Yay! Reads

A New Story Experience with Michael Grant

2011-08-08T16:37:00.000-04:00

Storytelling just got even more fun! Michael Grant, the author of the Gone series has created an online reading experience where you join the main character, Nexus Humanus, through the action. It is filled with puzzles, videos, and community collaborations. Here is a Q&A with Michael Grant to help you understand a bit more about the concept:

What is “Go BZRK”? Is this a book or some kind of interactive story?

Both. The book comes out this winter, but the interactive part starts now. One leads up to the other, but they're part of a complete package.

Why “transmedia”?

There are different approaches to transmedia. Most people take a single story and reproduce it on various platforms. My philosophy has been to make each element - ARG, app, web, book - a thing unto itself, each revealing some aspect of the world of BZRK. I've been fascinated with this is as a new way to tell stories. The book remains central, but now I can reach beyond the book and create a much more complete world. I can tell stories that enhance the book, and stories that parallel the book, and stories that are offshoots of backstory. I guess the answer to "why" is "because it's fun."

Is this the future of publishing?

I began a few years ago reaching out to publishers and saying we collectively needed to understand that the old models were dead or dying. I want publishing to survive, and of course I'd like my own career to thrive. So Egmont Publishing and my partners and I certainly hope this is a part of the future of publishing.

How long is this running? Is this part of a larger picture?

We'll be running this in several chunks between now and the book release this winter. Because these things have a hard start/stop point, August is a ramp-up phase. There'll be a lot of content coming out, but the experience really gets underway at the end of the month… just in time to distract the kids from their schoolwork.

What if someone wants to follow the story but doesn’t want to participate?

You don't have to do anything. You can do one thing and not another. But the deeper you plunge the wetter you get. I think every part of this is fun, I think people will enjoy the ARG, the app, the site and the books.

App? You've mentioned that a couple times now.

Just wait and see.

What can you tell us about the story? What is “BZRK”?

It's a battle for the soul and freedom of the human race carried out simultaneously in the world we know, and in a world that you're not going to expect. It's a world where if you make a false move, you're going to lose your mind.

Insanity… is this something you have a personal familiarity with?

The line between writer and crazy person is very thin. Both go around holding long, involved conversations with people who aren't there.

What’s this other world thing all about?

Do you really want spoilers? I'll tell you this. We'll be going "down in the meat." It's going to be vast, bloody, and beautiful.

Wait… isn’t this supposed to be for kids?

Adults like to flatter themselves that kids won't get, won't understand, won't be able to handle, more intense, more complex stories. That's nonsense. It's the adults who are easy to creep out or scare. Say the word "biopsy" in a room full of adults. Or "audit." See? Easy to scare. Kids are a tougher audience because kids think they're immortal.

* I did not conduct this interview but was provided to me.

The missing son of a U.N. diplomat... the reemergence of a strange organization... a pair of society twins caught in the middle... this is just the beginning of "Go BZRK," a new transmedia experience from author Michael Grant.

If you're ready to take the plunge in an interactive story like you've never experienced before, visit SocietyTWins.Com and register with NexusHumanus.Com to take your first steps in a strange and compelling universe.

Filled with video, puzzles, community collaboration, and more, "Go BZRK" put YOU the player right in the middle of the action as you join Nexus Humanus and unravel a mystery that may hold the key to the fate of all mankind.

So go ahead and join! I sure will.

Here Lies Bridget by Paige Harbison

2011-07-31T22:09:00.000-04:00

Here Lies Bridget
What do you do when the five people you meet in limbo all want you to go to hell?

Bridget Duke is the uncontested ruler of her school. The meanest girl with the biggest secret insecurities. And when new girl Anna Judge arrives, things start to fall apart for Bridget: friends don’t worship as attentively, teachers don’t fall for her wide-eyed “who me?” look, expulsion looms ahead and the one boy she’s always loved—Liam Ward—can barely even look at her anymore.

When a desperate Bridget drives too fast and crashes her car, she ends up in limbo, facing everyone she’s wronged and walking a few uncomfortable miles in their shoes. Now she has only one chance to make a last impression. Though she might end up dead, she has one last shot at redemption and the chance to right the wrongs she’s inflicted on the people who mean the most to her.

And Bridget’s about to learn that, sometimes, saying you’re sorry just isn’t enough.…

At First Sight:
I thought this would be an interesting read. I've never really liked mean protagonists before because I find it very hard to relate so I treaded this book with caution.

My Thoughts:

Bridget is definitely the Queen Bee. She's popular but has gained her popularity for being intimidating rather than nice. She's even horrible to her friends and step-mom. I have to say, throughout the book in general, I really didn't connect with Bridget. I tried to feel sorry for her, to understand her confusion, to feel some kind of sympathy for her--but it never came. That was my biggest problem with the book.

Of course, there's a rival girl and a cute guy. Anna (the nice/rival girl) is too cliche for me to relate and the cute guy (what was his name again? See, this is why I hate reviewing books months after I read them) was bland, nothing that stood out as a perfect match, to be honest.

My favorite character was the step-mom. She had the most depth and complexity out of all of them and actually reading her part in the book made me like the book more.

The story is not bad, I suppose. I enjoyed the book and some parts were fairly entertaining and light enough to read quickly but I've discovered that I certainly do not like the mean-type characters (why do I still want to read Before I Fall?). I'm such a big character-driven reader and writer that any time I face a character I cannot relate to, I'm not as invested in the story.

By the end, it got better but it didn't feel as believable as it should be. I don't want to spoil it for any one so I'll leave it at that.

Plot: 4
Characters: 2.5
Writing: 4
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 3
Average: 3.7

OMG I met Meg Cabot, Libba Bray, and Maggie Stiefvater!

2011-07-24T20:11:00.000-04:00

Yes, you read right! Photos and squeeing ensue:

The event took place at Books & Books at Coral Gables in Miami, FL. I am here visiting grandparents and it was total coincidence that the authors happened to have a signing the weekend before I leave. I've been dreaming about this forever.

That picture above (and the other ones I'll be showing) was taken with my phone (so pardon the quality). Those who follow me on twitter (@paperezelias) might have noticed my ~~annoying spam~~ reporting of the events. I got to the bookstore early in order to purchase Libba's Beauty Queens (I had to purchase a book to get a ticket to enter. I already have Meg's Abandon and I haven't read book two and three from the Wolves of Mercy Falls trilogy).

Obviously, I was VERY excited for the event. I was most excited for Meg, of course, since I basically worship the ground she walks on (she's amazing). But I was still excited about Libba, too, because I've read all of her books (except Beauty Queens which I'll be getting into soon). At about seven fifteen, they walked in.

(again, sorry for the bad quality. Phone camera + hands shaking = shitty picture)

I could not contain myself in my seat. Like seriously, I went from being freezing cold to completely over excited in two seconds. Meg is so tall and beautiful! And Libba, my gosh, I didn't recognize her! She was adorable and was dressed super cute in a summer-y dress and black sheer shawl. Maggie (although I was excited for her) looked so young and nice with her super down-to-earth hippie-style jeans and boots.

Maggie talked first about her inspiration for Shiver (a hilarious anecdote about Sultan the Wolf Man). Libba was so excited she actually knocked over a bottle of water. That brought in many jokes that lasted through the night (it was not the only one, believe me).

Libba talked about one of her most embarrassing moments when she tried to impress some boys at a hotel pool. She touched on the subject of her tragic accident and how she grew from it. It was so inspiring and I found myself loving Libba more and more. This, however, continued when she used Mad-Libs to tell us about Beauty Queens. The funny 'blurb' was accompanied by naughty jokes such as 'Eat Pray Thrust' which made us all double in laughter.

Meg, hilarious as ever, talked a bit about how she started writing and where the story of Abandon came from. When she finished, she gave a very convincing imitation of Bella Swan (aka KStew in the movie Twilight) discovering she was pregnant. It was to die for! Dubbed the Uterus Dance.

After all three talked, the floor opened to questions which prompted more jokes (especially from Eat Pray Thrust) and Libba admitting that she has never read Harry Potter or seen the movies. After that, the authors left and we started to make a line to get the books signed. I was thankfully in the first group and got into the signing room real quick. First, I went to Libba's line and she signed my book (and gave me an awesome pin that says Sparkle Pony). She was so sweet and took a photo with me! She even complimented my outfit! GUSH!

(This one is either worse quality since I took it with my phone from the digital camera that I used to take the actual photo)

Then I went to Meg and I couldn't even speak well because I was so excited. She also complimented my outfit, signed my Insatiable copy, took a photo with me, and gave me tons of cool bookmarks.

All in all, it was a fantastic experience that I'll never forget. It is always amazing when one meets their role models and favorite people. It's something I didn't imagine would happen to me and propelled me to work even harder on my dreams at becoming a published writer. Thanks Meg, Libba, and Maggie, for writing great books and being the awesome people that you are.

Never Give Up...Maybe?

2011-07-16T23:22:00.000-04:00

No, I will not give up!

I have queried about 5-7 agents. Most of them have said no, there are a few who haven't answered. I knew it was going to be hard but I hoped it would be easier. I've been in a little funk lately but I'm hoping to tackle my synopsis and query further and try to send out some more queries by the end of the month.

It may sound cheesy, but maybe it's not meant for me now because I'm so young and everything but the publishing business is hard itself so I won't give up! I just need a bit more encouragement for my peers, I guess. It's a lonely ride. Of course, my parents support me and my family ask about my novel but I guess I want someone to say constructive and supportive criticism and be my cheerleader. Every attempt I've made at starting a crit group has failed because the people are not as committed to it. Sometimes I think if maybe I'm just too young and headstrong and it puts people off.

Anyway, I saw the Harry Potter film at midnight. I loved it! I cried so much, too. Probably the last half hour or so I sobbed.

xo

It's A Scary Journey

2011-06-30T11:56:00.000-04:00

Hi!

Two days ago I did the unthinkable: I sent two queries to two different agents.
I'm not revealing who these agents are because I'm secretly afriad that I'll jinx everything and it would go horrible but just know they're agents.

It was scary and and exciting. After I sent the first letter I started crying because I could not believe I was at this point of my writing journey. To be honest, it's scarier that in it exciting because it's the first time I've put myself out there, plain and simple and ready to take the punches (and they will come).

I'm proud of myself and want to keep my head in the ground and just enjoy the moment. I'm not expecting anything and I know my writing has yet a lot of room to grow but PAPER ANGELS is my baby, you know?

Naturally, after I sent the queries, I keep thinking of all the things that I could have done wrong and all the things I could have made better. Did I spell my name right? Did I spell the agent's name right? What if the agent gets mad that my query appears in their inbox? Will they care if I'm from Puerto Rico?

All these thoughts and more crossed my mind and I had tot take a breather. I had to close my eyes and think that what's done is done and I should be proud of myself...right? What do I have to lose? Nothing. Yet I have so much to gain. I'm still young and still have a lot of life ahead of me. Life is nothing without risks, after all.

I'm glad to have you all here in this crazy journey with me and I hope you stick around for the wild ride that's just beginning.

Love,

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

2011-06-30T11:35:00.000-04:00

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And a strange collection of very curious photographs. It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, a horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

At First Sight:
I have to be honest, when I first received an email for this book I was slightly creeped by the cover and the premise. I thought this was going to be one of those awkwardly creepy books where you just don't know what's happening and the narrator is some weird loner. But I was intrigued nevertheless and thought, why not? So I accepted and here are my thoughts.

My Thoughts:
I have to start with the title. Weird and catchy at the same time. But when I received this book in the mail, the packaging was simply fantastic. It looked like an old-new photo album with embossed pages, beautiful colors and designs. I think it's the prettiest book I have on my shelf.

When I started reading, I didn't expect how much I'd like it. Jacob is a true teenage voice and the narration is beautiful. Ransom Riggs did an incredible job bringing every single character and situation to life. In fact, he did such a wonderful job that at one point you start wondering if any of it is actually real and not fantasy.

The plot was fantastic, too. Like I said, I wasn't expecting anything that I'd enjoy but I was wonderfully surprised. I'm such a historylover that I adored the historic bits of the story. It had enough mystery to intrigue you but not so much that it would creep you out and you'd have to put it down.

AND THAT ENDING! It's a wonderful (see, I keep using adjectives?) cliffhanger that makes me yearn for the next installment NOW.

Overall, it was lovely (OH NO I KEEP USING ADVERBS) surprise. I LOVED IT!

In One Sentence:
It doesn't seem like it at first sight, but ANYONE can enjoy this book. It's eerily fantastic.

Okay, that was two sentences. See how good it was??

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5 stars

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

2011-06-20T12:39:00.000-04:00

Water For Elephants

Though he may not speak of them, the memories still dwell inside Jacob Jankowski's ninety-something-year-old mind. Memories of himself as a young man, tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. Memories of a world filled with freaks and clowns, with wonder and pain and anger and passion; a world with its own narrow, irrational rules, its own way of life, and its own way of death. The world of the circus: to Jacob it was both salvation and a living hell.

Jacob was there because his luck had run out - orphaned and penniless, he had no direction until he landed on this locomotive 'ship of fools'. It was the early part of the Great Depression, and everyone in this third-rate circus was lucky to have any job at all. Marlena, the star of the equestrian act, was there because she fell in love with the wrong man, a handsome circus boss with a wide mean streak. And Rosie the elephant was there because she was the great gray hope, the new act that was going to be the salvation of the circus; the only problem was, Rosie didn't have an act - in fact, she couldn't even follow instructions. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

At First Sight:
I learned about this book through the movie. Like most movies made from books, I'd rather read the book before I get to see the movie. Lucky for me, the movie had already left theaters when I got the chance to buy this book so I was able to read it without being tempted. To be honest, the book didn't interest me that much by the cover. I mean, circus and elephants? what? But OMG was I wrong.

My Thoughts:
The Prologue is like, mind-blowing. You know that from the very beginning this book will be beautiful. The writing from the very first sentence is fantastic and the imagery that is created is...wow. I was wary of a female writer narrating as a male adult but Jacob's voice was very manly and real.

We learn about how Jacob has lost his parents and he decides to simply go. Feeling his life has turned for the worse, he runs away and ends up in a train car where he meets curious people. At first, Jacob is a bit shy and curious yet he's sure of who he is and what he's able to do. Very respectful, I loved that.

He meets Marlena, a beautiful woman who is also the wife of his boss. He ends up falling in love with her. I loved the development of the romance. You have to squint a little to see it in the beginning but it grows and it's very beautiful and magical.

Water for Elephants is a masterpiece that is so unexpected. You really don't expect such a book to come from between those pages. Everything is woven and written to perfection and I just...fell in love with it. I can't wait to see the movie now.

In One Sentence:
Unexpected and Beautiful!

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

NEWS NEWS NEWS!!!

2011-06-17T19:10:00.002-04:00

Sorry for the big bold header I wanted to get your attention.

Now that I've got it I want to tell you that I am officially done with edits for my novel, PAPER ANGELS. As is usual, my thoughts are better expressed in lists:

01. I started this novel during NaNo 2009 and finished shortly after. I've been working on it ever since.

02. It's been through around 4 rounds of editing/re-writing. I have to admit, editing is not my favorite part. I love the sense of freedom and open-mindedness of just writing the novel and pouring out all thoughts.

03. I already have an account at Query Tracker where I've listed the first five to seven agents I want to query. Before I do this, though, I'm going to research them further and read everything I can read about them to make sure they're a good fit for me.

04. I'm excited but I don't want to be. I don't want to have big expectations and then have them shattered after querying to many people and then being rejected. I'm usually very big-dreams-big-fall kind of person.

05. I WON'T GIVE UP HOPE!

Interview with Elise Allen, author of Populazzi.

2011-06-17T19:06:00.000-04:00

Today we're pleased to have author Elise Allen, writer of POPULAZZI. Welcome Elise!

01. Populazzi portrays a fairly common high school experience: a girl wants to start fresh and hopefully make it to the top of the social ladder. Are any of the events in Populazzi based on real events of your life?

No. Sadly, my life in high school was nowhere near as interesting as Cara’s!

02. If there were to make a movie out of Populazzi, who would you pick to play the characters?

I am obsessed with the idea of Darren Criss as Nate. I’m reasonably obsessed with Darren Criss in general, quite obsessed with the Warblers’ CD, and wildly obsessed with Kurt and Blaine as a couple (I’m talking Glee, btw), so this casting choice might not be a huge shock to anyone who knows me.

However, Nate is unlike Blaine in every way, and I think it would be a very exciting chance for Criss to show a different side of himself. I believe he’d pull it off brilliantly. And if he somehow gets wind of this, I hereby promise not to totally gleek out on him when and if we actually meet.

03. Are there any rutines that you have when writing? For example, writing with music or in a designated place?

I usually write best with my noise-cancelling headphones on, and Pandora (the internet radio station) blaring in my ears. When I try to write without the music, it’s much harder. Occasionally, the characters have trouble speaking to me over the music, and I have to turn it off to hear their voices. That tends to happen in later drafts, when I’m really finessing things and have to pay very close attention to my characters or I’ll miss something. I know that sounds twisted, but it’s really how it works for me.

04. What insipres you to write?

Everything! I’m fascinated by why people do what they do, and I have an over-active imagination, so I tend to spin out all kinds of scenarios, and suddenly there’s a story. Or sometimes it’s a situation that fascinates me first, and I wonder what in the world happened to get all the players into that particular place... and soon there’s a story.

The stories are all surface-y at first, but once I jump into one and dedicate myself to it, that’s when I dive deep and start fleshing things out. When that happens, I’m hooked, and I want to know more and more and get to the real meat of the story, so I can both figure it out for myself, and also share it with other people.

05. Do you have any advice or tips for aspiring writers?

It’s been said a zillion times, but it’s so true. Read like crazy, and write like crazy. I’ve been a voracious reader for as long as I can remember, and nothing feeds a love of stories like reading. As for writing, I had my first short story “published” in a school newsletter when I was in 3rd or 4th grade, and I’ve been at it ever since. Everything you write helps you learn the craft and improve.

