Cover Reveal: The Goddess Inheritance

With this cover reveal comes some good news. As reported by Aimee Carter on her blog, the third book in the Goddess Test series is due out sooner than originally scheduled!
According to Goodreads, the third book is due out at the beginning of April 2013, but as Aimee Carter stated, her publisher will be releasing it a month earlier. The Goddess Inheritance is now due to be released at the end of Feburary 2013.

And here is the beautiful cover to accompany that news:

To see the cover reveal on Aimee Carter's blog, and to check out the giveaway she is hosting, click here.

There currently is no blurb up on Goodreads, but click here to see the Goodreads page for The Goddess Inheritance.

I can't wait to read the conclusion to Henry and Kate's story.

Waiting On Wednesday #2

This week I'm anxiously waiting on book 1.5 of the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. Destroy Me, written from Warner's perspective, is due out in e-book format on October 2nd 2012.

Goodreads blurb:

In Tahereh Mafi’s Shatter Me, Juliette escaped from The Reestablishment by seducing Warner—and then putting a bullet in his shoulder. But as she’ll learn in Destroy Me, Warner is not that easy to get rid of. . .

Back at the base and recovering from his near-fatal wound, Warner must do everything in his power to keep his soldiers in check and suppress any mention of a rebellion in the sector. Still as obsessed with Juliette as ever, his first priority is to find her, bring her back, and dispose of Adam and Kenji, the two traitors who helped her escape. But when Warner’s father, The Supreme Commander of The Reestablishment, arrives to correct his son’s mistakes, it’s clear that he has much different plans for Juliette. Plans Warner simply cannot allow.

Set after Shatter Me and before its forthcoming sequel, Unravel Me, Destroy Me is a novella told from the perspective of Warner, the ruthless leader of Sector 45.

Just hearing that is will be in Warner's perspective was enough to get me excited for Destroy Me. It is not often that readers get the perspective of the antagonist. I am curious to see just exactly how Warner's mind works, and am looking forward to seeing him in future books. I mean, he was able to touch Juliette... BUT HOW?

*bounces up and down in excitement*

Also, the cover text: "She will choose me"

LOVE. IT.

Who else will be purchasing this e-novella? What are you most excited for? Discuss in the comments below :)

Review: Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Title: Cinder
Series: Lunar Chronicles
Author: Marissa Meyer
Blurb: Goodreads Description
Rating: 5/5

Review:

I had been on the fence about reading this book for a while before I finally caved and bought it from the book store. Honestly, I did not expect to enjoy this book as much as did. I had always been curious about it because I love reading different takes on fairy tales, and Cinder is very loosely based off of the classic tale of Cinderella.

What always kept me from purchasing Cinder was the cyborg element. Sci-fi has never really been my thing, and while the blurb intrigued me, I was never sure if I was intrigued enough. I had people recommending this book to me left and right, and once I picked it up, I beat myself up for not reading this bit of genius sooner.

The story was just so captivating that I was never bored. A plague? A post-apocalyptic world? A snarky main character who I fell in love with instantly? A classic tale spun into a unique plot? Check, check, check, and check! This book is one that will forever sit on my favourites list. Right from when I started reading it I knew it would be a five star read for me, and not once did anything change my mind.

The characters are amazing. Kai, especially, caught my eye. Not just because he is the love interest and we're supposed to adore him, but because there was so much depth in his character. This story is told at a time where everything in his life is going wrong. We get to see just how Kai handles everything as it hits rock bottom. And he is not perfect. I think his reactions to everything towards the end of the book shoot his potential perfection in the foot. It was really refreshing to read such an interesting character, and it was great that Kai was not the only one.

Cinder has to be my favourite character of the books. Yes, she is the main character and that is probably to be expected, but it is usually the secondary characters that I fall in love with more. But I wanted Cinder to be my best friend. I am rooting for her in ways I have never rooted for a main character before. I am on her side. I want to physically injure every character who says something cruel to her. I feel so much for this character. Cinder drew me in and she's kept me. I need to know the rest of her story. And I need everything to go right for her in the end. She has lost so much, and she deserves the very best, because even when people were bringing her down, she stood up to them. She is determined, snarky, and a wonderful character. I loved reading her. Cinder has to be my favourite character that I have read so far this year, and I have read a lot of books this year. She's just a favourite and I am very attached.

