Follow Friday #6

Hi, everyone! It's time for another FF Friday.

Q: Do you read one book at a time or do you switch back and forth between two or more?


Oh, dear. I'm one of those terribly impatient and indecisive reader since I switched back and forth between reading a few books (usually it's three). I got bored so easily so I'll dropped a book and picked up another one every day. Ops!

Review: The Marked

The Marked (Delcroix Academy #2) 

by Inara Scott
Paperback

320 pages
Published April 3rd 2012 

by Hyperion Book CH

ARC from author

Summary from Goodreads:

All of her life, Dancia Lewis has wanted to use her powers for good. And now that she’s learned the truth about Delcroix Academy—and herself—she may just get the chance. But being part of Delcroix’s top secret Program isn’t anything like Dancia expected. She has to ask herself: what happens to the Talented kids who refuse to pledge their loyalty to the Program? And why did her friend Jack run away rather than join? Dancia’s adorable boyfriend Cam insists they need the help of every Talented student to defend Delcroix from dangerous enemies outside their gates. But Dancia has to wonder: what if Delcroix’s most frightening enemies come from within?

Thoughts:
I’ve been waiting for this sequel for a really, really long time but I feel in some parts that it is not as exciting as the first. I really enjoyed the first book; The Candidates since I just loved story about the underdogs. In the second book, Dancia has found her place in the Delcroix’s top secret Program and is learning how to harness her skill. She is considered as an Earth elemental due to her control of the earth and gravity and she was put under the wing of a senior named Barrett.

Compared to Cam, Barrett is a lot easy-going and reckless (kind of like Jack in the first book) and although their relationship is purely platonic, Dancia seemed a lot more comfortable around him than Cam.

However eventhough Dancia is a part of the Program, she couldn’t help but feel suspicious of the whole thing and decided to find out more about it. I must say, the surprising truth about the Program is not that surprising as I have a sneaky suspicion from the start of the character’s clever deception but the twist and turns are certainly absorbing enough.

Likes
I love Dancia and eventhough she's madly in love with Cam, she still has her own opinion on things which goes against what Cam believes in. Yes, a good strong heroine is much needed in YA books. And I love that Dancia has two great friends; Henny and Esther that she can rely upon. Besides that, we get to know more gifted characters with awesome powers and even some interesting villains that really kick-ass.

Dislikes
Oh, Jack! Where art' thou? I mean seriously. Jack is missing in this book and only made an appearance for a split second. Damn. Not that I don't like Cam but I found him immensely boring. I know he's the love interest but the guy is so perfect, it's unbelievable.

Recommended for: fans of The Hourglass and gifted kids like the X-Men
Verdict: 3 stars.

Available on: Amazon

Review: Spell bound

Spellbound (Hex Hall #3)
by Rachel Hawkins
ebook
Published March 13th 2012
by Disney Hiperion

Summary from Goodreads:

Hailed as “impossible to put down,” the Hex Hall series has both critics and teens cheering. With a winning combination of romance, action, magic and humor, this third volume will leave readers enchanted. 

Just as Sophie Mercer has come to accept her extraordinary magical powers as a demon, the Prodigium Council strips them away. Now Sophie is defenseless, alone, and at the mercy of her sworn enemies—the Brannicks, a family of warrior women who hunt down the Prodigium. Or at least that’s what Sophie thinks, until she makes a surprising discovery. The Brannicks know an epic war is coming, and they believe Sophie is the only one powerful enough to stop the world from ending. But without her magic, Sophie isn’t as confident. 

Sophie’s bound for one hell of a ride—can she get her powers back before it’s too late?

Thoughts:
Oh, what a befitting finale! I feel like jumping up and down and crying the same time when I finished the book. I know some people are complaining that this is so similar to the Harry Potter series but I really don't care. I love both of the series and I was so sad that the series has finally come to the end. So many things happened in this book and there was so many surprising revelations especially when it comes to Sophie's family history. Sophie's dad has lost her power so it is up to her to stop the Casnoffs from unleashing their evil plan of avenging the Prodigium by creating an army of demon spawn. Yikes!