As you get ready to move from writing for your own pleasure to writing with an eye to getting published, it’s helpful to read advice from the masters. My favorites are Stephen King’s “On Writing” and Anne Lamott’s “Bird By Bird,” both of which are absolutely brilliant – I wish I’d read both long before I did.

06. Finally, can we expect any new books from you soon? What are you working on now?

Oh, I hope so! Next out is “Devoted,” which I co-wrote with Hilary Duff. It’s the sequel to “Elixir,” and it comes out in October. As for my solo books, there are two I’m working on right now, but neither has a publication date as of yet. When it does, I’ll let you know!

In the meantime, I’m working on a passion project: Populazzi.com, which will go live ideally by the middle of the month. The big concept behind it is that while Cara, my Populazzi MC, thinks the road to popularity requires she turn herself inside out to become what people want to see, the true road to popularity is harder and scarier. It involves being yourself, honestly and fearlessly. Populazzi.com is all about helping people do that, with features like real Hollywood stylists offering custom advice to readers who write in with questions; tips from professionals in fashion, beauty, organization, and fitness; and stories of wildly successful people in cool careers, and how their high school experience made them what they are today.

Thanks so much for the interview, Patty! I so appreciate you taking the time to chat with me, and to feature “Populazzi”!

P.S. You can see my review of Populazzi here.

Nine Rules To Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

2011-06-15T16:33:00.000-04:00

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing A Rake

A lady does not smoke cheroot. She does not ride astride. She does not fence or attend duels. She does not fire a pistol, and she never gambles at a gentlemen's club.

Lady Calpurnia Hartwell has always followed the rules, rules that have left her unmarried - and more than a little unsatisfied. And so she's vowed to break the rules and live the life of pleasure she's been missing.

But to dance every dance, to steal a midnight kiss - to do those things, Callie will need a willing partner. Someone who knows everything about rule-breaking. Someone like Gabriel St. John, the Marquess of Ralston - charming and devastatingly handsome, his wicked reputation matched only by his sinful smile.

If she's not careful, she'll break the most important rule of all - the one that says that pleasure-seekers should never fall hopelessly, desperately in love..

At First Sight:
I saw this book a year (or two) ago on The Story Siren and it got a great review. I'm not much of a romance reader but when it was presented to me, I took it up and started reading it.

My Thoughts:
Callie is a delightful character who is much like most of us. She's said to be a helpless spinster now that her peak of age has dwindled. But it is not until she takes a wild dare and kisses the notorious rake, the Marques of Ralston.

What follows is an adventurous, romantic, steamy tale of how two people who cannot be any more different from each other, finally not find company but find themselves once again. It is a classic tale of romance depicted in a beautiful setting. Readers of historical romances won't be disappointed.

In One Sentence:
"Steamy and fun!"

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Featured: Holly Schindler Thanks Readers

2011-06-13T21:21:00.001-04:00

Are You Going To Kiss Me Now? by Sloane Tanen

2011-06-07T22:31:00.000-04:00

Are You Going To Kiss Me Now?

High school junior Francesca Manning is an outsider, an aspiring writer and secret devourer of celebrity gossip mags. A fake essay to Seventeen wins her the celeb-schmoozing opportunity of a lifetime, but after the plane crashes, she's stranded on a desert island with five of the most clueless, self-involved headcases to escape Hollywood. Happily skewering their foibles in witty observations on her iPhone proves surprisingly educational for Francesca. The group must work together to survive-if they don't insult each other to death first.

At First Sight:
The concept of this book is strangely hilarious. I mean, who would get stranded on a desert island with five other celebrities? I was attracted by the fact that it seemed very funny and just interesting. I wanted to know where Francesca would end and how everything would play out.

My Thoughts:
I picked up the book and I couldn't put it down at first. Sloane's voice is real and addictive. It's like talking to your best friend. I couldn't help but think about one of my favorite authors that achieves the same sort of feeling, Meg Cabot. I liked how the beginning moved. It was nicely paced and definitely laugh out loud funny. Francesca and her best friend, Jordan, are like two peas in a pot. Their addiction to texting is much like mine and my friend's and their relationship was very believable.

Towards the middle and end of the book I started feeling less and less excited. Of course, they were stranded in a desert island and those celebrities aren't really smart but I kept waiting for them to have redeeming qualities that would make them feel like real people and not empty-headed bimbos. I mean, we all know celebrities have lives but we don't actually see much of that, right? I expected Sloane Tannen to show us that real, emotional, sensitive side of the celebrities but it never came. It also seemed to me like they kept going over the same things again and again. The end was a bit rushed for me but it had a nice surprise that I loved and it closed the book in a good satisfying way.

Overall, I think the book's greatest strength is its humor. The characters are not ocean-deep and I've always been huge on characters. But this book is so entertaining and nicely paced that you almost forget about it. It's the type of book you'd bring to the beach because it's definitely light hearted and sort of that summery fun feel.

In one sentence:
"Laugh out loud funny!"

Plot: 4
Characters: 3
Writing: 4
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 3.8 stars

Populazzi by Elise Allen

2011-05-26T15:58:00.000-04:00

Populazzi

Cara has always dreamed of being a Populazzi, one of the popular crowd. But it’s not until she changes schools that she gets a shot at it, thanks to her best friend Claudia’s crazy plan. The idea is simple: The rungs of The Ladder are relationships. First get a boyfriend who's ranked low, then climb up through more boyfriends until you're not just one of the Populazzi, but the Supreme Populazzi. Yet what starts off as a fairy tale turns into a somewhat dark comedy of errors. Just when Cara reaches the top, her life hits rock bottom. She wonders why she wanted to be popular in the first place—and if there’s any way to live happily ever after now.

At First Sight:
I was expecting for this book to be very light, humorous, and entertaining, if maybe a little bit bland. The cover was cool and it looked more like a Tween novel than a YA one, to be honest. OH HOW WRONG I WAS.

My Thoughts:
So I sat down to read this book at the beach and was like, "Okay, I'll read 5% and then put it down," but I couldn't AT ALL. Cara's narration and just the whole idea of the book had me addicted. Archer was absolutely adorable and I liked his relationship with Cara much.

The whole high school clique thing was a bit too cliche for my tastes at some points but then the author would reel back in her characters and they would seem much more realistic. I expected this book to be very tweensy but I was extremely surprised that the book dealt with deeper issues such as bullying, drugs, and sex. Definitely not as light as I thought it would be.

The only thing I didn't love was that there was the parent plot line that didn't really get resolved at the end. It would have been interesting to see how Cara dealt with that but unfurtunately, we didn't get to see it here.

In one sentence:
"Definitely unexpected!"

Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Writing: 4
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.2

Instructions for a Broken Heart by Kim Culbertson

2011-05-18T15:58:00.005-04:00

Instructions For A Broken Heart
Three days before her drama club's trip to Italy, Jessa Gardner discovers her boyfriend in the costume barn with another girl. Jessa is left with a care package from her best friend titled "Top Twenty Reasons He's a Slimy Jerk Bastard," instructing her to do one un-Jessa-like thing each day of the trip. At turns hilarious and heartwrenching, Instructions for a Broken Heart paints a magical Italy in which Jessa learns she must figure out life-and romance-for herself.

Praise for Songs For A Teenage Nomad:

"A beautiful, lyrical read-I loved every last word of it!"
-Alyson Noël, New York Times bestselling author

At First Sight:
I was so excited to get this book on the mail because I absolutely loved Kim Culbertson's Songs For A Teenage Nomad. So when I actually got around to sitting down and reading it, I naturally devoured it. The cover is super cute and I couldn't wait to travel to Europe alongside Jessa.

My Thoughts:
I loved the fact that I was going to go travel with Jessa to a beautiful place. I have to say, I was also pretty smitten with her best guy friend. Not only does Jessa do really unthinkable things I won't spoil for you, but she learns a lot about herself, too. Plus, it gives us readers nice ideas for revenge ;)

However, as much as I enjoyed the overall plot, characters, and writing, there was something definitely missing. I kept waiting for that moment were I'd be like YES! GO JESSA! And although there were some memorable ones, the book felt like it was building a lot for an end with...nothing. It sort of left me a little blank. Sure, there's a nice surprise, but it's a surprise that should have been a little bit more emphasized, or, I don't know...climactic.

Overall, it's definitely a good book to read, funny at times and heartbreaking at others but in my opinion, I expected a lot more from Kim and I have to say I was a bit disappointed. This, however, will not stop me from checking her future titles.

In One Sentence:
"An okay read; fun at times yet lacking in the end."

Plot: 3
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 3.5
Average: 4.1 stars

Are You Going To Kiss Me Now? Giveaway

2011-04-29T20:42:00.001-04:00

High school junior Francesca Manning is an outsider, an aspiring writer and secret devourer of celebrity gossip mags. A fake essay to Seventeen wins her the celeb-schmoozing opportunity of a lifetime, but after the plane crashes, she's stranded on a desert island with five of the most clueless, self-involved headcases to escape Hollywood. Happily skewering their foibles in witty observations on her iPhone proves surprisingly educational for Francesca. The group must work together to survive-if they don't insult each other to death first.

Enter HERE
*Provided by Publisher
** Closes May 7th

Percieval's Angel by Anne Eliot Crompton

2011-04-25T09:00:00.000-04:00

Percival's Angel

Lili, an apprentice of the Lady of the Lake, is the childhood friend of Percy, the boy who will become one of Arthur's greatest knights. But as they grow older, Lili begins to see their differences. She has otherworldly magic while he has the magic that lives within the Human Heart. Lili dreams of knowing human love while Percy dreams of finding the Holy Grail. Neither can succeed without the other.Once again Crompton weaves together nature, feminist perspective, and Arthurian legend for a tale that is sure to appeal to readers of all ages.Praise for Percival's Angel: "Crompton succeeds in incorporating the mysticism of medieval romance into her fantasy... This well-written fantasy can be compared to Katherine Paterson's Parzival." -Voya

At First Sight:
First I thought, a King Arthur retelling? I LOVE THAT! I really loved Meg Cabot's Avalon High and I was that type of book with this one. The cover's beautiful and the blurbs are pretty fantastic.

My Thoughts:
This will be a short review--and not in the very good way. But let's start with the positive. There were some parts of the book that entertained me enough to keep reading. Only a few, though. That was it.

Overall, this book has many aspects that I didn't like. The narration was weird and very unusual for me. It was more of a narration that you'd see in poems. Don't get me wrong, I love lyrical language but when the actual sentences of the paragraph turn into verse-like sentences it just doesn't work for me.

I didn't connect to any of the characters, to be honest. I didn't understand Percy's motivations or Lili's significance at all. I couldn't get into them. Most of the time they sounded distant and untouchable.

And the plot--well, there was really no real excitement to it. Maybe it's because I haven't ever heard of Percival's legend but to be honest, I didn't get it. And the whole fairy aspect just didn't work for me.

In one sentence:
"A rather empty book."

Plot: 2
Characters: 2
Cover: 4
Writing: 2
Overall Feeling: 2
Average: 2.4 stars

Interview: Holly Schindler

2011-04-16T19:22:00.000-04:00
Holly Schindler is the writer of two successful YA novels, Playing Hurt and A Blue So Dark. In Playing Hurt, atar basketball player Chelsea “Nitro” Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone’s admiration in her hometown. But everything changed senior year, when she took a horrible fall during a game. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

As a graduation present, Chelsea’s dad springs for a three-week summer “boot camp” program at a northern Minnesota lake resort. There, she’s immediately drawn to her trainer, Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player who’s haunted by his own traumatic past. As they grow close, Chelsea is torn between her feelings for Clint and her loyalty to her devoted boyfriend back home. Will an unexpected romance just end up causing Chelsea and Clint more pain—or finally heal their heartbreak?

We are lucky to have Holly Schindler here to visit us!

1. What are some key factors to remember in developing romantic relationships?

Let’s face it—the story of two people who meet, date, fall in love, and ride into the sunset with no hiccups whatsoever is just…dull. You need some drama—some reason the two can’t get together, something that tears the two apart.

But you know, in all honesty, developing the drama for my romance wasn’t really all that different than developing the drama for my debut, a literary novel—I mean, a literary novel is character-driven…But so is a romance novel, to a great extent.

2. Chelsea goes through a tragedy that stops her from following her dream or living to the fullest. What advice do you have for other people in that same situation?

Wow—what a question! I think that the worst thing you can do is continue to focus on the tragedy. That’s not to say you shouldn’t mourn the loss of something you loved. But you’ve also got to keep moving forward, too…

I never had a life-altering injury, but along the way, as I sought a publishing deal, I had all these, “This is it!” moments, where an agent or editor would express interest in one of my manuscripts, and I’d feel certain that I was finally going to break in…Only to have the deal completely fall apart last-minute.

It can be devastating to go through a near-miss like that. But you really do have to dust yourself off and take another step forward. You’ve got to figure out how to reinvent what you’ve got and keep going. That’s what Chelsea realized she had to do at the end of PLAYING HURT—figure out how to reinvent her life, keeping sports in it.

3. First a literary novel, now a romance novel. Is there any other genre you’d like to try? What genres would you stay away from?

I’m always working on a new novel—and, yes, I’ve written other work in other genres that I’m actively trying to place. There’s probably no genre I’d count out. In that respect, I’m constantly surprising myself. If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d write a novel about a couple of athletes, I’d had said you were crazy. I’m NO athlete—I’m a complete klutz.

4. What other projects are you working on now? Can we expect more novels from you anytime soon?

The sooner the better, I say! Yes—my next novel will be released in 2012, with Dial. And—how’s this for yet another new genre?—it’ll be my first middle grade novel.

Thanks Holly for stopping by. I have to say, one of my friends is currently reading both of your books and I can't wait until she gets back to me on what she thinks! Here's a list of links you can use to find and contact her:

HollySchindler.com
Twitter @holly_schindler
Blog

Playing Hurt by Holly Schindler

2011-04-16T07:10:00.000-04:00

Playing Hurt

Star basketball player Chelsea "Nitro" Keyes had the promise of a full ride to college—and everyone's admiration back home. Then she took a horrible fall during senior year. Now a metal plate holds her together and she feels like a stranger in her own family.

That summer, Chelsea's dad hires Clint, a nineteen-year-old ex-hockey player and "boot camp" trainer, to work with her at a northern Minnesota lake resort. As they grow close, Chelsea finds that Clint's haunted by his own tragedy. Will their romance end up hurting them all over again—or finally heal their heartbreak?

At First Sight:
I've been following Holly Schindler for a little more than a year and through that journey I've come to fall in love with her writing and her characters. When I saw that she was publishing a new novel, I immediately jumped into the opportunity to read and review it. Not only was the cover beautiful, but the story seemed to ring with me the way good books ring true to your heart.

My Thoughts:
I've never been a real sports-story sort of fan and I was a bit worried that Playing Hurt wouln't be as great as A Blue So Dark. But when I started reading the story (I had about 3 other books I was reading), I just couldn't. put. it. down.

I feel so guilty for having initially felt that way but now I feel even more reassured that whatever comes out of of Schindler's pen (or laptop, computer, etc.) is going to be a true literary work of art.

Chelsea was really--impressive. She seemed intimidating with all her star-ness and athletic ability but the deeper we got into the story, the more it seemed that Chelsea used her sports as a way to make her feel whole. I related to her (we have similar personalities) and I admired the passion she had for basketball (like the passion I have for writing) and, no matter what subject she was passionate about, the feeling transmitted so easily and flawlessly that I will officially say that Holly Schindler is not only a great story-teller, but she's a writer who is able to capture the feelings, personalities, and struggles of her characters fantastically well.

I loved Clint to death. And I thought that the names (Chelsea & Clint) were so cute together! He has times where he's funny, other times when he's confused, and other times when he's just being a boy. I loved the fact that Schindler was able to capture a male POV as well as she captured the female's.

Overall, this book was amazing and, if it hadn't done so before, it has placed Schindler among the top authors that I love. Plus, the romance is AMAZING and full of passion.

In one sentence:
A fantastic sophomore novel that WILL NOT dissappoint.

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall: 5
Average: 5

Splendor (Luxe #4) by Anne Godbersen

2011-04-10T16:17:00.000-04:00

As spring turns into summer, Elizabeth relishes her new role as a young wife, while her sister, Diana, searches for adventure abroad. But when a surprising clue about their father's death comes to light, the Holland girls wonder at what cost a life of splendor comes.

Carolina Broad, society's newest darling, fans a flame from her past, oblivious to how it might burn her future. Penelope Schoonmaker is finally Manhattan royalty—but when a real prince visits the city, she covets a title that comes with a crown. Her husband, Henry, bravely went to war, only to discover that his father's rule extends well beyond New York's shores and that fighting for love may prove a losing battle.

In the dramatic conclusion to the bestselling Luxe series, New York's most dazzling socialites chase dreams, cling to promises, and tempt fate. As society watches what will become of the city's oldest families and newest fortunes, one question remains: Will its stars fade away or will they shine ever brighter?

At First Sight:
So I hadn't finished this series and I wanted to do so because I'd previously loved these books. The cover on this one (like the rest) is fantastic and I couldn't wait to dive into an early 20th century society.

My Thoughts:
Wow. Just wow.

Some people might say that the books are not so fun or interesting and to a degree, I had agreed. The thing with these books is that it's like 1800s Gossip Girls and, although I haven't read or watched GG, I understand why people might be apprehensive about reading these books. What kept me attracted was the great narration and setting.

However, this book can be said to be the most exiting and scandalous yet. Everything from death, love, and change happens. We see the characters we've loved for a while finally reach happiness or at least contentment or satisfaction to their lives.

Our girls, Elizabeth, Diana, Carolina, and Penelope get their deserved conclusion to the story and although it can be sad and you might not agree to them, you can find that it was the best solution for them. They've all been through so much and whether you feel sympathy or not towards them, you've grown to at least be interested in their stories and how it will end.

