To-Read List

Books that I currently have in my possession or on my Kindle, ready to be read. Updated from my previous list.
1. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
2. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin
3. Ripple by Mandy Hubbard
4. The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
5. Jenny Pox by JL Bryan
6. Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
7. The Infernal Devices series by Cassandra Clare
8. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
9. Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta
10. The Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon
11. The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter

Book Review: Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins

Goodreads Summary:

Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark won the annual competition described in Hunger Games, but the aftermath leaves these victors with no sense of triumph. Instead, they have become the poster boys for a rebellion that they never planned to lead. That new, unwanted status puts them in the bull's-eye for merciless revenge by The Capitol...

Review:

Another excellent read by Suzanne Collins. Like the first book, I couldn't put it down! Katniss and Peeta were victorious in defeating all the other districts' tributes, and it seems that their stunt with the berries doesn't go unnoticed by either the Capitol or the people. Its being seen as an act of rebellion and the cause of uprising from other districts. Katniss is then sent into the arena again to battle the other remaining victors of previous Hunger Games.

Sequels are usually hard for me to like as much as the first book, but there are some exceptions (Harry Potter, The Fever series, and now The Hunger Games). I think that this one may be a bit more difficult to read than the first for the younger audience (it is a young adult novel, after all) because its dealing more with government uprising as well as the killings.

Rating:

 

 

Get it here:

Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Book Review: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Goodreads Summary:

In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV.

Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Review:

I am in love with this series and the writer's style. I picked this book up two days ago and couldn't put it down. I had a paperback copy, an e-book copy on my computer, phone, and kindle, as well as the audiobook to listen to. I just didn't want to miss a moment where I could finish the story.

The story starts out kind of slow, building up the background of where Katniss is from, and how much she has had to shoulder to take care of her family. But by chapter 3, it really begins to get good. By that point, I was hooked. I don't think there was a point in the book where I ever really got bored. I've already started on the sequel, Catching Fire.

Rating:

Get it here:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Book Review: The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Goodreads Summary:
Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. 
Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. 

When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. 

But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Review:
I actually really liked this storyline so far.  The characters aren't flat; they have personalities that actually seem realistic (even if Meghan is kind of whiny).  There were times that I felt the reading was somewhat childish, especially when it came to Puck.  I mean he is this ageless character, but he came off as being really childish.  The action scenes were a little boring as well.  There was one fight between Ash and Puckk wwhere it felt like this is what h append:

"You wanna fight?"

"Yes...yes I do."

*draw swords and attempt a fight to te death but end up as allies instead*

And all the while Meghan just stood there and watched.

Other than that, I kind of liked it.  At first, I thought it was going to be as bad as Wicked Lovely, but it proved me wrong.  I doubt that I'm going to be re-reading this book, but I will be picking up the rest of the series.

Rating:

Giveaway: Carrier of the Mark (offsite)

Feed Your Reading Habit is giving away a copy of Carrier of the Mark by Leigh Fallon.  Entries are open until 5pm EST on Wednesday 30th November 2011.  The competition is open to residents of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA, and the UK.  The winner of the competition will be announced on Thursday 1st December 2011.  So head over to Feed Your Reading Habit to enter!

Goodreads Summary:
Their love was meant to be.

When Megan Rosenberg moves to Ireland, everything in her life seems to fall into place. After growing up in America, she's surprised to find herself feeling at home in her new school. She connects with a group of friends, and she is instantly drawn to darkly handsome Adam DeRÍs.

But Megan is about to discover that her feelings for Adam are tied to a fate that was sealed long ago—and that the passion and power that brought them together could be their ultimate destruction.

Giveaway: Between the Sea and Sky

I'm giving away a copy of Between the Sea and Sky by Jaclyn Dolamore.

GoodReads Summary:

For as long as Esmerine can remember, she has longed to join her older sister, Dosinia, as a siren--the highest calling a mermaid can have. When Dosinia runs away to the mainland, Esmerine is sent to retrieve her. Using magic to transform her tail into legs, she makes her way unsteadily to the capital city. There she comes upon a friend she hasn't seen since childhood--a dashing young man named Alandare, who belongs to a winged race of people. As Esmerine and Alandare band together to search for Dosinia, they rekindle a friendship ... and ignite the emotions for a love so great, it cannot be bound by sea, land, or air.

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Childrens (October 25, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1599904349
ISBN-13: 978-1599904344

In order to enter this giveaway, you must do at least one of the items listed below.  Each action will receive an entry into the contest.  Contest ends on December 31, 2011 11:59PM PST.

