Book Thoughts: The Clockwork Scarab

Title: The Clockwork Scarab
Author: Colleen Gleason
Series: Stoker & Holmes #1

First off, a special thank you to LibraryThing and Chronicle Books for providing my copy of this one!

I loved the premise of this novel -- relatives of Sherlock Holmes and Bram Stoker in a steampunk London, solving mysteries and taking out bad guys together. The world it's set in is super cool, and the allusions to the Sherlock Holmes stories and Stoker's Dracula are really fun to spot. And the characters are brilliant: you can see the logical Holmes tradition shining through Mina and the fierce vampire hunter in Evaline, but they also have emotions and insecurities that make them new, unique characters and not just another reiteration of the same detective or vampire hunter. I'm usually wary of split first-person narratives, too, but I thought Mina and Evaline had very distinct voices. The minor characters -- Dylan, Grayling, Pix, the other girls -- were also pretty great, although I'd have liked a lot more about Irene Adler.

The characters and the world were the strong points, and Gleason's way with words is excellent, but I felt that sometimes there were minor plot holes -- granted, the copy I got was an ARC so it's entirely possible those things have been fixed, but there were just tiny things; someone wearing gloves on one page that suddenly wasn't with no mention of having taken them off on the next. The plot on the whole was very well-organized. My only real complaint was that despite how much I loved all of the individual elements of the novel's world, it felt like a little too much: detectives and vampire hunting and time travel and steampunk and alternate histories and Egyptology... all of it was super cool, but together it was a little overwhelming.

All in all, though, it was a fun, quick read that kept me turning pages. Not one I'd be rushing to shove into all of my friends' hands, but I will definitely be looking for the rest of the series. I want more adventures with these characters!

Book Thoughts: Shades of Earth

Title: Shades of Earth
Author: Beth Revis
Series: Across the Universe #3

*Warning: Spoilers for previous books!*

Elder and Amy have left the spaceship behind and made for Centauri-Earth. Surely whatever danger awaits them is worth being able to see the open sky again -- and they'll be able to wake up Amy's parents and the rest of the frozens.

Life on the planet turns out to be more difficult than they expected, though. Orion's warnings about monsters prove more true than they could ever have imagined, and the mysteries surrounding Godspeed's failure to land on time are far from solved.

I loved this trilogy all the way through. The characters especially made me want to keep reading (although sometimes the first-person narrators were a tiny bit hard to distinguish) -- Amy and Elder of course, but the others as well. I enjoyed the pacing, the plot, the twists and turns, all of it. Without saying too much (I don't want to spoil it for anyone!), I also thought the stylistic choices made in the last few chapters were brilliant; I've loved the use of negative space (line breaks) for emotional effect through the whole series and I think it works especially well in the ending. And content-wise... some of it is not how I wanted the series to end, but I think all of it was exactly how the series needed to end.

A brilliant ending to a brilliant series, and a story all its own too. Two thumbs-up for this trilogy! I can't wait for whatever Beth Revis comes out with next!

SINNER Cover!

EW released the cover of Maggie Stiefvater's SINNER today! I loved the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy, so I'm super excited for the companion novel following Cole.

The original trilogy is getting new covers, too -- click through to the article to check them out. I think they're pretty, but I'm still kind of in love with the old covers. I do love how the new ones pay homage to the original design, though! Let me know what you think. :)

Book Thoughts: So Silver Bright

Title: So Silver Bright
Author: Lisa Mantchev
Series: Theatre Illuminata #3

Okay okay so. I've been trying to find this book FOREVER. It's been three years since I read the previous one and my local bookstore didn't have it and my local library didn't have it and the library at my college didn't have it, and then I finally got my hands on it --

And you couldn't tell it had been three years since I'd read the last book, the way I devoured it. The story pulls you right back in and reminds you well enough of what's going on that you're totally not lost. (Of course, it helps that this is such an engaging story that I still remembered most of the details even after three years.)

And I just. This was such a wonderful conclusion to a simply beautiful trilogy. Bertie continues to be awesome, because even though she's totally in the middle of a love triangle, she completely resists the damsel-in-distress trope and gets things done her way. Ariel and Nate are both awesome characters, and the FAIRIES don't even get me started because we'll be here all night with my love for them. I love the way word-magic and Shakespeare are incorporated, and the way this draws on the magic of the theater and of storytelling, and yeah pretty much everything about it.

The ending was bittersweet, as the endings to great series always are, but I think it was just what it needed to be. A truly stunning trilogy that I am so glad I finally got to finish. :) Definitely worth your time!

Book Thoughts: Dreamless

Title: Dreamless
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed #2

*Beware spoilers for book 1!*

Helen's life kind of sucks. She can't be with the boy she loves, because (to their knowledge) they're cousins, and that's gross. Plus, she's spending every night in the Underworld and getting no sleep in her quest to free the Scions from the wrath of the Furies. And Tantalus still has it out for her, in new and interesting ways.

I continue to adore this series. I love love love the characters, the plot, the way familiar mythology is incorporated into a totally new story. The scenes with Morpheus in this one I found a bit odd, but I love love loved the way everything with the Furies and Cassandra went. Also Automedon. I don't want to say too much else because I don't want to spoil it for anyone, but this one was even better than the first book (you can definitely see the author's writing get better from that one to this one, and the writing was not bad in book one) and I can't wait to get my hands on the third one. Finals week, hurry up and go away so I can read GODDESS!

Book Thoughts: Allegiant

Title: Allegiant
Author: Veronica Roth
Series: Divergent #3

This first part of the review is going to be spoiler-free. There will be spoilers later and they will be marked by a warning!

Okay so. I loved the first two books in this trilogy so I was pumped for the third one. Did I love it? Yes. Did I cry? Yes. Did I think it was flawless? No.

I loved the way V.Roth took the story; the world outside of Chicago was fascinating. My only complaint there was that I wish we had gotten more information about some of the genetics stuff, because it didn't necessarily completely make sense to me as it was. Like, I definitely got what it was doing (and I thought it was a very important point and I liked that story choice), I just wish it had been spelled out a little more. But then again, I'm a world-building geek in love with backstory, so of course I wanted more information.

It was also cool getting to see the story from both Tris and Four's perspectives, because they're both characters that I really like and I LOVE the way their relationship is portrayed (real and healthy, with the existence and subsequent talking out of problems; it's one of the best I've seen). My complaint here was that with both sets of chapters narrated in the first person and no significant voice switch between the two, I often had a really hard time telling who was narrating a particular chapter. Their narrative voices were exactly the same, and I tend to have a hard time enjoying books with multiple but indistinguishable first-person narrators.