And our boys, Henry, Teddy, Leland, and the rest reappear in this book and get increasingly more important. I don't want to spoil anything but this is a SHOCKING roller-coaster kind of book you don't want to miss.

In One Sentence:
The best yet from the Luxe series.

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall: 5
Average: 5

Under The Dome by Stephen King

2011-03-26T07:51:00.000-04:00

Under The Dome

On an entirely normal, beautiful fall day in Chester's Mill, Maine, the town is inexplicably and suddenly sealed off from the rest of the world by an invisible force field. Planes crash into it and fall from the sky in flaming wreckage, a gardener's hand is severed as "the dome" comes down on it, people running errands in the neighboring town are divided from their families, and cars explode on impact. No one can fathom what this barrier is, where it came from, and when -- or if -- it will go away.

Dale Barbara, Iraq vet and now a short-order cook, finds himself teamed with a few intrepid citizens -- town newspaper owner Julia Shumway, a physician's assistant at the hospital, a select-woman, and three brave kids. Against them stands Big Jim Rennie, a politician who will stop at nothing -- even murder -- to hold the reins of power, and his son, who is keeping a horrible secret in a dark pantry. But their main adversary is the Dome itself. Because time isn't just short. It's running out.

At First Sight
This book, at more than 1,000 pages, is highly intimidating and daunting. All you can think of when you see it is, "How am I going to finish this?" But then you look at the description and you say, "Hm, this is a very interesting concept." I took the latter thought when deciding to buy the book.

My Thoughts:
I might start of saying that it took me since December to finally finish this book (this week). The thing is, every time I picked it up it was the same thing, "Oh, it will be forever until I finish." And, visually, it's intimidating. You could divide this novel into a trilogy and I would have read it faster.

Nevertheless, it was a great book to read. The gigantic cast of characters might be confusing at first but then you start to realize that the most important characters start to blossom and you find yourself rooting (or hating) them.

I've never read a Stephen King book before this one and, although some crude and graphic scenes were depicted, I was glad that the pure gore and horror wasn't really there. I fell in love with this book because I'm a junkie for apocalyptic style books that present some sort of 'end of the world' vibe.

Final thoughts: read this book if you are not easily intimidated by number of pages and can handle a big list of characters. The writing is of course fantastic but it's not a walk-in-the-park sort of books and definitely not for everyone.

Plot: 5
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.6 stars

A Blog About Something

2011-03-18T16:22:00.000-04:00
You guys might be familiar with the fact that I'm an aspiring author (wait, you didn't? Well I am!). And I recently read a blog post by Nathan Bransford on how it's never too early to use the media to get myself known. So here I am!

I don't know about a formal author-style introduction post (I'll probably do it later) but the basics are these: My name is Patricia Perez; I'm from Puerto Rico and I recently turned seventeen.

I'm also thinking about changing the blog name (and therefore email address) to reflect a more author-ish vibe. This will probably be done this summer but I'll let you know in advance in order to have a smooth transition.

Thanks!

The Vampire Diaries #2: The Struggle by L.J. Smith

2011-03-17T16:52:00.000-04:00

The Struggle
Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.

Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them.(

At First Sight
Obviously, I wanted to read this one. There's no 'convincing' here. This is IT.

My Thoughts:
So, The Vampire Diaries shows is on hiatus and I have nothing to feed my Damon obsession. What do I do? I take out my Vampire Diaries book and start reading.

Initially, I wanted this book to last for at least a week. I mean, I'm so sad there's no TVD on TV, I at LEAST need to make up for one week's worth, right?

Wrong.

I finished in two days. I have to be honest, Elena can be a bit irritating but she's pretty kick-ass. Damon and Stefan are a degree hotter this time around and Bonnie and Meredith are amusing as always.

The plot takes an amazing turn and I'm really wondering now where it will go from here. I have to buy the next book because this ends in the CLIFFHANGER OF YOUR LIFE. Believe me.

This is a short review because, honestly, you'll hear me gush and ramble too much.

Plot: 5
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall feeling: 5
Average: 4.8

Look What Came in The Mail

2011-03-14T17:25:00.000-04:00
I honestly couldn't wait for In My Mailbox.

It's Holly Schindler's PLAYING HURT!!!!!!!
*dies*

Please ignore the hair, skin, face, everything except the book of awesomeness.

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan

2011-03-08T18:27:00.000-04:00

The Forest of Hands and Teeth

In Mary's world there are simple truths. The Sisterhood always knows best. The Guardians will protect and serve. The Unconsecrated will never relent. And you must always mind the fence that surrounds the village; the fence that protects the village from the Forest of Hands and Teeth. But, slowly, Mary’s truths are failing her. She’s learning things she never wanted to know about the Sisterhood and its secrets, and the Guardians and their power, and about the Unconsecrated and their relentlessness. When the fence is breached and her world is thrown into chaos, she must choose between her village and her future—between the one she loves and the one who loves her. And she must face the truth about the Forest of Hands and Teeth. Could there be life outside a world surrounded in so much death?

At First Sight:
I have to be honest, I've seen this book around for so long but I was always reluctant to pick it up. Zombies, what? But then I thought, why not? Especially since it has a 'love story' or whatever it said in its blurb. The cover is amazing and the story seemed interesting enough.

My Thoughts:
I was caught right off guard. I hadn't expected such an impact from this book. In fact, it's so hard for me to describe how awesome it is that I'm dividing this post into a few subpoints:

A) Mary as a character and her voice- Mary at first doesn't seem like an impressive character but what really made me want to read more was, not only the premise, but the writing style and voice. It's told in present tense but it's such a hauntingly beautiful voice. I always love angsty/dark but beautiful type of writing and this was it.

B) The Concept: So at first I thought, "Hm...zombies..." but then as I continued reading I actually saw the plausability of it. An infection that spread out and it wiped the face of the eart. That's plausible enough, right? Right. So that's why I wasn't appalled (or at least turned off) by the fantastic-ish concept.

C) The Love Story- If you go into this book thinking that you'll be getting a wonderful love story...you're wrong. Sure, there is one but--and BE WARNED--it is so raw and emotional that it really leaves you thinking for days (at least).

D) The ending- I'm not going to go into detail but it was so surprising, realistic, and exactly the right kind of ending for this novel.

E) IT LEFT ME WANTING MORE.

F) Plus, I couldn't decide between the two boys (or three if you count Jed ;) )

Overall, this story was impressive and realistic. I mean, you can't expect a happy-go-lucky ending in a zombie apocalypse, right? There were a few questions left unanswered (more like a lot) and I hope they are touched upon in the next two books. Either way, I'm pretty satisified (whcih is an understatement).

Plot: 5
Writing: 5
Characters: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Enter The Query-Writing Process

2011-03-01T16:39:00.000-04:00
As you all know, writing a novel is not just writing it and it's done. You go through revisons (check) and then revise it again (check) but then you go into the tough, confusing, and in my opinion, even more hard job of writing queries that can be presented to prospective agents.

I already narrowed my list to about 7 agents I want to send a query to (at least in the first round). Now I have to really tackle writing a good, attention grabbing synopsis of my book that's short, right to the point, and effective.

I have already posted various blurbs, but like the novel, it needs revising and polishing before it's ready. Also, I have to do further research of the agents so that I can personalize each query and tell them why I think my novel will be a great fit for them.

As I write my first query, I'll post it in here and you guys can tell me what you think. I'm excited. This road to publishing is crazy and I just can't wait to finally be on that car and just go.

Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky

2011-02-26T19:14:00.001-04:00

Awaken
Maddie lives in a world where everything is done on the computer. Whether it’s to go to school or on a date, people don’t venture out of their home. There’s really no need. For the most part, Maddie’s okay with the solitary, digital life—until she meets Justin. Justin likes being with people. He enjoys the physical closeness of face-to-face interactions. People aren’t meant to be alone, he tells her.

Suddenly, Maddie feels something awakening inside her—a feeling that maybe there is a different, better way to live. But with society and her parents telling her otherwise, Maddie is going to have to learn to stand up for herself if she wants to change the path her life is taking.

In this not-so-brave new world, two young people struggle to carve out their own space.

At First Sight:
The first thing that caught my eye was the cover and then I read the description over at NetGalley. I am a fan for futuristic/post-apocalypic books with a romance twist and it was natural for me to request this book. I finally got around to reading it a few weeks (maybe months, who knows, I've been so absent from this blogging world I've lost track of time). Unsurprisingly, I was hooked right off the bat.

My Thoughts:
Maddie is like us: dependant on technology to live. And although her world is much more drastic than ours, you really can't mistake the path we're heading to. She lives, breathes, and even socializes through computer screens.

But inside, Maddie's always been some sort of rebel, never fully satisfied with what the cyber-world has given her. All this is proven when Maddie reveals her past.

She meets this boy that seems to change everything for her (again). This boy is the typical swoon-worthy hero named Justin (hey, I now realized that his name has some meaning...) who challenges her to think out of the box and to question what really goes around her.

Filled with romance and adventure, Awaken takes your through a labyrinth of situations, every corner asking you if we're leaving our real lives behind when we enter the cyber-world.

Awaken is an amazing book with a great protagonist, an amazing boy (who's a bit too good for my taste but oh, well), and a plot that really hits home. Although the book can seem preachy (well, it kind of is) you forget about it as you move along and start to unravel the truths about the world Maddie lives in and the world we live in.

In One Sentence:
"Fun, fast, and definitely a must read!"

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

My first book in the Debut Author Challenge for this year (finally!).

Finally Finished

2011-02-06T09:55:00.002-04:00
Hey everyone!

I know I've been pretty apbsent from the blogging world but I have news! I have finished (hopefully) the last round of revisions for my novel, PAPER ANGELS. I'm so happy! Now I will have more time to dedicate to everything else.

I'm changing the look around and I'm definitely going to be more active now.

To Do List

01. Update the Authors page

L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad

2011-01-28T19:49:00.000-04:00

L.A. Candy
Los Angeles is all about the sweet life: hot clubs, cute guys, designer . . . everything. Nineteen-year-old Jane Roberts can't wait to start living it up. She may be in L.A. for an internship, but Jane plans to play as hard as she works, and has enlisted her BFF Scarlett to join in the fun. When Jane and Scarlett are approached by a producer who wants them to be on his new series, a "reality version of Sex and the City," they can hardly believe their luck. Their own show? Yes, please! Soon Jane is TV's hottest star. Fame brings more than she ever imagined possible for a girl from Santa Barbara-free designer clothes, the choicest tables at the most exclusive clubs, invites to Hollywood premieres-and she's lapping up the VIP treatment with her eclectic entourage of new pals. But those same friends who are always up for a wild night are also out for a piece of Jane's spotlight. In a city filled with people chasing after their dreams, it's not long before Jane wakes up to the reality that everyone wants something from her, and nothing is what it seems to be. L.A. Candy is a deliciously entertaining novel about what it's like to come of age in Hollywood while starring in a reality TV show, written by a girl who has experienced it all firsthand: Lauren Conrad.

At First Sight:
I love Lauren and really admire her. So it was about time that I picked this book up and see how it was. I mean, I went into it knowing it's not this masterpiece of literature but I thought that at least it'd be interesting enough and entertaining. Also, I admit, I wanted a bit of insight into Lauren's 'real' life.

My Thoughts:
I knew from the very beginning that it wasn't exceptionally well written. But within the first few chapters, I was able to ignore that and immerse myself in the story per say. It was fun and funny, sometimes even witty. Jane is the girl next door who anyone can relate to. By 1/3 of the book I thought, "Hm, this might be good after all."

Unfortunately, I was dissappointed. The story line didn't go anywhere very interesting and all the characters are one-dimensional and flat. I always like when I can't completely describe characters but in the case of most books with flat characters, you use one word to describe a character and voila! You've told their whole life story.

I'm not sure yet if I'm picking up the next book. I mean, I can basically tell where it's going. But I always feel bad when I leave a series without completely reading it so I might...when I have the time.

In One Sentence:
"Flat and disappointing."

Plot: 3
Characters: 2
Writing: 2
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 3
Average: 2.8 stars

Runaway by Meg Cabot

2011-01-15T11:17:00.000-04:00

Runaway

Emerson Watts is on the run: from school, from work, from her family, from her friends, from herself.

With everyone she loves furious with her for something she can't explain, and nothing but the live Stark Angel fashion show on New Year's Eve to look forward to, Em's reached the end of her rope... what's the point of even going on?

But when she discovers the truth about Nikki's secret, she knows there's only one person she can turn to.

Will Christopher be able to put aside his personal feelings and help her expose her employer to the world? Is it even fair to get Christopher involved—since if he agrees, there's every chance that Stark Enterprises will try to have them both killed—this time, permanently?

Maybe it would be better for Em to just keep on running.

At First Sight:
Like many other series of books that I've read, I usually take a while to actually finish them. But the Airhead Series is one that I've absolutely wanted closure for. It has been an amazing roller coaster ride and the fact it is that I really wasn't sure HOW Meg Cabot would end this series. So, for Christmas I asked my parents to get me this book. I read it in three days, suffice it to say.

My Thoughts:
Em Watts is one of those trademark Meg Cabot characters, she's funny, geeky, and a bit stubborn. The fact that I relate to all of Cabot's characters is plain and simple, they're just ordinary teens with really extraordinary circumstances.

The whole series has been fantastic. From the swoon-worthy Christopher to the ever-so-adorable Lulu. In this installment, you see a whole new side of both characters and the returning cast of memorable Airhead supporting characters.

The stakes are higher, that's not to be questioned, but the way that Em Watts manages it all is admirable. She can be a little headstrong and stubborn, but she stays true to who she is.

I won't spoil the ending. That was one of the things that I looked forward to the most. HOW will everything work out in such a weird situation? All I can say is--you won't expect it.

In one sentence:
"Cabot closes her series will a real New Year's BANG!"

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Envy by Anna Godbersen

2011-01-08T21:31:00.000-04:00

Envy

In this sequel to Rumors, novelist Elizabeth Holland returns to the inner circle of New York's Gilded Age upper crust. Gramercy Park society watchers quickly notice that differences appear to be simmering between Elizabeth and her sister Diana. Meanwhile, troubles are also festering between celebrated newlyweds Henry and Penelope Schoonmaker. Apparently, the stately brass doors of Manhattan's 400 conceal more tumult than the general public suspects. Silk gowns and scandals.

At First Sight:
As usual, Envy has a beautiful cover that is very tied-in with the rest of the series. I read Rumors way back and I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to catch up and, granted, I was a bit confused, but nevertheless, I was hooked.

My Thoughts:
The Luxe series hasn't always been super fast paced-action. Instead, what I like about this series is the flawless characterization and the details which it has. It makes it almost hard to imagine it was written in the present day! It's more like a book written in the 1890's that's had a cover make over.

The same things apply to Envy. It's not super fast but oh, boy, are there scandals! This book has as many surprises as the rest of the series. It is filled with minute details of these character's lives and I think it is this Godbersen's starring moment. She hits the nail in the head every time and although things go surprisingly out of control for these characters, we can't help but root for them and really hope for the best.

I don't want to spoil it for you (or the rest of the series) but I hope that when I say that it's as poignant and beautiful as ever, you'll be convinced enough to pick it up. The story flows naturally and even though we have 4+ very different lead characters, we clearly see and get to learn lots about them and their personality. Again, The Luxe series is hightly underrated. It hasn't had as much popularity as other mediocre bestsellers (*cough* Twilight *cough*) but I think this has helped Anna Godbersen to patiently create the world she has created. It's fantastic.

In one sentence:
"Beautiful enough to be considered a classic!"

Plot: 4
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 4.8

Special Thank You

2010-12-30T21:29:00.001-04:00
I want to say thank you to author Holly Schindler who sent me a lovely Christmas surprise.

I received it in the mail and was super happy. It's a note, a Playing Hurt button and a signed bookmark. EEP!

The Vampire Diaires (The Awakening) by L.J. Smith

2010-12-30T17:27:00.000-04:00

Vampire Diaries (The Awakening)
Elena: the golden girl, the leader, the one who can have any boy she wants.

Stefan: brooding and mysterious, he seems to be the only one who can resist Elena, even as he struggles to protect her from the horrors that haunt his past.

Damon: sexy, dangerous, and driven by an urge for revenge against Stefan, the brother who betrayed him. Determined to have Elena, he'd kill to possess her.

Collected here in one volume for the first time, volumes one and two of The Vampire Diaries, the tale of two vampire brothers and the beautiful girl torn between them

At First Sight:
This wouldn't have happened if I hadn't seen the show, to be honest. But ever since I started watching it, I was intrigued to know more. So I've been wanting to get this one for a while and finally, I read the first book.

My Thoughts:
So I went into this both knowing that I had a pre-formed idea of the show and that it was very different from the show. Of course, I tried to separate myself from the show as much as possible because I didn't want my feelings for the show to influence my feelings for the literature itself.

Thankfully, the most resemblance to the book that the show has is the first episode, and not even that.

Elena at first is not very likable. She's the queen-bee-gotta-have-it-all girl that not many people like. But then you begin to enter into this character and you discover somethings that make her more...human and likable.

And then there's Stefan, dark and brooding. He's a gentleman in all senses possible and he truly does love Elena and Elena, inexplicably, loves him.

My favorite character (in the book) so far is Matt. Matt is the boy next door who is really nice and sweet. We kind of start feeling a bit sorry for him and although some may argue that he's not right for Elena, he really cares and loves her enough to respect the fact that they don't belong together anymore.

And of course, I LOVE DAMON! We really don't 'get to know him' in this first installment but I was trying to pick up some clues for the future and although I spoiled have to book to myself, I really hope that, in the end, she ends up with Damon.

I just love guys who are so messed up, what's wrong with me? Psychopath with no redeemable qualities? MY GUY!