Likes
There are so many! But I guess what made Hex Hall one of my favourite series of all time is the fact that the main character is so damn funny and snarky during the most unbelievable times. I mean even when the circumstances are so tense she always had a witty remark that made me smile. You go Sophie! And just like Harry Potter, the big finale is set in the magical school of Hex Hall and yes a beloved character died which nearly reduce me to tears.

Dislikes
Nothing major. But yes there are some parts that just feel to Harry Potter-ish and unnecessary. For example the modes of transportation through mirrors and Itineris (a magical portal) are so familiar. Perhaps the writer could create a totally new way of travelling for our fantastical magical friends. Bewitched airplane, perhaps?

Yes, this will indeed goes to my favourite of 2012 reads. What more can I say?

Recommended for: fans of Paranormalcy series by Kiersten White and Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter
Verdict: 5 stars.

In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon
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Wishlist Wednesday #17

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

Entangled (Spellbound #1)
by Nikki Jefford
ebook

303 pages
Published February 20th 2012 

Summary from Goodreads:

Twin witches Graylee and Charlene Perez agree on one rule: No dating warlocks. 

Not so easy when a certain rogue warlock is convinced he and Graylee belong together and will use anything, including magic, to try and impress Gray. When Charlene’s boyfriend dumps her, she threatens to kill either herself or the girl who stole Blake. Somehow, Gray ends up dead.

A Resurrection Spell Gone Wrong:

Two months after dying, Gray wakes up in Charlene’s body. As a witch, can anyone blame her mother for attempting to bring her daughter back to life? Only now Gray’s stuck sharing her sister’s body 50/50 in twenty-four hour shifts.

The race is on for Gray to find a way back inside her own body before Charlene purges her from existence. Raj McKenna is rumored to meddle in the black arts, not to mention he’s after Gray’s invisibility spell and worse – her heart. But Raj might be the only one powerful enough to save Gray from fading away forever.

Babble:
Witchy books are my favourite and that gorgeous cover doesn't hurt either. This reminds me a lot of the movie Practical Magic. You know that movie starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman about sisters who are witches. Any witch fan should really watch that one.

Review: The Weeping

The Weeping
by O'Dell Hutchison
ebook
Published March 6th 2012
by H, C & B Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Twenty years ago, Catherine Whitley was the victim of a horrible crime. Betrayed by her friends, including the boy she loved, she was left to die when the Rock Harbor Opera House caught fire, taking a disturbing secret with her to her grave. 

Seventeen-year-old Heath Ingram was driving the night his Jeep careened off the road, killing three of his closest friends. Once a popular, outgoing athlete, Heath now suffers from severe depression and crippling anxiety. His parents decide to send him to stay with his uncle in Rock Harbor, Oregon for the summer, praying that by getting away he will be able to put this awful tragedy behind. 

When Heath starts working at the newly renovated Rock Harbor Opera House, he meets Molly, a young dancer who awakens in him a desire to start over and move on. But, when he begins having visions of a half-burned girl in a white dress, he starts to think he may be slipping even further over the edge. 

As the apparent hauntings become more intense, Heath begins to fear for his safety. With the help of his friend Josie, Heath discovers an unsettling secret that ties the mysterious girl to both their families. When two of their friends die unexpectedly, Josie and Heath realize that something, or someone, is after the children of those who wronged Catherine, and they are next. 

Thoughts:
I'm a wimp when it comes to watching horror movies but when it comes to reading ghost stories; I'm a big fan! The book is quite enjoyable despite it's obvious non-mystery. A ghost haunting the kids of the ones who wronged her in the past. I picked this up assuming that this was a no brainer and that everything will be resolved in the end when Heath face-off with the ghostly; Catherine but the big twist really blow me away.

Likes
I love the pacing and the intensity of the book. And there's not so much gore, only the chilling creep factor that is quite refreshing for a horror book. It was interesting that the writer tried to make the book unique by having a lesbian character. We have quite a few gay best friends in books but I think this is the second book with a lesbian secondary character.

