Follow Friday

Follow friday is hosted by Parajunkee This weeks question is what is your 2011 book blogging resolution? My answer: Hmmmm Okay, I think there are a few things I want to do this upcoming year blogging wise....1. I want to fix up my layout. There are a few things I know I want to do to it, now I just have to figure out how to do it. haha.2. I want to start writing my book reviews as soon as I'm done reading the book. I never seem to do that and when I actually do, I get better reviews. 3. I want to go to even more book signings. I ended up missing a lot of the ones I wanted to go to this year. I need to make sure I get to more.4. I want to do a few giveaways this upcoming year. I did one this year and it was fun, now I need to do more.5. I want to get to know more bloggers! I've met a few and it's always lots of fun. 6. I'm dying to go to BEA this year but May is always a crazy month for me. This one is far fetched but I'm gonna attempt to go. Ummm yup, that's my blogging goals for 2011. Hmm I might add that I want to get through some of my older books on my TBR list.  As always, if you decide to follow, please leave a comment! I will follow back!

End of 2010 survey

I got this survey over at The Story Siren who got it from perpetual page turner . Oh how I love to fill these things out!

1. Best Book of 2010
There is no way I could possibly answer this question. I'm reading books #117 and #118 (yes, I'm in the middle of two books right now) and I could never narrow it down. My top 21 books of this year can be found here

2. Worst Book of 2010

I'm not saying that these are the the worst books of 2010, I'm just saying that these are  books I disliked this year: The Frenzy by Francesca Lia Block, Infinite Days by Rebecca Maizel, Swoon by Nina Malkin, and Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan. (the links go to my reviews of the books).

3. Most Disappointing Book of 2010

I'm going to have to go with Gone by Lisa McMann. I was madly in love with the first two books in this series and was really looking forward to the final one. The first two had lots of suspense and were intriguing, but Gone was just Janie freaking out about her future. It took her the whole book to realize what I thought was pretty obvious from page 1.

4. Most Surprising Book (in a good way!) in 2010

Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull!!! I know I've said this a few times, but I really didn't see that ending coming. I'm a big mystery person and can almost always guess the endings of books and movies, but Brandon had me tricked in this book. I love it when that happens.

5. Book You Recommended to People Most in 2010

The books I seem to keep throwing in everyones faces lately would be Paranormalcy by Kiersten White, Nevermore by Kelly Creagh, The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa, and Nightshade by Andrea Cremer. These are all books that every time I see them, I get all squeally and fan girlish.
oh! I almost forgot Hunger Games. I even made my mom read this book. haha.

6. Best Series Discovered in 2010

I'm going to go with a series that had already started before 2010 and say Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins, The Fablehaven series by Brandon Mull, and the Georgina Kincaide series by Richelle Mead. The last one might not count cause I read the first book, Succubus Blues last December but I read the rest of the books this year, and the series started to get really good at book 3.

7. Favorite New Authors of 2010

I'm going alphabetically from the authors first name: Andrea Cremer, Jeri Smith-Ready, Julie Kagawa, Kelly Creagh, Kiersten White, Kimberly Derting, Stacey Kade and so many more.

8. Most Hilarious Read of 2010

First book that popped into my head was Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney. I was laughing out loud on almost every single page. I ended up having to read the book in my room with no one around because people kept giving me dirty glares for laughing so much (I was in the quiet section in the school library. Oops)

9. Most Thrilling Unputdownable Book of 2010

This list would be too long if I named all those, cause really I can't name just one, or even a few. I get really into books and have a hard time putting the book down if I loved it.

10. Book You Anticipated the Most for 2010

Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison, Spirit Bound & Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, Jealousy by Lili St.Crow, and Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare. All of those were books that I was counting down the days till they came out and then I raced to Borders as fast as I could the second they opened the doors. (Jealousy I actually drove 45 minutes away to B&N to get it because *gasp* my Borders wouldn't have it in for a week and I had to have it that day).

11. Favorite Cover of a Book You read in 2010

Hmm I have a few that popped into my head right away but I'm going to talk about the books I haven't already mentioned in this survey. Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick and Fallen by Lauren Kate. Both of them are absolutely beautiful! And I would love love love love love to own the dress from the Fallen cover.

