Waiting on Wednesday (19)

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My pick this week is...

Everneath by Brodi Ashton

Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. 

She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. 

Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. 

As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...

I am dying to read this book, I love mythology books and retelling and this sounds like a great retelling of the Persephone myth! I just can't wait to read it. 

Review: The Iron Knight - Julie Kagawa

• Paperback:
 400 pages

• Publisher:
 Harlequin; Original edition (October 25, 2011)

• Language:
 English

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing. 
Unless he can earn a soul. 
To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought. 
Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive. 
With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side. 
To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale. 
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts...

I adore this series, I have loved it from the start. That being said I had a little trouble getting into this book. From the start I have always proudly waved my team Puck banner. I've loved reading from Meghan's point of view, and because of my love for Puck slipping into his head in his novella was effortless, but I had issues seeing everything thought Ash's eyes. Once I got past that sticking point this was truly a fantastic story and a perfect addiction to this series. All the usual suspects were there, and the banter between Ash and Puck was as entertaining as ever. Grim still holds a special place in my heart. I would give anything for a cat like him! There were also a few additions to the group that I wasn't expecting. The adventure was dangerous, fun, and heart breaking at times. I did end up enjoying this book very much. And while I am sad that the series has ended, I look forward to Julie's spin off series. I give this book 5 stars and the whole series glowing recommendations!

Top Ten Distopian Books I would recommend to someone who doesn't read Dystopian

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by the wonderful people over at The Broke and the Bookish

This week the list is, List 10 books you would recommend in x genre to to someone who doesn't read x genre.

The Hunger Games Trilogy - These books were the first true dystopians I read outside of books I had to read for school. I loved them and recommend them to everyone I know because I hope everyone else reads them and loves them too!

 Divergent by Veronica Roth - When reading dystopian I find myself always looking for the next Hunger Games, and I think this one is it! This was just an all around great book!

Matched by Ally Condie - This was another good one. This one was more of a mental book for me, Other dystopians involve physically fighting, this one seemed more about taking control of yourself and your choices. I enjoyed it an look forward to reading the next one soon.

Possession by Elana Johnson - I absolutely adored this book! It was different and kept me turning the pages until I was done. The companion novel will be out soon and I can't wait to read that one either.

Bumped by Megan McCafferty - This one was different and involved a topic that I don't think many people would try to tackle in teen fiction. But Megan did this very well. I am actually dying to read the next book! I was left with quite a few questions and I really want answers. 

Wither by Lauren DeStefano - This is another one that I thought was very well done but tackled a topic that most people would write about when writing for teens. When I started this book I really thought I was going to hate it, but by the end I was so sucked into the story that I couldn't believe it was finished. I am not so patiently waiting for the sequel to be released. 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi - I really enjoyed this story, it was different and well written and a pleasure to sit and devour. Being a very new release I don't want to say much more than I loved it.

Gone Series by Michael Grant - This set of books is fantastic. On one hand I want to rush in and save these kids but on the other I am curious to see just how much they can deal with. I am so anxious to get my hands on the next installment in this series. 

Birthmarked by Caragh M. O'Brien - I wasn't sure I was going to like this one when I started it, but once I was a handful of pages in it sunk its hooks into me and I just couldn't stop. I do look forward to reading the second book in this series soon. 

Enclave by Ann Aguirre - The one was fantastic, There was so much to this book, and it at times was VERY creepy. I remember finishing this one and being so upset because waiting a year for the next one just seemed so cruel. 

Review: Anna Dressed in Blood - Kendare Blake

• Reading level:
 Ages 12 and up

• Hardcover:
 320 pages

• Publisher:
 Tor Teen; First Edition edition (August 30, 2011)

Just your average boy-meets-girl, girl-kills-people story. . . 
Cas Lowood has inherited an unusual vocation: He kills the dead. 
So did his father before him, until his gruesome murder by a ghost he sought to kill. Now, armed with his father's mysterious and deadly athame, Cas travels the country with his kitchen-witch mother and their spirit-sniffing cat. Together they follow legends and local lore, trying to keep up with the murderous dead—keeping pesky things like the future and friends at bay. 
When they arrive in a new town in search of a ghost the locals call Anna Dressed in Blood, Cas doesn't expect anything outside of the ordinary: move, hunt, kill. What he finds instead is a girl entangled in curses and rage, a ghost like he's never faced before. She still wears the dress she wore on the day of her brutal murder in 1958: once white, but now stained red and dripping blood. Since her death, Anna has killed any and every person who has dared to step into the deserted Victorian she used to call home. 
And she, for whatever reason, spares his life.

My Thoughts...