Oh, and then I have to talk about the plot, naturally. Well, let me tell you, it's a pretty quick-paced book. I read it in about two days and I found it was pretty fun to read so I will definitely be reading the rest of the series. It has enough mystery to keep everyone intrigued for a long time.

In one sentence:
"DAMON! But that doesn't really count, right? I mean he doesn't 'appear' that much in this book." (That was more than one sentence, sorry!)

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Books for Christmas

2010-12-26T21:35:00.000-04:00
So, of course, it was natural for me to get a bunch of books this Christmas, because, hello, right? So, I haven't taken pictures but here's the list of the books I got (between being actual gifts, or books that I bought with the gift cards).

01. Style by Lauren Conrad (I know, don't say anything, please? I love Lauren and her sense of fashion is amazing. I'm a fashion girl, what can I say?)
02. The Vampire Diaires Volume 1 by L.J. Smith (I'm obsessed with the show and I HAD to have this)
03. Envy (Luxe #3) by Anne Godbersen (I haven't finished the series but it's just scandalous so I had to buy this.
04. Under The Dome by Stephen King (Now, I haven't read a Stephen King book ever but this one has been in the back of my mind for a while so I took the chance. You know, because reading 1000+ pages to start out with an author isn't a big deal--whish me luck!)
05. L.A. Candy by Lauren Conrad (So I know, two Conrad books, right? But I like Lauren and I've been debating this one for a while and I couldn't put it off until much later.)

So you see, I'm finally reading the books that've been sitting in my TBR list for a while and hoping to dwindle those down. Of course, I have a bunch more that I'm dying to get but I'll keep you updated.

What did you get?

Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly

2010-12-22T20:54:00.000-04:00

Revolution

BROOKLYN: Andi Alpers is on the edge. She’s angry at her father for leaving, angry at her mother for not being able to cope, and heartbroken by the loss of her younger brother, Truman. Rage and grief are destroying her. And she’s about to be expelled from Brooklyn Heights’ most prestigious private school when her father intervenes. Now Andi must accompany him to Paris for winter break.

PARIS: Alexandrine Paradis lived over two centuries ago. She dreamed of making her mark on the Paris stage, but a fateful encounter with a doomed prince of France cast her in a tragic role she didn’t want—and couldn’t escape.

Two girls, two centuries apart. One never knowing the other. But when Andi finds Alexandrine’s diary, she recognizes something in her words and is moved to the point of obsession. There’s comfort and distraction for Andi in the journal’s antique pages—until, on a midnight journey through the catacombs of Paris, Alexandrine’s words transcend paper and time, and the past becomes suddenly, terrifyingly present.

Jennifer Donnelly, author of the award-winning novel A Northern Light, artfully weaves two girls’ stories into one unforgettable account of life, loss, and enduring love. Revolution spans centuries and vividly depicts the eternal struggles of the human heart.

I bought this book

At First Sight
I fell in love with this cover, even if the blurb didn't grip me right away, the cover is just absolutely fantastic. I literally couldn't get it off my mind for days. And then, when my daddy told me I could buy a book in my Kindle, there was no other choice but this one.

My Thoughts
If I was apprehensive of this book at first, that went away as fast as I can blink. The prose is so poetic, painful, and beautiful, almost like a drug, completely addictive. Andi was a hard character to sympathize with but once you get to know her, she's the sweetest most mature person ever. She has a hard time dealing with her brother's death and that's completely understandable.

Now, if you don't fall in love with Virgil, you have a cold heart. He was funny, artistic, poetic, and so real. The relationship between Andi and Virgil develops in a very natural way, unraveling itself as if it was meant to be.

I loved reading Alex's diary along with Andi. I felt the same thrill and curiosity every time the entries were narrated. Andi is a lot like me, very ambitious, a bit selfish, but she has her heart set on saving the boy who she loved, and that, is real loyalty.

The end has a great and amazing plot twist and I honestly won't spoil it for you but it was amazing.

In one sentence:
"Breathtakingly beautiful."

Plot: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Characters: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Elixir by Hilary Duff

2010-12-20T17:51:00.000-04:00

Elixir

Clea Raymond lives an extraordinary life. The daughter of renowned surgeon and a prominent Washington DC figure, she has been in the spotlight her entire life. Followed by the paparazzi, she resents the attention that is lavished on her for her looks alone because she has so much more to offer.p

Clea Raymond has a unique gift. A proficient photographer, in all her pictures, there is little something extra, and it's not just a result of her talented eye. There is always an extra photo that she didn't take. And, as she discovered at a young age, those photos always lead to a place where some tragedy is about to occur that Clea can prevent.p

Two years ago, her father disappeared while on a humanitarian mission and is presumed dead, but that doesn't stop Clea and her mother from continuing to do good throughout the world. On one such trip to Columbia, she meets Race, the guide for the trip. She feels a connection to him but cannot explain why. Was it something in their past or possibly in their past lives? Whatever has brought them together is threatning to tear them apart forever. As the mystery of her father's disappearance unravels, Clea discover that she has powers that are bigger than anything she could have anticipated.

At First Sight:
ANOTHER celebrity book? Are you kidding me? *looks at the back cover* Hm... It seems interesting enough but I wouldn't...I couldn't...Maybe...

My Thoughts:
So I did.

It was amazing how this book had a good plot line that didn't seem to base itself on the fabulous life of young starlets. Clea is a well-rounded character and the rest of this cast is so amazingly believable. My first thought was, "She couldn't have written THIS."

But whether or not Hilary Duff wrote the book, the person who did deserves good props. The book is well written and has a great mix of suspense, mystery, and romance. My favorite part? The historical 'flashbacks' and the paranormal hint of it. It was a unique plot and I like how the book just ended with a cliff hanger.

The least that I could say is that it caught me off guard and surprised me.

The most I could say?

It was amazing and I can't wait to read the next book. When is it coming out, anyways?

I usually read the acknowledgment page to get a good feel of the author and this one looked pretty legit and down to earth so I hope that Hilary Duff wrote this because if she did, she has a greater talent than singing and acting (and in my honest opinion, she seems like a nice person but not convincing in neither singing or acting).

I'll be getting the next book for sure.

Overall, I know I didn't say much about this book but it has some great plot twists that I don't want to give away. It's paranormal enough for paranormal fans and romantic enough for romance fans. I really liked it.

In one sentence:
"Surprisingly good!"

Plot: 5
Writing: 4
Characters: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 4.8 stars

Author Interview: Christine Schulze

2010-12-06T06:04:00.005-04:00
Today, author Christine Schulze is stopping by to have a chat with us!

About the Author
Christine E. Schulze has been creating books since she was too young to even write them in words. The stories from Bloodmaiden: A Fantasy Anthology are only a small part of her vast twenty-seven book collection, The Amielian Legacy. She hopes to inspire readers throughout the world with these books by publishing in both traditional and electronic formats to make them available to all readers.

Christine has published several stories with Calliope and Kalkion magazines and is an active member of the WEbook online writing community. She has also published several Christian/fantasy books which are available at various online retailers, as well as publishing several eBooks via Writers-Exchange. Her latest and most exciting venture is landing a contract for her novel Bloodmaiden with Old Line Publishing.

Christine currently lives in Shiloh, Illinois with her Mom, three dogs and a rabbit.

1. What first got you into writing?

Honestly, I’ve been making books since I was too young to write them, when I was probably about three or four. Those books were just pictures, of course. When I was around four or five, I actually wrote my first book called Jonny to the Rescue, which has ultimately spawned the existence of one of my current series, The Legends of Surprisers.

I suppose then it’s just something I’ve always done. I consider it a God-given gift that I’m meant to do something great with someday. I love creating fantasy worlds, new races and creatures, deep characters with multiple story-lines all twisting together in an intricate and intriguing plot. I love painting rich imagery so readers can see and feel exactly what I do. I write for myself and hope others will like it too, and I write for my readers because, though I would write even if no one read my work, I have not done my part if no one ever reads my books. But, if at least one person reads and is inspired, I have done my part.

I just love everything about the craft and really hope to use my books to inspired readers around the world someday.

2. How is your typical writing routine like?

“Routine” is actually probably an awful word to use, at least compared to other writers. I’ve heard so many say that writing is to be this agonizing, toiling craft; so many writers are never satisfied with their craft, and it can be hard putting what they see in their head on the page. Many writers also have a set amount they must write everyday.

I’m not like these writers at all. I don’t box myself into a required quota, I don’t consider writing pain-staking, and I only write stories I’m really into, so I’m always pleased with my results! There’s been a couple times that a story really sucked, but I polished it up into something I loved. As for the writing itself, I write what I’m inspired to write, when God inspires me. It comes as naturally as breathing; if I force it, it doesn’t work. So, one day I might write a few chapters, the next day a single scene, the next day a brilliant sentence I came up with, and then might not pick up the book again until two weeks later.

Thus, I don’t write the book in order from start to finish either. I often have the beginning and end done before all the middle; I often like to have an idea of where the main plot is going, at least for the most part, before starting a new book—unless I have an idea for a really great scene that just must be written. Then, later, I might actually develop the book around that scene.

Moods are important too. If I am in the mood to write an action-packed chapter which doesn’t come until chapter 13, I’ll write that and wait until I’m in the mood to write romantic chapter 9.

So, while I am perhaps a very sporadic writer, it works, because when I AM inspired, I write fast. The only thing I usually have to make myself sit down and think about is when I’m trying to connect two story-lines or ideas which don’t seem to have to do with each other—I love doing this; it adds so much complexity and intricacy—or when I’m done with most of the book, all the important scenes, and just have to come up with what I call “filler”, the in-between bits which connect various scenes and make them flow into one another.

3. Can you describe BLOODMAIDEN in one sentence?

An honest answer would be “no”, actually. ^_^

This is the question I always cheat on (sorry, though thanks for not asking me to describe in three words; that one was definitely not going to happen); the best I can give is Bloodmaiden’s tagline, so without further ado:

Four dynasties. Four aria. One brilliant quest.

4. If BLOODMAIDEN were made into a movie, who would you cast?

I am SO thrilled you asked this question! I have always envisioned some of my books becoming movies someday and really, truly hope they do. When I get an idea for a scene, I see it so visually in my head, playing out like a cinematic experience, and then I transcribe what I see onto the page. Some writers have difficulty writing down what they see the way they see it, but God has thankfully blessed me so that I have never had a problem with this. Even as a kid, it came naturally, and many of my readers—especially those who have read Bloodmaiden—have commented that one thing they really enjoy about my books is the imagery, emotion, and my ability to really place the readers in whatever world I’ve created.

All that rabbit-trail completed, I think Bloodmaiden could make for a great film, between its lush worlds and moments of heart-pounding emotion—if done right. I’d want an expert like Peter Jackson on the sets, if possible. As far as actors, well, ever since I was a kid, I always said Elijah Wood had to be in one of my movies. This was when I was around twelve or so and created a character in his honor in my book Loz: Zephyr’s Islands. As for Bloodmaiden, he might do really well as Chalom since I know from Lord of the Rings that he looks adorable with curly hair. BUT, despite his eternal youthfulness, he might still be told for the role at this point. I think he might fair well as Brydon though, or another idea would be if the movie was animated. I always thought it might be cool for some of my movies to be 3-D anime, like in video games, such as Final Fantasy or my favorite Legend of Zelda. Then, Elijah Wood could do all the voice acting he liked...

If it was live cast though, besides Lij, I would need a very sweet, innocent, naive young girl to play Crisilin, as well as someone who displayed a wide array of emotions very well. A younger version of Liv Tyler would please me, if there was such a one. It’s difficult to say, because I always imagined Chalom and Crisilin as being thirteen; but Hollywood might deem that inappropriate and make them at least sixteen. Perhaps Emma Watson? She’s still very youthful and very gorgeous, but with a sweet look about her. She might also work well as Pan though; with her new haircut, she proves she would make an excellent pixie!

Some other possible good choices for Crisilin might include Saoirse Ronan, Sarah Bolger, Joey King, or Selena Gomez (if she could be blonde; she’s so cute!)

5. What advice do you have for young writers today?

Persevere and be patient!

Patience is killer, but very key. While Bloodmaiden is published by a small press, a lot of my other works are self-published. This has been a great and fn experience, and I consider them of just as high quality as Bloodmaiden, having had the chance to work with editors and thoroughly polish them. However, I still hope to get into a major publisher to help get my name out there, and that truly will take time and patience.

Also, keep learning and polishing your craft. Learn the market, learn “the game”, if you will, what it takes to write a successful query or proposal and how to really get your foot in the door. Even if you think you’re not the best out there, you have to market yourself as such, so confidence too is key. Having learned so much through self-publishing and publishing with smaller presses, I feel much more prepared in terms of writing a query and polishing a manuscript to present to an agent. You can always be educating yourself, practicing, and improving. With each new book I write, I find it amazing sometimes the progress and improvements my writing has made.

6. Finally, what are you currently working on?

It is surprising to say I’m really not working on a book right now. For those who know me well, they might ask to take my temperature at this point. Especially as a kid, I was always working on a slue of books at once. I did just finish up my first-ever fan fiction, Silent Hero, which is based on Nintendo’s epic Legend of Zelda games, my favorites, and which is available as a free ebook on sites such as Smashwords.

As for serious projects though, I’m trying not to write but instead work on promotion Bloodmaiden as well as my up-and-coming second release with Old Line Publishing, Tears of a Vampire Prince: the First Krystine. I have, however, just finished re-editting a middle grade fantasy of mine called The Last Star. In a few months, I should be ready to start submitting to agents. I have self-published and published with both small presses and ebooks. I’ve truly enjoyed the experience and learned so much from it; now, it’s finally time to use what I’ve learned to keep climbing up the ladder and hopefully obtain for myself an agent, a first step into the world of big publishing, probably the best way at this point to really get my name known and be taken seriously.

Here’s a blurb of The Last Star:

There were no Stars in Novalight that fateful night; they had all been extinguished save for one: and if Olette, THE LAST STAR, were to lose her Starfire too, then all the land would be consumed by Shadow—and the very world would come to an uncertain end.

Thankfully, the work of the Shadows goes yet unfinished. Hope remains solely in Olette, the tiny winged fox who flies into ten-year-old Christya’s bedroom that dark night. As a Backwards Star, Olette’s life source—her Starfire—cannot easily be snuffed out like all the others in Novalight. Being the smallest and youngest of the Stars, can Olette take up the position of Blue Star and unravel the mysteries of Star Appointment? Can she help Christya and her other new friends discover the truth behind their parents’ disappearances? Together, can they overcome the Shadows with their newfound powers before every last Star vanishes from the sky? Combining the magnificence of the heavens with the allure of magic to create a charming adventure, THE LAST STAR is more than an enchanting tale of light against darkness: it is a story of friendship and forgiveness, one that shows how even the smallest person can become a light of hope after all the others have gone out.

Thanks to Jonny for helping me craft an excellent blurb and query letter. ^_^

Well, that about wraps things up. Thanks so much to Patty for having me here; I truly enjoyed it and hope you will all take the chance sometimes to experience Bloodmaiden and other of my work.

God bless and happy reading!

We are glad to have had you, Christine, and we hope that you will stay in contact. The review for BLOODMAIDEN will be up soon.

Challenge Update: November

2010-11-30T21:09:00.000-04:00
01. Harry Potter and The Goblet Of Fire by J.K. Rowling *
02. The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks *
03. This Lullaby by Sarah Dessen *

*Re-read

Valiant by Holly Black

2010-11-26T10:04:00.002-04:00

Valiant
When seventeen-year-old Valerie runs away to New York City, she's trying to escape a life that has utterly betrayed her. Sporting a new identity, she takes up with a gang of squatters who live in the city's labyrinthine subway system.

But there's something eerily beguiling about Val's new friends. And when one talks Val into tracking down the lair of a mysterious creature with whom they are all involved, Val finds herself torn between her newfound affection for an honorable monster and her fear of what her new friends are becoming.

I borrowed this book.

At first sight
So I've been trying to get my hands on this book for a while. I'd read Tithe and while I enjoyed it and actually really liked it, I wasn't about to die if I didn't get the next book. But I kind of breathed a sigh of relief when I was able to get this book. I'll finish the series (or at least continue it) once and for all.

My Thoughts
Valiant is crude and quite hard to read. It has a shocking beginning, a boring middle, and an amazing end.

The thing with Valiant is that it's very underground stuff. Valerie runs off to New York to live on the streets and we see how these kids shoot up (and quite graphically). It's not my usual cup of tea.

But then, things seem to flow naturally for the characters. There's no forced romantic relationship, it simply happens. Which I think is a plus.

I didn't love any of the characters, really, except for Val's love interest. The whole book just kind of fell short for me. I really like Kaye on the previous book of the series so I'm sure to pick Ironside, which is the third book, at some point.

In one sentence:
"Nice beginning, boring middle, good end."

Plot: 3
Characters: 2
Writing: 4
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 2.7
Average: 3.3 stars

$80 CSN Certificate Winner

2010-11-23T21:05:00.002-04:00
Finally, after a long time, Random.Org has selected Jessy as the winner. I've sent your email address to CSN and they'll be contacting you soon. Congrats!

2010 Debut Author Challenge

2010-11-23T20:59:00.000-04:00
So I've been seeing the 2010 posts all over The Story Siren this year and I decided to go ahead and sign up for next year. Sure, I've been kind of lost to the world lately but I think this is a great way of getting back into the book blogging world, don't you think? Think you're up to the challenge? Go ahead and sign up over at The Story Siren.

So, I want to make a list so that at least I can be in the lookout for the titles. Here are at least 12 I'm planning to read:

01. Across The Universe by Beth Revis
02. The Iron Witch by Karen Mahoney
03. Falling Under by Gwen Hayes
04. The Returning by Christine Hinwood
05. Awaken by Katie Kacvinsky
06. Die for Me by Amy Plum
07. Hereafter by Tara Hudson
08. Vanished by Sheela Chari
09. Half-Blood by Jennifer L. Armentrout
10. Virtuosity by Jessica Martinez
11. Legend by Marie Lu
12. A Beautiful Dark by Jocelyn Davies

What will you be reading?