12. Most Memorable Character in 2010

I'm going with a series I started this year and has only one book out so far. I remembered her name which means I must have really liked that character (I'm HORRIBLE at remembering names) and that is Evie from Paranormalcy. She is so much fun and so quirky. She is obsessed with teen tv shows, has a mermaid for a best friend, wants to have a locker more than anything, twisted her ankle from rocking out to music in her room, and yet can still kick your ass with a pink rhinestone taser named Tasey. How cool is she?? She also used my new favorite word, "lustylicious" which made her even cooler.

13. Most Beautifully Written Book in 2010

Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder. I never thought I'd like a book that is in verse, but I adore Lisa's books. She has to think so much about every word she writes because there aren't a lot in there. It's raw emotion without having anything weigh it down. Absolutely beautiful.

14. Book that had the Greatest Impact on You in 2010

Geesh, I'm like a broken record, repeating this title all the time, but Hunger Games really stuck with me. How could it not?

15. Book You Can't Believe You Waited Until 2010 to Finally Read

Hmmm well almost all the books I read this year were released this year or last year so I'm gonna have to go with Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe. I actually read this book for my Eng 218 class this last term and loved it. It's not normally a book I would have read, but being forced to read it (and write a huge paper on it) got me to love it. It is so much different than everything I normally read and the way it's written, having many different types of writing in it made it truly unique.

Review: Deadly Little Games

Deadly Little Games (Touch #3) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Published by Hyperion

Genre: YA

$16.99 (US Hardback)

297 pages

What it's about:

High school juniors Camelia and Ben have discovered a powerful bond: they both possess the power of psychometry, the ability to see the future through touch. For Ben, the gift is a frightening liability. When he senses a strong threat or betrayal, he risks losing control. Camelia's gift is more mysterious. When she works with clay, her hands sculpt messages her mind doesn't yet comprehend.

Before either one has a chance to fully grasp their abilities, a new danger surfaces, but this time, Camelia is not the target. Adam, a familiar face from Ben's past, is drawn into a puzzle he can't solve...and his life is on the line. As the clues pile up, Camelia must decide whether to help him and risk losing Ben or do nothing and suffer the consequences. But in these games, who can be trusted?

My thoughts:

This review is going to seem like I don't like this book, but that's really not the case. It is one of those books I honestly don't know why I love it, but I do.

Camelia is such a frustrating character. She knows what she is doing is stupid, yet she keeps on doing it. Every time I read one of the Touch books, I want to scream at Camelia. Her life would be so much easier if she would talk to the people around her. In this book I was getting mad at her because she needs to hurry up and talk to her mom. Her aunts life depends on it. Then there is Ben who can't get over his past and that gets old. Yet I love his character. He is the right mix of bad boy and total sweetie. My favorite characters are the best friends, Kimmie and Wes. They are so funny and not stupid. They are the ones that are always trying to get all the other characters to do what they should. Plus, they are hilarious.

Every one of the Touch books are practically the same. Someone is being stalked. Kinda makes you wonder about the people in that town. This one was a little different cause it wasn't Camelia who was being stalked, and this one had fun little crossword puzzles to do.

I honestly can't say why I really like this series, but I really do. I was very excited when I saw my Borders released this book early and I immediately bought it and started reading.

My rating: 8/10

Top ten best books of 2010

Top ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

This weeks top ten is Top Ten Books of 2010!! I know I did one of these posts not too long ago, but I'm doing it again. Let's see if any of them changed. These are in no order, just whatever I thought of first.

1. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins:
This book is epic. It is one of the most depressing series a person could ever read but yet everyone loves it. How could you not love Katniss and Peeta?

2. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White:
I love love love love love the voice and characters in this book! It is one of those books that every time I see it in bookstores, I want to buy another copy I love it that much. I even thought about naming my cat Evie after this (I ended up going with Minerva though).

3. Lost Hero by Rick Riordan:
It's a Rick Riordan book. Of course it was amazing! If you go back to October and look at how many posts I did for this book, I think my love of it will become perfectly clear.

4. Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa:
This book blew me away. I love getting lost in the world Kagawa  has created. It's like another Wonderland or Neverland. It's just fantastic.

5. Nightshade by Andrea Cremer:
It's been over a month and I still can't decide which team I am. Ren or Shay????? Ahhhh!!! They are both fantastic.

6. Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead:
*sigh* Dimitri. Is that enough of an explanation?

7. Black Magic Sanction by Kim Harrison:
My love of her books is obvious on this blog. I read this book and listened to the audiobook of it twice in about a 3 week time span. Can't get enough of the Hollows.

