FF Friday #13

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

Q: If you could only have ONE - one book - for the rest of your life. Don't cheat...what would it be?

Damn..only one? How could I pick only one book from the hundreds or maybe thousands books that I've read so far? This is so impossible. But seriously, this is it ladies and gentlemen. Harry Potter is a wonderful series but as far as young adults go, this is my favorite..for now. The Hunger Games is awesome but that last book is kind of disappointing. Let's see how THIS series will turn out. I LOVE YOU AKIVA!

Waiting on Wednesday #39: Extracted

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.

Extracted (The Lost Imperials #1) 

by Sherry D. Ficklin
Expected publication: November 12th 2013 

by Spencer Hill Press

Summary from Goodreads:

Welcome to the war.

The Tesla Institute is a premier academy that trains young time travelers called Rifters. Created by Nicola Tesla, the Institute seeks special individuals who can help preserve the time stream against those who try to alter it.

The Hollows is a rogue band of Rifters who tear through time with little care for the consequences. Armed with their own group of lost teens--their only desire to find Tesla and put an end to his corruption of the time stream.

Torn between them are Lex and Ember, two Rifters with no memories of their life before joining the time war.

When Lex’s girlfriend dies during a mission, the only way he can save her is to retrieve the Dox, a piece of tech which allows Rifters to re-enter their own timeline without collapsing the time stream. But the Dox is hidden deep within the Telsa Institute, which means Lex must go into the enemy camp. It’s there he meets Ember, and the past that was stolen from them both comes flooding back.

Now armed with the truth of who they are, Lex and Ember must work together to save the future before the battle for time destroys them both…again.

Babble:
There's just something truly remarkable about time travelling and despite the over abundance of YA books having that element, I'm still excited to read this one. The possibilities for time travel is indeed endless if the author really knows how to make the story interesting and not confused readers with sketchy world building.

Review: Crown of Midnight

Crown of Midnight (Throne of Glass #2)

by Sarah J. Maas
Published August 27th 2013 

by Bloomsbury USA Childrens
ARC from Netgalley

Summary from Goodreads:
An assassin’s loyalties are always in doubt.
But her heart never wavers.

After a year of hard labor in the Salt Mines of Endovier, eighteen-year-old assassin Celaena Sardothien has won the king's contest to become the new royal assassin. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown – a secret she hides from even her most intimate confidantes.

Keeping up the deadly charade—while pretending to do the king's bidding—will test her in frightening new ways, especially when she's given a task that could jeopardize everything she's come to care for. And there are far more dangerous forces gathering on the horizon -- forces that threaten to destroy her entire world, and will surely force Celaena to make a choice.

Where do the assassin’s loyalties lie, and who is she most willing to fight for?

Thoughts:

What can I say about this book that others haven't said before?Honestly, I did not expect to be so blown away by the book since the first book was kind of meh for me. I know so many people fell in love with the series since the first book but for me the second is much much better!

Why can't the author included all this wonderful twists in the plot since the very beginning? Why? Why? Celaena was such a hard character to like in the first book but I finally get her in the Crown of Midnight because we get to understand her struggles and her moral dilemmas more intimately. And now that I discovered the truth behind her mysterious past, I just can't wait for her to kick some major ass in the third book.

It was interesting to see the love triangle between Celaena, Prince Dorian and Chaol which was further explored and tested in this book. Chaol is certainly the man for Celaena but I just can't help but feel so sorry for Prince Dorian. He really needs some loving in the next book because he's just so nice and noble.

To sum it up, at the end of this book I was incredibly mad at the author for concentrating too much on the fighting tournament and not hinting enough about the real cause of the disappearance of magic in Erilea in the previous book. Why wait for book two to reveal all these things? But the ending is a killer! Seriously, after all that male courtesan stuff, magical talking door knocker stuff, evil demonic stuff, romantic entanglements and secret alliance trying to overthrown the evil King plot now we are even presented with the lost heir story line. I feel so overwhelmed! This might be the BEST second book in a series, I have ever read. Go READ IT NOW before the third book comes out.

