Review: Rift

Rift (Nightshade Prequel #1)
by Andrea Cremer
Published August 7th 2012

by Philomel
ARC

Summary from Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

Thoughts:
I have to confessed. One of the reason I decided to read this is because of that kick ass cover with the girl holding that cool Chinese ancient weapon. I just love kick ass chicks and it reminded me a lot of this movie. Same weapon. Different kick ass chick.

Okay. Before I start babbling even more. I have to confess even further. I am one of those few people who did not enjoy Andrea Cremer's Nightshade series. (Hides face). I really did not know why. I'm cool with werewolves. It's just the story is kind of overwhelming for me so when I heard that this is the prequel to the Nightshade series, I was not at all excited.

But the book really surprised me. Maybe because of the medieval setting and the feminist undertones made me really enjoy the book. Ember is a solid main character that I like instantly. She's a young woman trying hard not to conform to the norms set upon society. As a noble she is expected to marry well and produced offspring but instead she secretly harbours the dream of becoming one of the knights in a sacred group known as Conatus. I'm also drawn to the other strong female characters in the book such as Cian and Eira who serve as members of the Circle whom presides over the group and was chosen because they have excelled in their office. With intriguing plotlines, interesting characters and a hint of romance it's not hard to get lost in the book.

Yes the predictable love triangle is there but I'm just too engrossed with the paranormal elements, the ferocious beasts attacking the Conatus, magical mayhem and the action packed battle sequence to be annoyed by the romance.

Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: The Demon Catchers of Milan

The Demon Catchers of Milan
by Kat Beyer
Published August 28th 2012
by EgmontUSA
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Mia's ordinary life is disrupted in the most horrifying way possible when she is possessed by a hungry and powerful demon--and only saved by the arrival of relatives from Italy, the country her grandfather fled many decades ago. Now her cousins Emilio and Giuliano say the only way to keep her safe is for her to come back with them to Milan, to live, to learn Italian, to fall in and out of love, and to master the family trade: fighting all demons with the lore of bell, book, and candle. Milan is not what Mia expected, but it will change her forever, in this stunningly well-written novel about an American girl who, fleeing an ancient evil, finds her only salvation in her ancestral home.

Thoughts:
I immediately jumped at the chance to read this when I find out that the story is about a family of demon catchers set in Milan. And the first chapter just jumped right into the action when Mia is unwittingly possessed by a mysterious powerful demon for four days until her relatives from Italy came to rescue her with their demon fighting skills.

I would have very much preferred if the story focussed more on that very aspect but sadly the book is more about Mia adapting to living with her relatives in Milan rather than becoming this awesome demon catcher. It become very tiresome to read when all she did is learning Italian, eating  and making some Italian food and ogling that unattainable gorgeous Italian cousin who already has a girlfriend by the way.

And as much as I love the Milan setting, it is kind of wasted here since Mia is coped up in the house as she is forbidden to go out for fear that the demon will returned and possessed her once again. And the demon fighting skills is kind of lame in my opinion. It consists mainly of standing around, chanting and ringing bells for a long long time.

Nothing gets resolved in the end which is kind of surprising because I expected Mia to learn how to properly banished the demon who is hunting her. So instead of an epic showdown between the Del Torres family and the powerful demon pursuing Mia, we get some mildly creepy encounter with a tragic ghost and a history and culture lesson about Italy.

Verdict: 2 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Review: Auracle

Auracle
by Gina Rosati
Published August 7th 2012
by Roaring Brook Press

Summary from Goodreads:

16 year old Anna Rogan has a secret she's only shared with her best friend, Rei; she can astrally project out of her body, allowing her spirit to explore the world and the far reaches of the universe. 

When there's a fatal accident and her classmate Taylor takes over Anna's body, what was an exhilarating distraction from her repressive home life threatens to become a permanent state. Faced with a future trapped in another dimension, Anna turns to Rei for help. Now the two of them must find a way to get Anna back into her body and stop Taylor from accusing an innocent friend of murder. Together Anna and Rei form a plan but it doesn't take into account the deeper feelings that are beginning to grow between them.

Thoughts:
The book has so much potential and what drew me at first is the endless possibility for a story about astral projection. The main character is a young girl coping with an alcoholic father and what makes her special is the fact that she can astrally projects her soul when she's sleeping. The pre-requisite love interest comes in the form of her hot Japanese best friend; Rei who sounds too perfect for words. He loves organic food, practices martial arts, is into Buddha philosophies and apparently have a great body. (Yup, I'm practically swooning).