8. The Body Finder by Kimberly Derting:
This is a series that is so messed up and yet I adore it. Being inside the killers head in this one was horrible yet it's what really made the book. Awesome.

9. Nevermore by Kelley Creagh:
This was one of those books that not a whole lot happened, yet I could have gone on for a few hundred more pages just reading about the day to day lives of the characters. They were fascinating and wonderful, then the end just hits you and you go "WHAAAA???????" and can't even finish the word you are in such shock.

10. Fablehaven: Secrets of the Dragon Sanctuary by Brandon Mull:
I don't think anyone ever saw that ending coming. I had to read it a few times just to make sure I got it right. Best.Ending.Ever!!!! I kinda went all fan girly and freaked out at Brandon for that ending when I went to one of his signings this year. Couldn't help it, that's what the ending does to you.



Others that should be on this list because 10 was not enough...
The Ghost and the Goth by Stacey Kade
You Wish by Mandy Hubbard
Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead
Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
The Demon's Lexicon by Sarah Rees Brennan
Jealousy by Lili St.Crow
For Keeps by Natasha Friend
The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong
Dark Divine by Bree Despain
 Chasing Brooklyn by Lisa Schroeder
Deadly Little Secrets by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Okay Okay, so I did 21 and even then that was limiting what I wanted to put on there. I've read 116 books so far this year and I'm supposed to pick only my favorite 10? pshhhh.

Alphabet book title game

I love love love doing book games. I've done a few on here before and I've been trying to think of more to do. Well someone suggested that I do the always famous Alphabet game and use book titles. I'm going to try and do books that I've read this year or have reviewed on this blog. But I might not have those, so in some cases I'll do ones I've read before or that I know of.

A- Angelfire
B- Bloodthirsty
C- Clockwork Angel
D- Deadly Little Secret
E- Everlasting
F- Firelight
G- Glimmerglass
H- Hex Hall
I- Iron King
J- Jealousy
K- Kiss of Death
L- Linger
M- Meridian
N- Nevermore
O- One Foot in the Grave
P- Paranormalcy
Q- Queen of the Dead
R- Ruined
S- Shade
T- Torched
U- Uglies
V- Vampire Academy
W- Wicked Girls
X-
Y- You Wish
Z-

 I can't think of a single thing to put for X and Z!

Waiting on Wednesday-- Queen of the Dead

Waiting on wednesday is a weekly post hosted by Breaking the spine. I've been doing WoW for a while, so I'm sorry if I've already done this book before. I'm having a hard time remembering which books I've used for this in the past.

Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade

Published by Hyperion

Genre: YA

Release date: June 7, 2011



What it's about (from Goodreads):

After being sent back from the light, Alona Dare - former homecoming queen, current Queen of the Dead - finds herself doing something she never expected: working. Instead of spending days perfecting her tan by the pool (her typical summer routine when she was, you know, alive), Alona must now cater to the needs of other lost spirits. By her side for all of this - ugh - “helping of others” is Will Killian: social outcast, seer of the dead, and someone Alona cares about more than she’d like.

Before Alona can make a final ruling on Will’s “friend” or “more” status, though, she discovers trouble at home. Her mom is tossing out Alona’s most valuable possessions, and her dad is expecting a new daughter with his wicked wife. Is it possible her family is already moving on? Hello! She’s only been dead for two months! Thankfully, Alona knows just the guy who can put a stop to this mess.


Unfortunately for Alona, Will has other stuff on his mind, and Mina, a young (and beautiful) seer, is at the top of the list. She’s the first ghost-talker Will’s ever met—aside from his father—and she may hold answers to Will’s troubled past. But can she be trusted? Alona immediately puts a check mark in the “clearly not” column. But Will is - ahem - willing to find out, even if it means leaving a hurt and angry Alona to her own devices, which is never a good idea.
 
Why?
I'm so excited for this book. I fell in love with Alona and Will's story and can't wait to see how everything turns out for them. How do a ghost and a goth make a relationship work? And look how amazing this cover is! I absolutely love it.

Top Ten Tuesday

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks top ten is Top Ten Books you hope santa brings you. I have a big list of books I hope to get sometime soon. These are in no order, just whatever I thought of first.

1. Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins:
Everyone is talking about this book and I want to know why everyone is talking about it! Plus is looks really cute.


2. Entice by Carrie Jones:
Need I only thought was okay, but Captivate was really good! Now I need to know what happens next.
 