And of course while characters are important and all, there are other important elements to a story that need to be paid some respect. The plot in this book? Outstanding. Seriously. I mean, the 5/5 says it all. I loved this plot. And I am looking forward to the next books in this series. I am very curious as to see how other fairy tales will play a part.

Now before I spoil anything, I just have to say this: if you aren't a sci-fi fan, or a fairy tale fan, or a post-apocalyptic fan, I still recommend this book. Borrow it from a friend or your local library and give it a read. It just might surprise you as it did me. It was not the genres that drew me into this story, but the characters and the plot. Amazing read. I don't even know what else to say that wouldn't bring me into a full scale fangirling rant that would be full of spoilers.

Brilliant. I adored this book. I have to wait until February for the next? Ahhh!

Mini Review: Dream Dark

Title: Dream Dark

Placement in Series: 2.5

Series: Caster Chronicles/Beautiful Creatures

Rating: 4/5

Blurb:

When Link joined his best friend, Ethan Wate, on a quest through a mysterious network of underground passageways endlessly crisscrossing the South, he knew the journey would be dangerous. But returning home to Gatlin, South Carolina was just the beginning...

Wounded during a climactic battle, Link discovers that tending his injuries won't be as simple as visiting a doctor and that healing his arm should be the least of his worries. For being bitten by a Supernatural does more than break the skin -- it changes a person, inside and out, turning Link into someone more and more like the dark creature who injured him.

Mini Review:

I kind of wish this was from Link's POV. Considering the rest of the series is told from Ethan's perspective, I understand why Dream Dark does not stray from that, but I feel as if this would have been more effectively told had it been from Link's perspective instead. It just didn't feel realistic that Ethan would know so much detail about what Link went through, even though he did state that Link told him all of this. That's really my only qualm with Dream Dark.

I'm glad we got to get a look into Link's life, especially considering what had happened to him in Beautiful Darkness. This was a nice little companion to the Caster Chronicles that I enjoyed. I have always found the "point fives" of a series to be just as important as the rest of the books, and this one is no different. Getting this look into Link's transformation is something integral that I am glad is available to us readers. Plus getting a glimpse into a secondary character's life is always refreshing.

Also, this novella really helped me to feel for Link. I knew his mother was crazy, but I didn't think she was this crazy! I would love to see more from Link. I find him to be a very interesting character, and one of my favourites.

The '4' rating was because I really felt like more could have been included, but again, because it was Ethan telling the story there was not really much room for that.

Waiting on Wednesday #1

So I've decided to get in on the meme of "Waiting on" Wednesday. If you want to check this meme out at its origin and particpate, just click here.

As a follow-up to the review I just did on The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore, this week I'm "waiting on" the third book in the Lorien Legacies, The Rise of Nine.

Title: The Rise of Nine
Author: Pittacus Lore
Series: Lorien Legacies

Goodreads blurb:

Until the day I met John Smith, Number Four, I'd been on the run alone, hiding and fighting to stay alive.
Together, we are much more powerful. But it could only last so long before we had to separate to find the others. . . .
I went to Spain to find Seven, and I found even more, including a tenth member of the Garde who escaped from Lorien alive. Ella is younger than the rest of us, but just as brave. Now we're looking for the others--including John.
But so are they.
They caught Number One in Malaysia.Number Two in England.And Number Three in Kenya.They caught me in New York--but I escaped.I am Number Six. They want to finish what they started.But they'll have to fight us first.

Anyone else waiting for this book? What do you think will happen?
I'm looking forward to meeting the rest of the Garde and finding out what all of their Legacies are. Should be another action-packed read.
And of course, I'd like for a certain character to be rescued <3

Review: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore

Title: The Power of Six
Series: Lorien Legacies or I Am Number Four series
Author: Pittacus Lore
Blurb: Goodreads description
Rating: 4/5

Review:

(Caution: Some spoilers below)

From a lot of reviews that I've seen about this series, it seems people either love it or hate it. I'm on the positive end of the spectrum: I thoroughly am anjoying this series and this book.

I saw the I Am Number Four movie before I read the book (Ugh, I know. What kind of a person am I?), but don't fret. I loved the book a whole lot more. And I enjoyed the sequel just as much. Perhaps moreso, come to think of it.