Dislikes
There's so many F bombs here and there that it got me mildly irritated. I don't know.. swear words doesn't sit kindly well with me. And the sexual violence (although only implied) are disturbing enough that I really don't think this book is suitable for younger teens.

All in all this is a quick and enjoyable read. The fact that it is a stand alone seems to appeal more to me. I love stand alones!

Recommended for: fans of male POV books and mild horror stories
Verdict: 3.5 stars.

In my Self-Published Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Monday Musings

Monday Musings is a new feature where I talk about bookish things that is on my mind lately or something book related that I happened to stumble upon.

I know it's quite common for books to have the same images for their cover art but what happens when one book change their cover art so as not to have the same image as another book? I was looking up on certain books to feature on my Wishlist Wednesday when I came upon ExtraNormal by Suze Reese.

New cover

(Isn't it a beauty?)

I kind of like the old cover better but apparently another book has the same image too. So what do you guys think? Which one is better? The new or old cover?

Kick-Butt Characters Blog Hop

Welcome to my stop of the Kick-Butt Characters Blog Hop hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Good Choice Reading.

I love kick-butt characters. I personally think that the book industry should have a specific genre for books featuring kick-ass chicks. Don't you think so? A winner will get to choose one books from the books selected below. For Grave Mercy, it'll be a pre-order.


Rules:

1. One winner will get a book from the selections below from The Book Depository. 

2. As usual it's open to International followers as long as The Book Depository ships to you.

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wishlist Wednesday #16

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

The Messenger
by Leah Rose
Paperback

262 pages
Expected publication: May 1st 2012
by Lands Atlantic Publishing

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen year old Jeilin leaves the ordinary behind when she's inducted into the king's service as a horseback riding messenger. She expects a life of adventure and freedom, but those hopes are shattered after being captured by a foreign army. 

Given the choice between death and conversion, she swears service to the enemy even though, in her heart, she remains loyal to her kingdom. 

As Jeilin's youthful innocence crumbles, she wonders if the prince will still be fond of her; if she can even find a way to help place him back on his rightful throne. 

Full of turmoil and sacrifice, The Messenger is a powerful tale of survival, bravery, and loyalty.

Babble: 

Whoa! That girl looks pretty bad-ass! Is this a medieval female Pony Express?I just love a strong heroine. 

Review: A Beautiful Evil

A Beautiful Evil (Gods & Monsters #2)
by Kelly Keaton
Hardcover
285 pages
Published February 21st 2012
by Simon Pulse

Summary from Goodreads:

Myth and mayhem inhabit a richly reimagined New Orleans in this sequel to Darkness Becomes Her.After the epic graveyard battle at the end of Darkness Becomes Her, Ari and her friends know what they’re up against: Ari is facing the Medusa curse and is haunted by the image of what she will become. To make matters worse, the heinous goddess Athena has kidnapped young Violet and is threatening to destroy Ari. 

Ari, along with the superhot Sebastian, is doing everything she can to learn more about Athena and to get Violet back. But the battle of good and evil is bigger than she realizes, and she’s about to be pulled into a world more horrific than she could ever imagine....

Thoughts:
Gosh the book blow me away. It's just so epic! And I thought it couldn't get any better. But it certainly does. Ari is finally realising the power behind her curse and is unleashing it on the creator of the curse itself; the war goddess Athena. There are certainly some surprising revelations about Athena in this story and I love how the writer give the Greek mythology some new twists.

Likes
Everyone seems a lot stronger and tougher in this one. Yup, including the hot warlock; Sebastian. And the battle scenes are epic. It's non stop really. But apart from all that, I just love the camaraderie between Ari and her adopted family of freaks. Still I love Violet the best. I just can't wait to find out the mystery behind her weird set of fangs. Is she a child vampire or what?

Dislikes
Sometimes Ari doubt herself too much and does something so harshly that it hurts the people around her. I feel that she has so much potential but is wasting her time worrying about the consequences of her actions. Thankfully there are some great characters (Bran; the demigod  for one) who can knock some sense into her head.


Recommended for: fans of Southern paranormals and Greek mythology
Verdict: 5 stars.

