox?
Happy Reading!

Posession by Elana Johnson

Who: Elana Johnson
What: Possession
Where: Simon and Schuster
When: June 7th, 2011
Why: Premise Interest
How: For Review

Vi knows the Rule: Girls don't walk with boys, and they never even thinkabout kissing them. But no one makes Vi want to break the Rules more than Zenn...and since the Thinkers have chosen him as Vi's future match, how much trouble can one kiss cause? The Thinkers may have brainwashed the rest of the population, but Vi is determined to think for herself.
But the Thinkers are unusually persuasive, and they're set on convincing Vi to become one of them...starting by brainwashing Zenn. Vi can't leave Zenn in the Thinkers' hands, but she's wary of joining the rebellion, especially since that means teaming up with Jag. Jag is egotistical, charismatic, and dangerous--everything Zenn's not. Vi can't quite trust Jag and can't quite resist him, but she also can't give up on Zenn.
This is a game of control or be controlled. And Vi has no choice but to play.

I didn't come into this book with much expectations but, man did it surprise me!

Possession is about a girl named Vi who lives in a place called the Goodgrounds. It's your typical dystopian city, with it's secretive goverment and demands. But when Vi gets caught wandering around the park with her match, Zenn (which is totally against the rules), her trouble-making gets her into a whole load of people. Vi gets paired up with a boy named Jag and together, they have a whole lot more power than even the Thinkers know about, despite their plans to try to brainwash them both into using their powers to strengthen their oppressive soceity. Possession takes on a wild and highly addictive ride that leave you wanting a sequel!

This is one of those books I couldn't put down! It was face-paced, exciting, and I was constantly wondering what mess Vi was going to get herself into next. She was headstrong, kickass, and totally funny (all her reactions to Jag pretty much vocalized my own), and she made some tough decisions that really made me just like her as a person! The plot is pretty standard dystopian, but it really throws in the punches when it comes to plot twists! (By the way: am I the only loser who didn't guess right with Thane?)  I love journey stories, getting from point A to point B, and the kind of self-discovery and danger that comes along with it. Jag and Vi, for the entire book, are on the run and it adds an urgency for the writing because you never knew if on the next page, they were gonna get caught (which they do sometimes, which I found awesome. Because dammit, if you never get caught, that's not very realistic, especially against people with crazy technology.)

The concept of Vi and Jag's powers were great as well, and I definitely want to see them develop in the next book! As for the love triangle...I don't really consider it a love triangle. I consider Zenn to be a thing of the past,  and it just can't happen anymore (and i'm 90% sure Vi says this as well) so my obvious choice is Jag. Although Zenn is a total sweetheart and sometimes I wanted to punch Jag in the face with everything he kept secret, really, he was right. She had to come to find out the things he knew in her own way, in her own time. And THAT ENDING! My god, I curse cliffhangers forever and ever.

Happy Reading!

Shut Out by Kody Kelpinger

Who: Kody Keplinger
What: Shut Out
When: August 6th, 2011
Where: Poppy (Little, Brown)
Why: Author Love
How: For Review (BEA)

Most high school sports teams have rivalries with other schools. At Hamilton High, it's a civil war: the football team versus the soccer team. And for her part, Lissa is sick of it. Her quarterback boyfriend, Randy, is always ditching her to go pick a fight with the soccer team or to prank their locker room. And on three separate occasions Randy's car has been egged while he and Lissa were inside, making out. She is done competing with a bunch of sweaty boys for her own boyfriend's attention.Lissa decides to end the rivalry once and for all. She and the other players' girlfriends go on a hookup strike. The boys won't get any action from them until the football and soccer teams make peace. What they don't count on is a new sort of rivalry: an impossible girls-against-boys showdown that hinges on who will cave to their libidos first. And Lissa never sees her own sexual tension with the leader of the boys, Cash Sterling, coming.