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

2010-11-23T18:55:00.000-04:00

Rules of Attraction

When Carlos Fuentes returns to America after living in Mexico for a year, he doesn’t want any part of the life his older brother, Alex, has laid out for him at a high school in Colorado . Carlos likes living his life on the edge and wants to carve his own path—just like Alex did. Then he meets Kiara Westford. She doesn’t talk much and is completely intimidated by Carlos’ wild ways. As they get to know one another, Carlos assumes Kiara thinks she’s too good for him, and refuses to admit that she might be getting to him. But he soon realizes that being himself is exactly what Kiara needs right now.

I borrowed this book.

At first sight: I was SO EXCITED! Because PERFECT CHEMISTRY was amazing and you know, great.

My thoughts:
It is hard to think that Simone Elkeles would surpass the greatness she was able to achieve with PERFECT CHEMISTRY, but she surprised me! Not only do I think that RULES OF ATTRACTION is better than PERFECT CHEMISTRY, but I also think it's one of the best YA books ever written. Here's why.

Both Kara and Carlos have struggles. They're not perfect and actually, they have stuff about them that would seem unattractive. But the way that, not only do they help each other, but are able to see past it, makes a convincing and exiting story.

Very much like Alex, Carlos is stubborn and a trouble maker, but we're able to see a much bigger range of emotions from him by the way he plays with Kara's little brother or the way he handles different situations.

Kara is surprisingly a strong young woman that I admired. She approaches everything with enthusiasm, without really caring what people think, and with an awkward but believalbe confidence.

May I say that I found Kara's and Carlos's relationship even hotter than Alex's and Brittany?

The supporting characters are equally 3-dimensional and interesting. I think this book has a stronger cast, too.

Overall, the book was amazing, believable and engaging. I devoured it in just two days.

In One Sentence:
"Sexy, deep, and hilarious all at once."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

1984 by George Orwell: A Look Into A Classic

2010-11-10T18:13:00.000-04:00

1984

Portrays a terrifying vision of life in the future when a totalitarian government, considered a "Negative Utopia," watches over all citizens and directs all activities, becoming more powerful as time goes by.

This won't be a regular review, more like my general thoughts and why you should read it (wait, isn't that a review, anyways?).

The best I can say about 1984 is that it's thought provoking and it doesn't have a happy ending. I mean, why should it? The story starts, develops, and ends in a totalitarian government that controls everything. There's no real hope for the main character, we all know he's doom.

Yet we can't help but root for him. Maybe because we ourselves may find and understand the deep message that this book wants to bring. George Orwell's distinctive and controversial style is not lost. He wants us to know that we need to take action, but even when we do, we might lose, which is a risk we must be willing to take.

It's amazing how we see the plot in real life. If you're a very aware person and know about world-issues you might find yourself comparing this book to many real life government situations.

I love political books like this and so, while it is boring in most parts, I think it's a must read because it's eye-opening and thought-provoking.

I will not give a rating to this book but I hope that my little review/blurb/commentary will help you and convince you to read this book.

Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

2010-11-05T14:08:00.000-04:00

When sixteen-year-old Tessa Gray crosses the ocean to find her brother, her destination is England, the time is the reign of Queen Victoria, and something terrifying is waiting for her in London's Downworld, where vampires, warlocks and other supernatural folk stalk the gaslit streets. Only the Shadowhunters, warriors dedicated to ridding the world of demons, keep order amidst the chaos.

Kidnapped by the mysterious Dark Sisters, members of a secret organization called The Pandemonium Club, Tessa soon learns that she herself is a Downworlder with a rare ability: the power to transform, at will, into another person. What's more, the Magister, the shadowy figure who runs the Club, will stop at nothing to claim Tessa's power for his own.

Friendless and hunted, Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters of the London Institute, who swear to find her brother if she will use her power to help them. She soon finds herself fascinated by--and torn between--two best friends: James, whose fragile beauty hides a deadly secret, and blue-eyed Will, whose caustic wit and volatile moods keep everyone in his life at arm's length...everyone, that is, but Tessa. As their search draws them deep into the heart of an arcane plot that threatens to destroy the Shadowhunters, Tessa realizes that she may need to choose between saving her brother and helping her new friends save the world...and that love may be the most dangerous magic of all.

I bought this book

I was so happy when I saw it in my local Costco because I've been dying to read it for so long and hardbacks are so expensive.

The book begins a bit slow. We're not sure what is happening and I got a bit confused. I had to read the description a couple of times (I use this sometimes to guide me) so that I could understand what was happening. Of course, Cassandra Clare returns with the same amazing plot twists that we loved in the Mortal Instruments.

Some already known characters and families make a reappearance so you might want to read The Mortal Instruments before you tackle this one.

I just have something to say: the boys get even better and better. We have James whose secret I'm not going to reveal and Will who is very much like Jace in The Mortal Instruments. It was so amazing to see how Tessa handled everything. I wanted to kick her a few times but that's what good characters make us do: care about them enough to not want them to make mistakes.

Oh, and that ending? SUPERB. Enough said.

In one sentence:
"Magical and enchanting."

Plot: 4
Characters: 5
Cover: 5
Writing: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.6 stars

Challenge Update: October

2010-11-01T13:03:00.001-04:00
It has been an extremely busy month for me, therefore, not many books read:

1. Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare
2. 1984 by George Orwell
3. Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles
4. Valiant by Holly Black
5. Percy Jackson and The Olympians: Battle of the Labyrinth by Rick Riordan

Letter to my followers

2010-10-30T16:03:00.001-04:00
You have no idea how grateful I am to you. I think I've been neglecting this blog for a while and I finally decided I wanted to do something about it. So, starting right now, Yay! Reads will be transformed. Expect a bigger and better Yay! Reads than you've ever seen before.

This blog is dear to my heart and I don't want to give it up. Yes, I am extremely busy but I've realized how much I miss it and how much I'm missing out. So please make do me a favor and support me through this new phase that I'm about to start with Yay! Reads. I don't know exactly how far it would go (name change? Maybe) but be warned: You'll be in for a great ride.
Love,

Candor by Pam Bachorz

2010-10-29T17:15:00.000-04:00

Candor

Oscar Banks has everything under control. In a town
where his father brainwashes everyone, he's found a way
to secretly fight the subliminal Messages. He's got them
all fooled: Oscar's the top student and the best-behaved
teen in town. Nobody knows he's made his own Messages
to deprogram his brain. Oscar has even found a way to
get rich. For a hefty price, he helps new kids escape
Candor, Florida before they're transformed into
cookie-cutter teens. But then Nia Silva moves to Candor,
and Oscar's carefully-controlled world crumbles.

At First Sight:
I've wanted to read this one for a while. It reminded me a lot of The Giver, one of my favorite books. And of course, the synopsis intrigued me. So when I had the chance, I picked it up and started reading it.

My thoughts:
In one word, Candor was scary. It was frightening everything that went on: how people turned so perfect, how there were subliminal messages, how it was wrong to do so many things. Even if the book started just a bit slow, it was surprising and sort of like a cultural shock to see it being developed that way.

The way Nia and Oscar's relationship progresses is almost hard to witness. We know in the deep down part of our heart that something isn't going to turn out right. These two people are in the constant look out.

But then something happens (I won't tell what) that leaves the reader so shocked that at one point, I was ready to stop the book. Nevertheless, I wanted to know what would happen, even if it seemed that all was lost.

The end of the book is sickening and perfect. It answers enough questions but leaves speculation, too. It was shocking (I know I'm using this word too much already but it was) and I kept thinking about it for days.

In One Sentence:
"Amazing and surprising, a book that encompasses it all."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Gone by Lisa McMann

2010-10-12T06:25:00.000-04:00

Gone

The third and final book in the paranormal teen series that includes The New York Times bestseller Wake and Fade.
Things should be great for Janie--she has graduated from high school and is spending her summer with Cabel, the guy she's totally in love with. But deep down she's panicking about how she's going to survive her future when getting sucked into other people's dreams is really starting to take its toll. Things get even more complicated when she meets her father for the very first time--and he's in a coma. As Janie uncovers his secret past, she begins to realize that the choice thought she had has more dire consequences than she ever imagined.

At First Sight:
I just love all the covers of this series. They are symbolic and yet simple. There's not too much that crowds the cover which is basically how I like them. I've read this series and I've fallen in love and learned to appreciate Lisa's style of writing.

My Thoughts:
I was afraid to know how this series will end but I think that it really tied up all the knots that were necessary. It left enough amibuity to let the reader imagine how Janie's future will be like.

This book was emotional, and sometimes hard to read. But it was Lisa's lyrical and poetic style of writing that made me stay reading the story. I really loved Janie's character and I thought that throughout the series, she's really grown to accept who she is and what she can do.

Overall, it was a good end to a series, it was not explosive like some thrillers are but it was peaceful and left a good feeling at the end.

In one sentence:
"Stunning."

Plot: 5
Writing: 5
Characters: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

The Secret Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green

2010-10-10T12:01:00.000-04:00

The Secret Society of The Pink Crystal Ball

Smart and sexy-"smexy," as termed in the novel-Risa Green's fabulously original, warm, and funny teen debut follows a trio of best friends as they navigate love, lies, school, and family-with some unlikely supernatural help. Erin inherits a plastic crystal ball and a set of cryptic instructions from her free-spirited aunt. Erin and her two best friends laughingly give it a try and discover that this particular crystal ball has an uncanny knack for being accurate-but as with all magic, it comes with limits and a price.

Risa Green brings to vivid life friendships and romance-with the perfect supernatural twist.
Praise for Notes from the Underbelly:
"...uproariously tart..." -Entertainment Weekly
"Debut fiction that's a cut above the usual chick-lit fare."-Kirkus

Sent by the publisher.

At First Sight:
The cover is simply amazing. Also, even though the title is a mouthful, it's really catchy. The little premise caught my attention but I honestly didn't think too much about the book. I thought it was going to be simply okay. Boy was I wrong.

My thoughts:
SOTPCB (as I'm going to call it now) is fun, unique, and definitely MORE than okay.

Erin is a unique yet normal character. Her two best friends provide the best balance and really, they're a terrific trio. The characters were all amazingly real and relatable. I could definitely see myself in any of them. This, like you should know by now, it's the most important thing for me when reading a book. I'm looking for myself in these characters, it's what makes YA YA.

Erin's aunt is quirky and not the normal person. I like how her death is pretty ambiguous and nobody really knows what happened to her. Erin's struggle to come to term with herself and the death of a family member is real and resonates with the reader.

I was afraid that it would be too fluffy and to "tween" but I'm glad that it did't turn out that way at all! It's a cute story that could be set in any high school. This book has humour and great writing.

In one sentence:
"Cute and entertaining!"

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Wings by Aprilynne Pike

2010-10-04T15:42:00.000-04:00

Wings

Laurel was mesmerized, staring at the pale things with wide eyes. They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.

Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.

In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

I borrowed this book.

At first sight:
I loved the cover since the first day I saw it. I also know that Miley will be doing Laurel for the movie and, some of you may hate me for this but, I love the diea. So I said, why not? And read the book.

My thoughts:
WINGS is very original. THe concept you have about faeries is very different in this book. I'm always a bit unsure when it comes to changing so much about mythical creatures but Pike did it with grace and good writing skills. And, of course, I really nice cast of characters.

My only real problem with this book is that I didn't quite believe the relationships. It all just seems a bit of cliched and not too realistic for me but I kept in mind that it is a fantasy book so that didn't stop me from reading.

Good thing, too. Because the plot is really unexpected and it's deeper than one might first guess. I really liked how it developed and I can't wait to get my hands on the second book, Spells.

In one sentence:
"Magical and enchanting, like your favorite fairy tale."

Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.4 stars

$80 CSN STORES GIFT CERTIFICATE

2010-10-01T20:33:00.000-04:00
Hi guys, I bring you here with another gift certificate to win from CSN Stores. Just fill out this form and enter your details.

Also, I want yo clarify that I have not forgotten to review. Economic times are harsh and therefore haven't been able to buy a lot of new books. Also, I'm in my junior year of high school which is really stressing me out and I haven't been able to read that much. Oh, and the blogaversary totally passed and I didn't even notice. I'm sorry.

Rest assured, though, that I have not forgotten about you guys and I'll post whenever I can, even if it is less frequently. Thanks!

Challenge Update: September

2010-09-30T04:31:00.001-04:00
Books I've read this month:

1. Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
2. Wings by Aprilynne Pikes
3. The Secret of Scarlet Stone by T.L. Clarke
4. Karma Bites by Stacey Karmer and Valerie Thomas
5. Gone by Lisa McMann
6. Society of the Pink Crystal Ball by Risa Green
7. Candor by Pam Bachorz

CSN Stores $80 Certificate Giveaway Coming Soon

2010-09-24T16:39:00.002-04:00
Hi guys! It's that time of the year where most college students are going back to well, umm...college, of course. So, I thought it'd be nice to host another CSN Stores $80 Certificate contest soon. It's perfect for students in need of dorm stuff like a coffee table and a few other things that you can find in any of the 200+ CSN Stores. So, stay tuned for the contest!

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

2010-09-24T16:29:00.001-04:00

Perfect Chemistry

A fresh, urban twist on the classic tale of star-crossed lovers.
When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she's worked so hard for—her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more.
In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.
At First Sight:

At first, I thought Perfect Chemistry was a completely predictable, too much hooking up book about two teenager. But then I kept hearing how amazing it really was and I said, well, why not? So I borrowed it from my friend and you know, the rest is history!

My thoughts:
You know I'm really bad at saying how much I love a certain book. But I'm going to try it: THIS BOOK WAS HOT!

Brittany Ellis and Alex Fuentes couldn't have been more different. They were born to be different and polar opposites of each other. But somehow, against all odds and standards, they manage to fall in love. The kind of love that lasts a lifetime and can never be broken. The kind of love that is so unique, few people experience it.

It was amazing, I loved how the relationship between the characters developed and how it wasn't perfect at all, instead, both characters are flooded with flaws. It was so believable. I get sick of books that have a typical story and becomes quite formula-y and plastic and totally not believable. But this book made me think that ANYTHING is possible.

It was amazing seeing Bittany's family and how it paralleled to Alex. Also, i can relate to Alex some way because I am Latina and I get the prejudices that Latinos get when they go to the States.

I loved this book because I laughed, I cried, I fell in love. All those are important when deciding if I really love a book. This book has it and it made it into my favorite lists.

In One Sentence:
"Amazing, no words to describe it."

Plot: 5
Character: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Karma Bites by Stacy Kramer and Valerie Thomas

2010-09-20T10:35:00.000-04:00

Karma Bites

Life seems to have it in for Franny Flanders.
Her best friends aren’t speaking, her parents just divorced, and her hippie grandmother has moved in. The only karma Franny’s got is bad karma.
Then Franny gets her hands on a box of magic recipes that could fix all of her problems. It could even change the world! Finally, life is looking up.
But Franny is about to learn that magic and karma aren’t to be played with. When you mess with the universe, it can bite back in unexpected ways.
Ouch!
Copy sent by the authors.

At first sight:
It's a MG book which might be a bit surprising to some since I don't really read MG books but I must say, I loved the cover of this and it sounded so cute, so I went right ahead and accepted to review it.

My thoughts:
Franny Flanders is just your typical Middle schooler with typical middle school drama. Except that she finds a not so typical magical box that changes everything.

Her two best friends, Kate and Joey, do NOT get along but with a little help from some magical recipes, Franny plans to get everything sorted out...and a few other problems, too.

Franny is a delightful narrator. She's funny, sarcastic, and a bit silly at times. She's really outgoing and true to her heart. She's motivated by love for her parents, friends, and family. Her actions are real and her fascination with the magical are true to her age.

All of the characters are believable, funny, and fun to read about. I really enjoyed this one more than I thought I would.

Overall:
This book is fantastically written with a great cast of characters. I loved it and I think it's appropriate for anyone, whether you're 8 or 80.

In one sentence:
"Fun, magical, and um...fun!"

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Songs for A Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson

2010-09-15T10:22:00.002-04:00

Songs For a Teenage Nomad
After living in twelve places in eight years with her drifting mother, fourteen-year-old Calle Smith finds herself in Andreas Bay, California, at the start of ninth grade. Fearful of putting down roots anywhere, but armed with her song journal, she moves to her own sound track through a world that bounces her between the school drama crowd, a mysterious loner, and an unlikely boy who will become her first love. But it's the troubling truth she uncovers about her father that forces Calle to face the toughest choice of her young life.

I received this from the publisher.

Calle has lived on too many places in a little time but when she settles into Andreas Bay, she hopes that this would be the last place she'd ever have to move to. Calle has now to navigate through uncharted territory and find out the hard way, the truth about love, friendship, and family.

Calle is a wonderful narrator. She's very laid-back and likable. I also thought she was realistic at all times with her decisions and her way of handling things. I loved the fact that she had a song journal and the way she interacted with everyone.

All characters in this book are very well-crafted and dimensional. They all ring with the reader so that you can see a bit of you inside each one.

The love story is beautiful and realistic, if sometimes a bit painful. But Kim handles everything so well and detailed that you are left completely satisfied.

The writing is lyrical and amazing. The soundtrack is great and I couldn't help but imagine myself having my own song journal.

Overall, it was a great book and definitely one of my favorites of the year. It's that good.

In one sentence:
"Beautiful, lyrical, and heart-warming."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

In My Mailbox (25)

2010-09-12T04:14:00.000-04:00
IMM was started by The Story Siren and features the contents of my mailbox. This week I got:

For Review

Gone by Lisa McMann
Society of The Pink Crystal Ball
Risa Green
Arizona ( Beautiful Dead #2) by Eden McGuire
What did you get?