In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on : Amazon

Review: Possess

Possess
by Gretchen McNeil
Hardcover
384 pages
Published August 23rd 2011
by Balzer + Bray

Summary from Goodreads:

Rule #1: Do not show fear. 

Rule #2: Do not show pity. 

Rule #3: Do not engage. 

Rule #4: Do not let your guard down. 

Rule #5: They lie. 

Fifteen-year-old Bridget Liu just wants to be left alone: by her mom, by the cute son of a local police sergeant, and by the eerie voices she can suddenly and inexplicably hear. Unfortunately for Bridget, it turns out the voices are demons – and Bridget has the rare ability to banish them back to whatever hell they came from. 

Terrified to tell people about her new power, Bridget confides in a local priest who enlists her help in increasingly dangerous cases of demonic possession. But just as she is starting to come to terms with her new power, Bridget receives a startling message from one of the demons. Now Bridget must unlock the secret to the demons' plan before someone close to her winds up dead – or worse, the human vessel of a demon king.

Thoughts:
I am not a big fan of the horror genre. That's why I had this book on my shelf for a really long time before I decided to read it on my holiday. And yes it gives me the creeps but I enjoyed it nonetheless.
I must say I have yet to encounter an Asian female main character in a YA book so this is kind of new for me although Bridget Liu is half Caucasian. Interestingly, she have three close guy friends and her best friend is gay. Surprise..suprise.

Likes
The book is very fast paced and there's not a boring moment at all. I just wished that it's longer and there's more character development for Bridget. The funny bits also made me smile. Especially during the parts where Bridget is supposed to help the priests exorcist a creepy doll shop but tried so hard to hide her fear.

Dislikes
It's creepy as hell! Well in a good way. I have images of Linda Blair's hideous head in my brain while reading this. So this one is certainly not for the faint of heart. And the clues are so obvious that I can't help but throw my hands in the air and wished the writer made it a bit more challenging for us to discover who the real villain is. I mean yes the ghosts/demons had help apparently.

Recommended for: fans of Anna Dressed in Blood
Verdict: 5 stars.

In my  TBR Pile & Dusty Bookshelf Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Winners: February Monthly Giveaway & Leap into Books Giveaway Hop

Congrats to the winners of

February Followers' Monthly Giveaway

marybelle

Leap into Books Giveaway Hop

Rosa Shah

All winners have been notified through e-mail. Thanks everyone for participating and another giveaway will be on next week. So keep a watch out for it.

Review: Harbinger

Harbinger
by Sara Wilson Etienne
Hardcover
309 pages
Published February 2nd 2012
by G.P. Putnam's Sons BYR

Summary from Goodreads:

Plagued by waking visions and nightmares, inexplicably drawn to the bones of dead animals, Faye thinks she's going crazy. Fast. Her parents beleive Holbrook Academy might just be the solution. Dr. Mordoch tells her it's the only answer. But Faye knows that something's not quite right about Dr. Mordoch and her creepy, prisonlike school for disturbed teenagers. 

What's wrong with Holbrook goes beyond the Takers, sadistic guards who threaten the student body with Tasers and pepper spray; or Nurse, who doles out pills at bedtime and doses of solitary confinement when kids step out of line; or Rita, the strange girl who delivers ominous messages to Faye that never seem to make any sense. What's wrong with Holbrook begins and ends with Faye's red hands; she and her newfound friends--her Holbrook "family"--wake up every morning with their hands stained the terrible brown of dried blood. Faye has no idea what it means but fears she may be the cause. 

Because despite the strangeness of Holbrook and the island on which it sits, Faye feels oddly connected to the place; she feels especially linked to the handsome Kel, who helps her unravel the mystery. There's just one problem: Faye's certain Kel's trying to kill her--and maybe the rest of the world, too. 

Thoughts:
Harbinger is a tale so mesmerising as it is confusing. At the heart of the story you have Faye; a girl plagued by nightmares and hallucinations of being overwhelmed by ocean waves since she was a little girl. Her bizarre conditions led her to be sent off to an asylum for teens in an isolated island. Now this is where the creepiness starts.
Every morning, Faye and her group of friends found their hands red with blood when they woke up in the morning. While uncovering the truth behind it, Faye discovered some terrifying past about herself and the connection she had with her friends and the Holbrook Academy.