One-time Entries:
+1 Follow this blog.
+1 Follow me on Twitter. Here.
+1 Follow me on Facebook. Here.
+1 Follow me on Goodreads.  Here.
+1 Fill out the entry form below.

Daily entries:
+1 for each comment you make on this post.
+1 for each post you make to my Facebook wall.
+1 For each post you mention me in on Twitter (@yageekreads).

Good luck everyone!

Email forms powered by 123ContactForm.com | Report abuse

New YA Imprint and Book Release

Musa Publishing is thrilled to announce that its Young Adult Imprint, Euterpe, launches on Friday, October 21, 2011. With the growing demand for YA books, Musa is looking forward to offering diversity in genres for YA lovers from 13 to 113. From Sweet Romances and fantastical fantasies, to Sensational Sci-fi and a few more thrown in for flavor, Musa will offer something for everyone’s reading pleasure.

Come out for the launch, read about the authors, and join in the fun while picking up some new reading material.

The Blacksmith’s Daughter by Arley Cole is the first book in the Euterpe imprint.

She believes she is only a blacksmith’s daughter, but he must discover the truth or risk losing his land—and his life.


Acwellen Lex'Magen rules as liege lord of a small country bounded by forbidding mountains and powerful neighbors. When the neighboring baron, allied with a powerful wizard, attempts to take over his land, first by political, then by covert means, Acwellen finds an ally of his own in Enith Roweson, an unassuming blacksmith who possesses powers he’s only known of in legends. As he attempts to unravel both the plots against him—including the nature of the monsters sent to assassinate him—and the mysterious powers Enith is only beginning to understand she has, he also finds himself falling in love with the blacksmith’s daughter.

Check out this book and other YA books at http://euterpe.musapublishing.com/
Follow the Euterpe Blog at http://euterpe-ya.blogspot.com/
And Like us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Euterpe-YA-Books/154593351291764 

Its Monday! What Are You Reading?

Its Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Book Journey. I've got a pile of books that I've been reading, switching out whenever I'm feeling a little burned out, or just want something different for a little while. I've been having a hard time getting through to the end of a book once I've only got 100 or so pages left, so I switch it up, then go back to it later.

Right now, I'm reading:

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa. I bought this book, but have the two sequels, The Iron Daughter, and the Iron Queen borrowed from the library, waiting for me to finish this one. I've only got about a third of the book left, but I'm having a hard time finishing it. Don't get me wrong, the writing is excellent, its got an excellent storyline, its just that I haven't gotten pulled into it the way I have with some other books. GoodReads Summary: Meghan Chase has a secret destiny; one she could never have imagined. Something has always felt slightly off in Meghan's life, ever since her father disappeared before her eyes when she was six. She has never quite fit in at school or at home. When a dark stranger begins watching her from afar, and her prankster best friend becomes strangely protective of her, Meghan senses that everything she's known is about to change. But she could never have guessed the truth - that she is the daughter of a mythical faery king and is a pawn in a deadly war. Now Meghan will learn just how far she'll go to save someone she cares about, to stop a mysterious evil no faery creature dare face; and to find love with a young prince who might rather see her dead than let her touch his icy heart.

Perfect (Pretty Little Liars #3) by Sara Shepard. I'm slowly plowing through this series. There's quite a few books in this series, so I'm really not hell-bent on rushing through them. I initially picked it up while I was watching the TV show, Pretty Little Liars, and saw a credit stating that it was based on the books by the same name. The books are a simple read, nothing that's going to win a literary prize, but they are thoroughly enjoyable. I'm curious to find out who A really is (I never got that far in the show). GoodReads Summary: In a town where gossip thrives like the ivy that clings to its mansions, where mysteries lie behind manicured hedges and skeletons hide in every walk-in closet, four perfect-looking girls aren't nearly as perfect as they seem. Three years ago, Spencer, Aria, Emily, Hanna, and their best friend Alison were the girls at Rosewood Day School. They clicked through the halls in their Miu Miu flats, tanned in their matching Pucci bikinis, and laughed behind their freshly manicured fingernails. They were the girls everyone loved but secretly hated—especially Alison. So when Alison mysteriously vanished one night, Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna's grief was tinged with . . . relief. And when Alison's body was later discovered in her own backyard, the girls were forced to unearth some ugly memories of their old friend, too. Could there be more to Alison's death than anyone realizes? Now someone named A, someone who seems to know everything, is pointing the finger at one of them for Ali's murder. As their secrets get darker and their scandals turn deadly, A is poised to ruin their perfect little lives forever.

