Book Recommendation...Anathema

Anathema (Cloud Prophet Trilogy #1) by Megg Jensen

Published February 5th 2011
206 pages

Blurb

Forget prophecy. Make your own destiny. 

Sheltered from the outside world with no hope for escape, slave girl Reychel dreads her fifteenth birthday - when her master’s symbol is burned on the back of her bald scalp. Her best friend disappears the night before, leaving her to face the branding ceremony alone. She soon discovers nothing is as it seems when people desperate for freedom beg for Reychel's help. 

Can Reychel learn to believe in herself?


The book is so much more that what we read from the description and Anathema has got to be one of my most pleasant surprises in the last year.  This book has been on my Kindle for a very long time and I finally got around to reading it. 


I liked the setting. It is a fantasy but I would not consider it high fantasy or epic but fantasy all the same. Reychel is a strong girl who stands up for what is right no matter what the cost. At one point I wanted to scream "No, don't do that! It's never gonna work!" But that is the point right? Raising the stakes to keep us hooked? It worked. I have the feeling this  is setting us up for a deeper story to come.


It is a fairly quick read but very entertaining. The characters are great and I am glad I found this gem of a book. I cannot wait to continue reading the rest of the trilogy. 

Breaking up is hard to do...or is it?

I've been ditching books right and left and I blame one thing...my ever growing TBR (to be read) list.

Back in the glory day's, when we had actual bookstores, I would visit my local Borders every single week. I would browse the shelves while sipping my delectable white chocolate mocha and submerge myself in the beauty of the magnificent books. I would pick one and buy it. Then the almighty Amazon brought forth their wrath and  I lost my most cherished past time.

Now am forced to trek half way across the county to my inconveniently located Barnes & Noble. In efforts to avoid having to make the trip again I buy several books and add them to my shelf.  At the same time  I am getting ARC's from Netgalley for review.

 I now have dozens of books screaming at me to be read and some are ending up not being really great. If I'm not emotionally involved with the story or character's I'm ditching them and moving on. I am now seeing some the books I ditched getting positive reviews and I wonder if I'm not giving them a fair chance.  Should I have stuck it out?

 I have been giving up so easy because I have many books giving me the beady eye every time I walk by and ignore them. I mean look at a few of the books I have waiting for me. I bought Clockwork Prince the day it came out and there it sits.  Why would I want to waste my time on a so-so book when I have such super swoon-worthy boys beckoning to me in the night. Yes Will Herondale I'm talking to you. (Stand back ladies he's mine)

In efforts to bring back the joy and fun in reading I am going to temporarily stop buying new books until I read what I have. It will be hard, going to the book store is my version of a crack den. Just thinking about it sends me into withdrawals.

I'm interested if anyone else has faced this dilemma. What does it take for you to break up with a book and move on?

My Book Boyfriend #1

               My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme hosted by The Unread Reader.

Prince Ash of the Iron Fey series.
Also known as Prince Ashallayn' darkmer Tallyn and Icy boy.

Drew Roy, my version of Ash

I found Prince Ash purely by accident. A few months back I followed a link to vote in the YA Crush Tourney. It was down to the final round and it was Jace from the Mortal Instrument's Vs. Prince Ash of the Iron Fey series. I thought anyone who could go head to head with super swoon-worthy Jace Wayland was someone I needed to meet and am I glad I did.

I fell in love with Prince Ash, I'm talking an Edward Cullen type of love. (not quite but close) It wasn't long after that I devoured the Iron Fey series. I have yet to read the Iron Knight, I'm saving it. I love knowing that for me Ash and Megan's story is not over.

Ash is the son of Queen Mab of the Unseelie court and utterly in love with Megan Chase. He lives with the Winter court and is about a thousand years old. That is one of the many benefits of being an immortal faery in the Nevernever.