3. Matched by Ally Condie:

This is another one of those books that people have been talking about for months now. Once again I want to know why. Plus I really like faeries.
4. Tell Me a Secret by Holly Cupala:

I've gone to buy this book a few times and for some reason I always back down and get something else. It's about time I actually buy this book.
5. Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Lynn Barnes:

My library FINALLY got this book in so I don't really need it, but I really want it. I adore wolve books, or werewolves. I can never get sick of those.
6. Siren by Tricia rayburn:
I've been told this book is amazing and I think it sounds pretty unique.


7. Bite Me by melissa Francis:
Harper Teen sent me Love Sucks! a few months ago and I want to read it but refuse to read it until I've read Bite Me. Well not a single store in a 45 mile radius of me sells this book and my library doesn't have it as well. I don't like ordering books online so I still haven't gotten this book.


8. Girl, Stolen by April Henry:
I loved the last April Henry book I read and I think this one sounds great. It is definitely  a story plot that I've never read before.
 
9. Ghost Town by Rachel Caine:
I normally buy each one of the Morganville Vampire books the day they come out. I didn't do that with Ghost Town because it came out in hardback. All the other ones are in paperback and I'm being weird, but I don't want to have just one in hardback. Yet at the same time I'm dying to read this book. Oh dilema dilema.
 
10. The Haunted by Jessica Verday:
The Hollow was really cheesey, like beyond cheesey, yet I still want to know what happens. I'm not giving up on this series yet.

ARC Review: Mad Love

Mad Love by Suzanne Selfors

Published by Walker Books

Genre: YA

$16.99 (US hardback)

320 pages
Release date: Jan 4, 2011

What it's about:

As the daughter of the best-selling Queen of Romance, life for sixteen-year-old Alice Amorous has been pretty good. But ever since her mother was secretly hospitalized for mental illness. Alice has been forced to maintain a brave front, answering fan letters, forging her mother's signature, telling the publisher that all is well. Now time is running out. The next book is overdue and the Queen can't write it. Alice needs a story for her mother--and she needs one fast.

That's when she meets Errol, a strange boy who claims to be Cupid. he insists that Alice must write about the greatest love story in history, his tragic relationship with Psyche. only Alice doesn't believe in Cupid, and she really wants to focus on her own love life and her new boyfriend, Tony. But when she begins to hear Errol's voice in her head, and sees things she can't explain, Alice must face the truth--that she's either inherited her mother's madness, or that Errol is really the god of love.

My thoughts:

I always enjoy reading Suzanne Selfors books. Every time I pick one of her books up, I know that it's going to be really cute, fun, and have a happy ending.

For the most part, I really liked the characters. Poor Alice had so much she had to deal with, yet she was still very much a teenager. She does things such as making sure to stand by her window every morning so she could see a cute boy pass by. What is more teenage girl than that? I could really connect to her and all I wanted to do through the whole book was give her a big hug and tell her everything would be okay. The one character I didn't care for much was Errol. There was just something I didn't like about him. I was hoping he'd be a little more like Malcolm (from Coffeehouse Angel) but instead he was this cranky guy. By the end of the book though, I did find myself liking him more. It just wasn't an instant thing. 

 If you are a fan of any of Suzanne Selfors other books, I'd definitely recommend Mad Love. It has the same tone and feel as her others. She is an author that if she wrote a book and didn't put her name on it, I'd still know it was one of hers. If you haven't read any of her books, I probably wouldn't start out with this one, but I'd still say read it.

While Mad Love isn't all rainbows and sunshine, it still has it's moments and it wouldn't be a Suzanne Selfors book if it didn't leave off at a happy moment.

My rating: 9/10 

Hop and Follow Friday

Blogger hop is hosted by Crazy For Books

This weeks question: "What do you consider the most important in a story: the plot or the characters?"

My answer:
While both are important, I'm going to have to go with characters. If I'm reading a book with a really good plot, but I hate the characters, most likely I'm not going to like the book as a whole. For the most part, books are mostly about the characters. I love connecting with characters. I actually get a little weird about that and truly end up caring what happens to them in the books. Then I get all sad and depressed when the book either ends or the series does. I'm the same way about movies as well.
 
 


Friday follow is hosted by Parajunkee
 
This weeks question:
Carmel is studying web design... What did you study in college, or are currently studying and did it lead to your current 9 to 5 or are you doing something totally different?

