Book of the Month: December

Book of the Month is a monthly event, hosted by Book Whales. This is done to highlight one of the books we have read in the previous month.

So my book of the month is (cue drum roll please..)

Falling Kingdoms

by Morgan Rhodes

My review

Epic fantasy is without a doubt my favourite genre right now. And I love how intriguing this book is. This is a worthy book to be compared to the famous A Song of Fire and Ice series or Game of Thrones.

Review: Touched

Touched (Sense Thieves #1)
by Corrine Jackson
Published November 27th 2012
by Kensington Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

Remy O’Malley heals people with touch—but every injury she cures becomes her own. Living in a household with an abusive stepfather, she has healed untold numbers of broken bones, burns,and bruises. And then one night her stepfather goes too far.

Being sent to live with her estranged father offers a clean start and she is eager to take it. Enter Asher Blackwell. Once a Protector of Healers, Asher sacrificed his senses to become immortal. Only by killing a Healer can a Protector recover their human senses. Falling in love is against the rules between these two enemies. Because Remy has the power to make Protectors human again, and when they find out, they’ll becoming for her—if Asher doesn’t kill her first.

Thoughts:
I really..really wish that writers would just stop using the Twilight plotline all over again. Please just stop. I thought the blurb sounds promising after all a story about healers have always intrigued me. But after slogging through the uninspiring and confusing early chapters, I just feel my attention and interest slowly slipping away. I am thinking that avid romance writers might find this compelling but girls who love a bit more action will definitely be turned off by the many similarities to the Twilight saga. As one blogger even pointed out that the cover is certainly a rip off of the first book. Please, I'm begging publishers and writers to be more creative rather than churning out the same old forbidden romance plot over and over again.



Available on: Amazon

Cuddlebuggery's Top Cuddles of 2012 Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop of the Cuddlebuggery's Top Cuddles of 2012 Giveaway Hop hosted by the cool and awesome people behind Cuddlebuggery Book Blog.

Rules:

1. One winner will get to choose one book from my list of favourite books of 2012 which are shown below.

2. Open to everyone where The Book Depository ships to. 

3. Fill in the rafflecopter and that's it.


 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Gravity

Gravity (The Taking #1)
by Melissa West
Published December 18th 2012
by Entangled Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

In the future, only one rule will matter:

Don’t. Ever. Peek.

Seventeen-year-old Ari Alexander just broke that rule and saw the last person she expected hovering above her bed — arrogant Jackson Locke, the most popular boy in her school. She expects instant execution or some kind of freak alien punishment, but instead, Jackson issues a challenge: help him, or everyone on Earth will die.

Ari knows she should report him, but everything about Jackson makes her question what she’s been taught about his kind. And against her instincts, she’s falling for him. But Ari isn’t just any girl, and Jackson wants more than her attention. She’s a military legacy who’s been trained by her father and exposed to war strategies and societal information no one can know — especially an alien spy, like Jackson. Giving Jackson the information he needs will betray her father and her country, but keeping silent will start a war.

Thoughts:
Gravity has a unique and interesting plotline where aliens have made a treaty with humans to feed off nutrients from them in exchange for helping to rehabilitate the earth that has become desolate due to years of war. Even the pacing started off nicely with our main protagonist breaking the rule and instantly encountering the alien who was supposed to be taking antibiotics through her while she sleeps.

But once the story veered into the romance element, it completely fell apart. I just don't get the attraction between them. I found it a little disturbing that a guy can come into your home at night and starts latching himself like a parasite even if he is super hot. If Ari had enough sense as a daughter of a general she should have beat him up in the first place.

Only the whole conspiracy and mystery surrounding the Ancients keeps me reading the book till the end. And the fact that I'm probably as conflicted as Ari in trying to decide which is the proper course to choose makes it very interesting. I mean are you willing to sacrifice your loyalty to save your family and humanity or will you choose to remain loyal to humankind in letting them suffer? Gosh, that's a big decision to make. If only the romance are more believable then I would gladly give this 5 stars.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday #7: Bronze Gods

Waiting on Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we highlighted an upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

Bronze Gods (Apparatus Infernum #1)
by A.A. Aguirre
Kindle Edition

Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Ace 

Summary from Goodreads:

Danger stalks the city of steam and shadows.

Janus Mikani and Celeste Ritsuko work all hours in the Criminal Investigation Division, keeping citizens safe. He’s a charming rogue with an uncanny sixth sense; she’s all logic—and the first female inspector. Between his instincts and her brains, they collar more criminals than any other partnership in the CID.

