Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

Tales of Beedle the Bard by JK Rowling

published by the Childrens High Level Group

$12.99 (hardcover)

107 pages

FTC: I bought this book and will not be receiving compensation for reviewing it.

What it's about:

The tales of Beedle the Bard, a Wizarding classic, first came to Muggle readers' attention in the book known as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Now, thanks to Hermione Granger's new translation from the ancient runes, we present this stunning edition with an introduction, notes, and illustrations by J. K. Rowling, and extensive commentary by Albus Dumbledore. Never before have Muggles been privy to these richly imaginative tales: "the Wizard and the Hopping Pot," "The Fountain of Fair Fortune," "The Warlock's Hairy Heart," "Babbitty Rabbitty and Her Cackling Stump," and of course, "the Tale of the Three Brothers." But not only are they the equal of fairy tales we now know and love, reading them gives new insight into the world of Harry Potter.

My thoughts:

I bought this book the day it came out and was so excited for it, yet for some reason I never got around to reading it until recently.

I love reading anything about the world of Harry Potter. These short stories were introduced in The Deathly Hallows and so I had already read one of the stories. I wanted to know what the rest were about.

While these stories weren't really anything special, it was cool to see the incite from Dumbledore's perspective. You learn a few little random facts about different characters through his commentary.

Overall, it was a short, interesting read. I'd say any hard core Harry Potter fans or fans who just aren't ready for the series to be completely end, should read this book. It only takes 40 minutes or so, depending on how slowly you read.

My rating: 10/10 for what it is.

Out today

Kiss of Death by Rachel Caine

published by Signet

241 pages

$6.99 (paperback)

What it's about:

Leaving Morganville, Texas, has never been easy. Living outside of it may be impossible.

Vampire Michael Glass just received the call he's been waiting for all his life. His music has attracted the attention of a heavily connected music producer who wants him to cut a demo and play some dates--which means Michael will have to enter the human world.

But he won't be alone. He's been assigned an undead escort, which includes immortal enforcer Oliver, as well as Michael's human friends: rebellious Eve, oft-misunderstood Claire, and courageous Shane. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell.

But what waits for them proves mroe perilous than they thought. Caught between humans who hate them and a savage party of traveling vampires out to create a blood-soaked feast for themselves, Michael and his friends may not make it to the show on time...or ever.

This is the 8th book in Rachel Caine's series The Morganville Vampires.

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull

Fablehaven: Keys to the Demon Prison by Brandon Mull

published by Shadow Mountain

588 pages

$21.99 (hardcover)

FTC: I borrowed this book from my sister who did not receive it from the publisher. I will not be compensated for this review.

What it's about:

After many centuries of plotting, the Sphinx--leader of the Society of the Evening Star--is after the final artifacts needed to open the great demon prison, Zzyxx. If the legendary prison is opened, a tide of evil is certain to usurp control of the world.

In an effort to intercept the final artifacts, Kendra, Seth and the Knights of the Dawn race to strange and exotic preserves across the globe. The stakes have never been higher. The risks have never been more deadly.

In this explosive series finale, allegiances will be confirmed and secrets revealed as the forces of light and darkness collide in a desperate, climmactic battle to control the keys to the demon prison.

My thoughts:

Oh holy Dobby's sock! This book throws you right into the action from the very first page. The story plot just keeps twisting and turning in this book. Once you think you've figured out what going to happen, something new is thrown in and everything changes.

I would like to say that all the characters learn and grow in this book, but that's not really true. They've already done all their growing in the last 4 books and by now, they have developed into fantastic characters. Like how only Seth would be upset about losing a zombie hand. Where else are you going to find that kind of character? I especially like Warren's character. He has always been one of my favorite characters. He is brave even though all the bad things happen to him, he's funny, and he's loyal.

There is only one small complaint I have about this book and it's the ending. I would have liked to see things wrapped up a little more clearly. There are way too many what if's.

This is yet another fantastic book in a fantastic series. I had a hard time putting it down and highly recommend it to anyone who loved the Harry Potter series.

My rating: 10/10!

Gone by Lisa McMann

Gone by Lisa McMann

Published by Simon Pulse

214 pages

$16.99 (hardback)

FTC: I bought this book and will not be compensated for reviewing it.

What it's about:

Janie thought she knew what her future held. And she thought she'd made her peace with it. But she can't handle dragging Cabel down with her.

She knows he will stay with her, despite what she sees in his dreams. He's amazing. And she's a train wreck. Janie sees only one way to give him the life he deserves: she has to disappear. And it's going to kill them both.