So yeah, I had some complaints about Allegiant, but on the whole, I thought it was a stunning conclusion to a fantastic trilogy.

And now I am going to talk about the ending. There will be spoilers. DO NOT read past this point if you haven't read ALLEGIANT yet! Seriously, come back and read this AFTER you have read the book.

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Okay, everybody who hasn't read it gone? Let the spoilers commence.

So I was as blown away as everybody else when (seriously! last chance!) Tris died, because it is a seriously bold (and almost never seen) move in YA to kill off the hero, especially when that hero has a love interest. I kind of worried that would happen when perspectives split, because hey, someone else to continue the narrative if Tris is dead and can't narrate. And then I knew it was coming when Tris told Caleb she wasn't going to let him sacrifice himself for the wrong reasons (which isn't a decision I necessarily agree with, but it's one that I love that she made because it's so consistent with her character). But it was still a heartbreaking and kind of shocking scene. I 100% admit to crying.

I know a lot of people are really mad that Tris and Tobias didn't get their happy ending and kind of hate V.Roth for killing off Tris, but I disagree with that mindset. Am I sad that they didn't get their happy ending? Absolutely! Heartbroken! Because they are both characters that I love and I wanted them to be happy! But I think Tris's death was the right narrative course for the story. It was realistic, it was absolutely in character, and... yeah, did I mention it was realistic? And it takes guts to kill off such a popular main character (I mean, excepting George R.R. Martin, obviously), so I applaud Veronica Roth for making that choice. Even though it made me sad. And it was good to see Tobias grieving and eventually moving on, to the extent that moving on is possible. (The way he spread her ashes was another heart-wrenching moment.)

I had some issues with a few things in the book, and there were a few things that didn't quite make sense to me (Tris's memory serum plan, for one), but on the whole, I loved this book and the whole series. Round of applause for Veronica Roth, guys.

Book Thoughts: Asylum

Title: Asylum
Author: Madeleine Roux

Dan Crawford is super excited for his pre-college summer program, but he's a little wary of their dorm: it's a renovated building that used to be Brookline Asylum, home of several criminally insane patients. Dan and his new friends Abby and Jordan go exploring, and discover that the old asylum may not be quite as gone as they might have hoped...

From an escapist, fun-Halloween-read point of view, I enjoyed ASYLUM. It's a creepy story with a lot of twists and turns that you don't necessarily see coming. It was a fun, relatively light read, and one that's creepy in a way that's not going to give you nightmares.

Is it the greatest-ever work of literature? No. Dan and Abby's relationship fell a bit flat, and I was really disappointed in the ending because I felt like we never really got any resolution. Some of the explanation we did get didn't make a whole lot of sense. But on the whole, it was a fun ride. I really just wanted more explanation at the end!

I did enjoy the incorporation of pictures, and props to Roux for a gay character whose story arc is not entirely centered on his homosexuality. He's a person who is gay, not a Gay Person, which is awesome. Not really having a lot of strong feelings either way about this book -- I liked it, but I'm not going to be jumping around trying to shove it into people's hands, either.

Hiatus Over!

Hey guys!

I disappeared on you for a while there with a lot less warning than I would normally have given you. Unfortunately, the thing about college is that EVERYTHING HAPPENS AT ONCE.

I thought I was caught up on work, but then no, all of the projects were due at once -- plus there was tech week for the show my musical theatre club was putting on. I've been doing a bit of reading, but I have had zero time to write blog posts.

That changes now! Later this evening I'll have a post about ASYLUM for y'all, and in the next couple of days my (spoiler-tastic, FYI) thoughts on ALLEGIANT will be up.

I've missed you guys. It's nice to be back. :)

Book Thoughts: United We Spy

Title: United We Spy
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Gallagher Girls #6

Hi guys! I'm sorry I've been such a bad blogger lately. Apparently midterms this semester meant "three solid weeks of no free time." But I'm back, and I have a super awesome book to tell you about.

**Warning! Spoilers for Books 1-5! (Not for this one)***

Cammie has a mission. Well, sort of. Well, okay, she's not actually supposed to have a mission at all. But as Catherine closes in on the last few members of the Circle of Cavan, time is running out, and it may be entirely up to Cammie and her friends to save everyone they love -- and, quite possibly, the world.

I've loved this series from the get-go, but by this stunning conclusion, it is not the lighthearted spy-teens romp it was in book one. Issues are way, way more serious now -- and I wouldn't have it any other way. I love love LOVE this final adventure we get to take with Cammie, Liz, Bex, Macey, and Zach, and I thought it was a fantastic conclusion to a fantastic series.

It had honestly been a while since I read the previous book so I was a little hazy on the details, but I didn't need to worry. UNITED WE SPY reminded me of everything important and contained a pretty solid story in and of itself. I for one really loved the chance to see Cammie & Co. entering the real world and dealing with these serious issues, and also still being high school seniors. Yes, they face some seriously grown-up situations, but they're still just eighteen-year-old girls (and boy, in Zach's case), and they hold on to that.

Also, a certain speech near the end of the novel (I will not say more lest I give spoilers, but you'll know it if/when you read it) had me in tears. I am so sad to leave this beautiful sisterhood behind, and I am sure it's a world I will revisit. Can't wait for Ally Carter's next!

Let's Talk About Violence in Historical Fiction.

I'm taking a seminar class on history in contemporary fiction, and the last novel we read was called The Book of Night Women, by Marlon James. It discusses the slave trade in Jamaica in the early 1800s. It is also the single most upsetting book I have ever read.

The Jamaican slave trade in the early 1800s was seriously horrible. You know the horror stories we've all heard about American slavery (which, seriously, was wayyy not cool)? In Jamaica, it was worse, because the culture and intentions were so different. And this novel did not hesitate to confront even the most gruesome elements. The sexual abuse of slaves, the punishments for minor infractions, the utter disrespect for the humanity of others -- all are described in unfaltering detail. More than once, I thought I might throw up at the thought of the violence people are capable of towards others.

Night Women was hugely upsetting to read, but I think it's important that the book was as brutal as it was. Part of what made it so disturbing was the fact that these things really did happen -- the specific characters in the novel were fictional, but the dehumanizing violence thrown at slaves was very real. I think glossing over the violence, using euphemisms and implications rather than gory details, would have been a lot less powerful in telling the story. Only by forcing readers to face the details can the novel accurately give a sense of how horrible the times were.

But at the same time, such graphic imagery makes the novel inaccessible to a lot of people. I would never consider giving this book to a child, and even I finished it only because I had to for class. Without the context of the discussion the class offered, I feel like this novel would have been simply horrifying without the deeper understanding of the historical context. Definitely a book worth reading and talking about, but one that I think needs to be talked about if it's going to be read.