Likes
I'm so happy to be able to read another stand alone book without the unnecessary wait of a whole series. And Harbinger is certainly unique and complex enough for even adults like me to enjoy. It feels oddly like a mystery/ thriller instead of a YA fantasy because of the eerie setting and the clues leading us to the big reveal. I love the writing style eventhough the writer has the tendency to repeat certain words so much.
And the message that the book is trying to send to it's readers is nothing new but quite enlightening. Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the importance of taking care of the environment and loving Mother Earth.

Dislikes
I have to be honest. Sometimes I was so confused by the story and some questions are left unanswered just like the Story of the Red Paint People which the book is sort of based on. I literally have to googled the word Harbinger and Red Paint People. So Harbinger actually means one that indicates and foreshadows. Is it something like a Seer perhaps? And the mystery of the disappearance of the Red Paint People is actually real.

I must say that this book fits into so many genres. It can be dystopian, paranormal, fantasy and even mystery/thriller. If you're looking for a light YA read then this is not it but if you're prepared for more intricate plotline then this might just be for you.

Recommended for: fans mystery/thriller, crazy teenagers
Verdict: 4 stars.

In my Debut Author & Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Wishlist Wednesday #15

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

Ascent (The Party #1)
by Amy Kinzer
ebook
Published September 9th 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

For three teens, returning to the past is the only way to save the future.

After years of recession a new political party is ascending to power. To control the United States they must offer leaders people will vote for. The Party has chosen a select group of teens to attend the Institute for Youth Development (IYD) for training to become the nation’s next leaders. But no one has a perfect past and in a world where every moment is captured on film it has become increasingly difficult to find future politicians. Everyone has something from their past they wish they could change.

Matt wants to go back and change the night he drove drunk and ended the life of his girlfriend and best friend; Farrah-Kate, the daughter of America’s most tragic actress, wants to save her movie star mother; and Rick is ordered to go back and change the night he hacked the governments computers.

Marvin Winn, a casino billionaire and Party founder has funded a device that will take the chosen back in time to alter their past. But not everyone is attending the Institute because they want to join The Party. And while everyone returns to their past, one person will choose not to come back, putting everything The Party seeks to achieve at risk.

Babble:
At first, the beautiful cover caught my attention then after reading the blurb I'm so curious at how this will played out. I love time travel tales and this looks like an interesting new concept for a dystopian.

Trailer Tuesday

I was sifting through my e-mails when I came upon this. It's a book trailer from a Spanish YA book; La Estrella (The Star) that is said  to be quite big in Spain. They're in the process of translating some materials of the book into English. I must say the trailer looks great.

Hopefully they'll translate the whole book soon. Don't forget to check out the website as well.

Review: Spellcaster

Spellcaster (Spellbound #2)
by Cara Lynn Shultz
ebook
384 pages
Published March 27th 2012
by Harlequin Teen
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Finding your eternal soulmate-easy.

Stopping a tru-love-hungry-evil- not so much..

After breaking a centuries-old romantic curse, Emma Connor is (almost) glad to get back to normal problems. Although...it's not easy dealing with the jealous cliques and gossip that rule her exclusive Upper East Side prep, even for a sixteen-year-old newbie witch. Having the most-wanted boy in school as her eternal soul mate sure helps ease the pain-especially since wealthy, rocker-hot Brendan Salinger is very good at staying irresistibly close.... 

But something dark and hungry is using Emma and Brendan's deepest fears to reveal damaging secrets and destroy their trust in each other. And Emma's crash course in über-spells may not be enough to keep them safe…or to stop an inhuman force bent on making their unsuspected power its own.

