Waiting On Wednesday (16)

FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS | DIANA PETERFREUND | BALZER + BRAY | JUNE 12th, 2012

Generations ago, a genetic experiment gone wrong—the Reduction—decimated humanity, giving rise to a Luddite nobility who outlawed most technology.
Eighteen-year-old Luddite Elliot North has always known her place in this caste system. Four years ago Elliot refused to run away with her childhood sweetheart, the servant Kai, choosing duty to her family’s estate over love. But now the world has changed: a new class of Post-Reductionists is jumpstarting the wheel of progress and threatening Luddite control; Elliot’s estate is floundering; and she’s forced to rent land to the mysterious Cloud Fleet, a group of shipbuilders that includes renowned explorer Captain Malakai Wentforth—an almost unrecognizable Kai. And while Elliott wonders if this could be their second chance, Kai seems determined to show Elliot exactly what she gave up when she abandoned him.
But Elliot soon discovers her childhood friend carries a secret—-one that could change the society in which they live…or bring it to its knees. And again, she’s faced with a choice: cling to what she’s been raised to believe, or cast her lot with the only boy she’s ever loved, even if she has lost him forever.
Inspired by Jane Austen’s PERSUASION, FOR DARKNESS SHOWS THE STARS is a breathtaking romance about opening your mind to the future and your heart to the one person you know can break it.

THAT COVER. AND THAT SUMMARY. AND THAT TITLE. Gah, so much love.

Happy Reading!

Daughter of Smoke And Bone by Laini Taylor

Who: Laini Taylor
What: Daughter of Smoke And Bone
When: September 27th, 2011
Where: Little Brown
Why: Premise
How: For Review (BEA)

Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky.

In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low.

And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war.

Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out.

When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

The plot was astounding. The whole idea behind Brimstone's shop and the wishes and the teeth was so beautifully constructed and woven into Laini's writing that I find myself wanting to look for Brimstone's store myself even though it kind of sounds scary as hell! Maybe i'd just peek inside, I don't want to have to wear one of Issa's scary snakes around my neck. The hidden world in the back of Brimstone's shop was also completely unbelievable and everything that went into it: the chimera myths and the angels and the war? I loved every second of it. AND THE SETTING? Urgh, I want to go to Prague so bad. The whole time I was reading this, my sister knew it was set in Prague and she kept telling me stuff about the city when she'd gone and I was just like: I hate you.

Karou was so kickass, guys. She was funny and fierce but she was also vulnerable and, like Akiva once said, had this sad loneliness about her that made me just want to jump into the book and give her a bear hug. But when things get bad, she doesn't cringe in fear of it! Instead, she bursts out of her shell and becomes this total BAMF, determined to do what she needs to do to find Brimstone and find out that exactly she saw behind that door. I love her courage and also just the way she spoke to people. She always sounded so sure of herself and confident and you guys know I love heroines like that that take charge, even if they're feeling lost. Zuzanna was an awesome best friend and like a true best friend, stuck by Karou no matter how crazy things got! I thought Kaz was hilarious and so full of himself that he provided some funny moments, particularly the opening scene!

Laini's writing is one of those that speak to my soul (a la Maggie Stiefvater, Lauren DeStefano) and her prose was magnificent. The descriptions of Prague and the Other World (which has a name but it's escaping me) were lush and beautiful and seriously made me feel like I was there. Also: the book is divided into three parts by these little sections that give a taste of the story and I loooooved that. One example being:

Gorgeous! And finally, we have the love story. Karou and Akiva were...strange in a good way. They fell together in such a fashion that I didn't know how I felt about the two of them together. I felt the tension and the attraction but it was all rushed and random but THEN. Then everything is revealed. And when you find out everything you find out, their romance is beautiful and lovely and I want more!

Overall? Recommend!
Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox 58

Hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

For Review:
Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Bought:
Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez

+ Awesome Pledge Swag

Happy Reading!

YA WATCH (4)

COVER NEWS:

TRISH DOLLER | SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL | BLOOMSBURY | JUNE 19th 2012

OPINION? KISSY COVER OH MY GOD. But at least it's not too visible and doesn't irritate me as much.

A powerful debut novel about a young Marine's return home from Afghanistan and the new life and love he finds while fending off the ghosts of war.

When Travis Stephenson returns home from Afghanistan, his parents are on the brink of divorce, his brother has stolen his girlfriend and his car, and nightmares of his best friend getting killed keep him completely spooked. But when he runs into Harper Gray, a girl who despises him for trashing her reputation with a middle school lie, life actually starts looking up. As Travis and Harper see more of each other, he starts falling for her and the way through the family meltdown, the post-traumatic stress, and the possibility of an interesting future begins to emerge.

His sense of humor, sense of his own strength, and incredible sense of honor make Travis an irresistible and eminently lovable hero in this fantastic and timely debut novel.

SARAH BETH DURST | VESSEL | SIMON AND SCHUSTER | SEPTEMBER 11th, 2012

OPINION? I love this cover. Love the colors and the girl and the scarf billowing out and the text and EVERYTHING.

In a desert land where serpents made of unbreakable glass fly through the sky and wolves made of only sand hunt within storms, Liyana is destined to be a vessel, to sacrifice herself so that her clan's goddess can inhabit her body... but her goddess never comes.

BRIDGET KEMMERER | STORM |  KENSINGTON | APRIL 24th, 2012

OPINION? this looks like the cover of a book about a Boy Band or something...not a fan. 