Verdict: 5 stars.
In my Books in a Series and Fantasy Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Blog Tour (Spotlight) Midnight Masquerade by Marcia Lynn McClure

She was tired—oh so very, very tired. Never—not in all her life—had Evony Elorietta known such thoroughgoing fatigue. As she trudged out of the dark woods still veiled in the shadows of early sunrise, out across the expanse of cold, dew-drenched grass and onto the main road of the village, Evony wondered how she would ever endure a day that was only just beginning. Every bone in her body ached—every muscle throbbed in misery, every inch of her flesh begged for respite. Yet there would be none—at least not until she had finished her stitching—finished the near thirteen hours of sewing she now faced under the ever observant, incessantly critical eye of seamstress Agnes Teche. 

After such a long, chilled, and sleepless night spent in watching—peering through the darkness and into the rooms of the inn in the woods, until her eyes were too dry to watch any longer—after listening to the shallow, often vile conversations, until her ears hurt from the foul ferment of it—Evony dreaded sewing for Mrs. Teche more than ever before. The woman was a banshee of an employer. And yet, she was grateful Mrs. Teche had had the keen eye to recognize Evony’s superior skills with needle and thread—for how else would Evony have managed to feed Mikol and Tressa—to shelter them—to keep them hidden?

Tour Schedule

Summary:
Stavos Voronin was not as blind-eyed as many nobles and royals. Evony’s physical gestures—even the simplest movement of her hands—revealed that she had not always been destitute. The same was true of the children—of their polished manners and the boy’s knowledge of horses and tendency to be bold and fearless of strangers. 

Ah yes, Stavos enjoyed a good mystery. After all, interest in the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the royals of Abawyth was the very thing that had lured him to the kingdom—the enigma of Abawyth’s twelve sleepy princesses. And yet now—now his mind was all the more intrigued. Not only was the obscurity of what had caused the profound and baffling torpidity of Abawyth’s princesses laid out before him, but also he found his curiosity intensely piqued over the riddle surrounding the very lovely Evony and her siblings.

As Stavos strode through the village resting on the outskirts of Abawyth Castle, his mind reeled with possibilities. His musings were drawn back to why he had come to Abawyth at all—to solve the conundrum surrounding the twelve beautiful princesses of Abawyth kingdom—to solve the seemingly impenetrable crux and thereby win the hand of one of Abawyth’s princesses, as his father, King Letholdus of Ethiarien, had commanded.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kindle

    Blog Tour Giveaway $25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/17/13   a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Blast & Giveaway : The Blue Blood Legacies

Blurb:
Mila was use to life on her own. She was done running, and fully expected to face her past alone and on her own terms. That is, until Landon wandered into her life and changed the terms. Now, together, they face a common enemy, one that neither can run from forever. For, even as her enemies exist a continent away, the draw of the Bane in her blood will bring them only a heartbeat from her. But it was the heartbeat beside her that pounded the loudest, and the one that could be her undoing… 

"So deep was the fine design woven into the very fabric of their blueprint, so precise and sharp were the instruments of Mother Nature, that the danger came not in the divine intention of their form, but in the commune of their unnatural numbers. Dens that size don't exist in nature for a reason. Yet, here one came…"

"He was the kind of man that if you saw as a stranger in a room, you allowed yourself that one fleeting moment when you imagine you're flat on your back and pinned firmly beneath him."

This is an adult book and is not recommended for young readers.
 Amazon  Amy will be offering The Blue Blood Legacies "Draw of the Bane" for .$99 today ONLY   (August 22)

About The Author

Amy Bol grew up in Twin Lake, MI. She met her husband, Bryan Dykes, on vacation during her second year of college and moved to Virginia Beach to help him battle Hodgekins disease. Cancer free, the couple went on to have two daughters and eventually return to Twin Lake to raise their young family in her hometown. Bryan was diagnosed with stage 4 esophageal cancer in April 2008 and he died three short months later. Her first book, a memoir of non-fiction, short stories entitled "Complements of a Dying Man," started out as a test to learn how to upload her work onto Amazon. The book is currently rated five stars and was described as both humorous and heartfelt. However, her guilty pleasure is writing adult paranormal romance. Draw of the Bane, the first book in The Blueblood Legacy series is her first novel. She is currently at work on the sequel Rise of the Red Wolf. She lives with her fiancé, Nick, and her two stubborn, strong, and infinitely amazing young daughters.

Amy Bol

  Twitter | FB | Email

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Waiting on Wednesday #38: Cress

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.

Cress (Lunar Chronicles #3)
by Marissa Meyer
Hardcover, 560 pages
Expected publication: February 4th 2014 

by Feiwel and Friends

Summary from Goodreads:

Rapunzel's tower is a satellite. She can't let down her hair - or her guard.