The Secret of Scarlet Stone by T.L. Clarke

2010-09-07T09:12:00.000-04:00

The Secret of the Scarlet Stone

Can You Help the Gabby Girls Solve the Clues?The Gabby Girls Adventure begins at the Vineswell Academy a very formal and strict elite all-girls school located just outside of upstate New York. The Gabby Girls, Gabrielle who is street-smart and very opinionated, Zora who is super-smart, Jessica who is painfully shy and a bit clumsy; and Rosalinda who is a diva and daddy's little-girl. They are drawn together by the only thing that they have in common, which is the mysterious scarlet pendant they each possess. But things seem even stranger when they find a clue that tempts them with the answer to the question they have longed to know. This unlikely bunch struggle to navigate through solving clue-after-clue. Each clue brings them closer to the key to unlocking their future and the answer to the mysterious deaths of their mothers. After all, Gabby Girls always stick together and everyday is an.........Gabby Girls Adventure! (edited by author)

Received from author.

Gabby Girls takes place in an elite all-girls school. Four girls, united by the secret of their pendants, get together to solve the mystery and discover their legacy.

The novel is more MG than YA literature. It's cute in some parts while in others, unfortunately, it's quite dull.

The good thing about this novel:
1) It has a good premise that catches the reader's attention.
2) It has a good ending, making the reader anticipate the second installment.

Now, to the bad things, which slightly outnumber and outweight the good things.
1) The book is flooded with adverbs. And I know this may not be major to some people, as a writer and avid reader, it bothered me. I couldhandle one or two in a page, but this novel had more than three in almost every sentence.

2) The dialog. The dialog was another problem for me. It was unreallistic and very cliched. It made me groan almost every time a girl said something because I just couldn't believe it.

3) The characters. While at times the characters do redeemed themselves, they didn't really pull it off for me. They're unrealistic and quite bratty and snotty. There's no way I could relate to the girls, especially when they were so mean and spoiled. I've read books where characters were spoiled before but those characters had a vulnerable side, too. These were just flat.

Overall, the writing didn't impress me at all, the characters made it unreadable sometimes and I thought about quitting it a few times, actually. The only thing that redeemed at least a bit was the ending which did leave me slightly interested in the next book.

In one sentence:
"Flat characters, a weak dialog and writing left me a bit annoyed with this book."

Plot: 3
Characters: 1.5
Writing: 2
Cover: 3
Overall Feeling: 1.5
Average: 2.2 stars

Winner of CSN STORE $80 GIFT CERTIFICATE

2010-09-04T15:07:00.000-04:00
OMGOSH! This is a really great prize and the lucky winner is........

HIGHLIGHT TO FIND OUT HERE:

MIN YU!

I will be emailing CSN Sponsor with your email so that you will receive your gift card.

Challenge Update: August

2010-08-31T09:04:00.000-04:00
Books I've read this month:

1. Emma and The Vampires by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson
2. Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell
3. Songs for A Teenage Nomad
4. Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secrets by J.K.Rowling
5. The People Of Sparks by Jeanne DuPrau
6. Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins

The People of Sparks (Ember Series #2) by Jeanne DuPrau

2010-08-31T01:25:00.000-04:00

The People of Sparks

The People of Sparks picks up where The City of Ember leaves off. Lina and Doon have emerged from the underground city to the exciting new world above, and it isn’t long before they are followed by the other inhabitants of Ember. The Emberites soon come across a town where they are welcomed, fed, and given places to sleep. But the town’s resources are limited and it isn’t long before resentment begins to grow between the two groups. When anonymous acts of vandalism push them toward violence, it’s up to Lina and Doon to discover who’s behind the vandalism and why, before it’s too late.

I borrowed this book

The People of Sparks is the sequel to The City Of Ember. It was a long time ago since I read the first book but I saw the oportunity to pick up the second so I did.

The People of sparks doesn't have the adventure and sense of danger that Ember did but the themes are a bit more mature and you can really see a struggling society trying to make it. There are some events that are quite surprising that I love how the author handled it (or the characters did, whatever).

Like before, Jeanne provides a simple yet flowing narrative. The characters are so relatable, they can be your best friends! I am now wishing for a Doon/Lina relationship but only just because I'm a sap for those kinds of things, I'll have to see.

This is a short review, the book doesn't have that fast paced action Ember did and it's quite a dull book throughout but I have many hopes for the future books and can't wait to see more of these amazing cast of characters.

In one sentence:
"A dull sequel but with promise."

Plot: 3
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.2

Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins *SPOILERS*

2010-08-29T15:39:00.000-04:00

Mockingjay

My name is Katniss Everdeen. Why am I not dead? I should be dead.

Katniss Everdeen, girl on fire, has survived, even though her home has been destroyed. Gale has escaped. Katniss's family is safe. Peeta has been captured by the Capitol. District 13 really does exist. There are rebels. There are new leaders. A revolution is unfolding.

It is by design that Katniss was rescued from the arena in the cruel and haunting Quarter Quell, and it is by design that she has long been part of the revolution without knowing it. District 13 has come out of the shadows and is plotting to overthrow the Capitol. Everyone, it seems, has had a hand in the carefully laid plans -- except Katniss.

The success of the rebellion hinges on Katniss's willingness to be a pawn, to accept responsibility for countless lives, and to change the course of the future of Panem. To do this, she must put aside her feelings of anger and distrust. She must become the rebels' Mockingjay -- no matter what the personal cost.

This has been a journey. The Hunger Games has become one of my favorite book series that I have ever read. It has been a wild journey that I've experienced along Katniss Everdeen and it's so sad to see it come to an end.

Katniss is by far one of my favorite characters. One of the things that I admire most about her is that she's brave but not without fear. She can be deceitful, manipulative and a lot of other bad things but she's still her. Whenever she has to do something, she thinkgs about the best for others, especially her family.

I have to say that I loved and was surprised by the description of District 13. I didn't expect that at all! In fact, most of the book I was flabbergasted because I didn't expect half of it.

I know a lot of people are mad with the ending. I guess I was, too. But after sleeping on it and hearing other people's thoughts I've come to the conclusion that the book is about war with a strong romantic subplot. The realities of war is that there are a lot of casualties and people who don't deserve to die.

Katniss was so wounded and beat up that at times, it was a very hard book to read. The truth is that it was a nation at war and no life was safe. I have to congragulate Suzanne Collins because the book made you think and get your emotions in a way that it becomes unforgettable.

I was disappointed that there was no closure for Gale, though. As a Team Gale, I found myself rooting for him but after reareading the last few pages I understood finally why Katniss needed Peeta. Gale was too much like her, too strong, too destructive, too wounded. Peeta is calm, collected, and patient while Gale is blunt and rash. There's no denying how much Gale loves Katniss but in the end, Katniss chose that person who could provide her with stability and not strength per say.

It was heartbreaking seeing the people that die, die. I was mad at times, too. I found myself rooting for characters I didn't really care about before.

Some think that the epilogue is depressing but I find it to have a bit of hope. Katniss and Peeta both have been through so much and it's not surprising that they haven't completely healed those wounds but I feel that Katniss in the end, really believes she will be okay.

In the end:
The book was amazing. I didn't enjoy reading it per say because it was very hard and dark to read. It was a heavy book, that's for sure. But I think the story was amazing and just beautiful. Many people didn't like that Katniss wasn't awake for some scenes, where she wakes up after an important even. I would have preffered to have it described but I also think that that portrayal of emptiness is what Katniss was feeling.

Also, some hated the constant cliffhangers at the end of the chapters and I agree it became annoying for a bit but in the end, it kept me on my toes.

In one sentence:
"A great finale for an amazing series."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

P.S. A discussion post (s) will follow soon so stay tuned!

MOCKINGJAY RELEASE TODAY!

2010-08-24T08:06:00.000-04:00

Today is the release of the long awaited finale to one of my favorite series on Earth.
SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
What will happen? Stay tuned for my amazing very biased review soon!

Trickster's Girl by Hilari Bell

2010-08-20T07:55:00.000-04:00

Trickster's Girl

In the year 2098 America isn't so different from the USA of today. But, in a post-9/11 security-obssessed world, "secured" doesn't just refer to borders between countries, it also refer to borders between states. Teenagers still think they know everything, but there is no cure for cancer, as Kelsa knows first-hand from watching her father die.

The night Kelsa buries her father, a boy appears. He claims magic is responsible for the health of Earth, but human damage disrupts its flow. The planet is dying.

Kelsa has the power to reverse the damage, but first she must accept that magic exists and see beyond her own pain in order to heal the planet.

I was afraid that this book was going to be very preachy and although not overly so, it still contained to much preaching for me.

I guess the book itself is good. There's a roadtrip involved that certainly brings much fun and Raven is a likable character and sometimes even cute. But somehow, this book didn't really stick with me.

Kelsa is really just a character. She was an okay narrator and there were moments where I conected with her and others where she seemd just too distant. She really doesn't stand out from other characters in the way I would have liked.

Also, I know this is supposed to be novel set in the future but I didn't get that feeling AT ALL. It just seemed like 2010 and I REALLY love future-set novels.

A bit further on the preaching, what bothered me is that I usually don't mind books that implant the idea or show to problems and let the reader figure out the solutions. But this book told you straight out that we were killing our planet. Now, I know that but a book that really effectively sends a message is supposed to give your reasons and impact. That's why I like the implementing (AHH INCEPTION !!!) idea more because it makes the reader figure it out, therefore spending more time afterwards thinking about the book.

I also expected romance but there wasn't any, really. It disappointed me.

In one sentence:
"Enjoyable but moderate, a library read."

Plot: 4
Characters: 3
Writing: 4
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 3
Average: 3.6/5 stars

In My Mailbox (24)

2010-08-15T10:56:00.000-04:00
In My Mailbox is hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren. This week I'm combining this week and past week's IMM.

On Kindle:

The Secret of The Scarlet Stone by TL Clarke
Borrowed
Candor by Pam Bachorz
Valiant by Holly Black
Wings by Aprilynne Pike
Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles
Ember Series 2-4 by Jeanne DuPrau
Under the Dome by Stephen King

CSN Stores $80 Certificate Giveaway

2010-08-14T15:05:00.000-04:00
As mentioned earlier this month, CSN stores is letting me host an $80 Gift Certificate giveaway!

Details:
1. US residents only
2. Ends September 1st, 2010

You must fill in THIS form. Any future posts you comment on from here until September 1st will award you +3 EXTRA ENTRIES. Good luck!

Emma And The Vampires by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson

2010-08-13T17:53:00.001-04:00

Emma And The Vampires
What better place than pale England to hide a secret society of gentlemen vampires?

In this hilarious retelling of Jane Austen's Emma, screenwriter Wayne Josephson casts Mr. Knightley as one of the most handsome and noble of the gentlemen village vampires. Blithely unaware of their presence, Emma, who imagines she has a special gift for matchmaking, attempts to arrange the affairs of her social circle with delightfully disastrous results. But when her dear friend Harriet Smith declares her love for Mr. Knightley, Emma realizes she's the one who wants to stay up all night with him. Fortunately, Mr. Knightley has been hiding a secret deep within his unbeating heart-his (literal) undying love for her... A brilliant mash-up of Jane Austen and the undead.

I was sent this ARC by the publicist.

This novel is witty and entertaining. It's funny and has such a great story. And the vampires are a great twist! The story begins a bit slowly but once it catches on, it's on a roll. This is a really addictive read with a classic twist. I am now almost wondering what the original book is like.

I loved Emma because I saw a lot of myself in her. She was real, independent, and assertive. She was able to think of others and not settle for something less than she deserves. She's a believable character and an entertaining narrator.

Mr. Knightley is so cool, too. He's down to earth but not perfect. He is probably the only male character I ever truly liked and trusted. He seemed like the classic, timless man every women yearns for.

I particularly disliked Mr. and Mrs. Elton. They annoyed me quite a lot. Their attitudes were just puke-worthy but so amusing! Definitely not a flaw in the characterization. They are genious characters.

The characters are so well rounded and three dimensional. It's amazingly written and there's little to NOT like about this book. I'm big on character and often talk a lot about them and this book is filled with wonderful, memorable characters.

The prose is fantastic and really very true to the time period's language and dialogue. The plot catches up and the story becomes almost addicting and unputdownable. It's a MUST READ for everyone, classical nerdies or not.

In one sentence:
"The vampire classic that sinks in, literally!"

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Top 5 Things I don't Like In A Book

2010-08-09T06:06:00.000-04:00
I've always had some pet peeves regarding what I want/don't want in a book. So let's see the things that I DON'T like, and if you agree, give me a heads up, will ya? Let me know how you feel about that.

1. Cliches- Even though I'm guilty of writing these, there's nothing worse than reading millions of books with passages such as " fiber of my being," or "Sweet as a rose," or even "love of my life." You can seriously come up with better than that, right?

2. Whiny girlfriends *ahem* Bella *ahem*- I can't stand them in real life, so why should I put up with them in a book? I mean, seriously, can't you be independent and assertive and STILL love your boyfriend/husband/warewolf?

3. Why don't you don't- I've seen this so many times and not just this but common grammatical errors. Okay, we're humans, but when you are writing something you want it to be perfect and then it goes into gazillion rounds of editing only to come back with more errors than it first had. has anyone ever heard of spellcheck or something?

4. Mary/Gary Sus- No one can change their oppinions THAT fast so when characters do something well, out of character, it ticks me off. Be consistent or else how am I ever going to trust the character?

5. Too much drama, not enough character- I hate when the plot overtakes the characters. Characters to me are the most important part of a story but I don't connect to it, I won't like it. It can have the best premise, and the best plot in the world but If the characters are under-developed and distant, I won't like it.

Passing Strange by Daniel Waters

2010-08-07T10:14:00.000-04:00

Passing Strange

Karen DeSonne always passed as a normal (if pale) teenager; with her friends, with her family, and at school. Passing cost her the love of her life. And now that Karen’s dead, she’s still passing—this time, as alive. Karen DeSonne just happens to be an extremely human-like zombie. Meanwhile, Karen’s dead friends have been fingered in a high-profile murder, causing a new round of antizombie regulations that have forced them into hiding. Karen soon learns that the “murder” that destroyed their non-life was a hoax, staged by Pete Martinsburg and his bioist zealots. Obtaining enough evidence to expose the fraud and prove her friends’ innocence means doing the unthinkable: becoming Pete’s girlfriend. Karen’s only hope is that the enemy never realizes who she really is—because the consequences would be worse than death.

Passing Strange was sent to me to review by the publicist, so thank you!

The world of Generation Dead is quite interesting. Very unexpected and it is known that zombies do exist. This was my first Generation Dead novel but I found that I needn't read the others to get into this one as it works well as a stand-alone.

At first, I was very surprised with the changing of POV, it took me off balance and it was hard to get used to at first but once the novel progressed, I became accostumed to it.

Karen was a good character, if ever a bit distance. There were moments where I felt that I really knew her and then she pulled back and I wasn't so sure. Maybe this has to do with the POV change?

I really liked Pete's character, though. It was very three-dimensional and we see him change through the rest of the novel and come to terms with himself and the world he lives in.

Tak is another one I liked. He is a loyal friend who will do whatever with Karen.

Oh, and I didn't expect the end AT ALL. Which was really good. I did, though, wish that Pete wouldn't have found out about Karen until later but I was glad there was more to the story instead of just that.

In one sentence:
"A definitely unique read!"

Plot: 4
Characters: 4
Writing: 4
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.2

Writers Unplugged: Top 5 Tips For Writers

2010-08-05T08:34:00.000-04:00
1. Find time to write- This is as simple as it sounds but is actually very hard for me to do this. I usually get involved with so much that, at the end of the day, I don't find time to write. Right now, I'm more focused on revising my novel and I don't want to submerge myself in another project but even writing things like this counts.

2. Listen to your heart. Your brian is alway correcting you. "This is wrong," or "That is stupid." Try to shut down your brain and just go wherever you feel like going. Listening to your brain too much will give you a big writer's block and you don't want that.

3. Don't rush. This is also one of my hard ones. I always but goals on myself but sometimes I feel like I'm preassuring myself to do something and the moment it becomes work, I hate it. When I want to take a break, I do, when I want to write I do. I know that you'll have to deal with deadlines when you're a published writer but get into the flow--like exercise. KNOW when your body just needs a break.

4. Small goals are better than big ones. Try to make small goals that will accomplish a bigger one. For example, want to write 50,000 words in a month? Don't think "Oh, my God, I have to write 50k in a month." Better rephrase that into, "I have to write 1,600" words a day. Seeing your goals in smaller scale will make it easier and faster to accomplish.

5. Finally, be true to yourself. We as writers are always looking for ways to better our skill but sometimes in the process, we lose ourselves. Try to find your own voice and put yourself in the position of your character's. What would you do? What would you say?

Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton

2010-08-03T08:24:00.000-04:00

Tyger Tyger

Teagan Wylltson's best friend, Abby, dreams that horrifying creatures--goblins, shape-shifters, and beings of unearthly beauty but terrible cruelty--are hunting Teagan. Abby is always coming up with crazy stuff, though, so Teagan isn't worried. Her life isn't in danger. In fact, it's perfect. She's on track for a college scholarship. She has a great job. She's focused on school, work, and her future. No boys, no heartaches, no problems.

Until Finn Mac Cumhaill arrives. Finn's a bit on the unearthly beautiful side himself. He has a killer accent and a knee-weakening smile. And either he's crazy or he's been haunting Abby's dreams, because he's talking about goblins, too . . . and about being The Mac Cumhaill, born to fight all goblin-kind. Finn knows a thing or two about fighting. Which is a very good thing, because this time, Abby's right. The goblins are coming.
Wow, this book literally left me breathless. First of all, the cover is fantastic. Very vivid and colorful.

Teagan is such a likable character. She's funny and it's natural, not forced in any way. She is also very realistic and doesn't believe she is super human. She knows her flaws and her limits but she's brave enough to surpass them. I found myself really realating to her.

Finn is so amazing, too. It's so weird having a character enter, leave, and then enter again totally different but Finn is just very three dimensional and has a million sides to him.