Thoughts:
After reading Spellbound and Spellcaster back to back for the past week, I can safely say that the second book is a lot better than the first. Which is something new to me. Usually, the second in a series will suffer a downward spiral and will not be able to retain the excitement of the first book in a series.
Spellcaster picks up right after Emma had broken the age old curse that her boyfriend's great ancestor inflicted to bring back her late wife. All is not well however as another evil threatened to destroy Emma and Brendan and this time it is a lot sinister than just an over zealous teenage boy such as Anthony in the first book.

Likes
Yay! Finally Emma embraced her magical talents and learned how to use spells and we get to see her in action compared to the first book. We also get to find out more about Angelique's family of witches and her past. And I must say it is pretty exciting since Angelique features prominently in this book.

Dislikes
I'm still not feeling the love between Emma and Brendan. Maybe because so many bad things are happening because of Brendan's dodgy past or the fact that he used to sleep with so many girls before meeting Emma? I don't know. Emma sounds too good for him in some ways.

Overall, I find this book a whole lot enjoyable than the first maybe because of the fast paced action and the fact that Emma has grown up a bit and showed a lot more growth as a character. Furthermore, the book is quite hilarious at times and I just can't help giggling at the funny banter between the characters.

Recommended for: fans paranormal romance
Verdict: 4 stars.

In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Spellbound

Spellbound (Spellbound #1)
by Cara Lynn Shultz
Paperback
324 pages
Published June 21st 2011
by Harlequin Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death? 

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight. 

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives—visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.

Thoughts:
I have to admit that I have been eyeing this book for such a long time but just never got around to reading it. I just love books about witches so when I received the ARC for the second book, I decided that it was high time for me to start reading the series.
The book is quite cliché to say the least. You have the new girl with the absent parents, mysterious gorgeous guy and everlasting love that transcends time. Such plot line is certainly nothing new. It's like Twilight, Fallen and even Hush, Hush put together except instead of having vampires and angels we have witches.

Likes
Thankfully the secondary characters are lovable enough for me to finish the book. You have Angelique; the weird gothic witch who help Emma find out about her curse, Cisco the pre-requisite gay best friend and even Aunt Christine; a former theatre actress who took in Emma when her stepfather is arrested for DUI. And Emma was pretty cool in the beginning when she stood up to the stereotypical mean girls on her first day of school.

Dislikes
I really wished that there was some more magical mayhem in this book but since Emma was pretty much in denial of her witch background and only used her powers towards the end, it was kind of disappointing for me. The reincarnation story could have been explored more especially the part where Lord Asher decided to curse himself with such a confusing spell. The ending was too brief. Everything is resolved rather too quickly that I can't help wondering what will happened next. I mean if the curse was broken then what's next in the series?

Recommended for: fans of paranormal romance
Verdict: 3 stars.

In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review Copy Cleanup

Vicky over at Books, Biscuits & Tea have this wonderful challenge only for this month. It's for review copies only and since nowadays I've been receiving quite a few review copies, I'm trying my darndest to read and review them as soon as I can. 

Challenge guidelines:
✦ This challenge runs from 1 to 31 March, 2012
✦ Sign-ups are open until 15 March 2012. After that the linky list will be closed and participation in the challenges and giveaways won't be possible for anyone who hasn't previously signed up.
✦ To sign up, just fill in the Mister Linky form below. Link to your sign up post directly, please!The Linky is the same for both our blogs, so you only have to sign up once.
✦ When you post your sign up post on your blog, either include the challenge button with your post or link it back to this article so that people know where to sign up. Thank you!
✦ Every book you received for review counts towards the challenge, both ebooks and hard copies, including all genres and lengths.
✦ You don't need to follow the two hosts in order to be able to sign up for the event (although it's appreciated), but you do have to follow us in order to be able to enter our giveaways. In order to be entered in the giveaway, simply complete the given challenge and add the link to your post in the linky list.
✦ Challenges will be posted every week on Fridays and will last throughout the week until Thursday the next week. Every challenge ends with a giveaway. To enter in the challenges and giveaways, simply add the link to your challenge post in the Linky list in the main challenge post. It will be posted on both blogs.
✦ At the end of the event we will host our Massive Giveaway. This contains tons of prizes donated by awesome authors. All you'll need to do in order to enter this giveaway is to fill in a Rafflecopter form - as simple as that. :)
✦ Most of our giveaways will be open INTERNATIONALLY but you'll find all the relevant info about each giveaway when we post the challenges.
✦ Feel free to use the #RCCleanup hashtag on Twitter for your RCC related tweets or join in the Twitter party at http://tweetchat.com/room/RCCleanup and meet lots of lovely bloggers :)