Then they’re assigned a potentially volatile case where one misstep could end their careers. At first, the search for a missing heiress seems straightforward, but when the girl is found murdered—her body charred to cinders—Mikani and Ritsuko’s modus operandi will be challenged as never before. Before long, it’s clear the bogeyman has stepped out of nightmares to stalk gaslit streets, and it’s up to them to hunt him down. There’s a madman on the loose, weaving blood and magic in an intricate, lethal ritual that could mean the end of everything…

Babble:
A female Asian steampunk heroine! And she's the brains of the operation? Excellent!

Review: Summerset Abbey

Summerset Abbey (Summerset Abbey #1)
by T.J. Brown
Published January 15th 2013
by Gallery Books
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

1913: In a sprawling manor on the outskirts of London, three young women seek to fulfill their destinies and desires amidst the unspoken rules of society and the distant rumblings of war. . . . 

Rowena Buxton
Sir Philip Buxton raised three girls into beautiful and capable young women in a bohemian household that defied Edwardian tradition. Eldest sister Rowena was taught to value people, not wealth or status. But everything she believes will be tested when Sir Philip dies, and the girls must live under their uncle’s guardianship at the vast family estate, Summerset Abbey. Standing up for a beloved family member sequestered to the “underclass” in this privileged new world, and drawn into the Cunning Coterie, an exclusive social circle of aristocratic “rebels,” Rowena must decide where her true passions—and loyalties—lie.

Victoria Buxton
Frail in body but filled with an audacious spirit, Victoria secretly dreams of attending university to become a botanist like her father. But this most unladylike wish is not her only secret—Victoria has stumbled upon a family scandal that, if revealed, has the potential to change lives forever. . . .

Prudence Tate
Prudence was lovingly brought up alongside Victoria and Rowena, and their bond is as strong as blood. But by birth she is a governess’s daughter, and to the lord of Summerset Abbey, that makes her a commoner who must take her true place in society—as lady’s maid to her beloved “sisters.” But Pru doesn’t belong in the downstairs world of the household staff any more than she belongs upstairs with the Buxton girls. And when a young lord catches her eye, she begins to wonder if she’ll ever truly carve out a place for herself at Summerset Abbey.

Thoughts:
Have you ever been in a situation where you were so engrossed in a game of football (or soccer, or baseball..or whatever) and just as your team was about to score when suddenly the t.v goes blank?

Yes, my sentiments exactly! This book has the worst (or simply the best) cliffhanger ending I've ever encountered. Just when the story was about the get really juicy and good, it ends!

I did however enjoyed the story since being a big Downtown Abbey fan this book is tailor made for me. But the pace took a while to pick up and the girls were being fairly useless (in my opinion) in the beginning.

The clues to Prudence mysterious past is too obvious and is the one thing that keep me flipping the pages in a flurry. Rowena as the eldest and most attractive sibling reminds me too much of Lady Mary from Downtown Abbey except that she lacks the confidence and determination that Mary has. And Victoria the fragile and flighty younger sister has feminist aspirations of her own that seemed unbefitting of her weak physical condition.

I'm sorry to say that the girls became a lot more interesting in the company of several young men. Prudence attracted a young lord's attention from the very beginning. While Rowena rescued a next door neighbour whose family is in a bitter feud with the Buxtons. Victoria also managed to befriend one of her cousin's friend who came visiting although I found their relationship somewhat puzzling.

It just so sad that the author had to end the story so abruptly in order to force readers to read the next book in the series. It could have easily be an excellent stand alone with the girls finding their own happy endings and Prudence finally discovering the identity of her real father.

Verdict: 3 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Review: Splintered

Splintered
by A.G. Howard
Published January 1st 2013

by Amulet Books

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

Thoughts:
Splintered puts a delicious and dark twist to the very famous Alice in Wonderland tale. There's a macabre and gothic feel to it as Alyssa the great-great-great grand daughter of Alice Liddell is fraught by hallucinations of talking insects and flowers and has a hobby of collecting these dead insects to be made into works of art. It is understandable that Alyssa is a tortured soul with a mother who is admitted to an asylum for having these very same illusions. And as she struggles to come to terms with her unusual ancestors, she realized she must  try to lift the curse that has been plaguing her family for generations.

I really love the rich and detailed world which the author has successfully created and was both eerily enchanted and terrified of it. What I didn't like are the host of predictable characters, the uninspiring love triangle and also the confusing ending which left me scratching my head. The book is also very slow at the beginning and I'm just not interested to read pages about Alyssa's mooning about her next-door neighbour Jeb. She's supposed to be this cool and aloof skater girl but her moments of dreaming is entirely wearisome.

