Blog Tour (Review & Giveaway) : Defy

Defy

by Sara B. Larson

Published January 7, 2014

Pubished by Scholastic

336 pages

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Sypnosis:

A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect? 

My thoughts:
Defy is certainly an exciting YA epic fantasy which is up there with Graceling and Throne of Glass. It certainly has a few similarities with those two books. For one; Alex or Alexa is a skilled fighter just like Lady Katsa and Celaena but her fate is more gruesome since she was forced to disguised herself as a boy early on and enlist as a soldier in order to escape from being a sex slave.

What I love about Alexa is her tenacity and perseverance in facing death and catastrophe while trying desperately to keep her secret from those around her. And the two guys vying for her attention are simply irresistible! I really had a hard time in deciding which guy to root for.

With magic, secrets, thrilling adventure and action at every turn, I'm just so glad that I found another fantasy that I can really sink my teeth into. I simply can't wait for the next book and find out which of the two swoon worthy guy she will end up with.

AUTHOR BIO:

Sara loves writing, reading, and dessert--but the order varies by the day. She wrote her first book in second grade about a woman who had a premature baby, complete with a "to scale" drawing of the baby's size--while her mom was pregnant. To say she was a bit precocious is putting it lightly. Now that she’s an adult, she writes books for teens that have magic and romance and kick-butt girls (and very few premature babies). She lives in Utah with her husband, two young sons and baby girl. She writes during naptime and the hours when most people are sleeping. Her husband claims that she should have a degree in "the art of multitasking." On occasion you will find her hiding in a bubble bath with a book and some Swedish Fish. she is represented by Josh Adams of Adams Literary and her YA debut DEFY is coming January '14 from Scholastic! 

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Review: The Elites

The Elites
by Natasha Ngan

Paperback, 368 pages

Published September 5th 2013 

by Hot Key Books

Goodreads |  Amazon | BN

Summary from Goodreads:

‘There is a rumour that the Elites don’t bleed.’

Hundreds of years into the future, wars, riots, resource crises and rising sea-levels have destroyed the old civilisations. Only one city has survived: Neo-Babel, a city full of cultures – and racial tension.

Fifteen-year-old Silver is an Elite, a citizen of Neo-Babel chosen to guard the city due to her superior DNA. She’d never dream of leaving – but then she fails to prevent the assassination of Neo Babel’s president, setting off a chain of events more shocking and devastating than she could ever have imagined. Forced to flee the city with her best friend Butterfly (a boy with genetically-enhanced wings), Silver will have to fight to find her family, uncover the truth about Neo-Babel and come to terms with her complicated feelings for Butterfly. 

Thoughts:

I was really looking forward to reading this book for months not just because the author have the same first name is mine but that freaking cover just look so bad-ass and beautiful at the same time. The plot looks very promising as the book unveiled a dystopian world of Neo-Babel where all the citizens of the remaining modern earth converged in one big mixed futuristic city filled with shishas, floating water markets and birth chip. So this is me in the beginning.

But then after Silver's first assignment as an Elite goes awry and the plot seemed to meandered a bit, I was wondering what is wrong here and what the hell is going on?

There's too many coincidences and loopholes in the story. Let's make a list, shall we?

1. How did Neo Babel came to be? Earthquake? Disaster? War? Nuclear bombs? Or all of the above?

2. Why is Ember; Silver's senior mentor so mean? She was born bitchy? She just hate Reds?

3. What makes Silver so special? An elite guard? I don't really witness her show of awesomeness.

4. Who kidnapped Silver's parents or did they just disappeared for the sake of having some conflict in the story?

5. And more importantly..is Butterfly gay? Or is he just incapable of showing emotions?

And the list goes on and on until I stop trying to fully immersed myself with the book and just let it be. So in the end, Elites ended up being an over the top, stereotypical dystopian reminiscent of maybe Divergent, The Ward, Taken or even the long list of YA book which is set in some revolutionary enclosed city with the heroine discovering there's actually a better life out there.

Review: Avalon

Avalon (Avalon #1)
by Mindee Arnett 

Published January 21st 2014

by Balzer & Bray

ARC from Netgalley
Goodreads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble |  

Summary from Goodreads:
A ragtag group of teenage mercenaries who crew the spaceship Avalon stumble upon a conspiracy that could threaten the entire galaxy in this fascinating and fast-paced sci-fi adventure from author Mindee Arnett.