I really enjoyed how the book went back and forth between Four's perspective and Seven's. It tied nicely together later and there was some important stuff going on with Four, Six, and Sam that we readers needed to know instead of just focusing on Seven and her take on what was going on with Four based off of news articles. Since both Four's and Seven's perspectives were written in first person present, it helped a lot that Four and Seven have their own fonts. So when you turn the page and see the new font, immediately you know whose perspective you will be reading from. I had no problem with this and I felt it helped move the plot along smoothly.

Though the writing may not be the greatest, there is nothing wrong with it. The way this book is written helps move the plot along nicely. Especially when there is so much action going on, as there is in this book. Characters are fighting for their lives, so it would be silly to expect them, from a first person present perspective, to stop to tell us just how the fiery inferno surrounding them looks and how the sun is shining but the fluffy white clouds above sometimes cover it up for a few moments. That would disrupt the flow. So to sum that weird paragraph up (haha), the writing matches the tone of the book.
I felt the action sequences (and there were many) were well-done and kept me very interested. I felt like I could see it right in front of me. The description during the actions scenes was great. And by description I mean just exactly how a character positioned themself before launching at an alien creature. It worked. It was great. Well done.
(Caution: Slight spoilers in the following paragraphs)
I had kind of assumed that each Garde and their Cepan would all trade their Lorien crystals for a lot of money so they could live easier like Four and Henri, and like Six and her Cepan seemed to, but then we were introduced to Seven. What she had to go through with her Cepan and the life they ended up living is crazy. It makes me wonder how the others all live(d), and I can't wait to hear more of their stories in The Rise of Nine (assuming they are all told, like how Six told us hers).

And then there was the twist towards the middle... I refuse to spoil it or really hint too much at it, but it might happen, so if you're like me and hate any sort of spoiler, just stop reading the review now. Seriously. Okay. You had better be gone because that's all the warning you are getting.
There was this one character that I never really believed. Never really liked. But he/she was all right. Tolerable. I went with it. And then now he/she proved to me just why I did not like them. I mean WOW. What a betrayal. What a twist. I honestly did not see it coming until a few paragraphs before it happened. That was just... well done. I'd like to see that revisited later so that that character can see just what a stupid mistake they made. They deserve that much. I mean, really. It made me angry. I was literally reading the book and repeating 'wow' for the next chapter, and shaking my head and rolling my eyes like you idiot, how could you?

Brilliant.

As I got closer and closer to the end, and the climax was still in the middle of the climax, I knew we would be left hanging. And again I don't want to spoil anything so let me just say this: I love and hate cliffhangers. I love the effect they have, but when I have to wait to read the next book... Painful! It's painful. So I loved the ending of The Power of Six for that gut-wrenching ending, especially since it affected a favourite character of mine, but... Next book, please?
Thank goodness it comes out soon!


So I'm curious: Have any of you read this series? What did you think? Loved it, hated it, thought it was okay, leave your comments below! We're all allowed to have our opinions!

Cover Reveal: Swell by Julie Duck

So I am very excited to be participating in this cover reveal for Julie Duck's Swell. I do not regularily read contemporary fiction, but after reading this book's synopsis, I'm looking forward to making an exception! It certainly sounds to be an interesting read, and the cover... Well it's quite pretty ;)

Here is the blurb:

For 15-year-old Beck Ionesco, discovering love with the most popular guy in school is a surprise. So are the bottles and cans he hides in his room and under the car seat. Through Christian, Beck enters a world where you can never be too cool or drunk, and finds herself falling for him, the bottle… and Christian’s dangerous friend Hillman falling for her.Thank God for that bottle, though, because it’s all Beck has left when Christian abandons her, Hillman begins stalking her, and she finds herself on the wrong end of popularity in the back seat of his car. She’s left to fend for herself and her heart until she finds friendship – and possibly more - with fellow student Jesse.But Christian wants another chance with Beck, and collides with a drunken fate that becomes his last call. It’s now up to Beck to clean up and reclaim her life, and discover sober love with the one whose life secretly parallels her own.

So without further ado, readers and bloggers, here is the gorgeous cover for Swell:

Beautiful, eh?