I'm recommending this for the wonderful and compelling adventure and also for the magnificent fantastical version of Wonderland but not for the protagonist.


Verdict: 3 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Review: Crimson Frost

Crimson Frost (Mythos Academy #4)
by Jennifer Estep
Published December 24th 2012

by Kensington
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads: 

For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes—the most hideous face I’d ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki—the evil god that I’d helped set free against my will.

I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we’d gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I’d have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn’t see that one coming.

I’ve been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison—and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan’s dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I’m guilty. If I’m going to get out of this mess alive, I’ll have to do it myself…

Thoughts:
I have a love-hate relationship with this series. I started reading the first book because I just love the idea of an underdog proving that she's as good as anyone else or even better. And at first Gwen Frost the gypsy girl is the underdog. Without super strength like the rest of her posh schoolmates (who are Spartans, Valkyries, Vikings, Amazons and well you get the idea), she's really the odd one out.

But now that she has been picked as Nike's Champion to battle it out against Loki's Champion and has the hunky popular guy Logan Quinn as her boyfriend, things get way too predictable for me. It feels as if every book has Reapers attacking students in the school library and Gwen is as always in the middle of it. After the fourth book, it became too tedious to read and I'm wishing that this series will end soon.

The only good thing about this one is the fact that Gwen has became an underdog once more. Falsely accused as the person guilty of freeing Loki from his prison, Gwen is put on trial by the Protectorates and shunned by her schoolmates. It is also interesting to read about the appearance of several new characters especially the cute and mysterious Alexei whom I was hoping to be Gwen's new love interest but apparently he's not into the opposite sex.

As predicted, there is an epic battle at the end of the book where the others finally found out the identity of Loki's Champion. But Logan and Gwen's relationship suffered a major setback (again) and I'm left wondering how many more books are planned for this series.

Will I read the next book in the series? I guess so. This is why I hate series so much. Why can't they have a stand alone book and be done with it? Help!

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday #6: Weather Witch

Waiting on Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we highlighted an upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

Weather Witch
by Shannon Delany
Paperback, 320 pages
Expected publication: June 25th 2013
by St. Martin's Griffin

Summary from Goodreads:

In a vastly different and darker Philadelphia of 1844, steam power has been repressed, war threatens from deep, dark waters, and one young lady of high social standing is expecting a surprise at her seventeenth birthday party–but certainly not the one she gets!

Jordan Astraea, who has lived out all of her life in Philadelphia’s most exclusive neighborhood, is preparing to celebrate her birthday with friends, family and all the extravagance they might muster. The young man who is most often her dashing companion, Rowen Burchette, has told her a surprise awaits her and her best friend, Catrina Hollindale, wouldn’t miss this night for all the world!

But storm clouds are gathering and threatening to do far more than dampen her party plans because someone in the Astraea household has committed the greatest of social sins by Harboring a Weather Witch.

Babble:
Yes I am indeed a big fan of witches and will read any book which have witches in them. What can I say? Witches are just my thing.

Review: The Friday Society

The Friday Society
by Adrienne Kress
Published December 6th 2012

by Dial

Summary from Goodreads:

Be your own hero.

An action-packed tale of gowns, guys, guns –and the heroines who use them all 

Set in turn of the century London, The Friday Society follows the stories of three very intelligent and talented young women, all of whom are assistants to powerful men: Cora, lab assistant; Michiko, Japanese fight assistant; and Nellie, magician's assistant. The three young women's lives become inexorably intertwined after a chance meeting at a ball that ends with the discovery of a murdered mystery man.

It's up to these three, in their own charming but bold way, to solve the murder–and the crimes they believe may be connected to it–without calling too much attention to themselves. 

Thoughts:
This is me after reading the book.

Yup! I was all smiling like a crazy person which is very surprising since it's basically a whodunnit where tragic deaths littered the pages. But..but..but..I just love the book! I love the girls! I never expected it to be so funny, charming and quirky. 

What's better than three kick-ass girls? Three kick-ass girls who are funny! Well, Michiko is kind of stiff and rigid but Cora and Nellie kind of make up for it. Their unpredictability, zany ideas and brilliant schemes make them a team of unlikely heroines. And the way it is written is reminiscent of the British dry humour which I really like.

This is certainly for fans of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series. I'm hoping that this will be a start of a wonderful series where the girls take centre stage and ditched their so-called masters.

Verdict: 5 stars.
In my Steampunk Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Scent of Magic

Scent of Magic (Healer #2)
by Maria V. Snyder
Published December 18th 2012

by Harlequin MIRA

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Hunted, Killed—Survived?