Earth, Fire, Air, Water – they have more power than you dream.

Ever since her ex-boyfriend spread those lies about her, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting all the guys—all the ones she doesn't want. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a beating in the school parking lot. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. Marked for death.

And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca.

Secrets are hard to keep when your life’s at stake. When Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, turns up with a talent for being in the wrong place at the right time, Becca thinks she can trust him. But then Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, and Becca wonders who’s hiding the most dangerous truth of all.

The storm is coming . . .

DEAL NEWS:

all information comes from either Publisher's Weekly or the author's blog.

Tessa Gratton has signed a three-book, six-figure deal with Suzy Capozzi at Random House Children’s Books for a new YA trilogy. Laura Rennert at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency handled the world rights deal for Gratton; the series is called the Songs of New Asgard. The series presents an alternate history of the U.S. in which the country was founded on elements of Norse religions, and gods walk among humans, with some maintaining powerful positions in the government. Rennert said Gratton’s inspiration was, in large part, her own translation of Beowulf. The first book, Weight of Stars, follows two teenagers who embark on a cross-country search for a missing god. As the kids travel through the United States of Asgard they encounter, as Rennert put it, “smalltown zealots, trickster gods, and sadistic field trolls.” Gratton’s YA debut, Blood Magic, was published by RH Children’s in May 2011, and the companion book to that title, The Blood Keeper, is coming out in August 2012.

AH! I'm so excited for this, it sounds awesome. You knows how I love mythology!

NYT, WSJ, and USA Today bestselling author Ally Carter's sixth and final novel in the Gallagher Girls series, and the third novel in the Heist series, to Stephanie Owens Lurie and Cat Onder at Disney-Hyperion.

I loved Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter, the second book in the Heist Society Series, SO BAD! I can't wait for the third book for more Kat & Hale! And this sixth Gallagher Girls Book WILL be the last one!

In a six-figure, two-book acquisition, Tamra Tuller at Philomel took world rights to the next two YA titles from its current author, Ruta Sepetys. (Philomel released Sepetys’s debut, Between Shades of Gray, in March.) Agent Ken Wright, at Writers House, brokered the new deal for Sepetys, and the first novel, which is set near the end of WWII and is currently untitled, follows a family aboard the doomed ocean liner the Wilhelm Gustloff, which was sunk by a Soviet submarine as it was carrying thousands of European refugees trying to escape war-torn Europe. Wright said that Sepetys, who had family members aboard the ship, will draw from personal histories for the novel.

Between Shades of Gray was one of my favorite books this year so i'm quite excited!

In a six-figure, two-book pre-empt, Molly O’Neill at HarperCollins’s Katherine Tegen Books bought North American rights to Hilary Smith’s YA debut, Midnight at the Radio Temple. Laura Rennert at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency handled the auction for O’Neill and said the novel, which is scheduled for summer 2013, is a coming-of-age story about a teenage musician who uncovers shocking family secrets during “an unforgettable summer of love and chaos, music and madness.” Smith was behind the formerly anonymous publishing blog, The Intern (www.internspills.blogspot.com), in which she chronicled toiling away as an unpaid laborer in the editorial department at a nameless publishing house; the blog became something of an industry phenomenon in 2009, drawing, at its height, 10,000 visits per month.

I LOVE HER BLOG! So excited for this!

MOVIE NEWS:

all movie information comes from the awesome site, Page To Premiere. 
" BEAUTIFUL CREATURES movie is now underway! A script has been written, casting is starting this week, and it's set to start shooting April 2012! "

How exciting!

And that's actually all for this week! See you next week on YA WATCH.
Happy Reading!

Another One Bites The Dust: Keep Your Side Characters!

So i've been thinking about Vampire Diaries a lot lately (but this isn't going to be a post about it, don't worry! YET!) But that got me to thinking about side characters. Because I feel like the show does such an amazing job of intertwining different subplots between characters (evident by the fact my favorite plot line is not Elena's, but Caroline's) and as always, my brain is wired to think about books no matter what the subject:

Acute triangles? LOVE TRIANGLES. Cellular Respiration? OH MY GOD [INSERT BOOK HERE] COMES OUT TOMORROW! Black Plague? I WONDER WHAT DYSTOPIAN I'M GOING TO READ NEXT.

I feel like side characters are an important part of any story and if you do it right, you can incorporate them flawlessly into a story and still give them a voice!

sidenote: not in the way TV shows can, obviously. Unless it's told in Third Person, you can't really have more than one plot line going on and that's alright! But this is something I totally hate:

1. WHEN THE BEST FRIEND DISAPPEARS

Ummm...remember her/him? That kid you've known since you were in diapers that sat next to you in lunchduring Kindergarten and pushed all the bullies that tried to bother you? YEAH THEY ARE STILL ALIVE. I hate hate hate when the Heroine discover her TRUE PATH/LOVE OF HER LIFE and suddenly, it's like they're the only two characters! WHA? No! I understand you can't tell them but dude, don't just pretend your friends don't even exist!

And then the Best Friend tells her something and the Heroine starts complaining and i'm like WELL THEY SHOULD TELL YOU YOU'RE A SUCKY FRIEND.

An example of this that really stood out to me was in The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin. Jamie. Jamie was Mara's first friend when she moved to her new school and was super sweet and tutored her and was funny and awesome and halfway through the book...WHO'S JAMIE? He just..disappears. You can't just bring in a character and then once he's done serving his purpose, make him disappear!