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army.

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker – unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice.

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

Babble:
Oh my God! Just look at that totally enticing cover! Another new character to join Cinder's team in defeating the all mighty evil Queen Levana. I really can't wait for this.

Review: City of a Thousand Dolls

City of a Thousand Dolls (Bhinian Empire #1)
by Miriam Forster

Published February 5th 2013 

by Harper Teen

Summary from Goodreads:

An exotic treat set in an entirely original, fantastical world brimming with deadly mystery, forbidden romance, and heart-stopping adventure.

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.

Thoughts:
I think I fell in love with the whole exotic fantastical setting first before realising that the book actually had a deeper thought provoking message in it. Inspired by several Asian elements notably the Indian social caste system, the book told the story of Nisha who lives in the City of a Thousand Dolls as the Matron's assistant. The city is actually where abandoned girls are sent to live and their future will be determined by city's officials after they have completed their training.

It is harrowing to read about the second class citizen treatment given to females even if it is only fictionalized and I found myself not able to really connect with Nisha as her early infatuation with higher born Devan just annoyed me. However, things picked up significantly when Nisha started investigating the murders of the girls and the deeper she delved into the mystery the more secrets she uncovered about the city and herself. We are told of how special Nisha is through her gift in communicating with several spotted cats who roamed the city and seemed to be following and guarding her every move. And the final revelation actually has a lot to do with the cats and I'm glad they did not exist for some comic relief but feature prominently in the plot.

This book might have been perfect if the characters appeared to be more likeable and beliavable. The series certainly has promise and I'm eager to read the next book.

Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Debut Author, Books in a Series and Fantasy Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Book Blast & Giveaway (Midnight Masquerade)

Midnight Masquerade
by Marcia Lynn McClure
228 pages
Published July 29th 2013 

Summary:
Stavos Voronin was not as blind-eyed as many nobles and royals. Evony’s physical gestures—even the simplest movement of her hands—revealed that she had not always been destitute. The same was true of the children—of their polished manners and the boy’s knowledge of horses and tendency to be bold and fearless of strangers. 

Ah yes, Stavos enjoyed a good mystery. After all, interest in the inexplicable circumstances surrounding the royals of Abawyth was the very thing that had lured him to the kingdom—the enigma of Abawyth’s twelve sleepy princesses. And yet now—now his mind was all the more intrigued. Not only was the obscurity of what had caused the profound and baffling torpidity of Abawyth’s princesses laid out before him, but also he found his curiosity intensely piqued over the riddle surrounding the very lovely Evony and her siblings.

As Stavos strode through the village resting on the outskirts of Abawyth Castle, his mind reeled with possibilities. His musings were drawn back to why he had come to Abawyth at all—to solve the conundrum surrounding the twelve beautiful princesses of Abawyth kingdom—to solve the seemingly impenetrable crux and thereby win the hand of one of Abawyth’s princesses, as his father, King Letholdus of Ethiarien, had commanded.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Kindle

 Marcia Lynn McClure

Marcia Lynn McClure’s intoxicating succession of novels, novellas, and e-books, has established her as one of the most favored and engaging authors of true romance. Her unprecedented forte in weaving captivating stories of western, medieval, regency, and contemporary amour void of brusque intimacy has earned her the title “The Queen of Kissing.” 

Marcia, who was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, has spent her life intrigued with people, history, love, and romance. A wife, mother, grandmother, family historian, poet, and author, Marcia Lynn McClure spins her tales of splendor for the sake of offering respite through the beauty, mirth, and delight of a worthwhile and wonderful story.

Website * Twitter

    Book Blast Giveaway $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 9/13/13 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Waiting on Wednesday #37: Death Sworn

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.

Death Sworn (Deathsworn #1)
by Leah Cypess
Hardcover, 352 pages
Expected publication: March 4th 2014
by Greenwillow

Summary from Goodreads:

When Ileni lost her magic, she lost everything: her place in society, her purpose in life, and the man she had expected to spend her life with. So when the Elders sent her to be magic tutor to a secret sect of assassins, she went willingly, even though the last two tutors had died under mysterious circumstances.

But beneath the assassins’ caves, Ileni will discover a new place and a new purpose… and a new and dangerous love. She will struggle to keep her lost magic a secret while teaching it to her deadly students, and to find out what happened to the two tutors who preceded her. But what she discovers will change not only her future, but the future of her people, the assassins… and possibly the entire world.