"Ash," I whispered as the lean, stealthy figure glided toward us, his boots making no sound in snow. He was devastatingly gorgeous, dressed all in black, his pale face seeming to float over the ground. I remember the way he smiled, the look in his silver eyes as we danced. 
~ Megan's point of view in the Iron King

Book Recomendation...The Pledge

The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Published November 13th 2011 by Margaret K. McElderrry

description from Goodreads

In the violent country of Ludania, the classes are strictly divided by the language they speak. The smallest transgression, like looking a member of a higher class in the eye while they are speaking their native tongue, results in immediate execution. Seventeen-year-old Charlaina has always been able to understand the languages of all classes, and she's spent her life trying to hide her secret. The only place she can really be free is the drug-fueled underground clubs where people go to shake off the oppressive rules of the world they live in. It's there that she meets a beautiful and mysterious boy named Max who speaks a language she's never heard before . . . and her secret is almost exposed. 

Charlie is intensely attracted to Max, even though she can't be sure where his real loyalties lie. As the emergency drills give way to real crisis and the violence escalates, it becomes clear that Charlie is the key to something much bigger: her country's only chance for freedom from the terrible power of a deadly regime.


 My thoughts: I have been a fan of Kimberly Derting since The Body Finder and once again she has proven to me what a wonderful author she is.  

Charlie is an extremely interesting protagonist and joy to read. I found her very likable and couldn't read fast enough to see what was she was going to do next. In fact I enjoyed the entire list of characters, even the bad guys.


Ludania is a dystopian world set in what my opinion is the future. I say future because I always think of dystopian's taking place at a time far beyond my own, but it very well could be a current day story. They have use of our modern day technology but nothing really futuristic. I guess that is the beauty of the story, we get enough details and imagery to get a full picture but it leaves room for our imagination to fill in the rest.  I would love to hear what year and location you think the story takes place in. I have my own idea's but do not want to spoil anything.


My favorite part was....oh I can't really say but it was HUGE! I will tell you this,  I never saw it coming. I don't get surprised very often so it was a delight. I wanted to send a tweet to Kimberly and tell  her what an awesome job she did dropping that bomb shell on us. I have to be honest though, after the big reveal  it slowed down for the next quarter of the book. It was all information that we needed but the beginning was so good I wanted the momentum to keep going. The book did redeem itself in the end and was awesome.


All in all, I recommend the read. 

Happy Blogiversary!

Giveaway is now closed.

Words Escape Me turns 1!!!!

In honor of my 1 year blogiversary I want to celebrate by giving you the opportunity to share in my fun.

First I want to say thank you to those of you who have been with me since the beginning. Listening to me ramble on about books and my journey as a writer means more to me than you know.

This month has been filled with many firsts. For starters, the blog makeover, the anniversary, my first vlog, completing my first manuscript and my first giveaway!

The winner will receive a $25.00 gift card to Barnes and Noble and you get three chances to enter.

1. Leave your name and email. (email will only be used to notify the winner) You do not need to be a follower, just leave your name. It's that easy.

2. If you do follow Words Escape Me click "yes". That will get you the second entry.

3. Tweet the giveaway for the third entry. I'm sure your friend's and follower's would love the opportunity to win as well! I'll make it easy for you. Copy and paste this link:

Words Escape Me is giving away a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble. Visit blog to enter. WWW.KristonJohnson.blogspot.com

Thank you again to all my friends and family who have supported me and my writing. I would not have been able to do it without you.

All entries must be completed by midnight, Pacific standard time Friday February 3rd.

Book Recomendation...Hereafter

Hereafter by Tara Hudson

Published June 7th, 2011 by HarperCollins

Description from goodreads

Can there truly be love after death?

Drifting in the dark waters of a mysterious river, the only thing Amelia knows for sure is that she's dead. With no recollection of her past life—or her actual death—she's trapped alone in a nightmarish existence. All of this changes when she tries to rescue a boy, Joshua, from drowning in her river. As a ghost, she can do nothing but will him to live. Yet in an unforgettable moment of connection, she helps him survive.

Amelia and Joshua grow ever closer as they begin to uncover the strange circumstances of her death and the secrets of the dark river that held her captive for so long. But even while they struggle to keep their bond hidden from the living world, a frightening spirit named Eli is doing everything in his power to destroy their newfound happiness and drag Amelia back into the ghost world . . . forever.

My thoughts:

Tare Hudson did a fantastic job bringing Amelia and Joshua's story to us. I listened to Hereafter as an Audible book and the narrator was very entertaining to listen to.

