Friday, July 29, 2011
Book Review: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moore
How I got this book: Bought
Why I chose this book: I’ve read Clement-Moore’s other novel, When the Splendor Falls, and loved it. So of course I wanted to check out her new work.
Synopsis:
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Book Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson
Hardcover: 416 pages
Synopsis:
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Book Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
When alchemist Sydney is ordered into hiding to protect the life of Moroi princess Jill Dragomir, the last place she expects to be sent is a human private school in Palm Springs, California. But at their new school, the drama is only just beginning.
Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Bloodlines explores all the friendship, romance, battles and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive – this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
Unless he can earn a soul.
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Book Review: Everlasting by Alyson Noel
Publication date: June, 2011
Hardcover: 336 pages
How I got this book: Galley from St. Martin’s Griffin
Why I chose this book: I had read the rest of the book in the series. I couldn’t not read the last book in it ever, could I?!
Synopsis:
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Book Review: The Hidden by Jessica Verday
Title: The Hidden
Author: Jessica Verday
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: September 6, 2011
Hardcover: 400 pages
Stand Alone or Series: Series–this is the third and final installment in a trilogy.
How I got this book: E-galley from S&S
Why I chose this book: The other novels in the series are – no joke – heart-wrenching. I simply needed to read this book.
Synopsis:
Review:
I have a lot to say about this book, but I’m unsure of how to say it all!
This book gave me some mixed feelings. I fell in love with the characters in the previous
installments, so I was already won over by the time I started this third and final installment. They
felt real to me–their struggles were heartbreaking.
But I felt a little disappointed (and not just because this was the last installment in the trilogy). I
just didn’t feel like this book, the conclusion, brought that impact that the last novel needs to bring.
It didn’t leave me breathless, addicted to turning the pages, heartbroken.
But I will give some props to the ending. I felt like there was no possible way I could like the
ending to this book. Verday brought everything down to a low note, making it seem like there was
absolutely no way out. And then BAM! I’m not going to give anything else away…but be prepared
for an ending like no other.
I could write about Caspian forever. He’s the perfect boy, the perfect friend, the perfect everything.
And he’s the perfect other half for Abbey. (And my heart melts a little more each time he calls her
Astrid.) And Abbey is cool, edgy, the perfect heroine.
So, I’m going to go with 3.5 stars for this book. It was good, but it was lacking something
exponential.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Book Review: Damned by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
Title: Damned
Authors: Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie
Publisher: Simon Pulse
Publication date: August 30, 2011
Hardcover: 544 pages
Stand Alone or Series: Series–this is the second installment in a trilogy.
How I got this book: E-galley from S&S
Why I chose this book: I read Crusade, the first book in the series, and became addicted.
Synopsis:
There is a fine line between love and sacrifice….
Antonio would do anything for his beloved fighting partner Jenn. He protects her, even suppresses his vampire cravings to be with her. Together, they defend humanity against the Cursed Ones. But tensions threaten to fracture their hunting team and his loyalty—his love—is called into question.
Jenn, the newly appointed Hunter, aches for revenge against the Cursed One who converted her sister. And with an even more sinister power on the rise, she must overcome her personal vendettas to lead her team into battle.
Antonio and Jenn need each other to survive, but evil lurks at every turn. With humanity’s fate hanging in the balance, they must face down the darkness…or die trying.
Review:
Damned was a wonderful book. It was long enough that for a while, I could keep coming back to it, like an old friend. It was comforting, a sanctuary of sorts.
Damned starts off like any other book, with a plot, some characters, and a setting. But once you start getting into it, it becomes so much more. All of the characters – Father Juan, Antonio, Jenn, Skye, Eriko, Holgar, even Jamie – they become friends, acquaintances. They have depth, and you feel what they are feeling. You understand their struggles and plights.
Though this book is long, it is not lacking in the action department. There is always something happening: some vampire being staked, some love going wrong. You will unintentionally favor some characters over the others. (For instance, I find myself craving the scenes involving Antonio and Jenn. While at the same time, I find it a struggle to feel compassion for Jamie.)
Addicting, heartbreaking, and absolutely lovely, I give Damned by Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie 4.5 out of 5 stars.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Julie Kagawa’s Big News
Julie Announced that Teaser Tuesdays will be coming back to her blog soon, so don’t forget to check out her blog for more Iron Knight tidbits. But that’s just the small news.