What I'm getting at is this: violence absolutely has a place in historical fiction, because it's important not to deny the facts of the past, and gruesome events shouldn't be sugarcoated (at least in my opinion). But I also think it's important to make those historical truths accessible to readers, and that's a line that can be really hard to find.

I don't necessarily have an answer to this (by which I mean, I don't have an answer to this), but I'm curious to know: what do you guys think about the role of violence in historical fiction?

THE TAKING Cover and Synopsis!

Hi guys! Sorry it's been so quiet around here lately. One word for you to explain that: MIDTERMS. Yuck, right?

But! I can now share with you the recently revealed cover and synopsis for THE TAKING, an upcoming book from one of my favorites, Kimberly Derting.

A flash of white light . . . and then . . . nothing. 

When sixteen-year-old Kyra Agnew wakes up behind a Dumpster at the Gas ’n’ Sip, she has no memory of how she got there. With a terrible headache and a major case of déjà vu, she heads home only to discover that five years have passed . . . yet she hasn’t aged a day. 

Everything else about Kyra’s old life is different. Her parents are divorced, her boyfriend, Austin, is in college and dating her best friend, and her dad has changed from an uptight neat-freak to a drunken conspiracy theorist who blames her five-year disappearance on little green men. 

Confused and lost, Kyra isn’t sure how to move forward unless she uncovers the truth. With Austin gone, she turns to Tyler, Austin’s annoying kid brother, who is now seventeen and who she has a sudden undeniable attraction to. As Tyler and Kyra retrace her steps from the fateful night of her disappearance, they discover strange phenomena that no one can explain, and they begin to wonder if Kyra’s father is not as crazy as he seems. There are others like her who have been taken . . . and returned. Kyra races to find an explanation and reclaim the life she once had, but what if the life she wants back is not her own? 

Sounds awesome, right?! Can't wait for this one. So I guess we can call this one this week's Waiting on Wednesday (on Thursday)? Anyway, super pumped. Look for this one April 29!

Book Thoughts: Once

Title: Once
Author: Anna Carey
Series: Eve #2

Eve is back, but she's lost Caleb: Califia, the safe place they've been looking for, is women-only. But if you think Eve is going to take that for very long, you've got another think coming. She goes looking for Caleb... and finds someone way more surprising. Trapped in the City of Sand, Eve has to find a way to save Caleb, her friends -- and herself.

I didn't love this one the way I loved EVE, but I definitely enjoyed it. It's awesome to see the world continue to develop, and I hope we get to see more details of The New America in book three! I continue to adore Eve and Caleb's romance, and the new characters (namely Charles, Harper, Beatrice, and Clara) are a welcome addition to the story. I think my favorite character is still Arden, though, because she's the one in whom I see the most depth and fight; I wish we'd gotten to spend more time with her in this book. I do love the dynamic Charles adds, though!

I'm honestly feeling pretty meh about this book right now. I enjoyed it, definitely, but it wasn't a standout like EVE was and there's not really anything jumping out at me that I just HAVE to talk about. Hopefully it's just middle book syndrome and RISE will bring the level of awesome back up, because I really do like the story Anna Carey is telling and the characters she's created. Here's to book three!

HEARTBEAT Cover!

The cover for Elizabeth Scott's upcoming novel HEARTBEAT is here! I've loved everything I've read by this author, so of course I'm super excited for this one too. Plus, isn't this cover pretty? :)

HOLLOW CITY Cover Reveal!

Today Entertainment Weekly revealed the cover for the second installment in Ransom Riggs' Miss Peregrine stories. Isn't it lovely?

Book Thoughts: Crown of Midnight

Title: Crown of Midnight
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Series: Throne of Glass #2

Okay. Let's talk about how much I love this book.

First and foremost, I just really love Celaena. I LOVE that we can have a girl who's totally not afraid to kick some but when she needs to (and darn good at it too) but also really loves pretty dresses and her puppy and chocolate cake. I like that she's not perfect -- she's reckless and impulsive, she doesn't always think about consequences, she can't sing. But she tries to do what she thinks is right, and she's just. I love her.

And I l-o-v-e the character development we get with Dorian and Chaol. My shipper heart does not know what to DO with this beautiful book, but quite apart from the romance I just love the two main men. They make mistakes, and they learn from experience, and their individual relationships with Celaena as well as their relationships to each other are just beautiful.

I love the pacing, too. With so much going on it would be SO easy to just rush the details, but it felt like the book was exactly the right length: it accomplished what it needed to and gave every event the attention it deserved without dragging things out. I called the "big reveal" at the end of this one way early on, but I didn't care, because I wanted to see how the characters got there, and there was enough going on that I totally didn't predict that I was still on the edge of my seat.

I cannot WAIT for the next installment of this series. I just need to know how the characters are going to deal with the situation they find themselves in at the end of this book, and I just need to spend more time with them and in this world. I hope we get to find out more about the Fae and the way magic works in this world as the series progresses!

So yes. Definitely a worthy continuation of the Throne of Glass story, possibly even better than the first book (which doesn't happen a lot for me). If you haven't read these yet, get on it! Meanwhile, I shall eagerly await Book 3...

Waiting on Wednesday 10/2/13

Hosted at Breaking the Spine, Waiting on Wednesday spotlights upcoming books that we bloggers can't wait to get our hands on. This week I'm waiting on THE DOLLHOUSE ASYLUM by Mary Gray.

A virus that had once been contained has returned, and soon no place will be left untouched by its destruction. But when Cheyenne wakes up in Elysian Fields--a subdivision cut off from the world and its monster-creating virus--she is thrilled to have a chance at survival.

At first, Elysian Fields,with its beautiful houses and manicured lawns, is perfect. Teo Richardson, the older man who stole Cheyenne's heart, built it so they could be together. But when Teo tells Cheyenne there are tests that she and seven other couples must pass to be worthy of salvation, Cheyenne begins to question the perfection of his world.

The people they were before are gone. Cheyenne is now "Persephone," and each couple has been re-named to reflect the most tragic romances ever told. Everyone is fighting to pass the test, to remain in Elysian Fields. Teo dresses them up, tells them when to move and how to act, and in order to pass the test, they must play along.

If they play it right, then they'll be safe.

But if they play it wrong, they'll die.

The title is actually what first drew me to this one, and the description cemented my interest: post-apocalyptic (ish) chock full of mythology references? Yes, please. I will be checking this one out. Look for it October 22!

What are you waiting on this week?

Book Thoughts: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

Title: Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
Author: April Genevieve Tucholke
Series: Between #1

I really really wanted to love this book (because seriously, it has a freaking gorgeous cover and the description sounds amazing) and at first I was afraid I wasn't going to. It didn't feel particularly well-executed at first. It was really really obvious that River had some kind of paranormal thing going on that was drawing Violet to him, and I thought the whole book was going to be "but WHY do I like him so much?!"