Of the various star systems that make up the Confederation, most lie thousands of light-years from First Earth-and out here, no one is free. The agencies that govern the Confederation are as corrupt as the crime bosses who patrol it, and power is held by anyone with enough greed and ruthlessness to claim it. That power is derived from one thing: metatech, the devices that allow people to travel great distances faster than the speed of light.

Jeth Seagrave and his crew of teenage mercenaries have survived in this world by stealing unsecured metatech, and they're damn good at it. Jeth doesn't care about the politics or the law; all he cares about is earning enough money to buy back his parents' ship, Avalon, from his crime-boss employer and getting himself and his sister, Lizzie, the heck out of Dodge. But when Jeth finds himself in possession of information that both the crime bosses and the government are willing to kill for, he is going to have to ask himself how far he'll go to get the freedom he's wanted for so long.

Thoughts:
Have you guys ever heard of this little show called Firefly?

Yup, that is one ugly ship. But nonetheless, this book borrowed heavily on that premise of a ragtag group of nice mercenaries who steals things for their own survival. (Can mercenaries be actually nice?)The difference between this book and that show is that the group in question is much younger and they don't have enough interesting characters to fully sustain my appetite for a YA space adventure or the humorous tones that can be found throughout the show. Yes, I'm a big, big fan of the show.

Although the characters doesn't impressed me much, I'm happy to report that the plot have enough twists and turns to keep me interested enough to finish it. There are layers upon layers of secrets that the gang need to uncover starting with the mysterious death of the parents of the main protagonist and leader of the group; Jethro Seagrave. But Jeth certainly is nothing like Mal from Firefly. (Oh, god..I can't stop comparing the book with the show..sorry guys). And since Jeth is so desperate and nostalgic to earned money to buy back his dead parents' ship from his crime-boss employer, he is then forced to co-operate with a shady ITA (Interstellar Transport Authority) agent.

Now, I get Jeth's ulterior motive in being a sort of Robin Hood in space but his friends? Not so much. Maybe they're just that loyal to him or some really adventurous juvenile teens. And as the gang race through the galaxy they did uncover some really deep dark secrets about the ITA and more.

I will definitely read the next book in the series since I think we really need more YA books set in space and less of vampire stories. I really hope the story will get much better in the next instalment though since the characters certainly showed a lot of promise for more development. Here's to more space cowboys..I mean cool YA space opera!

In my Fantasy and Books in a series Reading Challenge 

Waiting on Wednesday #56: Vitro

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.

Vitro (Origin)
by Jessica Khoury 

Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: January 14th 2014 

by Razorbill

Summary from Goodreads:

On a remote island in the Pacific, Corpus scientists have taken test tube embryos and given them life. These beings—the Vitros—have knowledge and abilities most humans can only dream of. But they also have one enormous flaw.

Sophie Crue is determined to get to Skin Island and find her mother, a scientist who left Sophie behind years ago. She enlists hunky charter pilot Jim Julien to take her there. But once on the island, Sophie and Jim encounter more than they bargained for, including a charming, brilliant Vitro named Nicholas and an innocent, newly awoken one named Lux.

In a race for their lives, Sophie and Jim are about to discover what happens when science stretches too far beyond its reach.

Babble:
Although the first book; Origin was very slow at the beginning, it has such a tragic and twisted ending that still haunted me to this day. I'm hoping that Vitro will be reminiscent of Jessica Khoury's excellent storytelling in the first book.

Book Blitz & Giveaway: Ondine

Hi, everyone! Today I'm having a Book Blitz for the YA urban fantasy; Ondine by Emma Raveling. Check out the awesome book and don't forget to enter the giveaway for the chance to win an ebook copy of ONDINE (#0.5 prequel), WHIRL (Book 1), and BILLOW (Book 2) and signed Ondine Quartet swag pack (includes bookmarks and stickers).

Ondine by Emma Raveling (Ondine Quartet 0.5)

Publication date: December 19, 2013
Genres: Urban Fantasy, Young Adult

Sypnosis:
“I shouldn’t get involved.”

Rebellious and headstrong, sixteen-year-old Kendra Irisavie doesn’t have much respect for authority. An ondine with the powerful gift of Virtue, she uses her tough attitude and Empath magic to navigate through high school and keep others away.

Because being an ondine also means keeping secrets.

Kendra and her mother are Rogue water elementals in the middle of an ancient war. They hide among humans, their survival constantly threatened by monstrous Aquidae demons.

Along with a rigorous training regimen to mold Kendra into a lethal fighter, her mother has instituted four rules to keep her safe.

Trust no one. Relationships are weaknesses. Emotional attachments are dangerous. Be responsible only for yourself.