My answer:
Ughhhh I'm actually still in college. I'm in my 4th year. I've been to three different colleges now cause I couldn't make up my mind which one I liked. I've switched my major a few times, but I'm currently majoring in English lit and minoring in studio art. I want to own a bookstore some day, so we'll see if my degree actually becomes useful or not.

If you decide to follow my blog, please leave a comment so I can follow you back!

City of Fallen Angels cover!!!

The cover for City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare has been revealed!!!!!

Cassandra said on her blog "As promised earlier, the cover for City of Fallen Angels is now up over at Entertainment Weekly's Shelf Life! There's also an excerpt from the first chapter of the book.

I've always loved the covers Cliff Neilson has done for the MI series. Each one is fun and different in its own right. For the "second cycle" of The Mortal Instruments we wanted to do something that would link the cover aesthetically to the earlier covers while having a different quality that announced that this was a new chapter in these characters' lives. We decided that each of the Second Cycle covers is going to have two characters on it — in this case Clary and Simon."

Here is a link to her blog: Cassandra Clare's blog
 
Hmmm I'm not sure how I feel about this one. The problem I'm having with it is Clary's eyes. They look funny in this picture of the cover. I'm sure that will change when I see the actual cover when I'm holding the book.

Top ten Tuesday--upcoming releases

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly post hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks top ten: Top ten books you're most looking forward to in 2011.
Okay, this one was hard to narrow it down. There are soooo many good books coming out this year!! I believe I have put these in order of which ones are coming out first.

1. Iron Queen by Julie Kagawa:
At first I wasn't so sure about this series. I gave Iron King a 8/10 when I wrote the review. Then I thought about it and it turns out I'm madly in love with the series. The second one made that perfectly clear. Now I keep seeing reviews for Iron Queen and it's like those people are teasing me. Not cool.

2. Pale Demon by Kim Harrison:
I can't get enough of Rachel Morgan and the gang. Waiting a year for each book just about kills me. I'll have been reading the series for 7 or 8 years by the time the series finishes. Crazy.

3. This Side of the Grave by Jeaniene Frost:
It's been like, what, almost two years since the last Cat and Bones book? That is WAY TOO LONG! I love their messed up relationship.

4. Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead:
Richelle Mead is one of my all time favorite authors. She could write a book about how everyone poops and I'd read it and I'm sure I'd like it, her writing is that good. The Dark Swan series is one that doesn't get much attention and yet I think it's my favorite of hers. It's been forever since the last book came out and I'm dying to know what happens!!!

5. City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare:
It's more Jace. Enough said.

6. Defiance by Lili St.Crow:
Stupid freaking cliff hanger for the last book. This one better explain what in the world is going to happen to Graves! Lili promised me a few things (I begged her to tell me a few spoilers at her last signing I went to) and now I need to read the book and make sure she wasn't lying! ;)

7. Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison:
Last and final book to the series, I want to know if Madison gets her body back or not.

8. Queen of the Dead by Stacey Kade:
I really want to know how this relationship is going to work out. I adore impossible love stories like this one.

9. Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer:
*sigh* I'm so confused about what happened in Nightshade that I can't wait to find out all the answers in this book!

10. Forever by Maggie Stiefvater:
How are Grace and Sam going to get through everything? How are they going to figure out how to save the wolves?

11. Supernaturally by Kiersten White:
This is one of those  rare series that I love the two main characters the exact same amount. That's saying alot cause this has Lend in it. *sigh* Lend.

12. Son of Neptune by Rick Riordan:
I love all the new characters that Rick has brought in, but I'm excited to get a little more of all the old Percy Jackson characters in this upcoming book.

Okay, so I wasn't able to narrow it down to 10. Hell, I had a hard time narrowing it down to 12 and those were all must list books.

Review: Bloodthirsty

Bloodthirsty by Flynn Meaney

Published by Poppy (little brown group)

Genre: YA

$9.99 (US Paperback)

234 pages

What it's about:

Attention, all girls reading this: We get it. The message is coming through loud and clear: You think vampires are hot. Your little sister thinks vampires are hot. Your mom thinks vampires are hot. Every single female on the face of the earth thinks vampires are hot. Girls Love vampires, and I love girls. Unfortunately, girls don't seem to love me.

So I'm making a change. For all the guys Reading this, say a little prayer to the high school dating gods for me. Here's hoping that girls think fake vampires are hot, too.

Awkward and allergic to the sun, sixteen year old Finbar Frame never get the girl. But when he notices that all the female students at his school are obsessed with a vampire romance novel called Bloodthirsty, Finbar decides to boldly go where no sane guy has gone before--he becomes a vampire, minus the whole bloodsucking part.