The other characters are not that interesting. Taylor as the hot mean girl is pretty stereotypical and Seth as Rei's other best friend is rather boring. When Taylor took over Anna's body through a freak accident, I was expecting more drama but Anna floats around helplessly most of the time.

So although the main idea sounds really interesting, after finishing it I just feel it is mediocre at best. I was hoping for a cool story about astral projection but I'm afraid that the book is just not for me. If Anna were to travel into another dimension or maybe get signed on as a science experiment then that will be more right up my alley.

Verdict: 2 stars.
In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

My Indie Monday #2: Ciye Cho

Welcome to My Indie Monday! MIM is hosted by Me, My Shelf and I.

MY INDIE MONDAY is a meme all about Independent and Self Published Authors. Who they are. Where to find them. Why you should read them.

Today, let's welcome Cye Cho, author of Florence. And don't forget to check out a giveaway of the book.

About Ciye:

Ciye Cho lives in Australia and works as a graphic designer. He writes YA novels in his free time--and his head is often lost in the clouds or some place far from reality...

Ciye Cho
Blog | Twitter | Facebook

When did you decide to become a writer and why?
I can't pinpoint the exact time... for I've always wanted to tell stories to others. Daydreaming about different lives and different places is something that I greatly enjoy doing.

Where did you get the inspiration to write the book?
I've always been obsessed with mer mythology, so I wanted to come up with my own take on mermaids and mermen. Some of the things that I drew upon for inspiration were sea documentaries (David Attenborough etc.) and my own experiences of the ocean. One of my most vivid memories as a child was going scuba diving in a coral reef. As a child, I used to spend a lot of time daydreaming about life below the waves.

Your favourite character from the book?
Florence. She's an outsider who's trying to find somewhere to belong--something that I think most people can relate to.

The book trailer for Florence is beautiful, do you happen to design it yourself?
Yes. I created and animated the images myself. I wanted to use symbols and shapes to convey the color, wonder, and danger of Niemela.

Will there be more stories set in the underwater world of Niemela?
Yes. I'm currently working on the sequel to "Florence", and hope to have it out soon. Book 2 will involve Florence Waverley's search for a life path in Niemela. It's going to have lots of action, adventure, and romance. Along with some interesting new characters.

Favourite book of all time and why?
"The Little Prince" by Antoine de-Saint Exupery. It's timeless, whimsical, and truly moving.

If someone made a movie based on your life, which actor/actress will you pick to be you?
Could I be a computer-generated Pixar character? :-)

Florence

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Florence Waverley is out of her depth. Literally. Kidnapped and taken below the waves to the mer world of Niemela, she is the ultimate gift for merman Prince Kiren: a human familiar tied to his side. But nothing is what it seems amid the beauty and danger of a dark ocean.

Every Niemelan has a role to play, from the mermaids who weave towers out of kelp to the warriors who fight sea monsters. But in trying to survive, Florence will end up in the middle of a war between the mer and the Darkness. A conflict that will push her between two brothers: Kiren, the charmer inexplicably drawn to both her and the monsters; and Rolan, the loner who has been pushing her away since the day they met. But in order to take a stand--and find out where she belongs--Florence will have to risk it all: her life, her heart... and her very soul.

Giveaway

1. An ebook copy of the book.
2. Ends September 10th.
3. Open International.
4. Fill in the rafflecopter and that's it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Palace of Stone

Palace of Stone (Princess Academy #2)
by Shannon Hale
Published August 21st 2012
by Bloomsbury USA
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Coming down from the mountain to a new life in the city seems a thrill beyond imagining. When Miri and her friends from Mount Eskel set off to help the future princess Britta prepare for her royal wedding, she is happy about her chance to attend school in the capital city. There, Miri befriends students who seem so sophisticated and exciting . . . until she learns that they have some frightening plans. They think that Miri will help them, that she "should "help them. Soon Miri finds herself torn between loyalty to the princess and her new friends' ideas, between an old love and a new crush, and between her small mountain home and the bustling city.

Thoughts:
It has been several years since I've read Princess Academy and I had to re-read the book again just to familiarise myself with the wonderful world created by Shannon Hale. I am a big fan of her Books of Bayern series and while the Princess Academy universe does not contain the same amount of intrigue and excitement, there are some good strong female characters to look up to.

Miri the smart outspoken girl from Mount Eskel is invited along with the other graduates of the Princess Academy to attend the wedding of Britta and Prince Steffan. Britta who befriended Miri during their time in Princess Academy help her to enroll as a scholar in the Queens Castle; a university of sorts where people come from all over the kingdom to study. At first, Miri is delighted and amazed with the new surroundings but soon she realised that her new friend and the Kingdom is under a greater threat.