...it wasn't.

I can't tell you where it was that I went from slightly disappointed to absolutely enthralled, but I do know that I actually put off lunch for a solid two and a half hours because I was too busy reading this to go make food.

There is some seriously creepy stuff in this book. In a good way. It felt like a paranormal romance at the beginning, and by the end I was positive I had just finished a horror novel -- to which I needed the sequel, like, immediately.

Definitely put this one on your list of "scary books to read leading up to Halloween." And if you think the first couple of chapters are a little hard to get through... stick with it. It gets so much better. Oh, and my advice? Read it with the lights on.

Book Thoughts: Fangirl

Title: Fangirl
Author: Rainbow Rowell

I don't even know where to start talking about this book. I loved it.

I've never really gotten into fanfiction, reading or writing; it's just not my cup of tea. And I don't know what it's like to have a sister -- except, well, now I do, because of Cath. And I've never had a random roommate, because I lived with a high school friend my freshman year. But I could feel everything in this book.

The descriptions of Cath's anxiety are just so spot-on. (I actually stored pictures of some of the pages on my phone just so I would have the quotes with me.) Her college is so, so different from mine, but Cath's feelings in a new situation are incredibly relatable anyway.

Plus. Okay. Characters. Love them. They're all so multifaceted (except maybe Courtney, but we don't see her much) -- all of them are flawed, but they all have lovable characteristics, too. Even Simon and Baz, who are fictional characters in a fictional story, felt real. I wanna read the Simon Snow series now! It was super cool getting to see snippets of both the actual stories and Cath's fanfic.

I just. I can't put into words how much I loved this book. I was so sad when it ended because I wasn't ready to leave the characters behind, even though the story had concluded. I could ramble about this forever but I don't want to spoil anything, but if you've read it -- contact me on twitter or tumblr or facebook, or email me, because I would LOVE to talk more about it.

Cover Reveal: The One

Today the cover for the third book in the Selection series by Kiera Cass was revealed! I haven't read the books yet (they're on my list), but isn't this cover freakin' gorgeous?

Waiting on Wednesday, 9/25/13

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted at Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme to feature prerelease books that we bloggers can't wait for. This week my pick is CHAMPION by Marie Lu.

CHAMPION is the conclusion to the trilogy that began with Legend and was followed by Prodigy. I read the first two books in two days over my spring break, and holy wow did I love them. I cannot WAIT to see how June and Day's story ends!

From goodreads: (beware spoilers for Legend/Prodigy)

He is a Legend.She is a Prodigy.Who will be Champion? 
June and Day have sacrificed so much for the people of the Republic—and each other—and now their country is on the brink of a new existence. June is back in the good graces of the Republic, working within the government’s elite circles as Princeps Elect while Day has been assigned a high level military position. But neither could have predicted the circumstances that will reunite them once again. Just when a peace treaty is imminent, a plague outbreak causes panic in the Colonies, and war threatens the Republic’s border cities. This new strain of plague is deadlier than ever, and June is the only one who knows the key to her country’s defense. But saving the lives of thousands will mean asking the one she loves to give up everything he has. With heart-pounding action and suspense, Marie Lu’s bestselling trilogy draws to a stunning conclusion.

What are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Sequels!

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's Top Ten list? Best sequels ever.

I'm super bad at picking favorites, but here goes! In no particular order, top ten sequels that I love. (And I'm sure I'm going to forget some because that's how it goes when I make favorites lists, but we'll go with it.)

1. Harry Potter 2-7 by J.K. Rowling. I know this one is on a lot of people's lists, but I mean, how can it not be? These books are great and I love them and I will read the series over and over again.
2. The Demon's Covenant by Sarah Rees Brennan. I loved the first one, and the second one just grew my love for the series even more.
3. Where She Went by Gayle Forman. Not a technical sequel, but a beautiful follow-up to If I Stay, and I adored it.
4. Everbound by Brodi Ashton. No middle book syndrome here! And with the mythology and everything... yeah I'm super psyched for book three.
5. Beautiful Chaos by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. Although this is the third book in a quartet, which usually just means a lot of build-up to the finale, it's probably my favorite in the series after the original. Love.
6. Scarlett Fever by Maureen Johnson. Because humor and characters and sass and all of it. Love love love.
7. Prince Caspian/Voyage of the Dawn Treader/The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis. Pretty much exclusively because Reepacheep and Caspian. I just really love this particular set from the Chronicles of Narnia.
8. Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver. There was a touch of middle-book syndrome, but I would still classify this as one of the best sequels, because I just adored the story it told.
9. A Series of Unfortunate Events 2-13 by Lemony Snicket. One of the few series where not only is the first book not my favorite, I can't ever settle on a favorite because I love ALL of them. (With like two exceptions, but let's ignore those for now.)
10. Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor. I adore the characters and the story and it just made me want the third book even more.

There are a lot of FANTASTIC sequels that I had to omit, and a pretty big part of that decision was middle-book syndrome. But I could probably keep listing kick-ass series for a looong time.

What are your favorite sequels?

Book Thoughts: The Savage Grace

Title: The Savage Grace
Author: Bree Despain
Series: Dark Divine #3

I was so excited to finally get to read this one, because I loved the first two and haven't been able to get my hands on this one until now. I was a little fuzzy on the details going into it, couldn't remember exactly how the last one had ended, but this one reminds you of the details without it reading like a summary, which is nice.

The writing in this fell a little flat -- not because the story was bad, but because it just felt like the book didn't get proofread very thoroughly before it was published. I kept finding little errors ("of" instead of "or," "your" instead of "you're," and "peek" was insistently spelled "peak" through the whole book) that kept pulling me out of the story. Probably wouldn't be a problem for someone who doesn't really care about grammar, but it put me on edge.

That said, I loved the story and the way the trilogy concludes. I mean, heartbreaking, yes -- but what story about demons and werewolves is going to be light and cheery? I thought the action made sense and I really enjoyed the story was resolved, and I'm going to stop talking right there because otherwise spoilers will happen. I'm glad it ended the way it did.

Also, can I just say -- she's a really minor character, but Grace's little sister Charity is pretty awesome.

Grace's struggle with the wolf is incredibly relatable for anyone who's ever been torn between anger and forgiveness, and even though Grace seems to have almost superhuman patience, I liked the hopeful note of the novel.

So, yeah -- I didn't adore this the way I did the first two books, but it's still definitely a series I'd recommend, with a well-handled ending and an awesome take on werewolf mythology.