With his brooding nature and unusually pale skin, it's surprisingly easy for Finbar to pretend to be supernatural. But when he meets the one girl who just might like him for who he really is, he discovers that life as a pseudo-vampire is more complicated than he expected.



My thoughts:

This book had me laughing out loud from the very beginning. This is a book that I could easily open up any page and find a great quote. There was lots of mentions of things that are popular right now, like the movie Juno, popular songs, and of course Twilight. It also mentions the 17lb Norton Anthology book which made me giggle cause I've been lugging that stupid book around for months now.

I don't think I have ever read a YA book that mentions sex more than this book does. I don't think there was a single page that didn't talk about it. The book is from the point of view of a 16 year old boy who wants to date. Sex talk should be expected. On top of that, there is lots and lots of swearing. So this is a warning, if you are young or dislike books that talk about sex and has swearing, stay away from this book!

This was a really cute book in a very weird way. For anyone who's ever been in high school, they all know how much it sucked and can understand why Finbar does what he does. If you want a fast, funny read, I'd recommend this book.

My rating: 9/10

Some good quotes:
"...Okay, I needed to stop thinking about body hair. And Disney movies. And how Celine was way beyond my league."

"The doctor's verdict was: 'You're allergic to the sun.' What? How was that possible? The sun is a natural thing. It's good for you. That's like being allergic to water, or air. Or something really important, like Pop-Tarts."

Hop and Follow Friday

Blog hop is hosted by Crazy For Books

This weeks question:
"What is the thing you like most about reading book blogs? Is it the reviews, author guest posts, articles, giveaways, or something else entirely?"


My answer:
Besides finding out about great books, I love when bloggers post other little things book related. Maybe something about a book that is being turned into a movie, or little games that involve books. Those type of things. It keeps me up to date on all things book related and not just on the books themselves.
 


Follow Friday is hosted by Parajunkee

This weeks question:
Do you have an under-noticed author that you think we should all know about?


My answer:
hmmm that is a hard one. I went and looked at my favorites author list and  all those authors are pretty well known. I'm gonna repost the list and those are all authors I think everyone should read because they are full of awesome-ness

*April Henry

*Aprilynne Pike

*Andrea Cremer
*Becca Fitzpatrick

*Brandon Mull

*Bree Despain

*Cassandra Clare

*Claudia Gray

*Devon Monk

*JK Rowling

*Jeaniene Frost

*Jeri Smith-Ready

*Julie Kagawa

*Kelley Armstrong

*Kelly Creagh

*Kiersten White

*Kim Harrison

*Kimberly Derting

*Lili St.Crow

*Lisa Schroeder

*LK Madigan

*Maggie Stiefvater

*Mandy Hubbard

*Paullina Simons

*Rachel Caine

*Rachel Hawkins

*Richelle Mead

*Rick Riordan

*Sarah Rees Brennan

*Stacey Kade

*Stephenie Meyer

*Suzanne Collins

*Suzanne Selfors

*Suzanne Young

Review: Last Sacrifice

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Published by Razorbill

Genre: YA

$17.99 (US Hardback)

594 pages

What it's about:

Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose--for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi Elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir. But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

My thoughts:

I'm not going to say alot about this book. I would have been beyond pissed if someone gave away any spoilers at all for me. I won't be posting any quotes (even though there are some amazing ones) because even that is too big of a spoiler for this book.

All I'm going to say is that I still love all the characters. All of them do things that I think are incredible. The faith and love they all have for each other is amazing, and at the same time a little creepy. Richelle Mead does a great job keeping the reader on their toes and dying to know what happens next. She's great at keeping just enough information away from the reader so they get those beyond shocking moments.

The ending left me going "awww" until it sunk in that this is the last book, then I was a little pissed. There were lots and lots of unanswered questions that should have been answered because they were hinted at and asked through out the whole book.

My rating: 10/10, duh. 

100 YA Books list

I saw this over at The Bookish Type and decided to do it. One thing I'm a little confused about is a few of these are not YA books. But anywho, moving on.

I have read books in bold.


I own books in italics.

I intend to read underlined books in the near future.