I have read a lot of books so far this year, a lot of great books but I think this has been the best so far! This was pretty non stop and at times majorly creepy. I loved Cas from the very start, he reminded me of one of my favorite men, Dead Winchester. *swoon* The beginning with the hitchhiker really set the tone for the rest of the book. Dark, ominous, and fantastic. From the first mention of Anna I couldn't wait to meet her. And when I finally did meet her I loved her. She was so many things scary, dark, blood, yet sounding oddly beautiful and mysterious. the more that happens and the more we see of Cas and Anna the more I was sucked in. I needed to know what was going to happen, and how Cas would handle things. Cas's mom amazed me, she knows what he does, and that it is dangerous, yet she lets him do it, and helps when he needs to be healed, or just someone to talk to.  Thomas and Caramel were great characters somehow they managed to work there way into Cas's life and become friends! Through all the jumbled mess they deal with in the end Anna isn't there biggest issue. I have to stop there because the ending was great and I don't want to ruin it. This book had everything, Action, excitement, love, friendship, drama and great characters, and setting. If I could give this 6 stars I would. I give this 5 stars and strongly urge all of you to read this book! 

In My Mailbox (19)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

all links go to goodreads =o)

Review:

Lies Beneath - Anne Greenwood Brown

Dust Girl - Sarah Zettel

The Book of Blood and Shadow - Robin Wasserman

The Gathering Storm - Robin Bridges

Spellcaster - Cara Lynn Shultz

Goddess Interrupted - Aimee Carter

The Peculiars - Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Spin - Catherine McKenzie

The Merchants Daughter - Melanie Dickerson

Ripper - Amy Carol Reeves

I can't wait to see whats in your mailbox!

Follow Friday (15)

Follow Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Parajunkee, every week we all get together to answer a question and find new blogs that we enjoy. This weeks question is

Q: Many readers/bloggers are also big music fans. Tell us about a few of your favorite bands/singers that we should listen to in 2012.

Oh boy this is one of those questions that always make people look at me funny. My music tastes vary heavily!

One of my favorite bands is Nickelback! I LOVE them and hope that they will be come back around where I like so I can see them live. I also like Eminem (I know right?!? lol) But yes it does continue to get stranger! I can also be found spending a great deal of time listing to Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, Toby Keith, or Tim McGraw or anyone other number of country stars. My ipod is full of all different types of music. 90's music and 80's music will always hold a special place in my heart as well. So there now that the secret is out that I am strange in my music tastes please don't judge too harshly lol.

Review: Starstruck - Cyna Balog

• Reading level:
 Ages 12 and up

• Hardcover:
 256 pages

• Publisher:
 Delacorte Books for Young Readers (July 12, 2011)

Gwendolyn "Dough" X doesn't think she has much going for her—she carries a few extra pounds, her family struggles with their small bakery in a town full of millionaires, and the other kids at her New Jersey high school don't seem to know that she exists. Thank the stars for her longtime boyfriend, Philip P. Wishman—or "Wish." He moved away to California three years ago, when they were 13, but then professed his love for her via e-mail, and he's been her long-distance BF ever since. At the beginning of her junior year, though, Wish e-mails that he's moving back to Jersey. Great, right? Well, except that Dough has gained about 70 pounds since the last time Wish saw her, while Wish—according to his Facebook photos—has morphed into a blond god. Convinced that she'll be headed for Dumpsville the minute Wish lays eyes on her, Dough delays their meeting as long as she possibly can.But when she sees Wish at school, something amazing happens. He looks at Dough like she's just as gorgeous as he is. But Wish is acting a little weird, obsessed with the sun and freaked out by rain. And the creepy new guy working at the bakery, Christian, is convinced that there's more to Wish's good looks than just healthy eating and lots of sun. He tells Dough that a mark on Wish's neck marks him as a member of the Luminati—an ancient cult of astrologers who can manipulate the stars to improve their lives. Is Wish and Dough's love meant to be—or are they star-crossed?

My Thoughts...

This is yet another first for me, I haven't read anything by Cyna Balog before, but I can tell you I will be reading more after this. This is the story of Gwen aka Dough. She carried on a long distance relationship with her best friend Wish. He tells her that he is moving back to there home town, and while this news would thrill most girls it terrifies Dough. While Wish has been in California he has gone from awkward to gorgeous god like hott boy. While he was making this chance Dough packed on the pounds and was the butt of quite a few jokes. All she could thing was the moment he saw her he would dump her and run. While this isn't the case Dough is always waiting for him to realize he can do better. It isn't until he mom hires Christian to work in the family bakery  that things start to turn around for her. He tells her she has to project confidence and other will see it. So some new cloths and an attitude make over later and suddenly the cool kids start to notice her Still she can't shake the feeling that something is up with Wish. From there we go into a race against time, freak storms batter there small island town, Evie, Dough's sister gets sick with a high fever. Christian explains this is all Wish's fault, that he is apart of the Luminati, a group of people who use the stars to alter how others see them. Dough doesn't believe it until it is almost too late. This was such a well told story with a fresh idea! I absolutely loved Dough and could totally empathise with her she was so real and believable. Wish wasn't one of my favorite characters but he wasn't bad. I did however love Christian! The idea of the Luminati was pretty great too. This really went off without a hitch. The characters had a great voice, the story flowed, the plot was fresh and exciting. I give this one 4.5 stars, and glowing recommendations!