Challenge schedule:

✦ March 2 - Show Off Your Pile
✦ March 9 - Cuddle Up With a Book
✦ March 16 - Don't Be Such a Tease!
✦ March 23 - Mysterious Meet-up
✦ March 30 - Love Will Find a Way

Follow Friday #5

Hi, everyone! It's my fifth time doing FF Friday. Although I wanted to do this every week but my schedule is pretty crazy so I'll try to do this once a month or maybe every fortnightly or so.

Q: Have you ever looked at book's cover and thought, This is going to horrible? But, was instead pleasantly surprised? Show us the cover and tell us about the book.


Man..this is a hard one. I love beautiful covers. (Who doesn't?) But some books are so confusing. Like The Hunger Games for example..the cover is so..I don't know.. boring!. But the book is awesome! Just like these books:

 A red shoe and that's it? But I love Cinder! Why can't they put some cool robot chick in front instead?

A girl in a mask? How original. Karos's hair is blue but I don't think she wears a blue mask in the masquerade ball. Did she?

So what about you guys? Which cover is the most disappointing/surprising of all?

Smashwords on Sale!

Before I started book blogging, I never knew there's such things as an Indie or self-published book. I mean I know there's Indie films, Indie bands but Indie books is a totally new concept for me.

So I was really happy to discover that there's a website that sells self-published books for cheap. And yes Smashwords is having a sort of sale. They're actually having a 'Read an Ebook Week' this week from 4th to 10th March. After discovering some great Indie reads, I'm more than happy that they're having this kind of sale. And the great thing about Smashwords is that it's available globally. So don't forget to check them out!

Review: Intangible

Intangible
by J. Meyers
ebook, 340 pages
Published January 31st 2012
Review copy from author

Summary from Goodreads:

Twins Sera and Luke Raine have a well-kept secret—she heals with a touch of her hand, he sees the future. All their lives they’ve helped those in need on the sly. They’ve always thought of their abilities as being a gift.

Then Luke has a vision that Sera is killed. That gift they’ve always cherished begins to feel an awful lot like a curse. Because the thing about Luke’s ability? He’s always right. And he can’t do anything about it. 

Thoughts:

How do you combine vampires, fairies, gifted teens (mutants?) in a book? This is the answer. I mean it has so many things going on in it that it's hard to put down. And seriously the short blurb did no justice in explaining the elements of this book. Sera and Luke are the Gifted and there's a prophecy about them being the ones that will change the Realm in which the paranormals reside. As they slowly try to uncover the truth behind their bizarre and mysterious gifts, they will also come to the realization that they are in the midst of a power struggle between the vampires and fairies. It seems that both sides wanted to the twins for very different reasons.

Likes
Honestly I never would have guessed that this is a self-published work because it is indeed way better than some YA reads that I have subjected to myself lately. Although it is slow in the beginning, I really love the built up and the relationship between Sera and Luke. They're so protective of each other and I love their interactions.

And there's so many interesting characters. Like the beautiful faerie warrior; Fey for instance. She was friends with the twins and has been secretly guarding them for a long time so I was really hoping that she end up with Luke or something.

Dislikes
The story focussed so much on Sera's relationship with Marcus and Jonas. Is this some kind of love triangle? I love Jonas. He's the typical hunky vampire with a conscience. Marcus? Not so much. He's totally nice and lovey dovey at one time but the next minute he called Sera a freak and blew her off. As one of the Gifted he should be more understanding towards Sera's conditions.

I really can't wait to read the next book and find out more about the other Gifteds that made an appearance towards the end. Some of them have these amazing powers like seeing ghosts. More please!

Recommended for: fans vampires & paranormal romance
Verdict: 4 stars.