Feature/Follow Friday!

Hi guys! This week I'm participating in a new blog hop hosted by Parajunkee and Alison.

This week's question was: What were some of your favorite picture books as a kid? If you have kids, what are your favorites to read to them?

Super awesome question! I love love loved the Berenstein Bears books as a kid, and my dad would read me Jabberwocky at least weekly (I didn't know it wasn't a story all its own until much later). Then, of course, there was Dr. Seuss. I was raised on Dr. Seuss, and although I don't have kids, Dr. Seuss is my favorite to read to my little neighbor when I babysit her.

  

*I prefer GFC follows, but you can also <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/blog/9826319/?claim=yms3eepjxfk">follow my blog with Bloglovin</a>.

Waiting on Wednesday, 9/18/13

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine and spotlights upcoming books we bloggers are excited for. This week I'm eagerly awaiting INTO THE DARK by Bree Despain.

From Goodreads...
Haden Lord, the disgraced prince of the Underrealm, has been sent to the mortal world to entice a girl into returning with him to the land of the dead. Posing as a student at Olympus Hills High—a haven for children of the rich and famous—Haden must single out the one girl rumored to be able to restore immortality to his race.

Daphne Raines has dreams much bigger than her tiny southern Utah town, so when her rock star dad suddenly reappears, offering her full tuition to Olympus Hills High’s prestigious music program, she sees an opportunity to catch the break she needs to make it as a singer. But upon moving into her estranged father’s mansion in California, and attending her glamorous new school, Daphne soon realizes she isn’t the only student in Olympus who doesn’t quite belong.

Haden and Daphne—destined for each other—know nothing of the true stakes their fated courtship entails. As war between the gods brews, the teenagers’ lives collide. But Daphne won’t be wooed easily and when it seems their prophesied link could happen, Haden realizes something he never intended—he’s fallen in love. Now to save themselves, Haden and Daphne must rewrite their destinies. But as their destinies change, so do the fates of both their worlds.

I'm a huge mythology geek, so this should be super fun. Plus I love the way this author played with traditional mythology in her first trilogy (The Dark Divine), so I can't wait to see how this one goes! Plus, okay, romance. Look for this one March 11!

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR List!

Today I'm joining the fun that is Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This is going to be a challenge for me because I'm really bad at narrowing things down, but I'm going to give it a go!

This week's topic is Top Ten Books You Want to Read This Fall. I'm super bad at picking "top" anything, but these are ten books I really hope I get to read this fall.

• United We Spy by Ally Carter. I've been a fan of the Gallagher Girls for years, and although I'm sad to let them go, I can't wait to see how their story plays out!
• Allegiant by Veronica Roth. I know this one's on a LOT of people's lists, and why shouldn't it be? The first two books are excellent.
• Champion by Marie Lu. I devoured the first two books in this trilogy over spring break and I need the third one like burning.
• Altered by Gennifer Albin. Dystopian world and technology and kick-ass world building. CREWEL was great -- more please!
• Unbreakable by Kami Garcia. The plot sounds super awesome and let's be honest, after the Caster Chronicles, I'd check out anything she wrote.
• Perfect Ruin by Lauren DeStefano. I'm a sucker for anything remotely dystopian, and I really enjoyed her previous trilogy, so this sounds like fun!
• Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell. Anxiety-ridden college student with an obsessive fan relationship with a series about a wizard? Did you mean, my life? Plus I keep seeing how great it is all over the place and I need it.
• Smoke by Ellen Hopkins. I'm so curious to find out what happened to Pattyn, and of course, Ellen Hopkins' writing style is always worthwhile reading.
• Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi. I haven't gotten around to reading this series yet, but the covers are gorgeous and I've heard so much about them!
• All Our Yesterdays by Cristin Terrill. Let's be honest, it won me over with the Shakespeare quote in the title, but it sounds like a super awesome story.

What books are you guys hoping to read this fall? 

Attack of the Social Media!

Okay, guys. Reviews and actual posts are still going to be here, but now you can find me reblogging fan art and fun news on tumblr and garnering fans on facebook. If one or both of those is your Thing, come say hi!

New Idea! Character Rambles?

Hi guys!

For me, a lot of my enjoyment of a book comes down to the characters. And, think tumblr tone of voice here, I often have ALL THE FEELS about these characters.

I am going to start posting Character Rambles -- aka fangirl rambles on my thoughts and feelings regarding a certain character -- probably once a week, although due to school it may be every other week. If you have any characters you want to see featured, let me know!

Book Thoughts: Sever

Title: Sever
Author: Lauren DeStefano
Series: Chemical Garden #3

You know that feeling where you're reading a book and there's only a few pages left but still too much that needs to happen and you start to worry about how it's all going to wrap up in so little space? That's how I felt with this book.

I really loved the first two books in this trilogy, so I really wanted to love this one. While I enjoyed it, I didn't love it. Some of the plot elements that came into play to wrap up the story felt a little contrived, and some of it just came out of nowhere like a wrecking ball. Without being too spoilery, there is a character death that really surprised me (and kind of felt like a way to not have to deal with a particular plot line).

That said, I still thoroughly enjoyed the story and I think the series ended the only way it could have. Rhine continues to be a character worth rooting for, and I wish we'd gotten to meet Reed sooner because wow, great character. And Cecily is still her wonderful fourteen-going-on-thirty self.

The short version: not my favorite series-ender ever, but a worthy conclusion to a trilogy that on the whole I loved.

Waiting on Wednesday, 9/11/13

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted at Breaking the Spine, features upcoming books that we bloggers are excited about. This week I'm excited for PREMEDITATED by Josin McQuein.

From goodreads...

A week ago, Dinah’s cousin Claire cut her wrists.

Five days ago, Dinah found Claire’s diary and discovered why.

Three days ago, Dinah stopped crying and came up with a plan.

Two days ago, she ditched her piercings and bleached the black dye from her hair.

Yesterday, knee socks and uniform plaid became a predator’s camouflage.

Today, she’ll find the boy who broke Claire.

By tomorrow, he’ll wish he were dead.

----

Is it just me or does this sound creepy and awesome (and emotional)? It releases October 8 and I can't wait to get my hands on it.

What are you waiting on this Wednesday?

Book Thoughts: Siege and Storm

Title: Siege and Storm
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Series: Grisha #2
Beware spoilers for Shadow and Bone!

I found this one a little harder to get into than the first and I think I liked the first one more, but this is still an excellent book.

I really enjoy Leigh Bardugo's world-building, and I just LOVE the way she writes characters. Alina and Mal's relationship is beautiful and heartbreaking as it develops over their return to Os Alta, and Alina's hesitant friendship with Nikolai is one of my favorite things about this book (Nikolai, actually, is probably my favorite thing about this book. Love him). Even the minor characters worm their way into your heart, which makes the realities of war, unflinchingly addressed, that much more painful and honest.