THIS ISN'T THE MAFIA.

And something I do like?

2. WHEN A BEST FRIEND SERVES A PURPOSE IN THE STORY

My favorite example of this is Hanna from Delirium by Lauren Oliver. If it wasn't for Hanna, Lena's story wouldn't even exist. Hanna is the one that drags her to the party thing that made Lena meet Alex and sent her on this whirlwind quest of love and awesomeness.

And does Hanna disappear? Nope! Hanna sticks around throughout the entire novel, helping Alex and Lena as well as just being a good best friend and being happy for Lena and her new discoveries of love and such. This is what I want to see more of! Side characters (also like Puck from The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa, Jenna from Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins, etcc) that have their own back stories and contribute to the story and make me want to be their best friends.

And even if the heroine is being a bad friend, stick by then as much as they can.

Here's another post on Best Friends if you haven't seen it by me: Best Friends: You're Doing It Wrong.

Happy Reading!

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Who: Maggie Stiefvater
What: The Scorpio Races
When: October 18th, 2011
Where: Scholastic
Why: AUTHOR LOVE
How: For Review (BEA)

It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen

This is no doubt one of my favorite books of 2011.

Maggie takes you away from faeries and werewolves and into this alternate universe in which there is an island where these dangerous water horses are captured once a year and used in a deadly and amazing competition called The Scorpio Races. Sean has won four years in a row and plans on making this his next win while Puck, a girl (which in itself is a problem, because this is a MAN'S GAME), is going in because she has no choice. The plot was wonderful and I loved reading about everything that leads up to the races: the festival, all the foreigners that come in, the training. All the tradition that was woven into the writing was a beautiful touch.

And the WRITING? Maggie Stiefvater never disappoints in that field. The writing was lush and lyrical but still rough depending on who was talking. This book, like most of Maggie's books, is told in a dual perspective: Puck and Sean. And I wouldn't have wanted it any other way! Both writing styles and voices contrasted and worked together in complete harmony and I enjoyed the interactions and emotions between the two form when I could read both sides to the story.

My favorite character had to be Sean, because his relationship with Corr, his water horse, was beautiful and sad and I just felt something pulling at my heart every few minutes. Sean was so sweet and determined and everyone took him for granted and didn't realize how important he was (but I DID. I LOVE YOU SEAN.) Plus, I like that he wasn't so outwardly strong but he was respected and reveled in town and had this sort of air about himself that showed what an amazing person he was, through simple, subtle gestures.

Puck was much more volatile. She was always feeling a million different emotions at once and she yelled and got confused and was so brave, I loved her for it. Really, one of the bravest characters I've ever read about. She's riding in a race with horses twice the size of hers, she's raising a family virtually by herself, plus she's joined this race just so she could save her family and make sure they didn't lose their house. She was so strong, I applaud her. The romance was subtle but sweet, and watching Sean and Puck become friends and then more was one of my favorite parts. Especially since they both have so much to lose if they don't win the race.

Overall, a fantastic, fantastic book that I recommend a million times over.

Happy Reading!

So you know whose Birthday it is today?

JULIE'S. 

I write a post every year on her birthday because she is my bestest friend ever and she's lovely and her blog is amazing so you should definitely go check her out (even though you likely do considering she's way more popular than me, haha!)

But seriously, I've known this girl for over two years and she's the person who inspired me to start blogging so really, if you love this blog, you should be thanking her because it wouldn't exist without her! I know for a fact I wouldn't be where I am today if I hadn't met her on Jackson Pearce's chats so I like doing these little things to remind her she's the awesomest friend ever.

SO YES. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JULIE! If you want to wish her happy birthday, her twitter handle is: @JulieHeartBooks.

-Happy Reading!

2011 BOOK OSCARS

ARE YOU READY?

FOR THE 2011 BOOK OSCARS?

So Totally Booksessed, the Youtube Collab Channel I created along with Lauren, Katie, Bailey, and Audrey, are hosted something called the 2011 Book Oscars! Here's the lowdown:

There are 14 categories on the form below and I want you to nominate your favorites! ONLY BOOKS THAT HAVE COME OUT THIS YEAR WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN.

• November 30th: Nominations End
• December 5th: Final Voting Begins

During final voting, the team over at Totally Booksessed will have narrowed all the nominations down to a top four for each category. You will vote and on DECEMBER 19TH, we will announce all the winners in our videos for the week very fancy-like! 

MORE RULES:

• if you're feeling conflicted, you CAN put more than one. But please no more than three because i'm gonna have to do all of this! Haha. 
• again, ONLY books that have come out this year will be eligible to win. 
• which means as much as you like Anna & St.Clair, they came out December 2010. 
• you can't have to be subscribed to Totally Booksessed to put in nominations, i'll also be announcing the winners on the blog!

So here's the form and vote away! 

In My Mailbox (56)

Hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

For Review:
Fever by Lauren DeStefano (Already Read -- OH MY GOD GUYS.)
Slide by Jill Hathaway
The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten

Swag:
Cinder mirror!

What did YOU get In Your Mailbox?
Happy Reading!

CONTEST: The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers

Hey guys! So Harper was lovely enough to send me another copy of The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten and i'm giving it away to you guys! There will also be a big swag giveaway going on on Twitter later tonight, since it's my TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY on there. Woo!

