Review: Runes by Ednah Walters

Title: Runes
Series: Runes
Placement in Series: Book 1
Author: Ednah Walters
Format: e-galley
Blurb:

Seventeen-year-old Raine Cooper has enough on her plate dealing with her father’s disappearance, her mother’s erratic behavior and the possibility of her boyfriend relocating. The last thing she needs is Torin St. James—a mysterious new neighbor with a wicked smile and uncanny way of reading her.

Raine is drawn to Torin’s dark sexiness against her better judgment, until he saves her life with weird marks and she realizes he is different. But by healing her, Torin changes something inside Raine. Now she can’t stop thinking about him. Half the time, she’s not sure whether to fall into his arms or run.

Scared, she sets out to find out what Torin is. But the closer she gets to the truth the more she uncovers something sinister about Torin. What Torin is goes back to an ancient mythology and Raine is somehow part of it. Not only are she and her friends in danger, she must choose a side, but the wrong choice will cost Raine her life.

Review:
(Psst: This gets slightly spoilery, so take caution if you're reading this review and haven't yet read Runes. I felt the need to use specifics to back up a few of my opinions. But I don't spoil anything too big - and if I do, I'll put another spoiler warning before the spoiling sentence/part. I promise.)

I'm conflicted about this one, my dears. I really loved the story and the characters, but the writing was just not doing it justice. Wanting to know what exactly Torin was and where this story was going to go is what made me keep reading, but there were many times where I had to roll my eyes at the narrative and re-write sentences in my own head. Being a budding writer myself I'm sure made me critical; I want to be able to spot these things in my own writing. But I'm a reader as well, and there were scenes in this book that fell flat because of their written delivery.

The first thing I noticed was how many times the main character, Raine, thought to herself 'Magic isn't real.' It was as if the author wanted to constantly hint to us 'Psst, hey reader. She keeps saying magic isn't real but guess what? This is foreshadowing, because it is real!' again and again and again. I got the message that there was magic in this book by the title alone; I don't need constant hints. I only needed Raine to think it once. But there were times when her physical actions had me knowing what she was thinking - that magic isn't real. I don't need to read her thinking it ever second page. That's what body language is for. It was something that I found to be really annoying. Thankfully, once Raine realised that 'hey! Magic is real!' it stopped.

I thought the incorporation of Norse mythos - something not seen in many books, especially YA - was awesome. Greek mythology is everywhere, so it was a really nice change, and since I have always had an interest in mythology, it was fun learning about Norse and seeing the spin the author took on the mythos. She did a really great job with it, and I'm curious to see what else she incorporates in the second Runes novel.

Unfortuately, while I enjoyed the plot and the mythos, I felt the plot was poorly delivered, and there were some definite holes and scenes that were not written to their fullest potential. Some character reactions were absent when they shouldn't have been. (Slight spoiler alert:) When a handful of characters close to the protagonist all died at once, she barely reacted. Granted, you could chalk it up to shock, except that she knew it was coming, and while she had other things to deal with, I just could not believe that she wasn't even going to shed a tear. Then when (SPOILER ALERT - skip to next paragraph to avoid this one) her father returned it was treated as if he had only been gone for a week - not missing and assumed dead for months!

The romance was done well on Raine's side, and I was rooting for her and Torin. My only reservation with their relationship was that I just did not understand where Torin was coming from. It was insta-love on his part, and while I shipped it, I did not believe it for most of the book. Another thing (oops, did I say reservation as in singular?) on the topic of romances was (SPOILER ALERT - skip to next paragraph to avoid this one) the complete and total cop-out that seemed to brew between Raine's boyfriend Eirik (awesome spelling) and her best friend Cora. I get it. They bickered for the entirety of the book, and I guess they could have sprout feelings from there (although constant bickering does not always mean flirting!), but there were absolutely no hints to their spark at all that it felt like it was thrown in completely to help out Raine deal with how she was going to dump Eirik. It pissed me off that Raine was cheating on Eirik to begin with, but now she gets an easy out because she's suddenly noticed that Eirik has eyes for Cora? No, sorry, not buying it. The fact that we made it to the end of the book without Raine ending her relationship with Eirik also bothered me. Is this so that she can continue to use him while she pines for Torin? *frowns deeply* Colour me unimpressed.

As for that ending... The cliffhanger was brilliant, and I'm sure I would have squealed or reacted a lot more had I not been again distracted by the poor delivery. The idea is so juicy and (positively) throwing-my-book-against-the-wall-because-DAMN-THAT-ENDING-worthy that the delivery failed to, well, deliver. It's difficult to explain exactly what fell through for me about the ending without spoiling it completely, but it has a lot to do with character reactions and how right after the book just ended. If not for the 'The End' right afterward, I'd have fully expected an epilogue or one more chapter or something.

Overall, I really enjoyed the story in this one, but the writing was just... not there. The character reactions and relationships did not always feel genuine to me, and what would have been a great cliffhanger was overshadowed by a failed and sloppy delivery. It feels like Runes could go through another draft (at least) or two. Still, I did enjoy the story enough to want to read the second book. It was interesting, and I liked the incorporation of Norse mythos. Do I recommend? Yes, if you can look past the sloppy writing and focus on the plot at hand, I think anyone into the mythology/paranormal genre will enjoy Runes. I did - there were just a few things that stood out negatively for me.

Rating: 3/5 - If not for the writing, it would have been a higher rating (obviously). I wanted to rate it higher, of course, but there were some things I could not look past.
Recommended for: Anyone who loves the paranormal and mythology genres, and enjoys some fun romance with it as well.

Stacking the Shelves (7): Quite a Haul!

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where book bloggers share the books they've added to their shelves this week (physical or electronic).

Purchased from the bookstore:

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
I read the e-arc and loved it, so of course once it came in, I had to buy it. How did I get it when the release day isn't until ten days from now? Well there is this magical (loathesome in some cases) list called a 'Strict On Sale' list, and The Testing isn't on it! So some bookstores will put the book out once they receive it. It's perfectly legal for a book to be on sale before its release date as long as it is not on the magical, sometimes loathesome SOS list.

See my review on The Testing in a future blog post to find out why I loved it so much! I'm a part of The Testing tour, so keep an eye out. There's a giveaway, too!

Invisibility by Andrea Cremer and David Levithan
Seems the reviews are mixed. Some are in love, some disappointed, but I don't care! I will be the judge of whether this book in enjoyable or not. And I'm excited to dive in. Not sure when the diving will be happening, since my to-read pile is massive, but hopefully I'll be reading this one sooner than later! I've yet to read anything by Andrea Cremer, but I read Levithan's Every Day and liked it, and I loved his colab with John Green for Will Grayson, Will Grayson, so we shall see!

Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest by Colleen Houck
I've been wanting to read this series for a while. The hardcovers are gorgeous, but just a bit too heavy, so I waited for the paperbacks for this one. If I really enjoy the series, however, I'll be adding the hardcovers to my collection for sure. I mean, they are GORGEOUS. Depite their weight. <3

ARC (paperback) via author/publisher:

Control by Lydia Kang
This book isn't due out until December of this year, but I was lucky enough to win an advanced reader's copy from a YABC giveaway. A few months back I received some Control swag (promo buttons, bookmarks, bookplates, necklaces, magnets) with a note from Lydia Kang herself (on her own gorgeous stationary, I might add!) stating I would get the arc a little closer to summer, likely June/July, but it came now :D So I'm super excited to read this one, and will be bumping it up my list and reading it next week. This one sounds like one I will enjoy, so I'm looking forward to reading it asap.

E-galley:

It got a little crazy with the e-arcs from Netgalley this week, guys... *deep breath*

Contributor by Nicole Ciacchella
Blurb:
One of only three students chosen for an elite, year-long apprenticeship, seventeen-year-old Dara Morrow is eager to excel in the high-stakes competition and prove herself a devoted Contributor. Success means a prosperous future with her Job Creator. Failure means losing her standing in society.

But Dara’s competition is ruthless, and her exacting master has little patience for her. When her mother is injured, Dara’s prospects become even more uncertain. If she can’t learn to navigate the hazards of the system, she risks not only her own safety, but that of all those she loves.

Loving the sound of this one, that's for sure! PS: You can read an excerpt of Contributor - there's a link on the Goodreads page (click the title to be taken to Contributor's Goodreads)

Mortality by Kellie Sheridan
Blurb:
After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

Secret for a Song by S.K. Falls
Blurb:
Saylor Grayson makes herself sick. Literally.

She ate her first needle when she was seven. Now, at nineteen, she’s been kicked out of college for poisoning herself with laxatives. The shrinks call it Munchausen Syndrome. All Saylor knows is that when she’s ill, her normally distant mother pays attention and the doctors and nurses make her feel special... (Click for the rest of the book's description)


Much heavier material than what I usually read, but I'm interested to see how the story goes and how I'll like it. This one's due out in June.

The Island by Jen Minkman
Blurb:
Leia lives on the Island, a world in which children leave their parents to take care of themselves when they are ten years old. Across this Island runs a wall that no one has ever crossed. The Fools living behind it are not amenable to reason – they believe in illusions. That’s what The Book says, the only thing left to the Eastern Islanders by their ancestors.
But when a strange man washes ashore and Leia meets a Fool face to face, her life will never be the same. Is what she and her friends believe about the Island really true?

Or is everyone in their world, in fact, a Fool?

This one's a dystopian novella with an interesting premise. Should be fun.

Follow the White Rabbit by Kellie Sheridan
I didn't even notice until right now as I typed out the title and author's name that this is the second Kellie Sheridan book in this post! Pretty cool.

This book is the first in a series called Beautiful Madness, and follows, in case you haven't already guessed, the story of Alice in Wonderland. I love twists on classic fairy tales and stories, and one of my favourite books is just that (The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor, if you're curious - another Alice in Wonderland re-telling and one I highly recommend). I'm interested to see how this one goes!

Dark Child (Omnibus Edition) by Adina West
This series was originally released in separate parts, but the edition I was approved for on Netgalley is for the entire story.

From Goodreads: "...this intriguing urban fantasy follows the story of Kat Chanter, who discovers that the world she knows is controlled by ancient creatures who feed on blood. And she might just be one of them ..."

 AND you can read the first part for free by searching Dark Child: Episode 1 on your preferred retailer's site or at www.momentumbooks.com.au!


*exhales slowly*
And there it is! My haul for the week. I tend to go a tad crazy with netgalley. Remind me to stay off of there for a few days so I can at least read what I've already requested and send reviews to the publishers!

How about you all? Anyone go a bit crazy with their haul this week? Link me in the comments so we can compare! :)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (8)

(It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Each Monday participating blogs post about which books we are currently reading and our reading plans for the week. You can sign up at Book Journey by clicking here)

Looks like I'll be sticking to two books a week from now on. It's easier to handle and gives me time to do other things (like work and write). (Although wouldn't it be grand to be able to read, like, five books a week? Hah!)

Last week I finished:

Origin by Jessica Khoury
Quick thoughts:
I love this book. The concept was so interesting and met my expectations. Really brings up the question: How far will science go to satisfy the selfishness of humanity? Pretty far, I'd say. There were character I loved, and ones I hated (and with good reason). There was action, exploration, the right amount of sci-fi for me (not too heavy), and a great plot with a satisfying end. There is to be, not a sequel for this book, but a companion novel. Vitro. I'm excited for its release date and will for sure be picking up a copy.

Do I recommend? Yessir!


I am still reading Proxy, and hope to finish it very soon. From there I will read another e-galley; I'm just not sure which one. Help me choose?
I'm between Runes, Dragonfly, Far Far Away, and Fyrelocke.
Let me know which one you think I should read next in the comments!

This week I am reading:

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey
Blurb:
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Thoughts so far: Loving it so far! I'm about 30% into it, and excited to pick it back up!


And if I finish that before the week's done, I will likely pick up Icons by Margaret Stohl.

What are you all reading this week?

Stacking the Shelves (6)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where book bloggers share the books they've added to their shelves this week (physical or electronic).

Not a huge haul by any standards this week...

Purchased from the bookstore:

The Program by Suzanne Young
Blurb:
In Sloane’s world, true feelings are forbidden, teen suicide is an epidemic, and the only solution is The Program.

Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

E-galley:

Far Far Away by Tom McNeal
Blurb:
It says quite a lot about Jeremy Johnson Johnson that the strangest thing about him isn't even the fact his mother and father both had the same last name. Jeremy once admitted he's able to hear voices, and the townspeople of Never Better have treated him like an outsider since. After his mother left, his father became a recluse, and it's been up to Jeremy to support the family. But it hasn't been up to Jeremy alone. The truth is, Jeremy can hear voices. Or, specifically, one voice: the voice of the ghost of Jacob Grimm, one half of the infamous writing duo, The Brothers Grimm. Jacob watches over Jeremy, protecting him from an unknown dark evil whispered about in the space between this world and the next. But when the provocative local girl Ginger Boultinghouse takes an interest in Jeremy (and his unique abilities), a grim chain of events is put into motion. And as anyone familiar with the Grimm Brothers know, not all fairy tales have happy endings. . .

Reaper's Novice (Soul Collector #1) by Cecilia Robert
Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Ana Maria Tei’s life has always been perfect: loving parents, good grades, and a future so bright it outshone the sun. But now words like “separation” and “divorce” are sending her world plummeting to hell. Determined to keep her family intact, Ana plans a family-bonding trip from Vienna to Tuscany. Except fate has other plans. Ana’s parents and siblings are killed in a car accident on their way to pick Ana up from school.

Enter Grim, aka Ernest. He promises to relinquish the four souls if Ana agrees to trade her soul for theirs and serve a lifetime as his novice. In order for Ana to graduate from her Reaper’s Novice station to a Soul Collector graduate, Grim puts her to test. To her horror, she finds out becoming a Reaper’s Novice didn’t happen by chance. It was preordained, and she is forced to make a choice: save her family’s souls or come to terms with who she really is and complete the task set for her.


And that's all for this week! What have you all added to your shelves this week?

Book Detective (3): Love Triangles

The Book Detective is a weekly book meme hosted by DivergentGryffindor where each Thursday we post books we have read that fit under each weekly category (ex: dystopia, bad boys, romance, etc.). It is a way to share our favourites and discover some new great reads as well! To see the list, see the meme's opening post here.

Love Triangles

Confession time: I kind of love love triangles. When done right and when they make sense with the plot. My recommended love triangle books are (and this was tough to choose from - we all know there are so many out there!) below. And don't worry - I won't spoil anything for anyone who hasn't read the following books.

Meghan Chase, Prince Ash, Puck - The Iron Fey series

What I really loved about this love triangle that while I favoured one character over the other, I understood why the other guy got the girl. Meghan fit with who she eventually chose, and it was the right choice for her. Even though I was upset for the one left behind. Still hoping the unchosen one gets his own happy ending I can read about. Until it's canon, I guess fanfics will suffice.

Jem Carstairs, Tessa Gray, Will Herondale - The Infernal Devices trilogy

What killed me about this one was that I could not choose who I liked more. Some points I felt myself leaning towards one guy while other times I leaned towards the other. I really liked the way Cassandra Clare wrote this love triangle. I understood the confliction Tessa felt 100%!

If you love love triangles like me (or even if you're wary about them) I recommend the above series. If you love them, you'll really appreciate these two series, and if you hate them, these just might open your mind.

Review: Scrap by Emory Sharplin

Title: Scrap
Series: ?
Placement in Series: 1/?
Author: Emory Sharplin
Format: e-galley
Blurb:

On the brutal streets of Hellip, a village in the vast empire of the cruel King Ibis, you either become good at running from the king’s Blackcoats or you die. This is the lesson that twelve-year-old Tucker Scrap, abandoned as an infant among the orphans of Hellip, learned early. Along with her friends Ash and Kally, Tucker spends her time keeping one step ahead of the unjust laws, stealing what she needs to survive, and pondering her own unknown origins—and those of the enchanted bracelet with which she was found.

Now, both Ash and Kally have vanished from the orphanage, perhaps headed for the faraway city where Ibis still rules. When a mysterious girl named Vivian arrives in Hellip with a strange invitation to Tucker, the leader of the orphans decides that this may be her opportunity to find her missing friends. But more than this: it may become an opportunity to recover her hidden inheritance, and to change the fate of an entire kingdom.

The introduction to a fantasy world rich with ancient magic, enigmatic gypsies, palace labyrinths, and deep woods haunted by strange and forbidding creatures, Emory Sharplin’s debut novel tells the story of Tucker Scrap: a bold, memorable heroine at the center of a centuries-old mystery, stepping into her destiny at last.

Review:

As an avid fantasy lover, I was excited when I stumbled upon this book on netgalley, and after reading the description, requested it immediately. I loved Morgan Rhodes' YA debut Falling Kingdoms, and am a fan of all of Tamora Pierce's works, so this book is right up my alley. Of course, that does not ensure that I will love the book; this only makes it so that the premise sparked my interest. Did the book keep my interest? Solid yes. I loved every second of this book. From the tough character of orphan Tucker (Scrap), to the incredible, complicated (but still very, very interesting) plot, this book had everything I wanted in a fantasy (even magic)!

Tucker Scrap is an orphan. All that was left with her on the orphanage's doorstep was a note pleading that she not be let die. But no one lets Tucker die; she is a fighter, even at her young age of pre-teenager. After the orphanage's caretaker is gone, Tucker takes the place as leader, making sure the other orphans have food to eat by stealing and working at a bakery in town. She takes care of everyone, especially her friend Ash, who is deaf. But when he gets an injury that she cannot take care of and leaves to find help, and her other orphan friend Kally goes missing, Tucker is left alone, wondering where they are, how they are faring, and what happened to them. But she is soon distracted when a mysterious girl not too much older than herself comes to claim her, saying she is an old friend. With this girl, Vivian, comes a lot of mystery that Tucker is determined to solve - for it all involves her. She is just not sure of how much.

I really admired the character of Tucker. She is tough and has a lot of spunk (to survive as long as she did on the streets of a not-so-well-off town in a kingdom run by a ruthless king, she has to be). Not once did I question the loyalty she has to her orphan friends. Before she leaves she gives one the job she had at the bakery, and tries her best to get them sent food and clothes (though the request is denied with an understandable explanation). As for the friends who have gone missing, Tucker never stops thinking of them. She makes new friends (including a character I was quick to love for his joyful attitude and wit - he reminded me of Puck from the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, who I adore, so perhaps that is why), but Ash and Kally are always in the back of her mind.

Although I found one major plot point to be quite obvious - who Tucker really is - I also believe it to have been purposefully obvious. There were many other twists and turns in the plot - especially towards the end - to make up for it.

Scrap was incredibly well-written, which delighted and surprised me when I found out that the author, Emory Sharplin, is still a teenager herself. World-building is hard, but Sharplin delivered it vividly and believably. This is an incredible debut, and I can't wait to read more from her.

Overall, fantastic book! Well-written and clever and full of characters I was quick to love. And I must admit while I semi expected something like that ending would happen, it still blew my mind because my suspicion was only 1/10th of what actually happened. Great read. Cannot wait to read the sequel. I highly recommend, especially if you're a fantasy fan!


Rating: 5/5
Recommended for: Fantasy fans! Especially those who enjoyed Tamora Pierce's quartets and Morgan Rhodes' Falling Kingdoms! You will love Tucker (and many other characters) and I guarantee you'll be hooked on her story. I know I am!


There needs to be more books like this! YA is lacking in the epic fantasy department. I'm glad Emory Sharplin's novel delivered.

I'm hoping there will be a lot more buzz surrounding this title - through a little research I discovered not many bookstores will be carrying this title on the day it is released (May 17th, 2013) - in Canada, anyway. So hopefully the word of this great books spreads! The book ended in a way that leaves me strongly craving a sequel. Not to mention the fact that I really want a hard copy of this book!

So if you read and enjoy this book, spread the word. Tell your local bookstores you want it if they don't have it - it's amazing what a little nudge can do to get the title in stock!


Where you can buy this book:

In Canada:
Nowhere - yet!

In the USA:
Barnes and Noble

Internationally/On your e-reader:
Amazon.com

Top Ten Tuesday (4): Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. To join in on this weekly meme, visit the blog here)

Top Ten Books Dealing With Tough Subjects

Books that deal with tough subjects are not generally the ones I pick up from the shelf, but the few I have read and enjoyed are as follows...

The Waiting Sky by Lara Zeilin

Our protagonist Jane's mother is an alcoholic who nearly gets Jane and Jane's best friend killed in a car accident. So Jane finally takes up her college student/tornado chaser brother Ethan's offer to join him and his friends for the summer chasing tornadoes. The book deals with dangerous weather-induced encounters, and some struggling realizations on Jane's part of just how dangerous her relationship with her mother is, and what it's doing to her future.

See my full review on this book here.

The Fault in our Stars by John Green

I'm sure this one will be on many other bloggers' Top Ten Tuesday posts this week.

Hazel Grace has cancer. She is dying. Her mother persuades her to join a support group, and there she meets the incredible Augustus Waters - a cancer survivor who attends the meeting as support for his friend Isaac. While John Green fills the pages with wit, comic relief, romance, and hope, the fact that this book left me literally curled up in a ball on my bed sobbing for an hour and questioning life itself makes this book an easy pick for this list (and not just because there are only two books on my list...)




Unfortunately I only have two novels I can contribute to this week's TTT, but they are both fantastic (despite the heartbreak they deliver). Both stories inspire hope and if you haven't read either, I highly recommend you do both.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (7)

(It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Each Monday participating blogs post about which books we are currently reading and our reading plans for the week. You can sign up at Book Journey by clicking here)

Looks like I'll be sticking to two books a week from now on. It's easier to handle and gives me time to do other things (like work and write). (Although wouldn't it be grand to be able to read, like, five books a week? Hah!)

Last week I finished:

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau

Quick thoughts:

This book. Is. Amazing. Fans of The Hunger Games, Divergent, and The Maze Runner will LOVE The Testing. It got to the point where I stayed up until 4am finishing the second half of the book because I could not put it down.
It's one of those.
Look out for a review to be posted closer to the release date of June 4th, 2013

The Collector by Victoria Scott

Quick Thoughts:

Oh, Dante Walker, how I would love to have one. *Pleading look at Victoria Scott*
I love his obnoxious, I'm-better-than-you attitude, but I also hate it, but I also love it.
Witty writing, intriguing story. Definitely looking forward to the sequel, The Liberator!


This week I will be reading:

Proxy (Proxy #1) by Alex London
Format: e-galley; Pub. date: June 18th, 2013
Blurb:
Knox was born into one of the City’s wealthiest families. A Patron, he has everything a boy could possibly want—the latest tech, the coolest clothes, and a Proxy to take all his punishments. When Knox breaks a vase, Syd is beaten. When Knox plays a practical joke, Syd is forced to haul rocks. And when Knox crashes a car, killing one of his friends, Syd is branded and sentenced to death.

Syd is a Proxy. His life is not his own.

Then again, neither is Knox’s. Knox and Syd have more in common than either would guess. So when Knox and Syd realize that the only way to beat the system is to save each other, they flee. Yet Knox’s father is no ordinary Patron, and Syd is no ordinary Proxy. The ensuing cross-country chase will uncover a secret society of rebels, test both boys’ resolve, and shine a blinding light onto a world of those who owe and those who pay. Some debts, it turns out, cannot be repaid.

Origin by Jessica Khoury
Blurb:
Pia has grown up in a secret laboratory hidden deep in the Amazon rain forest. She was raised by a team of scientists who have created her to be the start of a new immortal race. But on the night of her seventeenth birthday, Pia discovers a hole in the electric fence that surrounds her sterile home--and sneaks outside the compound for the first time in her life.

Free in the jungle, Pia meets Eio, a boy from a nearby village. Together, they embark on a race against time to discover the truth about Pia's origin--a truth with deadly consequences that will change their lives forever.

Origin is a beautifully told, shocking new way to look at an age-old desire: to live forever, no matter the cost.





One book on living forever, and one book on living a life that is not your own. Should be an interesting mix this week!

What is on your reading list this week?

Stacking the Shelves (5)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where book bloggers share the books they've added to their shelves this week (physical or electronic).

These are the books I've added to my collection this week...

Purchased from the bookstore:

Reboot (Reboot #1) by Amy Tintera
Blurb:
Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes she came back as a Reboot: stronger, faster, able to heal, and less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return. Wren 178 is the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas. Now seventeen years old, she serves as a soldier for HARC (Human Advancement and Repopulation Corporation).

Wren’s favorite part of the job is training new Reboots, but her latest newbie is the worst she’s ever seen. As a 22, Callum Reyes is practically human. His reflexes are too slow, he’s always asking questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet there’s something about him she can’t ignore. When Callum refuses to follow an order, Wren is given one last chance to get him in line—or she’ll have to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before and knows if she does, she’ll be eliminated, too. But she has also never felt as alive as she does around Callum.

The perfect soldier is done taking orders.

The 5th Wave (The Fifth Wave #1) by Rick Yancey
Blurb:
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.

Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker. Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.





From publishers for review via Netgalley:

Losing It by Various Authors, edited by Keith Gray
Blurb:
A travesty.
A violation.
An ecstasy.
A disappointment.
An instant.
A lie.
A theft.
A rite of passage.

Whatever you call it, there's only one first time.

A.S. King, Melvin Burgess, Keith Gray, Patrick Ness, Anne Fine, Sophie McKenzie, Bali Rai, Jenny Valentine, Mary Hooper, and Andrew Smith. Some of today's leading international YA authors contributed to this hard-hitting collection of original short stories: some funny, some moving, some haunting but all revolving around the same subject—virginity.

Arrival (Birthright Trilogy #1) by Nicole MacDonald
Blurb:
Cat, Kassie, Sian and Loi are anything but damsels in distress.
Fed up with a lack of decent male specimens they cast a love spell in the hopes of finding their soul-mates. And inadvertently land themselves on another planet. Oops.

The Arrival, follows the girls' adventures as they stumble through a foreign and often hostile world where humans are NOT at the top of the food chain.
Friendships are forged and love teeters on the horizon while the threat of civil war looms thanks to the girls' very unexpected 'gifts'.
Will the girls master these gifts in time to survive a war in which, not only are they the ultimate weapons, but also the ultimate prize?

Dragonfly (Dragonfly series #1) by Leigh T. Moore
Blurb:
Three bad things I learned this year:
-People you trust lie, even parents.
-That hot guy, the one who's totally into you, he might not be the one.
-Things are not always how they appear.

Three good things I learned this year:
-Best friends are always there for you, even when they're far away.
-That other hot guy, the one who remembers your birthday, he just might be the one.
-Oh, and things are not always how they appear.

When her best friend moves at the start of senior year, Anna Sanders resolves to keep her head down and follow her plans through graduation. Until Lucy, a beautiful, mysterious girl, and Jack, her gorgeous twin brother, transfer to Anna's school.

The two draw Anna into their rich, extravagant life on the Gulf Coast with their distant, single father. Anna can't resist falling for Jack, even after he pushes her away.

Just when she's finally learning to be strong, Anna uncovers their father's closely guarded secret and is pulled back--this time even closer. His secret could change all their lives.

What did you all pick up this week?

Book Detective (2)

The Book Detective is a weekly book meme hosted by DivergentGryffindor where each Thursday we post books we have read that fit under each weekly category (ex: dystopia, bad boys, romance, etc.). It is a way to share our favourites and discover some new great reads as well! To see the list, see the meme's opening post here.

Mythological Reads

I love love love books with mythology, whether they revolve around it (as in Percy Jackson) or they just include mythology easter eggs (as in the Harry Potter books - some names and creatures were derived from mythology).

That being said, I am very behind on my mythology reading, and have only a few books with mythology on my 'read' shelf.
They are:

The Percy Jackson series by Rick Riodian

The Goddess Test series by Aimee Carter

And those are all that is coming to mind, sadly.

However, there are a few I have on my shelf or on my Kobo that I am excited to read. They are:

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Kane Chronicles and Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordian

The Siren's Secret by Heather Ostler

Runes by Ednah Walters

And of course I've written the first draft to a mythological contemporary, but it doesn't count, haha.

If anyone has any recommendations in this category for me, please share! I love mythology (all derivations!), but would definitely read anything with Egyptian mythology.

Top Ten Tuesday (3): Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light and Fun

(Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly book meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. To join in on this weekly meme, visit the blog here)

Top Ten Books When You Need Something Light and Fun

Reading something light is always great after reading an armful of darker/heavier reads. I love fantasies and apocalyptic novels, but sometimes I need a break to read something lighter like a fun paranormal romance or a contemporary novel. Sometimes I even read a lighter read alongside a heavier one to balance it out, now that I'm finding myself reading two books simultaneously.
The following are my top ten picks.

The Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout

A cocky (with great reason!) alien boy-next-door, a normal, human girl-next-door-meets-book-blogger (hey, I can relate!), romance, angst, and adventure makes this series one of my top picks for light reads. While there is still danger and adventure and scenes that have me reading the pages with bugged out eyes, hoping and praying to the book gods that the characters will be okay and PLEASE don't kill my favourites, Author!, this is a series that, though I've only read them all once, I see myself re-reading in the future to take a break from the heavier stuff.

Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

Not a series a lot of people (myself included) would consider to be light, but I have read and re-read this series so many times that I know what to expect. And because I know what to expect, I can handle the heartache and feels this series gives me when I do need a break from the heavier stuff. (It also helps if I just read the first and second book when the characters are still babies and innocent and are battling gigantic snakes and diaries and trolls and worrying about their potions finals :D )

Goddess Test series by Aimee Carter

Romancey plus a fun twist to the Persephone myth.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

One of the only books by John Green that don't make me want to tear my heart out and put it in a box so I don't have to feel anymore (the other being An Abundance of Katherines). It's funny/witty/clever, and a great LGBT read to boot.

The Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa

Yes, it's full of feels, but the world of the Iron Fey is a lot less dark (I suppose) than many of the other books on my shelf, more specifically Julie Kagawa's other series, Blood of Eden. Plus with Puck around to make me laugh (almost) every scene he's in, that makes it easier.

Unearthly series by Cynthia Hand

A love triangle, part-angel/part-humans, and cutesy/romancey scenes makes this series a fun, lighter read. Despite the fact that the love triangle didn't go the way I wanted it to and actually made me cry in sadness (why else would I cry? - Courtney shakes her head at her unnecessary wording but refuses to erase it) for the guy not picked... Yeah, it happened.

Trylle trilogy by Amanda Hocking

Romance, troll-humans (beautiful ones!) called Trylle, magic, and a love triangle (that works out in my favour for once!!!!*).

The Nightworld series by L.J. Smith

Prior to the Secret Circle and Vampire Diaries series, the author wrote another great paranormal series called Nightworld. Each book (the ones I own, anyway) contains three stories of forbidden paranormal love that I love love love. Bonus: each story intertwines. Suckfactor: the conclusion has not yet been written and I've no idea if it ever will :(

Aaand I'm stuck.
There's nothing else on my shelf I could classify as light - that I've read.
A few I anticipate to be lighter reads:

Fateful by Claudia Grey
Angel Fire and Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly
All of Kelley Armstrong's books
Ruby Red by Kiersten Gier
Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowan
Between the Lines by Samantha Van Leer and Jodi Picoult
Hereafter and Arise (two separate titles) by Tara Hudson
Violet Midnight by Lynn Rush

Looking back, so many of the books on that list still make me feel incredible feels, but the cute, romance scenes balance out (and honestly sometimes overshadow - not in a bad way!) the darker parts of the books and make them light reads to me.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? (6)

(It's Monday! What are you reading? is a weekly blog meme hosted by Sheila at Book Journey. Each Monday participating blogs post about which books we are currently reading and our reading plans for the week. You can sign up at Book Journey by clicking here)

Last week I finished:

Ironskin (Ironskin #1) by Tina Connolly
(see my review here)

Scrap by Emoty Sharplin
Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book, and I'm hoping the sequel happens, because it left it way open for one. If you love fantasy, you will love Scrap. The main character, Tucker, is great. Kick ass female with a fun and amazing attitude. She was so fun to read about, and the other characters in her life were great as well. The plot was so intriguing and the book was full of adventure.
Full review to come closer to release date.
Look out for this one coming May 17th (my review will likely be up the same day).


This week I am reading...

The Testing by Joelle Charbonneau
Blurb:
Keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Isn’t that what they say? But how close is too close when they may be one in the same?