Then a stranger enters her life--and everything unravels. The future Janie once faced now has an ominous twist, and her choices are more dire than she'd ever thought possible. She alone must decide between the lesser of two evils. And time is running out...

My thoughts:

This is the third and final book in the Wake trilogy. I loved the first two books. They were filled full of mystery and dark things. Gone was filled full of... well Janie complaining non stop. That's all she did through the whole book.

The best part of this book is Cabel. He has to be one of my all time favorite boyfriends in a series. Cabel is loyal, thoughtful, charming, and cute. He's always there for Janie even when she is being horrible to him. He's the perfect boy next door that everyone wishes they had.

Honestly, I found this book a little useless in the series. It's whole main point was just showing how Janie is going to spend her life. Is she going to become a hermit and isolate herself or is she going to stick with Cabel, a job, and being a somewhat normal person? Doesn't sound like such a hard choice to make really.

If you've read Wake and Fade, go ahead and read this book. See how it ends and be happy for the characters. It is not something you need to read to be happy with the series though.

My rating: 7/10 because I like Cabel's character so much.

Book I want thursday-

Book I want thursday

Voices of Dragons by Carrie Vaughn

$16.99 (hardcover)

FTC: I am not receiving compensation for promoting this book.

What it's about:

On one side of the border lies the modern world: the internet, homecoming dances, cell phones. On the other side dwell the ancient monsters who spark humanity's deepest fears: dragons.
Seventeen-year-old Kay Wyatt knows she's breaking the law by rock climbing near the border, but she'd rather have an adventure than follow the rules. When the dragon Artegal unexpectedly saves her life, the rules are abruptly shattered, and a secret friendship grows between them.
But suspicion and terror are the legacy of human and dragon inter­actions, and the fragile truce that has maintained peace between the species is unraveling. As tensions mount and battles begin, Kay and Artegal are caught in the middle. Can their friendship change the course of a war?
In her young-adult debut, New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn presents a distinctly twenty-first-century tale of myths and machines, and an alliance that crosses a seemingly unbridgeable divide.

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Hourglass by Claudia Gray

published by Harper Teen

339 pages

$16.99 (hardback)

FTC: I borrowed this book from a friend who received it from the author. I will not be compensated for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend--the vampire Balthazar--Bianca and Lucas are forced on the run again.

My thoughts:

Oh man! This is a book I have been waiting to read for almost a year now. With Stargazer being a cliffhanger, I was extremely excited for this book and had high hopes for it. Did it meet those high hopes? I would have to say for the most part, it did.

Bianca and Lucas are finally together but their relationship has never been easy and this is the hardest time for them yet. Being traped with Black Cross isn't easy for both of them and they seem to make every situation worse. Bianca can never see ahead and is always opening up her mouth and ruining everything. This is very frustrating to the point that it ruins the book a little. None of the characters really seemed to grow very much in this book. They are still seeing things the same way and are completely blinded by this.

Once again this book has a cliff hanger ending. The worst one yet actually. It leaves you dying to know what is going to happen and how in the world the characters are going to fix the problems they got themselves into. Just like in this book, the next one is sure to be frustrating and a tear jurker but you can't helped but get sucked into the world Claudia has created. This is a fantastic series and I can't wait to find out what happens next.

My rating: 8/10 just because of how stupid Bianca and Lucas can be at times.

Book survey!

I really do love doing these surveys and thought I'd do another one about books.

1. What book are you reading now?
Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs

2. What are your favorite books? [You can put specific books or genres or both.]
Harry Potter (series), Twilight (series), Shiver/Linger by Maggie Stievfater, The Hollows (series) by Kim Harrison, Night huntress (series) by Janienne Frost...........

3. How did you learn to read?
My mom taught me. She was always finding lots of fantastic books for me to read and had me do the summer reading program at the library.

4. What 's the funniest book you ever read?
The book I want to put on here I can not remember the name of, so I will say anything by Shel Silverstein.

5. What books have changed the way you look at the world or the way you live your life?
Skinny Bitch. You'll never look at food the same way again after reading that book.

6.What books have affirmed what you believe about life or the way you look at things?
Besides Skinny Bitch, I would have to say Marley and Me.

7. What books have you changed your mind about?
Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. I tried reading it once and thought it was boring. A few months later I tried again and loved it.

8. What are some of the scariest books you've ever read?
Gone by Michael Grant. Not one that would normally be scary but I was fearful for the kids in the book.