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again.

Thoughts:
When I first saw the cover for this book, I was all curious and excited. Is that Kerrick? Avry looks old for a teenage healer and I sometimes forget that she's supposed to be a mere sixteen year old. In fact, the Healer series doesn't read like a young adult fantasy because the characters seemed so adult like in their actions and thoughts. This could easily be marketed or gets mistaken as an epic fantasy.

Since Avry and Kerrick have finally proclaimed their love and acted on it by the end of the last book, it is imminent that their relationship is put to the test in this one. As Kerrick joined his friends to fight against the powerful King Tohon, Avry decided to once again reached out to her sister who has decided to be a part of Estrid's army by going undercover.

I am liking Avry a lot more in the second book compared to the first one because she gets to prove herself to be quite the kick ass chick and not just healing ungrateful people here and there. But I am left at the edge of my seat the entire time since I was so worried that her cover would be blown over by the other soldiers in Estrid's holy army.

I know some readers are very disappointed that Avry and Kerrick spent most of the time being apart in this book but since I'm not really big on romance, I don't really mind. Read this instead for the awesome magic stuff, the intense battle between so many forces and the scary undead soldiers of King Tohon. I know zombie fans will be delighted with this one. There's not only human zombie but animals too. Seriously creepy stuff.

Verdict: 5 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Falling Kingdoms

Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1)
by Morgan Rhodes
Published December 11th 2012
by Razorbill

Summary from Goodreads: 

In a land where magic has been forgotten but peace has reigned for centuries, a deadly unrest is simmering. Three kingdoms grapple for power--brutally transforming their subjects' lives in the process. Amidst betrayals, bargains, and battles, four young people find their fates forever intertwined:

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

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

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

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

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

Thoughts:
Falling Kingdoms is one of the most anticipated book of the year and I'm so glad that it does not disappoint. It has been touted as the young adult version of Game of Thrones and that description fits quite nicely with its myriad of characters all hungry for power.

In the heart of the story are four unlikeliest characters who are quite different from one another. And since I'm always drawn to strong female characters, I am glad that both Lucia and Cleo are characters I can certainly care for. Although both of them are princesses in their own kingdoms, they are very different.

Cleo; a princess in the rich and opulent kingdom of Auranos is forced to marry the arrogant noble Aron while naive Lucia; a princess from Limeros is unaware of the deception and betrayal that her own family has done over the years. It is interesting to see both of the characters' development through the story and while I was hoping that the princesses will kick some serious ass eventually I had to settle for a little magical action courtesy of Lucia. Perhaps Cleo will wield a sword in the next book? I'm seriously hoping for that.

What I didn't like however is the predictable instant love between Cleo and her bodyguard Theon. It feels unnecessary and awkward. The story also tends to jump from one character to the next without much explanation. The pacing can also be very uneven with periods of slow inner monologues from Cleo and Magnus point and vicious action scenes involving Jonas.

But I must say compared this to another book which was also deemed as Game of Thrones for teens, Falling Kingdoms is certainly much better! I'm eager to find out more of the princesses and their battle for supremacy in the next book. I'm sure there will be more epic battle scenes and legendary romance for the readers to indulge in but with far less violence and sexual tensions of the George R.R. Martin series.

Verdict: 5 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday #5: Between

Waiting on Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we highlighted an upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

Between
by Kerry Schafer
Paperback, 304 pages
Expected publication: January 29th 2013 

by Ace

Summary from Goodreads:

Vivian’s life is finally on track. She has a job she loves as an ER doctor and has just met – literally – the man of her dreams. But when her eccentric grandfather is murdered and designates her as his next of kin, she discovers that she is the last of a race of beings known as dreamshifters. It is her task to guard the doorways between waking and dreaming, which have already begun to unravel, spilling dangerous creatures from dream into the waking world. When she sets out to close the open doors and protect her town and the people she loves, Vivian confronts dragons, intrigue, and the dark secrets of her own family history. In the end she comes face to face with a sorceress seeking eternal life and ultimate power. Vivian must find a way to stop her, or reality will be forever altered.

Babble:
The amazing cover just enticed me to find more about the book and after reading the blurb, I'm just totally sold. I need to read more adult fantasy books and this one looks just right. I love to read about successful career woman and the fact that it has a wonderful paranormal twist, sounds so exciting.

Review: Indigo Awakening

Indigo Awakening (The Hunted #1)
by Jordan Dane
Published December 18th 2012

by Harlequin Teen

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads: 

Because of what you are, the Believers will hunt you down.