I absolutely LOVED Teagan's little brother, he is funny and very intelligent--many a times I thought he was actually older than he was.

Abby and the rest of the secondary characters felt like a family. Kersten did the character development wonderfully and vividly.

The plot and the premise, oh and the mythology is wonderful. I didn't expect a debut book like this be so rich and so well-researched. I applaud Kersten for that.

I do wish that the final 'battle' would have been more of a battle and I think the characters got off easy. But it sets the tone for the future books perfectly.

In one sentence:
"A striking book that you won't see it coming."

Plot: 5
Characters: 4
Writing: 4
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 4.6 stars

Top 5 All Time Favorite Characters

2010-08-01T11:24:00.000-04:00
I have read many many books that have contained many characters that I love or love to hate.These characters here belong to that list. These characters can be good, bad, or so bad they're good. Why don't you tell me who your all-time favorites are?

1. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins). Katniss is bad-ass yet she has a million flaws. Even if this novel is set in the future, dystopian America, she faces problem that we face today like social and political opression, relationship problems, and family problems. Katniss is a character I trust and her voice is always refreshing. She brings strong emotions (sometimes rash ones) to the book and the series.

2. Severus Snape (Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling). Snape is the perfect ambiguous character. You never know exactly if he's good or bad until the last book. He's an example that we're not all good or all bad, we're somewhat gray. I love SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Snape's love toward Lily, despite everything else he has been through. It really proves that love can overtake anything. Plus, his witty and obnoxious remarks make me laugh.

3. Fire (Fire by Kristin Cashore). Like Katniss, Fire is strong and badass. Sometimes a bit manipulative but other than that, she's real. She faces real issues about identity and who she loves and can trust.

4. Clary (Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare). Clary makes mistakes, lots of them but she is still true to herself and to her family. She doesn't back down from a challenge, and like me, wants to be in on everything. She and Jace are perfect for each other but that doesn't mean their relationship is.

5. Princess Mia (Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot). Princess Mia is hilarious. She is the Ad for being a teen. She can be whiny, happy, difficult but she never ceases to be real. I think this is one of MC's best characters ever. I want to be just like her! No matter if you're a Princess or not, you can relate to Mia and her never ending obsessions.

Challenge Update: July

2010-07-31T10:15:00.002-04:00
I'm participating in 100+ Books in 2010 and a Historical Reading Challenge:

1. Gone by Michael Grant
2. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald *
3. A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks
4. Pretty Little Liars #2 (Flawless) by Sarah Shephard
5. The Chocolate Wars by Robert Cormier
6. North Of Beautiful by Justina Chen Headly
7. Tyger Tyger by Kersten Hamilton
8. Passing Strange by Daniel Waters
9. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling
* For school and I'm counting as a historical book.

CSN Stores $80 Certificate Giveaway Coming Soon

2010-07-30T22:40:00.000-04:00
Hi guys! Remember last month I held a CSN Stores giveaway? Well, they selected me as a preffered Webmaster and now I get to host another one! CSN stores is a great chain of stores where you can find everything from bedroom furniture sets to lamps and other cool stuff. So, stick around because next week I will be posting up the contest for you to join!

Thank you to CSN stores for letting me host this giveway.

North Of Beatiful by Justina Chen Headley

2010-07-28T06:22:00.000-04:00

North of Beautiful
Born with a port-wine stain birthmark covering her entire right cheek, Terra Rose Cooper is ready to leave her stifling, small Washington town where everyone knows her for her face. With her critical, reproachful father and an obese mother who turns to food to deflect her father's verbal attacks, home life for Terra isn't so great either. Fueled by her artistic desires, she plans to escape to an East Coast college, thinking this is her true path. When her father intercepts her acceptance letter, Terra is pushed off-course, and she is forced to confront her deepest insecurities. After an ironically fortuitous car accident, Terra meets Jacob, a handsome but odd goth Chinese boy who was adopted from China as a toddler. Jacob immediately understands Terra's battle with feeling different. When Terra's older brother invites her and her mother to visit him in Shanghai, Jacob and his mother also join them on their journey, where they all not only confront the truth about themselves, but also realize their own true beauty. North of Beautiful is the engaging third YA novel by Justina Chen Headley. This is a gorgeously-written, compelling book featuring universal themes of defining true beauty, family bonds, personal strength, and love.

I don't know if you've noticed, but I've kept my reviews shorter lately. This is a mixtue of lazyness and the fact that I read books weeks before I actually review them. Okay, onto the real thing.

North of Beautiful is a...beautiful book. All characters are so distinct and unique that you really get a sense that you know them all. I loved also the uniqueness of the book because of the mapping details. I've never read a book that centered an idea, a hobby, and created a complete story revolving around it.

Jacob and Terra are just great together. Both have their issues and I believe that both, in the end, discover True Beauty in themselves.

The father was an a*hole, that's enough said. But even with that, we are left with enough ambiguousity in the end to really figure out by ourselves what really happens to him and the characters the moment you close the book.

And Terra's mom is amazing, too. I was just as happy that she found her beauty as I was with Terra finding hers. Both of theirs stories are inspiring.

In one sentence:
"Finding beautiful in every word."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5 stars

MOCKINGJAY TWITTER PARTY!

2010-07-27T15:13:00.000-04:00
Hey guys! I've mentioned this before and now I'm making the official post.

What: A Twitter Chat/Party celebrating the release of The Hunger Game's third book, Mockingjay.
Who: Bloggers and readers alike. Everyone is invited!
When: Friday, August 27th, 2010
Details: Come join in the fun! There will be special discussions to participate in or you can just sit back, relax, and follow the conversation and hype!
Hosted by: Patty from Yay! Reads. This party is in no way affiliated with Scholastic, Suzanne Collins, or any other affiliates. It is mainly just a fan party/celebration.

How to tune in: Simply follow #yrmockingjay and use it with all your posts.

We ask you to please sign up using the Mister Liny below. Just use your name and blog (if you have one). This will be to keep track of the attendees.

Spread the Word!
Spread the word by posting this button on your website!

<a href="http://yayreads.blogspot.com"></a>

Manifest by Artist Arthur

2010-07-26T11:00:00.000-04:00

Manifeset

Krystal Bentley is an outsider at her new high school, having just moved to a small Connecticut town. Lately she's been hearing the voice of a teenage boy in her head, and he has become her friend and confidant. The only problem is, he's dead...

Ricky Watson was killed a year ago in the alley behind Krystal's new school. The rumor mill is filled with stories of Ricky and his untimely death. Unfortunately, as a ghost, Ricky is unable to investigate his own murder, so Ricky needs Krystal to find the truth and she needs someone to listen. When Krystal befriends Sasha and Jake, both outcasts at her high school, the threesome soon discover that they have more in common than their outsider status. Each has a unique paranormal ability and an unusual birthmark in the shape of an "M." Jake announces that the M must stand for misfits, and so the three form an unusual clique. They soon realize that solving Ricky's murder can help them understand the mystery behind their powers and may reveal whether there are others like them.

The aspect I most liked about Manifest was that it was multi-racial and not just black or white which I relate to, being Puerto Rican.

Krystal was funny and relatable character. The only complain about her is that she was sometimes annoying and dramatic.

Ricky as fine, I suppose. He's not my type (I much prefer Jake) and he didn't help much but he was okay.

I was waiting for the book to finally pick up and I was happy when it did near the end.

I don't know if it's me or done on purpse but there seemed to be this big plot hole that confused me. I hope they fix this in the final copy. At one point, it is said Jake's power is super-strong (like Hulk) and then it totally changes to telekinesis.

I also liked the mythology aspect and I hope there is more on the next book.

Overall, I liked the book and I can tell Artist's writing has a way to go because in Manifest it seemed a bit ameteur.

In one sentence:
"An entertaining new novel with great potential."

Plot: 4
Characters: 3
Writing: 3
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 3.6 stars

ARC copy provided by publisher.

In My Mailbox (23)

2010-07-25T10:46:00.000-04:00
In My Mailbox is created and hosted by Kristi atThe Story Siren.

I haven't had an IMM in so LONG! But this week I got some goodies!!!!

For Review

Emma and The Vampires by Wayne Josephson
Songs for A Teenage Nomad by Kim Culbertson
Passing Strange by Daniel Waters
NetGalley
Hunger by Jackie Morse Kessler
I'm dancing of HAPPINESS!

Pretty Little Liars #2 (Flawless) by Sara Shepard

2010-07-24T10:59:00.000-04:00

Flawless

In the exclusive town of Rosewood, Pennsylvania, where the sweetest smiles hide the darkest secrets, four pretty little liars—Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna—have been very bad girls. . . .
Spencer stole her sister's boyfriend. Aria is brokenhearted over her English teacher. Emily likes her new friend Maya . . . as much more than a friend. And Hanna's obsession with looking flawless is literally making her sick. But the most horrible secret of all is something so scandalous it could destroy their perfect little lives.
And someone named "A" is threatening to do just that.
At first they thought A was Alison, their friend who vanished three years ago . . . but then Alison turned up dead. So could A be Melissa, Spencer's ultracompetitive sister? Or Maya, who wants Emily all to herself? What about Toby, the mysterious guy who left town right after Alison went missing?
One thing's for certain: A's got the dirt to bury them all alive, and with every crumpled note, wicked IM, and vindictive text message A sends, the girls get a little closer to losing it all.
The second installment of Pretty Little Liars, Flawless, is, I have to admit, much like every other sequel. Exciting in places, dragged in others. We're still learning about the characters and while the initial shock has already started dying out, we're following the girls trying to figure out what exactly is going on.

The ending though, it was VERY shocking. I loved Toby in this book and I think that maybe something might happen between SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER Toby and Emily.

I can't really review this book without having spoilers so I'm just saying that, this is a good book but I preffered the first. STILL, I can't WAIT for the next book, especially after the revelation made in this one.

Oh, and it's so different from the show! I won't comment on that but OMG! IT IS SO DIFFERENT! The girls in the books (ahem, Spencer) are so much meaner, flirtier, etc etc etc.

In one sentence:
"Pretty Little Liars is an unputdownable series!"

Plot: 4
Characters: 5
Writing: 4
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.4 stars

The Chocolate Wars by Robert Cormier

2010-07-22T01:57:00.000-04:00

The Chocolate War
Does Jerry Renault dare to disturb the universe? You wouldn't think that his refusal to sell chocolates during his school's fundraiser would create such a stir, but it does; it's as if the whole school comes apart at the seams. To some, Jerry is a hero, but to others, he becomes a scapegoat--a target for their pent-up hatred. And Jerry? He's just trying to stand up for what he believes, but perhaps there is no way for him to escape becoming a pawn in this game of control; students are pitted against other students, fighting for honor--or are they fighting for their lives? In 1974, author Robert Cormier dared to disturb our universe when this book was first published. And now, with a new introduction by the celebrated author,The Chocolate War stands ready to shock a new group of teen readers.

I had to read this for school and I was surprised at how good it was. I was also surprised that in my strict Catholic school, they'd allow a book like this where it's shown masturbation and similar topics.

I liked the concept of the book and although it was a bit slow at first, I enjoyed it. The only thing that I'd say negative is that I felt like I didn't know the characters. None of them really grew by the end of the book and they all felt a bit distant.

The book is a bit dated but there's nothing really to give it away.

In one sentence:
"Better than you would ever think."

Plot: 4
Characters: 3
Writing: 5
Cover: 3
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 3.8 stars

A Princess Of Landover by Terry Brooks

2010-07-19T11:52:00.000-04:00

After fourteen years, New York Times bestselling fantasy master Terry Brooks has returned to the magic kingdom of Landover. The remarkable realm of dragons, demons, wizards, and wonders that wove an irresistible spell in five classic novels throws open its gates at long last for a brand-new adventure featuring a dazzling cast of characters and creatures.

Ben Holiday, Chicago lawyer and mere mortal turned monarch of enchanted Landover, has grappled with scheming barons, fire-breathing beasts, diabolical conjurers, and extremely wicked witches. None of whom have prepared him for the most daunting of challengers–a teenage daughter. Sent by Ben and his beloved sylph bride, Willow, to an exclusive girls’ prep school, headstrong (and half-magical) Mistaya Holiday has found life in the natural world a less than perfect fit. And when her latest rebellious antics get her indefinitely suspended, she’s determined to resume her real education–learning sorcery from court wizard Questor Thews–whether her parents like it or not.

But back home in Landover, Mistaya’s frustrated father is just as determined that the precocious princess learn some responsibility, and he declares her grounded until she successfully refurbishes the long-forsaken royal library. Mortified by the prospect of salvaging a king’s ransom in moldy books–and horrified by word that repulsive local nobleman Lord Laphroig seeks to marry her–Mistaya decides that the only way to run her own life is to run away from home.

So begins an eventful odyssey peppered with a formidable dragon, recalcitrant gnomes, an inscrutable magic cat, a handsome librarian, a sinister sorcerer, and more than a few narrow escapes as fate draws Landover’s intrepid princess to the last place she expected to go, and into the thick of a mystery that will put her mettle to the test–and might bring the kingdom to its knees.

Although this book is adult fiction, it might as well be read by every age group. I've read some of Terry Brook's work before and I loved it so coming into this I was expecting a lot.

Unfortunately, it did not measure up. While the book is good in some parts, it is quite slow on others and I couldn't get into it until the very end. I kept waiting for the action to happen and when it did, it fell short.

The main character, Mistaya, is a fifteen year old teen and I was happy that I could relate to her and her problems as a teenager. I also loved Thom and the little hints of romance here and there.

The supporting characters were good and the villans were villans. There's nothing that really impressed me about this book.

In one sentence: "Falls short compared to other Terry Brooks's work."

Plot: 3
Characters: 4
Writing: 5
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 3
Average: 3.8 stars

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

2010-07-17T02:24:00.000-04:00

The Great Gatsby
In 1922, F. Scott Fitzgerald announced his decision to write "somethingnew--something extraordinary and beautiful and simple and intricately patterned." That extraordinary, beautiful, intricately patterned, and above all, simple novel became The Great Gatsby, arguably Fitzgerald's finest work and certainly the book for which he is best known. A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, Gatsby captured the spirit of the author's generation and earned itself a permanent place in American mythology. Self-made, self-invented millionaire Jay Gatsby embodies some of Fitzgerald's--and his country's--most abiding obsessions: money, ambition, greed, and the promise of new beginnings. "Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter--tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther.... And one fine morning--" Gatsby's rise to glory and eventual fall from grace becomes a kind of cautionary tale about the American Dream.
It's also a love story, of sorts, the narrative of Gatsby's quixotic passion for Daisy Buchanan. The pair meet five years before the novel begins, when Daisy is a legendary young Louisville beauty and Gatsby an impoverished officer. They fall in love, but while Gatsby serves overseas, Daisy marries the brutal, bullying, but extremely rich Tom Buchanan. After the war, Gatsby devotes himself blindly to the pursuit of wealth by whatever means--and to the pursuit of Daisy, which amounts to the same thing. "Her voice is full of money," Gatsby says admiringly, in one of the novel's more famous descriptions. His millions made, Gatsby buys a mansion across Long Island Sound from Daisy's patrician East Egg address, throws lavish parties, and waits for her to appear. When she does, events unfold with all the tragic inevitability of a Greek drama, with detached, cynical neighbor Nick Carraway acting as chorus throughout. Spare, elegantly plotted, and written in crystalline prose, The Great Gatsby is as perfectly satisfying as the best kind of poem.

This will be short since I had to read it for school. The Great Gatsby is very poigant and creates such awesome images of 1920's New York, one of my favorite times and places in history. The characters seemed real and the love story is so relevant, it could have been told in high school hallways.

I got a bit bored but it didn't have to do with the book. It had more to do with the fact that I had to read it for school instead of it being for my own accord. It's a short novel with a well-paced plot. Easy read, really.

In one sentence: "Poigant and realistic."

Plot: 4
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 3
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.2

Write In Life (4)

2010-07-15T13:20:00.000-04:00
Write In Life is a biweekly meme created and hosted by me, Patty, here at Yay! Reads.

This week's topic: Giving Up

I find it exciting every time I have a new idea and I think it's the best one yet. I love writing the first couple of thousand words and it just seems like I'm a rush! But then, your idea doesn't seem as cool anymore and you don't know what's wrong!

I've learned that in order for me to keep writing a story, I need to be engaged and in love with it. If it becomes too tedious or too much like a bother, then I don't really like the story anymore. It's hard but sometimes, you just have to walk away. I still keep all the stories, just in case I want to go back to them later. But the smart thing to do (for the sanity of things) is to give it rest time.

If you'd like to participate in future topics, send me an email to yayreads at hotmail dot com with subject line saying WIL and I'll send you the topic! You can write as much or as little as you like.

Waiting On Wednesday (6)

2010-07-14T12:38:00.001-04:00
Waiting On Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine.

In the year 2150, being a girl isn’t necessarily a good thing, especially when your sixteenth (read sex-teenth) birthday is fast approaching. That in itself would be enough to make anyone more than a little nuts, what with the tattoo and all – but Nina Oberon’s life has taken a definite turn for the worse. Her mother is brutally stabbed and left for dead. Before dying, she entrusts a secret book to Nina, telling her to deliver it to Nina's father. But, first Nina has to find him; since for fifteen years he's been officially dead. Complications arise when she rescues Sal, a mysterious, and ultra hot guy. He seems to like Nina, but also seems to know more about her father than he’s letting on. Then there’s that murderous ex-government agent who’s stalking her, and just happens to be her little sister’s dad."

Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

2010-07-14T06:03:00.000-04:00

Paranormalcy

Sixteen-year-old Evie's job is bagging and tagging paranormals. Possessing the strange ability to see through their glamours, she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency. But when someone--or something--starts taking out the vamps, werewolves, and other odd beasties she's worked hard to help become productive members of society, she's got to figure it out before they all disappear and the world becomes utterly normal.

Normal is so overrated.