I also really enjoyed watching Alina's struggle to come to terms with her power and become who she is meant to be. I love love love the story this series is telling and the characters it's telling it with, and I cannot WAIT for Ruin and Rising next spring.

Waiting on Wednesday (on Saturday)

Hi guys! Due to crazy class shenanigans, I wasn't able to get my WoW post up this Wednesday, but I still want to share an exciting upcoming book. My pick this week is LAIR OF DREAMS by Libba Bray.

The sequel to THE DIVINERS (which was awesome), LAIR OF DREAMS follows Evie and friends now that her powers are known. Some people love her for what she can do... and some people don't. Meanwhile, another slew of murders has taken the city by storm, and it's going to take the Diviners' powers to solve the crime and catch the killer.

I really enjoyed the first book, which was a super-cool fantasy murder mystery set against the backdrop of the 1920s. So I can't wait to see how this one turns out!

What are you waiting on this week?

Waiting on Wednesday, 8/28/13

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted weekly by Jill at Breaking the Spine, is a meme to feature upcoming books that we bloggers can't wait to get our hands on. This week, I can't wait for INTO THE STILL BLUE by Veronica Rossi.

I'm not going to post the goodreads description because it has spoilers for the first two books, but what you need to know is this: ITSB is the conclusion to a brilliant post-apocalyptic trilogy about a beautiful romance, survival, forgiveness, friendship, and independence. The characters are so much fun, the story and world are captivating, and, okay, I love the romance (but the story totally isn't about that).

In this final book, Perry and Aria must find the Still Blue, or the Aether may just destroy everyone.

Look for this one January 28.

What are YOU waiting on this week? :)

Back-to-School Books

As the summer winds down, many of us are heading back to school, which usually comes with reading assignments. Those of you in high school know all too well about this (who didn't wait too long to start their summer reading homework?), but college, especially as an English major, comes with reading too. I have Siege and Storm on my desk begging to be read, but I'm stuck reading for class instead.

I say "stuck." I'm not overly enjoying this particular class book (Kunzru's The Impressionist, but I've actually found some pretty good books through school assignments.

So here's my question to you: what's the best book you've read because of school that you wouldn't otherwise have read?

I'll start: WE by Yevgeny Zamyatin. Russian dystopia from the early 1900s, never would have even known about it except for a modernism class I took and loved it. Very mathematical in an artistic way, an some super interesting commentary of modernist Russia to boot.

How 'bout you? :)

Book Thoughts: Breath

Title: Breath
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Series: Riders of the Apocalypse #4

I am just not quite sure how to feel about this book.

I like Xander; I thought he was better developed as a character than the previous protagonist, Billy. And I LOVED getting to spend time with Death as the protagonist. Seeing the character of Death develop was super cool and I love the way Kessler handled his backstory.

I also really enjoyed seeing the other Riders again. As a conclusion to the series, BREATH is absolutely what it needed to be.

I just didn't quite like Xander's story. Riley is never referred to by a pronoun, so it's always "Riley pushed Riley's hair behind Riley's ear" (that is NOT an actual quote, just a condensed example), and I didn't quite follow where the whole Baby Lex thing came from. The story with Riley made perfect sense in light of the plot twist, but Lex just didn't. And the twist just sort of felt like a cop-out, I dunno.

I think what I'm getting at is this: I love Xander's character and I liked his story (not his ending), but I thought the novel would have worked better had it focused solely on Death and the Riders without bringing Xander into it. But it's still definitely a worthy conclusion to the series and absolutely worth reading for Death's story.

Movie Trailer Roundup

Over the last days and weeks, a bunch of trailers have come out for film adaptations of books I loved. I have assembled the trailers here!

First up is THE BOOK THIEF. I simply adore the book (as in love love triple love capital L-O-V-E), so I'm wary of the film, but from the trailer I think it should be quite good. Can't wait!

Then we've got VAMPIRE ACADEMY. I super duper loved the series, but I'm still very much in the air about how the movie's going to be. I'm kind of afraid it's going to be campy in all the wrong ways, but we'll see. Hopefully it'll kick ass, because the books definitely do.

Then of course we've got DIVERGENT. This isn't a full trailer, just a teaser clip, but I'll take anything I can get at this point. I ADORE this book and its sequel, so I'm definitely excited to see what the movie's going to look like!

Book Thoughts: Starcrossed

Title: Starcrossed
Author: Josephine Angelini
Series: Starcrossed #1

I adore Greek mythology, so I really wanted to love this one. For the first couple of chapters, I thought I wasn't going to; aforementioned first couple of chapters were a bit jumpy, way heavy on the exposition, and Helen seemed way too unruffled by the unnaturalness of... well, herself.

I told myself I would give it to page fifty to see if it got better. Well before that, I was hooked. I ended up staying up until 12:30 (despite having to get up for an 8am class this morning) to finish it. And I need the second one.

STARCROSSED is about Helen Hamilton and destiny. Helen is a Scion, a descendent of one of the Greek gods. Yes, those Greek gods -- they're real, and the Fates are not about to make life easy for their children. As Helen learns the truth about who she is and what she can do, she also learns a much more upsetting truth: it may well be her destiny to rekindle the Trojan War.

The first couple chapters, like I said, were a little choppy and hard to get into, but once I was into it, I could NOT put it down. Like I said, I love Greek mythology, so seeing the way those stories were incorporated into Angelini's Nantucket was super cool. And I really appreciate that there is a completely rational explanation for why Helen doesn't know what she is at first. And, okay, I am in love with the entire Delos family. And Claire. And Jerry. I love Helen and Jerry's father-daughter relationship, I love the way the relationship develops between Helen and Lucas, I love Helen and Claire's friendship...

Promise yourself you'll give it the first three chapters. By the time you finish that, you'll be stuck. Fans of mythology and/or romance will definitely love this one.

Waiting on Wednesday, 8/21/13

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, is a weekly meme to spotlight upcoming books we bloggers can't wait to get our hands on. This week I'm waiting on Lauren DeStefano's PERFECT RUIN.

On Internment, the floating island in the clouds where 16-year-old Morgan Stockhour lives, getting too close to the edge can lead to madness. Even though Morgan's older brother, Lex, was a Jumper, Morgan vows never to end up like him. She tries her best not to mind that her life is orderly and boring, and if she ever wonders about the ground, and why it is forbidden, she takes solace in best friend Pen and her betrothed, Basil.