9. About how many books do you think you have you read in your life?
Hundreds

10. About how many books do you own?
220ish

11.How many books per month do you usually borrow from the library?
0. I buy my books or borrow from friends.

12. Do you read in bed?
Favorite spot to read

13. Do you ever read while walking or driving?
Sometimes while walking but never while driving.

14. OK, let's get real. Where is the strangest place you've read a book?
Does Idaho count? That's a strange place. haha. Otherwise, I'd have to say in the tree in my backyard

15. Do you listen to audio books?
All the time

16. Has anyone ever read aloud to you or you to them? Tell us more.
My mom used to read me books all the time. Things like the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, The Hobbit, and the Romona books.

17. Do you read every word of a book, or skip parts that don't hold your interest?
If a book isn't holding my interest and I'm not at all curious to what happens next, I will stop reading the book. Otherwise I read every word.

18. What books do you keep intending to read but put off?
Marked by PC Cast, a few other random vampire books, and my text books. Always my textbooks.

19. How do you feel about writing in books, dog earing, etc
Never will you see a book owned by me that has writing in it or dog earing. I hate it when people do that and will chew them out if they ever do it to one of my books.

20. What were your favorite books when you were a child?
The Magic Attick series, Bailey School Kids series, The Hardy Boys, and of course Harry Potter.

21. What children's books do you most enjoy as an adult?
Harry Potter (duh), Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and Fablehaven.

22. Do you ever read the ending first?
Yes. Sometimes I just can't help it.

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

published by Harper Teen

286 pages

$8.99 (paperback)

FTC: This is my book and I am not receiving compensation for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

Everyone has something to hide--especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.

Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful. But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling. - A

My thoughts:

This book took me more than half the book to actually get into it. It wasn't the typical type of book I normally read and it was hard for me to get into it. I didn't actually really like the book until about the last 40 pages of it. Then I found myself wanting to know what happens really bad.

The four main girls are likable enough. Sure, they did/ are doing things that aren't.... all good. But that's the thing, you are still rooting for the girls. The book shows how children learn from their parents and oh boy, did these girls learn horrible things from their parents. Learning things like having affairs with students is okay or that sleeping with a cop will get you out of being arrested. I truly hated the parents in this book. They were horrible people.

I liked this book but I don't see how it is going to keep going for 8 or so books. I see why people like this series so much, but it's really not my thing. I will continue to read the series just to find out who "A" is though just because I am curious enough to stick with the series until I find that out.

My rating: 8/10

Book I want thursday- The Body Finder

Book I want thursday

Sorry this is late. Yesterday was a busy day.

The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting

336 pages

$16.99

What it's about:

Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend since childhood, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies—or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world . . . and the imprints that attach to their killers.
Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift; it mostly just led her to find dead birds her cat left for her. But now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town, and the echoes of the local girls he's claimed haunt her daily, Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.
Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer—and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling intensely in love, Violet is getting closer and closer to discovering a killer . . . and becoming his prey herself.

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Deadly Little Secret by Laurie Faria Stolarz

published by Disney Hyperion

252 pages

$8.99 (paperback)

FTC: I bought this book and will not be receiving compensastion for reviewing this book.

What it's about:

Some secrets shouldn't be kept...

Until three months ago, sixteen year old Camelia's life had been fairly ordinary. Then a mysterious boy named Ben started junior year at her school and changed everything.

Rumored to be somehow responsible for his ex-girlfriend's accidental death, Ben is immediately ostracized by everyone on campus. Except for Camelia. Despite the rumors, she's inexplicably drawn to him... and to his touch. But soon, Camelia is receiving eerie phone calls and strange packages with threatening notes. Ben insists she's in danger, and that he wants to help--but can he be trusted? she knows he's hiding something...but he's not the only one with a secret.

My thoughts:

Never read a book about stalkers before you go to bed.

I really enjoyed this book. I thought the characters were all very likable, even if they were not the brightest crayons in the box. There were lots of things the characters could have done to make their lives easier, but they failed to see them. The two best friends were very funny, especially when they were together.

The writing style was my favorite type. First person. Stolarz didn't try to do any fancy kind of writing, but got straight down to the point. She leaves you clues all along the book but doesn't make it completely obvious.

The book was creepy. Stalker books normally are, but this one was especially creepy. The things the stalker says and does really freaks you out.

I loved this book. It had everything in it a good book needs. The characters were all very likable and the only thing I have to complain about is the ending. It did not go the way I wanted it too.

My rating: 10/10