Voices told Lucas Darby to run. Voices no one else can hear. He’s warned his sister not to look for him, but Rayne refuses to let her troubled brother vanish on the streets of LA. In her desperate search, she meets Gabriel Stewart, a runaway with mysterious powers and far too many secrets. Rayne can’t explain her crazy need to trust the strange yet compelling boy—to touch him—to protect him even though he scares her.

A fanatical church secretly hunts psychic kids—gifted “Indigo” teens feared to be the next evolution of mankind—for reasons only “the Believers” know. Now Rayne’s only hope is Gabe, who is haunted by an awakening power—a force darker than either of them imagine—that could doom them all.

Thoughts:
I did not know what to expect from the book since I've requested it on Netgalley on a whim And have not heard any buzz for it. It took a while for me to get really into the book and honestly I was ready to give up reading it halfway until things get mighty interesting. The funny thing is, Rayne; the supposedly main character has all the qualities that I look for in a female character. She's tough, independent, street smart and rides a Harley. But why do I get the feeling that she's only pretending to be tough because the writer said so?

So I am indeed quite dissapointed when Rayne got into some trouble and needed some guy to save her. Cliche. And they both ended up having this instant connection since both of them are tortured souls with family problems. Very cliche. I was more interested with Kendra who discovered her gifts earlier on and dedicated her life in finding the other Indigo children and providing a safe shelter for them. A religious cult is hunting all the Indigo children so they must learn to use their powers to retaliate.

For me, the book became a lot more interesting when Rayne and Gabe left LA for the safety of Gabe's childhood home. We finally get an insight in Gabe's powers and his mysterious colourful family. And I'm saying colourful since he has a ghost as a butler and his mother used to be in a circus. Kind of reminds you of The Addams Family, right?

When they decided to return to LA to find Rayne's brother; Lucas, things get a lot more frenetic. The point of view keeps on shifting from one character to the next. So you not only get point of views from Kendra, Lucas, Rayne, Gabe, Raphael (an Indigo boy who has a big crush on Kendra) but also the vicious head hunters (O'Dell and Boelens) hired by the Church to catch these kids which can be quite overwhelming.

But the ending satisfy my taste for action and adventure and it certainly piqued my interest to read more of the series. Without giving away too much, let's just say that its reminiscent of the whole Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader love hate drama. Definitely worth checking out!

Verdict: 4 stars.
Available on: Amazon

The Dusty Bookshelf Challenge 2012

It's nearly the end of the year so it's about time that I have a wrap up posts for all my Reading Challenges.  I felt so overwhelmed with all the reading challenges that I've participated in. But luckily I did managed to finish some of them and the rest..well it's a lesson I'll keep in mind so I won't go overboard next year.

Luckily I've read all the books in my Dusty Bookshelf Challenge plus several more since I'm only aiming for Pixie Dust which is like 5 books. Yay! You can check my my original post here.

1. Matched by Ally Condie
2. A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
3. Possess by Gretchen Mcneil
4. Haunting Violet (I finished this halfway, but it still counts right?)
5. Born At Midnight by C.C. Hunter
6. Indulge by Megan Duncan
7. Awake at Dawn by C.C. Hunter
8. Legend by Marie Liu
9. Darkness Becomes Her by Kelly Keaton

10. Just Like Heaven by Julia Quinn

Do I deserve a pat in the back? Hell, yeah! It's a struggle to read all these so-called 'dusty' books when those shiny new ones are always tempting you. Thanks to Jessica from Books: A True Story for being a wonderful host. 

Waiting on Wednesday #4: Legacy of the Clockwork Key

Waiting on Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we highlighted an upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

Legacy of the Clockwork Key 

(Secret Order of Modern Amusmentists #1)
by Kristin Bailey
Hardcover, 403 pages
Expected publication: March 5th 2013 

by Simon Pulse

Summary from Goodreads:

A teen girl unravels the mysteries of a secret society and their most dangerous invention in this adventure-swept romance set in Victorian London.When a fire consumes Meg’s home, killing her parents and destroying both her fortune and her future, all she has left is the tarnished pocket watch she rescued from the ashes. But this is no ordinary timepiece. The clock turns out to be a mechanical key—a key that only Meg can use—that unlocks a series of deadly secrets and intricate clues that Meg is compelled to follow. 

Meg has uncovered evidence of an elite secret society and a dangerous invention that some will stop at nothing to protect—and that Meg alone can destroy. Together with the handsome stable hand she barely knows but hopes she can trust, Meg is swept into a hidden world of deception, betrayal, and revenge. The clockwork key has unlocked her destiny in this captivating start to a trilogy.