Then a murder, the first in a generation, rocks the city. With whispers swirling and fear on the wind, Morgan can no longer stop herself from investigating, especially when she meets Judas. He is the boy being blamed for the murder — betrothed to the victim — but Morgan is convinced of his innocence. Secrets lay at the heart of Internment, but nothing can prepare Morgan for what she will find — or who she will lose.

-Goodreads

This sounds right up my alley -- vaguely dystopian with some hardcore government secrets. Plus, I adored Lauren DeStefano's Chemical Garden trilogy and this cover is gorgeous. Mark October 1 on your calendars for this one!

What are YOU waiting on this week?

Book Thoughts: If I Should Die

Title: If I Should Die
Author: Amy Plum
Series: Revenants #3

I really loved this series, and I thought IF I SHOULD DIE was an excellent conclusion.

Beware of spoilers for the first two books! As the trilogy winds to an end, Kate and her revenant friends must search for a way to bring Vincent back while stopping Violette and her army of numa from destroying Paris. One adventure follows another, and I adored the details of the revenants' world and their relationship to the guerriseurs. I'm a sucker for good world-building, and I haven't encountered a lot of books about revenants, so I thought that was cool and I love that we're still learning along with Kate even in the third book.

I was a little disappointed that I figured out two (and a half?) major plot points well in advance (no, I'm not going to tell you which ones because spoilers), but it didn't really matter -- even though I had accurately figured out what was coming, it was super fun to see how the characters got there. And of course, I simply love the romance between Kate and Vincent and the relationships between all of the different characters.

So, yeah, highlights: fun characters and the guerriseur world and absolutely beautiful romance. A fitting end to a series that I have very much enjoyed and can wholeheartedly give my stamp of approval. :) Now if only there were more books about the Paris revenants...

Waiting on Wednesday, 8/14/13

Waiting on Wednesday, hosted over at Breaking the Spine, is a weekly feature to spotlight prerelease books that we bloggers are excited about. This week I'm waiting on ALTERED by Gennifer Albin.

I adored CREWEL so I can't wait to find out what awaits Adelice and her friends in this sequel! (Plus, okay, is that an awesome cover or what?)

This is the goodreads description, but if you haven't read CREWEL, don't read it!

Adelice always knew there’d be a price to destroying the Guild, but is she willing to pay it?

After a daring escape to Earth from Arras, sixteen-year-old Adelice Lewys thought she would finally be in control of her own destiny. She would be free to be true to herself and to her heart—to love Jost, the boy the Guild said she could not have. But Earth is not abandoned, as she’d always been taught it was. It’s inhabited with survivors waging a war against Arras. The world that was supposed to offer a new beginning is still tangled up in the past.

Now Adelice is being called upon to harness her phenomenal power and break Earth from the grip of the Guild. But even as she uncovers the truth about her parents and her former life, she discovers that nothing on Earth is as it seems either. Everyone has secrets, especially those she loves most. What’s more, those secrets are driving Adelice and Jost away from each other, and Adelice into his brother Erik’s waiting arms. Now torn between two brothers and two worlds, Adelice must decide what—and who--she’s fighting for, before it’s too late.

What are YOU waiting on this week?

Book Thoughts: Ash

Title: Ash
Author: Malinda Lo

I really wanted to love this book. I didn't.

I love the idea of this book. I adore fairytale retellings (and, okay, I'm a bit of a sucker for the Cinderella story), and this one put a really cool twist on it -- Ash (the Cinderella character), rather than falling in love with the prince, falls for the king's huntress, aided not by a fairy godmother but by a fairy (think faerie) who's in love with her. It was such a cool story and I absolutely adored Malinda Lo's twist on this classic tale.

What I didn't love was the writing style. It read, to me, like an antiquated fairy tale -- which fits for the kind of story this is, I guess, but it feels very forced and one-dimensional as a narrative style for an entire novel. I had no emotional connection to Ash or her relationships with Sidhean or Kaisa. Ash at one point describes fairy tales as stories with a lesson to be learned; I kind of felt this way about the novel ASH. It's less of a novel that you get emotionally invested in and more one that's like oh, okay, Cinderella but she loves a girl and also love is important. You don't feel the love, you just sort of read about it.

I don't know. I did enjoy ASH because as I said, such a cool twist on the story, but I kind of had to drag myself through the style and I don't feel attached to the characters at all. But as this is Malinda Lo's first novel, I love her blog, and her newer books aren't fairytales, I'll definitely try something else of hers.

Book Thoughts: Everbound

Title: Everbound
Author: Brodi Ashton
Series: Everneath #2

*Warning! Spoilers for Everneath*

I am in love with this series.

In this second installment of the trilogy, Nikki sets out to rescue Jack from the Everneath -- but to do that, she's going to have to trust Cole, something she has sworn not to do. It won't be an easy journey, and it's going to take all Nikki has to get through it, if she can at all.

I just. I know finding your "forever" love in high school is unusual, but I simply adore the relationship between Jack and Nikki. I love the flashbacks where we get to see their life together before the Everneath, and I love how much faith Nikki has in him. I also really love the relationship between Nikki and Cole: it isn't quite love, but it's something real. I like that it's a love triangle without being a love triangle -- Nikki and Jack are in love, plain and simple; Nikki does not love Cole and she knows that, but he complicates things for other reasons.

I love Brodi Ashton's writing style. I adore her conception of the Underworld and the influence of mythology (because hey, I'm a mythology geek, and if you'll play to that, you're already well on your way to winning me over). I loved getting to explore more of the Everneath in this book.

And I love that there is no middle-book syndrome here! EVERBOUND is a complete story in and of itself, certainly reliant on the previous book but definitely NOT mere filler between the beginning and the end of the trilogy.

Oh, and the other thing I loved? The plot twist. I didn't see it coming, but I should have. Can't wait for book three!

Book Thoughts: The Iron Knight

Title: The Iron Knight
Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: Iron Fey #4

*Spoiler warning for earlier books in the series*

I am SO, SO GLAD we got a book four. The series was originally going to be a trilogy, leaving Meghan as the Iron Queen but at the great cost of losing Ash. But because Julie Kagawa's editor is apparently as much of a Meghan/Ash shipper as I am, we got THE IRON KNIGHT.

Told from Ash's perspective, THE IRON KNIGHT is the tale of Ash's journey to the End of the World to find a way to be with Meghan. There will be costs, there will be trials he never dreamed of, but he is determined to do anything at all so he can be with Meghan... isn't he?

I simply adore Ash and Puck both, and Grimalkin... well, if you don't love Grimalkin, I do not understand you on some fundamental level. (That's only mostly a joke.) It was super cool getting to see Ash's point of view and to see the interplay between him and Puck without Meghan around. And I just LOVE the way the series incorporates so many familiar elements of fey lore with so much new stuff and other storytelling. I am a huge fan of the setting and the characters, so the seriously epic adventure is almost icing on the cake.