ALSO, Julie has a new series coming out in 2012, called the Blood of Eden series. It’s a post-apocalyptic book about vampires. Awesome, no? Watch shelves for the first book in the series, The Immortal Rules.
AND, that’s not the only JKawaga books hitting shelves in 2012. Julie let us know that there might be another Iron Fey trilogy coming out. But it’s not about Meghan or Ash. It’s about Ethan, Meghan’s brother, all grown up!
There you have it folks, some mighty news! Tell the press, your parents, whoever!
Book Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
Title: Forever
Author: Maggie Stiefvater
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publication date: July 12, 2011
Stand Alone or Series: This is the third installment in a trilogy
Hardcover: 400 pages
How I got this book: ARC from Scholastic
Why I chose this book: I read the first two books in the series and truly fell in love with the wolves of Mercy Falls. (And M.S. is a GENIUS!)
Synopsis:
The thrilling conclusion to #1 bestselling Shiver trilogy from Maggie Stiefvater
then.
When Sam met Grace, he was a wolf and she was a girl. Eventually he found a way to become a boy, and their love moved from a curious distance to the intense closeness of shared lives.
now.
That should have been the end of their story. But Grace was not meant to stay human. Now she is the wolf. And the wolves of Mercy Falls are about to be killed in one final, spectacular hunt.
forever.
Sam would do anything for Grace. But can one boy and one love really change a hostile, predatory world? The past, the present, and the future are about to collide in one pure moment – a moment of death or life, farewell or forever.
Review:
Forever was poignant, heart-breaking, addicting, explicit, romantic, and will stay with me forever.
Maggie Stiefvater has a unique writing style that I love. It sticks so close to human thoughts, allowing me to easily relate to characters and differentiate personalities between each character. (I also love how the point of view switches between characters in the novel.) I can’t say enough about the characters. I felt like I knew them all personally, and their story is my story. Isabel, Cole, Grace, Sam, I know them all, I LOVE them all. Even smaller characters, like Grace’s parents, the Culpeper’s, Rachel, Olivia, all have a special place in my heart (or a not-so-special place.)
Seeing as Forever is the final installment in this amazing trilogy, I was worried that Stiefvater wasn’t going to be end with a bang. But I shouldn’t have been worried. Forever is one of those books that will keep you thinking long after you’re finished turning the pages. And if you hate extreme happy endings (AKA endings that are so far fetched they make you want to retch), you don’t have to worry. The ending of Forever is believable, and leaves just enough to the imagination.
I could write forever about Forever, but the point is this: you need to read this book. You need to read this series. Stiefvater is one of the leading authors of the YA genre, and she knows what she’s doing.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Book Review: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
Title: Haunting Violet
Author: Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Publication date: June, 2011
Hardcover: 352 pages
Stand Alone or Series: Stand Alone (I think.)
How I got this book: ARC from Walker Childrens
Why I chose this book: It was sent to me to review, I loved the cover, and the synopsis sounded Ah-mazing!
Synopsis:
Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother’s scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she’s known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?
Review:
Haunting Violet was original and addicting.
At first, I was skeptical as to whether or not I would enjoy reading this novel. I love historical fiction – and paranormal – but its hard to find a good mix with an even better writing style. But this book brought it all: intrigue, romance, mystery. It was amazing–I can’t say enough good things about it!
I don’t I can even pick out any flaws in this novel. The romance between Violet and Colin was adorable and believeable. Since they knew each other since childhood, and we got to see a few scenes between them when they were children, it really helped build the connection that a reader wants to see. The mystery was amazing as well. I had no idea who the killer was until the author wanted me to, which is very rare with me and books. Usually the answer is obvious. Notin Haunting Violet.
If you like a good time and a good book, check out Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey.
Blog Archive
- ▼ 2011 (119)
- ▼ July (10)
- Book Review: Texas Gothic by Rosemary Clement-Moor…
- Book Review: Hereafter by Tara Hudson
- Book Review: Bloodlines by Richelle Mead
- Book Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa
- Book Review: Everlasting by Alyson Noel
- Book Review: The Hidden by Jessica Verday
- Book Review: Damned by Nancy Holder and Debbie Vig…
- Julie Kagawa's Big News
- Book Review: Forever by Maggie Stiefvater
- Book Review: Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey
- ▼ July (10)
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