Shannon Hale certainly has a gift of creating a fantasy world that is truly amazing and delightful. There are some good moral values to be learn from the book and I highly recommend it to younger readers. Miri is a good role model for girls and I love that she comes from a humble background but later on astounds people with her intelligence and bright personality.

Recommended for: fans of fairy tales
Verdict: 4 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Review: Girl of Nightmares

Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2)
by Kendare Blake

Published August 7th 2012
by Tor Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

It's been months since the ghost of Anna Korlov opened a door to Hell in her basement and disappeared into it, but ghost-hunter Cas Lowood can't move on. 

His friends remind him that Anna sacrificed herself so that Cas could live—not walk around half dead. He knows they're right, but in Cas's eyes, no living girl he meets can compare to the dead girl he fell in love with.

Now he's seeing Anna everywhere: sometimes when he's asleep and sometimes in waking nightmares. But something is very wrong...these aren't just daydreams. Anna seems tortured, torn apart in new and ever more gruesome ways every time she appears.

Cas doesn't know what happened to Anna when she disappeared into Hell, but he knows she doesn't deserve whatever is happening to her now. Anna saved Cas more than once, and it's time for him to return the favor.

Thoughts:
This is one of my most anticipated sequels of the year. The first book just blew me away and I love its creepy as hell atmosphere. Anna is certainly one ghost you do not want to mess up with and its kind of ironic that she's the villain and the heroine that you want to root for. Go Anna!

Spoiler alert! Since Anna sacrificed herself in the first book to save Cas and his friends, most of the book dealt with the aftermath of that night. Cas is moping and is haunted by visions of Anna. Thomas and Carmel became closer. Cas is having trouble in concentrating on his job as ghost-hunter. Thomas and Carmel broke up. Cas is doing all he can to bring back Anna from hell. This just feels too depressing for me.

There are not as many cool scary moments in this book as the first one which made me feel a bit disappointed. The story only picks up near the end when Cas and his ghostbuster gang decided to go to jolly old London to seek help from Gideon. The bittersweet ending just left me speechless. Seriously, I need more of Anna. Not Cas though. He's too whiny for my taste.

Verdict: 4 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Review: Endlessly

Endlessly (Paranormalcy #3)
by Kiersten White
Published July 24th 2012 

by HarperTeen

Summary from Goodreads:

Evie's paranormal past keeps coming back to haunt her. A new director at the International Paranormal Containment Agency wants to drag her back to headquarters. The Dark Faerie Queen is torturing humans in her poisonous realm. And supernatural creatures keep insisting that Evie is the only one who can save them from a mysterious, perilous fate.

The clock is ticking on the entire paranormal world. And its fate rests solely in Evie's hands.

So much for normal.

Thoughts:
I have been waiting for the final book in the Paranormalcy series for a long, long time. So when it finally came out, I was all excited and sad at the same time that it has to end.

Compared to the first two books, a lot happened in this one and sometimes I do wonder why did the author decided to crammed everything in the last book. Don't get me wrong I'm a big fan of the series but the book suffers from too many storylines. Because you see IPCA is suddenly hijacked by an evil new boss, Lend is kidnapped by the Dark Fairie Queen and all of the paranormals are forcing Evie to open a gate so they can go back to where they came from.

Yes it's kind of overwhelming to keep track of all of these since Evie is always jumping from one scenario to the next that I couldn't help but think that she's the most disorganised heroine there is. She has no plans whatsoever but just blindly do whatever she pleases. Her appeal is her endless humour and positive attitude even in the most dire of circumstances which makes her lovable and annoying at the same time.

And as much as I love Lend (her cool shapeshifter boyfriend), Reth (the fairie ex-bf) actually shines  in this one since he's the one who help Evie save Lend and achieved her destiny. And yes like all good books, the ending nearly made me cry. It just make you want to cheer and cry at the same time.

Verdict: 5 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Interview & Giveaway: Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft by Jody Gehrman

Hi, folks! I have the lovely Jodie Gehrman today for an interview and a giveaway of her latest YA book; Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft which I simply adore!

About Jodie:

Jody Gehrman is the author of seven novels and numerous plays. Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft is her most recent Young Adult novel. Her other Young Adult novels include Babe in Boyland, Confessions of a Triple Shot Betty, and Triple Shot Bettys in Love, (Penguin's Dial Books). Babe in Boyland won the International Reading Association Teen Choice Award and has recently been optioned by the Disney Channel. Her adult novels are Notes from the Backseat, Tart, and Summer in the Land of Skin (Red Dress Ink).