Blood Spells (Final Prophecy #5) by Jessica Andersen. I picked up this series way back when only the first two books were published and have been a loyal follower instead. This is different than my normal YA genre as its a Paranormal Romance, with graphic sex scenes (ones that will make your toes curl, I swear). The books focuses on the Mayan Apocalypse end time prophecies which say that the world will end on December 21, 2012. The heroes and heroines of the stories are Nightkeepers, a group of people sworn to protect humans from the demonic forces that are attempting to ensure this prophecy happen. Each book is dedicated to a couple in the series, and Blood Spells is centered on Patience and Brandt, the only couple who were married and/or got together before the series started. They also have twin children. I love Jessica's storytelling. She knows how to weave an intricate tale, and keep you enthralled the whole time. And I need to hurry and finish this one, because Storm Kissed, book 6 is already out! GoodReads Summary: Mayan lore and modern science warn that 12/21/2012 will bring a global cataclysm. Dark forces stand poised to crush mankind. The only hope rests with a secret group of modern magic-wielders called the Nightkeepers. But as Patience White-Eagle and her husband, Brandt, team up as a mated warrior pair, they will face a deadly threat that will test their powers-and their love...

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. I've heard so much hype about this book, I had no choice but to pick it up. I'm only into the beginning of the third chapter, but WOW. The first two chapters started off a little slowly, in an attempt to describe Katniss's life, and her love for her sister, which prompter her to volunteer for the games, but once the story actually began, I was hooked. I've had to set this one aside until I finish the rest of the books I'm reading, though, because now that I've started to really like it, I want to be able to devote my full attention to the book. GoodReads Summary: In the ruins of a place once known as North America lies the nation of Panem, a shining Capitol surrounded by twelve outlying districts. The Capitol is harsh and cruel and keeps the districts in line by forcing them all to send one boy and one girl between the ages of twelve and eighteen to participate in the annual Hunger Games, a fight to the death on live TV. Sixteen-year-old Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before—and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.

Follow Friday!

Follow Me Friday is a book meme hosted by Parajunkee's View and Alison Can Read. #FF is a blog hop that expands your blog following by a joint effort between bloggers.  In order to join, all you have to do is have a book blog, so go ahead and click away!


This week's question:

Q: If you could have characters from a book meet and form an epic storyline with characters from a TV series, which characters would you choose and why?

This is a tough one, mostly because I don't really watch much t.v. anymore.  But I guess I could take the epicness of the Fever Series (a non-YA storyline) by Karen Marie Moning, and pair it up with the characters from from True Blood.  Lets see how Sookie deals with those faeries!  Just seeing how the True Blood characters would even react to the Unseelie taking over their world...that would be priceless.

Trailer Tuesday - 10/11/2011

One book that I'm dying to read is Daughter of Bone and Smoke by Laini Taylor. I've heard lots of good things about the book, and after reading the blurb, it sounds like something I might enjoy. I have a huuuuuge TBR pile, though, so it might be a while before I actually get around to reading it. In the meantime, here's a trailer for the book and the summary from GoodReads:



Around the world, black handprints are appearing on doorways, scorched there by winged strangers who have crept through a slit in the sky. 


In a dark and dusty shop, a devil's supply of human teeth grown dangerously low. 


And in the tangled lanes of Prague, a young art student is about to be caught up in a brutal otherwordly war. 


Meet Karou. She fills her sketchbooks with monsters that may or may not be real; she's prone to disappearing on mysterious "errands"; she speaks many languages--not all of them human; and her bright blue hair actually grows out of her head that color. Who is she? That is the question that haunts her, and she's about to find out. 


When one of the strangers--beautiful, haunted Akiva--fixes his fire-colored eyes on her in an alley in Marrakesh, the result is blood and starlight, secrets unveiled, and a star-crossed love whose roots drink deep of a violent past. But will Karou live to regret learning the truth about herself?

Library Stop

So I stopped by my library this morning. I've been meaning to get my library card since I moved back to California but this is the first chance I got. I usually buy my books, either in paperback or kindle format, but I decided to pick up a few in my TBR pile. I got The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, and Beastly. I'm almost done reading The Iron Kin, so look for a review soon.