Like all of Kody's book, full of romance, hysterics but still maintains a deep message in it's shades of gray.


Shut Out follows the story of Lissa, who is absolutely tired of this in-school rivalry between the football and soccer team cutting in with her time with the boyfriend (who is the quarterback of the team.) When people actually start getting hurt, she gathers up all the girlfriend of the team members and they launch a sex strike, refusing to put out until this nonsense is put to an end. It's a retelling of the greek play, Lysteria but keeps it's uniqueness, especially with a character like Lissa on the front.


Kody has this writing sense (like authors such as Sarah Ockler and Sarah Mlynowsky) that can touch on tough subjects -- in this case, sex, and why the hell it's considered so taboo to just come out and talk about it -- but still maintain a humor and lightness without sounding preachy. Lissa's was the perfect character to narrate the story, with her funny and neurotic nature, she's the type of girl i'd want as a friend, regardless of some of her decisions. All of the girls were pretty awesome, especially her best friend, Chloe!


I totally called it on her boyfriend from the beginning, and I adored Cash. He was sweet and hot and Kody knows how to write sexytimes, people! Overall, a funny, sweet book that has plenty of romance to make you swoon! 


Happy Reading!

Top Ten Tuesday: Sequels i'm DYING to read

TOP TEN SEQUELS I'M DYING TO READ:

hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

 1. Hallowed by Cynthia Hand

SO EXCITED. I loved Unearthly!

2. Insurgent by Veronica Roth

Divergent left me CHILLS, I can't wait to read the sequel!

3. Shatter Me #2 by Tahereh Mafi

This doesn't even have a name yet and the first book isn't even old BUT HOLY CRAP, I NEED.

4. Wings of the Wicked by Courtney Allison Moulton

I loved Angelfire!

5. Spirit Bound by Rachel Hawkins

The last book in the Hex Hall Trilogy, so excited!

6. Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Dude. DUDE.

7. A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young

Love all her books, but ESPECIALLY A Need So Beautiful!

8. Endlessly by Kiersten White

Again, the end to a trilogy that I totally love.

9. Wildefire #2 by Karsten Knight

Soooooooooo excited.

10. Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers

'Nuff said.

Happy Reading!

The Girl of Fire and Thorns by Rae Carson

Who: Rae Carson
What: The Girl of Fire and Thorns
When: September 20th
Where: HarperCollins 
Why: HIGH FANTASY <3 
How: Traded

Once a century, one person is chosen for greatness.
Elisa is the chosen one.
But she is also the younger of two princesses, the one who has never done anything remarkable. She can’t see how she ever will.
Now, on her sixteenth birthday, she has become the secret wife of a handsome and worldly king—a king whose country is in turmoil. A king who needs the chosen one, not a failure of a princess.
And he’s not the only one who needs her. Savage enemies seething with dark magic are hunting her. A daring, determined revolutionary thinks she could be his people’s savior. And he looks at her in a way that no man has ever looked at her before. Soon it is not just her life, but her very heart that is at stake.
Elisa could be everything to those who need her most. If the prophecy is fulfilled. If she finds the power deep within herself. If she doesn’t die young.
Most of the chosen do.

Before we start, I totally loved this book. And it said it was for fans of Graceling. Which made me put it up to a higher standard, which means it truly is awesome.

The Girl of Fire and Thorns starts off with Elisa getting shipped off to marry Prince Alejandro, who is hot and nice but she has a completely self-esteem issue because she's overweight. But the problem is, all the kingdoms are in the midst of war. Elisa starts to find out she doesn't really belong anywhere, because people mostly believe in her because as a child, she was blessed with the godstone. Now, the godstone is pretty much this jewel bestowed upon her as a baby that means she's destined for greatness. And sure enough, hell yeah she is!