*** indicates favorites


1. The Hunger Games, Suzanne Collins ***
2. Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, J.K. Rowling***
3. To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
4. Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson
5. Northern Lights (aka The Golden Compass), Philip Pullman
6. The Truth About Forever, Sarah Dessen
7. The Book Thief, Markus Zusak
8. The Outsiders, S. E. Hinton
9. Twilight, Stephenie Meyer ***10. This Lullaby, Sarah Dessen
11. Looking for Alaska, John Green
12. Just Listen, Sarah Dessen
13. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, J.K. Rowling ***
14. Little Women, Louisa May Alcott
15. City of Bones, Cassandra Clare***
16. On the Jellicoe Road, Melina Marchetta
17. The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger
18. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, J.K. Rowling***
19. The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky
20. Along for the Ride, Sarah Dessen
21. Shiver, Maggie Stiefvater***
22. Vampire Academy, Richelle Mead***
23. Graceling, Kristin Cashore
24. Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay Asher
25. Sloppy Firsts, Megan McCafferty
26. The Lord of the Rings, J.R.R. Tolkien
27. Alanna: The First Adventure, Tamora Pierce
28. Ender’s Game, Orson Scott Card
29. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling ***
30. Uglies, Scott Westerfeld
31. A Great and Terrible Beauty, Libba Bray
32. Tomorrow, When the War Began, John Marsden
33. The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, E. Lockhart
34. Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen
35. The Westing Game, Ellen Raskin
36. Paper Towns, John Green
37. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, J.K. Rowling***
38. Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins***
39. A Tree Grows In Brooklyn, Betty Smith
40. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie
41. Lock and Key, Sarah Dessen
42. The Amber Spyglass, Philip Pullman
43. Evernight, Claudia Gray
44. Sabriel, Garth Nix
45. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, J.K. Rowling***
46. Beautiful Creatures, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl
47. Forever, Judy Blume
48. I Capture the Castle, Dodie Smith
49. Ella Enchanted, Gail Carson Levine
50. The Princess Diaries, Meg Cabot
51. Stargirl, Jerry Spinelli
52. Howl’s Moving Castle, Diana Wynne Jones
53. The Dark is Rising, Susan Cooper
54. Hush, Hush, Becca Fitzpatrick
55. Saving Francesca, Melina Marchetta
56. Second Helpings, Megan McCafferty
57. Dreamland, Sarah Dessen
58. Eclipse, Stephenie Meyer ***
59. Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Rachel Cohn, David Levithan
60. Fire, Kristin Cashore
61. The Chocolate War, Robert Cormier
62. Weetzie Bat, Francesca Lia Block
63. The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank
64. Looking for Alibrandi, Melina Marchetta
65. How I Live Now, Meg Rosoff
66. City of Glass, Cassandra Clare***
67. Keeping the Moon, Sarah Dessen
68. Breaking Dawn, Stephenie Meyer***
69. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, Louise Rennison
70. If I Stay, Gayle Forman
71. The King of Attolia, Megan Whalen Turner
72. Wintergirls, Laurie Halse Anderson
73. Beauty: A Retelling of the Story of Beauty and the Beast, Robin McKinley
74. The Blue Sword, Robin McKinley
75. Feed, M.T. Anderson
76. The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants, Ann Brashares
77. Go Ask Alice, Anonymous
78. Wicked Lovely, Melissa Marr
79. Lord of the Flies, William Golding
80. Someone Like You, Sarah Dessen
81. The Forest of Hands and Teeth, Carrie Ryan
82. Jacob Have I Loved, Katherine Paterson
83. The Knife of Never Letting Go, Patrick Ness
84. Poison Study, Maria V. Snyder
85. Shadow Kiss, Richelle Mead***
86. The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, Avi
87. An Abundance of Katherines, John Green
88. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, Mark Haddon
89. A Ring of Endless Light, Madeleine L’Engle
90. Glass Houses, Rachel Caine
91.The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I:The Pox Party, M.T. Anderson
92. Walk Two Moons, Sharon Creech
93. Whale Talk, Chris Crutcher
94. Perfect Chemistry, Simone Elkeles
95. Going Too Far, Jennifer Echols
96. The Last Song, Nicholas Sparks
97. Before I Fall, Lauren Oliver
98. Hatchet, Gary Paulsen
99. The Pigman, Paul Zindel
100. The Hero and the Crown, Robin McKinley

That's kinda sad that I've only read 27 of these so far if I counted right. I've never even heard of a lot of them.

Waiting on Wednesday--Something Deadly this way comes

WoW is a weekly thing hosted by breaking the spine.

Something Deadly This Way Comes by Kim Harrison

published by Harper Teen

Genre: YA

Release date: April 8, 2011?