THE SECRET SISTERHOOD OF HEARTBREAKERS | JANURARY 2012 | HARPERTEEN

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

Fans of Lauren Myracle, Jodi Lynn Anderson, and Meg Cabot will love this tale of breakups, friendship, new crushes, and magic. Told with wit and charm, The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers is sure to be one of this winter’s most irresistible reads!

the same rules as always apply:

• you must be 13 or older to enter
• US and Canada Only 
• giveaway ends NOVEMBER 30TH
• fill out the form below to enter!

alright, see you guys! Happy Reading!

p.s there will be no YA WATCH tomorrow since there wasn't much news this week but that means next week will be FILLED WITH GOODIES. 

Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi

Who: Tahereh Mafi
What: Shatter Me
Where: HarperTeen
When: November 15th, 2011
Why: DUDE EVERYTHING
How: For Review

Juliette hasn't touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette's touch is fatal. As long as she doesn't hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don't fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war-- and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she's exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

THE WRITING. THE WRITING, PEOPLE.

The writing in this book is really what blew me away. Tahereh's prose is lyrical, elegant, and lush but still abrupt and perfectly in sync with Juliette's thoughts. There was no confusing, un-characteristic descriptions and I love that it was very much like how thoughts are in our real heads: short bursts, not long-winded paragraphs of info-dump. Her writing had me rereading pages just to really dive into the words because they were so well-crafted and gorgeous.

The society Tahereh has set up sounds absolutely awful and I loved every minute of it. You learn much more about the internal affairs of the military base were Juliette is taken than the outside world and what has become of it; but I expect to learn much more in book 2 about what exactly is going on there! Juliette is a lovely heroine: strong, determined, and for every new experience she had, I felt it as vividly as she did. I couldn't even imagine going through everything she's gone through without going insane. The idea behind her not even knowing how being touch feels like (and not just intimacy, but a pat on the back or a kiss to the cheek) was heartbreaking and I wanted to just reach out and hug her myself as she grew into this brave heroine by the end of the book. All of her weaknesses even up simultaneously being her strengths and that's good character development people!

Next on the character chain: we have Warner. Warner, Warner, Warner. Is it wrong that I kind of love him? He's sick and twisted and completely and absolutely evil but...he has this desperate vulnerability that really surprised me and you can't help but sympathize with all his cruel, but in his own mind well-meaning, motivations. I loved hating him and I hated loving him.

And then we have our love interest, Adam, who is sweet and lovely and is really the only person who Juliette can be herself around. Their interactions were so simple, yet loaded with sexual tension as well as total sweet adorableness. And don't think this book is lacking in steaminess because HOT DAMN, Tahereh, those shower scenes? To quote my friend who read the book (and furthermore, this friend is a GUY. Which means guys, read the darn book.): "Holy Shit."

As for side characters, Kenji rocked my socks off and I loved every second of reading about him. He really brought the funny side of the story out and his wise-cracking and loyalty made me love him the minute he was introduced. James, Adam's little brother, and Adam had such a sweet relationship and again, fell in love with his character the minute this happened:

Juliette: "How old are you?" 

James: "I turn 11 in a year." 

Juliette: "So you're ten." 

James: "I turn 12 in two years."

Overall, possibly my favorite book of the year. Complete, absolute love.

Happy Reading!

Top Ten Tuesday: Collecting Cobwebs

So this week on Top Ten Tuesday we are talking about books we bought and then...never read. So there are just there, collecting cobwebs until we finally pick them up! And I have plenty of these:



1. The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak.

DUDE. I've heard such good things about this book and yet...I haven't picked it up since I bought it around two years ago.

2. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

I was so excited! But now...I don't think i'm ever going to read it. I like her Infernal Devices Trilogy soooo much more these, so maybe i'll pick it up some day.

3. Dead Beautiful by Yvonne Woon 

Yeah....never picked it up after it just arrived on my doorstep! It's kind of a funny story (i.e not funny at all) but I was thinking about buying it when UPS arrives with a package from Hyperion, including this book in it! Super random, wasn't expecting it at all

4. The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones 

Faeries! I love the fey! Yup...never got to it. I read the beginning and it sounded kind of ridiculous and the font was huge and weird so...haha!

5. Prophecy of Days by Christy Raedeke

Won this in a contest, was SO excited, never got around to it!

6. Another Faust by Daniel & Dani Nayeri

Another contest win I never got around too but i'm planning on reading soon since I met Daniel multiple times back during BEA and he's hilarious!

7. Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Along with the three other Sarah books I have yet to read...yeah. I just never get around to them and they're not a top priority on my list of TBR books.

8. Tempestuous by Lesley Livingston


I love this series! The Wondrous Strange books are awesome and funny and I was dying for the last book in the trilogy and...never got read. Still sitting there, waiting for me!

9. Pretty Little Liars by Sarah Shepard

I loooooove this show. Like, I love this show. But I can't seem to get myself to pick up the book and start reading it!

10. The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima

I have the ENTIRE series and I still haven't read Book One...and this pains me because it's HIGH FANTASY. Guys, you know what I love. So ridiculous!

What about you? What kind of books are hidden in your TBR pile? Happy Reading!

Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa (Review + Excerpt)

Who: Julie Kagawa
What: Iron Knight (Iron Fey #4)
When: October 25th, 2011
Where: HarlequinTeen
Why: Series LOVE
How: For Review (Blog Tour)
Note: This review is SPOILER FREE to the series

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

No surprise, Julie's final book in the Iron Fey Saga was heart-breaking, beautiful, and absolutely lyrical with an ending that had me smiling so hard.

This last book in the Iron Fey series shifts from Meghan's head to our favorite icy love interest, Ash, who is setting off on a journey with our favorite side characters, Grimm and Puck, to fufill the promise he made to Meghan at the end of Book Three. his ourney with realizing just how much he's sacrificing to do this was both heart-breaking and heart-warming at the same time. Ash, as always, is loving and conflicted but even more so in this book. The closer he gets to his goal, the more he starts realizing everything he has to give up.

Julie makes you so connected to the characters that I felt jealous every time Ariella came into Ash's thoughts! I was like: STOP DOING THAT. MEGHAN. MEGHAN. And trust me, the winter faerie plays a larger role in the book than you realize. Speaking of her (highlight the white section for the spoiler part):

I didn't like her, at all. Mostly because I ship Ash and Meghan like, hardcore, but I hated how she kept trying to suck Ash back into his old life even though he was obviously on this insane, deadly quest for Meghan. But by the end of the book, I at least had respect for her because she was noble and loyal to Ash until the very end.

My favorite part of this book had to be Ash and Puck's relationship throughout the entire novel. You really get to see what you didn't in the books as told by Meghan: just how much Ash regrets everything that's happened up 'till now with Puck. And their sort-of friendship is so complicated and funny that I loved reading every second of it. You can really tell that they used to be best friends and watching them struggle with the past to maybe to back to him was so sweet and lovely.

And I want to thank Julie's editor over at HarlequinTeen a THOUSAND TIMES because if it wasn't for her, we wouldn't have this book and would've been stuck with the ending of Iron Queen which made me burst into a thousand tears. As Julie said: Her Editor wanted a Happily Ever After. So she wrote one. And it was totally worth it.

_________________________________________________________________________

AND since I am part of the Iron Knight Blog Tour that's running, here is my excerpt for you:

“We’re heeeeere,” Puck sang softly. “And can I say that theold gal hasn’t gotten any less creepy than when I saw her last.”I narrowed my eyes at him. “Just shut up and let me do thetalking this time. It was bad enough when you insulted the centaur chief.”“All I suggested was that we could’ve used a ride out of themeadow. I didn’t mean from him.”

Dying to read more? The rest of the except will be on Life Bound By Books tomorrow AND you can buy this lovely book right here: IRON KNIGHT as well as the rest of the series HERE.

Happy Reading!

YA WATCH (3)

Hey guys! And welcome to another edition of YA WATCH! Lots of cover reveals going on this week so here we go (and sorry, no video this week because my webcam has decided to go bonkers!):

COVER REVEALS

Who: Megan McCafferty
What: Thumped (Bumped #2)
When: April 24th, 2012 (THAT'S MY BIRTHDAY!)
Where: HarperTeen
Note: I didn't finish the first book, but I might give it another shot!

It’s been thirty-five weeks since twin sisters Harmony and Melody went their separate ways. And now their story has become irresistible: twins separated at birth, each due to deliver twins…on the same day!
Married to Ram and living in Goodside, Harmony spends her time trying to fit back into the community she once believed in. But she can’t forget about Jondoe, the guy she fell for under the strangest of circumstances.
To her adoring fans, Melody has achieved everything: a major contract and a coupling with the hottest bump prospect around. But this image is costing her the one guy she really wants.
The girls’ every move is analyzed by millions of fans eagerly counting down to “Double Double Due Date.” They’re two of the most powerful teen girls on the planet, and they could do only one thing to make them even more famous:
Tell the truth.

Who: Elizabeth Norris
What: Unraveling
When: April 24th, 2012
Where: HarperTeen
Note: I'm actually very excited for this one!

Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, Janelle knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.
But her reincarnation, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI-agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

The cover was also changed for Jennifer Hubbard's novel: Try Not To Breathe

TRY NOT TO BREATHE | JENNIFER HUBBARD | VIKING | JANURARY 19th

A dark and provocative novel from the author of The Secret Year
Ryan spends most of his time alone at the local waterfall because it’s the only thing that makes him feel alive. He’s sixteen, post-suicidal, and trying to figure out what to do with himself after a stint in a mental hospital. Then Nicki barges into his world, brimming with life and energy, and asking questions about Ryan’s depression that no one else has ever been brave enough—or cared enough—to ask. Ryan isn’t sure why he trusts Nicki with his darkest secrets, but that trust turns out to be the catalyst that he desperately needs to start living again.

Who: Suzanne Young

What: A Want So Wicked
When: June 26th, 2012
Where: HarperTeen
Note: I LOVED A Need So Beautiful! Can't wait to see where she's going with this!

Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is.

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose affect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really?

For the paperback cover of Imaginary Girls by Nova Ren Soma, they changed it! This makes me sad, since I love the beauty and originality of the first cover!

Who: Heidi Ayarbe
What: Wanted
When: May 1st, 2012
Where: Balzer + Bray Note: Summary is cryptic but it sounds interesting!