For some reason, I found this one a little bit slow getting into (can't tell you why, because I loved it), but once I was into it... well. I may have stayed up until three in the morning to finish it. And by "may have" I mean "totally did."

A wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series. I definitely recommend this series to anyone looking for a fun new twist on faerie tales (or simply a great romance or adventure) and I look forward to reading more from Julie Kagawa.

Book Thoughts: Loss

Title: Loss
Author: Jackie Morse Kessler
Series: Riders of the Apocalypse #3

Billy Ballard is the local punching bag, the kid everyone picks on, the boy who never fights back. He keeps his head down at school, cares for his Alzheimer's-afflicted grandfather, and generally hates his life. He also has nightmares about the "Ice Cream Man" -- nightmares that are about to become all too real, when Death himself shows up on Billy's doorway and hands him the Bow of Pestilence.

I really enjoyed the story here -- the idea of Pestilence having been so disenchanted with and maddened by his job that he tricks little Billy, who must now at fifteen go get him back. It's a change from the previous two books; although I enjoyed both of them, the story arcs were very similar, and this one takes a slightly different tack.

I also really love the way Kessler puts words together. I love that she's putting out such a vehement anti-bullying message, and I love that she's donating proceeds from this novel to Alzheimer's research. It was a fun story and a good continuation of the series.

But Billy felt kind of flat to me. He's the school punching bag, sure, but there are references to bringing home good grades and slight hints that he's into music that could have helped him be so much more rounded as a character. There are vague indications that he has a personality besides "bullying victim," but that's the only part that's really developed. And while I think the message about standing up to bullies is incredibly important, I think it's also important to acknowledge that there is more to a person than just being bullied.

So I don't know. I definitely liked the book, but there were also things that I thought could have been better. I'm still going to look for book four for sure, but I'm not going to say LOSS is my favorite in the series.

Updates Again!

Couple of things to share with y'all, fellow bookworms.

FIRST: I was supposed to be moved into my new apartment completely by last Friday. Things didn't quite go to plan (I mean, nothing ever does, that's life, but things went less to plan than usual), but I am now finally moved in and settled, and I've made my first trip to the local library. Life is good.

Me with Luna

SECOND: The other reason that this last week has been so hectic is Luna. Luna is a seven-week-old Siamese kitten who, after lots of uncertainty, I ended up adopting. She's a real sweetheart, but it's like having a baby in the house: never a quiet moment.

THIRD: The move from tumblr (and assorted other private blogs and personal notes) to blogspot is complete! The review archive is 100% up to date.

FOURTH: Regular blogging to recommence immediately! My review for LOSS will be up tomorrow, which will be the beginning of post-move blogging normalcy for real.

Until tomorrow, happy reading!

Waiting on Wednesday, 8/7/13

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted at Breaking the Spine to spotlight prerelease books we bloggers are excited about. This week I'm waiting on Smoke by Ellen Hopkins.

 Pattyn Von Stratten’s father is dead, and Pattyn is on the run. After far too many years of abuse at the hands of her father, and after the tragic loss of her beloved Ethan and their unborn child, Pattyn is desperate for peace. Only her sister Jackie knows what happened that night, but she is stuck at home with their mother, who clings to normalcy by allowing the truth to be covered up by their domineering community leaders. Her father might be finally gone, but without Pattyn, Jackie is desperately isolated. Alone and in disguise, Pattyn starts a new life, but is it even possible to rebuild a life when everything you’ve known has burned to ash and lies seem far safer than the truth? --Goodreads

I really enjoyed Burned, so I'm excited for this one to see how Pattyn's life continues even after she lost so much. (I say "enjoyed" and "excited" inasmuch as you can use those words for such a tragic story.) I love Hopkins' writing and so new books of hers pretty much always make my can't-wait list.

What are YOU waiting on this week?

(P.S. Sorry for the radio silence lately! There were some complications moving into my apartment and I ended up sort of suddenly adopting a seven-week-old kitten, so it's been a bit hectic around here lately. But we're finally settled, so reading and posting should *actually* be returning to normal now.)

Book Thoughts: Dead Silence

Title: Dead Silence
Author: Kimberly Derting
Series: Body Finder #4

*Spoilers for earlier books in the series*

Stuck with an imprint of her own and the terrible memories of her nearly fatal kidnapping, Violet is determined to keep her ability to sense the dead hidden. But threats from her psychiatrist are making sure she stays on her special team, and her friends are making it harder than ever to keep her two worlds separate -- especially now that Rafe and Gemma are going to her school. And when she stumbles across a particularly violent murder scene, her life gets that much crazier.

I loved the story in this one, and I continue to adore the relationship between Violet and Jay. The way the mystery unfolds is, as ever, brilliant. I was less thrilled with the conclusion, though.

If there were going to be another book in the series, then I would have no trouble with the ending whatsoever. It resolved the events of this story well; the relationships, the murder mystery, the book-specific plot events, everything was tied up. But in terms of concluding the series, I just felt like there were still way too many things left unclear about Violet's team of people, especially with all of the buildup to some Big Secret via Grandma Louise's old journals. I felt like there was a secondary mystery being heavily teased that was never resolved, which would be fine if there were another book to resolve it, but with this as probably the last in the series, I feel a little unresolved.

Even so, I enjoyed the book and would recommend the series in a heartbeat to anyone who enjoys a good murder mystery.

Gorgeous New Covers!

Over the last couple of days, the covers for THE OFFERING (the third book in Kimberly Derting's The Pledge series) and UNFORGOTTEN (the sequel to Jessica Brody's Unremembered) were released. Are these gorgeous or what?

Book Thoughts: Sourcery

Title: Sourcery
Author: Terry Pratchett
Series: Discworld #5

Sourcery -- access to raw, creative, untethered magic -- disappeared from the Disc long ago, after some very nasty Mage Wars. But it has returned, in the form of a young boy named Coin.

Something has to be done before the overpowered wizards destroy the Disc -- but it looks like the job is going to be left to a failed wizard, a boy who's been a barbarian hero for three days but hasn't finished the instruction manual, a hairdresser wannabe with killer instincts, and an alcoholic poet. As you might expect, hilarious shenanigans (and a lot of surprising depth) ensue.

Rincewind! Rincewind is back! (We haven't seen him since The Light Fantastic, and he's one of my favorites.) And the other characters are all wonderful too. Some of the plot got a little bit weird in this one, but I think I would put it pretty close to the top of my Discworld experience so far. A quick and hilarious read, classic Terry Pratchett. Definitely read.