But when Kendra witnesses a classmate in trouble, she intervenes and her decision to break the rules comes at a price.

Sometimes, humans could be more dangerous than demons. 

Goodreads |  Amazon | 

AUTHOR BIO:
I’m a fantasy writer who lives a slightly eccentric life with my accommodating husband and our charming, neurotic dog. I'm currently working on the Ondine Quartet, a young adult urban fantasy/paranormal series featuring a kick-ass heroine, powerful magic, and the complex world of water elementals.

I have a weird love of spreadsheets and organizational tools because they give me the illusion that I am somehow in control of the chaos that is my life. I adore beautiful art such as painting and sculpture, classical music, lyrical writing, and great graphic design. My all-time favorite books (as of this writing) are Immortality by Milan Kundera, 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Beloved by Toni Morrison, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka.

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Insanity

Hi, everyone! Today I'm having a Book Blitz for the super creepy Insanity by Cameron Jace. Check out the awesome book and don't forget to enter the giveaway for the chance to win a Kindle Fire or Paperwhite.

Insanity by Cameron Jace
Publication date: December 20th 2013
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal

Sypnosis:

After accidentally killing everyone in her class, Alice Wonder is now a patient in the Radcliffe Lunatic Asylum. No one doubts her insanity. Only a hookah-smoking professor believes otherwise; that he can prove her sanity by decoding Lewis Carroll’s paintings, photographs, and find Wonderland’s real whereabouts. Professor Caterpillar persuades the asylum that Alice can save lives and catch the wonderland monsters now reincarnated in modern day criminals. In order to do so, Alice leads a double life: an Oxford university student by day, a mad girl in an asylum by night. The line between sanity and insanity thins when she meets Jack Diamond, an arrogant college student who believes that nonsense is an actual science.

Goodreads |  Amazon | 

AUTHOR BIO:
Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | 

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Pentimento

Hi, everyone! Today I'm having a Book Blitz for Pentimento by Cameron Jace. Check out the book and don't forget to enter the giveaway for the chance to win some awesome prizes including a Kindle Fire.

Pentimento by Cameron Jace

Publication date: December 20th, 2013
Genres: Paranormal, Post-Apocalyptic, Young Adult

Sypnosis:

The day Iris Beaumont turns seventeen, she is threatened to be taken by the Beasts, the rulers of the new America. After the destruction of the world, the Beasts provide citizens with whatever they need in exchange for the one teenage girl they enslave every week. They call them the Brides, and they never comes back. Iris isn’t the worrying type though; she’s been defying the system since she was ten and never cared for the Beast’s rules.

Then she meets Colton Ray, who is not like any other boy she’s ever seen. His confidence and dominance are otherworldly she can’t rationalize the attraction she feels for him. Colton had one slight problem though. It’s rumored he is one of the Beast, and Iris could be the next on the Beast’s list. 

Goodreads |  Amazon | 

AUTHOR BIO:
Wonderlander, Neverlander, Unicorn-chaser, enchanter, musician, survived a coma, & totally awesome. Sometimes I tell stories. Always luv the little monsters I write young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, and science fiction mostly. The Grimm Diaries series is a seven book saga that deals with retellings of fairy tales from a young adult POV - it connects most of the fairy tales together and claims to be the truth about fairy tales. I live in San Fransisco and seriously think circles are way cooler than triangles. 

Goodreads | Website | Facebook | Twitter | 

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Waiting on Wednesday #55: The Almost Girl

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.


The Almost Girl

by Amalie Howard
Kindle Edition, 416 pages
Expected publication: January 7th 2014
by Strange Chemistry

Summary from Goodreads:

Seventeen-year-old Riven is as tough as they come. Coming from a world ravaged by a devastating android war, she has to be. There’s no room for softness, no room for emotion, no room for mistakes. A Legion General, she is the right hand of the young Prince of Neospes, a parallel universe to Earth. In Neospes, she has everything: rank, responsibility and respect. But when Prince Cale sends her away to find his long-lost brother, Caden, who has been spirited back to modern day Earth, Riven finds herself in uncharted territory.

Thrown out of her comfort zone but with the mindset of a soldier, Riven has to learn how to be a girl in a realm that is the opposite of what she knows. Riven isn’t prepared for the beauty of a world that is unlike her own in so many ways. Nor is she prepared to feel something more than indifference for the very target she seeks. Caden is nothing like Cale, but he makes something in her come alive, igniting a spark deep down that goes against every cell in her body. For the first time in her life, Riven isn’t sure about her purpose, about her calling. Torn between duty and desire, she must decide whether Caden is simply a target or whether he is something more.