A one-word text message: That’s all Michal Garcia needs to gather a crowd. Michal is a seventeen-year-old bookie, and “sanctuary” is where she takes bets for anyone at Carson City High with enough cash. Her only rule: Never place a bet for herself.Then Josh Ellison moves to town. He pushes Michal to love her life- play the game, he urges, stop being a spectator.So Michal breaks her one rule. She places a bet, feels the rush, lives.And loses.In an act of desperation, she and Josh concoct a plan: Steal from the rich to pay Michal’s debt. Then they’ll give the rest of the haul to those who need it the most. How can burglary be wrong if they are making things right?

Who: Susan Dennard
What: Something Strange And Deadly

When: July 24th, 2012
Where: HarperTeen

There’s something strange and deadly loose in Philadelphia…
Eleanor Fitt has a lot to worry about. Her brother has gone missing, her family has fallen on hard times, and her mother is determined to marry her off to any rich young man who walks by. But this is nothing compared to what she’s just read in the newspaper—
The Dead are rising in Philadelphia.
And then, in a frightening attack, a zombie delivers a letter to Eleanor…from her brother.
Whoever is controlling the Dead army has taken her brother as well. If Eleanor is going to find him, she’ll have to venture into the lab of the notorious Spirit-Hunters, who protect the city from supernatural forces. But as Eleanor spends more time with the Spirit-Hunters, including their maddeningly stubborn yet handsome inventor, Daniel, the situation becomes dire. And now, not only is her reputation on the line, but her very life may hang in the balance

BOOK TRAILERS:

GUYS. You must know I love this book like whoa. LIKE WHOA. Possibly my favorite book of the year. 

MOVIE NEWS:

all my information comes from the awesome website: Page To Premiere.

"Max Irons lands the role of Jared from THE HOST"
Oo, I like him! I'm much more excited to see whose going to star as IAN though, because
he is so sweet. 

And that's it! See you next week and happy reading!

Legend by Marie Lu

Who: Marie Lu
What: Legend
When: November 29th, 2011
Where: Putnam (Penguin)
Why: Premise
How: For Review (BEA)

What was once the western United States is now home to the Republic, a nation perpetually at war with its neighbors. Born into an elite family in one of the Republic's wealthiest districts, fifteen-year-old June is a prodigy being groomed for success in the Republic's highest military circles. Born into the slums, fifteen-year-old Day is the country's most wanted criminal. But his motives may not be as malicious as they seem.
From very different worlds, June and Day have no reason to cross paths - until the day June's brother, Metias, is murdered and Day becomes the prime suspect. Caught in the ultimate game of cat and mouse, Day is in a race for his family's survival, while June seeks to avenge Metias's death. But in a shocking turn of events, the two uncover the truth of what has really brought them together, and the sinister lengths their country will go to keep its secrets.

THE ACTION. THE ROMANCE. THE BADASS-ERY.

Marie Lu sure knows how to write some awesome characters. When you're first introduced to June, she is in trouble with her headmaster at her UNIVERSITY (this girl is fifteen, people) because she was caught scaling a building (a very tall, very dangerous SCARY building). She defends herself by saying she was practicing while everyone else is sitting on their asses. You already know that June is what i'm doing to be what I refer to from now on as BAP also known as Bad Ass Prodigy. I loved how calculating and intelligent she was, especially when it came to instances of strategy and her inner monologue when trying to find her brother's killer. But she's not the only BAP in this story, people! We have TWO PRODIGIES, because really? Who else can keep up with a genius but another genius?

And in comes Day. Day is the most wanted criminal in the republic, complete with a rap sheet of dozens of crazy missions he's done to the Republic (although his motives are questionable). Do you know what age he is? FIFTEEN! Do you know who else is fifteen? ME. And here I am, writing a blog post while fictional fifteen year olds are rebelling against their governments and getting into all sorts of shenanigans. Makes a person feel accomplished! Haha!

Alright: back to book. Day was charming and I loved reading from his perspective. The book does have a dual narrative between June and Day, and I really think it completed the story. If I had been from simply June's perspective, I don't think I would've liked Day as much as I did. But seeing his internal struggles between trying to stay alive while protecting his family from the constant plagues that are out in the slums really makes him a memorable and lovable character. He's the warm, impulsive side of the story while June is much more calculating and meticulous. They balanced each other out perfectly.

The plot was crazy as well. I loved the heavy military aspect of it and how much June was integrated in it, especially because of her brother. I wasn't very surprised when they announced the killer because I KNEW IT WAS HIM I NEVER LIKED HIM ANYWAY but I loved reading every thing unfold through June's eyes, especially since she was so blind to the flaws in her system of life. But because she is a BAP, she's quick to come back and always ready with a plan, no matter how risky it is.

And their romance doesn't overpower the story, which I also liked. It was definitely there and I liked that it happens when neither of them know who the other is, because it took out all prejudices that the other might have and they could just be themselves and get together on their own accord. It was a little fast-paced but I didn't mind because it's not some weird, total instalove. Plus, I feel like when characters are thrown into tough and scary situations for an entire book, that brings them closer together and I can accept their romance much more if they fell in love with each other quickly while in school.

Overall, an action-packed debut that I definitely recommend!

Happy Reading!

2012 Debut Author Challenge + The End of my Semi-Hiatus

So Kristi (The Story Siren) finally put the entry form for the 2012 DEBUT AUTHOR CHALLENGE! Woo! I didn't participate much this year but next year? I'M KILLING IT.

This year, my goal was to read 30 debuts for the challenge, and I did it! But for 2012? I'm upping that number to FIFTY books. Because I mean business.