My favorite thing about High Fantasy is always the world-building, and this book doesn't disappoint! Rae's writing is lush and vivid in its detail, but not pounding you with pages and pages of description. She creates a believable world with religion weaved into the writing. But don't worry, it's not preachy or anything like that, but simply just an important part of the novel and who Elisa is. The journey of Elisa finding herself and her confidence in being a princess was heart-breaking but I loved it something fierce, because Elisa went from being a low self-esteem, eat out your feelings type of girl to being fiercely independent, totally kickass, and someone who can actually rule a country.

Something April's review touched on and I also saw was people having problems with the fact Elisa becomes a lot more confident once she starts losing weight because of all the warfare and desert walking. And to them, I say: what's the big deal? Losing weight is a confidence booster, and because she didn't feel like she had to eat out her problems anymore and would solve with her awesome brain, just added to that. In the end, she never lost her appreciation for food (guys, don't read this on an empty stomach. Her descriptions of food are absolutely mouth-watering.). She was strong-willed and was willing to do anything to help not only the ones she loved, but she had a sense of devotion to her people and her kingdom.

All the side characters were so real and fleshed out and totally believable in their bravery and strength. Finally, we've got the love interests and like I said, Elisa' journey is heart-breaking. I totally called it from Alejandro from the beginning, plus he's a total wuss. Humberto was awesome and made my heart break and  just ahh, not gonna spoil. And then we have Hector, who I feel like we're gonna get some more glimpses of in the next book!

Overall, an amazing book that I recommend to lovers of high fantasy and kickass heroines. And! The ending isn't a cliffhanger even though it's a trilogy! It could've worked perfectly as a stand-alone and I LOVE THAT.

Happy Reading!

The Queen's Daughter by Susan Coventry

Who: Susan Coventry

What: The Queen's Daughter

When: June 8th, 2010

Where: Henry Holt and Co. 

Why: Historical Fiction! 

How: Gifted 

Joan's mother is Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, the most beautiful woman in the world. Her father is Henry II, the king of England and a renowned military leader. She loves them both--so what is she to do when she's forced to choose between them? As her parents' arguments grow ever more vicious, Joan begins to feel like a political pawn.
When her parents marry her off to the king of Sicily, Joan finds herself stuck with a man ten years her senior. She doesn't love her husband, and she can't quite forget her childhood crush, the handsome Lord Raymond.
As Joan grows up, she begins to understand that her parents' worldview is warped by their political ambitions, and hers, in turn, has been warped by theirs. Is it too late to figure out whom to trust? And, more importantly, whom to love?

Historical Fiction! It's actually been a while since I read one, so i'm happy to go back to one of my favorite genres.

The Queen's Daughter takes place a few years before the Hundred Years War between France and England and is centered around a girl named Joan, the only girl out of 5 brothers, and her journey while her brothers fight with not only France, but their own father during the time of the crusades. Joan is shipped out to Sicily in an arranged marriage with an awkward and shy man named William, and her journey from being a child to a brave, independent, and free-thinking women while still being conscious of her role in her family was intriguing, well-written, and full of character development and a continuous plot.

Joan starts out in the novel at the ripe age of eight, when the conflict between her father and her brothers starts, raging across her entire life span in off and on wars inside the family. Then it skips to her at fourteen-sixteen and  her struggles with trying to give her new husband an heir while simultaneously dealing with rising conquests and the growth of the Holy Roman Empire as well as the countries own problems inside the court.   William made me laugh with just how awkward he was (he had no idea how to handle Joan; who was out-spoken and had a mind of her own) and they frequently had spats but ended up being good friends. All of her brothers were exactly as I would have imagined them: Richard, Geoffrey and Henry especially. They were ambitious and willing to do whatever it took -- even pledging themselves to the French King -- to get what they wanted! John was the only brother who didn't start problems, and that was just because he was even younger than Joan.

The ending was so sweet and perfect and i'm happy Joan got the happy ending (as well she the man she TRULY wanted) in the end. Overall, totally recommend to lovers of historical fiction!

Happy Reading!