Her plays have been produced in Ashland, New York, San Francisco, Chicago and L.A. She and her partner David Wolf won the New Generation Playwrights Award for their one-act, Jake Savage, Jungle P.I. She is a professor of English at Mendocino College.

Jody Gehrman

Blog | Twitter | Facebook 

Where did you get the inspiration to write the book?
I'm fascinated with witchcraft. I guess I'm a pagan at heart; I've always felt there's a mysterious power running through the natural world. The idea of humans having the ability to tap that power appeals to me on a basic level. Growing up in Northern California, I knew at least a handful of people who identified as witches, so it wasn't that foreign to me. I started writing this book about seven years ago for adults, but I never felt like it was quite working. Then I realized it would work well as a YA novel, so I pulled out the old draft and gave it a radical makeover.

What do you think is totally unique about your story?
Well, for starters, it's got necromancers, cute boys, and magical chocolate cake. That's kind of a unique combination.

Your favourite character in the book and why?
I really enjoyed getting to to know all the characters, but I especially liked Sadie. Imagining her confusion as she moves from a totally magical community to the world of mundanes amused and interested me. She's definitely one of my favorite characters in the book.

Favourite book of all time and why?
I'm sorry, I'm just too wishy-washy and in love with too many books to give you a firm answer on this. It depends on my mood! Some of my favorites in the realm of “classics” include Nabokov, both of the Brontes (but especially Charlotte) and Jane Austen. Southern writers like Ellen Gilchrist made a big impression on me as a young writer. When I found Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones Diary, Nick Hornby's High Fidelity and Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series I became fascinated with modern British comedic writers. I read a lot of YA these days. Some of my favorite YA writers are Beth Fantaskey, Nina LaCour, Maggie Stiefvater, Katie Crouch and Stacey Jay.

Favourite holiday destination?
I love beaches: Turks and Caicos is one of my favorites. Though honestly, hanging out at the creek behind my dad's house in the mountains is also pretty dreamy, and a lot less expensive. Oh, and I adore Japan! Apparently I'm incapable of answering any of your questions simply.

If someone made a movie based on your life, which actor/actress will you pick to be you?
Ummm...Charlize Theron, I think. She's so radiant, yet she brings a gritty realism to her roles too. Nice combination. She'd do me proud.


Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft

Summary from Goodreads:

Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past.

1. A paperback copy of Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft open to US/Canada and ebook for International followers.
2. Ends August 31st.
3. Fill in the rafflecopter and that's it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft

Audrey's Guide to Witchcraft (Book 1)
by Jody Gehrman
Published June 30th 2012
by Magic Genie Books

Review copy

Summary from Goodreads:

Falling in Love, baking a magical cake, fighting an evil necromancer—it’s all in a day’s work for Audrey Oliver, seventeen-year-old witch-in-training. When her mother goes missing and her twenty-one-year-old witchy cousin shows up out of the blue, Audrey knows something’s gone horribly, dangerously wrong. Now it’s up to her to get her own magical powers up to speed before everyone she loves is destroyed by the sorcerer intricately connected to her mother’s secret past.

Thoughts:
When her mother mysteriously disappears and a girl claiming to be her long lost cousin arrived at her doorstep, Audrey can't help but feel suspicious of it all. All this time, Audrey thought she's just a boring normal teen who is secretly jealous of her prettier younger sister and loyal to her best friend. But then she found out that her mother is a powerful witch on a hunt for a creepy necromancer with sinister plans of his own and that apparently Audrey's a witch too.

In between honing her magical skills under the tutelage of the quirky Sadie, keeping tabs on her little sister who is in a band, and fending off bullies off her shy best friend, Audrey also finds herself falling in love with the dreamy Julian who happens to be her sister's sort of band manager.

The main draw of the story is certainly the colourful cast of characters. Sadie the long lost cousin with her slew of pets including some kittens and snakes is funny and unpredictable. Bridget the best friend is a girl with a big heart who is constantly preyed upon by the mean popular girls while Meg the cool younger sister is totally ignorant of what's really happening to her family.

And since Audrey has a talent for preparing delicious mouth watering desserts, there's also some recipes thrown in the book that readers may want to try. I love it when I had no expectations at all for a book and end up enjoying it so much. This is certainly a light and amusing story filled with so many likeable characters that I had a hard time putting it down.

Recommended for: fans of witches
Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Don't forget to check out the interview with Jody and also a giveaway of the book tomorrow!

Wishlist Wednesday #30

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, that we can't wait to get off the wishlist and onto our wonderful shelves.