In my Self Published Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Wishlist Wednesday #14

Wishlist Wednesday is a wonderful meme created by the ever sweet Dani from Pen to Paper where we will post about one book per week that has been on our wishlist for some time, or just added (it's entirely up to you), that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.

The Sphinx Project (The Chimaera Chronicles #1)
by Kate Hawkings

Paperback
Published February 28th 2012

Summary from Goodreads:

Not many people can say their entire existence has been one big lab experiment: poked and prodded by scientists, genetically modified to be the best and endure the worst, subjected to daily tests and trials that would kill a normal human. All Michaela wants is her own life, to be able to go to school, flirt with boys, maybe eat ice cream now and then. So when the chance to escape finally comes, Michaela and her sister grab it, taking their friends with them. 

But they weren't the only ones to find their way out of those labs. Following close behind are another breed of creature, one that doesn't know the difference between right and wrong, who exist only to feed their own hunger. The appearance of a strange boy who seems too much like them to be a coincidence makes things even more confusing. But as the world begins to literally fall apart around them, Michaela must accept his help, especially when she could lose the very thing she holds dearest: her sister. 

Babble:
I am sorely reminded by the TV series Dark Angel when I read the blurb of this book. You know the one with Jessica Alba as some cool experimental kid/soldier who escape with her friends. I love the idea behind that. So I'm very excited to check this one out too.

Winner: All's Fair in Vanities War Giveaway

Hi, everyone. Sorry for being quiet these past few days. I was away attending a friend's wedding. Anyway, congrats to the winner of All's Fair in Vanities War Giveaway

Amy Bailey

I'll announce the winners of Leap into Books Giveaway Hop and the Monthly Follower's Giveaway as soon as I've verified all the entries. Thanks for participating and I'm so excited that I'm nearing 1000 followers. Yay! 

Review: Starters

Starters (Starters #1)
by Lissa Price
Hardcover
368 pages
Published March 13th 2012
by Delacorte Books for Young Readers
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 

He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined.

Thoughts:
I'm surprised by how much I've enjoyed this story. I was so relieved to finally read a dystopian without some war theme going on. The premise reminds me of Gone. Except that the adults in this book did not completely disappear since the Enders (old folks) survived and was left in control of everything. It is very fast paced, explosive and engaging to make me want to read more and more.

Likes
Callie is strong character and I was really curious about the mystery surrounding Prime Destinations. Old folks renting teenagers' bodies are way too creepy. Interesting but creepy.

Dislikes
I just don't get the instant love between Callie and Blake. What about Michael? There's no apparent character development for Michael. Apart from being Callie's trusted friend. Is there something going on between them?

Just like Under the Never Sky, Starters would be a very unique stand alone instead of dragging the story to a series.

Recommended for: dystopian fans (of course)
Verdict: 3 1/2 stars.

In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Under the Never Sky

Under The Never Sky (Under the Never Sky #1)
by Veronica Rossi
Paperback, International Edition
Published January 3rd 2012
by HarperCollins

Summary from Goodreads:

Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction. 

As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions. 

They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY

Thoughts:
The book started off really promising but then it got to a point that I feel that I'm slowly losing interest. Don't get me wrong. I love the writing. It's beautiful and poetic even but the plotline is not as engaging as what I've been expecting.

I was confused with the whole dystopian setting; the Aether storm, the Pods, the Tribes, the cannibals, but I just couldn't bring myself to hate this book. Maybe it has something to do with Peregrine/Perry. While Aria just seems to annoy me, Perry is just the opposite. Perry is just that kind of character that you really feel for. His trials and tribulations are just so dire compared to Aria who was thrown out of her comfortable Reverie world. Fortunately, Aria redeemed herself towards the end of the book when she realised the truth behind her mother's disappearance and her own background.

The whole journey of finding someone who can fixed Aria's Smarteye just seems to trivial and I think Blood Red Road has a lot more to offer since it also featured something along the lines. However the closing lines are really beautiful but I just think that it could have been better as a stand alone rather than a series.

Recommended for: fans dystopian
Verdict: 3 stars.

In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon