Wednesday 30 April 2014

Waiting on Wednesday - Deliverance



A weekly meme brought to you by Breaking The Spine where we get to show off some of the books we are waiting to be released.



This week I am waiting for Deliverance by C.J. Redwine, book 3 of Couriers Daughter.

Expected publication: August 26th 2014 by Balzer + Bray

Why am I waiting?
I love when I can see the end of a series that I have been watching approach, it means I can finally read those books. I don't like to wait.




Tuesday 29 April 2014

The Eternity Cure - Julie Kagawa (review)

Title:            The Eternity Cure
Series:          Blood of Eden
#:                    2
Author:         Julie Kagawa
Publisher:     HarlequinTeen
Date:             01 May 2013


Allison Sekemoto has done the in thinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire. But there's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago - and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But with eternity itself hanging in the balance,the lines between human and monster will blur even further as Allie faces another choice she could never have imagined having to make..



This is a book 2 review, it may (most likely) spoil book 1

The vampires continue!

The end of the last book left Allison once again, alone. With no attachments she can follow the call from her sire, to come to his aide. In the process Allie gets an unexpected ally - Jackal, who we all know tried to kill Allie and her human friends in the previous book. 

I enjoyed Jackal, his taunting, and snide comments throughout the book made the dire situation seem that much lighter. Like oh we're only going to die, it's no big deal. The bickering between him and Zeke was amusing, yes Zeke wanted to get revenge, but he wasn't allowed until Sarren is out of the picture.

This book has so much bloodshed compared to the first. In book one it was all about keeping the human alive inside and not letting the monster take over. Just a kill here or there to survive, whether to feed or when being attacked. But this book is just kill, talk, kill some more. In this book it's more about survival. Killing here and there, and well everywhere.

What I didn't like was that I could see some of the story coming, I knew what was going to happen next. There were no surprises, that spoiled all the fun. I also didn't like the end, a big fat OMG how can you do this to us! and then make us wait for another book! So very glad I didn't read this one too long ago

A beautiful continuation of a grizzly tale. And I am really looking forward to reading The Forever Song.




Still to come





Sunday 27 April 2014

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa (review)

Title:             The Immortal Rules
Series:           Blood of Eden
#:                   1
Author:         Julie Kagawa
Publisher:      HarlequinTeen
Date:             24 April 2012


To survive in a ruined world, she must embrace the darkness…

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a walled-in city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten. Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them—the vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself dies and becomes one of the monsters.

Forced to flee her city, Allie must pass for human as she joins a ragged group of pilgrims seeking a legend—a place that might have a cure for the disease that killed off most of civilization and created the rabids, the bloodthirsty creatures who threaten human and vampire alike. And soon Allie will have to decide what and who is worth dying for… again.
Enter Julie Kagawa's dark and twisted world as an unforgettable journey begins.



Vampires!!

Have you got those books that you look forward to reading just because you liked the authors other books?
Well this is that series for me, I really liked the Iron Fey series and was eagerly awaiting this series, and with The Forever Song out next month I thought I should finally start reading it.

And I have not been disappointed.

I was very interested in this book and where it was going after reading only one chapter. Straight away I liked the main character - Allie - and the world that was being created around her.
A city with giant walls around them to keep out the rabids (feral vampires), and to keep the humans safe inside. Safe so that they were able to 'donate' blood twice a month to the vampires that ruled the city. But of course Allie found a way out of that city, and ended up 'dead', a monster, a bloodsucker, the very thing she despised. The vampire that turned her taught her how to survive until one day they were forced to leave and separate. Now with strange new human friends Allie was learning about the world outside the city, how to survive and the difference between humanity and being human.

I found that it was easy to grow attachments to all the characters in this book, from likeable Zeke and Darren even to annoying Stick and Ruth. They were just so normal and human I couldn't help it.

It was also easy to understand the world in which Kagawa created, the vampire and rabid laws, the way the cities worked, the difference between registered and unregistered. I found the writing easy to read and understand. There was no need for big fancy words/sentences because everything just flowed, I forgot I was reading I just kept seeing it all play out in my head, which makes it a very good book in my eyes.

Although this book did remind me of other books. With the walled city, and vampires in control it reminds me of the Darkness Before Dawn trilogy that was released about the same time. And for some reason Eragon was also in my thoughts, it may have been from the blood call dreams. These are all minor, the rest of the story is still very different.

I really enjoyed this book and if you're a fan of vampires then you should read this one.



Still to come





Saturday 26 April 2014

Creators by Tiffany Truitt - Review

Title:            Creators
Series:         The Lost Souls
#:                      3
Author:        Tiffany Truitt
Publisher:    Entangled Teen
Date:           28 April 2014

Heartbroken but more determined than ever after a tense showdown in the woods, sixteen-year-old Tess once again returns to the safety of her community of Isolationists. Bolstered by new alliances and desperate to protect those she loves, this time she knows she can return stronger and more powerful than ever to take back what is hers. As she trains in combat and grows more confident, Tess receives beautiful letters penned by her forbidden love, the chosen one James, from his prison in Templeton. He is now serving as a bodyguard to the creators-the team of scientists who created artificial life in the first place. And what he has discovered about the true origin of the illness that halted natural life could change everything. Enemy will become ally and death will bring new hope in this stunning conclusion to Tiffany Truitt's epic Lost Souls trilogy


Oh my. The last book left off with quite the twist! I had to start this book as soon as I could. It's always sad to finish a series, but it's nice to see a story come to a close.

The third and final instalment of The Lost Souls trilogy brings both heartache and hope.

There was no putting off and thinking throughout this story. The plot was always moving and there was always so much drama and action that you never really had time to stop. Tess was still questioning life, herself and her wants but this was more about strength. Finding what you're willing to live with and what ends you're willing to go to to make the world a place you want to live in.

With each book Tess has grown more and more. She is no longer the girl doing everything she's told to do. Instead she questions everything, trying to find the truth, not just someones versions of the truth, but the whole picture.

The final reveal of why the women can't reproduce in this books was something I was not expecting. I don't think any one could guess that one. There are so many surprises in this book and I didn't see any of them coming. I was quite taken aback a couple of times and that is something new to me.

I really liked the ending of this book. You know that it just can't be all roses and fairytales for the end of a series like this one. It's more bittersweet with just enough heartache and closure to be able to close the book and keep thinking on all you've read and the possibilities.

I will definitely be looking out for more books by Tiffany Truitt in the future.




I received a e-arc of this book from net galley in exchange for an honest review






 (taken from Goodreads.com)


Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don't ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

Besides traveling, Tiffany has always been an avid reader. The earliest books she remembers reading belong to The Little House on the Prairie Series. First book she read in one day? Little Woman (5th grade). First author she fell in love with? Jane Austen in middle school. Tiffany spent most of her high school and college career as a literary snob. She refused to read anything considered "low brow" or outside the "classics."

Tiffany began teaching middle school in 2006. Her students introduced her to the wide, wonderful world of Young Adult literature. Today, Tiffany embraces popular Young Adult literature and uses it in her classroom. She currently teaches the following novels: The OutsidersSpeakNight, Dystopian Literature Circles: The Hunger GamesThe GiverThe Uglies, and Matched





Wednesday 23 April 2014

Waiting on Wednesday - Sinner


A weekly meme brought to you by Breaking The Spine where we get to show off some of the books we are waiting to be released.




This week I am waiting on Sinner by Maggie Stiefvater, book 4 of the Wolves of Mercy Falls

Expected publication: July 1st 2014 by Scholastic Press

Sinner follows Cole St. Clair, a pivotal character from the #1 New York Times bestselling Shiver Trilogy. Everybody thinks they know Cole's story. Stardom. Addiction. Downfall. Disappearance. But only a few people know Cole's darkest secret -- his ability to shift into a wolf. One of these people is Isabel. At one point, they may have even loved each other. But that feels like a lifetime ago. Now Cole is back. Back in the spotlight. Back in the danger zone. Back in Isabel's life. Can this sinner be saved?

Why am I waiting?
I read the previous books of this series last year and absolutely loved them. This book, that I was not expecting, gives me the chance to go back to that world and it lets me get to know more about the mysterious Cole St. Clair.

What are you wanting for?


Tuesday 22 April 2014

Naturals by Tiffany Truitt - Review

Title:            Naturals
Series:         The Lost Souls
#:                     2
Author:       Tiffany Truitt
Publisher:    Entangled Teen
Date:           02 April 2013


Tess is finally safe from the reach of the Council, now that she is living in the Middlelands with the rebel Isolationists. With James having returned to Templeton, she easily falls back into her friendship with Henry, though her newfound knowledge of Robert’s chosen one status still stings. Even surrounded by people, Tess has never felt more alone. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton, and that the dangerously sadistic chosen one George has taken an interest in her.






When Tess left her world behind to go to live with the Isolationists she thought she was moving on to something better. But it doesn't take long for her to realise that just because you go somewhere new does not mean that things will be different.

Isolationists only bathe once a week. Ok so now that I have your attention. The community that Tess joins is very different from what she was used to, being constantly dirty, having to actually work, a more relaxed environment, but some things remained the same. People. Humans can be very cruel when they choose to be, and sometimes without knowing.

I didn't find this book as thought provoking as the first. I don't know if it's because some of the questions remain the same and I just didn't notice them as much or if the rest of the story had sucked me in. Tess is still asking lots of questions, I think she always will ask questions, it's just that they will keep evolving as she grows.

Tess's character sees a lot of growth throughout this book, compared to Tess in the first book, who was weak and unknowing, to Tess who is willing to know more no matter the price. Some characters however remain the same, such as Henry and James. James, himself, doesn't have much of a role in this story, he's more of a reason for Tess's thoughts and line of questions in this book. Since he doesn't show up until near the end there's not much more to learn from him.

Side note:
That blurb is misleading. So she’s thrilled when James returns to the settlement, demanding to see Tess — until she finds out that it’s because her sister, Louisa, has been recruited into Tess’s old position at Templeton That's not exactly how things went. Or at least not what I read in the pages of the book. He does go to the settlement (not return he's never been) and it's not because of Louisa it's because of one of his visions.
(see why I don't read them)

While book one left us wanting more because of it's questions and thought provoking storyline, this book leaves us wanting more because of it's twists in the final pages. It makes you want to quickly pick up book three to find out how and what will happen to all the characters we've come to love.







Still to come




Sunday 20 April 2014

Chosen Ones by Tiffany Truitt - Review

Title:       Chosen Ones
Series:     The Lost Souls
#:                1
Author:    Tiffany Truitt


Life is bleak but uncomplicated for sixteen-year-old Tess, living in a not-too-distant future where the government, faced with humanity's extinction, created the Chosen Ones, artificial beings who are extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly. 

When Tess begins work at Templeton, a Chosen Ones training facility, she meets James, and the attraction is immediate in its intensity, overwhelming in its danger. But there is more to Templeton than Tess ever knew. Can she stand against her oppressors, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?








Ever wondered what happens in a world created by scientists? A world we weren't allowed to live in?

Tiffany Truitt has created a world, in the not too distant future, where the people are split into Chosen Ones, Naturals and Creators. Where nothing is as it seems until you peel away all the lies and propaganda of the government and learn the truth.

This book had a confusing beginning and I found it really hard to focus to understand what Tess was trying to tell us about The Chosen Ones, the Naturals and the Creators and how all of this world came to be. But at the same time I was intrigued with the death of Emma and why. The way the people lived. And I had to know more.

But with each thing I learned I was worried and disgusted. Finding out about the laws and how 'society' worked in this book I kept worrying for Tess. Not wanting anything bad to happen to her. 

There are lots of questions in this book, I did keep taking breaks from reading to let things sink in. 
What makes us human? 
Who gets a soul? 
Why is it bad to Want?
So many hard questions for such young people to think about! I admit I had never thought about these things myself. Until now.

Here are some quotes out of the book that I just felt that I had to highlight while I was reading. So here they are to share with you.

"Sometimes I thought the only way we could remind ourselves we were alive was to experience these moments of death."
"I was sort of impressed I knew what a lamp was. I must have come across a picture of one in a book when I'd still been allowed to read."
"That night I dreamed of everything I was afraid of. I was alone with the boy from the piano room. But we weren't playing the piano. He reached for my hand, and I let him. I just allowed myself to feel his skin against mine.
It was a nightmare."
"Maybe he didn't have a soul. but maybe something else made one a human. Maybe us naturals had forgotten what it meant to be one. but this boy, with his questions and insecurities, seemed more human than was possible.
And it was beautiful."

A beautifully written novel about humanity, what makes us who we are, and is it ok to be what and who we are.





Still to come



Friday 18 April 2014

Pretty Revealing (5)

It has been very quiet lately on the book cover releases lately it seems.

Or so It does to me, these are the only ones that caught my eye, were my genre, and such.




So isn't this one just pretty!
Talon by Julie Kagawa is the first book in her new series, which as you can see is about our scaly friends, dragons. Yay! I love dragons and I love Julie Kagawa. Win win.


Next up we have The Young Elites by Marie Lu, which is also a book one of a new series. Not extremely eye catching or luring. but not dull either.



And then last of all we have The Dark World by Cara Lynn Shultz. Also a book one of a new series. This is the Australia cover that was released recently. But if you ask me I much prefer the US one.

Thursday 17 April 2014

Love Letters To The Dead by Ava Dellaira - Review

Title:          Love Letters To The Dead
Author:      Ava Dellaira


It begins as an assignment for English class: Write a letter to a dead person. Laurel chooses Kurt Cobain because her sister, May, loved him. And he died young, just like May did. Soon, Laurel has a notebook full of letters to people like Janis Joplin, Amy Winehouse, Amelia Earhart, Heath Ledger, and more; though she never gives a single one of them to her teacher. She writes about starting high school, navigating new friendships, falling in love for the first time, learning to live with her splintering family. And, finally, about the abuse she suffered while May was supposed to be looking out for her. Only then, once Laurel has written down the truth about what happened to herself, can she truly begin to accept what happened to May. And only when Laurel has begun to see her sister as the person she was; lovely and amazing and deeply flawed; can she begin to discover her own path



I was very excited for the release of this book. I've been waiting and waiting and I can finally read it! I found this book through another blog which I can't think of from the top of my head, and since then I've been watching the calendar for it's release. The cover is beautiful and the blurb had the right amount of intrigue that I had to get it and find out what it was all about.

I was not disappointed. Far from it. This book had me up late reading and reading until I was finished. I was hooked. The easy laid back writing that was simple and honest reeled me in. It felt like Laurel was writing to me sometimes it was so easy.

The whole story is told in letters. Letters to dead people. The letters aren't random, for each letter Laurel writes she has a reason, she's connecting to the dead people. This I liked and could understand. You end up learning a lot about the famous dead people that she writes to too, which is also very interesting.

Ok, so I didn't like the line about her own path, but I think everyone needs to find out who they truly are. Now that Laurel has lost May, she needs to find her place without her. It was just a bit harder for Laurel. I got very emotionally attached to Laurel and I think with only four letters into the book I was tearing up. By the end I was so emotionally connected to this story and all of its characters I was sad to see it finish. This is no love story, this is life, learning to be yourself, who you are.

Overall, a very moving, honest story about loss and life. I will definitely be recommending this book to friends and looking out for more by Ava Dellaira in the future!




Wednesday 16 April 2014

Waiting on Wednesday - Wings



A weekly meme brought to you by Breaking The Spine where we get to show off some of the books we are waiting to be released.





This week I am waiting on Wings by Elizabeth Richards, book 3 of Black City series.

Expected publication: June 12th 2014 by Putnam Juvenile

Why am I Waiting?  Can you not see the cover and how prettiful it is. I must have it, this whole series has covers that have me making grabby hands at it. I have no idea what this book is even about! But hopefully I will have it soon and love it as much as I love the covers.
In case you haven't seen them yourself, Here is a link, check out the series.



Monday 14 April 2014

Towering by Alex Flinn (review)

Title:       Towering
Author:    Alex Flinn


At first, I merely saw his face, his hands on the window ledge. Then, his whole body as he swung himself through the window. Only I could not see what he swung on.
Until, one day, I told my dream self to look down. And it was then that I saw. He had climbed on a rope. I knew without asking that the rope had been one of my own tying.


Rachel is trapped in a tower, held hostage by a woman she’s always called Mama. Her golden hair is growing rapidly, and to pass the time, she watches the snow fall and sings songs from her childhood, hoping someone, anyone, will hear her. 

Wyatt needs time to reflect or, better yet, forget about what happened to his best friend, Tyler. That’s why he’s been shipped off to the Adirondacks in the dead of winter to live with the oldest lady in town. Either that, or no one he knows ever wants to see him again.

Dani disappeared seventeen years ago without a trace, but she left behind a journal that’s never been read, not even by her overbearing mother…until now. 




Repunzel, Repunzel
Let down your hair!


Alex Flinn has done it again. Another successful fairy tale retelling.


As you can tell by the beautiful cover this is a retelling of Repunzel. Again Alex Flinn has told this from dual perspectives of the main characters Rachel (Repunzel) and Wyatt, and I liked both characters instantly. Rachel, stuck in a tower since she was a child, yet not disheartened or anything because of it. Wyatt, a down to earth boy, also not cursing the world because he was sent to live with a creepy old lady his mum used to know.

While reading this I found I don't really know the original fairy tale. I can see a cartoon playing in my head but it's so long ago that I don't remember it at all. (Best remedy that soon)

I found the writing easy to follow, simple yet not, you know, too simple. It was so easy to imagine everything throughout the telling without being confused.

Ok so this book did have a few negatives, for example I had worked out the plot, the who, the how, and I was left thinking just hurry up and make it all come out please so I can get on with the end. That is never a good thing, to want a book to hurry and get on with it, I should always be left wondering what's going to happen next and be eager to read it.

I liked that Rachel had the ability to see her future self being rescued but I would have liked more of a reason as to why she had this ability. Instead of just 'oh we need this for the story', that's how it felt to me anyway.

But with that it is still an enjoyable retelling, just not perfect.




Wednesday 9 April 2014

Waiting on Wednesday: City of Heavenly Fire




A weekly meme brought to you by Breaking The Spine where we get to show off some of the books we are waiting to be released.






This week I am waiting on City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare, book 6 of the Mortal Instruments

Expected publication: May 27th 2014 by Walker Books


Why am I waiting?
I read the previous books to get ready to watch it on the big screen. That was a while ago now, only to learn that this book wasn't going to be published for a very long time and I got very sad, but now it is finally close enough to be excited about. During books 4 and 5 I was getting a bit "oh just come on already" about the story and the characters, I really hope that the series ends well!



Monday 7 April 2014

Panic by Lauren Oliver (Review)

Title:           Panic
Author:       Lauren Oliver

 Panic began as so many things do in Carp, a dead-end town of 12,000 people in the middle of nowhere: because it was summer, and there was nothing else to do.

Heather never thought she would compete in Panic, a legendary game played by graduating seniors, where the stakes are high and the payoff is even higher. She’d never thought of herself as fearless, the kind of person who would fight to stand out. But when she finds something, and someone, to fight for, she will discover that she is braver than she ever thought.

Dodge has never been afraid of Panic. His secret will fuel him, and get him all the way through the game, he’s sure of it. But what he doesn't know is that he’s not the only one with a secret. Everyone has something to play for.

For Heather and Dodge, the game will bring new alliances, unexpected revelations, and the possibility of first love for each of them—and the knowledge that sometimes the very things we fear are those we need the most




Have you ever read a book where the main character had your name?
How did it go?
For me it was horrible and I think that is the reason that this book was lacking for me, because every time I read my own name I cringed. And this made it hard for me to read this book and was left with mixed feelings about the whole thing.

Multiple points of view have become very popular, or I'm just finding more and more books with them. I am not complaining, I really like them. A story told by one person is good you get to that person really well and their story, but having another perspective while reading the same book is more insightful into the other characters in the book.
In this book however it was like watching a movie switching backwards and forwards between the two main characters but I never got attached to either of the characters, because it was written in third person. Perhaps. Or maybe I just didn't like them, or what I got to know about them.

I am not 100 percent positive (or maybe I am) but did you know there is a thing called a job where you can make money to change your life instead of playing a game that if you don't win all you've done is narrowly escaped death a few times? That's what I think of the idea behind Panic (but then where would the story be?)
Could I tell what was going to happen as I was reading? Yes, yes I could and that was annoying I like to not know what is coming next, to be surprised.

Overall, a different read, tolerable but not totally gripping that I had to sit and read the whole book in a hurry.






Saturday 5 April 2014

Revealing Book Blurbs

What I have read can not be unread!

Silly me, whilst browsing NetGalley I came across The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa and went in to see if it was for my region and to see if perhaps maybe I could click the big green request button. I did. But then my eyes betrayed me and I accidentally read a piece of the blurb and learnt too much about the previous book! I am currently reading The Eternity Cure, and am no more than half way through and now I know too much!

I don't usually read book blurbs, maybe once in a while, to see what books are about for Waiting on Wednesday posts, a brand new series or author I've not heard of yet. But now I don't know if I should do that, what if this wednesday someone posts a sequel (like I did last week, not that I read that blurb) and I read that blurb, book one is then ruined.

But then if I never read blurbs and continue to judge books purely on their covers I am going to miss some good books. There are many books out their with terrible covers but have the best stories inside and I will never know.

Am I being overly dramatic?

Should book blurbs for sequels be a bit more vague in their wording? or should we who haven't read previous books just try harder to avert our eyes?

What are your thoughts on this?