The Girl Who Fell Beneath Fairyland and Led the Revels There (Fairyland #2)
by Catherynne M. Valente
Expected publication: October 7th 2012
by Feiwel and Friends

Summary from Goodreads:
September returns to Fairyland to reunite with A-Through-L, Saturday, and Gleam, and to confront her shadow-self, who has become the queen of Fairyland-Below, the upside-down world beneath the Fairyland of the first novel, filled with creatures of water and shadow, tales of ancient Fairyland before the human world was born, and not a few hungry buffins, blind birds of ice and moonlight. The yearly revels of Fairyland-Below climax in a mysterious rite September must avert or else lose her shadow forever.

Babble:
September is back! And I just can't wait to indulge myself in another rich and wonderful tale created by Catherynne M. Valente. The first book was one of my favourites last year and I'm really looking forward for more of the quirky yet naive September as she journeys back to Fairyland.

Review: False Memory

False Memory (False Memory #1)
by Dan Krokos
Published August 14th 2012

by Hyperion

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Miranda wakes up alone on a park bench with no memory. In her panic, she releases a mysterious energy that incites pure terror in everyone around her. Except Peter, a boy who isn't at all surprised by Miranda's shocking ability.

Left with no choice but to trust this stranger, Miranda discovers she was trained to be a weapon and is part of an elite force of genetically-altered teens who possess flawless combat skills and powers strong enough to destroy a city. But adjusting to her old life isn't easy--especially with Noah, the boyfriend she can't remember loving. Then Miranda uncovers a dark truth that sets her team on the run. Suddenly her past doesn't seem to matter...when there may not be a future.

Thoughts:
The book is non-stop action from the first page and I literally had a hard time putting it down as I'm very curious as how it will end. Strangely, it is told from Miranda's first person POV as she struggles to regain her memories and understand what truly is happening. Apparently Miranda is a part of a team of four teens with special genes known as the Roses. When Miranda rejoins her team mates which consists of Peter, Noah and Olive and discovered the harsh truths behind their existence, they decided to fight back.

While I do love the pace of the book, some of the elements just did not make sense to me. Miranda is supposedly to be in love with Noah but at the same time she have this strange chemistry with Peter. So is there a love triangle going on here or not? And Olive is also in love with Noah? What's up with that?

I can't help but compare this to Kelley Armstrong's The Calling, since the kids spent most of their time running away and fighting off the bad guys in this book. However it can be confusing to keep track of who is actually who with all the clones running after them as well.

Overall, I must say I'd rather enjoy the story and was astounded by the big twist near the end. However the story feels rushed at times and the characters just lack that extra something that made me want to root for them.

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

My Indie Monday #1: Liz Long

Welcome to the first ever My Indie Monday post! MIM is hosted by Me, My Shelf and I.

MY INDIE MONDAY is a meme all about Independent and Self Published Authors. Who they are. Where to find them. Why you should read them.

Today, I'm so excited to welcome Liz Long, author of Gifted. And don't forget to check out a giveaway of the book.

About Liz:

Liz Long has been writing stories since she could spell the word "unicorn" (second grade). She fears a zombie apocalypse, though admits it would give her good reason to stay inside and write more. She is a proud graduate of Longwood University with a degree in English. Gifted is her debut title, the first in the Donovan Circus series. She lives in Roanoke, VA with her husband Jason and their Jack Russell terror, Fisher.

Liz Long

Blog | Twitter | Facebook

Where did you get the inspiration to write the book?
I'm an Aries, a Fire sign, so I've always been interested in fire (not in the arson way, promise). I wanted to create a world that was supernatural, but didn't necessarily showcase the vampire/werewolf/magic part of the world. I also wanted to create a strong character that made readers laugh even when they thought she was being bullheaded, and sometimes, that just required a mirror ;)

What do you think is totally unique about your story?
I think it's unique in the sense that it's a world no one's seen before. Even though it does resemble X-Men powers, that's as far as the similarities go. I hadn't seen too many circus setting books (until recently, oddly enough), but with the setting (not a high school or regular work environment), the fantasy in it can sort of speak for itself. Plus I like to think I fooled everyone pretty well--every time you think you know the villain or what's going to happen next, I take it in the opposite direction, so it's hard to actually guess the ending until you're finished!

Can you describe the book in 20 words.
(Oh gosh.) A fantasy adventure with supernatural powers at the circus. A little love. Lot of drama. Murder mystery. Kick ass. (That's 19, so there!)