The Seven Stages War left much of the planet a charred wasteland. The future belongs to the next generation’s chosen few who must rebuild it. But to enter this elite group, candidates must first pass The Testing—their one chance at a college education and a rewarding career.

Cia Vale is honored to be chosen as a Testing candidate; eager to prove her worthiness as a University student and future leader of the United Commonwealth. But on the eve of her departure, her father’s advice hints at a darker side to her upcoming studies--trust no one.

But surely she can trust Tomas, her handsome childhood friend who offers an alliance? Tomas, who seems to care more about her with the passing of every grueling (and deadly) day of the Testing. To survive, Cia must choose: love without truth or life without trust.

I'm only a few chapters in, but am already loving it!

The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott
Blurb:
He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

This one sounds like such a fun read, and I'm already loving Dante - even though he's coming off as a complete jerk and someone I honestly don't know if I'd want to interact with in real life (this might be a lie). ;) The writing already is witty, and I can't wait to finish this post so I can read more!

And that's about as far ahead as I've planned. Look out for a review of Scrap coming in a few weeks, and expect a review on both The Testing and The Collector in the near future (The Testing's review to be posted closer to release date of June 4th).

What are you guys reading this week? Link me in the comments!

Review: Ironskin by Tina Connolly

Title: Ironskin

Author: Tina Connolly

Series: Ironskin

Placement in Series: 1/2(?)
Format: Hardcover

Blurb:

Jane Eliot wears an iron mask.

It’s the only way to contain the fey curse that scars her cheek. The Great War is five years gone, but its scattered victims remain—the ironskin.

When a carefully worded listing appears for a governess to assist with a "delicate situation"—a child born during the Great War—Jane is certain the child is fey-cursed, and that she can help.

Teaching the unruly Dorie to suppress her curse is hard enough; she certainly didn’t expect to fall for the girl’s father, the enigmatic artist Edward Rochart. But her blossoming crush is stifled by her own scars, and by his parade of women. Ugly women, who enter his closed studio...and come out as beautiful as the fey.

Jane knows Rochart cannot love her, just as she knows that she must wear iron for the rest of her life. But what if neither of these things is true? Step by step Jane unlocks the secrets of her new life—and discovers just how far she will go to become whole again.

Review:
Note: This review is completely spoiler-free

I have mixed thoughts about Ironskin. While it was enjoyable overall, there were parts that had me seriously questioning if I enjoyed this book. It was slightly slow-moving, but the story and mystery behind it all intriguing enough to have me looking forward to picking up the book each night.

Though the beginning was slow, the story still managed to hold my interest. All was going well until the end, which felt rushed. I just feel it could have been better executed. Some things that were happening towards the end made little sense to me, and then too much was happening in so few pages that it felt rushed. The whole climax and catharsis took up twenty pages altogether, while the other 200+ pages was leading up to it and it just did not end up flowing well. Once it got to the final pages, everything that was happening became muddled. Suddenly the main character was in the city, then in the mansion in the country, then in the city again and from the way it was written, the end seemed like it took place in thirty minutes, when in reality that would not be possible unless Jane (the protagonist) could teleport (not a spoiler, but she could not teleport).

Also I'm not sure if I believed the relationship between Jane and her apparent love interest, Edward. I don't see what they see in each other at all (their feelings were not clear to me in the narrative and their interaction, and seemed to happen all of a sudden), and considering the book is written in one of their perspectives, that makes no sense.

The fey element was great. I had only ever read books where the fey could be classified as 'good' and were glorified, but the fey in this tale were anything but. It was even a saying amongst the characters, 'May you be born plain', so the fey would not be tempted to harm you for your beauty/good looks. (But then some character decisions towards the end regarding this felt out of character/all of a sudden, and made little sense logically, but that could just be character flaw and not writing flaw.

I think the main thing I was hoping for with this book was some more kick-ass and action scenes. There was room for it, but there were really no scenes like that. When there were 'fighting' scenes, they were written with more 'tell' than 'show', which was disappointing. If you're looking for a BA female protagonist a la Katniss or Lisbeth, you won't find her in Ironskin, but if you're looking for a strong female lead a la Jane Eyre or Hester Prynne, Ironskin's got it covered.

Still an interesting and somewhat creepy read with an overall satisfying ending (that was just not well-executed or as detailed as I'd have liked). It was the kind of ending that does not even need a sequel to it, though it was left open for one, but I won't go into that in order to avoid spoilers.

Rating: 3/5 - interesting plot, just not styled and executed as well as it could have been.
Recommended for: If you like historical fantasies, you will probably enjoy this one, especially if you have read and enjoyed Jane Eyre. The book is a loose retelling of the classic (from what I've read in other reviews - I myself have not read Jane Eyre). If you like twists to old tales/classics, you will probably also enjoy Ironskin.

Stacking the Shelves (4)

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews where book bloggers share the books they've added to their shelves this week (physical or electronic).

These are the books I've added to my collection this week...

Purchased from the bookstore:

Icons (Icons #1) by Margaret Stohl
Blurb:
Your heart beats only with their permission.

Everything changed on The Day. The day the windows shattered. The day the power stopped. The day Dol's family dropped dead. The day Earth lost a war it didn't know it was fighting.

Since then, Dol has lived a simple life in the countryside -- safe from the shadow of the Icon and its terrifying power. Hiding from the one truth she can't avoid.

She's different. She survived. Why? (Click for rest of description on Goodreads)

I'm really excited for this one even though I didn't really enjoy the Caster Chronicles. I'm strongly hoping the style will be different (since it's Stohl on her own and not a blending of two writers) and it won't be as dull as I eventually found the Beautiful Creatures books to be. Interesting premise (I do love a good post-apocalyptic!)

The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott
Blurb:
He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

YAY I'm so glad I saw this at work on a shelving cart. I had them order it a few weeks ago and it FINALLY came in! This will be my next physical book read (since I've gotten into a routine of reading one e-book and one physical book at a time). SO excited. I've heard many good things about this one, guys. Expect a review in the coming weeks.

E-galleys via Netgalley:

The Stone Thread by J.R. Evangelisti
Blurb:
Not all men are created equal.
Dr. Elizabeth Wellstrom who loves to study historic words is about to find out why. The Council controlled the most powerful computers in the World. They delved into such diverse studies as predicting the exact time and occurrence of earthquakes, man's impact on Earth, and how man would develop as a species into a far distant millennium. Her terrifying discovery will change man's understanding that precedes birth and extends far beyond death as she has stumbled into the existence of the eternal epic battle between good and evil or is Elizabeth delusional?

This one seems like it could be interesting, so I thought I'd give it a shot. It's not high up on my list, but we'll see how it goes!

Found (Penny Black #1) by Stacey Wallace Benefiel
Blurb:
Penny Black hasn’t had it easy. Just about everything you’d expect to happen to a harassed foster-kid turned junkie has happened to Penny. Add in the mysterious power to rewind time, conducting events around her, and it’s a wonder she held up on the streets for so many years. Now, at seventeen, the New Society has found her. Finally, Penny is where she belongs. But that doesn’t stop the visions, or the need to protect the victims shown to her.

Wyatt Adams is excited and intrigued when his sister Melody assigns him to be Penny’s Lookout. Being the youngest, and hopelessly ordinary in the family that created the New Society, has left Wyatt feeling like he has a lot to prove -- and Penny is a big deal. She’s got abilities that surpass any he’s seen before…and pretty much every quality he looks for in a girlfriend, but no one needs to know about that, especially Penny.

This series is a companion series to another by the same author, which I've not read, but I'm hoping that won't matter. This one sounds super interestesting and right up my alley.

Sworn to Raise (Courtlight #1) by Terah Edun
Blurb:
Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the kingdom. But beneath her kingdom’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

Fantasy? Yes, please!

Untraceable (The Nature of Grace #1) by S.R. Johannes
Blurb:
16-year-old Grace has lived in the Smokies all her life, patrolling with her forest ranger father who taught her about wildlife, tracking, and wilderness survival.

When her dad goes missing on a routine patrol, Grace refuses to believe he’s dead and fights the town authorities, tribal officials, and nature to find him.

One day, while out tracking clues, Grace is rescued from danger by Mo, a hot guy with an intoxicating accent and a secret. As her feelings between him and her ex-boyfriend get muddled, Grace travels deep into the wilderness to escape and find her father.

Along the way, Grace learns terrible secrets that sever relationships and lives. Soon she’s enmeshed in a web of conspiracy, deception, and murder. And it’s going to take a lot more than a compass and a motorcycle (named Lucifer) for this kick-butting heroine to save everything she loves.

This one sounds adventurous, and I love the cover!

Blood and Snow (volumes 1-12) by RaShelle Workman
Blurb:
Every thousand years the Vampire Queen selects a new body, always the fairest in the land, and this time she's chosen Snow White.

Snow isn't an ordinary girl. She doesn't know that yet.

When Snow gets bitten by a Hunter, her life is thrown into a whirlwind of change where instead of worrying about what to eat, she has to fight not to drink the blood of fellow high school students. She becomes a revenant - not quite human, not quite vampire.

With the help of an eccentric old Professor, his seven adoptive sons, and her best friend, Snow learns to control her blood craving. Sort of. She drinks a bloodlust tea, but she'd rather drink from her Hunter.

Or, a human.

She also discovers a whole other realm, one filled with fairies, dragons, and magic. And not only does the Vampire Queen want her, but there's a pendant called the Seal of Gabriel created for Snow by the Vampire Queen's twin sister. And Snow's supposed to use it to restore balance to all magical creatures. Including vampires.

This is basically everything I love all thrown into one. I can't wait to read all of these :D

Escape From Eden by Elisa Nader
Publication date: August 18th, 2013
Blurb:
Since the age of ten, Mia has lived under the iron fist of the fundamentalist preacher who lured her mother away to join his fanatical family of followers. In Edenton, a supposed “Garden of Eden” deep in the South American jungle, everyone follows the Reverend’s strict but arbitrary rules—even the mandate of whom they can marry. Now sixteen, Mia dreams of slipping away from the armed guards who keep the faithful in, and the curious out. When the rebellious and sexy Gabriel, a new boy, arrives with his family, Mia sees a chance to escape.

But the scandalous secrets the two discover beyond the compound’s façade are more shocking than anything they ever imagined. While Gabriel has his own terrible secrets, he and Mia bond together, more than friends and freedom fighters. But is there time to think of each other as they race to stop the Reverend’s paranoid plan to free his flock from the corrupt world? Can two teenagers crush a criminal mastermind? And who will die in the fight to save the ones they love from a madman who’s only concerned about his own secrets?

And yet another intriguing blurb that has me expecting a fun read!

This is quite the haul, and I don't know when I'll ever have time to read all of these, not to mention the 70+ books I have on my shelf and 20+ on my Kobo, but it will happen!
It's a disease, I tell you. An addiction and a disease, and the only cure is to read more.
Anyway, any thoughts on any of the above? (No spoilers if you've already read them; I know some were published prior to this year)