Amelia is a spunky teen, or I should say ghost, and we get to follow her along as she learns about her life and her death. One thing that cracks me up in this book is that (and this is not a spoiler) the night she died she was wearing a formal dress , and now she gets to wear it for eternity. At certain points in the story when you take the time to think about what she is wearing it is a little comical picturing  a ghost doing the things she is doing in an evening gown. I'm not sure if that was intentional on the author's part but personally I found it rather amusing.

Hereafter was written in Amelia's point of view but we get to follow Joshua and his journey in life. I can't say what it is but it's good. This is a ghost story but it is not a horror story. The ending came a little out of nowhere but I suspect it is setting up for the next  book.

That being said this book is very enjoyable and I recommend the read.

In My Mailbox #1

In my mail box is brought to us by Kristy at The Story Siren

This is my very first vlog and if you watched it you can tell. If you haven't there is lots of umm's, pauses and eye rolling. I'm not to happy with the section of video Youtube decided to stick me with as my still shot because I look like I'm about to pass out. Oh well, it was fun, it makes me want to go buy more books so I can do another!

Entwined by Heather Dixon
Unearthly by Cynthia Hand
Stolen Away by Alyxandra Harvey
The Peculiars by Maureen Doyal McQuerry
Halfings by Heather Burch
Crossed by Ally Condie
The Maze Runner by James Dashner
The Pledge by Kimberly Derting

Cover Love, The Serpent's Shadow and The World of Hunger Games

'The World of Hunger Games' movie tie-in book. Published on March 23rd 2012.

 Just in time for the movie. I love all this movie promo stuff. I'll take any chance I can get for a sneak peak of the film.

The Serpents Shadow by Rick Riordan
Book 3 of the Kane Chronicles
published May 1, 2012

I'm a huge fan of Rick Riordan. I have only read book one in the Kane Chronicles but plan on being caught up in time for this.

Book Recomendation....Supernaturally

Supernaturally

Author: Kiersten White

Book 2 of the Paranormalcy trilogy

Book description from Amazon

Evie finally has the normal life she’s always longed for. But she’s shocked to discover that being ordinary can be . . . kind of boring. Just when Evie starts to long for her days at the International Paranormal Containment Agency, she’s given a chance to work for them again.

 Desperate for a break from all the normalcy, she agrees.

But as one disastrous mission leads to another, Evie starts to wonder if she made the right choice. And when Evie’s faerie ex-boyfriend Reth appears with devastating revelations about her past, she discovers that there’s a battle brewing between the faerie courts that could throw the whole supernatural world into chaos. The prize in question? Evie herself.

So much for normal.

This is by far one of my favorite covers. Not to be outdone by book 3, Endlessly. (see cover here it's beautiful) I listened to Supernaturally on by beloved iPhone, if you have yet to check out Audible you should. The downloads are some times a 1/3 of the price of the cd's, plus it fits in your pocket. The audible version is preformed by Emily Eiden and she does a wonderful job.

This book is fun. The author's writing voice is witty and entertaining and Kiersten did a wonderful job showing Evie's snarky/quirky personality. If I could eat dinner with a group of literary characters I would want Evie to be there. If you sat next to her she would be the one you could get all giddy with and point at all the cool people there, like a friend would. This is a great follow up to Paranormalcy as we get to see Evie enter the real world and realize it is not all it's cracked up to be. All our favorite characters make an appearance with a great new addition as well.

The plot moves along at a good pace, not supper fast but fast enough to keep you involved. I am really looking forward to the conclusion of this series. Not because I want it over or anything, I am just excited!

If your looking for a light, fun and entertaining read I recommend this book.

City of Lost Souls Cover Reveal

USA Today released the cover for the highly awaited next installment in The Mortal Instruments series. City of Lost Souls.

I have to admit, this is not a personal favorite. Jace and Clary are Shadowhunters. Where is the cool I'm gonna go kick some demon butt pose? Plus, it doesn't match the Jace from The City of Bones. (Who was super cute by the way.) But I am in the minority. It seems most people across the blogosphere are raving about this cover. Maybe I was expecting to much.

As far as the book goes, which is to be released May 8th, 2012, I cannot wait. I love the world Cassandra Clare has made for us to run away and hide in and I am thankful we have less than six months to wait. Each book keeps getting better and better.

What do you think about it?