Faced with hideous reanimated Vector soldiers from her own world with agendas of their own, as well as an unexpected reunion with a sister who despises her, it is a race against time to bring Caden back to Neospes. But things aren’t always as they seem, and Riven will have to search for truth. Family betrayals and royal coups are only the tip of the iceberg. Will Riven be able to find the strength to defy her very nature? Or will she become the monstrous soldier she was designed to be?

Babble:
A soldier in love? Oooh sounds like my kind of thing.

Book Blitz & Giveaway: The Cure

Hi, everyone! Today I'm having a Book Blitz for the book; The Cure by Stephanie Erickson. Check out the awesome book and the funny guest post by the author herself and don't forget to enter the giveaway for the chance to win a Kindle Fire.


The Cure by Stephanie Erickson
Publication date: November 14th 2013
Genres: Dystopia, Young Adult

Sypnosis:

“One life will make the difference.” Macey Holsinger has been hearing that promise her whole life. But it hasn’t saved anyone yet, not even her little brother.

The disease has claimed countless lives in the last hundred years, and the government is working hard to find a cure through human testing. Testing that has killed nearly as many people as the disease.

At sixteen, Macey has better things to think about than saving lives and submitting to any rule other than her parents’. As a budding artist, she has her whole life ahead of her, at least until she faces her own testing.

Questions plague Macey. Questions that make everyone else nervous. How can death be justified with more death? What’s the point of all this?

Answers evade her until she’s left with only one question: How much will she sacrifice in the name of the cure? 

Goodreads |  Amazon | 

5 Things I Wish I Knew About Being an Author I Didn’t Know Before

5. Everyone and their mother has an opinion

Everyone, and I do mean everyone, has an opinion about your life, your writing, your approach to publishing, your cover art, your book layout, your venue, your promotions, and…well, you get the idea.  Learn to filter out the ones who are just being mean because they are jealous, and the ones who are being constructive.  That is quite possibly your most valuable tool. 

4. Read!

There seems to be a stark division on this subject.  Either people feel writers should devour books like air, or they think you shouldn’t read at all for fear of copying someone else’s idea.  Personally, I think the latter is complete hogwash.  If you don’t read, how are you supposed to learn and grow as a respectable writer?  You can not only get ideas and see how other people are writing, but you can learn grammar, vocabulary, and evolve your style by reading.  So, for heaven’s sake read!

3. Write as much as possible

So, most people will say, “write every day!” but I’m a realist.  I know you can’t write every day.  But you should write as much as possible.  The idea behind the sentiment of “write every day!” is that it’s a priority for those people.  Maybe their number one priority.  For me, even though it’s not number one on my list, writing is still a priority for me, so I set goals.  Usually weekly goals, like I need to write 5,000 words this week to stay on track.  And, even if I’m not in the midst of writing a first draft, I still try to write, with stuff like this – blog posts, journal entries, musings etc.  Bottom line here: Whatever you write doesn’t have to be Earth shattering.  It just has to be words on a page.

2. Never stop learning

The writing and publishing world is going through a dramatic change right now.  If you are dumb enough to refuse to evolve with it then I’m done talking to you.  There are a tremendous amount of resources out there, and all you have to do is absorb them.  Some of my favorites are Stephen King’s On Writing and David Gaughran’s Let’s Get Visable. 

1. Find what works for you

I used to be a seat of your pants writer.  My first book – The Blackout – was filled with plot holes, changed character names and major issues when I finished with the first draft.  So, for The Cure, I tried outlining.  The first draft went much better.  I had fewer changes, fewer mistakes, and in the end, produced a better book.  However, I was flexible with my outline.  When inspiration struck me, I went with it and ended up writing several chapters that weren’t included in my outline.  I feel like it was a good marriage of outlining and seat of your pants writing.  And it worked for me.  You might be a little more organized than that, and need to have a 17 page outline before you can even think about writing, or you might just need to start at it when the mood strikes.  That’s fine.  The important thing is to keep trying different things and do what works for you. 

AUTHOR BIO:
Let's see. What do you want to know about me? I love apocalypse movies like 2012 (which is probably why my first book is sort of apocalyptic), I love to read, I love my fur babies, my husband and my family.

I'm a graphic designer by trade, but hoping to some day be able to write full time.

Dan, my husband, and I are brand new parents and loving life!