Swell comes out this September 2012, so look out for it soon!
You can find Julie on her website and her blog: www.julieduck.com  and  www.julieduck.wordpress.com
You can also follow her on Twitter: @skodobah

So what say you, readers? What are your thoughts on the cover? Are you looking forward to reading this book?

Review: Seraphina

(left: US cover; right: UK cover)

Title: Seraphina
Series: Seraphina
Author: Rachel Hartman
Goodreads Link: Goodreads Description
Rating: 5/5

Review:

Oh, my goodness, where do I begin? How it took me so long to hear about this book, I have no idea, but boy am I glad I did! Dragons? Medieval epic fantasy? Sold!

Let's check out this snippet from the Goodreads description, shall we?

In her exquisitely written fantasy debut, Rachel Hartman creates a rich, complex, and utterly original world.

Debut?  That's right, this novel is Rachel Hartman's first. Judging by her writing skill, I would not have guessed this. The writing in this book is one of my favourite things about it. The prose was amazing, the language perfect. I was in Seraphina's world. There are very few authors who can write like this -- like they have been writing professionally for years. J.K Rowling is another that comes to mind. Phillip Pullman is another. Just... amazing. I adore Rachel Hartman's writing style. She is brilliant and I bow down to her.

But of course, Hartman's writing style is just one of the pluses of this book. The others would be the very likeable, very real characters; the vividly described setting; and of course, the unique and intriguing plot. The plot that kept me eagerly turning page after page. The plot that made me scream out in frustration when I had to (very reluctantly) put the book down for dinner (a dinner which I scarfed down so that I could keep reading). The plot I very quickly fell in love with.

The book began on a note that draws the reader right in. In the prologue we get a small glimpse of Seraphina's past, and even though we know little about her world, we know she is different. How different she is, we find out later (and may I just say that it was not something I was expecting). The prologue and the opening chapter are what effectively pull you into the book. For some reason, I felt that the book would start off slow. Probably because a lot of books do. They pull you in slowly, but keep you interested until things begin to escalate towards the climax. Seraphina began to do that, and I fully expected it to continue that way. But then at the end of one of the beginning chapters... BAM! Plot twist. And then you read on excitedly because plot twists are AMAZING and a pleasant surprise when they happen near the beginning of the book. And then BAM! Another plot twist, and you're hooked. You cannot put the book down. It's glued to your hands and you would have it no other way. That is what it was like reading Seraphina. There was never a dull moment; I read and wanted to read every single word. I wanted to know every detail of Seraphina's life and most importantly I wanted to know what would happen to her considering her own secret. Now, I won't spoil her secret, becuase that won't be any fun for anyone. But wow. This book... Wow.

And the teensy bit of romance (can we call it that? I'm going to call it that) strung into it? Perfection. It was there, but in no way did it overshadow anything else that was going on. Yet I still cannot wait to see where it that goes.

I need to talk about the dragons for a minute. I don't want to give anything away for those of you who have not yet read Seraphina, though, so I'll keep this short. MOST INTERESTING DRAGONS I HAVE EVER READ. Okay, so my list of books I've read with dragons in them is not as large as it could be, but still. These dragons *pokes copy of Seraphina excitedly* are so cool and so interesting! So if you're sick of dragons, you need to ignore that and read Seraphina, because you will be introduced to something new. And if you love dragons, then you are about to love them a whole lot more!

I also liked the addition of the royal family tree that was included in the book. Things like that are really helpful for a reader, especially when introduced to such a large family. It makes it easier on the author, too. Instead of clogging up the prose with "Daniel, whom Seraphina remembered being introduced to as the king's cousin, is coming to visit" (ps, I just made that sentence up), the author can just keep it simple, and if the reader forgot who Daniel is, they can flip to the family tree. This helped me, because I was confused about two characters being cousins but also being engaged.

Another thing I was glad to find at the back of the book was a glossary of characters (which included some very witty descriptions of characters at times), and a glossary of terms used in the book.

I seriously canNOT wait until Dracomachia (Seraphina #2) comes out, which should be in early-mid 2013.

There is also a Seraphina 0.5 called The Audition. There is a link on its goodreads page, which you can find by clicking here.

So have you guys read this one? What did you think? Share your thoughts in the comments :)