What I think so far: The Hunger Games

Ok, so I'm only into Chapter 3 of this book so far, but it has me hooked. It started off pretty slowly, so it took me a while to get through the first two chapters, but once I started the third, I'm having a hard time putting it down! I'll be doing a lot of reading tonight, possibly may even finish it, if keeps going as it is. I will read a full blown review once I'm finished with the book.

Book Review: Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Plot:

Rule #3: Don't stare at invisible faeries.
Aislinn has always seen faeries. Powerful and dangerous, they walk hidden in mortal world. Aislinn fears their cruelty—especially if they learn of her Sight—and wishes she were as blind to their presence as other teens.

Rule #2: Don't speak to invisible faeries.
Now faeries are stalking her. One of them, Keenan, who is equal parts terrifying and alluring, is trying to talk to her, asking questions Aislinn is afraid to answer.

Rule #1: Don't ever attract their attention.
But it's too late. Keenan is the Summer King who has sought his queen for nine centuries. Without her, summer itself will perish. He is determined that Aislinn will become the Summer Queen at any cost—regardless of her plans or desires.

Suddenly none of the rules that have kept Aislinn safe are working anymore, and everything is on the line: her freedom; her best friend, Seth; her life; everything.

Faerie intrigue, mortal love, and the clash of ancient rules and modern expectations swirl together in Melissa Marr's stunning 21st century faery tale.


Review:
First, I must say that I LOVE the cover for this book!

Ok, now the review...I picked this book up at B&N quite a while back and though I finished it, I really did not enjoy it.  I pretty much had no idea what was going on throughout the entire thing!  There was no character development, they were all flat and boring.  The storyline could have been great if the author had actually developed it further.

The ending really didn't make any sense to me.  I mean, the main character, who is in love with a normal human, becomes the Summer Queen, and the Summer King is in love with the new Winter Queen.

Now, I've read my fair share of sidhe-seer books, and I must say that I was really disappointed with this one. I was pretty much set on liking it after reading the blurb.  I started to read the second book in this series, Ink Exchange, which also has a fabulous cover.  I guess I was hoping that it was going to get better, but I had to put it down about a third of the way in.  I guess its true that you can't judge a book by its cover.

Rating:

Book Review: Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

Note:  Shadowfever is Book 5 in the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning.  Being such, there may be spoilers in this review for previous books

Plot:  
MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever. 

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years. 

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the "Sinsar Dubh"—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds. 

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card? 

From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.

“Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”

Review:
I really loved this book and the entire series.  There were times that it kind of grossed me out (eating Unseelie flesh, blech), but considering that the last two book are pretty much post-apocalyptic, it didn't phase me too much.

Be warned, Mac does end up sleeping with someone, I won't say who, so for those who prefer no sex scenes, I would stay away.  But I guess if the last book didn't turn you off, then you should be ok, because the sex scenes were not explicitly graphic.

Mac finally hunts down and imprisons the Sinsar Dubh, but not without some twists and turns.  She finds out who and what exactly she is, and its not what she thought.

Ms. Moning's writing style is so fluid, that I found myself easily getting lost in the reading, without a care to what was going on around me.  Most of the loose ends were neatly tied together and topped with a bow, except for Mac and Dani's relationship.  Mac discovers something about Dani and was very nearly unable to forgive her, at which point Dani takes off and isn't seen for the rest of the book.  From what I've heard, though, there is going to be a spin-off series from Dani's point of view and it will cover them reconciling and whatnot.  We also find out who the Unseelie King is (hint:  its more than one person).

The thing about this story, is that it is not a stand-alone story.  There are some book series that you can pick up one book in the middle of the series and know everything that's going on...this is not one of those series.  You would need to start from the beginning to understand everything that's going on, otherwise you'll just be lost.

Rating:

Reading List

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Iron King by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa
The Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa
Finnikan of the Rock by Melina Marcheta
The Goddess Test by Aimee Cartee
Hex Hall by Rachel Hawkins
Demonglass by Rachel Hawkins
Spellbound by Rachel Hawkins
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
Storm Kissed (Final Prophecy series) by Jessica Andersen
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare
Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

Book reviews

I'm creating this blog to house my reviews. I am a self-proclaimed book whore and decided to make this blog for the reviews that I would like to share with everybody. There are a few books on my bookshelf at the moment that are in need of reviews, a few on my kindle, and even more ebooks on my computer. So stay tuned into this blog for recommendations of some fantastic reads. I have a broad range of taste in books, from YA to Romance to Fantasy, and if I find a book that combines them all...even better!