The much talked-about book is finally being reviewed here! Woo. Okay let's get it down.

I really liked Paranormalcy for different reasons. I loved the main character most of the time. Evie is strong and bad-ass. She is funny and has a really good heart. The only thing was that sometimes it was too much and it felt really pushy. Sort of annoying. Thankfully. that didn't happen often.

Lend is just adorable. I don't know if I LOVE him just yet because he seems like a very cliche'd guy in the book but he was entertaining and really cute. I look forward to seeing more of them.

I had to go back and re-read the ending for a second here (which can be kind of bad but may mean that I have been really busy). What an ending! It was definitely breathtaking and surprising. I don't want to reveal too much but I was surprised and shocked near the end.

Oh, and what an original premise, too.

In one sentence: "A great debut with great potential."

Plot: 5
Characters: 4
Writing: 4
Cover: 5
Overall: 4
Average: 4.4 stars

Read A Thon Update

2010-07-12T21:11:00.002-04:00
So here's today's update for the read-a-thon:

1. A Princess of Landover (finished): 2 hours
2. Pretty Little Liars #2 Flawless (finished): 5.5 hours
3. Antigona (finished): 0.5 hours

So far I've read 8 hours worth and I think it's a great start! How have you been doing?

FIRST CHALLENGE
The Eager Readers want to know what are my favorite literary couples! Here are mine:

1. Clary and Jace from The Mortal Instruments
2. Mia and Adam from If I Stay
3. Gale and Katniss from The Hunger Games

and the second part....

1. Katsa from Graceling and Peeta from The Hunger Games
2. Edward Cullen from Twilight and Hermionie Granger from Harry Potter (because I actually really like the Cedric/Hermione ship)
3. Puck from The Iron King and Lavender Brown from Harry Potter.

Gone by Michael Grant

2010-07-11T11:50:00.001-04:00

Gone
In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents—unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers—that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

Gone has an amazing premise: a world were adults just dissappear. At first it might seem like, 'Hey, party!' but the truth is, things are harder than they appear.

There's a new generation of kids with unexplicable powers that have something to do with the FAYZ. These teens are in the fight for their lives, espeically after Caine, a kid from town, starts taking over.

Gone is a fantastic novel. It was slow in some places, given but then it was so good I couldn't put it down. It's rather lengthy and I expected it to be more sci-fi than fantasy (you know, I like scientific explanations to things) but after a while, I didn't care.

The characters were all well-developed. I like that the many pages of this book were not spent in nonsense but in the development of the characters and the fleshing out of a great story to come. I can't wait to read the sequel.

In one sentence:
"A great story that everyone has to read!"

Plot: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Characters: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Once Upon a Read-A-Thon

2010-07-09T12:47:00.000-04:00

I'm planning on participating but I have to stay organized if I want to do this right. Especially if I have to do some other things (like, write, eat, sleep, etc.). Here's my schedule:
Wake up around 9 AM9 AM- 9:30; Breakfast9:30-11:30; Read11:30-12PM; Lunch12PM-3PM; Read3PM-4PM; Work on school report.4PM-5PM; Update in blog, check emails, etc.5PM-8PM; Read8PM-9PM; Write my daily word count.9PM-1AM (if I don't fall asleep before that); Read1AM-9AM; sleep
I plan on reading these books:
The Chocolate War (for school)Tyger TygerTrickster's GirlAntigona (for school Spanish, if I haven't finished it before this)any others that I might find but those definitely.
I plan on finishing:
A Princess Of Landover(if I don't finish it before Monday).

Pretty Little Liars by Sarah Shepard

2010-07-08T11:03:00.002-04:00

Pretty Little Liars

Everyone has something to hide—especially high school juniors Spencer, Aria, Emily, and Hanna.

Spencer covets her sister's boyfriend. Aria's fantasizing about her English teacher. Emily's crushing on the new girl at school. Hanna uses some ugly tricks to stay beautiful.

But they've all kept an even bigger secret since their friend Alison vanished.

How do I know? Because I know everything about the bad girls they were, the naughty girls they are, and all the dirty secrets they've kept. And guess what? I'm telling.

I really wanted to read the book before the series started but I couldn't so I bought it as soon as I could and finished it in like, two days.

Pretty Little Liars is a fun and sometimes suspenseful fast-paced novel. I love that, even though it was told from multiple points of views, I really got to know each character and I definitely got a feel for them.

The mystery is fantastic and it includes such a nice dose of romance. I love it!

I can't wait to read the next books. In comparison to the series, though. The first few episodes were pretty loyal to the book but it's starting to drift now and I wonder if I only think this because they're giving away stuff from the next books, which, in that case, makes me pretty nervous.

In one sentence:
"Suspense, romance, and everything you need in a novel, right here."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Mockingjay Twitter Chat for Bloggers and Fans

2010-07-07T08:09:00.000-04:00
So I've been wanting to do this for a while but haven't actually gotten around to plan it. I want to organize a Twitter chat party for Bloggers and Fans of the books so that we can discuss our thoughts about it all. There's some things I need first. I'm looking for blogs to make posts about Mockingjay nearing its realease on the following topics.

Team Peeta
Team Gale
Theories on District 13
Who will die on the next book?
President Snow and The Capitol

And any other topics anyone might come up with. I want about seven topics total. This would work like thus:

Every day a week leading up to the release, a different blog will post about their topic. The blog may host a giveaway if desired but it's not part of the thing I have in mind. Then, on August 27th (Friday) everyone will gather around at 7pm on Twitter and, using a hashtag (to be determined), will discuss the book.

Now, I don't want any conflicts with the publisher/author and, in fact, if possible, I'd love for the publisher and/or author to participate in some way in this. That's why I'm making this a purely fun/fandom thing instead of an 'official' chat.

Any volunteers? Just leave a comment with an email or email me at yayreads dot hotmail dot com and pick any topic that you might like (or invent your own). This will be a first come, first serve thing so, if you want to participate, do it fast!

Thank you and I plan for it to be very successful!

P.S. If anyone would volunteer to help me moderate the Twitter Chat, please let me know.

CSN Stores $40 Gift Certificate Winners

2010-07-06T18:45:00.001-04:00
The winners of my $40 CSN Stores Gift Certificate giveaway are:

Thruthehaze and Debbie

Both will be contacted soon by CSN. Thank you all for participating.

The Short Second Life Of Bree Tanner by Stephenie Meyer

2010-07-06T06:43:00.001-04:00
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The Short Second Life Of Bree Tanner

Fans of The Twilight Saga will be enthralled by this riveting story of Bree Tanner, a character first introduced in Eclipse, and the darker side of the newborn vampire world she inhabits.

In another irresistible combination of danger, mystery, and romance, Stephenie Meyer tells the devastating story of Bree and the newborn army as they prepare to close in on Bella Swan and the Cullens, following their encounter to its unforgettable conclusion.

Bree Tanner can barely remember life before she had uncannily powerful senses, superhuman reflexes and unstoppable physical strength. Life before she had a relentless thirst for blood... life before she became a vampire.

All Bree knows is that living with her fellow newborns has few certainties and even fewer rules: watch your back, don't draw attention to yourself and, above all, make it home by sunrise or die. What she doesn't know: her time as an immortal is quickly running out.

Then Bree finds an unexpected friend in Diego, a newborn just as curious as Bree about their mysterious creator, whom they know only as "her". As they come to realize that the newborns are pawns in a game larger than anything they could have imagines, Bree and Diego must choose sides and decide whom to trus. But when everything you know about vampires is based on a lie, how do you find the truth?
I don't like Twilight that much anymore so I figured that since this isn't from annoying Bella's point of view, I could read it without vomiting. Veredict? Success.

One thing I hated was that there were no chapters. I'm the kind of reader that can put a book down right on the chapter, not a few pages before or after. So it became completely annoying no to say "i'm on chapter blah blah" but that's just me on being nitpicky of the structure.

Bree was an okay narrator, to be honest. Pretty bland and not enough personality. She definitely seemed super controled to be a newborn and just unnatural. I expected a wild newborn here, okay?

It was an okay book, too, in general. Diego was a cool character and I liked being behind the scenes so to speak.

In one sentence:
"A companion book you should read at the library--not even starin your eyes in front of the computer."

Plot: 3
Characters: 4
Writing: 3
Cover: 4
Overall Feeling: 3
Average: 3.4 stars

Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin

2010-07-05T06:46:00.001-04:00

Memoirs Of A Teenage Amnesiac

If Naomi had picked tails, she would have won the coin toss. She wouldn’t have had to go back for the yearbook camera, and she wouldn’t have hit her head on the steps. She wouldn’t have woken up in an ambulance with amnesia. She certainly would have remembered her boyfriend, Ace. She might even have remembered why she fell in love with him in the first place. She would understand why her best friend, Will, keeps calling her “Chief.” She’d know about her mom’s new family. She’d know about her dad’s fiancée. She never would have met James, the boy with the questionable past and the even fuzzier future, who tells her he once wanted to kiss her. She wouldn’t have wanted to kiss him back.

But Naomi picked heads.

After her remarkable debut, Gabrielle Zevin has crafted an imaginative second novel all about love and second chances.

This is also a reread from last year. I loved it last year and I was happy to find out that I feel the same way. What first caught my eye was that it was authored by Gabrielle Zevin who wrote one of my favorite book of all times, ELSEWHERE.

Memoirs of A Teenage Amnesiac is not as good as Elsewhere in my opinion but it's such a wonderfully written book with such memorable characters. I love Naomi and I love Will to death.

I like that this book, or the plot in it, is not perfect. There are goods and bads to the relationships and not all is a happy ending. You feel for James but at the same time, it's a scary situation. I love how this book's relationships are not perfect, it makes it feel completely real and believable.

I also like how Naomi's background was told. It was not a chunk of information but simply weaved through the plot line. If flowed naturally.

Oh, and Naomi's dad is such a great character. He reminds me a bit of my own dad.

Overall, this is an amazing book that I will never forget and nor will the readers.

In one sentence:
"Memoirs leaves a lasting memory."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

The Treasure Hunters Club: Trailer and Interview

2010-07-04T09:19:00.000-04:00

A Treasure Hunting Legend...
Four Ordinary Kids...
Two Magical Medallions...
Pursued By An Ancient Evil...
In One Extraordinary Adventure.

Join the Treasure Hunters Club
as they unlock
The Secrets of the Magical Medallions.

...Some Secrets Are Better Left Alone

Today we have author Sean McCartney stop by to talk to us about his book, The Treasure Hunters Club.

Sean Paul McCartney (He's not related to the Beatle) was born in 1971. He graduated from Alfred University in upstate New York with a Bachelor's in Communications in 1993. From there he played two exciting season traveling around the world with the Washington Generals playing against the world famous Harlem Globetrotters. In 1996 Sean earned his Masters in Education and embarked on a career as a teacher. He is employed by Plain Local Schools in Canton, OH. The first book in the series The Treasure Hunters Club: Secrets of the Magical Medallions introduces the four teens Tommy Reed, Jackson Miller, Shannon McDougal and Chris Henderson. The series is a cross between The Hardy Boys and Indiana Jones with a touch of National Treasure.

If someone would make a movie of the books, who would play the main character?
-I believe Moises Arias would be perfect to play Tommy Reed the leader of the Treasure Hunters Club. I have seen him as Rico on Hannah Montana and he is a very good actor.

What was the easiest aspect of writing the book? The hardest?
- The easiest or most fun in writing, for me, is the research that goes into each book. Finding out the little things that make each story unique and special is probably the easiest.
The hardest part of writing are the days when the words are hard to find. You can feel it. The words are going on the paper but they don't work and you know it but to plow on through because it only takes one word to turn it around. If a day goes by when the writing is bad I always know that the next day will be better.

In one sentence, how would you describe your writing?
-I would describe my writing as fast paced, informative and fun.

Who are your favorite authors and books?
- For young adult material I like Rick Riordan, JK Rowling and Christopher Paolini who are well known. Karen McQuestion has written some really good stuff and she is good. For older books I'd say John Grisham and JA Konrath. Their stories are fast paced and very detailed which I like.
As I kid I loved the Hardy Boys mysteries and the Encyclopedia Brown series. Today I read just about anything I can get my hands on that has some mystery and excitement to it.

Do you listen to music while writing? If so, what kind?
-No, I don't listen to music when I write. I actually like hearing the pencil on the paper during my first couple of drafts and the sound of the keyboard on final copies provide my music.

Now, I've posted up the trailer. Enjoy!

Thanks to Sean McCartney for stopping by!

In My Maiblox (23)

2010-07-03T06:14:00.000-04:00
In My Mailbox was started by The Story Siren.

On Kindle
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott. Fitzgerald
Borrowed
A Princess of Landover by Terry Brooks

Write In Life (3)

2010-07-01T06:48:00.001-04:00
Write In Life is a meme hosted and created by Patty at Yay! Reads and features topics and discussion about writing in life.

This week's topic: Settings
I always have troubles with settings. I hate to base my story somewhere real because I'm afriad that I'll get details wrong, especially if I've never been to that place which chances are I haven't. I much preffer making up a town and just giving a general location. I can then invent everything from shop names to how it looks.

I'm not very good at describing them, either. I much preffer to give a little detail here and there instead of describing every single things. Sometimes, though, I do giant plot holes and inconsistencies because I've made everything up.

How do you do your settings?

If you'd like to participate on Write In Life, just email me at yayreads at hotmail dot com and I'll send you the week's topic, then, you can do a 1-2 paragraph essay about it.

Challenge Update: June

2010-06-30T07:12:00.006-04:00
I'm participating in the Historical Reading Challenge and 100+ Books in 2010 Challenge.

1. Jinx by Meg Cabot
2. Wildthorn by Jane Eagland
3. Geektastic by Various Authors
4. The Turning by Helen Ellis
5. Manifest by Artist Arthur
6. City Of Glass by Cassandra Clare*
7. The Short Second Life Of Bree Tanner
8. Memoirs of A Teenage Amnesiac by Gabrielle Zevin*
9. Paranormalcy by Kiersten White
10. Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard

52/100
*re read from last year.

In My Mailbox (22)

2010-06-27T12:32:00.000-04:00
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by The Story Siren.

Kindle

Pretty Little Liars by Sara Shepard
Gone by Michael Grant

City Of Glass by Cassandra Clare

2010-06-27T06:32:00.000-04:00

City Of Glass

CONTAINS SPOILERS
To save her mother's life, Clary must travel to the City of Glass, the ancestral home of the Shadowhunters -- never mind that entering the city without permission is against the Law, and breaking the Law could mean death. To make things worse, she learns that Jace does not want her there, and Simon has been thrown in prison by the Shadowhunters, who are deeply suspicious of a vampire who can withstand sunlight.
As Clary uncovers more about her family's past, she finds an ally in mysterious Shadow-hunter Sebastian. With Valentine mustering the full force of his power to destroy all Shadow-hunters forever, their only chance to defeat him is to fight alongside their eternal enemies. But can Downworlders and Shadowhunters put aside their hatred to work together? While Jace realizes exactly how much he's willing to risk for Clary, can she harness her new found powers to help save the Glass City -- whatever the cost?

Love is a mortal sin and the secrets of the past prove deadly as Clary and Jace face down Valentine in the final installment of the New York Times bestselling trilogy The Mortal Instruments.

I read this book last year and I loved it! The action starts from the very beginning and it's non stop.

I love how Clary and Jace are in this book. If I were reading it for the first time, I'd say I'd also really liked Sebastian but knowing the end, he's definitely on my hate list. I even hate him more than Valantine.

Great secreats are revealed and it's full of twists and turns. I read 200 pages of this book in less than two days --and two busy days, to say the least.

I love this book and although I think it's a great final installment, I can't wait until City Of Fallen Angels. I. Just. Can't. So, Cassandra Clare, if you're reading this, please please let me have an ARC to review. I'm that desperate :).

In one sentence:
"Powerful and entertaining at its best."

Plot: 5
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5 (I just f'n love it!)
Overall Feeling: 5
Average: 5

Visual Inspiration (1)

2010-06-26T03:33:00.001-04:00
Visual Inspiration is something Steph did over at Hey Teenager and I was so inspired I decided to do one myself. Hopefully, although I didn't create a meme or a feature, I'll do more in the future which is why I've numbered it. The photos are from we heart it. By the way, these are in no order of the events of the novel.

The Turning by Helen Ellis

2010-06-25T09:44:00.013-04:00

The Turning

Mary Richards is a normal sixteen-year-old girl living in Manhattan. Well, almost normal. She goes to private school on the Upper East Side, having been saved from a life of squalor by an adoptive family. But she’s also slowly transforming into a cat.

Struggling to hide her physical metamorphosis, Mary discovers that she isn’t alone. A whole race of cat people prowls the streets of Manhattan at night, including Mary’s long-time crush, Nick.

Aside from heightened feline senses, hanging out with Nick is the best thing about discovering her inner kitty. But Mary’s transformation is special and could decide the outcome of a citywide turf war. She must decide whether to embrace her powerful feline side and become a pack leader or go back to being a normal teenage girl. Can she land on her feet or will curiosity be her downfall?
What first caught my eye of this book was definitely the premise. Very cat-woman and original considering so many werewolves today. So of course, I dived in.

Mary is a fun narrator in Manhattan, one of my favorite places in the world. I liked her and despite the paranormal things, she was a very believable and relate-able character.

Then she discovers this whole other world and we're plunged in with her. I liked the descriptions of when she's turning. The book is per say is a good setup for the series and has enough plot substance to keep you entertained but it was a bit slow on some other parts and I kept waiting for the real action to begin.

Nick and Mary's relationship happens sort of out of the blue but it's very intriguing and different than other YA relationships so I was pretty satisfied with it.

Overall, I really liked this book and I can't wait for the rest of the series.

In one sentence:
"A perfect setup for an awesome story."

Plot: 4
Characters: 5
Writing: 5
Cover: 5
Overall Feeling: 4
Average: 4.6 stars