And of course, here is my list of 2012 Debuts I hope to get to next year! There are some crazy good books coming out in 2012 (one of them being INCARNATE by Jodi Meadows, which i'm mentioning because I can't include it since I read it this year and INNOCENT DARKNESS by Suzanne Lazear, for the same reason) and  I can't wait to dive into them all!

LIST:

1.  UNDER THE NEVER SKY by Veronica Rossi
2. FRACTURE by Megan Miranda
3. CINDER by Marissa Meyer
4. BORN WICKED by Jessica Spotswood
5. WHEN THE SEA IS RISING RED by Cat Hellisen
6. LOVE & LEFTOVERS by Sarah Tregay
7. TEMPEST by Julie Cross
8. SLIDE by Jill Hathaway
9. WHERE IT BEGAN by Ann Stampler
10. QUEEN OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas
11. THE CATASTROPHIC HISTORY OF YOU AND ME by Jess Rothenberg 
12. SOMEONE ELSE'S LIFE by Katie Dale
13. THE GATHERING STORM by Robin Bridges
14. LEVEL TWO by Lenore Appelhans
15. REUNITED by Hilary Weisman Graham
16. PRETTY CROOKED by Elise Ludwig
17. SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY by Susan Dennard
18. BREAKING BEAUTIFUL by Jennifer Shaw Wolf
19. OF POSEIDON by Anna Banks
20. WHAT'S LEFT OF ME by Kat Zhang
21. IF I LIE by Corrine Jackson
22. SHOOTING STARS by Alison Rushby
23. THE SELECTION by Kiera Cass
24. WHAT SHE LEFT BEHIND by Tracy Bilen 
25. UNRAVELING by Elizabeth Norris
26. SOMETHING LIKE NORMAL by Trish Doller 
27. DEFIANCE by C.J Redwine
28. SWEET EVIL by Wendy Higgins

.... and more, of course, will be added as we go along!

Also: I have been on a Semi-Hiatus these past two weeks, since i've barely been posting. It's been a particularly stressful two weeks, since I go to an academically rigorous school, but now things are calming down a bit and we'll be back to our normal posting! WOO!

Happy Reading, guys!

The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Who: Kady Cross
What: The Girl In The Steel Corset
When: May 24th, 2011
Where: Harlequin Teen
Why: Steampunk!
How: For Review (BEA)

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch...

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits. Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help-and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on, even if it seems no one believes her.

So I loved the plot. I love Steampunk because the entire idea of placing technology in a Victorian setting is the best of both worlds in the most awesome way. Finley's world has both corsets and automatons which is always fun. I loved seeing as her and the rest of the team banded together to solve everything that was going on with the Machinist while simultaneously trying to trust each other (particularly them learning to trust Finley). Something I didn't like about the plot was the fact that around the middle the book gets so, so slow. I mean, I seriously considered just skipping to the end at one point. But then it picks up again and i'm thrown into another  clue and adventure and crazy theory.

I loved all the characters! They were well-rounded and felt real to me. Neither was just funny and just frustrating, everyone was both! Emily was a total sweetheart and my second favorite character. She was a total genius and I admired her a lot for that! I loved to hate Sam, because of his pig headed stubbornness and general douche-bag air about him. Griffin was lovely and sweet and forever logical, even though his sometimes hesitant nature made me want to pull my hair out. Jasper the American Cowboy was AWESOME and funny and flirty and I adored him.

Finley was fierce! It was so intriguing to read about her fighting the two sides of herself: one dark and violent, the other lady-like and timid and also watching them mesh together to form everything that was her. She was strong, confident, and way ahead of her time! Haha. And then we get to my deliciously multi-layered favorite character: Jack Dandy. Resident notorious crime lord and charming heartthrob. He was a bad boy in every way a man can't be one. Does that make sense? Let me explain:

He had a reputation. A bad one, obviously. But he was also a gentlemen and never a douche-bag, always willing to help Finley and be concerned about her regardless of whether or not she actually returned away of his feelings. And that is frigging amazing. But while he was my favorite character, Griffin was who I wanted Finley with most of all! They were so sweet together.

Probably my only other complaint: it kind of leaves you hanging, particularly with Finley's romantic relationships. You're like: alright, 400 pages and there's no real decision? Nada? Thank god there's a sequel. Because that ending? WHAAA?

Happy Reading!

In My Mailbox (55)

Hosted by Kristi from The Story Siren

For Review:
Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl
Hallowed by Cynthia Hand
The Secret Sisterhood of Heartbreakers by Lynn Weingarten
Getting Over Garrett Delaney by Abby McDonald

Gifted:
Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
+ swag

Publisher Related Stuff:

VIP IRON KNIGHT TOUR BADGE

What did you get in YOUR mailbox?
Happy Reading!

YA WATCH (2)

Welcome to another edition of YA WATCH! This week, I have plenty of awesome stuff to share!
These WILL start coming with vlogs NEXT WEEK.

COVER REVEALS:

and whoa, have there been a lot this week!

 Who: Amanda Hocking
 What: Wake
 When: 2012
 Where: St.Martins
 Note: NO information about this book on goodreads!


















Who: Josephine Angelini
What: Dreamless (Starcrossed #2)
When: May 29th, 2012
Where: Harperteen
Note: The first book was a DNF for me but I still haven't met someone who hasn't liked it so I might give it another shot!