Babble:
The plotline sounds like a mix of epic fantasy with a slight hint of steampunk. I'm really excited to read this book. Secret societies are really my thing.

Book Lovers' Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop of the Book Lovers' Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and MaryAnn from Chapter by Chapter.

Rules:

1. One winner will get to choose one book from the list of books which are shown below.

2. Since the publisher will be shipping the book, it is open to US entrants only. Sorry International peeps, I promise there will be a giveaway open to you guys soon.

3. Fill in the rafflecopter and that's it.

 
 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book of the Month: November

Book of the Month is a monthly event, hosted by Book Whales. This is done to highlight one of the books we have read in the previous month.

So my book of the month is (cue drum roll please..)

Days of Blood and Starlight

by Laini Taylor

My review

This is a no brainer. Days of Blood and Starlight is certainly hands down the best book of the month or even the year. How can a book makes you laugh and cry at the same time? This is an excellent example of the tragic story of star crossed lovers. What are you waiting for? Go and get it!

Review: Snow Whyte and the Queen Mayhem

Snow Whyte and the Queen of Mayhem
by Melissa Lemon
Published December 11th 2012

by Cedar Fort, Inc.

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Stuck in her family's apple orchards, Kat's got plenty of work to do and only pesky Jeremy to help. But when Jeremy convinces her to run away, Kat will discover that nothing---and no one---in her life is quite what it seems. Wonderfully reimagined, this is the magical tale of Snow White as you've never read it before!

Thoughts:
I love fairy tale retellings, I really do. But I struggled to finish this book and had to stop a few times before being able to truly appreciate it. Maybe it's a case of a Snow White overdose what with TWO movies about Snow White coming out this year and the fact that both of them failed to impress me.

What makes this book so unique and interesting is that it was told from the point of view of the mysterious sorcerer who was trapped in the enchanted mirror belonging to the evil Queen of Mayhem (who is also the mother of our KatiyanaWhyte). And the redeeming quality of the story is of course the loveable and funny seven dwarves with their own personalities. I am just so glad that the author feature the dwarves so prominently in this book compared to other books or even movies which relegated them to the sidelines and focussed so much on the romance between Snow White and her Prince Charming.However, Prince Iden is certainly not a Prince Charming in the real sense and he had hidden agendas of his own in pursuing Kat.

There's not one but two big twists in the end and I'm just so glad that Kat end up with the right guy. But after all, this is a fairy tale and one does expect a happy ending.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday #3: City of a Thousand Dolls

Waiting on Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we highlighted an upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

City of a Thousand Dolls
by Miriam Forster
Expected publication: February 5th 2013
by Harper Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

The girl with no past, and no future, may be the only one who can save their lives. 

Nisha was abandoned at the gates of the City of a Thousand Dolls when she was just a child. Now sixteen, she lives on the grounds of the isolated estate, where orphan girls apprentice as musicians, healers, courtesans, and, if the rumors are true, assassins. Nisha makes her way as Matron’s assistant, her closest companions the mysterious cats that trail her shadow. Only when she begins a forbidden flirtation with the city’s handsome young courier does she let herself imagine a life outside the walls. Until one by one, girls around her start to die.

Before she becomes the next victim, Nisha decides to uncover the secrets that surround the girls’ deaths. But by getting involved, Nisha jeopardizes not only her own future in the City of a Thousand Dolls—but her own life.

Babble:
I'm a big, big fan of high fantasy. The blurb sounds so exciting. Wouldn't want to miss this!

Review: Reached

Reached (Matched #3)
by Ally Condie
Published November 13th 2012
by Dutton Childrens Books

Summary from Goodreads:

After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

Thoughts:
One way to describe the Matched series is that it is a very mild version of The Hunger Games. There's no blood or gore, just a lot of pondering, wondering and longing on the part of the three main characters. As in the previous books, Cassia is missing Ky, Ky is also missing Cassia and Xander is still clinging to the hope that Cassia will choose him in the end which we know will never happen.

Now, the three of them are working for the Rising in their own way, not knowing what the others are actually doing. So we have Cassia back at her Sorting duties in the society, Xander as a physician and Ky as a co-pilot for one of the Rising's plane. Cassia, Xander and Ky found themselves in the midst of all the action when the Rising's plans are put into motion to take over the Society by introducing a cure for the Plague that is spreading among the citizens.

I enjoyed this book more than the second one which is so slow in its pacing. But the introduction of  several secondary characters although quite welcome since it gives the boys some romantic options besides just focussing on Cassia is just too late in the game. If only Official Lei or even Indie are given proper introduction in the first or second book, I might be inclined to really root for them. For example, Indie is introduced in the second book and I was really hoping that she might be a serious contender for Ky's affections but well nothing much happened. I get that Cassia is the main character of the series but she's so dull at times.