As far as writing goes, The Blackout was my first published novel, but I've been writing for quite awhile. I won honorable mention in the 72nd Annual Writer's Digest Competition for a short story junior year of college, so that was...awhile ago anyway. Although I published a scholarly paper senior year, fiction writing has always been my passion. Can't wait to see what's next! 

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Book Blitz & Giveaway: Fallen

Hi, everyone! Today I'm having a Book Blitz for the book Fallen by Laury Falter.

Fallen

by Laury Falter Publication date: April 1st 2009
Genres: Paranormal, Young Adult

Sypnosis:

Maggie is unaware of the terrifying fate that awaits her. It isn’t until she lands in New Orleans for a full year at a private high school and her unknown enemies find her does she realize that her life is in danger.

As a mystifying stranger repeatedly intervenes and blocks the attempts on her life, she begins to learn that there is more to him than his need to protect her and that he may be the key to understanding why her enemies have just now arrived. 

Goodreads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

AUTHOR BIO:
Laury Falter is a bestselling author of young adult romantic suspense and urban fantasy. She has three series out: the Guardian Trilogy, the Residue Series, and the Apocalypse Chronicles. 

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Review: Warrior

Warrior (The Dragon King Chronicles #2)
by Ellen Oh

ebook, 336 pages
Published December 31st 2013
by HarperTeen

ARC from Edelweiss
Goodreads |  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Summary from Goodreads:
First an outcast, now a hero.

But her fight rages on.

Kira, the yellow-eyed demon slayer who fiercely protected her kingdom—and the crown prince—has been proclaimed the Dragon Musado of the prophecy. With the defeated the evil shaman.

But it wasn’t enough.

Hansong is in chaos. The Demon Lord’s minions have infiltrated the city, treason is brewing among the military ranks, and Kira is buried by the overwhelming loss of her parents. She’s also plagued by the annoying feelings that blossom whenever she’s around Jaewon. But she is determined that nothing will stop her from finding the second treasure needed to fulfill the Dragon King’s prophecy. Not even the army of half-breed demons hot on their trail. If only she could learn to trust others…

Her father always said one person can change the world. Will it be Kira?

Thoughts:
As a fan of Korean drama, it is indeed natural for me to be lured by the promise of an epic adventure set in a fictional ancient Korean setting with mystical and paranormal elements thrown in. I mean how can I resist a saeguk inspired book featuring a strong sword wielding female demon hunter who has a cousin to protect and a prophecy to fulfil?

The first book was such an excellent addition to the abundance of YA epic fantasy books that is littered with Eropean setting that I devoured it in a matter of hours but the second book felt kind of meh in my opinion. Don't get me wrong, I still love this series and I highly applaud the author for such an awesome adventure but there's too many things happening at the same time which is kind of confusing. 

The book is also suffering from such an uneven pace where sometimes the author describes something with so much details to the point of boredom while at the end just when the battle between the demon soldiers and Kira gets really exciting it ends rather abruptly and kind of anti-climactic for me. I also don't get it how a book with such an amazing world building, have such dull and boring characters? 

I really tried to like this book but since it left me puzzled most of the times and I don't feel a real connection to any of the characters, my feelings are quite mixed after finishing it. Maybe I should just stick to watching ancient Korean dramas with kick-ass chicks instead of reading about them.

In my Books in a series & Fantasy Reading Challenge 

Best of 2013 Giveaway Hop

Hello everyone! Welcome to my stop of the Best of 2013 Giveaway Hop hosted by Bookhounds and I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Rules:

1. One winner will get a $15 worth of book from The Book Depository. My choice of the best books of 2013 are as below but you're free to choose any book as your pick.

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

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


 
 

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Waiting on Wednesday #54: Witch Finder

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.


Witch Finder (Witch Finder #1)

by Ruth Warburton
Paperback
Expected publication: January 2nd 2014
by Hodder Children's Books

Summary from Goodreads:

London. 1880. In the slums of Spitalfields apprentice blacksmith Luke is facing initiation into the Malleus Maleficorum, the fearsome brotherhood dedicated to hunting and killing witches.

Luke’s final test is to pick a name at random from the Book of Witches, a name he must track down and kill within a month, or face death himself. Luke knows that tonight will change his life forever. But when he picks out sixteen-year-old Rosa Greenwood, Luke has no idea that his task will be harder than he could ever imagine.

Babble:
Malleus Maleficorum was first mentioned in Ruth's ealier series; the Winter Trilogy. I'm eager to find that this series is a prequel of sorts to that one. I'm anticipating that this will be forbidden love between a young witch and her hunter. Sounds cool, huh?