Babble:
Since strong kick-ass chicks are my favourite element in a book this is certainly a must have for me. Other than that, I truly enjoyed Mistwood by this author and was hoping for another wonderful epic fantasy featuring more enchanting female protagonist.

Review: Clockwork Princess

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3)
by Cassandra Clare 

Published March 19th 2013 

by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Summary from Goodreads:

A net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute. Mortmain plans to use his Infernal Devices, an army of pitiless automatons, to destroy the Shadowhunters. He needs only one last item to complete his plan: he needs Tessa Gray.

Charlotte Branwell, head of the London Institute, is desperate to find Mortmain before he strikes. But when Mortmain abducts Tessa, the boys who lay equal claim to her heart, Jem and Will, will do anything to save her. For though Tessa and Jem are now engaged, Will is as much in love with her as ever.

As those who love Tessa rally to rescue her from Mortmain’s clutches, Tessa realizes that the only person who can save her is herself. But can a single girl, even one who can command the power of angels, face down an entire army?

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment, and the tangled threads of love and loss intertwine as the Shadowhunters are pushed to the very brink of destruction in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

Thoughts:
Cassandra Clare is one of the few writers out there who can really make a love triangle work. I'm still reeling from the abundance of emotions depicted in this book. One moment I'm rooting for Jem and Tessa to get married and the next I'm hoping for Will to steal her away. Seriously, this is why I think The Infernal Devices successfully captured my heart compared to the more popular The Mortal Instruments series.

And yes Jem is the one constant character that I truly like in the series. He is the epitome of the tragic (and dying) second hero who is doomed to never get the girl despite all his efforts and sacrifices. The mystery and magical aspects are somewhat secondary to all the romantic entanglements between the three leads and as much as I was intrigued to find out the real reason behind Mortmain's obsession with Tessa, all I wondered about is who will she ended up with? I'm glad to say that the ending will definitely satisfy fans of both Will and Jem.

Verdict: 5 stars.
In my Books in a Series  and Fantasy Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Outcast

Outcast 

by Adrienne Kress
ebook, 322 pages
Published June 4th 2013 

by Diversion Books  

Summary from Goodreads:
After six years of “angels” coming out of the sky and taking people from her town, 16-year-old Riley Carver has just about had it living with the constant fear. When one decides to terrorize her in her own backyard, it’s the final straw. She takes her mother’s shotgun and shoots the thing. So it’s dead. Or … not? In place of the creature she shot, is a guy. A really hot guy. A really hot alive and breathing guy. Oh, and he’s totally naked.

Not sure what to do, she drags his unconscious body to the tool shed and ties him up. After all, he’s an angel and they have tricks. When he regains consciousness she’s all set to interrogate him about why the angels come to her town, and how to get back her best friend (and almost boyfriend) Chris, who was taken the year before. But it turns out the naked guy in her shed is just as confused about everything as she is.

He thinks it’s 1956.

Set in the deep south, OUTCAST is a story of love, trust, and coming of age. It’s also a story about the supernatural, a girl with a strange sense of humor who’s got wicked aim, a greaser from the 50’s, and an army of misfits coming together for one purpose: To kick some serious angel ass.

Thoughts:
Adrienne Kress did it again! After the wonderful The Friday Society which I considered as one of the best book of 2012, this charming author came back with a funny, unconventional story about fallen angels in a midst of a Southern setting.

The characters are lovable, the mystery surrounding our hot fallen angel is compelling and we get a lot of funny dialogues between the two leads which makes this a truly enjoyable read. For one, Riley is really one kick ass chick who did the unthinkable by shooting down an angel hellbent on kidnapping her. The sexual tension and the animosity between Riley and her gorgeous 'fallen angel from the past' Gabe is certainly exhilarating. And as much as Riley distrust Gabe, he ultimately becomes essential in pushing Riley out of her shell and widen her social circle after the disappearance of her only friend; Chris a year ago.

It is also hilarious to read about the band of misfits that Riley and Gabe decided to round up to fight off the angels and put a stop to all the kidnapping. As the story unfolds and our two protagonists finally discovered the age-old secret surrounding both of their origins and mysterious powers, it is inevitable that a sacrifice must be made to ensure the return of all the citizens that have been kidnapped by the supposed angels.