Who: Kiersten White
What: Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3)
When: July 24th, 2012
Where: HarperTeen
Note: HarperTeen pulled out a lot of covers this week! And ah, it's lovely! I love that it matches all the other covers and i'm completely dying to read this.

The third book in the Paranormalcy trilogy.

The final chapter of Evie's adventures. Old friends, new ones, all wrapped up in impossible decisions. And some ball gowns. Because what's a life of normal and paranormal drama without a ball gown or two?

Who: Kiera Cass
What: The Selection
When: April 24th, 2012
Where: HarperTeen
Note: I AM SO EXCITED. This is pitched as Hunger Games meets The Bachelor and GAH.

For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in the palace and compete for the heart of the gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn't want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she's made for herself- and realizes that the life she's always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

And finally, the SHADE TRILOGY by Jeri Smith Ready got a cover change for the last book coming out! What is up with publishers doing this? And of course, it definitely ISN'T for the better. While I can see them appealing to more teens, the original covers were much prettier:

BOOK NEWS & DEALS:

" Aimee Carter, author of THE GODDESS TEST, announced this earlier this week!

"There's going to be a free Goddess Test e-novella entitled THE GODDESS HUNT, and Harlequin Teen will release it in e-book form on March 1, 2012, about a month before Goddess Interrupted. Without giving too much away, it takes place between the first and second book, and it features multiple POVs - one of which is Henry's!"

" Sarah Ockler's novel THE LANGUAGE OF IMPOSSIBLE DREAMS has had a cover revamp (see Waiting On Wednesday for cover) and also got a new release date (JANUARY 3rd) and a new title: BITTERSWEET "

So there is a book called QUEEN OF GLASS that is coming out Fall 2012 from Bloomsbury by Sarah J. Maas. It is a High Fantasy and a Cinderella retelling where Cinderella is an imprisoned assassin so when I saw this? I was EXCITED:

" Starting early next year, Bloomsbury will be releasing FOUR (4!!) QUEEN OF GLASS novellas, all set before the events of Book 1. They’ll be ebooks, and the first novella will release around January, with the other three novellas released every 1.5-2 months afterward, leading up to the Fall 2012 release of Book 1. 

All of the novellas will be about Celaena, and are set in the 9 months leading up to her imprisonment (so about 2 years before the events of Book 1). While each of the novellas will stand on their own, the four novellas combined form the arc of events that explain how she went from being the world’s greatest assassin to getting captured and sent to the Salt Mines. "

MOVIE NEWS:

all my information comes from the lovely, lovely site called Page to Premiere.

" Liam Hemsworth, Thomas McDonell,and Max Irons Are All Auditioning for roles in THE HOST. "

MAN, this makes me excited! I actually loved that book (I have no idea why Twilight was so badly written because The Host was lengthy, but quite good) so i'm excited to see it on the big screen

" FORGOTTEN by Cat Patrick gets a screenwriter: Oren Uziel. This movie also already has Hailee Steinfeld attached as the heroine "

this book would make an AMAZING movie!

AWESOME LINK OF THE WEEK:

Oh my god, this was SO funny: If Historical Events Had Facebook Statuses. 

Lola And The Boy Next Door by Stephanie Perkins

Who: Stephanie Perkins
What: Lola And The Boy Next Door
When: September 29th, 2011
Where: Dutton (Penguin)
Why: DUH
How: For Review (BEA)

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion . . . she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit -- more sparkly, more fun, more wild -- the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket -- a gifted inventor -- steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

Yup, she's done it again. Stephanie Perkins has given us a funny, heart-warming and whirlwind contemporary that reminded me why I love her writing so much!

Lola was a lovely heroine. She's vibrant and fun and loves putting on costumes almost as much as she loves making them and I loved every little qiurk about her, even the bad ones. And that's what I love: there are bad ones. Stephanie's characters always have two sides to a coin, like everyone in the world does. And while Lola was wonderful, she was also naive and a tad impulsive and she refused to see what was right in front of her eyes until it was almost too late. But it's Lola's journey of self-discovery and finding out who she really is under all the colors and feathers.

The plot revolves around first love, and what it's like when someone who completely disappeared from your life comes barreling back into it. It was so sweet and unique, because Perkins can take any idea and make it hilarious and amazing, that I actually loved it even more than I did Anna and the French Kiss! It was such a slow build for Lola to realize everything that she should've understood in the first place that you'll be cheering the minute she makes the decisions she needed too.

But this is a character-driven story, so let's talk about characters! Lola's parents are two gay men who basically adopted her. Both of them were funny and so caring and loving that...gah. I wanted to give both of them hugs. Especially Andy, considering the difficulties we had to go through when Lola's mother (his sister) comes back into town. Lindsey was so sweet and sounded like a great friend and Calliope sounds like that girl you can't help but envy, but can't even gather up enough hate to...well, hate.

And then you have Cricket who is one of the best YA boys I have read in a long time. He was sweet and awkward and a fumbler who didn't really know what he was doing but he was so sure about his feelings that I just completely adored him. Plus, he was charming and an inventor! Max was a total douche and I hated him and that's that.

And of course, i'm going to mention the cameo appearance of Anna and St.Clair. I loved this. I loved that they didn't just waltz in for one scene but both were recurring characters and an important part of Lola's journey. You get to learn about where there relationship went and more St.Clair loveliness and how much their relationship grows. Out of the two, Anna and St.Clair are still my favorite couple and I loved that I got both of them in this book.

Happy Reading!