What it's about:

Seventeen, dead, and in charge of Heaven's dark angels—all itching to kill someone.

Madison Avery's dreams of ever fitting in at her new school died when she did. Especially since she was able to maintain the illusion of a body, deal with a pesky guardian angel, and oh yeah, bring the reaper who killed her to his untimely end. Not exactly in-crowd material. It's amazing that her crush, Josh, doesn't think she's totally nuts.

Now Madison has learned that she's the dark timekeeper, in charge of angels who follow the murky guidelines of fate. Never one to abide by the rules, she decides it's time for a major change to the system. With the help of some unlikely allies, Madison forms a rogue group of reapers who definitely don't adhere to the rules of the heavens.

But as she grapples with the terrifying new skills that come with being a timekeeper, Madison realizes she may not be prepared for what lies ahead—unless she gets some seriously divine intervention

Why?
My love of Kim Harrison is not a secret. While I don't love this series as much as the Hollows, I still love it. It has so many fun characters in it, even if they have stupid names sometimes (Shoe, really???). This is also by far my favorite cover for this series.

Book of the Week-- Vampire Academy

Book of the week is a weekly thing I do in order to give more attention to a book I think deserves it.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead

Published by Razorbill

Genre: Paranormal YA

What it's about:
St. Vladimir's Academy isn't just any boarding school—it's a hidden place where vampires are educated in the ways of magic and half-human teens train to protect them. Rose Hathaway is a Dhampir, a bodyguard for her best friend Lissa, a Moroi Vampire Princess. They've been on the run, but now they're being dragged back to St. Vladimir's—the very place where they're most in danger...



Rose and Lissa become enmeshed in forbidden romance, the Academy's ruthless social scene, and unspeakable nighttime rituals. But they must be careful lest the Strigoi—the world's fiercest and most dangerous vampires—make Lissa one of them forever.

Why?
The final book is coming out on tuesday and I couldn't be more excited. Richelle Mead brings in a fantastic leading lady, two incredible love interests, and twists and turns I never see coming.

Hop and Follow Friday

Book Blogger hop is hosted by Crazy for books

This weeks question:
"What very popular and hyped book in the blogosphere did you NOT enjoy and how did you feel about posting your review?"


My answer:
There are two popular books I've read (just this year) that I really disliked. 
1) The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I hated this book! I honestly did. It's one of those books I had a hard time trying to figure out why everyone is in love with it.
2) Infinite Days. I wouldn't say I hated this book, but I sure didn't enjoy it.
 
I didn't enjoy writing the reviews for these books. I knew they would be ones that everyone would disagree with and might even get some people annoyed. I believe I even lost a follower after posting my Infinite Days one. I don't like giving bad reviews in the first place, but when I hate a book, it's even worse.
 

Follow friday is hosted by Parajunkee

This weeks question:
What do you do besides reading / reviewing as a hobby??


My answer:
I paint. I'm big into all forms of art, but painting will always be my favorite. I even make tshirts that way.
 
If you decide to follow my blog, please leave a comment! I'd like to follow back!

Review: Nightshade

Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Published by Philomel

Genre: Paranormal YA

$17.99 (US hardcover)

454 pages

What it's about:

Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?

My thoughts:
Oh man, I loved this book!!!! I can't wait to get my hands on the next book!

From the very first page, I knew I was going to love this book. It was one of those rare books that caught my attention immediately. It had a voice and tone that I love in books.

The characters are pretty great. They live in a very unique world that I was drawn too. Calla was a leading lady who I really liked. She was very real and was trying to do what she is supposed to and yet trying to follow her heart. She even has a Republicans for Voldemort hoodie. I won't lie, I want one. haha. Then there is Ren and Shay. Both boys are amazing in their own ways! I can't decide which one I like better. I don't envy Calla having to pick between them.

I have written down in my notes for the book that a complaint I had was that the werewolf stuff wasn't explained enough. Like when Calla changes, do her clothes rip off of her like Jacob's does in Twilight, or what happens to them? Then I had a complaint about what are the wraiths and why do the wolves not like them? These questions are answered but it took a really long time. I would have liked it if they were explained a little sooner cause it had me a little confused for awhile.

But that is just a small complaint. Nightshade was fantastic! The characters were beautiful, the take on werewolves completely different than any other werewolf book I've ever read, and the ending left me completely baffled and intrigued all at once.

My rating: 10/10!!!!!!