I highly recommend this series for anyone looking for a good dystopian series but the bumpy and boring second book might be just too much for some.

Verdict: 4 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Review: Black City

Black City (Black City #1)
by Elizabeth Richards
Published November 13th 2012

by G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Summary from Goodreads:

A dark and tender post-apocalyptic love story set in the aftermath of a bloody war.

In a city where humans and Darklings are now separated by a high wall and tensions between the two races still simmer after a terrible war, sixteen-year-olds Ash Fisher, a half-blood Darkling, and Natalie Buchanan, a human and the daughter of the Emissary, meet and do the unthinkable—they fall in love. Bonded by a mysterious connection that causes Ash’s long-dormant heart to beat, Ash and Natalie first deny and then struggle to fight their forbidden feelings for each other, knowing if they’re caught, they’ll be executed—but their feelings are too strong.

When Ash and Natalie then find themselves at the center of a deadly conspiracy that threatens to pull the humans and Darklings back into war, they must make hard choices that could result in both their deaths.

Thoughts:
I was worried that the starcrossed love story between a half- darkling and a human would bore me to death. Luckily it is not love at first sight for these two and it took some time for them to develop their feelings towards each other despite their intense attraction to one another.

The problem is I never found vampires or darklings (as they are referred to in this book) to be very em...attractive. So I must say I don't get what drew Natalie to Ash. He drinks blood and bites people to make them high as if in a drug induced haze in order to earn some money to support his troubled family. He's also rude and overbearing. Granted he had a very rough and unusual upbringing being the only son of a human minister and a female Darkling who is now suffering from a dangerous plague that turns Darklings into creepy zombies.

The dystopian world created by Elizabeth Richards is very remniscent of the world found in Legend or even The Hunger Games. The United Sentry States are divided into nine megastates and each of them are controlled by an Emissary. As the daughter to the Emissary of Black City, Natalie is trapped under her mother's expectations for her to be a part of the government in the future. But Natalie is haunted by memories of her father's violent death and also felt responsible for her sister's catatonic state. To make matters even worst, her ex-boyfriend who cheated on her is appointed as her bodyguard to ensure her safety.

So with all that emotional upheavel, our two lovers must also deal with the growing tension between the oppressed Darklings and the ruling Sentry and also the evil plot that Purian Rose; the sinister and maniacal leader of the United Sentry States is planning for the future. This story is certainly dark and felt a bit deppressing at times but since I'm rather engrossed with the many conflicts that surrounded the two lovers, I'm very curious as to how they will turn out in the next book.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Katya's World

Katya's World (Russalka Chronicles #1)

by Jonathan L. Howard
Published November 6th 2012 

by Strange Chemistry

Summary from Goodreads:

The distant and unloved colony world of Russalka has no land, only the raging sea. No clear skies, only the endless storm clouds. Beneath the waves, the people live in pressurised environments and take what they need from the boundless ocean. It is a hard life, but it is theirs and they fought a war against Earth to protect it. But wars leave wounds that never quite heal, and secrets that never quite lie silent.

Katya Kuriakova doesn’t care much about ancient history like that, though. She is making her first submarine voyage as crew; the first nice, simple journey of what she expects to be a nice, simple career.

There is nothing nice and simple about the deep black waters of Russalka, however; soon she will encounter pirates and war criminals, see death and tragedy at first hand, and realise that her world’s future lies on the narrowest of knife edges. For in the crushing depths lies a sleeping monster, an abomination of unknown origin, and when it wakes, it will seek out and kill every single person on the planet.

Thoughts:
As much as I want to like this, it just felt short of everything that I hope for. I love space operas and the whole concept of a space underwater world sounds exciting at first. But halfway through, I just realised that the story consist of battle after battle with an unknown enemy that seemed so superior in every way.

As a main character, Katya is certainly a good role model for young girls everywhere. She's smart, strong and can handle extreme conditions fairly well. But there's just something robotic about her. She seemed to know everything and can predict the outcome of a certain strategic move in a battle that even a senior navy Officer has no idea of. Granted the author depicted her as some sort of genius navigator but even geniuses have their own shortcomings, right? And the other characters are not that interesting either. It is so obvious that the pirate; Kane is hiding something and the other characters which mainly consist of several pirates and naval officers are a little bit bland.

If you're a fan of nonstop action without much character development, then this is the book for you. The lack of romantic elements might turn off female readers but male fans might just enjoy this book.  
            