What makes you choose the circus as the setting for Gifted?
As soon as I thought up Lucy and her Gifted world, it was like I knew to put them in a circus. Sounds bizarre, but I just knew! Of course people with special talents would hide in the circus--they can be themselves together as a family, develop their gifts with help and support, and hide from humans while still taking their money legally. It made total sense to me and the more I developed it, the happier I was with the story and setting.

Your favourite character from the book?
Oh gosh, this is actually really tough! I love writing Lucy, but I'd probably say it's a tie between Delia and Finley. Both are fun-loving, friendly, and very loyal. Nothing really ever gets them down because it's not in them to get discouraged. Finley's got some of the best lines, too, just because he's immature and there for a good time!

Any plans for the next book?
Yes! I fully intend to dive back into the circus for a second story, and hopefully a third and fourth (maybe a fifth and sixth...). It's a series, but each book will be able to stand alone, so I hope to continue on as long as the ideas keep coming.

Gifted: A Donovan Circus Novel

Summary from Goodreads:

Even in a world of freaks, being a Firestarter is considered a dangerous Gift.

Lucy was born with the ability to create and control fire. She longs to leave the human world for one filled with Earthshakers, Transporters, and Chameleons, to name a few. When she rejoins the circus, it’s everything she hoped it could be—new friends, a potential love interest or two, and a place where she can be herself.

When troupe members begin turning up dead, however, Lucy is suspected of foul play. She must not only prove her innocence but also realize the full extent of her power. To find the real murderer, she must uncover the truth behind her father’s fiery legacy while figuring out whom to trust within her new circle. Little does she know the history of the Donovan Circus and its enemies might actually destroy the entire gifted world.

Giveaway

1. An ebook (Kindle/Nook) copy of the book.
2. Ends August 27th.
3. Open International.
4. Fill in the rafflecopter and that's it!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners: Lazy Days of Summer & Summer Giveaway Hop

Summer Giveaway Hop

Farah H

Lazy Days of Summer Giveaway Hop
Mel

Congrats! All winners have been notified by email and have replied with their choice of book. Thanks for entering and there's lots more giveaway coming up so don't be sad if you don't win.

Review: Innocent Darkness

Innocent Darkness (The Aether Chronicles #1)
by Suzanne Lazear
Published August 8th 2012

by Flux

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock's hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer's eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish.

Thoughts:
The book sounds so promising and the first chapter instantly hooked me in. But once Magnolia/Noli was apprehended by the hovercops for joyriding in her father's Hestin-Dervish Pixy (flying car) and sent to a reform school then the story just went sort of downhill from there.

I wished there was more steampunk elements but apparently this is more of a fairie story as Noli was taken by the mysterious Kevighn Silver to become a human sacrifice in the Otherworld. Apparently Noli is one of the few humans to have the Spark which makes them very special and highly coveted by the fairies.

I am very confused with Noli. At the beginning, she's this brilliant mechanic and the next she has a talent for gardening. Seriously? And the fact that Kevighn just instantly fell in love with her just seems out of place. Fans of books featuring fairies might enjoy this one but as a steampunk fan, I'm sorely disappointed.

Verdict: 2 stars.
In my Debut Author Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review:Throne of Glass

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1)
by Sarah J. Maas
Published August 7th 2012

by Bloomsbury USA Children's

ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

After serving out a year of hard labor in the salt mines of Endovier for her crimes, 18-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien is dragged before the Crown Prince. Prince Dorian offers her her freedom on one condition: she must act as his champion in a competition to find a new royal assassin.

Her opponents are men—thieves and assassins and warriors from across the empire, each sponsored by a member of the kings council. If she beats her opponents in a series of eliminations, she’ll serve the kingdom for three years and then be granted her freedom.

Celaena finds her training sessions with the captain of the guard, Westfall, challenging and exhilirating. But she’s bored stiff by court life. Things get a little more interesting when the prince starts to show interest in her... but it’s the gruff Captain Westfall who seems to understand her best.

Then one of the other contestants turns up dead... quickly followed by another. Can Celaena figure out who the killer is before she becomes a victim? As the young assassin investigates, her search leads her to discover a greater destiny than she could possibly have imagined.

Thoughts:
I think this is actually the first time that I enjoyed a book but didn't really care for the main character so much. Don't get me wrong, the story is really exciting and something that is just right for me. Filled with thrills, danger, mystery, magic and intrigue, it's not hard to get lost in the story.

Too bad that Celaena is such an annoying character. I love an underdog story but Celaena is certainly not an underdog in the assassins competition. She's just pretending to be one. She's rude most of the time, arrogant and vain too. To top it off there's a love triangle in the mix which I don't think is actually necessary. If the story focus more on the competition rather Celaena's antics in the castle, then I'm sure this will be much more interesting.