After all the light moments, I was indeed caught by surprise by the bittersweet ending. Seriously it nearly caused me to tear up. Thanks again Adrienne for this amazing story. And yes we need more awesome stand alone book just like this!

Verdict: 5 stars.
In my Books in a Series and Fantasy Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review: Icons

Icons (Icons #1)
by Margaret Stohl
Hardcover, 428 pages
Published May 7th 2013 

by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:

Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why?

When Dol and her best friend, Ro, are captured and taken to the Embassy, off the coast of the sprawling metropolis once known as the City of Angels, they find only more questions. While Ro and fellow hostage Tima rage against their captors, Dol finds herself drawn to Lucas, the Ambassador's privileged son. But the four teens are more alike than they might think, and the timing of their meeting isn't a coincidence. It's a conspiracy.

Within the Icon's reach, Dol, Ro, Tima, and Lucas discover that their uncontrollable emotions -- which they've always thought to be their greatest weaknesses -- may actually be their greatest strengths.

Thoughts:
This review is indeed a long time coming. In truth, I really don't know what to say about books that I've anticipated so much but then turn out not quite up to my expectation. It's not that bad but it's just not that exciting either. And the whole 'invisible' aliens thing whom are supposed to be invading the humans but never showed their faces just add to my confusion.

The love triangle felt rushed and unnecessary and as much as I wanted to like the characters, there's just something off about the four 'special' kids. They fight endlessly among each other or else suddenly develop intense attraction towards one another. Crazy.

Read this for the funny and sarcastic artificial intelligence known as the Doc (kind of like Jarvis in the Iron Man movies). Everything else just seemed mildly interesting.

Verdict: 3 stars.
In my Books in a Series and Fantasy Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Review & Giveaway: Infinityglass

Infinityglass (Hourglass #3)

by Myra McEntire 

Published August 6th 2013 

by Egmont USA

Summary from Goodreads:
The stakes have risen even higher in this third book in the Hourglass series.

The Hourglass is a secret organization focused on the study of manipulating time, and its members — many of them teenagers -­have uncanny abilities to make time work for them in mysterious ways. Inherent in these powers is a responsibility to take great care, because altering one small moment can have devastating consequences for the past, present, and future. But some time trav­elers are not exactly honorable, and sometimes unsavory deals must be struck to maintain order.

With the Infinityglass (central to understanding and harnessing the time gene) at large, the hunt is on to find it before someone else does.

But the Hourglass has an advantage. Lily, who has the ability to locate anything lost, has determined that the Infinityglass isn't an object. It's a person. And the Hourglass must find him or her first. But where do you start searching for the very key to time when every second could be the last?

Thoughts:
The last book for the Hourglass series is finally here! There's a lot of things going on in the previous two books that I found myself sometimes have to go back and read them just to refresh my memory. Several new characters are introduced and yes we finally found out that the Infinityglass is actually girl named Hallie.

The story is told from several POV's including Hallie, Dune and Poe. As expected romance will blossomed between Dune and Hallie which is sweet. And we get to see the whole gang with their individual powers in action against the bad guy which is really the high point for me. Overall this is a fitting finale for the series and a big improvement from book two which is kind of a letdown for me.

Verdict: 4 stars.
In my Books in a Series and Fantasy Reading Challenge 
Available on: Amazon

Enter to win a copy of the book and a poster! This is US only. Sorry.

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Waiting on Wednesday #36: Fates

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.

Fates (Fates #1)by Lanie Bross 

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: February 11th 2014 

by Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Summary from Goodreads:
What if your destiny was to kill the one you love?

One moment. One foolish desire. One mistake. And Corinthe lost everything.

She fell from her tranquil life in Pyralis Terra and found herself exiled to the human world. Her punishment? To make sure people’s fates unfold according to plan. Now, years later, Corinthe has one last assignment: kill Lucas Kaller. His death will be her ticket home.

But for the first time, Corinthe feels a tingle of doubt. It begins as a lump in her throat, then grows toward her heart, and suddenly she feels like she’s falling all over again—this time for a boy she knows she can never have. Because it is written: one of them must live, and one of them must die.

In a universe where every moment, every second, every fate has already been decided, where does love fit in?

Babble:
I'm always a sucker for beautiful and mysterious cover. Let's just hope the story is as good as the cover. I'm okay with star crossed lovers but make sure the characters are appealing and interesting enough or else the romantic part will be long and boring.