Available on: Amazon

Waiting on Wednesday #2: Pantomime

Waiting on Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by Jill from Breaking the Spine where we highlighted an upcoming release that we're eagerly anticipating.

Pantomime
by Laura Lam
Expected publication: February 5th 2013 

by Strange Chemistry

Summary from Goodreads:

R. H. Ragona’s Circus of Magic is the greatest circus of Ellada. Nestled among the glowing blue Penglass—remnants of a mysterious civilisation long gone—are wonders beyond the wildest imagination. It’s a place where anything seems possible, where if you close your eyes you can believe that the magic and knowledge of the vanished Chimaera is still there. It’s a place where anyone can hide.

Iphigenia Laurus, or Gene, the daughter of a noble family, is uncomfortable in corsets and crinoline, and prefers climbing trees to debutante balls. Micah Grey, a runaway living on the streets, joins the circus as an aerialist’s apprentice and soon becomes the circus’s rising star.

But Gene and Micah have balancing acts of their own to perform, and a secret in their blood that could unlock the mysteries of Ellada.

Babble:
Strange Chemistry has become my new favourite publisher since many of the YA titles that they published are the ones that I totally fell in love with. And from the blurb, it looks like Pantomime is set to become one of the eagerly awaited books for next year.

Review: My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century

(My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century #1)
by Rachel Harris
Published September 11th 2012

by Entangled Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:
On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother-to-be and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. 

Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. 

Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Thoughts:
I used to read a lot of historical fiction back during my university days so I literally jump at the chance to read this wonderful book when I found out that it's set in the Renaissance period. Filled with juvenile fun and adventure, the book certainly put a smile on my face as I followed Cat's journey to sixteenth century Italy.

And to top it all, the lovable and interesting characters made it so enjoyable to read this book. Alessandra is so charming and endearing and for once I'm not turned off by the romantic interest which comes in the form of the captivating Lorenzo. And Cat Crawford as the main protagonist although being the daughter of a Hollywood bigwig is not the typical mean popular girl. I love the fact that she's kind of a loner who likes to keep to herself.

Time travel and hot Italian guys? What more could I ask?

Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Poison Princess

Poison Princess (The Arcana Chronicles #1)
by Kresley Cole
Published October 2nd 2012

by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:

She could save the world—or destroy it.

Sixteen year old Evangeline “Evie” Greene leads a charmed life, until she begins experiencing horrifying hallucinations. When an apocalyptic event decimates her Louisiana hometown, Evie realizes her hallucinations were actually visions of the future—and they’re still happening. Fighting for her life and desperate for answers, she must turn to her wrong-side-of-the-bayou classmate: Jack Deveaux.

But she can’t do either alone.

With his mile-long rap sheet, wicked grin, and bad attitude, Jack is like no boy Evie has ever known. Even though he once scorned her and everything she represented, he agrees to protect Evie on her quest. She knows she can’t totally depend on Jack. If he ever cast that wicked grin her way, could she possibly resist him?

Who can Evie trust?

As Jack and Evie race to find the source of her visions, they meet others who have gotten the same call. An ancient prophesy is being played out, and Evie is not the only one with special powers. A group of twenty-two teens has been chosen to reenact the ultimate battle between good and evil. But it’s not always clear who is on which side….

Thoughts:
This is my first Kresley Cole's book so I really have no expectations at all when I started it. Now, after finishing it, I'm still torn whether I should give this 3 or 2 stars. The story is quite intriguing and I found myself immersed in the mystery that surrounds Evie's gruesome hallucinations.

Unfortunately, it took some time for the story to pick up and I had to slogged through unnecessary back story of events that happened before the Flash. Things got more interesting once Evie's hallucinations/visions became a reality and the Flash occurred, where most of the human population not under any kind of shelter burned to ashes and a few of the survivors even turned into blood thirsty zombies.

But now that Evie is stuck with Jack trying to make their way towards Texas and Evie's grandmother, I'm constantly wishing that the characters are a bit more likeable. Jack is so rough and gruff and the epitome of the bad boy from the wrong side of town. And he's also rude, annoying and horny as hell. I'm sorry I just don't get why Evie's attracted to him.

And there are so many cringe-worthy moments in this book that made me seriously doubt whether it is indeed suitable for young adults. Scenes of torture, excessive violence and a deranged psychopath enjoying the pain he inflicted on his victims. It really turned me off at some point. So although, I'm very curious as to the whole Arcana legendary battle I'm not really sure whether I'll continue on with this series. The plot is interesting but so many elements of the book made me feel uncomfortable.

Available on: Amazon