Overall the story is quite enjoyable and I must give due credit to the author for creating a wonderful fantasy world. If only Celaena is more likeable then I would no doubt give this the 5 stars that it deserves.

Recommended for: fans of epic fantasy
Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Witches & Witchcraft Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop of the Young Adult Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Reading Teen.

Rules:

1. One winner will get a YA book of their choice up to $15 USD from The Book Depository/Amazon.

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.

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Review & Giveaway: Pushing the Limits

Pushing the Limits

by Katie McGarry
Published July 31st 2012 

by Harlequin Teen

ARC from publisher

Summary from Goodreads:

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. 

They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Thoughts:
I don't normally read YA contemporary anymore so I don't really have such a high expectation when I started reading this. All I know about the book is the amount of great reviews and the general hype surrounding its release.

The book is such an emotional roller-coaster ride! This is not your usual girl meets bad boy story as both of the main characters are damaged souls trying to cope with life. Echo was once the popular girl in school until a mysterious accident left her scarred all over her body while Noah is trying desperately to reunite with his two little brothers after they were put up in separate foster homes.

The story can be quite intense at times and I found myself blubbery every time Noah gets to meet his brothers. His love and devotion to them is so heartbreaking to read and I must give due compliment to the writer for having written such emotionally charged scenes. The mystery surrounding Echo's tragic accident piqued my curiosity very much. And when she finally accepted the truth and confront her mother, you just could feel her grief.

However, there are certain parts in this book that I found so annoying. For example Noah tend to focus too much on Echo's  'rocking body' and how enticing her 'cleavage' is and the way his friends tend to get high on booze and drugs are just too disturbing. I would have given this book 5 stars if not for the sexual references and the abundant use of curse words in the dialogues. Maybe the writer intended to portray the grittiness of the teens' troubled lives but it made me a bit uncomfortable reading it.

Aside from that, this book will certainly become one of my favourite contemporary YA of all time.

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

Thanks to Media Masters Publicity and Harlequin Teen for this giveaway of a copy of Pushing the Limits. It's open to US/Canada only. Sorry International followers. Ends August 25th.


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Interview: Katie McGarry

Hi, folks! Today we have a short interview with Katie McGarry; author of Pushing the Limits.

About Katie:
Katie McGarry was a teenager during the age of grunge and boy bands and she remembers those years as the best and worst of her life. She is a lover of music, happy endings and reality television, and is a secret University of Kentucky basketball fan.

Writing has given Katie an excuse to pursue her passions. Research for her books has provided her with the amazing opportunity to train with baseball players, ride along in a drag car at ninety-six miles per hour and experience boxing and mixed martial arts. Katie loves to visit schools and talk to teenagers about her research, writing and the truth that no dream is out of reach.

What was your inspiration for writing Pushing the Limits?

I had two main inspirations: One, I knew from the beginning that I wanted to write a story in which my characters felt strong enough to leave their pasts behind and create new futures for themselves. The first scene I ever saw in my mind was Echo and Noah leaving town after graduation. Two, I wanted to write two characters who were facing over- whelming issues and who, through battling these issues, found hope at the end of their journey.

How did you come up with Echo’s name?

Echo went through several name changes as I wrote the man- uscript. For a while, she had a very normal name, but it alwaysfelt off. It wasn’t until I looked at Echo from her mother’s point of view that I found her name. Echo’s mother loved Greek my- thology so it made perfect sense that she would name her chil- dren after the myths. I read several Greek myths and the mo- ment I found Echo’s, I fell in love. Echo, to me, was the girl who lost her voice. Thankfully, she finds it by the end.

Which character is the most “like” you?
All of them. I gave each character a piece of me (though some have larger slices of me than others). Overall, I’d say I’m a strange combination of Echo, Lila and Beth. Echo has my need to please, Lila has my unfailing loyalty to my friends and Beth encompasses my insecurities.

Did you experience friendships with Grace types when you were in high school?

Yes. And the more people have read this story, the more this question comes up. Grace has struck a stronger nerve in people than I ever would have imagined. It seems most of us have un- fortunately experienced a relationship where a person wants to “like” you and wants “be your friend,” but only if it serves their needs. In case anyone is wondering, that isn’t friendship.

Are there any parts of the story you feel particularly close to?

Yes. The relationship between Noah, Isaiah and Beth. Beyond my parents and sister, my nearest family members were over fourteen hours away. My friends became my family. The peopleI grew up with were more than people I watched movies with or talked to occasionally on the phone. These were people with whom I shared life’s most devastating moments, but also my hardest laughs. These were people who I would have willing- ly died for and I know they would have done the same for me. They shared my triumphs with smiles on their faces and con- gratulatory hugs. They held me when I cried and offered to beat up whoever hurt my feelings. These were also the same people who were more than happy to get in my face if they thought I was making a wrong decision.

Did anything that happens to Echo happen to you?

Sort of. I was bitten by a dog when I was in second grade and repressed the memory. It felt very strange to have no memory of an incident that other people knew about. It was even strang- er to have injuries and not have an inkling where they came from. In college, I finally remembered the incident when a dog lunged at me. I relived the horrible event and sort of “woke up” a few minutes later to find myself surrounded by people I loved. Even though I “remember” the incident, I still don’t remember the whole thing. I only see still frames in my mind and there is no blood in any of the memories.

Be sure to check out my review of Pushing the Limits tomorrow and also a giveaway of the book!

Review: Glitch

Glitch (Glitch #1)
by Heather Anastasiu
Published August 7th 2012
by St. Martin's Press 
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:

In the Community, there is no more pain or war. Implanted computer chips have wiped humanity clean of destructive emotions, and thoughts are replaced by a feed from the Link network.

When Zoe starts to malfunction (or “glitch”), she suddenly begins having her own thoughts, feelings, and identity. Any anomalies must be immediately reported and repaired, but Zoe has a secret so dark it will mean certain deactivation if she is caught: her glitches have given her uncontrollable telekinetic powers.

As Zoe struggles to control her abilities and stay hidden, she meets other glitchers including Max, who can disguise his appearance, and Adrien, who has visions of the future. Both boys introduce Zoe to feelings that are entirely new. Together, this growing band of glitchers must find a way to free themselves from the controlling hands of the Community before they’re caught and deactivated, or worse.

Thoughts:Maybe because I was expecting something a lot more exciting and mysterious, I was a bit disappointed with the book. Truth to be told, the cover is truly beautiful and succeeds in luring me to check out the book but the overall feel of the story reminds me a lot of the book Matched.

It is very slow at times and I just couldn't get the romance between the characters. As the main character, Zoe is a little bit dull to my liking. I love unique plotline so it feels kind of tedious to read something that has been done before. Ultimately I think Glitch is just a combination of several dystopian books with its supposedly love triangle (Matched/Delirium), controlled future world where everyone's minds are linked through a digital network (Under the Never Sky) and a group of special people with powers fighting against the sinister government (Shatter Me).

I'm afraid this is just not for me.

Verdict: 2 stars.
Available on: Amazon

Review: Indulge

Indulge (Warm Delicacy #2)
by Megan Duncan
ebook

Published December 14th 2011

Summary from Goodreads:

Claire's heart is torn between her first vampire love, Dmitry, and the Blood Mate, Arrick, that she is eternally bonded to with a powerfully deep and emotional connection. A vengeful vampire is haunting her steps, after Claire killed their mate. An ancient evil threatens to rip her world apart. With the danger of war looming on the darkening horizon, will Claire find the strength to fight back and protect those she loves? Even if it means embracing the darkness inside her? Is it worth it to become the evil she fears, in order to destroy it?

Thoughts:
I just love this series which is surprising because I was so weary of the whole vampire genre before this. Claire's adventures into the vampire world is simply fascinating to read and for once I don't really mind the instant connection she had with Arrick.

Compared to the first book which literally left me breathless, the second book is much more fast paced and thrilling. Claire is reunited with her biological parents who are the rulers of the kingdom of Naos. But an ancient evil is hellbent on destroying the peaceful pact the vampires had with the humans.

Finally, we get to see Claire's awesome powers when she decided to fight against the mysterious foe who has be hunting her since the first book. I just wished that the book is longer since in my opinion that it's too short.

Verdict: 4 stars.In my Self Published, TBR Pile & 
The Dusty Bookshelf Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Book of the Month: July

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..)

Team Human

by Justine Larbalestier, Sarah Rees Brennan

My review

Since my copy of Endlessly by Kiersten White has not yet arrived (sigh) which I'm so sure will be one of my favourite this year, Team Human is my pick for the best that I've read this month. If you're looking for a book that makes fun of vampires then this is definitely for you.

Notable mention:

Summer Giveaway Hop

Welcome to my stop of the Summer Giveaway Hop hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Mary from BookHounds.

Rules:

1. One winner will get a book of their choice up to $10 USD from The Book Depository/Amazon.

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.

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